Government Shutdown Continues
By Dan Murphy
As the federal government shutdown continues, one place in Westchester that should be affected is the Westchester County Airport. But despite the lack of federal government employees receiving a paycheck during the shutdown, TSA workers have continued to work and serve the people of Westchester and our country by working without pay.
“The federal government shutdown has, at present, no direct impact on county functions and operations,” said County Executive George Latimer. “In the short term, the affected federal departments do not pose an immediate threat to our day-to-day responsibilities. However, the TSA employees working at the county airport are doing so voluntarily without pay. These are our neighbors and we need to be supportive of them as they work to continue to keep us safe. When the shutdown ends, they would hope to get retroactive pay.”
Latimer visited TSA workers at the Westchester County Airport last week. “It’s unfortunate that TSA workers are being used as political pawns,” he said. “I had a chance to speak with TSA workers at the Westchester County Airport, and they show great attention to detail to make sure we are safe. They work hard for us, and I want them to know that Westchester County supports them. County government can’t do much in this situation, but we can be supportive, along with a thank you and a handshake. We have also given them food vouchers here at the airport ($15).”
We agree with Latimer, who added: “I want them to know we value the work they do and we thank them. The county will continue to be supportive of these workers until this comes to an end.”
Anyone visiting the county airport in the near future should do the same and thank the TSA workers for their patriotism in keeping our airports safe and putting our safety first.
Latimer called the recent dispute between President Donald Trump and democrats in Congress “an embarrassment to use a federal government shutdown as a tool to force public policy choices. It’s not how we operate here in Westchester. I, as the American people, hope this comes to a resolution before the impacts intensify.”
Westchester Congressman Eliot Engel commented on the shutdown, stating: “President Trump said he would shut down the government if he wasn’t given funding for his nonsensical border wall. And although the president often flip-flops on his promises, he was more than willing to follow through on this one. Now, thanks to some help from his co-conspirators in the House GOP, we are mired in a Trump shutdown just days before Christmas.
“American voters overwhelmingly rejected Republicans’ xenophobic fear mongering at the ballot in November, but the GOP didn’t seem to get the message,” continued Engel. “They’d rather hold an operational government – and paychecks for American families during the holidays – ransom than pass a clean CR. The wall funding President Trump and the House GOP seeks will do nothing more than perpetuate a humanitarian crisis at the border, one they themselves have exacerbated. Instead of building divisive walls, we should be focused on modernizing our ports of entry and ensuring asylum officers have the tools they need. American resources should be used to help those fleeing violence and danger, not keep them out. I urge my Republican colleagues and the president to give up this ridiculous border wall crusade, act responsibly, and pass a clean funding bill immediately.”
