County Executive George Latimer to Give Westchester Weekly Update.
Monday, May 1
2 p.m.
Watch on https://www.facebook.com/
During his weekly Westchester briefing, Latimer will discuss:
· Latimer will be joined by Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth to discuss May as Mental Health Month
LEADERSHIP CHANGES MADE AT THE BOARD OF LEGISLATORS.
Vice Chair Nancy Barr Becomes Acting Chairperson.
White Plains, NY - Today, Judge Robert J. Prisco lifted a Temporary Restraining Order issued earlier this week that stopped the Board of Legislators from holding a Special Meeting on Wednesday. Following this ruling, Chairwoman Catherine Borgia submitted a letter of resignation vacating her leadership position to the Clerk of the Board. According to the Rules of the Board, Vice Chair Nancy Barr will become Acting Chair for a maximum of sixty days. During this sixty-day period, the Board will vote to install a new Chair for the remainder of the 2022-2023 legislative term.
Legislator Borgia will remain a member of the seventeen-member legislative body and continue her duty to the district to which she is duly elected.
Regardless of party affiliation, County Legislators worked together to protect Board staff, prioritize the Board’s important work, and restore integrity for the people of Westchester.
Westchester County Flexes its EV Charging Station Muscles.
WATCH FULL VIDEO ON THE PROGRESS THE COUNTY HAS MADE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-yWzPS5Eco
(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive George Latimer has made it a major goal of his administration to decrease both the County Government and County residents’ carbon footprint by increasing access to electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations.
Working with the County’s Department of Public Works & Transportation and the Department of Energy, Conservation & Sustainability, the County Executive’s office has released a short video highlight the progress we have made on EV charging stations.
These Common-Sense Measures Will Keep Workers Safer.
We observe April 28 as Workers Memorial Day and pause to mourn the loss of all those who have died on the job. And we recommit ourselves to doing everything we can to ensure that no worker suffers that fate in the future. Fifty-two years ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect, promising every worker the fundamental right to a safe job. The law was won because of the tireless efforts of the union movement and our allies who fight on behalf of working people.
While workplaces are safer and lives have been saved as a result, each year thousands of workers are killed and millions more suffer injury or illness simply by performing their jobs.
The NYS AFL-CIO strongly supports two bills that are before the legislator right now that can make workplaces safer. The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act would protect workers doing manual warehouse work from injury resulting from poorly designed work equipment and tasks. Warehouse workers suffer serious work-related injuries at a rate more than twice the average injury rate for all private industries. They spend hours lifting and twisting to move items and too often suffer musculoskeletal disorders such as muscle strains as a result.
The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act (S5081 Ramos) requires workplaces to identify workplace hazards and provide safety training for workers who are routinely moving items. This new bill builds on last year’s Warehouse Worker Protection Act, which created basic health and safety standards to protect warehouse workers from inhumane quotas.
A second bill that would make workplaces safer is the Temperature Extreme Mitigation Program Act (TEMP Act), (S1604A Ramos, A3321A Joyner), which would regulate the temperature of indoor and outdoor work sites. This bill would protect workers in construction, landscaping, agriculture, delivery, warehousing, and food service, including those who work in vehicles, from temperature extremes.
For the most recent five years, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 19 workers in New York died because of exposure to temperature extremes. Approximately 1,200 workers per year missed days at work because of illness or injury due to extreme temperature exposure at the workplace.
We know that workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths are preventable.
These two commonsense pieces of legislation are critical to protecting workers.
The NYS AFL-CIO is committed to advocating for stronger workplace safety laws and regulations, providing workers with the necessary training and equipment to stay safe on the job, and holding employers accountable when they fail to protect their workers.
Mario Cilento, President NYS AFL-CIO
Westchester County Executive George Latimer Introduces Slate of Environmental Laws Aimed at Protecting Our County for Generations.
Latimer introducing four bills at the end of Earth Month as a part of the County’s commitment to being good stewards of our land and planet.
(White Plains, NY) – As Earth Month comes to a close, County Executive George Latimer is announcing his introduction of four bills aimed at advancing the environmental goals of his administration. These new proposals come at the end of a month filled with action on the environment by Latimer on behalf of the roughly one million current residents of Westchester and all its future residents.
