Latest / This Week in Westchester: The Podcast / TWIW 40: September 28, 2026

Transcript

TWIW 40: September 28, 2026 · This Week in Westchester: The Podcast

• 0:06
  Intro: Welcome to This Week in Westchester, the podcast, your weekly audio briefing from Westchester County government.
• 0:13
  Intro: Each week, County Executive Ken Jenkins breaks down the decisions, investments, and initiatives shaping life across Westchester.
• 0:21
  Intro: Clear information, real progress, one place to stay informed.
• 0:26
  Intro: Now, here's This Week in Westchester.
• 0:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Good afternoon.
• 0:30
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, and today is September 28th, 2026.
• 0:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: This is This Week in Westchester, the briefing.
• 0:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Today, I'm announcing that we've sent a written letter to every member of our Westchester County federal delegation to fight for full restoration of funding to the supplemental nutrition assistance program, otherwise known as SNAP, and stop the war on Westchester.
• 0:56
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: At this moment, 41 percent of Westchester households are unable to afford the absolute basics housing, food, health care, child care, and transportation.
• 1:07
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Westchester will be forced to pick up the majority of the tab for SNAP, meaning an increase in property taxes on our already overburdened families in order to fill the funding gap that the administration itself created.
• 1:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The Trump administration and its allies in Congress have spent the last year starting new wars, slashing health care access, and building a ballroom.
• 1:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: At every juncture, Westchester County has worked to blunt the Trump's administration's attacks on Westchester families.
• 1:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The county launched the Protect Your SNAP program to help families comply with the new rules and allocated funding to support crucial food security programs damaged by these cuts.
• 1:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Additionally, Westchester has already secured a promise from Congressman George Latimer to work with congressional leadership to secure the rescission of all those cuts to SNAP and fully restore the funding for this life-saving program.
• 2:00
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We now ask our full delegation to join in supporting an immediate restoration of those benefits.
• 2:06
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Westchester County's families are in serious danger due to the Trump administration's reckless rescind of life-saving funding.
• 2:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We have continued to make sure that we bring those situations up to our entire Federal delegation.
• 2:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And again, that time is now.
• 2:25
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: October 1st is a$6 million hit to a Westchester County budget.
• 2:31
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And as I have said many times before,$5.5 million is a 1 percent tax increase.
• 2:37
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So$6 million just because of the administrative costs that are being shifted down to counties, not just the Westchester, across this country, and they need to be reversed.
• 2:49
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: In better news, Westchester County continues to demonstrate strong fiscal health and responsible fiscal management, earning a stress score of just 3.3 in the latest fiscal stress monitoring system results released by our State Comptroller Thomas Denapoli.
• 3:07
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: A fiscal score of 3.3 is another strong indication that Westchester County remains on solid footing, financial footing.
• 3:14
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And here to talk about that some more is our Westchester County Finance Commissioner, Karen Hablow.
• 3:20
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Commissioner.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: Good afternoon.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: I am pleased to report that new the New York State Comptroller Dinapoli has announced the latest fiscal stress scores for local governments.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: And as the county executive said, Westchester County has once again received a no designation classification.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: This is the highest rating achievable under the model.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: This marks the fifth consecutive year the county has received this classification, reflecting the county's strong fiscal position and its ability to maintain budgetary solvency.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: The fiscal stress monitoring system was launched by Comptroller Dinapoli in 2013 to evaluate fiscal stress for local governments using objective scoring indicators based on year-end fund balance, operating deficits, cash position, and short-term borrowing, and fixed costs.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: The system is designed to provide an early warning to local officials about potential fiscal issues and also to give the public insight into the financial condition of your local government.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: The Comptroller's Office provides a fiscal stress score annually for each county, city, town, village, and school district using standardized financial data submitted by those entities.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: Points are assigned to individual indicators, some of which evaluate change over time.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: Those points are then combined to calculate an overall stress score with higher scores reflecting higher levels of fiscal stress.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: Unlike many financial models, the goal in this model is to accumulate as few points as possible, as less points equates to less fiscal stress.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: Based on their scores, local governments can fall into one of three stress categories: either susceptible, moderate, or significant stress.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: Entities such as Westchester County that do not receive enough points to fall into a stress category are assigned the classification of no designation.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: The fiscal stress monitoring system also produces environmental stress scores.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: Those are based primarily on federal census data, including population trends and home values.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: Those provide insight into specific areas that may contribute to fiscal stress in the future.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: The county also received a no designation classification for its environmental stress score.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: Like most local governments, the county continues to face increased fiscal pressures due to a combination of the end of federal pandemic aid, higher inflation, and rising operating costs.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: As a result, the county must continue to be pragmatic and disciplined in planning for the 2027 budget and beyond.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_00: While we recognize this positive assessment, we also recognize that maintaining a strong fiscal position requires continued discipline and careful planning.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: We appreciate the recognition of the hard work that has gone into maintaining the county's financial stability.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: We remain committed to responsible budgeting, careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and sound financial decision making as we prepare for the challenges ahead and work to ensure that Westchester County remains financially strong and able to meet the dam demands of its residents.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 6:38
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Yep, thank you.
