Says He’s Staying in the Race Regardless of Redistricting Outcome
By Dan Murphy
Westchester County Executive and Congressional candidate George Latimer appeared on The Point-with Marcia Kramer on Channel 2-WCBS TV NY on Dec. 17. In interview, which can be viewed at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBiK4fdCn0Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBiK4fdCn0I, Latimer made news and showed his 30+ years of political experience.
“I see a lot of performace art but not much performance,” said Latimer, speaking of his opponent, Congressman Jamaal Bowman. Latimer recently announced that he was challenging Bowman for his Congressional seat in the 16th District of NY in a democratic primary next June.
“Given the record that I have had over my career, that represents progressive policies that get results as opposed to those based on rhertoric.”
Latimer challenged Bowman’s record of not delivering enough for the district. “There is a level of production that we are not meeting. I look at other districts and I see Congressman Richie Torres doing a fine job, I see Congressman Pat Ryan working hard, on issues that affect their district. And I think that is the model that I think we need to have. We need to have someone who understands and can deliver on those kinds of needs.”
When Kramer asked about Israel, Latimer explained, “In Westchester County, we have the second largest concentration of Jewish residents and voters of anyplace in the state (NYC is #1). The Jewish community has a real concern about the United States’ policy towards Israel…Hamas is a terrorist group and the antipathy towards that view is what the current Congressman has and the Jewish community has been very upset about it. The vast majority of those who are Jewish who live in Westchester county are unhappy with his positions and believe that he has ignored their feelings. You need to work with the community, not ignore the community.”
When Kramer asked about Bowman’s recent efforts to reach out and “make peace” with the Jewish community, Latimer said, “you can do symbolic things like having a unity breakfast, but then when you have an opportunity to vote on a resolution that deals with the outbreak of antisemitism on college campuses and you vote no on that resolution… that 400 of your colleagues voted in favor of.”
When Kramer asked if Bowman “was out of touch and out of tune with the needs of the different communities in the district,” Latimer said, “Let me put it this way. I think I’m more in tune with what is happening in those communities. I have been in and out of every Westchester community in a substantive way.”
When Kramer asked about the upcoming redistricting of Congrressional districts in NY, including the 16th District, Latimer made news saying, “I plan to be in the race regardless.” Some had speculated that Latimer would not run if the distirct moved more towards the Bronx, and if the Westchester communities of Greenburgh and White Plains were removed.
Latimer was at ease and prepared for this interview, and for this upcoming campaign.
