March 15, 2006

The Westchester County Association's Annual Legislative Breakfast

The Westchester County Association hosted its annual legislative breakfast today at the Rye Town Hilton. The County's legislators look forward to this annual opportunity to update members of the influential organization on current issues confronting the County and the Board.

Chairman Ryan provided an overview of current issues before the Board as well as his recent initiative to restructure and streamline the Board's committee system.

WCA members asked legislators to address issues of paramount concern to them. Their questions pertained to the current and projected financial status of Westchester Medical Center, what's being done to shore up child welfare services, how the County decides where to locate homeless shelters including the one that most recently opened on Court Street in downtown White Plains, and, whether the County is addressing on a regional basis the problems communities are facing with regard to day laborer sites.

William M. Mooney, Jr., President of the Westchester County Association, Inc. opens the breakfast meeting.

William J. Ryan, County Board Chair, thanks the WCA for the opportunity to meet with the County's business leaders to discuss important issues confronting the County and the Board.

Alfred B. DelBello, Chairman of the WCA Government Affairs Committee, passes on questions that Association members expressed strong interest in having the Board address.

From left, Al DelBello, Bill Ryan, Lois Bronz, Tom Abinanti, Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Marty Rogowsky.

From left, Judy Myers, Jose Alvarado, Gordon Burrows and Ursula LaMotte.

Majority Leader Marty Rogowsky introduces his Democratic colleagues.

Minority Leader George Oros introduces his Republican colleagues.

Legislator Mike Kaplowitz, Budget & Appropriations Committee Chair, gives overview on steps County has taken to shore up finances of Westchester Medical Center.

Legislators Judy Myers, Chair of the Families, Health and Human Services Committee, and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, former Families Committee Chair, discuss Board's continuing investigation into County's Social Services Dept.'s managment of child welfare services. Also discussed was the recent decision to open a drop-in shelter on Court Street for homeless men wandering the streets of White Plains.

Legislator Ursula LaMotte, member of the Families, Health & Human Services Committee, adds thoughts about steps to bring about needed changes at DSS.

Legislator Jose Alvarado, Chair of the Public Works, Transportation, Labor & Parks Committee and member of the Generational, Cultural & Ethnic Diversity Committee , addresses the County's efforts to devise a regional solution to finding appropriate day laborer hiring sites.