Latimer Touts Investment in Law Enforcement
By Dan Murphy
Congressman Mondaire Jones tweeted the following on Election Day, “You’d never know it from the campaigns Republicans are running in the Hudson Valley, but Rockland and Westchester are the third and fourth safest counties in America. And Putnam isn’t far behind.”
The report that Jones referenced was from US News from June of this year. This was the first time that this reporter had heard about it, but all of us in Westchester have heard about the crime and violence that we see on social media and on TV over the past year.
So what is the disconnect between the two? Westchester County Executive George Latimer explained what his adminstration has done over the past five years at a recent news conference. “Is there a fear of crime? Sure there is a fear of crime. but is that fear warranted, based on things that are actually happening, or things that you hear about in other places?
Here in Westchester County, over an extended period of time, we’ve had an effective way to fight crime, to keep crime low, and that continues to this day. We have increased our funding for three county departments that provide for protection, the County Police Department (public safety), Department of Corrections, and Department of Probation.
“We have increased resources over the last number of years. Defund the police is a bogus argument. The County Police was funded at $40 Million in 2018 when we first came in. Now they are funded at $59 Million.
“When you put more cops out on the street, you increase the safety. We also have a strong use of technology to help police with real time crimes. We have top notch professionals working to keep us safe, and we have a low incidence of crime in general. A nd its lower now than it was five years ago-we are confident that we are on the right path. For you this means that when you want to go out to dinner, that you are safe in that environment,” said Latimer.
Westchester democrats point to this issue, crime and bail reform, as one that did not help republicans in Westchester county as much as expected on Election Day.
Westchester republicans agree that westchester is safe, but added, “What if we can’t go to New York City with the family anymore? What we are watching is not happening here, but it is happening nearby.”
Another republican said, “Ask yourself— are you better off today than you were six months ago? A year ago? Two years ago? 1 gallon of milk—October 2020: $3.89-November 2022: $4.59 1 package 4 sticks, store-brand butter—December 2020: $2.79-November: $4.59”
Another Westchester republican said, “Lawler’s victory is enough of a Red Wave for me. I think his victory will help republicans retake the House, and that puts an end to democrats total control of Washington.,”
Another Westchester Democrat adds, “Two years ago, we removed Trump from The White House. No more tax cuts, and the reason for inflation is the War in Ukraine and the lack of Russian oil in the market. Latimer is correct, we are safe in Westchester and I did not see the crime statistics until Congressman Jones posted that story.”
Finally, a moderate republican turned democrat said, “The best that we can hope for is divided government. President Biden won’t get what he wants and republicans in Congress won’t get what they want. Unfortunately, in this crazy political time, that is the best we can ask for.”