• 6:39
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That's our Commissioner of Fine as Karen Hablow.
• 6:42
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And again, we wanted to say thank you and congratulations to all of the hard work.
• 6:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um and again, having a no designation, because usually you want to score as many points as possible, but not in this regard.
• 6:54
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The lower no designation is a good designation, and that is because of the hard work across all of the departments in the county, but specifically in our Department of Finance, and making sure that we're managing that, as well as um as Larry Sol in our budget director, and making sure we're managing those things correctly and being able to move things forward with responsible budgeting and certainly great fiscal management.
• 7:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thanks, Commissioner, for your team's hard work and making sure that we continue to have that outstanding um non-designation from the the state controller Tom Dinapley.
• 7:26
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Up next, our municipal guest this week is no stranger to us here.
• 7:30
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um we're heading to the village of Austening for this week's municipal spotlight.
• 7:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm pleased to welcome a good friend, the village of Austening's mayor, Rika Levin, to give us some things that are happening in the fantastic village of Austening.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_06: Mayor Levin.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_06: Thank you.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_06: Good afternoon.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_06: Yes, great things are happening in Austin.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_06: My name is Rika Levin, mayor of the village of Austening on the banks of the Hudson, and with about 30,000 folks in the village and another 7,500 or so in the town combined, it's about just south of 40,000 people.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_06: It's a big village, and uh and added with the town even bigger.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_06: So exciting things happening since I last spoke.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_06: Um, after years of planning, advocating, securing funding, doing all the hard work that we are supposed to be doing on behalf of our residents, we're finally seeing some major investments take root and shape throughout our village.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_06: We're creating the conditions for our community to thrive, investing in our infrastructure, supporting our towntown businesses, creating housing, improving transportation, and making Asining a great place to live, work, and visit.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_06: Um here are some examples and some things that I think make us special.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_06: Um we are going to be done with the Indian Brook Water Treatment Plant uh probably next year.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_06: It's the one of the largest municipal water projects on the East Coast.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_06: And even though we're just a village, we're very proud of our ability to provide clean water, safety, and responsibly uh plan for growth in our community.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_06: And we are excited about this project, but nobody ever gets to see it because mayors deal with potholes and roads and water.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_06: So I want to give a first shout out to our water plant.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_06: Um we're creating a little film to share with the folks.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_06: Um, the Indian Brook Water Plant Treatment is a very exciting uh project, and it is now at 110 million.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_06: Speaking about fiscal responsibility, when we started conservatively, it was supposed to cost 37 million, but after the pandemic, it went up 30% a year for about three consecutive years.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_06: It's a huge jump in cost of doing business.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_06: Uh we're also moving forward with the Route 9 Road Enhancement Project.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_06: We are planning to, like many of our neighboring towns, um, slow down the traffic on Route 9.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_06: It's a major throughway through our village, but we're also going to be putting in smart lights, smart uh sidewalk uh technology, and we are creating a much more walkable environment between the downtown and what some people call uptown, only because it's a big hill.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_06: It's really a cliff, like many of the river towns.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_06: We're all on a cliff.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_06: Route 9 goes through all of our river towns.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_06: We're very excited about that.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_06: I will tell you that there's one person, Sandy Gelliff, who was in government for more than, I don't know, 25 years, etc., and told me when I became mayor, at least get this project finally done.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_06: So it is planned to be completed in 2027 with about 40 something more additional parking and the ability for their businesses to thrive in that community and also to allow people to walk across Route 9 without having to dodge moving vehicles.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_06: The matters, uh this all matters for economic development, or as I like to call it, community development.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_06: Downtown revitalization is becoming a reality.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_06: We are completing the aqueduct parking structure that will be now four times the parking in the middle of our downtown where there was parking, now it's four times to help with our businesses and also the overflow from residents who live in the middle of our downtown.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_06: Because it's an older town, like many river towns.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_06: If you go to river towns a lot, you know that parking is a problem, I think, in every single river town.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_06: And if you're trying to grow and trying to expand your small businesses and trying to make it safe for multi-generational families, I think um adding this parking will be fantastic.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_06: It will also have the largest um for now um area for uh space for e-bikes and e-vehicles as part of the structure.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_06: There'll actually be a storefront.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_06: People can fix their e-bikes, park their e-bikes, rent their e-bikes.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_06: Uh it's right off the aqueduct that the state has running through our village, and so people could take these e-bikes on the aqueduct, up and down the aqueduct where this project's available, which is simply my segue into talking about e-bike technology.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_06: We are in, we were the first sort of pilot area by the state from NYSERTA.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_06: We got, we didn't get funding, but um the project got funding and we were the pilot.