Latest / This Week in Westchester: The Podcast / TWIW 19: May 4, 2026

Transcript

TWIW 19: May 4, 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.
• 0:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
• 0:32
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um today is May 4th, 2026.
• 0:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: May the fourth be with you.
• 0:37
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um this is this week in Westchester, the briefing.
• 0:41
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, we want to start right right off um in talking about some changes and recent um changes to the SNAP requirements that place new and significant burdens on some of our most vulnerable residents.
• 0:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Under these guidelines and the changes, individuals deemed able-bodied adults without dependents must document up to 80 hours a week each month of work, education, volunteer activity to maintain their benefits or risk losing their benefits and going hungry.
• 1:11
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: This policy does not exist in a vacuum.
• 1:13
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It will impact individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, and young adults aging out of hostile care.
• 1:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: These populations are already facing significant barriers to stability and employment.
• 1:26
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So here in Westchester County, we believe access to food is a basic necessity, not a privileged condition or navigating complex administrative requirements.
• 1:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So while we will continue to comply with federal law, we are equally committed to ensuring that residents understand these changes and have the support they need to meet the new requirements or apply for appropriate exemptions.
• 1:49
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we are extrongly encouraging anyone that is receiving SNAP benefits to stay informed, track their hours, and reach out to assistance to the Department of Social Services if needed.
• 2:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The DSS folks are standing ready to help and make sure that you do not lose those um benefits, and we want to make sure that you're aware of all these changes.
• 2:11
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: No one should go hungry because of confusion or lack of access to support.
• 2:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And in Westchester County, we're doing everything we can to help prevent that.
• 2:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Today, um, we are so pleased to be joined by the town supervisor of the town of Lewisboro, Tony Gonzalez.
• 2:30
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um he is going to join and let us know everything that's going up involved in the town of Lewisboro, including their infrastructure needs, environmental preservation, housing, quality of life, and how the town is working in partnership with the county to address them.
• 2:45
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um we we love going up and hanging out in Scott's Corners.
• 2:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um he'll tell us more about Scott, you know, in the corner.
• 2:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Right?
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Dad?
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_06: Ken, thank you very much.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_06: Scott's Corners actually Pound Ridge, the other town, but that's okay.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_06: That's okay.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_06: Uh I'll I'll mention to Kevin that you uh yeah, you shout out to Scott's Corners.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_06: So thank you everyone for um for allowing me to uh come here today and and uh say a few words about Lewisboro.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_06: And thank you, Ken, for the opportunity.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_06: This is my fifth year serving as supervisor for the town of Lewisboro.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_06: Uh I have to uh give a shout out to our great employees who make my job a lot easier, um, and our partners in both county and state, our county legislators Erica Pierce, our New York State Senator Peter Harkum, New York State Assembly member Chris Burdick.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_06: They've been uh terrific partners and have helped uh me in some of my work and helped me make uh with making my job easier.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_06: Uh a little bit about Lewisburg.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_06: We're a population of about 12,500 with about 4,200 households, uh 23 miles north of White Plains, straight up 684, uh 29 square miles, so we're a pretty large town shaped like a boomerang.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_06: Um we have six New York State roadways that traverse the town, so we have a very good relationship with New York State DOT.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_06: Uh one train station for anyone commuting is uh Goldensbridge on the MTA Harlem line.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_06: Uh we share borders with Somers, Pound Ridge, North Salem, Bedford, and Connecticut.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_06: Shout out to North Salem, they were here last week.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_06: Uh Warren Lucas, my friend.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_06: Uh we're part of the amazing Kotsona Lewisboro School District.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_06: Uh and the town of Lewisboro, we love our open space, so we have a lot of it, um, which includes multiple parks and preserves with many trails.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_06: Uh part of the county's Ward Pound Ridge reservation actually overlaps into the town of Lewisboro.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_06: And you may be seeing some pictures as I'm talking here.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_06: Photo credit to Rob Cummings, who took a lot of those pictures.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_06: Uh the town is most known for its hamlets.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_06: We have six hamlets: Goldensbridge, Cross River, Wackabuck, which is home of the Wackabuck Country Country and Golf Clubs in South South Salem and Lewisboro.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_06: We have three hamlet centers in Goldensbridge, Cross River, and Vista, which is where we have our local shopping and restaurants, et cetera.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_06: Uh the town is um there there are several new businesses in those hamlet centers, which are making the hamlet centers more vibrant.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_06: Um and um uh for example, Borough Cafe just opened up recently, Sushi 22, Tacona.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_06: We have Gossett Nursey, complete uh reformation of their facility, which includes the winery, the South Salem winery.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_06: Uh and then we have established restaurants, including the Horse and Hound, who just celebrated their 30th anniversary uh in South Salem.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_06: Uh in terms of important projects for the town, we have many projects with where we're improving town facilities, all our parks, um the facilities in those parks, the the restrooms, for example, um, a lot of it with s with grants and also with uh fund balance.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_06: We've we've done very well, so we had some money to to spend on these uh very important projects.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_06: We are relocating, we've been paying rent for several town offices, our court, our PD.