Latest / This Week in Westchester: The Podcast / TWIW 39: September 21, 2026

Transcript

TWIW 39: September 21, 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.
• 0:23
  Intro: 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.
• 0:32
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Today is September 21st, 2026.
• 0:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And this is this week in Westchester, the briefing.
• 0:39
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: You know, I know some of you may have heard this weekend, Playland's beloved dragon coaster was slightly damaged during what was suspected to be an electrical fire on Saturday night.
• 0:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: No one was injured, and the park is already closed for the season.
• 0:55
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And as of normal, um routine police are still investigating the cause of the fire.
• 1:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, primarily Rye Fire Department, um, but they um called in additional folks because, again, it's really special with the Dragon Coaster.
• 1:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We appreciate that.
• 1:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The Rye Brook Fire Department, Harrison Fire Department, the Larchmont Fire Department, Port Chester Fire Department, um, the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Cause and Origin Investigator, the Mutual Aid Battalion Coordinator, who is Russ Maitland, and the Westchester County Police Department.
• 1:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The White Plains Fire Department um was canceled en route when mutual aid was requested.
• 1:41
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That's always requested as a precaution because of the size of the dragon coaster, and that it is wood.
• 1:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um so it had the potential to develop into a larger and more complex fire.
• 1:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thankfully, due to that rapid response by the Rye Fire Department, it was quickly brought under control.
• 1:57
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um thankfully the damage can be repaired by Playland's maintenance team, and we expect that work to be happening during this fall.
• 2:05
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We now we know how much you all love the Dragon Coaster.
• 2:10
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: For generations of Playland enthusiasts, um, we appreciate the concern we heard from so many Dragon Coaster fans.
• 2:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Social media was lighting up, um, had video out before most people even knew new things were going on, but our rye fire department um had um been there on the scene and was put in the fire out by the time some of those videos come came through.
• 2:32
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um the dragon's gonna rise again for Playland's 99th season next year, you know, heading towards 100 years of Playland.
• 2:39
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, the Dragon Coaster itself is 97 years old.
• 2:43
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, um the coaster is gonna be back, no problems, everything is fine.
• 2:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But thank you for all of the concern, and we look forward to going um continuing going on.
• 2:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Let's stay on the Sound Shore because with us today is the Village of Amerinac Mayor Sharon Torres, who joins us today to talk about some of the exciting things that are happening in the village of American.
• 3:06
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: You know, the village is a vibrant waterfront community.
• 3:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Uh, Mayor Torres will give us an update on what residents are seeing in the community, what's underway now, and what the village is looking to in the months ahead.
• 3:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: With that, let's bring up the mayor, Sharon Torres.
• 3:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Mayor.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you, good to see you.
• 3:24
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Good seeing you.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, I am very proud to be here on behalf of the village of Mamarinek.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_03: We are located on the Sound Shore, and we have a jewel of a park in Harbor Island, which houses almost 600 boats in our village.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, we are within walking distance of the train station in our very small three and a 3.2 square mile village, about 21,000 residents.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_03: Usually when I meet people and they hear the village of Amerinic, it's become synonymous with flood.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_03: And last week we were able to survive you know four inches of rain in just a few hours without any casualties.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_03: Umward, we're trying to change our association with flooding by putting in these massive flood mitigation efforts.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_03: And we could not do that without partnerships in the state, federal, and county governments.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, we want to thank Ken Jenkins and Joan McDonald and the planning department here in Westchester County for all of their work with the Army Corps plan.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_03: We are at 60% designed to the Ward Avenue Bridge, and we are looking forward to having that be one of the first flood mitigation projects next year.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_03: We have a plan that will take probably about a decade to go through our multimillion dollar infrastructure projects, but we are committed to finding the funds and going through with every single project on that list.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_03: I'd like to give a big shout out to my Long Island shore communities.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_03: Fourteen of us came together this past year to reinvigorate Liswick, which is the Long Island Sound Watershed Intermunicipal Council for flood mitigation and water quality.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_03: Out of that, we have developed some smaller groups.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, we have a quad municipal group of Harrison, the city of Rye, the town of Rye, and the village of American working together to find solutions to stop flooding in all of our neighborhoods, not just one.