RyeCity REVIEW THE
February 19, 2021 | Vol. 9, Number 8 | www.ryecityreview.com
County Police Reform Task Force issues report
Ball is back! Harrison’s Tochi Onwuasoanya drives to the hoop against Sleepy Hollow on Feb. 15. Twenty-four Section I basketball teams played their first games in nearly a year on Monday, as high-risk sports resumed in the area. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
Westchester delivers joint legislative package to state On Friday, Feb. 12, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the county Board of Legislators delivered the 2021 Westchester County Joint State Legislative Package to Westchester’s New York State Assembly and Senate delegation. The package is a list of state actions that the county executive and the board are asking lawmakers in Albany to approve to help county residents and taxpayers. The package includes state measures that will create jobs; improve infrastructure, public health and transportation; and reimburse the county for the cost of state-mandated programs, as well as measures to improve the storm-readiness of local utilities, protect local hospitals, and enhance environmental sustainability. Among the top priorities in the package are:
• Support for the expansion of downstate casino licenses • Release FY2020-21 money previously allocated to Westchester • Fund Indian Point-related emergency operations • Provide funding parity in state transportation aid • Invest in infrastructure projects in Westchester • Oppose shifting costs for aid and incentives for municipalities onto Westchester • Make the Westchester County Property Taxpayer Protection Act Permanent • The package also calls for action by the state on a number of measures including: • Support for the right to counsel in eviction cases • Mandatory notification of Extreme Risk Protection Order information by mental health fa-
cilities to patients and families upon discharge • Requiring hospitals in a municipality of less than 250,000 residents to obtain approval from voters at a mandatory referendum before closing • Approval of the county’s acquisition of the North County Trailway • Study the economic impact of quality childcare and early education programs • Tougher requirements for storm hardening and emergency planning by electric utilities “While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives, it is imperative that us in government work together to find solutions to the challenges we all face,” Latimer said. “Contained in this joint package are some of those solutions that we look to implement for the better-
ment of all who call Westchester home. Our New York State delegation has stood with us time and time again and understands the needs we all share. We thank them for their support.” County Democratic Majority Leader MaryJane Shimsky added, “We have worked extremely well over the years with our State delegation in achieving results for the people we all represent. This package gives us a starting point for putting into action laws and regulations that reflect our shared values and make Westchester and New York fairer, better, and more economically and environmentally sustainable.” To read the 2021 Westchester County Joint State Legislative Package visit https://www.westchesterlegislators.com/images/ pdf/2021-joint-state-leg-package. pdf. (Submitted)
Following a historic year shining the light on long standing injustices in our nation, Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced the formation of the Westchester County Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force in early June. After seven months of intensive collaboration his task force is now issuing the report required by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203. “What we saw this past year, similar to what I lived through as a young man in the 1960s, was a breaking point in our society,” Latimer said. “It is on us in government to now act. It became clearer than ever—following the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others—that real reform must occur. It also must occur with all stakeholders at the table. I believe this task force has done admirable work toward that goal and I thank them all for their service. The County Department of Public Safety has already instituted multiple policies—such as police body cams—and we will work to do more.” The task force, chaired by prominent Westchester residents Mayo Bartlett and Leroy Frazer, both attorneys, was comprised of county and local law enforcement professionals, clergy representatives, criminal justice and police reform advocates, human rights professionals and public servants to develop a blueprint for new policing strategies and to highlight policies currently in place by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, WCDPS. The task force formed six working groups: Community Engagement, Qualification & Recruitment, Training and Equipment, Policies & Procedures, and
Accountability and Transparency. Following its extensive work— which included public hearings, countless work sessions and insightful discussion on the serious issues at hand—the task force released a report organized in three main sections: 1) Background and structure of this task force; 2) Reports detailing the work, process, recommendations and overall findings; and 3) a description of the 51 recommendations organized based on the level of government to which they must be referred for action—opportunities for administrative action by the County Executive, recommendations for the county Board of Legislators, and recommendations for action by New York State. “It has been a pleasure working with the members of the Westchester County Task Force,” Bartlett said. “It is my sincere opinion that all of the members of the Task Force were interested in implementing best practices, and strengthening the relationship between police and the community. While I believe we have been successful in identifying areas where WCDPS may improve, we also reached the determination that our work will not be complete following our report. For that reason, it is clear to me that we must continually review models of policing to ensure that law enforcement may properly serve the community.” The 51 recommendations originated from the six working groups created within the Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force. Thirty of the 38 members of the Task Force formally voted on each of these recommendations at their Jan. 12 meeting. REFORM continued on page 8
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