Latimer said: “Whether its ensuring communities that have been overlooked are now addressed to promote real environmental justice, encouraging our partners in government to find innovative ways to expand their renewable energy capacity or ensuring the safety of our parks and the children who play in them – these bills I am proud to introduce take aim at long-standing environmental issues we as a County must address. We only have one planet and it’s on us all to work to protect it.”
The environmental law package includes:
· The Lead Free Parks Act which will create a process for monitoring and remediating drinking water in all County parks to ensure its safety for our children
· The Addressing Asthma in Communities of Color Amendment which will create a subcommittee of the African-American Advisory Board dedicated to studying the high rates of Asthma in communities of color
· The Renewable Energy Database Act which will allow the County to assist municipalities in their move to create more renewable energy by establishing a database to encourage siting of renewable energy infrastructure on municipal property
· The Equity in Environmental Legislation Act which will ensure that all communities are treated fairly when the County is considering any new law in an effort to combat historical cases of violation of environmental justice
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “It is important that we as a government representative of the people continue to look to find ways to right historical wrongs and bestow environmental justice. These bills put us on that path.”
County Director of Environment, Energy, & Sustainability Peter McCartt said: “We take our role as good stewards of our County very seriously – and the County Executive’s introduction of these wide ranging bills shows it. I am looking forward to working toward the eventual passage and implementation of these important initiatives.”
County Director of Research Ellen Hendrickx said: “When discussing these proposals, we aimed to find the balance of what is attainable both now and in the future, finding areas where both simple common-sense solutions can be merged with larger scale legislative fixes. This slate of bills accomplishes those tasks and we are eager to work toward seeing them become law.”
Environmental Advocates NY Director of Policy Conor Bambrick said: “We are inspired by Westchester County Executive Latimer’s environmental legislative package. These four bills will tackle vital issues like clean drinking water, asthma in communities of color, renewable energy, and environmental justice. I encourage the County Legislature to embrace these forward-thinking actions for the health of Westchester County residents and challenge the other counties and the state to follow suit.”
The introduction of these bills by Latimer begins the legislative process with the Board of Legislators.
Wednesday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill Mansion
81 Highland Ave., Tarrytown
Event is free - Registration required.
For more information, call (800) 272-3900 or visit alz.org/hudsonvalley
WESTCHESTER DISTRICT ATTORNEY URGES RESIDENTS TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST SCAMS TARGETING SENIORS.
Four charged for allegedly preying on and exploiting elderly victims in schemes commonly known as ‘grandparent scams’.
WHITE PLAINS, NY – Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah is encouraging residents to be vigilant against scams targeting seniors after four individuals were arrested and charged last week in separate incidents for allegedly preying on and exploiting elderly victims for money in schemes commonly known as “grandparent scams.”
DA Rocah said: “Grandparent scams are a nationwide trend that target and abuse the love and generosity of our most vulnerable by impersonating a relative or friend in need of immediate access to financial assistance. Before sending any money, make every attempt to find out where the family member or friend is and whether the claimed emergency is real, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. I am committed to protecting our senior population from those who seek to take advantage and manipulate them.”
The following defendants were each arrested and charged in connection with a “grandparent scam” in Westchester County:
· Following a joint investigation with the Economic Crimes Bureau of the District Attorney’s Office, the City of Rye Police Department arrested Jorge Duche, 32, of Port Chester, on April 18, 2023, for allegedly posing as a bail bondsman to collect $9,500 from a 78-year-old in October 2022. After receiving the cash, the defendant then placed the money in a duffle bag before leaving in a taxi. The incident was captured on video. It is alleged the victim received a phone call from a separate individual purporting to be her grandchild, claiming they had been arrested and in need of bail money. The defendant was charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, a felony. He was arraigned in Rye City Court and remanded.
· Following a joint investigation with the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety’s Real Time Crime Center, the Hastings-on-Hudson Police Department arrested Manuel Alfonso Sosacastillo, 28, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, on April 19, 2023, for allegedly stealing $6,900 from a 90-year-old on February 24, 2023. It is alleged the victim received two phone calls – the first from an individual claiming to be the victim’s grandchild that had been in an accident, and a second, purportedly from an attorney claiming that money was needed to post bail for the grandchild. The defendant was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a felony, and arraigned in Hastings-on-Hudson Justice Court.
· The Tarrytown Police Department, with assistance from the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force, arrested Miguel Sosa, 33, of the Bronx, on April 19, 2023, for allegedly attempting to steal $1,500 from a 76-year-old. It is alleged the victim received two phone calls – the first from an individual purporting to be the victim’s relative that had been in an accident, and a second, purportedly from a public defender advising the victim that payment was required for her relative’s release from jail. The defendant was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a misdemeanor, and arraigned in Tarrytown Justice Court.