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_06: We're actually moving everyone out, and we're gonna be going into our own facilities.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_06: Um, and we're gonna be designing and building a new uh police department.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_06: It's it's currently in a design stage and uh site planning.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_06: Uh we have a new bathhouse in our town park, uh, an all-inclusive playground, which was inaugurated in May of 22.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_06: And today, how to off the press, it was announced that the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation um awarded a planning achievement award for that project.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_06: So very excited about that.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_06: Um on my list of things to to pursue pickleball courts, there's a demand for them.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_06: Um sidewalks and pedestrian safety in our Hamlet centers.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_06: So we we we're we just applied for a New York State DOT uh transportation alternative program grant, which will hopefully uh help us with this.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_06: Uh Mercedes, the Goldens Bridge expanded.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_06: They actually installed our first sidewalks in town.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_06: So they have sidewalks in front of their dealership, which will eventually connect to our Hamlet Center.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_06: Uh water is very important.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_06: So, in terms of um the environment, we we have seven lakes, so clean water is very important, not only to us, but to folks that tap into the new New York City reservoir system.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_06: Um we are in the east of Hudson watershed.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_06: Um and the county, we actually were working with the county.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_06: We have a couple of projects with uh related to wastewater.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_06: One will be the first septic district, potentially, if it gets approved, um, in Westchester County, and one of a few in New York State.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_06: And we're utilizing funds from New York State DEP, the water quality improvement program funds, which uh the county is a custodian for.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_06: Um there's also the Oak Ridge Water District, Ken mentioned PFAS.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_06: So we we just went live with our PFAS granular activated carbon filtration system a week and a half ago.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_06: So uh major project, and this is for a district that serves about a thousand residents and the Vista uh Hamlet Center um commercial and and business.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_06: Uh commercial and retail, I should say, business and retail.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_06: Uh in terms of housing, yeah, we need more housing.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_06: We have, you know, the demand is for you know seniors.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_06: When I speak to seniors, they would like to be able to stay in town in an affordable place, but not uh have to support um the houses they currently live in.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_06: Um we have a 42-unit affordable housing project that went live in September or the summer of 2023, uh, which has been a success.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_06: Over 1,800 applications for those 42 units.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_06: So there's a demand for affordable housing.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_06: Uh we're hoping to do more on that front, um, and and hopefully some news to come on on that.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_06: Um on sustainability, we have food scraps program, which has become very popular.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_06: We had to expand it.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_06: Uh we do paint recycling every year.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_06: We uh we expanded our fleet of EV vehicles.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_06: Uh we're actually in the process of uh acquiring two more, one for our building department, and our police chief has actually shared with me that he's interested in in uh a uh a police pursuit vehicle that is also an EV.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_06: Um and we have a photovoltaic solar project which is about to be kicked off.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_06: That's our first.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_06: So we're excited about that, and that was via a grant through our friends and at the state.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_06: Uh EV chargers.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_06: We're gonna be installing EV chargers in two locations in town.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_06: Um and and so and and we're hoping to do more uh in the area of sustainability, and we're hoping to become a climate smart, get enough points to to be a climate smart community or CSE.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_06: Um and so there's a lot on our list to get to that, and we're hoping to achieve it.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_06: And I do want to shout out to also to our first responders.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_06: I mean, they are amazing, and we had a uh devastating fire in town about a week uh about a week and a half or two weeks ago.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_06: Um and you know, the the majority of our first responders are volunteers, so we have the Goldens Bridge Fire Department, Vista Fire Department, South Selling Fire Department, Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and and then our there's our PD, Westchester EMS, um assisted.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_06: And the mutual aid was tremendous from the neighboring municipalities, including the county.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_06: Uh Department of Emergency Emergency Services was there, as was Commissioner Suzanne Spears.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_06: So it was very nice to see everyone there.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_06: And our we had two police officers who were injured, police officer Joseph Briggs, police sergeant Andrew Llewellyn.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_06: Uh they're both doing okay.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_06: Uh Joseph Briggs had to spend the week in Northern Westchester um hospital.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_06: Um he's home, and thanks uh for Kent for coming up as we uh when they discharged him.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_06: It was a tremendous uh outpouring of support and folks who were there to uh to welcome home uh Joe Joseph Briggs.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_06: So we look forward to the continued partnership with our friends at the county government.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_06: Uh uh Ken, thank you.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_06: Uh and we'll continue our progress to move Lewisboro for forward.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_06: So stay tuned to future developments and drive up 684 and come visit us one of these days.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_06: Thank you.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_06: Thank you, Ken.