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_06: We're now in six communities, um, adjacent communities of e-bikes.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_06: They've been highly successful.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_06: The usage has been tremendous.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_06: Um, and we'd like to work with the county, and we've already met with the county, um, and the county I think is really hoping, hopefully, will be greenlighting a more regional effort and regional management of the e-bike um project and process that will allow us to move it up and down the Hudson River.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_06: That is my hope, and I think we're getting there.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_06: I'm very optimistic about this.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_06: Uh, housing, we are and are known to have developed um market rate housing for a number of years, but under this administration, actually, we focus much more on affordable housing, which is a big issue for all of us in New York.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_06: And so two major uh 100% affordable housing projects are coming to completion.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_06: They will be completed in 2027, which to me is like spitting distance away.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_06: It's just happening.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_06: I'm so excited.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_06: 74 affordable senior housing, 109 um affordable transit-oriented, and we are moving forward, which I discussed last time, pretty rapidly actually, for uh affordable condo units plus uh market rate rental right on the Hudson River.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_06: Million dollar views, but they don't cost a million dollars, hoping to bring in um, you know, maybe some of the young couples that are actually moving in from Brooklyn and Queens almost daily, from what it seems like when I meet people.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_06: So we're very excited about that.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_06: And we're just seeing a lot of small-scale housing development and new businesses moving in.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_06: So last week we got word that four new businesses are moving into our village.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_06: It's a lot of people, but the downtown isn't that large.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_06: So the fact that four new, totally new businesses and some of the businesses are expanding, is very exciting uh for us, you know, at our level.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_06: And we're seeing growing interest from private sectors, developer and business owners are coming into our community.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_06: We are in the process of finally uh selling a building that's been sitting vacant for 50 years, something like that, um, longer than most people in my community have been alive.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_06: And a developer and business have actually bought this beautiful building, and I think that's that speaks to the interest of both private and public uh folks.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_06: Um and we continue to make our community walkable and enjoyable.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_06: So our community center is going through a total overhaul from money from county, from local, from county, uh, from state, um, all governments working together.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_06: It's a highly used seven-day-a-week community center.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_06: It's multi-generational and it's totally being revitalized.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_06: Uh, the pool's already been revitalized, but everything else is, and that I think speaks to also bringing community together.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_06: One of my favorite places to be, in addition to the school system, which I love.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_06: So that's our story.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_06: Um I didn't bring any pictures or b-roll.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_06: We're we're producing one, we'll send it in.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_06: Don't think we haven't thought about it, but with five minutes, I I can't uh share that with you.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_06: But be on the lookout for a really wonderful production, and I thank everybody, especially the county, for the partnership.
• 15:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Absolutely.
• 15:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Well, first, thanks a lot, Mayor Rika Levin.
• 15:24
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: There is no question that the village of Austin has some tremendous things happening across the board.
• 15:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, shout out to Shandy Galef, who, um besides being a member of the County Board of Legislators for 12 years, um, was a state assembly member for 30 years.
• 15:39
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we want to make sure to do that.
• 15:41
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So there's a lot of things that are happening um in the in the village, um, the great work that's can um collaborating between the work that's on 9 in Route 9 that goes through the village as well as then opens up to what we um also commonly know as a real highway through that.
• 15:56
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But again, people don't actually slow down enough, and that's why it's very important to do that.
• 16:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So great things happening for as far as fair and affordable housing is concerned, um, many different things.
• 16:06
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And since I was out the hot day when we started the Indian Brook project, it's always good seeing water quality.
• 16:13
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That's a continued concern, even when it's a river town, when you can see the Hudson River, knowing that that's not what water we drink, but it comes through the uh Indian Brooks um system, and that is certainly another exciting thing, even though no one will get to see it other than the folks that did the opening and for the ribbon cutting that is obligatory that we have to do.
• 16:32
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, Mayor Levin, it's always great seeing you from the village of Osini.
• 16:37
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We know that October is coming up, and this week, October is on the Thursday, October 1st.
• 16:43
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Things are just flying along for this year, and it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about domestic violence, support survivors, and make sure people know that help and resources are available.
• 16:56
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So joining us today to talk about that is Catherine Borger, acting director of the Westchester County Office for Women, to talk about all the work that's being done here in Westchester, support survivors and their families.
• 17:07
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Domestic violence can affect people of every age, background, and community.
• 17:12
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And we know that too often survivors may feel isolated and unsure about where they can turn for help.
• 17:20
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: With that, let's turn over to acting director, our good friend, and my good friend, Catherine Borsett.
