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KATONAH, N.Y. David Buchwald has picked up a key endorsement in his run for the state's 93rd Assembly District seat.
Westchester County Board of Legislators Majority Leader Peter Harckham (D-Katonah) threw his support behind Buchwald at a press conference Wednesday near the Katonah train station.
Buchwald, the Democratic White Plains councilman running against incumbent Republican Robert Castelli, discussed his four-point plan to improve the economy in Westchester and bring good jobs back to the area.
Harckham said that, as an economic policy analyst, Buchwald understands the role government plays as an asset to creating jobs and as a friend, an ally to small businesses.
Buchwald explained his plan to improve business in Westchester: to invest in education in science and technology; to make investments in Westchesters infrastructure such as for mass transit aid; to coordinate work with local business groups, chambers of commerce and small business owners; and to pressure the state to roll back unfunded mandates, which, he said, are keeping property taxes high, and free up taxation burdens on businesses.
Large companies such as IBM established Northern Westchester as a great place to do business, Buchwald said. He said he is committed to maintaining this reputation by helping current businesses thrive and drawing new business to the area. We need to make sure were supporting the next IBMs, he said.
In his role as city councilman, Buchwald said, he pushed for a rezoning law for office parks that would allow for more scientific research companies to come in. As a result, he said, a company recently decided to bring its scientific research division to White Plains, bringing in 150 new jobs.
As a councilman, he also saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by going through the White Plains city budget line by line, he said.
Buchwald cited his work with chambers of commerce in Mount Kisco, Pound Ridge, White Plains and Chappaqua/Millwood to coordinate ideas on how to cut through the red tape that keeps new businesses from moving in.
We need a government that makes sure that it is a real partner with our local governments and school districts to see progress being made, he said. We simply cannot maintain that same one-size-fits-all mentality in New York State.
When it comes to investing in infrastructure, Buchwald said he is committed to making sure that the Tappan Zee Bridge reconstruction serves as a catalyst for expanding mass transit options in Westchester County, making it easier for people to get to these new jobs once they are created.
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