• 10:26
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That was Tony Igancalvis, who who is our supervisor for the town of Lewisboro.
• 10:30
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, when we get up to the the town of Louisboro, when we're going up 684, as as the supervisor just pointed out, um, you see the Goldens Bridge, and you do see that new Mercedes dealer right there.
• 10:41
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But also a little before that is the affordable housing development that uh that the supervisor was talking about.
• 10:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And guess what?
• 10:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: There's so many great things that um the leadership and under Tony's leadership that they continue to do up in the town of Lewisboro.
• 10:55
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I mean a fantastic team up there.
• 10:57
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um we were just up there recently for the Leather Man's Loop, which runs out of uh Ward Pound Ridge.
• 11:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um there's some additional things that are happening, and we're gonna have for Revolutionary Um 250, we are going to have later on during the year a reenactment with over a thousand people, a thousand um folks doing that.
• 11:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I think that's in September, if I remember right, but I might be having my dates wrong.
• 11:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But um but again, it's a thousand folks.
• 11:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Again, there's so much history that's built into Westchester County for some folks realize it was the neutral ground um between the Patriots and the Loyalists, and there's so many things that are happening.
• 11:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But Lewisboro is is moving forward.
• 11:36
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, Tony Gonkoff is in the team, he was talking about some of the PFOS remediation that was done, but he ended up um talking about um uh an incident where um you know the town of Lewisboro members passed away from the the fire that was up there, but the tremendous support over a hundred different people that were there, and and we're working on trying to make sure we're recognizing everyone um take together through through all that.
• 12:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But again, Tony's leadership, um, you know, his town board, um, and all of the folks that were the emergency first responders, everybody pulling together, and certainly I was proud to be there um with Supervisor Gunkavis when um when Officer Briggs was walking out um after being um in admitted to um from fighting that particular fire as a police officer being one of the first responders there.
• 12:24
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, there's so many great things that are happening.
• 12:26
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Yes, get off with 684, um see the the hamlets, the vista, the golden bridge, and then so many other things that are happening in the in the town, um, but also get an opportunity to go to one of those great restaurants that he just mentioned, um, and there's so many good things to do that.
• 12:41
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And it is the place where we have our largest um park facility.
• 12:45
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: With that, let me turn over to the Deputy County Executive, Joan McDonnell, and she'll bring up our next guest.
• 12:50
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Joe.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, County Executive.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: Um, next up, uh Michael Orth is here today uh to discuss May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Westchester County.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: This year's theme is More Good Days Together, which encourages individuals to reflect on what a good day looks like, both for ourselves and for our communities.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_00: Commissioner Orth, come on up and tell us what it's all about.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, appreciate it.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_04: Uh first of all, thank you, County Executive and Deputy County Executive, for recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Westchester.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_04: And as the Deputy County Executive said, this year's theme is more good days together.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_04: And that includes how we spend our day normally, how we take care of ourselves, and recognizing that help is available and you are not alone.
