(WHITE PLAINS, NY) In response to County Executive Rob Astorino’s state of the County Address, Board of Legislators Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining) reiterated many of the concerns members of the Democratic Caucus have voiced about the operational and financial management of Westchester County.  In a 3 minute video, Borgia summarized that “everything starts and ends with our finances and at the moment ours are in bad shape.”

(WHITE PLAINS, NY) After another $5,000 contribution emerged linking County Executive Rob Astorino’s campaign to a Westchester County Police Chaplain, Jeremy Reichberg, who is embroiled in a federal corruption probe, the County Executive’s office denied the media access to any information regarding this individual’s qualifications to hold the position.  Reichberg is closely associated with $25,000 in campaign donations to Astorino’s campaign around the time he was appointed Chaplain.  As a result, Legislator Ben Boykin (D-White Plains), Chair of the Public Safety and Social Services Committee, will be asking the Public Safety Department to provide any information regarding Reichberg.

(WHITE PLAINS, NY) Earlier today at the Board of Acquisition and Contracts, the County Executive retained the services of private, outside counsel to respond to a letter from the independent monitor overseeing the implementation of the affordable housing settlement.  The County Executive’s new legal counsel in the form of white-shoe, mega-firm Holwell, Shuster & Goldberg, a law firm recently noted for giving associates $100,000 bonuses, will cost taxpayers $100,000.  

(WHITE PLAINS, NY) Early Friday morning the New York State Legislature passed its 6th consecutive on-time budget that raised the minimum wage, created a paid family leave program, expanded education funding and cut income taxes again for middle class New Yorkers.  Westchester County Board of Legislators Majority Leader Catherine Borgia released the following statement.

(WHITE PLAINS, NY)— After another site visit with representatives of the Astorino administration and Standard Amusements, several Legislators who are influential in the Playland review process have expressed reservations about the proposed alterations made to the Playland Management agreement.  The County Executive has proposed an additional $38 million in capital spending and extending the lease by 100% to 30 years.