• 17:26
  unknown: Thank you, Catherine.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_08: Um, I am here to talk about a very serious topic, but first I'm going to take 10 seconds of my three minutes to gush about my two home communities, Austin and the county.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_08: Someone who's worked in both of those uh areas of government for a very long time.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_08: I really can't say enough about how exciting it is to be an Austin resident right now, where things we've talked about for decades are finally coming to fruition.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_08: It's really a delight.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_08: And also let me say that I worked in Westchester County when the financial situation was not quite as good.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_08: So I really credit our current county executive, deputy county executive commissioner, and the administration right before for really turning things around.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_08: And we don't, we are so fortunate to have such visionary leadership, both in the county and of course in my home community of Austin.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_08: So, as the county executive said, October is domestic violence awareness month.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_08: For a few years, the slogan has been with survivors always.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_08: And this year, we are adding the hashtag everyone knows one.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_08: And that is the truth.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_08: You know someone who's been a victim of domestic violence, whether or not you realize it.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_08: Domestic violence doesn't always look like being punched.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_08: There's many forms of control and coercion and isolation, and it's very important that everyone knows about what makes a healthy relationship and what is not healthy, and also how to support people who might be going through this.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_08: It's a very delicate topic.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_08: Sometimes you are hesitant to even offer any help because you are rightfully worried that you could put someone in even more danger.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_08: And that is why in October, especially, we talk about all of the resources that are available to people who are experiencing violence in their intimate partnerships or at home.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_08: So I'm just gonna rattle off a few of them, starting with the Office for Women.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_08: Westchester County Office for Women is really um a visionary organization started in the 1980s, codified into law by our county executive when he was on the county board of legislators.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_08: Lots of good people started at the County Board of Legislators, including Assembly Woman Sandy Gaelia, former Assembly Woman Gaelic.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_08: Um, and the uh the Office for Women, we we can we can be reached at 914-995-5972, or obviously in an emergency dial 911, um, has really taken a leadership role in the state at looking at what victims and survivors of domestic violence need.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_08: And to that end, I just want to report a little bit about our domestic violence high-risk team.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_08: This is a brainchild uh that is about seven years old.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_08: My predecessor, Robbie Schloff, our director, Dave Ryan, the former police chief of the town of Bedford, and Nancy Tunis, who is the program administrator in the Office of Women, um, put together something that um was revolutionary in the sense that it didn't put the onus only on survivors to be their own advocates, to find help on their own.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_08: So as of now, every single police department in Westchester County cooperates on the high-risk team to identify victims, mostly women who might be at risk, who have high lethality.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_08: Um, just want to mention the incredible work, the ongoing work that we have with our um with our service providers, Hope Store, My Sister's Place, Putnam Northern Westchester Women's Resource Center, and all of the departments in Westchester County.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_08: It might not seem like that is um a big deal, but it really represents a change in how all of the people who touch victims of domestic violence come together.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_08: So um one of the things that, as the county executive mentioned, that people who are who are faced with this uh situation, they do feel alone.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_08: So the the reality is that we want everyone to be able to offer the resources that we do have here in Westchester County.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_08: I'm gonna rattle some off.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_08: The county executive sent out the contact information in uh in a in a recent email, although you can always find it on our website, the Office Woman page.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_08: But we do have the Family Justice Center, which is a safe space where people can uh talk to uh safety planning and get legal help.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_08: We're right here in the courthouse in in West in uh White Plains.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_08: Uh we're uh fantastic partners with the Westchester County Demet uh Department of Probation.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_08: Um The amount of support and intercooperation between our two agencies is really extraordinary.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_08: They're the law enforcement piece, but they do provide assistance for victims with many, many facets of things that they might need, especially when they come into the family courthouse in New How.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_08: I mentioned Hope's Door, my sister's place, two really wonderful organizations that we have here, long-standing organizations in Westchester County, who can provide shelter, resources, legal assistance, and someone to talk to.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_08: You are not alone.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_08: Pace Women's Justice Center, which is situated here on the Pace Law School campus, but also exists in the courthouses, provide legal services, legal services of the Hudson Valley, and as I mentioned, Putnam Northern Westchester Women's Center, Women's Resource Center, who serves municipalities north in the northern part of the county.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_08: We're all a team, and we really are asking you to be part of that team, to understand what resources, to understand that the hardest thing sometimes for a victim to do is to speak about what they're going through.
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_08: So be there, be a friend.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_08: In um in uh support of victims, we are going to host, because we love to do this at the McAlian office building, um, a little drive during the month of October where you can provide personal items such as uh feminine products, uh toiletries, et cetera, for for women who are going through this situation because if you are leaving your home in fear of your life, um the ability to have a toothbrush and toothpaste and feminine products and um shampoo uh is really very humanizing.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_08: So please be generous if you're coming to the McKelleyan office building.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_08: And thank you all much so much for all that you all do.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_08: Thank you.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_07: Thank you, Catherine.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_07: And before I turn it over to our next speaker, I'm gonna keep with the theme of leaders who start in the County Board of Legislators and then uh move up to other positions.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_07: Uh our Senator Pete Harcom was also a county board legislator when the domestic violence and the Office for Women was created.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_07: He partnered with our county executive.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_07: So a shout out to Senator Pete Harkom and his leadership in this as well.
• 24:28
  SPEAKER_07: Now I'm going to turn it over to our Westchester County Clerk, Tom Roach.
• 24:33
  SPEAKER_07: He is here with us today to announce a new program, the Westchester County Clerk Property Alert Service.
• 24:40
  SPEAKER_07: This free service is designed to help property owners stay informed about documents recorded with Westchester County Clerk's Office.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_07: This new Westchester County Clerk Property Alert Service is a free service designed to help property owners stay informed about documents.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_07: And with many of the things that we hear now about scams with deeds, et cetera, this is an invaluable service.