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_04: As we know, here in Westchester and across the country, many of our residents experience a variety of mental health challenges.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_04: And just like our physical health is important, our mental health is a priority as well.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_04: And we stress the importance of nutrition, sleep, exercise, occasionally disconnecting from social media, and practicing self-care.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_04: When it comes to seeking help, thanks to the leadership and commitment of our county executive and our board of legislators, Westchester continues to prioritize the mental health of our residents by supporting them in many ways.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_04: Since last year's Mental Health Awareness Month, we have increased access to effective services, training, and awareness across the county.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_04: And one of our goals is to reach people in different ways that are most comfortable, culturally, racially competent to them.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_04: So since last year, we've expanded to over 74 school-based mental health satellite clinics at 74 school buildings throughout our county that have access directly in the school to mental health services.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_04: We've expanded our evidence-based practices for co-incurring disorders through foundation grant and other funding.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_04: We've increased the use of our crisis and suicide prevention 988 line to over 18,000 calls and outreach just alone last year.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_04: We opened our DCMH Safety Net Clinic here in White Plains in November after being closed since 2010 to serve adults who are struggling with mental health challenges.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_04: And thanks to Governor Hokel and New York State Office of Mental Health, we have new intensive services for children and families who may be experiencing psychiatric crisis.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_04: In terms of training and awareness, thanks to nonprofit Westchester, we've increased youth mental health first aid training to our community-based organizations, to our agencies, and to our business community as well.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_04: And we continue to grow our SoulShop and Faith Mental Health Spiritual collaborative, which really reaches people through their faith and spiritual communities.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_04: We've also increased training and awareness for an important population, our veterans, and our first responders.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_04: I'd like to acknowledge the efforts of our agencies, our partners, many of them are county departments, Department of Corrections, Probations, Social Services Youth Bureau, who help to also integrate mental health in the good work that they do, and of course, our Department of Community Mental Health, and we have our uh Deputy Uh Commissioner Joe Glazer and Bill Whites with us here today.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_04: Now, because this is May, is Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to share some of the upcoming events throughout Westchester County, and we encourage people to go out, join our community events.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_04: On May 7th, East Chester Care Coalition will be holding their eighth annual candlelight vigil at 7 p.m.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_04: In May 9th, in Tibbetts Park in Yonkers, we have one Paso 5K walk and run.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_04: We also have on May 9th another 5K sprint for mental health at St.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_04: Vincent's Hospital.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_04: And we also have the largest walk in Westchester County for Mental Health on May 16th through NAMI, Westchester.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_04: As part of the county's efforts to promote mental health awareness, you'll also see on the digital form outside our county center important information about mental health in 988.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_04: And please follow our platform, which we send a tweet of the day for mental health campaign.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_04: I'd like to thank the county executive for always prioritizing mental health in our county.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_04: And remember, you can always call 988 if you need help or further assistance.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_04: So thank you, County Executive and Deputy County Executive.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, Commissioner.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, Commissioner.
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_00: That's a very good endeavor that we all appreciate that you do every year.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: Next up, we're gonna have our Corrections Department leadership team come up to give us an observation of National Correctional Professionals Week, which is May 3rd through May 9th.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_00: Commissioner Spano and his team, who he'll introduce, this week provides an opportunity to honor the highly trained uniform civilian and contract staff at the department for their commitment to duty, to one another, and to the individuals entrusted in their care.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_00: Commissioner Spano.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_05: Thank you, Deputy County Executive.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_05: Thank you, County Executive.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_05: I'm here with my uh dynamic executive team, First Deputy Commissioner Nori Padilla, Deputy Commissioner Naima Johnson, and Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerald.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_05: First and foremost, it's always a privilege for us to attend one of your press briefings.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_05: But it's especially important for us today, because it gives us an opportunity to publicly recognize our workforce during National Correctional Professionals Week.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_05: And it also gives us an opportunity to highlight some of the great work that's happening at the Westchester County Department of Corrections.
