DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Another Candidate Joins Crowded Democratic Primary Race For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat Another Candidate Joins Crowded Democratic Primary Race For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat
Another Candidate Joins Crowded Democratic Primary Race For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat The field of candidates interested in running for U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey's congressional seat in Westchester and Rockland counties continues to grow. On Thursday, Dec. 19, Westchester County Legislator and Democratic Majority Leader Catherine Parker of Rye announced her candidacy for Congress. Parker officially launched her campaign at an environmentally friendly house being renovated in Ossining.  “This building is emblematic of my commitment to the environment,” Parker said, “a home that can create as much energy as it uses. We have started down this path in Westch…

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by Jon Craig
Armonk, NY
Politics
Who Wants To Run For U.S. Congress? Who Wants To Run For U.S. Congress?
Who Wants To Run For U.S. Congress? Countdown, engines on, toward June 2020. The field of candidates interested in running for U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey's congressional seat in Westchester and Rockland counties continues to widen. Lowey, 82, of Harrison announced her retirement on Oct. 10. After serving 31 years, Lowey now chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee as a senior member of Congress. There are three announced Democratic candidates for the 17th Congressional District seat: state Sen. David Carlucci, state Assemblyman David Buchwald and attorney Mondaire-Jones.  For expanded coverage of polit…

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by Jon Craig
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
10-Plus Candidates Consider Primary Race For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat 10-Plus Candidates Consider Primary Race For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat
10-Plus Candidates Consider Primary Race For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat Politically speaking, 2020 is creeping into 2019.  The field of candidates interested in running for U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey's congressional seat in Westchester and Rockland counties is growing weekly. Lowey, 82, of Harrison announced her retirement on Oct. 10 after serving 31 years. She now chairs the House Appropriations Committee. There are three announced Democratic candidates for the 17th Congressional District seat. And there are at least five additional Democrats and two Republicans rounding up supporters and campaign cash for June 23, 2020 primary races. (Early voting begins …

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by Jon Craig
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Who's Up Next? Speculation Swirls About Possible Candidates For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat Who's Up Next? Speculation Swirls About Possible Candidates For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat
Who's Up Next? Speculation Swirls About Possible Candidates For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat Click here for an updated story: Chelsea Clinton Rules Out Congressional Run For Nita Lowey Seat -- For Now Can next year -- which coincides with President Trump's bid for re-election -- get politically crazier? In Westchester, it's guaranteed. With the 2020 retirement of U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey after 31 years in Congress comes a blue and red wave of potential candidates. Many of them have either strong local, or national name recognition. At 82 years old, Lowey also is one of the longest-serving members of Congress and enjoys seniority as chairwoman of the House Appropriations …

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by Jon Craig
White Plains, NY
Politics
Rob Astorino Gives Up On Trying To Get Back $9K Rolex Seized By FBI In Corruption Probe Rob Astorino Gives Up On Trying To Get Back $9K Rolex Seized By FBI In Corruption Probe
Rob Astorino Gives Up On Trying To Get Back $9K Rolex Seized By FBI In Corruption Probe This story has been updated. Federal investigators have finalized seizure of former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino's luxury Rolex Submariner watch. Astorino says he won't try to get it back. The watch, worth nearly $9,000, was partially paid for by a campaign donor later prosecuted for bribing New York City police officers and other public officials. According to court papers filed on Tuesday, June 11 in federal court, real estate developer Jona Rechnitz, who in 2013 gave $15,000 to Astorino’s re-election campaign, helped Astorino buy the watch from a store owner in Manhatt…

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by Jon Craig
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Standard Amusements, County Trade Barbs Over Canceled $25 Million Playland Contract Standard Amusements, County Trade Barbs Over Canceled $25 Million Playland Contract
Standard Amusements, County Trade Barbs Over Canceled $25 Million Playland Contract The battle over management of Playland Amusement Park has gotten nastier, making a costly, lengthy legal battle more likely. Playland is owned by Westchester County -- which in 2015 announced a $25 million deal with Standard Amusements L.L.C. to manage the amusement park. News about the original 15-year deal was reported here by Daily Voice with more detail about Standard Amusement's co-founder, Nicholas Singer, a native of Harrison, reported here. The contract was negotiated and signed in May 2016 by then-County Executive Rob Astorino's administration. Astorino, a…