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_07: So uh County Clerk Roach, come on up and give us some more of the details.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_03: Well, thank you, Joan.
• 25:11
  SPEAKER_03: And uh this kind of old home week because uh Rika and I are once a mayor, always a mayor, it's a little club.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_03: And I think Catherine, you we back when I was just getting into environmental advocacy, you were someone I I I worked with and was very impressed by the things you were doing.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_03: And and Joan, we the the Typen Z Bridge.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_03: That's all I can say.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_03: So anyway, so thank you for having me here today.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_03: Um uh, you know, I became clerk in January, and something that we've worked, been working uh as quickly as you can in a number of areas.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_03: But one of them is is deed fraud.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, deed fraud is basically can be one of there's a lot of uh nuances to it, but there's two ways they can go about.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_03: Someone tricks you into signing something that um actually passes title to the house, even though you did not intend to do that.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_03: Um, often a relative or someone in a position of trust.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, and then there is someone who just creates a false deed, signs your name and files it and uh and hopes to get away with it.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_03: It is uh it's a difficult uh crime because sometimes criminals color so far out the lines, out of the lines, that they didn't really have proper statutes, but they're in place now.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_03: Um they're now in 2024, uh, with the advocacy of um our attorney general, uh Letitia James, they uh they they uh got legislation passed.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_03: It's clearly prosecutable, that's gonna make a big difference.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_03: But in the meantime, the state put in a requirement that uh county clerk's office send written notification when title uh passes, when something's file uh filed, that would change the title.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_03: And um and so that we do.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_03: We have a letter.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_03: I have I have an example here that I'm not gonna hold up because it has uh just hold it up this side and you can't see anything.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_03: But it but basically it alerts someone.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I hope hope you know that your house was sold.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_03: Uh if not, you might want to take a look uh at your situation.
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_03: So what we are doing now is we're adding an electronic notification.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_03: Unlike the written notification, which happens automatically, uh, goes to the last known owner, the electronic version will require you to register.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_03: And you can register uh under your name and under your address or one or the other.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_03: It offers you an opportunity to be alerted when a mortgage or deed is filed with regard to the property.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_03: So, and I I I I always struggle with what what what ratio should I come up with.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_03: But you know, in 999,000 out of uh out of a million, it's not gonna, it's you're gonna say, oh yeah, I know I sold my house.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_03: Uh but in the times that that someone is shocked to see this information, it gives them the opportunity to act quickly because that's very important, how quickly you can act.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_03: Often they're taking the title and then they sit on it a little bit and then they try and get a mortgage.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_03: Or um they're in the process of trying to sell it.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_03: The sooner you can act, the better it is for everyone involved.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, as Joan indicated, it's free.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_03: You didn't hear it wrong, it's free.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, all you have to do is go to our website, westchesterclerkny.gov.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_03: Right on the top, there's a you can click on the banner, it will take you into the registration page and you can register.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_03: Um, there is also a direct way to do it.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_03: It's pas.westchesterclerk.com.
• 28:33
  SPEAKER_03: That's why I said what go to our website because I I was surprised by the PAS personally.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_03: But that that is uh for for reasons that uh are best left to IT, I guess.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so um what I would suggest is that um, you know, uh right now it is not a big uh problem in Westchester, but if it happens to you, it's a huge problem.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_03: It is not that someone is actually going to own your property, but you have now just, with no fault of your own, bought yourself into a big headache to try and unwind it.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_03: I can tell you that what's happening in the future, uh I've I've participated in some meetings of the Uniform Law Commission, and the clerks are very active in that.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_03: That's a nation nationwide group that proposes legislation that should be adopted from different things all around the country, and there is uh defraud legislation coming.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_03: The most important feature would be a very streamlined system that if you find it's happened to you, you you don't have to take two years to sort it out.
• 29:32
  SPEAKER_03: You can get right in front of a judge who can clear the title.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_03: So um, having said all that, uh I I just want to just uh throw in quickly that in addition to that, some of the things we've done, we've been adding a lot of services.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_03: We've been um reviewing things, but something that's coming up this week, this Thursday at White Plains Library, we're gonna have a passport night, four to seven.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_03: This is something we started doing regularly at the library, it's right across the street.
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_03: We can load in during business hours, and um, and then this allows people to come in for a passport that can't do it during a working day.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_03: Um, the security in the courthouse is what you have to go through to get in, so that makes it difficult to do it there at night.
• 30:11
  SPEAKER_03: We worked with the library and made this happen.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_03: Um, for particularly for people that um have children, it's important because uh you really basically need both parents there for a child to get a passport.
• 30:23
  SPEAKER_03: There's other ways to do it, but it they're not any easier.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_03: So by doing it at night, we think we're making it more available.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_03: We're getting people from Queens, New Jersey.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_03: Um, we're seeing a big turnout.
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_03: So um please take advantage of it, Westchester County residence.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_03: It's for you.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 30:41
  SPEAKER_07: Thank you, Tom.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_07: Very helpful information on all fronts.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_07: Next up, National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_07: October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is a time to recognize the important contributions people with disabilities make to our workplace, our economy, and our communities.