· The New Rochelle Police Department arrested Roger Mena-Carrion, 28, of the Bronx, on April 20, 2023, for allegedly attempting to steal $15,500 from a 79-year-old after falsely notifying the victim that her friend was arrested and needed bail money. The defendant was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a felony, and arraigned in New Rochelle City Court on April 21, 2023.
The District Attorney reinforced some vital tips on avoiding scammers:
· Beware of any unknown person asking for money or wiring of cash with a sense of urgency and secrecy, requesting personal and financial information over the phone, or requesting gift card purchases to pay a debt or fee.
· Do not respond to unsolicited offers of help and money; never share personal information like date of birth, social security number, bank account information, PIN, passwords, credit card information with unknown persons or companies.
· Be wary of door-to-door sales and solicitations.
· Pause before acting immediately and always consult someone you trust.
The District Attorney’s Office provides year-round education to the Westchester community to ensure residents can recognize a potential scam. Representatives from the DA’s Office will be present at the 55th Annual Salute to Seniors events next month from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., outdoor information fairs that provide seniors with access to programs and services aimed at improving their health, safety and wellness:
· May 10 - Ridge Road Park in Hartsdale
· May 17 - Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson
· May 24 – Glen Island Park in New Rochelle
Anyone who believes they or someone they know to be a victim of a scam is urged to call your local police department. Complaints can also be filed directly with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office at (914) 995-TIPS (8477) or online at www.westchesterda.net/contact-
The charges against the defendants are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer Introduces Slate of Environmental Laws Aimed at Protecting Our County for Generations.
Latimer introducing four bills at the end of Earth Month as a part of the County’s commitment to being good stewards of our land and planet.
Thursday, April 27
2 p.m.
Michaelian Office Building
148 Martine Ave.
9th Floor
White Plains, NY 10601
Watch Live on https://www.facebook.com/
(White Plains, NY) – As Earth Month comes to a close, County Executive George Latimer is announcing his introduction of four bills aimed at advancing the environmental goals of his administration. These new proposals come at the end of a month filled with action on the environment by Latimer on behalf of the roughly one million current residents of Westchester and all its future residents.
Latimer said: “Whether its ensuring communities that have been overlooked are now addressed to promote real environmental justice, encouraging our partners in government to find innovative ways to expand their renewable energy capacity or ensuring the safety of our parks and the children who play in them – these bills I am proud to introduce take aim at long-standing environmental issues we as a County must address. We only have one planet and it’s on us all to work to protect it.”
The environmental law package includes:
· The Lead Free Parks Act which will create a process for monitoring and remediating drinking water in all County parks to ensure its safety for our children
· The Addressing Asthma in Communities of Color Amendment which will create a subcommittee of the African-American Advisory Board dedicated to studying the high rates of Asthma in communities of color
· The Renewable Energy Database Act which will allow the County to assist municipalities in their move to create more renewable energy by establishing a database to encourage siting of renewable energy infrastructure on municipal property
· The Equity in Environmental Legislation Act which will ensure that all communities are treated fairly when the County is considering any new law in an effort to combat historical cases of violation of environmental justice
County Director of Environment, Energy, & Sustainability Peter McCartt said: “We take our role as good stewards of our County very seriously – and the County Executive’s introduction of these wide ranging bills shows it. I am looking forward to working toward the eventual passage and implementation of these important initiatives.”
The introduction of these bills by Latimer begins the legislative process with the Board of Legislators.
STATEMENT FROM THE WESTCHESTER BOARD OF LEGISLATORS REGARDING TODAY’S SPECIAL MEETING.
“Chair Borgia commenced a legal action challenging the authority of this Board to consider the resolutions before it. A judge has ordered that this Board cannot vote until after it has issued its decision Friday at 2 P.M. Therefore, we will request that the Clerk call another special meeting to consider these items for Friday, April 28th at 4 P.M.”
WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TRAFFIC ADVISORIES
BRONX RIVER PARKWAY
SINGLE LANE CLOSURE NORTHBOUND
CITY OF WHITE PLAINS
ROAD WORK
ROADWAY: Bronx River Parkway northbound
LIMITS: Northbound Bronx River Parkway between (Exit 18) Claremont Road and (Exit 19) Walworth Crossing
WHAT: Road Work
IMPACTS: The left lane of the northbound Bronx River Parkway will be closed to motorists.