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_03: We share three different rivers with multiple communities, and so the only way to work forward is through collaboration.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_03: Our fire department is an all-volunteer fire department, and they are trained not just for fires and other calls, but also for flood efforts.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_03: We are looking right now to be the second community in Westchester County to allow them a priority in affordable housing.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_03: We think it is extremely important to keep our volunteers within the community, and so we are looking to find ways to make it more affordable for them through tax incentives, affordable housing, and other measures that we will look at in the next six months.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_03: They have their annual inspection dinner coming up on Thursday, October 1st.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_03: It gives us an opportunity to take pride in everything they do in keeping the houses and all of the equipment up to date and having a force that's ready for just about any emergency.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_03: We are very proud of that fire department, and we look forward to supporting them in the future.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_03: Our police department will be holding a car seat check on Saturday, September 26th.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_03: Everyone is invited to come.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_03: Safety is our priority, so you don't have to live in the village to join.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_03: To a few more fun things, though, we have just received a New York State grant for about$900,000.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_03: That grant is going to be used to fund a new playground at Harbor Island Park.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_03: The theme being a waterfront property is going to be a pirate ship, and it is going to be for all abilities, and that we expect to expand that playground within the next year.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_03: We support many events and sports at Harbor Island.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_03: It is a 44-acre park.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_03: And this Saturday, we are very proud to be able to support Pause in the Park for the New York Pet Rescue.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_03: You can join us for a picturesque walk around Harbor Island while you get your hub gets to try agility equipment, find great snacks and toys, meet adoptable pups, and go into the photo booth, try out doggy yoga and win prizes.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_03: Every dog gets a free bandana.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_03: So please bring them with you.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_03: We also host sports events, so we have everything from soccer, baseball, and volleyball.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_03: Even if you want to stop by in the summer, we have beach volleyball.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_03: We host parades, fireworks, concerts, movie nights, trivia, trivia on the beach, and car shows.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_03: So all of our businesses on the avenue, thank you so much for supporting all of our trivia and game nights, bringing prizes to that competitive nature for all of our residents.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_03: This year, the harbor is actually looking to expand our marina.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_03: We are looking to bring in boats of up to 30 feet, and we are looking to present those projects this fall and hope to get that all started in the spring.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_03: Now, summer is usually the time where we are just bursting with excitement, but in the fall we are going to continue those events.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_03: We have the very popular spectacular for Sunday, October 25th.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_03: Bring the kids for face painting, games, crafts, a DJ, magician, and of course our very scary haunted house.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_03: On October 3rd, we have a scarecrow build.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_03: Bring your team, decorate your pumpkins, get your scarecrows ready, and they will adorn Memarinic Avenue for the rest of the month.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_03: In November, we're gonna have the turkey trot.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_03: This is a very popular event, so please register early.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_03: Race day is Sunday, November 22nd.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_03: They include a one-mile gobbler, that's where I'll be attending, and a 5K turkey trot.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_03: And lastly, we are very excited to be looking at to open a brand new venue on Harbor Island.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_03: We are going to be opening up a concession on the beach.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_03: It's called the Mariner, and it is great for family fun.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_03: You will be able to sit on the beach all summer long, play Jenga, connect four, look at the boats, check out the sports.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_03: You can have a drink, whether it's family or you're by yourself.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_03: This is a brand new type of concession that is the first in Westchester where we will be on the beach and open to everyone.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_03: So whether you're boating in the marina and you want to stop by or you're just coming by to hang out in the park, please join us in June of 27 for the grand opening of the Mariner, sorry, the Mariner, and all of the events that we have to follow.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_03: It will be a wonderful 2027 that we look forward to joining with you.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_03: Have a great day.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 9:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right, thank you so much.
• 9:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That was Mayor Sharon Torres from the village of Memarinick, with like a litany of great ideas that'll be coming towards us in the near future and then for 2027.
• 9:58
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But you know, we got to get through 2026 first, and there's a plethora of activities in Memarinick.
• 10:03
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It's always great being down at the in the Harbor Island in that area there to be able to walk around and see the things that are going on.
• 10:10
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, certainly with with all of the firefighters, this is uh for volunteer firefighters that we have throughout the county.
• 10:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It's inspection time.
• 10:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So I got my glove ready, the white glove ready, as we go on and we look around and we look at the various uh equipment that um the various fire departments have and have been maintaining and making sure that it are in tip top shape to serve the residents, um, in this case in the village of Amerinick, um and some of the town of Amerinick as well.
• 10:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and when then we turn around and see all the activities that are happening there.
• 10:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So it's always great to see uh my good friend Sharon Torres, the mayor of the village of Amerinick, and all the work all of her trustees do together to make sure things are moving forward and hearing those things that are going on.
• 10:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um and we're looking forward to getting down into the beach next year, um, on June 2027, um, when another restaurant's open.
• 10:59
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Not that I need more help.
• 11:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, thanks Sharon Torres for being here with us um today.
• 11:06
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um today we also announced a brand new partnership with Nespresso and the Glass Packaging Institute to expand curbside recycling and make it easier for residents to recycle those used Nespresso capsules and other small aluminum items.
• 11:25
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: This partnership um announced at the county's material recovery facility in Yonkers, that is the Murph, will allow residents to place aluminum pods like Nespresso pods directly into their curbside recycling bins, which many of you are doing already, um, that'll help Westchester recover more recyclable aluminum and keep additional material out of the waste stream.
• 11:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We have a really short video to see what things are happening at the recycling center.
• 11:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Let's take a look now.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_07: Aluminum coffee capsules have become increasingly popular.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_07: And as that demand grows, so does the opportunity to recycle these precious materials.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_07: Westchester County is proud to partner with Nespresso to make recycling even easier for Westchester residents by offering curbside recycling options.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_07: Now, residents of Westchester County's refuse disposal district can include all brands of aluminum coffee capsules in their co-mingled recycling bin.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_07: That's along with their plastics, metals, and glass for curbside collection.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_07: Other small metal items like bottle caps can also now be included in your co-mingled recycling bin.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_07: Previously, aluminum coffee capsules were too small to be recycled, but now the county's material recovery facility, or MERF, where all of the Reft Use District's recyclables are processed, has been furnished with new equipment that can capture these small metal items.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_07: Predominantly plastic coffee capsules should still be included in your trash.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_07: The captured aluminum and other small metals will now be marketed and sold to recyclers to be made into new products.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_07: So now, Westchester residents, enjoy that cup of coffee and help the environment at the same time.
• 13:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: By expanding that curbside recycling to include Nespresso capsules and the other small um aluminum items, or not aluminum, could be metal for um bottle caps, um, helps capture those valuable resources and it gets to be done again.
• 13:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Sometimes you look around and you say, Well, isn't that being done already?
• 13:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um and that's a whole nother video that you'll get a chance to see.
• 13:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's why the glass, um the glass institute, the glass packaging institute was involved as well, because there's kind of two different stages of the recycling.
• 13:49
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That filters out one thing, set of things, and then it goes into the glass area.
• 13:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And now those little capsules for Nespresso and bottle caps and those kind of items now can be sorted out and be able to be recycled, and that makes a difference because again, it's aluminum, it gets to be used over and over again.
• 14:07
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So, again, we want to say thank you again to Nespresso um and the Class Glass Pack Packaging Institute for this particular um uh improvement, as well as all of our folks in the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities um at the MIRF and our partners that operate the MERF, um RCE that um operates the MIRF for us.
• 14:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But again, it is something that's really good.
• 14:31
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And here in Westchester, we do really great in recycling.
• 14:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We're one of the leaders in the state from a percentage perspective, and we want to keep that going.