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_05: And because most of that important and difficult work happens inside the jail walls, the story doesn't generally get told.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_05: The public is really not aware of most of the great work that's happening inside our jail.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_05: And that, of course, was one of the drivers behind the 1984 proclamation, which was designed to engineer public awareness and recognition for the contributions that correction professionals make.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_05: And I'm proud to have the opportunity to let the public know that our correction agency is recognized as a national leader in the space.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_05: And there are several reasons for that earned reputation.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_05: First, we operate under an exceptional suite of national certifications that are considered the triple crown for jail agencies.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_05: We are accredited through the American Correctional Association and the National Commission of Correction Health Care.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_05: And we are 100% compliant with the Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_05: What that means is we incorporate over 500 best in class custodial health care and federal standards into our day-to-day operations over and above what the State Commission of Correction mandates.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_05: And doing so has improved overall facility safety, public safety, and quality of life for our staff and for the individuals in our care.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_05: But it doesn't end there.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_05: We also have over 50 meaningful rehabilitation and re-entry program services and treatments in place.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_05: And I've been to every jail in New York State, and I can tell you, based on my travels and the information I have, there is not another jail in New York State that offers as many rehabilitation programs and services as we do here in Westchester County.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_05: And that aligns with our core mission and responsibility to rehabilitate individuals who have made poor decisions in their lives.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_05: We don't judge the folks who are remanded into our custody.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_05: That is not our role in the criminal justice system.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_05: That role belongs to the court system.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_05: Instead, from the time that someone is remanded into our custody, our focus is on assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and re-entry.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_05: And the impressive work being done in this area by our staff and our community partners is making a difference.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_05: It's helping incarcerated individuals get on a better life path when they return home.
• 21:16
  SPEAKER_05: That benefits them, it benefits their families, it benefits Westchester communities, and it has a positive impact on public safety.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_05: These achievements and others are made possible through the support of our county executive, our deputy county executive, county legislators, and others.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_05: They give us the tools and resources we need to operate at a very high level.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_05: And these significant achievements certainly don't happen without a talented and dedicated workforce.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_05: So, as I stated earlier, it's a privilege and honor to publicly recognize and thank one of the finest, most highly trained professional.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_05: Correctional workforces in the region and beyond.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_05: The important it's important for the public to know that the work being done at our correction agency is meaningful and it's making a difference.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_05: And thank you.
• 22:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right, that well well first again, that was um Commissioner Um Joe Spannel, his leadership team.
• 22:28
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um talking about the National Correction Professionals Week, which is May 3rd through May 9th.
• 22:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And and again, um the the work that's done by the professionals and the team inside the Department of Correction, um, make sure that within collaboration with everything else, that when people come out, they're on a much better path.
• 22:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that is so many great things that have happened inside of the facility to ensure that um that folks, when they are in Department of Correction, that people walk out that door on that much better path, as Commissioner always likes to say when we we do that.
• 23:00
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So um National Correction Profession Correctional Professionals Week.
• 23:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and and I know that he's not um you know making it up, and it's not hyperbole to say he's visited every facility in in New York State, because he has, um, then members of the team have as well.
• 23:15
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, but also that the leadership of the Department of Correction with Commissioner Spanner and all of the team is what helps make a difference to be able to make sure that the residents are safer when things come out, you know, people come out of of serving their their time.
• 23:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, thank you so much for all those professionals that continue to do that outstanding work.
• 23:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And I and I know we're gonna continue to talk about some of the um the the great work that you continue to do.
• 23:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um I'm looking forward this year.
• 23:41
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Hopefully, we'll see if um um Archbishop Hicks um be takes over for Cardinal Dolan, um, who would come up and and uh and come up to the facility, be able to talk um to the people that are of the residence to make sure that they were um understanding the much better path.
• 23:58
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And um, I'm looking forward to to seeing Archbishop um here soon.
• 24:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We're not sure if he's gonna make it up this year, because again, he's just getting his um feet the line down there, but again, that's really important.
• 24:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, thank you so much, Commissioner Spano.
• 24:11
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, next, we're gonna be joined by Commissioner Blanco Lopez, who is our Commissioner of Planning.
• 24:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, under Blanca's leadership, the department continues to drive a sustained and forward-thinking watershed program, equip municipal leaders, stakeholders, and residents with the tools and data that they need to better understand our environment, assess impacts, develop start smart strategies around critical issues like flood flood mitigation and water quality.
• 24:38
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, she's here to share some news about an exciting upcoming initiative, um, Resilient Westchester, a focus on flooding that's happening on May 8th.
• 24:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And this spring workshop is going to bring together municipalities from all over Westchester County for a collaborative experience on getting back to the basics on understanding land use and how things impact each other to make a difference in how flooding impacts our communities.
