County Executive Robert Astorino
He is already meeting opposition from the Democratic Majority of the Legislature who voted on June 7 to authorize the retention of outside counsel to represent the County Board in possible litigation against the Administration to stop their unauthorized budget cuts to day care subsidies that were recently cut to low income families.
According to Democratic Chairman Ken Jenkins, “The Legislature may be forced to seek court intervention in order to protect the rights of Westchester's children and families and to clarify the constitutional authority over who maintains the County's budget,” Although there is a cost associated with the lawsuit, Jenkins says, “the savings to the taxpayers far outweighs the cost of failure to act. It further protects the people’s voice in county government. The County Executive may not agree with the Legislature’s spending priorities, but he is constitutionally and legally bound to follow them by law."
Democrats contend that Astorino has overstepped his bounds by unilaterally implementing these modifications which some feel jeopardize daycare that enables parents to keep working and assure that their children are in a safe environment while their parents work.
At issue are proposed cuts of $5.8 million in social services this year, including $1.5 million in day-care spending by cutting two programs and by raising contributions on a third. Among the changes include the elimination of the Westchester County Child Care Scholarship program, created by the Board of Legislators, a freeze on new Title XX child care subsidies, a federal program that, currently, aids families within the County; and, by increasing parent contributions from families who get low-income child-care subsidies from 15% to 20%.
Astorino answered questions from the audience at the Forum and was asked for developments in the housing settlement with HUD that ordered Westchester to construct 750 units of affordable housing in villages with low percentages of minority representation. Astorino was against the settlement and stated that the $51 million is not sufficient to build 750 new units in the specified villages. The first plan that Westchester submitted in January, 2010 was not accepted by Federal Monitor Jim Johnson, who has now hired an outside company to review it. Astorino believes that both senior housing and workforce housing should be permitted to count toward the required 750 units. In addition, if the County was permitted to rehab or convert existing homes, rather than embark on new construction projects, the funds would go a longer way. He is hopeful that the Monitor will be flexible in the enforcement of an implementation plan.
Astorino ended by saying “I was elected to change things,” and he appeared fully resolved to do so. He welcomed residents to email him suggestions and comments at CEO@westchestergov.com