• 31:04
  SPEAKER_07: Here in Westchester, we are committed to creating opportunities for people of all abilities to participate fully in the workforce and to helping connect residents with the programs, resources, and support they need to succeed.
• 31:19
  SPEAKER_07: Joining us today are Jeff Satowski, Program Administrator for the Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities, and Sherry Rosen Asher, Director of Policy and Programs, to talk about how the West Ch how Westchester County is recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
• 31:39
  SPEAKER_09: Thank you very much, Deputy County Executive, County Executive.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_09: Hi, I'm Sherry Rosen Asher, and I'm here to talk about my favorite, favorite thing that I get to participate in in Westchester County, which is our Diverse Abilities Job and Resource Fair.
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_09: We have our ninth one coming up on October 14th at the Westchester County Center.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_09: This is an opportunity for people, regardless of their ability or their experience, to come talk to employers and resource providers.
• 32:08
  SPEAKER_09: We have uh close to 60 who've already signed up for October 14th, including our own Westchester County, the New York State Police, Edison Home Care, Liberty Lines Transit, the Broadview at Purchase, St.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_09: John's Riverside Health, the ARC Westchester, Geronio, the Hearing Loss Association, the Commission for the Blind, and many more.
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_09: It's an opportunity, regardless of your physical ability, intellectual ability, or your experience, to talk to recruiters one-on-one and find out about opportunities and also to find out about all the great organizations in Westchester that offer resources.
• 32:49
  SPEAKER_09: And it's also an opportunity for the resource providers and the employers to get together.
• 32:56
  SPEAKER_09: We also provide virtual pre-job there meetings for both attendees and employers.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_09: If you've never attended one of these before, I encourage you to do so.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_09: If you are looking to hire and you want to find your next great loyal employee, then I urge you to sign up.
• 33:15
  SPEAKER_09: We have some tables left.
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_09: If you are an organization that provides help or resources to people with disabilities, then you too can have a table.
• 33:24
  SPEAKER_09: All our events are free for both attendees and um exhibitors.
• 33:29
  SPEAKER_09: So the event, once again, is October 14th.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_09: It takes place from 10 to 1.
• 33:34
  SPEAKER_09: We get very, very, very busy in the first hour, hour and a half.
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_09: So if crowds are not your thing, then I encourage you to come between noon and one.
• 33:44
  SPEAKER_09: It'll be a little quieter.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_09: We are gonna have resume workshops and interview skills workshops.
• 33:50
  SPEAKER_09: So this was one of the first things that we tackle to try to deal with the very high unemployment rate in the disability community.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_09: It is just the beginning, and I'm gonna allow Jeff to talk about some of the incredible things that the county is doing, in addition.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_05: Good afternoon.
• 34:08
  SPEAKER_05: So if you see the letters N D E A M around, it stands for National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
• 34:16
  SPEAKER_05: And we're celebrating with a few things.
• 34:18
  SPEAKER_05: On Monday, October 26th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• 34:23
  SPEAKER_05: at the Westchester County Center, our office and Access VR are hosting an evening of storytelling.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_05: Disability is usually talked about in policy and statistics.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_05: This event lets people speak for themselves.
• 34:37
  SPEAKER_05: Members of the disabled community, along with their families, friends, employers, and service providers, will take the microphone, along with one of our sign language interpreters, to tell a true story about work in their own words.
• 34:51
  SPEAKER_05: Whether the stories are told live or submitted in writing, we'll print and frame each one as a keepsake.
• 34:58
  SPEAKER_05: So this event is free, it's open to the public with light refreshments.
• 35:04
  SPEAKER_05: You don't need to tell a story to attend.
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_05: We hope that you will come, listen, and cheer.
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_05: And for information about this event and how to register, please go to our website, disabled.westchestercountyny.gov.
• 35:18
  SPEAKER_05: Now on to the Partnership for Inclusive Internships known as PII Pi.
• 35:24
  SPEAKER_05: This is our collaboration with the ARC Westchester and A H R C NYC funded by the Taft Foundation.
• 35:31
  SPEAKER_05: It offers people with any disability paid internships working for Westchester County government.
• 35:38
  SPEAKER_05: And each internship is 320 hours over about four to five months.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_05: There are now six intern openings representing a number of county offices and departments posted on the Arc Westchester's Pi site.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_05: We're already receiving applications and expect interns to start working soon.
• 35:58
  SPEAKER_05: So if you have or know somebody with any type of disability and want paid work experience working with Westchester County, we want to hear from you.
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_05: Visit the Ark Westers Pi Pi page to see the openings and apply.
• 36:13
  SPEAKER_05: And all these events and programs share one message talent and value have never been the question.
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_05: Access has, and Westchester is stepping up, so those of us with disabilities have it.
• 36:28
  SPEAKER_05: Thank you.
• 36:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right, thanks, Sherry.
• 36:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thanks, Jeff.
• 36:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It was really important information as we continue to move forward.
• 36:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um now we want to turn our attention to an event that brings thousands of people together in support of individuals and families impacted by blood cancer.