• 25:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: With that, Commissioner Lopez.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, County Executive, Deputy County Executive.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_02: It is my pleasure to be here this afternoon to talk about an upcoming event uh that my colleagues in the environmental division of the planning department have been working on.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_02: It is a free workshop uh to be held at the Westchester County Center this Friday, May 8th from 1230 to 4:30.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_02: And it is called Resilient Westchester, a focus on flooding.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_02: Planning staff is very excited to offer this workshop, which is targeted to municipal officials, community-based organizations, and nonprofit organizations to inform them on the where and why of flooding, technical resources, and potential mitigation strategies.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_02: The format of this event is intentionally collaborative and community-driven.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_02: Rather than a series of lectures, participants will engage in panel discussions designed as conversations with experts, sharing perspectives with each other and with the audience.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_02: A hands-on scenario planning exercise will give participants the opportunity to apply real tools to real-world flooding scenarios, identify threats, and build contingency strategies together.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_02: The county's role is clear.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_02: We need to be the conduit that connects resources, aligns public and private investment, and ensures that flood resilience planning happens in a coordinated regional way.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_02: We cannot eliminate flooding, but with the right knowledge, the right partnerships, and proactive approach, we can control it and protect the public safety, economic vitality, and quality of life that defines Westchester County.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_02: This event would not be made possible without the leadership of my colleagues in the Department of Planning, primarily Matthew Castro, who is our principal environmental planner, and Obed Varaghiz, who is our associate environmental planner.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_02: And we also want to give thanks to Tiffany Zuzula, Deputy Director of the PACE Land Use Law Center, for agreeing to moderate one of our panels, and to the team at BFJ Planning, who will lead the scenario planning exercise exploring how different communities interpret the relationship between land use and stormwater impacts.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_02: And last but not least, we also want to thank the county executive and the deputy county executive and their staff for their support, as well as to the Soreland Water Conservation District for sponsoring our event.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_02: We look forward to seeing you there.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, Cha.
• 27:54
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thank you, Commissioner Lopez, and we're looking forward for those folks to participate on May 8th at Brazilian Westchester.
• 28:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So thank you all for doing that.
• 28:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um coming up this week on May 6th, that's on Wednesday.
• 28:08
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm going to be delivering the 2026 State of the County address.
• 28:12
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um the doors are going to open on the Board of Legislators on the eighth floor here in the McKellan office building, beginning promptly at 6.
• 28:19
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And then the the address itself will begin promptly at 6.30.
• 28:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: As always, you'll be able to tune in to the speech right here on Facebook or on the county's website page at WestchesterCountyny.gov.
• 28:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And we look forward to presenting that to you then.
• 28:37
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: With this, let me turn over again back to Jill McDonald.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_00: And here we go again.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it's uh it's hard to tell which season we're in because one day it's 40 degrees, the next day it's almost 80 degrees, but spring is upon us.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_00: And this week, on Thursday, May 7th, from 9:30 to 1.30, we have Westchester County's 58th annual salute to seniors.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_00: It will be at the county center.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_00: Join us to celebrate seniors in our community.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_00: The event will feature information on programs, services, and products designed to assist our senior community.
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_00: Wellness activities and music will also be provided.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_00: For more information about salute to seniors, you can call 914-218-3968.
• 29:27
  SPEAKER_00: It's free admission and free parking.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_00: On Saturday, May 9th, from 10 a.m.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_00: to 11:30 a.m., the Marshlands Conservancy in Rye will have a birding for beginners.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_00: For anyone interested in bird watching, this is a great way to learn some basics from Chris Mignone.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to bring your binoculars.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_00: On Saturday, May 9th at 8 o'clock at the Westchester County Center, there's a concert for the love of mom featuring Kaishia, Cole, Friday, and Funk Flex, who will perform live at the Westchester County Center.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_00: Our bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway are underway.
• 30:11
  SPEAKER_00: They take place from 10 a.m.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_00: to 2 p.m.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_00: Traveled at 13.1 mile loop from Westchester County South to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's closed to cars and it's open to bicyclists, scooters, and inline skaters.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_00: E-bike class one only, plus walkers and joggers.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_00: No motorized scooters.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_00: Many points of entry and exit are along the way, and there's free admission.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_00: So come out enjoy it on Mother's Day if you can.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much, County Executive.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_00: I'll turn it back to you.
