Astorino, County Legislators Protest Affordable Housing Recommendation

A recommendation by the federal government to punish Westchester County over alleged violations of an affordable housing decree is being met with anger and resistance by local legislators.

County Executive Rob Astorino and County Legislative Chairman Michael Kaplowitz are in agreement in the belief that United States Attorney Preet Bharara’s recommendation to fine and penalize the county is wrong. At issue are 28 units at the Chappaqua Station development complex in New Castle that the county stresses falls under the affordable housing guidelines, but the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development does not, reports The Daily Voice.

Astorino has scheduled a press conference for today, July 24, outside of Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s Chappaqua home to protest the federal government’s recommendation.

The county needed to approve funding for 454 affordable housing units, and believes the 28 Chappaqua Station ones should count toward that because they were approved prior to the 2014 deadline. The federal government disagrees.

Photo: Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino