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Pay Bump Approved For Westchester County Executive: Here's By How Much Pay Bump Approved For Westchester County Executive: Here's By How Much
Pay Bump Approved For Westchester County Executive: Here's By How Much County officials have approved a nearly $70,000 pay increase for Westchester's next leader.  In a meeting earlier in December, the Westchester County Board of Legislators Committee on Budget and Appropriations approved a $69,240 salary increase for the position of County Executive.  This brings the position's salary from $160,760 to $230,000, according to county budget documents.  In a weekly update held on Monday, Dec. 16, County Executive George Latimer explained his reasoning behind the pay bump, saying that it would make sure the position is "properly compensated in…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Leaked Members List Of Far-Right Militia Group Oath Keepers Includes 5 NY Elected Officials Leaked Members List Of Far-Right Militia Group Oath Keepers Includes 5 NY Elected Officials
Leaked Members List Of Far-Right Militia Group Oath Keepers Includes 5 NY Elected Officials Several elected officials in New York are among thousands of names appearing on leaked membership lists for the far-right extremist militia group, the Oath Keepers, according to a report released Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Center on Extremism examined more than 38,000 names on leaked Oath Keepers membership rolls and identified more than 470 people who currently work in law enforcement or serve in the military. It also identified more than 80 people who were running for or served in public office as of early August 2022. The names were pulled from a cache of da…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19: Some NY Restaurant Workers, Taxi Drivers, Others Could Soon Be Eligible For Vaccine COVID-19: Some NY Restaurant Workers, Taxi Drivers, Others Could Soon Be Eligible For Vaccine
Covid-19: Some NY Restaurant Workers, Taxi Drivers, Others Could Soon Be Eligible For Vaccine With additional allocations of COVID-19 vaccines expected by the federal government in the next few weeks, local governments will have the option to determine whether taxi drivers, restaurant workers, and facilities for the developmentally disabled are eligible to be vaccinated moving forward. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that in the next three weeks, the federal government will be increasing the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine doses to states by more than 20 percent, and will be upping the allocation of doses directly to pharmacies by 10 percent, allowing for additional flexibility loca…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Westchester Mayor, Comptroller At Odds Over City Finances, Lack Of Transparency Westchester Mayor, Comptroller At Odds Over City Finances, Lack Of Transparency
Westchester Mayor, Comptroller At Odds Over City Finances, Lack Of Transparency Drastic cuts could be coming to one of Westchester’s largest cities as the Mayor butts heads with the City Comptroller. Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and the City Council recently held a joint press conference regarding Comptroller Deborah Reynolds and her “lack of transparency, accountability, and professionalism,” that has left the city at a financial crossroads. According to Patterson-Howard, as the city and state continue combating the COVID-19 crisis, Mount Vernon requires Reynolds to release more than $12 million, or austerity measures may be put in place, including a 25 …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: All NY Restaurants, Bars Will Close Again If Measures Aren't Enforced, Cuomo Says COVID-19: All NY Restaurants, Bars Will Close Again If Measures Aren't Enforced, Cuomo Says
Covid-19: All NY Restaurants, Bars Will Close Again If Measures Aren't Enforced, Cuomo Says All restaurants and bars in New York could potentially be forced to close again after mass gatherings of non-socially distanced patrons amid the COVID-19 pandemic were reported over the weekend,  Gov. Andrew Cuomo is warning. If crowds continue congregating pandemic, failing to socially distance or wear face coverings, "the bad restaurant and bar owners are going to make it worse for the good ones," Cuomo said. "We did the impossible as New Yorkers - we stepped up and conquered the COVID-19 virus and now we have to protect the progress that we have made," Cuomo said.  "…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NY Businesses Can Be Immediately Shut Down For Reopening Violations Under New Order COVID-19: NY Businesses Can Be Immediately Shut Down For Reopening Violations Under New Order
Covid-19: NY Businesses Can Be Immediately Shut Down For Reopening Violations Under New Order New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a warning shot to businesses that fail to comply with the state’s guidelines for reopening the economy. Cuomo announced that he is signing an Executive Order that will strengthen state enforcement of reopening rules, and businesses in violation could be subject to an immediate shutdown issue. “We need local governments to do their part,” Cuomo said during his daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, June 18 in New York City. “Violations of the rules and regulations will allow the State Liquor Authority to issue an immediate suspension of liquor licenses, and …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: 'Who's Bailing Out Whom?' Says Cuomo, Taking On Republican Senators COVID-19: 'Who's Bailing Out Whom?' Says Cuomo, Taking On Republican Senators
Covid-19: 'Who's Bailing Out Whom?' Says Cuomo, Taking On Republican Senators New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking on Republican lawmakers who have made comments about “blue state bailouts” during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During his daily COVID-19 briefing, Cuomo again took on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) and added first-term Sen. Rick Scott (Florida) to his line of fire. Both said providing federal aid to states hit hard by the crisis would amount to a bailout and some states should file for bankruptcy. Related - COVID-19: 'I Dare You,' Says Cuomo, Firing Back At Mitch McConnell Over State Bankruptcy Cuomo again made note tha…

