TARRYTOWN, NY—Westchester County Executive-Elect George Latimer met with county business leaders on Tuesday and said that county government must face new business and political realities.

He also said that because the county budget for 2018 has yet to be finalized, he feels somewhat “hamstrung” in trying to implement some of his stated initiatives, at least in the short term due to projected and predicted budget deficits.

Current New York State Sen. Latimer told the gathering of the Business Council of Westchester that he intends to review the details of some of current Republican County Executive Robert Astorino's public-private partnership initiatives upon taking office. During the recent heated election campaign between Astorino and Latimer, the veteran Democrat expressed his reservations with a highly touted $1.1-billion Westchester County Airport privatization contract reached between the county and Macquarie Infrastructure in November. However, the proposal has not been ratified by the County Board of Legislators.

The County Board of Legislators approved a $1.8-billion 2018 county budget earlier this week by a 12-5 margin that imposes a 2% county property tax increase, caused largely by its decision to remove $30 million in revenue that was expected from the airport privatization deal. County Executive Astorino has stated his intent to veto the 2018 budget. The County Board of Legislators would need 12 votes to override that veto.

Latimer said that in Washington, DC and in Albany he has seen “an unwillingness to adjust to reality.” Latimer upon taking office in January will enjoy a 12-5 Democratic majority thanks to a rout of GOP lawmakers by Democratic challengers this past election. However, he stressed cooperation across the aisle at least on the county level.

“This administration intends to respect the Board of Legislators,” he said. “Not operate outside of the two branches of government system. That respect is not only extended to the majority of the Board of Legislators, but to the minority of the Board of Legislators.”

The outgoing Astorino Administration has structured a number of public-private partnership deals, including the privatization of Westchester County Airport, the redevelopment of Rye Playland and the development of the North 60 property at the Grasslands compound in Valhalla into a biotechnology hub.

Latimer said that upon taking office and filling key positions such as County Attorney, Director of Real Estate and an appointee responsible for economic development, he will review all of those public-private arrangements.

“I am not going in to blow up any deals,” Latimer told reporters. “But, I am going in to look at them and if the deals are not officially struck then I am going to have some input on it.”

In terms of the county-owned Westchester County Airpor,t he noted that the airport is already being operated on a day-to-day basis by an outside firm Avports, but that the proposal now pending before the County Board of Legislators would reconstruct that arrangement. He stressed that he wants to review deals that are not already struck and ensure the County Board of Legislators has had “full scrutiny” on those ventures.

In his presentation to the more than 250 attendees at the Tappan Hill mansion, he hinted at a different approach to economic development. He also said that he plans to meet with key business groups to discuss how the county can incentivize business to invest or remain in Westchester County.

He said one of his administration's main focuses would be on continuing to foster development in its major cities—Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers and White Plains.

Instant Insights /

Westchester County Executive-Elect Latimer Not Looking to 'Blow Up Any Deals'

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