By Dan Murphy
The back and forth between Congressman Mike Lawler and Westchester County, over a new contract for the Westchester County Police officers, continues.
First is was Lawler who posted his support for a new contract for the Westchester County PBA. “The men and women of the Westchester County Police Department have gone three years without a contract. In that time, the county has not promoted a single sergeant or lieutenant, and the department is down three captains, five lieutenants, and five sergeants. It has gotten so bad that the county is pulling supervising officers out of the Westchester County Airport Precinct just to cover minimum patrol staffing. That airport handles over 170,000 flights a year, and the federal government is investing nearly $18 million to modernize its air traffic control, funding I helped deliver in Congress. I stand with the men and women of the Westchester County Police PBA. County Executive Ken Jenkins should immediately settle a fair contract and make the promotions.The officers who keep Westchester County safe have earned that much, and they will have my full support. Westchester County Police PBA,” said Lawler.
Next, Westchester County Communications Director Catherine Cioffi issued the following response: “It takes an extraordinary level of hypocrisy for Mike Lawler to lecture anyone in Westchester County about public safety, responsible government or protecting working people. This is a ‘Congressman’ who has stood with Donald Trump while his administration decimated the federal workforce and dismantled critical government services. This is a ‘Congressman’ who has cast votes that have made food, gas and health care more expensive for the very families he claims to represent. And now, apparently desperate for another political headline, Lawler has decided to manufacture a public safety crisis in Westchester that simply does not exist.
“Every unit within the County’s Department of Public Safety has appropriate supervision and is overseen by a Captain. There are currently 43 Sergeants in the Department; when the five vacancies are filled, there will be 48. More importantly, Westchester County is safer today than when Lawler served in the Astorino administration, and the Department is funded at the highest level ever. Those are not political talking points – but facts, backed by budgets, staffing levels and public safety data.
“We respect collective bargaining, and we remain committed to reaching a fair resolution. Unfortunately, Lawler appears more interested in following the Trump political playbook: repeat a falsehood loudly enough from a soapbox and hope voters mistake it for the truth.
“Maybe instead of lecturing Westchester County about how to run a government, Lawler should spend some time explaining everything he has done in Washington – and why Westchester families are paying the price for it,” said Cioffi who made the statement on behalf of County Executive Ken Jenkins who was on vacation.
The Westchester PBA stated, “The Westchester County Police PBA thanks Congressman Mike Lawler for his public support of our members, and for the large role he played in securing nearly $18 million in federal funding to modernize air traffic control at the Westchester County Airport.
“We are grateful he put that support on the record. Our officers stand ready. We welcome, with open arms, any elected official of any party who is willing to stand with this union and get behind the men and women who keep Westchester safe.
“County Executive Ken Jenkins should settle a fair contract without further delay. Our members have earned it, and Westchester County should deliver it.”
Lawler issued the next salvo, directed at Jenkins. “Ken, I’m sorry that your Aruba vacation was interrupted, but this isn’t “manufactured” and I certainly didn’t make it up. The Westchester County PBA held a press conference just a few weeks ago making this point.
“I’m proud to stand with them and in support of them, as I always have. Instead of playing politics, you should settle the contract, make the promotions, and stop moving people out of the airport to cover patrols.
“Furthermore, since you are so very concerned about these issues you outlined, you’ve been given numerous opportunities to meet with me, stand with me at events, and work together on these issues or highlight key wins for Westchester County.
“Sadly you’ve been too petrified of Suzanne Berger to do so. Like when you refused to show up at the airport to announce $18 million in funding, lest you actually have to say thank you. It’s quite pathetic. But keep doing you. By the way, that’s quite the political response on an official government account,” said Lawler