• 30:45
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right.
• 30:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Well, thank you so much, Joan.
• 30:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and and and certainly there's so many great things that are happening.
• 30:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Make sure you download the Parks app, whatever favorite platform you have, whether it's on the Google Play Store, um the Apple Store, iOS store, App Store, to download the official Parks app.
• 31:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Every once in a while you'll you'll be able to see some discounts on things that are happening, but it'll let you know much, much more um than the things that we could just snap off for you.
• 31:12
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, but also just sign up for that ePARK newsletter, the e-newsletter for parks that comes out weekly, has some more information.
• 31:18
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, certainly Keisha Cole and Funk Master Flex, right?
• 31:22
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we did that to Joan on purpose.
• 31:27
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right.
• 31:27
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we we know Funk Flux lives here in Westchester.
• 31:30
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, for all of us that know that from the OGs in the house, right?
• 31:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So so we want to say again first, thank you to uh our supervisor, Tony Goncalvis from the town of Lewisboro for being with us um this this afternoon and letting us know everything that's going on in in Lewisboro.
• 31:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I think there's a lot of things that are happening up there.
• 31:48
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: His leadership, his great work as a supervisor just continues um to show great promise.
• 31:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, um our friend um Tony Goncalvis up in the town of Lewisboro.
• 31:58
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um we followed that up by having a reminder about this May being um being mental health awareness month and talking about this year's theme, More Good Days Together, to show what a good day looks like.
• 32:10
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So thank you so much, um Commissioner and the team for being here with us.
• 32:14
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We had um Department of Correction, Commissioner Joe Spano, and the entire leadership team from the Department of Correction um talking about this week being May 3rd through 9th, National Correctional Professionals Week.
• 32:25
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that is an opportunity again for so many people to understand much more what happens that makes such a difference for our community here in Westchester County and putting people on a better path.
• 32:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Commissioner Blanca Lopez let us know about resilient Westchester and a focus on flooding to make sure, as she said, we can't stop flooding, but we certainly can do things to make uh make a difference.
• 32:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and and finally, certainly um walking into our next scenario with the state of the county that's coming up.
• 32:54
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, and that's this week in Westchester.
• 32:56
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, it's a reminder.
• 32:59
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I know everyone knows that this weekend, Sunday, is Mother's Day.
• 33:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Now, I know someone told me that every day's Mother's Day, even half the day on Father's Day, depending on how that goes, right?
• 33:12
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: But it is next weekend, it's Mother's Day, and it's a time to celebrate the the women who shape our families, our communities, and live and our lives in ways big and small.
• 33:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So whether you're planning something special or just spending some time together, we hope it's a meaningful and well-deserved day for all the mothers that are out there.
• 33:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And if you're looking for ways to celebrate right here in Westchester, we got you covered.
• 33:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um as Joan pointed out on Saturday night, we have For the Love of Mom with Keisha Cole live at the county center, and it's gonna be a good night out, right?
• 33:43
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So enjoy that for those folks that like the RB.
• 33:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, or keep it simple, and on Sunday with bicycle Sundays, you don't have to ride.
• 33:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: You don't have to make mom ride.
• 33:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um mom could walk, right?
• 33:55
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And be able to take advantage of the Bronx River Pathway and be able to stop in in the various places, whether it's stopping in Scarsdale at Destination Scarsdale, the farmers markets, etc.
• 34:05
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It's a good opportunity to get out there and enjoy um our nature.
• 34:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Or if you're really tempted, you can go up to Ward Pound Ridge and hang out in in Lewisboro at Ward Pound Ridge and walk around.
• 34:16
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Don't try to do the whole Leatherman loop by yourself, but but again, it's a great opportunity to do that.
• 34:22
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: It's a perfect time to spend together, get some fresh air, and on anywhere of our 14,000 acres and 54 different facilities, again, on Westchester's most loved beloved traditions on Bicycle Sunday.
• 34:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: However, you choose to celebrate, we wish all the moms, grandmoms, caregivers, and those who step into that role every day a very, very happy Mother's Day.
• 34:44
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
• 34:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thank you so much for watching and have a wonderful, wonderful week and happy Mother's Day.