Editors' Picks: Most Important News Of 2019 In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — In a year full of news, your Patch editors submit that three Hudson Valley stories top the list of most important: the measles outbreak, which put Rockland County in the national Centers for Disease Control's record books; the demolition of the Tappan Zee Bridge, watched onshore, online or on TV by thousands; and the retirement announcement from Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

Bridge

The last span of the Tappan Zee Bridge was dismantled in May. SEE: Last Span Of The Tappan Zee Bridge Dismantled VIDEO. But it was the operation to bring down the unstable east anchor span of the old bridge in January that received the most attention: Tappan Zee Bridge Span Comes Down With Controlled Explosion.

The final demolition was the end of a process to replace the TZB that itself spanned two decades. The TZB opened to traffic in 1955 and, until its retirement in 2017, was a vital artery for residents, commuters, travelers and commercial traffic with 140,000 vehicles crossing per day, far more than it was designed to support.

Measles

The measles outbreak ended in September, 11 months after it started with international travelers visiting or returning to Rockland County infected with the highly contagious disease. During its course, Rockland officials wielding emergency public-health power fought in court with anti-vaxxers furious that their children were being banned from school: Parents Sue Rockland Over Measles Restrictions. Officials also found the disease was spreading in communities where residents were refusing to work with health officials: Measles Outbreak: Uncooperative Rocklanders Lead To More Cases.

Rockland had 312 reported cases by the time the outbreak was declared over in September: Rockland County Only Ongoing Measles Outbreak Nationwide.

Retirement

In October, Rep. Nita Lowey, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, announced she would not seek re-election to Congress at the end of 2020: Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey Announces Retirement. Almost immediately, contenders began announcing plans to seek the Democratic nomination: Candidates To Speak At 17th District Congressional Forum. Following that, candidates began announcing their runs for the seats of the people running for the New York 17th: Town Supervisor To Seek 93rd NY Assembly Seat. The ripple effects will transform the region's politics just as the departure of the second most powerful woman in Congress will change that body.