White Plains, NY – The Democratic leadership of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) acknowledged the input from residents and business owners who attended last night’s public hearing on the County Executive’s 2012 proposed budget at New Rochelle High School.
“More than 700 people traveled to New Rochelle on a rainy and windy night to express their concerns about the spending decisions being made by the County Executive, and their input is essential in this process,” said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). “We know that more and more people understand that the Board of Legislators listens to their concerns as we make decisions regarding the 2012 County budget.
The next public hearing that the BOL is hosting on the County Executive’s proposed 2012 budget is Wednesday, November 30 at Somers High School. The hearing is set to being at 7 PM.
Jenkins and the other Democratic leaders on the BOL, who were all in attendance last night at the hearing, were disappointed by both the press release sent out by the BOL Republicans prior to the event in New Rochelle, which mischaracterized the open, well attended budget meetings, and the divisive email issued earlier by the County Executive.
“I find it ironic and hypocritical for our Republicans colleagues to criticize our efforts to foster open and transparent public budget meetings while they were willing participants in the County Executive’s closed door, secretive budget previews for Republicans only and his supporters at the Westchester County Association and Business Council of Westchester before releasing the budget to the press or to Democratic legislators on November 15,” said BOL Vice Chair Lyndon Williams (D-Mount Vernon). “Mr. Astorino sought no public input or comment. The Board of Legislators, though, deliberates and votes in public.”
Open, public hearings at BOL Budget & Appropriations Committee hearings began the day after the County Executive presented his proposed 2012 budget, on Wednesday, November 16, and were streamed live and archived on the BOL website, www.westchesterlegislators.com.
Last night’s hearing featured dozens and dozens of members of the public who chose to speak out on the County Executive’s 2012 proposed budget, none in favor.
Conspicuously absent from the public hearing was BOL Minority Leader James Maisano (R-New Rochelle), who apparently could not clear his schedule to hear from the people he supposedly represents at an event just blocks away from his residence.
Noted BOL Majority Leader Peter Harckham (D-Katonah): “If Mr. Maisano wishes to know what is going on in the Board of Legislators budget process, as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, he should simply attend the meetings—something he has not yet done to date. He wasn’t even at the public hearing in his hometown last night!”
This is a great day, if you want lower taxes and smaller gov’t!
Who cares what the Democratic leadership has to say about the county budget anymore? Just like Noam Inc. will only consider his budget cuts & no others, county Democrats should get used to Astorino vetoing their spending & bonding requests.
We don’t get out of being the highest taxed county by spending spending spending. We need cuts cuts & more cuts. Bramson should really pay attention; he could learn a thing or 2, especially the part about cutting waste & not essential services.
All we need to know is that the Republicans broke the Democrats strangle-hold on the Westchester Board of Legislature which means that the Democrats no longer have the ability to override Astorino’s vetoes.
This is a great day, that is if you want lower taxes and favor smaller government.