WHEN: Today, Tuesday, April 25, 2023 to Friday April 28, 2023 between the hours of 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
BRONX RIVER PARKWAY NORTHBOUND
INTERMITTENT LANE CLOSURES
CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, VILLAGE OF SCARSDALE
ROAD WORK
ROADWAY Bronx River Parkway northbound
LIMITS: Starting at Crane Rd. (exit 12) and ending at Main St. (exit 21)
WHAT: Road Work
IMPACTS: Intermittent lane closures of the Bronx River Parkway will take place within the above limits
WHEN: Starting Wednesday, April 26, 2023 until Friday 28, 2023 between the hours 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Additional information please contact Westchester County Traffic Engineering Division at (914) 995-2555.
TWO ARRESTED ON WEAPONS CHARGES AFTER FLEEING IN STOLEN CAR.
Submachine gun and semi-automatic handgun seized.
(Hawthorne, NY) - Two Connecticut men were arrested on weapons charges, and a submachine gun and a semiautomatic handgun were recovered, after a stolen vehicle fled from Westchester County Police on Monday afternoon.
One suspect was taken into custody immediately when he ran from the stolen car in Mount Vernon. The other was captured in Scarsdale after an hours-long search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
“I would like to commend our officers and all of our law enforcement partners for their coordinated response, effective communication and contributions to taking these two suspects into custody yesterday and removing these deadly weapons from our streets,” Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor said.
The incident began about 1:35 p.m. when the Real Time Crime Center notified patrol units that a stolen black Audi was traveling near the Pelham-Mount Vernon border. A County Police officer canvassed the area and located the stolen car on East Sandford Blvd.
When the suspects saw the police vehicle approaching, the Audi abruptly turned into Union Avenue where a male passenger jumped out sprinted away, dropping a semi-automatic handgun as he did so. That suspect was captured after a foot pursuit with the assistance of Mount Vernon police officers.
Knowing that the Audi had been reported stolen from Westport, Conn, a County police officer anticipated the potential path of the suspect vehicle and set up on the northbound side of the Hutchinson River Parkway. A short time later, the officer spotted the fleeing Audi being driven recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic. As he caught up to it, the stolen car sideswiped a motorist near the Weaver Street exit. The officer stopped to render assistance to the occupants of the struck vehicle who suffered minor injuries.
Other responding officers located the Audi abandoned near the Mamaroneck Road exit in Scarsdale.
A check of the vehicle revealed a “MAC-10” style submachine gun with an extended magazine on the back seat. This weapon, and the Ruger handgun recovered in Mount Vernon, were later determined to be stolen.
Multiple police agencies responded to search for the second suspect, including the Scarsdale Police Department, Town of Mamaroneck Police Department, New Rochelle Police Department, MTA Police Department and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Westchester County Police also deployed its Aviation Unit helicopter, its tactical team (known formally as the Special Response Team), and a tracking canine/bloodhound.
With assistance from an observant foursome playing golf at a nearby golf club, officers were able to obtain a more detailed description of the suspect, including that he was without any shoes on his feet. They also reported that the man had fled into a wooded area east of the parkway. With help from Westchester County Emergency Management personnel, an incident command post was set up as multiple officers flooded the area for a search.
Scarsdale Police Chief Andrew Matturro and Town of Mamaroneck Police Chief Paul Creazzo were instrumental at the command post, providing officers to assist with establishing a perimeter and putting out information to residents in the adjacent neighborhoods. That proved valuable later in the evening when a Scarsdale resident spotted a shoeless man in his neighborhood and promptly called police. Scarsdale PD found the suspect and took him into custody.
Westchester County Police charged Jariel Agron, 19, and Jose Garcia, 18, both of New Britain, Conn., with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd and 3rd Degree, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree. Additional charges are likely. They were held overnight at County Police headquarters in Hawthorne pending arraignment today in Mount Vernon City Court.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS RESIDENTS FREE MINNOWS.
Minnows, Dunks and Education are part of the County’s Mosquito Prevention Strategy.
(White Plains, NY) – To help residents keep their backyards free of mosquito breeding sites from now through the fall, the Westchester County Department of Health will give away free minnows to residents for their ponds and water features, along with mosquito dunks, advice and strategies to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus, on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29.