• 14:39
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And now you can use your Nespresso and get recycling.
• 14:43
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And as the Nespresso Vice President said today, um it'll make your coffee taste that much better.
• 14:50
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right.
• 14:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Up next, we're going to hear um from Matt Calver, Kaviler, who's going to explain what we're doing for a hazard mitigation plan for Westchester County.
• 15:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: As we heard from the mayor earlier, where Mayor Sharon Torres in the village of Mamarinick talking about earlier, um experiences with flood mitigation around the entire county um have challenges all the time, and having such a plan um makes a heck of a difference.
• 15:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So many of us have this direct experience with flooding and this extreme weather.
• 15:22
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And if you have something to say, we want to hear about it.
• 15:25
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's why we have um the director of emergency management um division for Department of Emergency Services, Matt Kaviler, here to explain the need for that public comment for the hazard mitigation plan for Westchester County.
• 15:38
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: With that, let's turn it over to Matt.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_06: Good afternoon.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_06: Thank you, County Jenkins, for your support, and County Executive Jenkins, excuse me, for your support and your leadership.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_06: I'd like to talk with you this afternoon a little bit about what hazard mitigation is, and as the county executive alluded to, uh, what we're looking at in terms of public comment.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_06: So hazard mitigation is defined as sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from natural hazards.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_06: The county's multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, which includes all of Westchester County's municipalities, provides a roadmap to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated loss, like, for example, in some of our flood-prone neighborhoods in the Sound Shore.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_06: Adoption of this plan does help the county retain eligibility for future federal hazard mitigation funding, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, requires that the plan be updated every five years and that it be made available for public comment during that update process.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_06: So, with that in mind, members of the Westchester County community, including municipal officials, community leaders, and residents, are invited to review and provide feedback on the plan during this process.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_06: And more information and links to provide comments can be found on the Westchester County Government Facebook page.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_06: Thank you again for this opportunity.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Matt.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Matt.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_01: Up next, joining us today are Westchester County Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability, Peter McCart, and Julie Chang, who is the Westchester County Chapter Chair of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_01: They're here to talk about Climate Action Week and Drive Green Week here in Westchester County.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_01: Climate Action Week is an opportunity to highlight the work happening across Westchester to address climate change, reduce emissions, and build more sustainable communities.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_01: We'll also talk about what the county is doing to advance these goals and importantly how residents can be part of that work.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_01: They'll take a closer look at Drive Green Week, including the growing role of electric vehicles, the expansion of charging stations, and that infrastructure, and the resources that are available to residents who may be considering making the switch to an EV.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_01: Peter and Julie, please come on up and help us break down what these initiatives mean for Westchester.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_00: You've got thank you, John.
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it's climate week uh here in uh here in New York City and in the county.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's the world's largest climate event and um climate platform.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the week features hundreds of events across across our region uh covering finance, energy, and urban resilience.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um so well it's always climate week here in Westchester.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_00: Uh thanks to our dedicated and engaged county executive, Ken Jenkins, is uh he really is a leader.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: I think everybody in your family is driving an electric vehicle these days and for for quite a while.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um so Westchester County, as uh I was stated, is a definite um leader in sustainability here in New York State.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_00: Our Department of Environmental Facilities, as we just heard, is uh constantly coming up with ingenious and innovative way ways to recycle better and more our items.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: Our planning department is working to make our operations and facilities more resilient, as well as uh as we adapt to the uh changing climate.
