NEW ROCHELLE, NY (September 10, 2025) — New Rochelle Mayor Yadirah Ramos hosted a group of New York State Senate leaders Monday to discuss community challenges facing Westchester County’s cities.
Ramos expressed gratitude to state Sen. Christopher J. Ryan, D-Syracuse area, chair of the Senate’s Cities 2 Committee, for convening Westchester’s city mayors. The meeting included New York State senators and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The gathering featured Nathalia Fernandez, Shelley B. Mayer and Tom Roach.
“We were privileged to host a powerhouse of NYSenate leaders,” Ramos posted on Instagram. “Grateful to @chrisryan.ny50, Chair of the Cities 2 Committee for coming to New Rochelle and convening Westchester’s city mayors. Alongside our NYS Senators, including the Majority Leader @andrea.stewart.cousins we were able to collaborate and work together to raise concerns and identify potential strategies for the issues we face in our communities. Working together makes our advocacy stronger and our communities thrive!”
The New York State Senate’s Cities 1 and Cities 2 Committees are partisan, operating under a structure where the chair is selected from the majority party, currently Democrats, and a ranking member from Republicans. Membership is allocated proportionally based on the chamber’s party balance.
The Cities 2 Committee focuses on smaller and medium-sized cities outside New York City, especially upstate and other regions, addressing poverty alleviation, economic revitalization, school modernization and community development. It has held hearings on poverty in upstate cities. Chaired by Ryan, with Sen. Mark Walczyk, R-Watertown area, as ranking member, it includes five Democratic members and two Republicans, such as Sens. Neil Breslin, D; Timothy M. Kennedy, D; and Joe Griffo, R.
Both committees review and advance legislation on municipal governance, urban policy, housing, economic development and other city issues. They are assigned bills by Senate leadership and hold hearings for stakeholder input. Membership and leadership are appointed annually by the Senate president pro tempore.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.