• 36:49
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Blood Cancers United's uh Blood Cancer United's Light the Night Walk returns to Playland Park on Saturday, October 17th.
• 36:58
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And we hope Westchester residents will join us for this incredibly meaningful evening.
• 37:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Joining us today is Senior Campaign Development Manager Mackenzie Page, who's here to tell us more about this year's walk, how people could get involved, and why funds raised through Light the Night are so important.
• 37:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Mackenzie, thank you for joining us.
• 37:19
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Ken.
• 37:22
  SPEAKER_01: Hello.
• 37:22
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much, Ken, and to the county for having me here today.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_01: The county's been a wonderful partner to Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, for many years, and our signature event, Light the Night, will return to Playland Park this October.
• 37:36
  SPEAKER_01: Westchester County Government Communications Director, Katherine Chaffee, is also our walk chair and our MC for the event.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much for the support.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_01: Blood Cancer United is a global leader in blood cancer research, support, and advocacy.
• 37:50
  SPEAKER_01: Building on more than 75 years of progress, we're working toward a bold goal, enabling people with blood cancer to gain more than 1 million additional years of life by 2040.
• 38:00
  SPEAKER_01: We fund life-saving blood cancer research around the world, provide free information support services for patients and their families, and are the voice for those seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_01: We've invested more than$2 million in groundbreaking research, supporting many of today's most innovative approaches to treatment, helping those with blood cancer not only survive, but also thrive.
• 38:23
  SPEAKER_01: And locally, we served 707 patients and caregivers last year alone here in the Lower Hudson Valley in Fairfield County and provided more than$1 million in assistance delivered between financial assistance, copay assistance, and medical debt relief.
• 38:37
  SPEAKER_01: At Light the Night, we gather as a community to celebrate, honor, and remember those touched by blood cancers.
• 38:43
  SPEAKER_01: Companies, community partners, friends, families, and sponsors join together to instill hope and bring light to the darkness of cancer.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_01: Join this powerful community event at Light the Night on October 17th at Playland Park from 5 to 8 p.m.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_01: and help us create more memories for patients and their families.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_01: You can join as an individual, as a member of a community or corporate team, or even as a team captain.
• 39:04
  SPEAKER_01: Registration is free, but walkers are encouraged to raise funds to support the mission.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_01: Light the Night is also family friendly.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_01: The Kids Zone will feature many different games and activities for children.
• 39:13
  SPEAKER_01: This year's event will feature food trucks, kids' activities, booths to visit, a stage ceremony, about a three-quarter mile walk on the boardwalk surrounding Playland, and a drone show finale sponsored by our partner Regeneron.
• 39:24
  SPEAKER_01: We love we would love for the community to join.
• 39:26
  SPEAKER_01: To register for free and learn more, please visit lightthenight.org to find our event in Westchester.
• 39:32
  SPEAKER_01: Together we can bring light to the darkness of cancer.
• 39:34
  SPEAKER_01: And thank you again for having me here today.
• 39:38
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 39:39
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thanks, Mackenzie.
• 39:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and and it is a wonderful um ceremony.
• 39:43
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um light in the night.
• 39:45
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It is a three-quarter mile walk, but guess what?
• 39:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: You don't have to walk all that far.
• 39:49
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I know that there's a few different routes uh around, especially in Playland that time of year, and because um because it is lighting the night, it gets a little darker earlier, and again, it is a very, very good event where the community is coming together to light the night um in support of blood cancer awareness and to be able to bring people together.
• 40:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So in the kids' zone is pretty cool too.
• 40:13
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So um so we talked a little bit about budget things coming up.
• 40:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we want to hear from you.
• 40:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Westchester County wants to hear from you before the 2027 Westchester County budget is finalized.
• 40:24
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We're inviting residents to share their priorities, concerns, and ideas about the county programs and services that matter most to them.
• 40:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The first one that's coming up is tomorrow, September 29th.
• 40:38
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That'll be up in the field library in Peekskill.
• 40:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That's from 4 to 6 p.m.
• 40:42
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um again on tomorrow, September 29th, 4 to 6 p.m.
• 40:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: at the field library in Peakskill on October 7th in the evening, 4 to 6 p.m.
• 40:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: at the Yonkers Public Library at 1 Larkin Center in Yonkers.
• 40:56
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And if you can't attend in person, you can always send that information, those written comments, email that feedback to communications at WestchesterCountyNY.gov, communications at WestchesterCounty NY.gov.
• 41:10
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Make sure your voice is heard and help shape Westchester County's priority for 2027.
• 41:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Then following that, when we start releasing the budgets, first the capital budget um by October 15th, and then the operating budget for Westchester County by November 10th.
• 41:26
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Then the Board of Legislators has the ball, and then they will have their three um sessions as well.
• 41:32
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, make sure your voice gets heard.
• 41:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um and this Thursday, October 1st, we'll be celebrating Italian Heritage Month.
• 41:41
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I hope that you're gonna join us here at the county for a special flag raising ceremony um outside the McKealing office building.
