AWARD WINNING EDITORIAL
INCLUDING THE HUDSON VALLEY MAY 2, 2022 VOL. 58, No. 18
westfaironline.com
County executives are upbeat in State of the County messages
David Lehman and Loren Nadres share a laugh during the Stamford Partnership’s TechHub Fireside Chat event. Photo by Justin McGown.
BY PETER KATZ Pkatz@westfairinc.com
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t may come as no surprise, but county executives in Westchester and the Hudson Valley have upbeat views of where their counties stand financially, in the recovery from Covid, as hosts to businesses and in helping residents enjoy the highest possible quality of life. The season for messages about the state of the various counties peaked recently with addresses by the county executives in Westchester and Dutchess.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, STAMFORD-STYLE BY JUSTIN MCGOWN jmcgown@westfairinc.com
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conomic development was on the agenda at the latest edition of the Stamford Partnership’s TechHub Fireside Chat series, with Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman and his local counterpart Loren Nadres, the director of economic development for the city of Stamford, engaged in a discussion before a business professional audience on April 20 at Half Full Brewery Third Place coworking space in Stamford. Nadres facilitated the
conversation by asking Lehman for his thoughts on a number of topics pertinent to Stamford Partnership members. Lehman began by recounting his private career sector and how he got his appointment from the governor. “I cold called him,” Lehman said. “I didn’t know him, but I saw when he got elected and what he wanted to do. He reminded me in many ways of Mike Bloomberg and what he did in New York City back in 2002. A pragmatic businessman focused on results.” Lehman stated that he reached out and offered to quit his job to be of assistance and, within short order, he was welcomed
aboard. Nadres replied that she felt the same, attracted to her role with the city of Stamford because of the leadership of Mayor Caroline Simmons. She said her current focus is on expanding the city’s portfolio of international businesses. She also admitted that she was excited about the city’s application for the Innovation Quarter Grant, which provides $50 million for improvements to the city’s workforce development, housing stock and other important indicators of growth. “She’s not telling you something: I am the one who has to judge these,” Lehman interjected to laughs from the audience.
For objectivity’s sake, they both decided to leave discussion of the grant off the table. The conversation then shifted to Lehman reiterating that Lamont has a business background, the first governor in 30 years to have held the office with no previous political office experience and only a business background. “He has a centrist approach,” Lehman stressed. “And he has been very vocal about not raising taxes, having more taxpayers, not more taxes, growing the economy in the state of Connecticut. So, one of the first things I did when I was seated in March of 2019 was make
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Westchester County The people of Westchester County are united, the county is in solid financial shape, projects are underway to preserve and enhance landmarks and infrastructure and Covid is no longer the threat it once was, according to Westchester County Executive George Latimer. Latimer delivered his 2022 State of the County address in the Board of Legislators’ chamber at the County Office Building in White Plains on the evening of April 21. It was the fifth such address Latimer has given since taking office and the first during his second four-year term. “A war of aggression rages just across the ocean, bringing fear and death. We pray for Ukraine,” Latimer said. “And here, locally on our
streets, where our children play, where we close deals and inquire about new opportunities, where we take our parents for care and stop for coffee, in each of these corners of our small patch of land, we must continue to stop division.” Latimer thanked the people of Westchester for putting their faith in him to manage the county on their behalf and reaffirmed his strong belief in governing through democracy. Latimer decried autocrats whether in Albany, Washington or “in the Kremlin with the power to execute millions of lives at whim. We are stronger and better when we find ways to work together. United, even in our disagreements.” Latimer said that an example of Americans caring about each other was found in “the way nearly 90% of Westchester County residents got vaccinated against Covid-19, to protect their families and each other.” He said the county closed out 2021 with a $64 million operating surplus and that the 2022 budget of $2.2 billion allows for another property tax cut, the third consecutive one during his administration. He said it’s the largest in a decade, totaling $7 million. He said that he hopes to be able to continue
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