‘Here in Westchester We Take Care of Each Other’
Westchester County Executive George Latimer recently delivered his second State of the County address to a capacity crowd in the Legislative Chambers of the Board of Legislators.
“Here in Westchester County, we take care of each other,” he said. “We do not turn our backs on our brothers and sisters – we won’t have that. Over these past 12 months, since I last stood before you, I have signed many bills and executive orders to help the people of this county have a better life, and to help their children have better lives.”
The address included various announcements and initiatives that the Latimer administration are undertaking. Some of them include upgraded concessions and rides at Playland for the 2019 season, reduction of overnight flights at the County Airport, efforts to curb bridge strikes, mobile office hours for the Veterans Service Agency, and the expansion of the Police Advisory Board.
He also gave ample time to the current status of Westchester’s finances. Latimer, whose first budget stayed well below Westchester’s allotted property tax cap, said: “Moreover, we have crafted a comprehensive Property Taxpayers Protection Act that will ensure a 0 percent county tax freeze for fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021; will share as much as $40-plus million additional revenue to towns, villages, small city governments and school districts over an annual basis; phase out one-shot financing at budget time; begin to restore our depleted reserve funds; and raise back our bond rating to AAA status over time, all for one penny on every dollar of consumer spending.”
Latimer continued: “This plan has received bipartisan support from our town supervisors and village mayors, from our County Legislature, from the State Assembly and passage by the State Senate. Over the coming weeks, we hope to get final approvals – based on the merit of the proposal – and thereby stabilize our county finances without relying on a dime more of property taxes. This is our response to SALT.”
On Playland, Latimer made a slew of exciting announcements including the unveiling of the county’s new advertising campaign and introduced the new and improved “Coaster” – Playland’s mascot. Latimer also announced that the county will be partnering with “The Peak” to bring live radio broadcasts to the park and repurposing space with a new Playland Museum and a Playland Art Gallery.
Latimer said: “Let us consider Playland. I believe what most of my predecessors believed; this is the jewel of our parks system. While there are still many unanswered questions about Playland’s governance, which we hope to resolve in the next few weeks, one thing I can tell you with total certainty is – it is going to be a great summer at the park. We are committed to improving the park’s energy and results in 2019.”
Latimer closed with a challenge to all residents to understand that while we may have differences, there is even more that unites us: “Now, it falls to you and me, to strive so that everyone can realize that opportunity. That we rise to the challenges at hand, that we find common ground – Democrats and Republicans; women and men; young, old and middle-aged; all religions; all skin colors. The greatest challenge is to give people hope, that we can rebuild trust, by accomplishing tangible things that benefit their lives. That challenge is greater than any one bill, any one budget. It is greater than any one speech, and it is greater than any one county executive.”
