RyeCity REVIEW THE
April 7, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 14 | www.ryecityreview.com
Latimer: ‘County exec. race would be the toughest’ By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer
Andrew Kranichfeld, a local author and brain cancer survivor, plans to be the first blind participant ever to compete in the Rye Derby, a 5-mile foot race through the city of Rye, where he grew up. For story, see page 6. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
Corcoran considers more paid firefighters; dept. violations resolved By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The city’s public safety commissioner is considering adding more paid firefighter positions to address the Fire Department’s lack of professional personnel, while also attempting to rectify ongoing violations against
the department. Public Safety Commissioner Michael Corcoran said he would explore making the recommendation to add more paid personnel after completing his review of the Fire Department, which started when he was appointed as the city’s public safety commissioner in January. Corcoran
had previously been hired by the city in February 2016 to serve as its police commissioner. “That’s one area that concerns me,” said Corcoran, referring to the lack of staffing within the department. “We’re definitely looking to address that issue.” Last May, the city Fire Advisory Committee recommended
the addition of four paid positions to the department’s roster. That never came to fruition, however, after the City Council approved its 2017 budget that didn’t include any additional funding for the hires. While the department, which FIREFIGHTERS continued on page 8
New York state Sen. George Latimer will challenge for the top executive seat in Westchester County in November. “It probably wasn’t the best held secret,” Latimer, a Rye Democrat, said in confirming his plans to run for county executive this week. “It sort of evolved as certain people reached out to me in January and February and asked me to consider it.” Fresh off a 2016 re-election to the state Senate, Latimer will now set his sights on Westchester’s highest elected office, and incumbent Republican Rob Astorino. Having spent the last 30 years in some form of elected office, he will bank on having never lost an election in 17 tries, to date. Latimer, 63, refuted rumors that he was asked to run by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. Cuomo defeated Astorino in a gubernatorial race in 2014, but the two could lock horns again in 2018 with Cuomo up for reelection and Astorino said to be once again eyeing the seat. Latimer said he was approached about running by local officials such as Mamaroneck Town Councilman Tom Murphy and county Legislator Catherine Parker, both Democrats. If he receives the Democratic nomination to move forward in
the race for county executive, Latimer would face a tough challenge in Astorino, who has been elected twice, after first running unsuccessfully in 2005, and has held the line on property taxes, keeping them flat for the last six years. But the senator said the county budget tells a different story, pointing to the county’s increase in borrowing, depleted reserves and frequently overestimated sales tax under Astorino’s watch. He pointed to the Westchester County Airport privatization deal as a microcosm of what he said were short-sighted budgetary practices. The 40-year agreement would likely give the county a large payment up front, with diminishing returns each subsequent year. Latimer would also have to face Astorino’s financial war chest, which was measured at $2.5 million as of the last campaign filing in January. Latimer LATIMER continued on page 11