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by Zak Failla
News
Police Commissioner Arrested By His Own Officers In Mount Vernon Due To Appear In Court Police Commissioner Arrested By His Own Officers In Mount Vernon Due To Appear In Court
Police Commissioner Arrested By His Own Officers In Mount Vernon Due To Appear In Court The newly sworn-in police commissioner in Mount Vernon - who was arrested in City Hall this week and detained for nine hours - is scheduled to appear in court. Former Police Commissioner Shawn Harris was reappointed as the Commissioner of Public Safety in charge of the Mount Vernon Police Department by acting Mayor Andre Wallace, amid controversies at City Hall about whether Wallace or Mayor Richard Thomas is in charge of the city. On Tuesday, July 16, Harris was taken into police custody while attempting to enter police headquarters and he was charged with criminal trespassing. Harris is …

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Town Board Member, Ex-Greenburgh Police Officer Dies At 63 Town Board Member, Ex-Greenburgh Police Officer Dies At 63
Town Board Member, Ex-Greenburgh Police Officer Dies At 63 Kevin Morgan, a beloved Greenburgh Town Board member, and retired Greenburgh police detective has died. Morgan, a lifelong resident of Elmsford, died following a short battle with cancer on Thursday, April 4. He was 63. Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said the world lost a good man when Morgan passed away. "Greenburgh Councilman Kevin Morgan was a good man," he said. "Kevin was a good family man – devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren." Feiner went on to say that Morgan was a good councilman, a good police officer, and a good neighbor.  "Kevin was extremely we…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Latimer Takes 'Wait And See' Stance On Legalization Of Marijuana Latimer Takes 'Wait And See' Stance On Legalization Of Marijuana
Latimer Takes 'Wait And See' Stance On Legalization Of Marijuana While many lawmakers and law enforcement officials are making public statements against Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to legalize marijuana for adult use, Westchester County's leader is taking a "wait and see," stance. County Executive George Latimer said while he respects their decision to draw a line early on, he prefers to wait in Westchester. “While opting out may be a provision of the final bill, it should be noted that it does not affect the legal use or possession of marijuana in the County," Latimer said. "The impact that it will have is to prohibit the sales or culti…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Longtime Westchester Legislator John Testa Will Not Seek Re-Election Longtime Westchester Legislator John Testa Will Not Seek Re-Election
Longtime Westchester Legislator John Testa Will Not Seek Re-Election The Westchester County legislature will have a new Republican minority leader next year with John Testa's announcement that he will not seek reelection. After more than two decades serving as an elected official in Westchester, Testa announced on Thursday that he will not run for reelection in 2019 at the conclusion of his fifth term as a county legislator. Before becoming a county legislator representing Cortlandt, Peekskill and Yorktown - including six years as the minority leader for the Board - Testa was elected in 1997 as a Peekskill City Councilman and then served three terms as mayor…

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by Zak Failla
Real Estate
Proposed Elmwood Country Club Townhouse Development Up To 175 Units Proposed Elmwood Country Club Townhouse Development Up To 175 Units
Proposed Elmwood Country Club Townhouse Development Up To 175 Units The new owner of the former Elmwood Country Club in Greenburgh wants to build a 175-unit townhouse community for people age 55 and older.Ridgewood Real Estate Partners, which bought the 106-acre mostly open space along Dobbs Ferry Road for $13 million last year thinks that senior citizens remain an underserved population in Westchester County. Officials at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development who battled former County Executive Rob Astorino for years over a HUD lawsuit settlement, mostly agree, as reported here by Daily Voice.  The former golf course's neighbors -- similar t…

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by Jon Craig