Westchester County Board of Legislators Special Meeting – State of the County Address, May 6, 2026
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Westchester County Board of Legislators Special Meeting – State of the County Address, May 6, 2026
The special meeting of the Westchester County Board of Legislators was called to order at 6:32 PM on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Following the Pledge of Allegiance led by County Clerk Tom Roach, a moment of silence, and the national anthem, invocations were delivered by Rabbi Leora Frankel, a Hindu prayer leader, Imam Dr. Shafiq Chase, and Reverend Kim McNair. The roll call established a quorum with 17 members present. The sole agenda item was County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins' State of the County address.
Opening and Invocations
- The meeting opened with ceremonial elements: the national anthem performed by Sergeant Joetta Crump of the Department of Corrections, and prayers from faith leaders representing Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian traditions, emphasizing unity, service, and civic responsibility.
- The Board recognized all elected officials past and present in attendance.
State of the County Address by County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins
County Executive Jenkins presented his second State of the County address, highlighting fiscal stability, public safety gains, housing initiatives, mental health services, transportation improvements, and community investments. Key points included:
- Fiscal Strength: Westchester County received AAA bond ratings from S&P and Fitch, reflecting healthy reserves and fiscal discipline. The 2026 budget included a tax increase averaging about $3 more per month for homeowners, after cutting the county workforce and reducing each department by approximately 8%. The Board of Legislators supported this by an overwhelming majority.
- Public Safety: Major index crime declined 17% overall from 2024 to 2025, violent crime dropped 25%, and property crime fell 15%. Mount Vernon reported zero shooting incidents from January through March 2026. Jenkins credited investments in law enforcement technology and Governor Kathy Hochul's support.
- Affordable Housing: The county funded projects in Peekskill (22 units for youth aging out of foster care), Greenburgh (single-family homes for first-time buyers), Yonkers (160 rental units), and other municipalities, spanning supportive housing, homeownership, and rehabilitation.
- Mental Health and Reentry: A new safety net mental health clinic opened in White Plains, restoring direct outpatient services after 16 years. The Lives Forward program trains justice-involved individuals as certified peer counselors; graduate Alfredo Rodon was recognized.
- Transportation: The B-line bus system fully adopted OMNY contactless fare payment. Solar-powered lighting was installed at select stops. A $3 million NYSERDA grant will launch a zero-emission microtransit pilot in Peekskill and surrounding areas.
- Westchester County Airport: Jenkins emphasized that the planned terminal upgrades are modernization, not expansion, aiming to improve passenger comfort, security, and restroom capacity (the current terminal served 2 million passengers annually with only two public restrooms).
- Economic Development: The IDA supported billions in private investment; over $250 million in contracts went to MWBE-certified businesses in five years. A new degree completion program with RPI and SUNY Westchester Community College allows engineering students to earn a bachelor’s degree without leaving the county.
- Environment: A program offers up to $49,999 in interest-free support for septic system repairs and sewer connections. A solar canopy study was launched at Croton Point. The county targets an 85% recycling rate by 2050.
- Historic Preservation: The rare Holt Broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence will be displayed at the Neuberger Museum at Purchase College through end of 2026, encased in a custom titanium and aluminum housing. The county also purchased the Ward House in partnership with the Lenape community to create a gathering place for healing and education.
- Legislation: Jenkins signed the Giovanni Cipriano Act, requiring county police to carry and train on epinephrine auto-injectors. He announced proposed legislation to ban deceptive e-cigarettes and vaping devices that resemble everyday items.
- Diapers Act: Bipartisan law requiring diaper changing stations in all park restrooms and publicly accessible floors of county buildings, co-sponsored by 13 legislators.
- Child Care: The county’s Child Care Scholarship Program supported 406 families (559 children) in 2025 and 232 families (301 children) so far in 2026.
- Housing Counsel Office: In less than a year, the office prevented 282 evictions and kept 369 households from entering the shelter system.
