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Politics
Latimer’s Exit: County Executive to Deliver Farewell Before Taking Congressional Seat Latimer’s Exit: County Executive to Deliver Farewell Before Taking Congressional Seat
Latimer’s Exit: County Executive to Deliver Farewell Before Taking Congressional Seat As Westchester County Executive George Latimer prepares to be sworn in as a US Congressman representing New York’s 16th Congressional District, he has scheduled when he will say farewell to his current position.  Latimer, age 70, will give his farewell address on Monday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. The speech will be live-streamed on Facebook, according to county officials.  Following these remarks, Latimer’s resignation will take effect a few days later on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 12:01 p.m., he said during a public address in November.  Latimer will then transition to hi…

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by Ben Crnic
News
New Townhouse Community Planned In Northern Westchester Moves Closer To Approval New Townhouse Community Planned In Northern Westchester Moves Closer To Approval
New Townhouse Community Planned In Northern Westchester Moves Closer To Approval A proposed over-100-unit adult townhouse community that would generate a large amount of property taxes for a Northern Westchester school district has cleared a major hurdle. The Yorktown Town Board has approved a zoning change for a proposed 118-unit, age-restricted townhouse development at the Catharine Field Home property on Catherine Street, officials announced on Monday, Dec. 16. The project, led by developer Toll Brothers, would sit on a 50.5-acre parcel and include a clubhouse, pool, roads, and a stormwater management system as part of the new age 55+ community. The plan follows mor…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Westchester's Deputy Executive Announces Run For County's Top Position Westchester's Deputy Executive Announces Run For County's Top Position
Westchester's Deputy Executive Announces Run For County's Top Position Now that Westchester County Executive George Latimer will be serving in Congress, another top county official has announced his bid to take his place.  In an announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 12, Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins revealed his candidacy for the county's top position.  Jenkins' candidacy follows Latimer's victory in the race for New York's 16th Congressional District seat. Since Latimer will be heading to Congress, Jenkins said he believes he is ready to take on the job. Earlier Report - Election 2024: Winner Projected In 16th Congressional District…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Trump Forces Northern Westchester School District To Subsidize Golf Course, Report Says Trump Forces Northern Westchester School District To Subsidize Golf Course, Report Says
Trump Forces Northern Westchester School District To Subsidize Golf Course, Report Says Former President Donald Trump’s wheeling and dealings have reportedly left a New York school district in a lurch. For years, the Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff was the subject of a battle with the local government over its property tax bill, where the property’s value was inflated by the Trump Organization as part of a scheme that is being investigated by the Westchester District Attorney and New York Attorney General. Earlier story - NY Attorney General Subpoenas Donald Trump In Civil Fraud Inquiry Into His Business Practices Following a victory in court in the summer …

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by Zak Failla
News
Court Dismisses Legion Of Christ Lawsuit Against Mount Pleasant Court Dismisses Legion Of Christ Lawsuit Against Mount Pleasant
Court Dismisses Legion Of Christ Lawsuit Against Mount Pleasant A civil discrimination lawsuit filed by the Legion of Christ against a Northern Westchester town has been tossed out after a judge found no credible evidence to back their claims. The New York State Supreme Court dismissed a civil rights lawsuit filed by the religious group against the Town of Mount Pleasant over a dispute about the Legion’s former land in Thornwood. Officials said that the Legion of Christ sued Mount Pleasant for religious discrimination after the Town determined that the Legion’s undeveloped, 161-acre property in Thornwood was taxable. Related story - Thornwood Legion S…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Essential Services Won't Be Cut In 2021 Westchester Budget, Latimer Says Essential Services Won't Be Cut In 2021 Westchester Budget, Latimer Says
Essential Services Won't Be Cut In 2021 Westchester Budget, Latimer Says Despite the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Westchester County Executive George Latimer has proposed a new budget that includes a property tax cut without cutting any essential services. Latimer said that the budget proposal will include a $15 million cut in total spending while cutting the property tax levy by $1 million for the second straight year. The tax reduction comes with no increase to the county’s sales tax, there will be no layoffs or reduction in essential services in Westchester. According to Latimer, the county was able to balance this year’s budget w…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Here's When Westchester Sales Tax Increase Takes Effect Here's When Westchester Sales Tax Increase Takes Effect
Here's When Westchester Sales Tax Increase Takes Effect Shoppers in Westchester will be spending a little more after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill to increase sales tax in county municipalities. Cuomo signed the Westchester Property Tax Payer Protection Act on Sunday, June 30, which will increase sales tax by 1 percent - up to 8.375 - in the county’s 20 villages, 19 towns, and the cities of Peekskill and Rye. It takes effect on Aug. 1. As part of the bill, the property tax levy will remain flat for the next two years. The proposal is expected to help stabilize the county’s finances after losing its AAA rating - the highest r…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Voters Heading To Polls To Vote On School District Budgets In Westchester Voters Heading To Polls To Vote On School District Budgets In Westchester
Voters Heading To Polls To Vote On School District Budgets In Westchester Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 21 to vote on their school districts’ budget, proposed bonds and Board of Education races. In Westchester, no school districts are proposing budgets that override the cap on increasing property tax levies, a cap that was made permanent by Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this year. Multi-million dollar bond proposals will be voted on in four school districts - Briarcliff Manor, Irvington, Pleasantville and Somer - though there is expected to be limited tax implication. Briarcliff Manor’s nearly $3 million proposal would include a roof replacement at…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
New York's No. 1 - For Highest Taxes In Nation, According To New Data New York's No. 1 - For Highest Taxes In Nation, According To New Data
New York's No. 1 - For Highest Taxes In Nation, According To New Data A brand-new study has revealed that New York and Connecticut are paying the highest taxes in the country. 24/7 Wall Street released the report reviewing the “total tax burden as a share of income on a per capita basis” to identify the states with the lowest and highest tax burden. Federal taxes were not included in the calculations. The study found that New York led the way as the highest taxed state in the country, with 12.7 percent of income going toward taxes. Connecticut was just being at 12.6 percent. The study’s methodology can be found here. Details from the report include:  N…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Lawyer Named President Of National Association Of Property Tax Attorneys Westchester Lawyer Named President Of National Association Of Property Tax Attorneys
Westchester Lawyer Named President Of National Association Of Property Tax Attorneys A Westchester lawyer has been elected as the president of the National Association of Property Tax Attorneys (NAPTA). David C. Wilkes co-founded the national tax attorney association and has 14 years of leadership experience. He’s also the owner and founder of Wilkes Law Group in Tarrytown, which specializes in boutique real property litigation. Wilkes is a former chair of the Appraisal Foundation, which helps to set national appraisal standards and qualification requirements. He is a former chair of the American Bar Association Property Tax Committee and served as editor-in-chief of the mo…

