June 8, 2018 by The Rye City Review

RyeCity REVIEW THE

June 8, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 23 | www.ryecityreview.com

Westchester raises smoking age to 21

In an effort to put more teeth into a Westchester animal cruelty law, officials are looking at amending a database that requires animal abusers to be registered within a countywide registry system. For story, see page 6.

County proposes to keep executive’s name off properties County lawmakers have proposed legislation that would prevent the county executive from putting his or her name on signs across Westchester, piggybacking an order placed by County Executive George Latimer earlier this year. Proposed by recently elected county Legislator Terry Clements, a New Rochelle Democrat, the bill mirrors one of Latimer’s first executive orders, which he signed when he took office in January. As part of the executive order, Latimer, a Democrat, ordered the removal of the exec-

utive’s name from all Westchester-owned parks, golf courses and other properties. In a memo written by the county Board of Legislators, lawmakers said the policy of having the county executive’s name on Westchester property provides “free political advertising” to the incumbent and is “a complete waste of taxpayer money.” If the bill is approved, current and future county executives cannot lift the ban without the county Legislature’s approval. During his 2017 campaign for county executive against then-County Executive Rob As-

torino, a Republican, Latimer promised to remove the executive’s face and name from Westchester-owned property. Prior to Latimer’s executive order, Astorino’s name was advertised across a number of county parks and buildings, as was the case for previous county executives. Since he took county office, Latimer has made it a habit of sending his executive orders to the Board of Legislators so that they could be adopted into law permanently, if desired. Without the approval of the board, any future county executive could

veto executive orders from a previous lawmaker. So far, county lawmakers have approved several of Latimer’s executive orders, including a ban on gun shows on county-owned property, as well as an order to establish a policy on how law enforcement addresses immigrants. As of press time, the county’s bill sits in legislative committee, waiting to be approved so that it could be voted on by the full Board of Legislators. Democrats hold a 13-4 supermajority on the board. -Reporting by Franco Fino

In a 16-1 vote, Westchester lawmakers approved a bill that increases the age to purchase tobacco products. On June 4, the county Board of Legislators officially raised the age to buy cigarettes and vaping products from 18 to 21 in an effort to reduce the amount people that become addicted to smoking. “I am so glad that Westchester County has joined the many jurisdictions in New York State and in neighboring states which have decided to put the public’s health and safety first,” said county Legislator MaryJane Shimsky, a Hastings-on-Hudson Democrat. “[This] will do much to protect our young people from the dangers of nicotine addiction.” Proposed in February by the county’s Democratic caucus, the bill follows suit with what other local communities have passed for their respective municipalities. In April, Rockland County passed a measure raising the age to buy tobacco or related products, while the town of New Castle passed similar legislation earlier last month. In 2013, New York City banned the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. Additionally, 10 other counties across the state, including Suffolk, have outlawed selling tobacco products to people under that threshold. Nassau County enforces similar legislation, but restricts the sale of tobacco products to those under the age of 19. As of press time, the statewide age for purchasing tobacco

Westchester County has banned the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco-related products to anyone under the age of 21. Photo courtesy flickr.com

products is 18. State lawmakers have long debated whether legislation should be introduced to increase the smoking age. “This is an important step in keeping our kids safe and healthy, particularly with the research showing the negative impacts of nicotine on the adolescent brain,” said Majority Leader Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, on Westchester’s policy change. “Whatever we do to prevent kids from smoking or becoming addicted to nicotine today, pays dividends for a lifetime.” Democrats proposed to change the smoking age last year, but the legislation wasn’t popular with Republicans, who, through a bipartisan coalition, held a majority on the 17-member Board of Legislators at the time. With approval by the county Legislature, the measure will now move to County Executive George Latimer’s office for his signature. According to Catherine Cioffi, Latimer’s communications director, the county executive is expected to sign the bill on June 6, after press time. -Reporting by Franco Fino