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by Jon Craig
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Mount Kisco's Bill O'Reilly: Republican Politico Works Behind Scenes To Buck Rising Blue Wave Mount Kisco's Bill O'Reilly: Republican Politico Works Behind Scenes To Buck Rising Blue Wave
Mount Kisco's Bill O'Reilly: Republican Politico Works Behind Scenes To Buck Rising Blue Wave Who's the man behind New York's GOP curtain?  This consulting wizard has blue blood in his family roots as a political columnist and campaign strategist. By choice and profession, the Mount Kisco resident, formerly of Scarsdale and Manhattan, remains behind the scenes. As a teenager growing up during the Vietnam and Watergate eras, William F. B. O'Reilly said he was "always curious about politics of the day. The only thing I loved was current events." He said he hid his "nerdy" knack for listening to WINS news radio from his friends who would not have seen it as too cool while they we…

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by Jon Craig
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Latimer: Private Playland Management Contract Took County Taxpayers On A Costly Ride Latimer: Private Playland Management Contract Took County Taxpayers On A Costly Ride
Latimer: Private Playland Management Contract Took County Taxpayers On A Costly Ride It's been a bumpy decade for Playland Amusement Park in Rye. But for now, the county-owned Playland Amusement Park will continue to be operated by public employees.  This week, Westchester County Executive George Latimer of Rye announced an end to a 30-year contract that was negotiated with Standard Amusements during Rob Astorino's tenure as county executive. While the private management ride may be over at Playland for Standard Amusements, the company vowed a costly court challenge may just be starting. The management company said it has  spent more than $10 million to "restorin…

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by Jon Craig
Armonk, NY
Politics
Latimer Family Owes Nearly $42,000 In Property Taxes Latimer Family Owes Nearly $42,000 In Property Taxes
Latimer Family Owes Nearly $42,000 In Property Taxes This story has been updated. County Executive George Latimer's wife owes nearly $42,000 in county, city and school taxes on the estate, according to public records. Robin Latimer's mother, Alice Phelps, resided at 60 Roosevelt Ave. in Rye, a home that Latimer's wife inherited after her death. In these public records, Robin Phelps Latimer is listed as owner of the property -- and owes at least $35,531 in Rye City School District taxes for six years dating back to 2012; 6,053 in city taxes plus some penalties for three years; and $5,814 in county taxes for two years. Latimer relea…

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by Jon Craig
White Plains, NY
Politics
Key Things To Know About Westchester's Proposed 2019 Budget Key Things To Know About Westchester's Proposed 2019 Budget
Key Things To Know About Westchester's Proposed 2019 Budget It's still subject to review and approval by the county Board of Legislators, but Westchester County Executive George Latimer has proposed his annual spending plan for 2019. The $1.94 billion budget maintains vital county government services, leaves the "rainy day" emergency fund intact and stays within the state-mandated tax cap. Delivering on last year's promise to "move Westchester," the Democrat from Rye released his first operating budget.  “I am proud to present this budget to Westchester taxpayers and the Board of Legislators – my partner in responsible government," Latimer sai…

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by Jon Craig
White Plains, NY
Politics
Widow Of Slain NYPD Officer Calls On Cuomo To Debate GOP Challenger Molinaro Widow Of Slain NYPD Officer Calls On Cuomo To Debate GOP Challenger Molinaro
Widow Of Slain Nypd Officer Calls On Cuomo To Debate GOP Challenger Molinaro The widow of murdered New York City Police Officer Joseph Piagentini, whose assassin was given early release and voting rights by Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this year, called out Cuomo on national television on Monday, Oct. 15 for refusing to debate his opponent, the Republican county executive of Dutchess County. "I would like to see you debate Marc Molinaro," Diane Piagentini said to Cuomo on "Fox & Friends."  A clip of Piagentini’s challenge to the governor from New Castle is available by clicking here. NYPD Officer Piagentini was one of three officers murdered by…

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by Jon Craig
White Plains, NY
Politics
Latimer Says County Faces 'Fiscal Mess' Due To $32 Million Budget Deficit Latimer Says County Faces 'Fiscal Mess' Due To $32 Million Budget Deficit
Latimer Says County Faces 'Fiscal Mess' Due To $32 Million Budget Deficit This story has been updated. County Executive George Latimer said that as anticipated, Westchester's operating budget has a deficit of more than $32 million. Latimer, a Democrat from Rye, said on Tuesday, June 26 that he inherited shaky financial conditions former County Executive Rob Astorino of Mount Pleasant. Latimer said: "Our Administration took office on Jan. 1, 2018; we have inherited this 2017 deficit from the prior Administration, and it negatively impacts our current 2018 budget, and projections for the 2019 budget which will be in preparation beginning this summer." W…

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by Jon Craig