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_00: Our parks department is leading the way with native planting, fighting invasives, and keeping our award-winning parks green and healthy.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: And our Department of Public Works and uh Transportation are always considering our footprint when uh rehabbing or building infrastructure, uh, you know, especially solar.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I could go on, but today we want to focus on the transportation aspect of the Department of Public Works.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_00: Uh first off, we have our wonderful uh green um uh the B-line bus system, of which we just added another 115 electric hybrid buses uh that save a massive amount of fuel.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so the entire list of our 400 uh buses are now either electric or electric hybrid, and um that's really making our air cleaner here as well as well with all the other electric vehicles.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we have a fleet of cars that is uh uh is uh rife with uh electric vehicles.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_00: We you must have seen them around the county.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we've got bolts, we've got Prius primes, we've got uh RAV4 primes, we've got uh electric vans, uh um, and uh uh it's all good.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_00: We've also added a lot of EV chargers and are constantly adding more.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, some for our own fleet, of course, uh, but also for the public and mostly in our park parking lots.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_00: Uh there are 50 in our commuter lot here by the county center.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's by county center and it's White Plains train station, so a lot of commuters are using that.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um I drive by there every day on my uh way home, and nowadays all 50 of those uh chargers are being used.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_00: And that makes uh Ken and I very, very happy to see that.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so to further advocate for cleaner transportation, we have teamed up with the New York League of Conservation Voters as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation uh to promote driving clean.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_00: The Get Their Green campaign is kicking off today and taking place now through uh Sunday, September 27th.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: So it's time to participate and join your fellow co-workers and neighbors in using green transportation.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: This event encourages everyone to use the sustainable form of transportation for at least one of your trips this week.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's a good way to start.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_00: Simply walk, bike, take transit, carpool, drive, uh, an electric vehicle, or use another form of sustainable transportation for at least one trip.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: There are two more bike Sundays uh on the Bronx River Parkway this Sunday, and then the last one on October 4th.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, those are from 10 to 2.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: It's excellent.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's a great family uh event to do.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um and you can use one of those for your trip.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um on the fourth, we will be uh you and I will be tabling um uh uh with the New York League of Conservation Voters at the turnaround at the county center.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: And that's the last one of the year.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna pass it over to uh Julie Chang now.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_00: Julie, thank you.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_04: Thank you, Peter.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_04: And thank you, County Executive Ken Jenkins, and Deputy County Executive Joan McDonald.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_04: Uh I'm Julie Chang, chair of the Westchester chapter for the New York League of Conservation Voters.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_04: Um it is, we are, NYLCV, is a statewide environmental advocacy organization working for clean air, clean water, clean transportation, and healthy communities.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_04: Our chapter brings that work home here in Westchester, supporting local environmental leadership, engaging residents, connecting Westchester priorities with action in Albany.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_04: Today I'm going to focus on one of the biggest opportunities we have: clean zero emissions transportation.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_04: Like so much of what we at the League work on, transportation is something we experience every day.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_04: Electrifying our transportation sector, our cars, our buses is one of the most important and immediate ways to cut pollution and improve the health of our communities.
• 23:21
  SPEAKER_04: Simply put, clean transportation means cleaner air, which means better public health.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_04: We are in the middle of drive electric month, September 11th through October 12th.
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_04: We have a chance to see EVs, meet owners, ask questions, maybe take a test drive and make the transition to tangible rather than theoretical.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_04: And why this matters?
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_04: Cleaner air, less tailpipe pollution, quieter streets, more choices, a healthier choice for all of us.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_04: There's a lot happening in Westchester.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_04: Peter already mentioned the B-line electrification, county EV charging investments.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_04: Cities, villages, and towns in Westchester are stepping up as well by electrifying their municipal vehicles and service vehicles like garbage trucks.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_04: Organizations like Sustainable Westchester are installing solar to EV charging infrastructure in places like Mount Kisko.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_04: This isn't technology we're waiting for.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_04: It's here, it's happening.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_04: We're seeing it on Westchester's roads in and in our communities.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_04: And passenger cars are only part of the story.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_04: It's bigger than cars.
• 24:31
  SPEAKER_04: When we talk about electric vehicles, we're not just talking about what's parked in our driveways.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_04: School buses are one of the most critical aspects of our clean transportation network for good reasons.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_04: Kids ride school buses every day.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_04: Travel, they travel directly through our neighborhoods.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_04: Zero mission buses mean zero tailpipe pollution and no more dirty exhaust exactly where your kids are standing.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_04: And our state goal is to have the entire school bus fleet to be electrified by 2040.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_04: And that's closer than it sounds.