The minnows will be available at the Westchester County Airport, 2 Loop Road, West Harrison, 10604, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents who plan to pick up minnows should bring a bucket or pail; minnows will be distributed in watertight plastic bags. To keep the minnows viable, residents should plan to bring them straight home and release them immediately into ponds with at least eight inches of water.
By adding fathead minnows to ornamental ponds that lack fish, residents can reduce the growth of mosquitos in their own backyards. The minnows eat mosquito larvae, preventing them from maturing into biters. They are not needed in ponds that have fish because the fish eat mosquito larvae, too. Dunks serve the same purpose in birdbaths, rain barrels and unused pools.
Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said: “These hungry minnows can help residents enjoy the outdoors even more as they keep mosquitos from breeding and biting you in your own backyard.”
Any resident can help reduce the mosquito population, even without a pond.
“Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in a puddle, a flowerpot saucer or an old tire, so it’s extremely helpful to clear your yard and the pavement around your home of buckets, pails and toys that collect standing water and pour out any water that remains after it rains,” Amler added.
Large areas of standing water on public property that cannot easily be removed should be reported to the Health Department at (914) 813-5000.
For more information, download the “Keep Healthy and Bug Off” brochure at http://health.westchestergov.
MEETING NOTICES – April/May/June 2023.
Go to meetings.westchestergov.com to watch.
Meetings will be held as follows:
The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency will be meeting on Wednesday April 26, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Pursuant to the open meetings law, Board members must attend the meeting in person. Members of the public may join in person as well or view the meeting online via WebEx. Members of the public wishing to make comments at the end of the meeting should register at least 1 day prior to the meeting date with Rosa Ramon rramon@westchestergov.com. Members of the public may also view the meeting using this link: meetings.westchestergov.com. Please note, this method is a view-only, and does not allow for public comments.
The Westchester County Local Development Corporation will be meeting on Thursday 4/26/2023 at 9:30 a.m. Pursuant to the open meetings law, Board members must attend the meeting in person. Members of the public may join in person as well or view the meeting online via WebEx. Members of the public wishing to make comments at the end of the meeting should register at least 1 day prior to the meeting date with Corazon Pineda (cqpq@westchestergov.com). Members of the public may also view the meeting using this link: meetings.westchestergov.com. Please note, this method is a view-only, and does not allow for public comments.
Westchester County Correction Advisory Board
April 26, 2023
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Virtually (Webex)
Webex Info:
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 |
6:00 PM | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) | 1 hr |
More ways to join: |
Join from the meeting link |
https://westchestergov.webex. |
Join by meeting number |
Meeting number (access code): 2433 570 9076 |
Meeting password: xABZJNfi895 |
The Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities will be holding their meeting on April 26 at 4 pm via WebEx and in person at 148 Martine Avenue in White Plains (see below).
Join from the meeting link
https://westchestergov.webex.
Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 2422 092 0048
Meeting password: sfQMmMvg846
The Westchester County LGBTQ Advisory Board will be meeting on:
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 6:30 PM
148 Martine Ave, 9th floor, Conference Room Bleakley ‘A’
White Plains, NY 10601
Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings.westchestergov.com
The Westchester County Airport Advisory Board will be meeting on:
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 7:00 PM
Westchester County Airport
240 Airport Road, 2nd Floor Conference Room
White Plains, NY 10604
Westchester County Transportation Board will be meeting on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. at 148 Martine Ave, White Plains, NY – 5th Floor Room 527. Pursuant to the open meetings law, Board members must attend the meeting in person. Members of the public may join in person or via meetings.westchestergov.com. To make public comments remotely please e-mail har9@westchestergov.com for instructions in advance of the meeting.
Westchester County Solid Waste Commission will be meeting on Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 3:00 P.M at 112 East Post Rd., White Plains, NY – Solid Waste Commission Conference Room, 3rd Floor. Pursuant to the open meetings law, Board members must attend the meeting in person. Members of the public may join in person or via meetings.westchestergov.com.
Westchester County Transportation Board will be meeting on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. at 148 Martine Ave, White Plains, NY – 5th Floor Room 527. Pursuant to the open meetings law, Board members must attend the meeting in person. Members of the public may join in person or via meetings.westchestergov.com. To make public comments remotely please e-mail har9@westchestergov.com for instructions in advance of the meeting.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY PROMOTES GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT. Westchester County Department of Health Promotes Tobacco Cessation on November 21. ...
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