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by Valerie Musson
Politics
Westchester's Andrea Stewart-Cousins Makes History As New State Senate Majority Leader Westchester's Andrea Stewart-Cousins Makes History As New State Senate Majority Leader
Westchester's Andrea Stewart-Cousins Makes History As New State Senate Majority Leader It’s official: New York Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Westchester has made political history, becoming the first woman to become the majority leader of the State Senate when she was sworn in on Wednesday. "When you think about it, not that long ago, women weren’t even allowed to walk on the floor of this chamber,” the Senator representing Yonkers said shortly after taking the Senate gavel on the opening day of the state Legislature's 2019 session. "I stand here the first woman leader of a legislative house in state history. And if we do this right, I cannot and will not be the last."&n…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Westchester Lawmakers Approve $2B Budget With Two-Percent Property Tax Increase Westchester Lawmakers Approve $2B Budget With Two-Percent Property Tax Increase
Westchester Lawmakers Approve $2B Budget With Two-Percent Property Tax Increase The Westchester County Board of Legislators has approved a near $2 billion budget that represents a property tax hike of 2 percent. Lawmakers approved the $1.9 billion budget on Monday, with the measure quickly signed off by Westchester County Executive George Latimer. (See video above.) The budget was approved by a 13-4 vote, with the support of county Democrats. Officials said that the tax rate increase is to help offset tens of millions of dollars in deficits that the county is currently operating against. There are no planned cuts to staff or service in the approved budget, which is con…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Latimer: Balancing Next Budget Calls For Creative, Tough Decisions Latimer: Balancing Next Budget Calls For Creative, Tough Decisions
Latimer: Balancing Next Budget Calls For Creative, Tough Decisions County Executive George Latimer said balancing next year's county budget requires creative solutions but also some tough decisions. Latimer has introduced his proposed $1.94 billion to the county Board of Legislators, which can revise the budget before its passage next month. In a Wednesday speech before the Business Council of Westchester, Latimer, a 65-year-old Democrat from Rye, said, "That was a fast year." He spoke to the group a year ago after defeating Republican Rob Astorino. Latimer pointed out that he inherited a multi-million dollar budget deficit and depleted reserves but …

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by Jon Craig
Business
Westchester County Loses AAA Credit Rating Westchester County Loses AAA Credit Rating
Westchester County Loses AAA Credit Rating Westchester’s financial report card saw its credit rating cut one level by two prominent agencies. Westchester County was notified by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings that the county’s financial outlook has been downgraded to AA+.  Moody’s assigned Aa1 to Westchester, officials announced on Tuesday afternoon. The county has now lost its AAA rating - the highest ranking available - in each of the Big 3 rating agencies. Bloomberg News cited Westchester's move to "draw down its cash reserves to cover retroactive raises given to government employees" as the primary reason fo…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
What A New County Executive Means For Westchester Business What A New County Executive Means For Westchester Business
What A New County Executive Means For Westchester Business Business leaders said they are optimistic about the future of Westchester County under the leadership of George Latimer as its chief executive officer. "The new county executive is committed to a positive business environment in Westchester, so we're very encouraged about that,'' said Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester. "I think there will be a continued focus on sustainability,'' Gordon told Daily Voice of the emphasis on moving toward greener, conservation-oriented office construction and energy-saving systems. There also will be a continued…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Latimer In For 'Difficult First Few Months,' Says Astorino Latimer In For 'Difficult First Few Months,' Says Astorino
Latimer In For 'Difficult First Few Months,' Says Astorino This story has been updated. Defeated Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino predicted his Democratic successor, George Latimer, will find himself boxed into a liberal-leaning agenda because of the “Trump factor” that elected him and the county Board of Legislators’ gain of three seats, giving it a 12 to 5 voting majority.  Democrats only enjoyed a 9 to 8 majority under Astorino, making it more difficult to block his more conservative agenda. “It is overwhelming when you first come in as he'll find out. ... It will be a difficult first few months,” Astorino told Daily Voice, saying his …

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by Jon Craig