Latimer and Environmentalists Criticize Astorino Airport Plans

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Today at Westchester County Airport, George Latimer, Democratic nominee for Westchester County Executive was joined by members of Citizens for a Responsible County Airport, activists from environmental organizations such as Sierra Club, Sustainable Westchester, and Westchester Environmentalists for Latimer, as well as local elected officials, Purchase College students, and supporters to blast Rob Astorino's airport privatization scheme.

“The drinking water supply for almost 9 million people lies in very short proximity to where we are standing right now,” noted Ed Berry, Political Chair of Sierra Club’s Atlantic Chapter (NY State), “So any privatization or expansion of the airport in itself endangers that water supply.”

Residents have been concerned about catastrophic impacts of Astorino's backroom privatization deal on Westchester's natural resources. The deal would incentivize the corporate operator to increase flights and weaken environmental protections at the airport. Astorino, who paid a record fine to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for groundwater contamination of deicing fluid, ended the airport's groundwater monitoring program in 2011.

The concern comes at a time when there is a lack of federal and local leadership on matters relating to the environment. A few weeks ago, Trump announced his repeal of the Obama era Clean Power Plan. Similarly, earlier in his tenure, Astorino eliminated the County's climate change taskforce.

"The Trump/Astorino anti-environmental agenda is out of touch with Westchester's values. In selling off our County airport, Rob Astorino is playing politics with our air, our soil, and our drinking water. We can't have an elected official who sells off our environment to make up for a budget gap," said Latimer.

A dozen students from nearby Purchase College marched from their campus center 4 miles away to the airport’s iconic entrance. They arrived holding a large sign marked “Save Our Water” and “Stop Airport Expansion and Privatization”. Student groups Green Team, Safe Energy Rights, and Sociology Club were among those represented.

"Astorino's plan to privatize the airport opens up our densely populated region to the abuse of our air, land, and especially our water because of the very close proximity to the Kensico aqueduct," said Peter McCartt, Chairman of Westchester Environmentalists for Latimer.

"Rob Astorino's policies at Westchester County Airport are callous and short-sighted. He secretly negotiated a deal to sell off the airport for 40 years with no input from the Board of Legislators or public. Over the course of his term, Astorino has systematically dismantled the airport's environmental protections. It is time for a new County Executive that recognizes the value of long-term planning who will preserve our infrastructure and our environment for future generations," said Jonathan Wang, Executive Director of Citizens for a Responsible County Airport.

Before this year's primary, Astorino spent $132K of taxpayer money on a mailer distributed to every residence in Westchester County touting the stringent environmental safeguards and promoting the plan as an innovative public-private partnership. Earlier this week, Latimer held a press conference to call on the FAA to investigate an alleged pay-to-play scheme, citing 55.7M dollars awarded to 28 firms that contributed over 200K to Astorino's firm.

"Westchester County Airport is not supposed to be 'LaGuardia North'. Once again Rob Astorino puts his politics before the people of Westchester County. He knows that this is a bad and harmful airport deal, but will do anything to deflect from his fiscal mismanagement of the County. It is no secret that the privatization deal is one of Astorino's many budget gimmicks," said Latimer.

Latimer will appear on the Democratic, Independent, Working Families, Women's Equality, and Reform Party ballot lines in the November 7th general election.