• 41:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That's gonna be um uh at 5 p.m.
• 41:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: on October 1st.
• 41:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and then following the celebration, we're gonna have a reception, because it wouldn't be an Italian celebration heritage month without some food.
• 42:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and that'll be from 5 30 to 7.
• 42:03
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: This is an opportunity to come together and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of our Italian Americans here in Westchester County.
• 42:11
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and please RSVP as soon as you can.
• 42:14
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It looks like October 14th, so maybe that date is October 21st.
• 42:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So they I was like, it sounds like a really busy week, right?
• 42:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Right?
• 42:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So hopefully it's it's October 21st, and then we'll go from there.
• 42:25
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Hopefully you'll join and we'll as we proudly raise the Italian flag and celebrate Italian Heritage Month here in Westchester County.
• 42:32
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And with that, let me turn back over to the Deputy County Executive.
• 42:39
  SPEAKER_07: Thank you, County Executive.
• 42:40
  SPEAKER_07: A couple of events coming up for the upcoming weekend on Saturday, October 3rd, from 10 a.m.
• 42:47
  SPEAKER_07: until noon.
• 42:48
  SPEAKER_07: There will be a Westchester Children's Museum pop-up at the Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center in Yorktown Heights.
• 42:56
  SPEAKER_07: The Westchester Children's Museum will be bringing its programming and impact to the towns and districts in the northernmost part of the county along the Hudson River.
• 43:06
  SPEAKER_07: The museum is committed to making its programming, including STEM and STEAM activities, available to all children in Westchester.
• 43:14
  SPEAKER_07: The event is free.
• 43:16
  SPEAKER_07: On Sunday, October 4th, from 10 a.m.
• 43:19
  SPEAKER_07: until 2 p.m., our last bicycle Sunday of 2026.
• 43:24
  SPEAKER_07: Travel that 13.1 mile loop one last time for this season from Westchester County Center south to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_07: It's closed to cars, but open to walkers, joggers, non-motorized bicycles, scooters, and inline skaters.
• 43:41
  SPEAKER_07: There are many points of entry and exit along the way, and it is free.
• 43:46
  SPEAKER_07: And lastly, this is something you might want to put on your list if you haven't done it before.
• 43:51
  SPEAKER_07: On Sunday, October 4th, from 1 until 2 p.m., you can come and groom a cow at the Alfred Del Bello Muscoot Farm in Cotona.
• 44:01
  SPEAKER_07: Now I grew up with my grandparents were dairy farmers, so this is this is a useful skill.
• 44:07
  SPEAKER_07: Ages 12 and older can visit the farm and experience the joy of grooming the gentle giants of the farm, our dairy cattle.
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_07: This hands-on program gives participants the opportunity to help care for our cattle through brushing and grooming, which supports coat maintenance and encourages positive socialization.
• 44:27
  SPEAKER_07: You must wear closed-toe sneakers or boots.
• 44:30
  SPEAKER_07: They are required.
• 44:31
  SPEAKER_07: The fee is$20 an individual.
• 44:34
  SPEAKER_07: And again, it's for ages 12 and older.
• 44:37
  SPEAKER_07: With that, County Executive, I'll turn it back to you.
• 44:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thanks, Joe.
• 44:42
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right, that was really exciting information to do that for folks that know that it's important to have that exec um extra skill.
• 44:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, but it's also fun with doing anything at the Muscoot farm.
• 44:55
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and certainly it's a great opportunity for young and old alike to learn something new.
• 45:00
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's this week in Westchester.
• 45:05
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We covered a lot today.
• 45:07
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Uh for from standing up for Westchester families and protecting um um vital SNAP benefits to some very good news about the county's continued financial and strong financial health.
• 45:19
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We traveled to the village of Austin to hear from Mayor Rika Levin about what's happening in her and Catherine Borges' community, and we learned about the county's new property alert service from our county clerk, Tom Roach, another free, important, free tool available to help Westchester property owners stay informed.
• 45:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: As we head into October, we're shining the light on some incredibly important issues and communities.
• 45:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: First, we're recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month, reminding survivors across Westchester that resources and support are available.
• 45:55
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We're celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the talents, contributions, and potential of people with disabilities throughout our workforces and throughout the workforces throughout Westchester County.
• 46:08
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We're getting ready to light the night at Playland Point Park at October 17th, coming together as one Westchester community.
• 46:15
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It's Westchester and Fairfield.
• 46:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We like the Connecticut folks come in and hang out with us to support everyone whose life has been touched by blood cancer.
• 46:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And there are also plenty of opportunities to get out and get involved.
• 46:27
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Come out and share your ideas at the 2027 budget public input sessions pre-budget release.
• 46:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Celebrate Italian Heritage Month at our flag raising.
• 46:38
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It's October 21st, by the way, or enjoy our beautiful, award-winning, and nationally accredited county parks and everything they have to offer.
• 46:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's this week in Westchester.
• 46:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
• 46:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thank you so much for watching.
• 46:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Have a wonderful, wonderful week, and we're gonna see you all very soon.