Outreach To Hispanics A Priority
That balancing act has helped change the tone, dialogue and direction of the county. According to Astorino, the tax levy had gone up 17 percent in the five years before he was elected. Spending was also up 23 percent. This climate was making it difficult for seniors to stay in their homes and for young people to take root in the community.
Determined to help the county live within its means, Astorino vowed to not raise the tax levy and to create a balanced budget. Although this made decision making difficult, he maintains that doing so forced the county to change course in a positive direction.
We have not raised the tax levy in three years, says Astorino. In fact, weve dropped it a little bit. I pledged for the fourth straight year that the county would have a balanced budget and no tax levy increase. That promise forced tough decisions, but our county is much healthier financially today because of those decisions, and thats something I am proud of.
Protecting taxpayers is one of the basic tenants of Astorinos administration. He cites Playland, one of the few government owned and run amusement parks in the U.S., as an example. While people love the park, which is located in Rye, taxpayers cant afford the $3-5 million per year the amusement park costs them when the county has so many other critical needs. Rather than abandon the century-old amusement park, Astorino vows to reinvent it for the 21st century. Adding new attractions, which will make the park a 365-day-a-year destination, as opposed to a 90-day operation, will not only bring back the family atmosphere but will also allow the county to benefit from additional revenue. Specifically, the money will help taxpayers by paying down the countys existing debt on the park, says Astorino.
Preserving essential services is another basic tenet. The county has seen many improvements in this area, especially for residents most in need, according to the county executive. The number of daycare slots for lower-income mothers has increased by 593. Foster care is another area where the county is also having success, with adoptions at an all-time high.
Since the day he took office, Astorino has been working to promote economic development, a third basic tenet, by letting businesses of all sizes know that county government is available to help. With that mission in mind, Astorino has met with CEOs of major corporations in Westchester and regularly visits small businesses in every community to find out how county government can help them.
Incentives in the Industrial Development Agency and the Office of Economic Development are available to help businesses. A Local Development Corporation has been set up specifically to help non-for-profit businesses by providing access to low-cost financing. Were proud of our record with businesses. We cant do it all, but we can be a partner with them. We can create an environment that fosters development, and we can also get out of the way when need be.
Outreach to Hispanics A Priority
Visible at community events, Astorino actively participated in the countys Cinco de Mayo celebration, which was a key event as Mexican-Americans represent the largest subset of the countys Hispanic population.
He makes it a point to attend churches that offer Spanish-speaking masses and services. He also goes to parades, the Hispanic Festival and visits with Spanish-speaking business owners. Really anytime Im invited, I love to go. I will just stop by places sometimes. Any opportunity I get, I take it. I want people to know that were here to help and I represent everybody, he explains.
The county is very welcoming, and the administration wants to make sure people have opportunities in this county; to live here, to work here and to raise a family here. We also want nobody to be afraid or to go hungry.
Editor’s note: As 2013 is an election year for Westchester N.Y. County Executive, Latin Business Today will capture the goals and strategies on small business and the outreach to Hispanics from Democratic Westchester County candidate and current New Rochelle, NY mayor Noam Bramson.