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_04: NYLCV has an important role to play.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_04: The League has been a leading advocate for the transition from the start.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_04: Together, we won an$8 million NICERTA Clean Transportation Prize, and our project is called Electrifying School Buses in the Bronx and Beyond, or ESB3.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_04: We provide a framework to accelerate the deployment of zero emission school buses throughout the state.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_04: In Westchester, school districts like Terrytown, Scarsdale, Katona, Lewisboro have made investments into having electric school buses.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_04: And it's bigger than buses, too.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_04: Beyond school buses on our personal rise, we're talking about transit, municipal fleets, trucks, commercial vehicles, charging infrastructure that makes all of this possible.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_04: We're not electrifying vehicles for the sake of electrifying vehicles.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_04: We're doing it because there are vehicles, these are vehicles that move through our neighborhoods every single day.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_04: So what does need to happen?
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_04: We are advocating for EV and charging investments, we're advocating for municipal fleet transitions, we're working with local governments and communities, and we're upholding the state's clean transportation commitments.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_04: But good policy alone is not enough.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_04: People need to see and experience this transition for themselves.
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_04: New Yorkers want to understand what the transition means for them.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_04: We make clean transportation accessible, and the clean transportation transition works best when people can see it, feel it, touch it, experience it.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_04: So that's why we are working with the county on Drive Electric Month now through October 12th.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_04: We are giving people a chance to ask very practical questions.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_04: How far can an EV go?
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_04: Where do I charge?
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_04: How long does it charge?
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_04: What does it cost?
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_04: What is it actually like to own one?
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_04: Which brings me back to NYLCV's role in Westchester and getting out into the community during drive electric month, talking directly with residents.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_04: Sometimes the best way to get someone comfortable with an EV is to let them try it rather than a report or a policy paper.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_04: So where can you find us?
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_04: You can find us at Westchester County Bike Sunday on October 4th.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_04: I'll be there with Peter, and we'll have we'll have a table set up and you can ask us ask us whatever questions you want.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_04: So come learn.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_04: See what's happening with EVs and clean transportation.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_04: Engage.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_04: Come see us and many other terrific organizations during Drive Electric Month and get involved.
• 27:57
  SPEAKER_04: Join NYLCV, sign up, and take action.
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_04: Clean transportation isn't something far off in the future.
• 28:04
  SPEAKER_04: It's here, it's already happening in Westchester.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_04: Our opportunity is to keep that momentum going and make sure every community benefits.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_04: Thank you.
• 28:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thank you, Julie.
• 28:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That's Julie Chang, who is our Westchester chapter, the New York League of Conservation Voters Chair.
• 28:24
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And she was talking about the partnership coming up with Drive Electric Month, and certainly that'll be on the last bicycle Sunday, which would be a good opportunity for sustainability as well.
• 28:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But um by that time we'll keep our fingers crossed, maybe we'll have the high speed charges open at the county center um by that time as well, um, with in addition to the 50 that are right down uh at the other end of um the parking lot um for the commuter lot for the the White Plains train station sales.
• 28:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: There's so many things that are going on, and as Julie pointed out and Peter pointed out as well, um is not the future, it's here, and we have to keep investing in it.
• 29:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And sometimes you have it a financial reason to do that, like right now.
• 29:06
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So if you have um diesel fuel over six dollars a gallon, and certainly the national average is somewhere around 450 a gallon for for gas.
• 29:15
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I know that that's um had people um investing in hybrids before and plug-in hybrids um from prior to this um administration's modification where it eliminated the tax credit for electric vehicles, but people see now with the bills that there are from fuel that that's another reason.
• 29:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So great um for the environment, making sure that we have fresh and clean air for us, because can't replace that as well, um, but also hitting the pocketbook just as well.
• 29:42
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um so for me, as you all know, we have four um EVs, one for every kid that's that's still around, and plus myself and my wife, and we have different versions for different um kind of things that we have going on for for ourselves.
