Hudson Valley Officials Look Back At 2020, Forward To 2021

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — It's one thing to make resolutions and then choose not to act on them. It's another thing to have one's good intentions — and everyone else's — thwarted by a global pandemic. That is what local officials faced at the beginning of 2020 with only two months before society and the economy were shut down.

Patch had asked several local officials for their resolutions and priorities for 2020 and decided to revisit them as the calendar changes to what will hopefully be a much different year.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day saw potential in 2020, saying he wanted the county to continue building its surplus, after rebounding from a $138 million deficit. He also planned to invest in county government infrastructure, training and improving the workforce and conserving Rockland's natural, cultural and scenic resources.

He told Patch it was undeniable that the pandemic and events in 2020 were something no one expected to face.

"But I am proud of the adaptations we have made and the spirit we have shown in enduring these hardships," Day said, adding that the county acted quickly to the crisis by implementing austerity measures and a hiring freeze, along with filing for federal disaster assistance.

The worst estimates did not come to fruition, he said, as the economy reopened and sales tax revenue began to grow.

"As we move into 2021, if revenue continues to improve, we will look to end the hiring freeze as there are a number of needed positions within our Departments of Health, Social Services and others which need to be filled," Day said.

He asked people to remember, as lost friends and family are mourned, that the pandemic is not over and precautions, such as wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands, must still be taken to protect the community.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel, and by continuing with these practices until we are able to get vaccinated," Day said, "we will get through this and emerge stronger than ever before."

Across the Hudson River, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, at the end of 2019, that "we won't lack for hard work ahead of us in 2020."

He, no doubt, didn't have daily live news conferences about the rising new coronavirus infections for several weeks in mind.

"What happened was an exceptional set of circumstances," Latimer told Patch in a telephone interview. "We have to view it 'as all bets are off.' "

He had hoped to see major advancements in such issues as Playland, which was shuttered for the entire 2020 season because of the pandemic, and the implementation of a master plan at Westchester County Airport, which saw commercial traffic drop to nothing as travel ceased due to the coronavirus.

The county did recently reach a possible agreement over the management of the county-owned Playland with Standard Amusements, with whom there had been a lengthy dispute, to take over running the park in December 2021.

Latimer said there was a bright spot, though, in that the county was able to repave the runway at the airport — something that was sorely needed — faster and cheaper because air traffic had drastically decreased.

He said the county was able to find silver linings in services, all while the pandemic surged around its residents.

County personnel were innovative in finding ways to safely open pools and beaches, and Latimer said he considers the overwhelming popularity of the public golf courses to be a success.

"We know that people love golf, and it happens to be a social distancing sport," he said, adding that the courses saw a record year with more than 70,000 rounds played.

For 2021, with the promise of a vaccine to fight the coronavirus, Latimer said he is hoping for a return to normalcy and getting the economy back to where it was.

"That would be significant," he said.

Yorktown Supervisor Matthew Slater took office at the beginning of 2020, and had plans to make the town a leader in environmental conservation, attract new jobs and economic growth and communicate with the public.

"In retrospect, each of those things played a critically important role in how we addressed the challenges presented by COVID-19," he told Patch.

"As we look to 2021, we will remain laser-focused on winning the fight against the pandemic and recovering from the economic fallout it has caused," Slater said.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh also took office at the beginning of 2020.

"To say that I did not see what awaited us would be an understatement," he said to Patch.

He and his executive team worked to ensure proper protections for the office's employees, splitting the workforce into three separate locations.

Walsh said his office has not shut down during the pandemic and was able to draft new policy, adapt to remote court appearances and develop a discovery portal for law enforcement and defense counsel.

"As I look forward to 2021, I can say with absolute confidence that my office is ready to continue the highest level of professionalism and dedication that people of Rockland have come to expect," he said.

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said many of his goals for 2020 were achieved, at least partially, including concentrating on new sidewalks and crosswalks.

He also said an economic development committee was created and an economic development coordinator will be hired. New businesses have replaced vacant storefronts and grants for economic development initiatives are in the process of being obtained.

Feiner said 2021's goals include helping businesses survive the pandemic, lobbying Washington, D.C., for federal stimulus grants and implementing systems to make it easier for residents to file complaints, make requests and track follow-up actions.

Bedford Town Supervisor Chris Burdick is in the process of saying goodbye to one job and hello to another. He will be sworn in to represent the 93rd District, which includes Bedford, in the state Assembly.

He said 2020 looked to be "all speed ahead" in Bedford on such things as a new climate action plan, the first phase of a sewer project and a major renovation of the Bedford Hills Community House.

"Little did we know what was to come," Burdick said.

The town's first response was to protect the community as much as possible, he said, including first responders and employees who use town facilities and crafting and passing a budget for 2021 that stayed under the property tax cap and taking nothing out of reserves, all while delivering services without layoffs or furloughs.

Burdick will turn the reins over to MaryAnn Carr and take over from Assemblyman David Buchwald in Albany.

"You have my word that I will work as tirelessly in this new position as I have as supervisor," Burdick said.