By Dan Murphy
Even though the Westchester County budget for 2020 has been passed by the county board and signed into law by County Executive George Latimer, some Westchester residents refuse to let the matter fade away. Rising newspapers continued to receive letters to the editor over the holidays and into the new year objecting to the amount of increase, 52 percent, and to the way in which the county board handled the issue.
Late last year, the County Board of Legislators amended Latimer’s proposed budget to include a 52 percent salary increase for themselves. And while the BOL had not received a pay raise in 15 years, six county legislators – three republicans and three democrats – voted against the salary increase for different reasons.
North Castle resident Anthony Futia Jr., who has served as a watchdog in his community and in New York State for decades, has started a petition drive aimed at putting the salary increases on a referendum for a public vote.
In a letter to the editor, Futia wrote:
“I cannot possibly be the only person that is appalled by the fact that our 17 Westchester County legislators promptly raised their own salaries after being elected this year, as did the supervisor of the Town of Harrison and the State of New York legislators.
“The overwhelming majority of the citizens of the State of New York are not aware that there is a New York State Constitution, much less whether their local and state governments are in compliance with its terms and conditions.
“Pertaining to elected and appointed officials, Article III, Section 6 of the New York Constitution reads in relevant part, ‘Neither the salary of any member nor any other allowance so fixed may be increased or diminished during, and with respect to, the term for which he or she shall have been elected, nor shall he or she be paid or receive any other extra compensation. The provision of this section and laws enacted in compliance herewith shall govern and be exclusively controlling, according to their terms.’
“Although I notified the Westchester County Board of Legislators on Nov. 27 and Dec. 3 that this salary increase is, in fact, in violation of our Constitution, 10 legislators chose to vote in favor of increases for themselves. I am organizing a referendum on petition so that the electors of Westchester County will be able to vote on the salary increases of their representatives.
“I encourage all Westchester County residents that would like to be involved to contact me by email at Futia2@optonline.net.” (End of Futia letter.)
Yonkers resident Jerry Longarzo also wrote a letter to comment against the salary increases.
“Having read that 10 members of the supermajority in the County Legislature voted themselves a 52 percent raise reminds me of the taglines for the superman character – ‘Faster than a speeding bullet’ – at picking the pockets of the taxpayers in one of the most highly-taxed counties in the nation.
“‘More powerful than a locomotive’ – when that locomotive is clearly a self-serving gravy train. It would appear that the superpower of these 10 county legislators is the self-serving ability to line their pockets because they have the power to do so.
“Perhaps what is needed here is the kryptonite of voter awareness and voter disapproval regarding those county legislators who, in essence, thumb their nose at county taxpayers, especially those who are struggling to make ends meet. Kudos to those county legislators – three Democrats and three Republicans – who at least did not stamp their own ticket for the gravy train by refusing to vote for such an outrageous salary increase.
“It has been said that politicians count on the electorate having very short memories. Perhaps as taxpayers, we need to remind ourselves of these outrageous increases every time we open our wallet or our pocketbook to pay ever-increasing bills. The question that all county voters should ask themselves is: How many more dollars will be lifted out of my wallet/pocketbook in order to fund a 52 percent raise?
“Mr. Murphy, I think it would be appropriate if the names of the legislators who voted both for and against these raises be listed.” (End of Longarzo letter.)
Ten county legislators voted “yes” on the salary increases, including County Board Chairman Ben Boykin, Majority Leader Catherine Parker, and legislators Catherine Borgia, Christopher Johnson, Margaret Cunzio, MaryJane Shimsky, Michael Kaplowitz, Kitley Covill, Alfreda Williams and Lyndon Williams.
Six county legislators voted “no,” including republicans Gordon Burrows, John Testa and David Tubiolo; and democrats Damon Maher, Terry Clements and Nancy Barr.
County Legislator Virginia Perez was absent from the meeting on the day of the vote.
Two more letters we received sum up the sentiment of many residents, homeowners and taxpayers in Westchester about the salary increases. Contrary to the opinions of Futia and Longarzo, some residents agree that a salary increase for county legislators is warranted, but they objected to the large, 52 percent increase in one year, and the veil of secrecy placed over the vote until the final days of the year heading into the holidays.
New Rochelle resident Allison Lucid wrote: “While I agree that county legislators deserve a salary increase if they have not been given an increase in 15 years, why would they vote on their own increase, and try to push through a 52 percent increase in one vote and in one year?
“I am sure there was someone in county government, or from the Democratic Party in Westchester, who told the 10 county legislators that voted ‘yes,’ that 52 percent was a bit too much for the taxpayers to take in one shot. Why not split the salary increase over two years? Somebody on the County Board is tone deaf to their constituents… the people of Westchester.”
Catherine Pensel from Rye objected to the lack of notice given to the public before the BOL’s salaries were increased. “I don’t really have an objection to my legislator, or any county legislator, receiving a salary increase, but I do object to the lack of transparency given to the public on this matter,” she wrote.
“Almost all of our elected officials today like to use that word – ‘transparency’ – but in this case, even the six county legislators who voted ‘no’ on the salary increases said they were not given any notice, or time, to share the salary increase plan with the public before taking a vote.
“It is my understanding that County Executive Latimer presented his proposed budget without salary increases for the County Board or for himself. If that is the case, then the moment the County Board, led by Chairman Ben Boykin, decided to increase their own pay, they should have shared it with the public and with the media. Shame on those legislators who knew but didn’t share it with the public; now it looks like a dirty little secret they tried to hide from us,” wrote Pensel.
A final letter was written from a member of the Westchester Conservative Party, Richard Sherman from Bedford.
“I wish to submit this letter in opposition to County Legislator Margaret Cunzio, and her vote for the legislative pay increase, passed in the waning days of 2019,” he wrote.
“While the rest of Westchester was busy preparing for Christmas or Chanukah, Legislator Cunzio voted for a 52 percent pay hike for the holidays, as your paper printed in your headline. As a registered member of the Conservative Party in Westchester, I find it appalling that Legislator Cunzio, also a registered conservative, voted ‘yes’ to increase her pay and the pay of the entire County Board.
“I believe real conservatives should stand for fiscal conservatism, as well as conservative on social issues. Cunzio’s vote for salary increases was not a conservative vote. Will Ms. Cunzio also be switching parties and become a democrat soon? She was not opposed in her re-election bid in 2019, which I found surprising,” wrote Sherman.