• 29:56
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So that it is an opportunity to get there, see what's going on, and um just don't get in the way of now County Clerk Tom Roads and myself.
• 30:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: If you see us talking about EVs or something like that, it could be bad, right?
• 30:07
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: You know, unless you want to jump in the game and do that.
• 30:10
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: For us in the county, we do have in addition to all of the vehicles that Pete was um Pete was mentioning uh at one level, but also the workhorse vehicles like um F-150 Lightnings, which is the most popular truck in the country.
• 30:22
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and we have the lightning versions of those and some other things that are happening.
• 30:26
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, there's so many good things happening with that, and again, to take care of the New York League of Conservation Voters, the Westchester chapter, and all the things that they do from an advocacy, but also in practicality and partnering with organizations like Sustainable Westchester.
• 30:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So thanks so much, Julie, um, for being here with Peter, our Director of Environment and Sustainability.
• 30:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right.
• 30:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um coming up on this Sunday, um, Goldstar Mothers and Families Tribute is um is happening on Sunday.
• 30:57
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That's the official day for Goldstar Mothers and Families.
• 31:00
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The county's um service and a memorial tribute ceremony is gonna take place on Friday, the 25th at 3 p.m.
• 31:08
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, there's reasons that we want to make sure that we have our county ceremony that is not going to um to counter any of the local municipalities having their own um ceremonies around the county.
• 31:19
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we do ours on Friday, February 25th.
• 31:22
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The solemn ceremony is gonna honor the mothers and families of our nation's fallen service members.
• 31:27
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Gold Star families carry with them the legacy, the memory and loss of loved ones who gave their lives while serving our nation.
• 31:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Together, we're gonna gather to remember those brave men and women, to honor the families who continue to keep their memories alive, and to ensure that their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.
• 31:45
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And again, that's gonna be at the Kensiko Dam Plaza um Friday the 25th at 3 p.m.
• 31:50
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And certainly we'll uh be streaming it live um on our county webpage as well as our Facebook page.
• 31:56
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But again, if you have that opportunity to watch or come out, we'd love to have you September 25th at 3 p.m.
• 32:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And as we continue on at this time of the year, we're getting towards our budget.
• 32:08
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we have our budget input sessions, and Westchester County certainly wants to hear from you as we um are shaping the 2027 county budget.
• 32:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, we are inviting residents and to share their priorities, concerns, and ideas about the county programs and services that matter to them most.
• 32:27
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The first one's gonna be on September 29th from 4 to 6 p.m., and that's up in Peakskill at the Field Library.
• 32:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um so again, September 29th from 4 to 6 p.m.
• 32:37
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: at the Field Library, and then on October 7th from 4 to 6 p.m.
• 32:43
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: at the um Yonkers Public Library in Yonkers.
• 32:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um if you can't attend in person, you certainly can send written comments in.
• 32:50
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um email your comments and feedback to communications, and that's communications within S at WestchesterCountyny.gov.
• 32:58
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um make sure to make your voice heard as we're shaping um the Westchester County budget priorities for 2027.
• 33:05
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: You'll have additional opportunities after we pass it on to the Board of Legislators.
• 33:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: They usually have three input sessions as well, um, and we're gonna go forward from there.
• 33:14
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So make sure your voice is heard.
• 33:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: With that, let's turn back over to the Deputy County Executive, Joe McDowell.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, County Executive.
• 33:25
  SPEAKER_01: And now I'll give uh our parks updates.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_01: On Saturday, September 26th, from 8 a.m.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_01: until 4 p.m.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_01: at the Westchester there will be a Westchester Garden and Landscape Show at Lasden Public Gardens and Memorial and Veterans Memorial in Katona, New York.
• 33:42
  SPEAKER_01: Industry professionals, homeowners, and garden enthusiasts can join us for a curated one-day event dedicated to the health, design, and longevity of Westchester's landscapes.
