Astorino Presents His "State of the County Report" to the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit

By Janet O’Connell

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino returned for a lively fourth visit to the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit to present his “State of the County Report” on December 8, 2015.

Astorino recently proposed a $1.8 billion County budget (the same as last year), which he considers “tough but fair”. Westchester is the highest-tax county in the country, which means Westchester County residents are the most highly taxed citizens in the United States. Astoria said it is important to hold the line on tax increases, as high taxes are detrimental to our economy and our County.

A million and a half people have left the state in the last fourteen years, mostly to Florida, Astorino said, adding, “We must balance between what we love, what we expect, what we need and want. We must continue to balance to find ways to do things better and more efficiently.” The County’s workforce is down by 18 percent since Astorino entered office, mostly through attrition. He noted that the average salary is $130,000, which includes free health care, pensions, and longevity bonuses each year. (Astorino’s comments raise the question whether many New Yorkers are leaving because they want to spend their retirement in warmer states, rather than just fleeing high tax rates.)

Regarding Playland, Astorino said that after a lengthy negotiation period, the County signed an agreement with a private company to take over the park’s refurbishing, maintenance and operations. The company will spend about $25 million in capital improvements over a seven-year period, to improve safety and add new rides. The County will receive $2.5 million from the company initially and then $300,000 a year. After seven years, the County will receive 7.5 percent of any profits.

Astorino did not explicitly answer a question whether keeping taxes level will eventually result in a decline in services. However, the County Executive said that the challenge is that state and federal government aid has declined while the County and the local municipalities are still required to pay for unfunded mandates: almost $1.4 billion or 75 percent of the County’s budget.

One person asked about cuts in the budget for three non-profits that help the “most vulnerable in our midst. If they don’t get help from the County, where do you suggest they get help?” Astorino responded that by taking corrective measures, he had, for instance, stabilized and strengthened the County’s day care programs. He added they were hopeful that private philanthropy would fill some of the gaps.

Regarding the Save the Sound litigation, which mandated that local communities and municipalities maintain aging sewers and water lines, Astorino advocates capital expenditures for infrastructure, which he feels is the essence of what governments should be doing. However, he made it clear that all repairs would not be made at the same time. Every single person benefits when we have good roads, water and sewage systems, he argued, while the benefits from art programs are less broadly distributed.

Astorino was asked about the County’s approval for Spectra Energy to expand the width of a natural gas pipeline in Blue Mountain Park. That individual noted that Parks Commissioner, Kathleen O’Connor, rather than Astorino, signed the agreement with Spectra Energy. The questioner suggested that Astorino had received campaign support from the gas and oil industry and asked if he avoided signing the agreement as a result.

Astorino pointed out that the pipeline affects 5 acres in a 1,500-acre park and has been located in the park since 1952. The federal government approved the change sought by the company. The pipeline is the company’s property – not the County’s – and Spectra wants to improve its aging property to prevent leaks. The company will restore the parkland and will pay the County $2 million as compensation for any damage. Astorino said he took no campaign funds from the oil and gas industry or Spectra, and added, “Of course the Commissioner had the right to sign the agreement.”

Holding a sign that read “In a Blast Zone” a woman asserted that the proposed pipeline was so near the county’s nuclear plant that she was concerned for the safety of her children. When Astorino replied, “You can move,” she declared that she was unable to sell her home.

Astorino also spoke about the litigation brought by the federal government against Westchester County, in which the County has argued that it has built a sufficient number of affordable housing units. Astorino maintained that the County is doing what it originally committed to do but the federal government started making new demands and changed the rules. The Chappaqua housing project allowed the County to satisfy the federal demands for affordable units, Astorino said, and he noted that a magistrate had ruled that Westchester had fulfilled its obligations.

There has been no finding of intentional discrimination in Westchester, and the County will not be penalized, Astorino said. The County will not accept federal funds for housing projects in the future, he added.

Another participant asked about the specific costs related to gun violence in Westchester. (Astorino does not advocate stronger gun controls). Astorino did not know the specific costs, but he added that the County has been proactive with an initiative called Safer Communities that was developed after the massacre in Newtown, CT.

The Safer Community program works with mental health professionals to identify and work with children who might become violent and harm other students. The County is also coordinating training programs for law enforcement agents on every level to prepare them to handle hostage situations.

As the meeting was ending, a group of demonstrators stood up and raised banners protesting Astorino’s handling of the pipeline issue. They chanted slogans indicating their belief that the decision to approve the pipeline was not impartial.

This breakfast forum was hosted by The Larchmont/Mamaroneck Local Summit, an informal community council that seeks to make life better for all in the tri-municipal area. The Summit meets each month at the Nautilus Diner in Mamaroneck at 7:45 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. The next breakfast meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 19, and will feature Milan Bhatt, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Community Resource Center (formerly the Hispanic Resource Center).