- Corrections: Westchester became the first county jail in New York State to achieve accreditation from the American Correctional Association, National Commission on Correctional Health Care, and Prison Rape Elimination Act (the ‘triple crown’). A new phone system facilitated nearly 1,300 calls between incarcerated clients and their attorneys in 2025.
- Playland: The Dragon Coaster restoration is complete; the coaster will reopen on May 23, 2026.
- Population: Westchester reached a record 1,015,743 residents, the largest increase of any New York county between 2024 and 2025.
- Communications: Launched “This Week in Westchester” podcast and “Westchester Explained” companion; transitioned the county website to WestchesterCountyNY.gov.
Adjournment
- A motion to adjourn was approved unanimously (17-0). The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Probably a fine time to remind you all that please silence your phones. All right. Good evening and welcome, friends, elected officials, community led leaders, members of the public, uh, here with us tonight, watching on Facebook Live or streaming on the board's website. Today is Wednesday, May 6th, 2026. The time is 632 p.m. and I call this special meeting of the Westchester County Board of Legislators to order. I now invite Westchester County Clerk Tom Roach to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing as we join together for a moment of silence to honor those serving us home and abroad. It is now an honor to introduce Sergeant Joetta Crump of the Westchester County Department of Corrections to sing our national anthem. Can you see by the twilight's lest gleam? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the peril or the rest we're so given least and the reguling prove through the night that our flag was still there. First, I'd like to invite Rabbi Leora Frankel, president of the Westchester Board of Rabbis, and rabbi at the Larchemont Temple. Distinguished leaders, first responders, elected officials, and honored guests. To pray for the welfare of the government, for without respect for it, people would swallow one another alive. Some two thousand years ago, the rabbis understood how polarized a society can become, how precious the rule of law, how essential those who daily work in this building and across the county, sustaining humanity itself. Today we gather mindful of both the weight and the privilege of public service. Leadership is more than authority, it is a sacred trust, a covenant between constituents and those who represent them at every level of government. And this is no easy task. May our county executive, our legislators and representatives, our clerks and judges continue to be guided by courage without arrogance, conviction, without cruelty, compromise without loss of principle. May those who serve seek not only what is politically expedient, but what is morally right and beneficial for the people and communities they represent. We give thanks all of us tonight for the opportunity to witness and participate in a moment of civic responsibility and democratic purpose. And to close with a Hebrew blessing for marking any sacred moment. Blessed O you our Lord, sovereign of the universe, who has given us life, who has sustained us, and have who has brought us to this moment. Amen. Thank you. I greet all the divine souls present here by saying Namaste. Before I start my prayers, I just want to say in our scriptures, it says the best thing you can do is a service by praying for self, family, society, country, humanity. Now I'll start my prayers by chanting om three times and then some shlokas. I pray that the official be blessed and any of the obstacles that come their way be removed. They may be provided with all the knowledge to perform their duties to the best of the ability. Oh Sina Indra with Swahas was Tina Busha Vishwedaha Swastina K Show Rishanay Sashino Braspate Dadu. Om chanti shanti shanti. Sir Bebabantusukina Sarvaisantuli Ramaya Sarve Badrani Paschantuma Kashidluk Bhagavit. May all being be at peace. May no one suffer from Illas. May all sit what's auspicious. May no one suffer ever. Om peace, peace, peace. The universe of peace. Om Deusantiant Shugam Shanti Prituvi Shanti Rapa Shanti Roshidaya Shantivanaspataya. Shanti Vishwedeva Shanti Brahma Shanti Sagogam Shanti Shanti Reva Shanti Sama Shanti Reti Oh Shante Shante Shante. Oh Tudai Zhitura Grace, O creator of the universe, we are able to perform our various duty through the dharmas of this worldly light. May the sun and the moon sky and the heaven out and see made by thee be always be favorable to us of achieving greatness. Let noble thought come to us from every time. Thank you for giving me the opportunity. God bless you all. Next I invite uh Imam Dr.
openpublica.com