• 33:54
  SPEAKER_01: We bring together industry-leading arborists, landscapers, and designers with local homeowners for six hours of hands-on education, professional networking, and aesthetic inspiration.
• 34:08
  SPEAKER_01: If it rains on Saturday the 26th, the rain date is Sunday, September 27th.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_01: Also on Saturday, September 26th, from 12.30 a.m.
• 34:18
  SPEAKER_01: until noon, there will be a family cooking class with the Fiddleheads Cooking Studio at Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center in Yorktown.
• 34:28
  SPEAKER_01: The cooking class is a great opportunity for the whole family to have an experience.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_01: During the lesson, children ages 3 to 18 will learn how to cook a dish from start to finish.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_01: Younger children will work on simpler tasks, while older folks and teens will have the opportunity to work independently and acquire some advanced kitchen skills.
• 34:51
  SPEAKER_01: The price is per participant at$45, adults and children alike, and an adult is required for a child five or under.
• 35:00
  SPEAKER_01: On Sunday, September 27th, from 9 a.m.
• 35:04
  SPEAKER_01: until 3.30 p.m., the Westchester County Car Show will be held at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle.
• 35:10
  SPEAKER_01: The Westchester Street Rod Association presents this annual car show.
• 35:15
  SPEAKER_01: It will feature a wide variety of collectible cars, street rods, and motorcycles, all carefully restored to mint condition and modified for performance.
• 35:26
  SPEAKER_01: Gates open at 8 a.m.
• 35:28
  SPEAKER_01: Admission is free for spectators.
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_01: There will be a$5 parking fee for a spectator car, and the rain date is October 4th.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_01: And lastly, as has been mentioned several times in today's briefing, Sunday, September 27th from 10 a.m.
• 35:43
  SPEAKER_01: to 2 p.m.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_01: is our bicycle Sunday on the Bronx River Parkway.
• 35:47
  SPEAKER_01: Many points of entry and exit are along the way and it's free admission.
• 35:52
  SPEAKER_01: And then the last one will be, as mentioned by Peter and Julie on October 4th.
• 35:57
  SPEAKER_01: That's it for the parks updates, County Executive.
• 36:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thanks, John.
• 36:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And Joan always makes sure to remind me when we're walking past each other to say that the app, make sure you download the official parks app, whether it's on the Google Play Store or on the iOS App Store, where that's the official one, not some um bootleg one that has the parks logo, and making sure that you could get additional information or all the events that happen in the county's park system, because that was just a small smattering of the many things that are happening in our park system.
• 36:31
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's this week in Westchester.
• 36:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right.
• 36:42
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: No one was hurt, the damage is repairable, and the dragon will rise again.
• 36:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We heard from the village of Mamarinic's mayor, Sharon Torres, about some of the exciting things happening in the community and what residents could look forward to in the month and the year ahead in the village of Memarinek.
• 37:00
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We're making it easier to recycle in Westchester with our new Nespresso partnership that allows residents to put those small aluminum capsules right into their curbside recycling.
• 37:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Some of you may have already been doing this, but now it's official you can.
• 37:13
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And we talked about preparing Westchester for the future for making our communities more resilient to flooding and extreme weather, to taking action on climate change and doing what we can to make sure we're taking our part in fixing the environment and working with the environment and helping residents learn more about electric vehicles on October 4th.
• 37:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Remember, we want to hear from you.
• 37:37
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Our 2027 budget public input sessions are coming to PeakScale and Yonkers, or you can send your emails directly to us to commscommunications at WestchesterCountyny.gov.
• 37:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So come out and tell us what matters to you and your community.
• 37:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And finally, this Friday we're going to gather at Kensico Dam Prop Plaza for our Gold Star Mothers and Families Tribute, Memorial Tribute ceremony.
• 38:00
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Amid everything that's happening in Westchester, we will take the time to remember those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice and the families who carry their memories forward every day.
• 38:13
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's this week in Westchester.
• 38:15
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
• 38:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thank you so much for watching.
• 38:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Have a wonderful week, and we'll see you soon.