THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2024. News & Comment By Professor Stephen Rolandi. June 20, 2024:

 By this time next week, we should know the outcome of the Democratic Party’s marquee primary that has received national interest and has been estimated to be one of the most expensive primaries to date (over $ 20 million).

The primary pits the incumbent Congressman, Jamal Bowman against Westchester County’s popular and term limited County Executive, Georg Latimer. One could say it is almost a “referendum” between the centrist Democrats (Latimer) and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party (Bowman).

As a result of re-apportionment, New York’s 16 C.D. looks somewhat different from the prior 16 C.D. The bulk of the district lies in southern Westchester County, with a small portion contained in the Bronx (county and borough) of New York City.

The ethnic make-up of the 16 C.D. is approximately 40% white, and 60% persons of color — Spanish speaking persons account for 29% and African-Americans 21%. In the Democratic primary, approximately 40% of voters are of the Jewish faith.

The District’s configuration is strongly Democratic, but not as overwhelmingly Democratic as other congressional districts in New York City.

In my view, County Executive Latimer has run a textbook campaign, while Rep. Bowman has had to defend his two term record; and advocate strongly held views on the conflict in Gaza.

Mr. Bowman received only 54% of the vote against several opponents in the 2022 primary.

Mr. Latimer has a strong record as County executive and prior legislative experience in southern Westchester; Rep. Bowman enjoys significant support from younger voters in the 16 C.D.

Bottom line: I forecast George Latimer winning the primary 55% to Bowman’s 45%.    

(Professor Stephen Rolandi previously served as Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Division of Human Rights. A political scientist, he is an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Pace University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY).

White Plains, NY (June 2024) The Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® (HGAR), along with six other REALTOR® Associations, recently held their 3^rd  Annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Summit at the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott in Newark, NJ.

HGAR teamed up with the National Association of REALTORS®, the New York State Association of REALTORS®, the New Jersey REALTORS®, the North Central Jersey Association of REALTORS®, the Greater Bergen Association of REALORS® and the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® to create this two-day presentation.

The goal of the Summit was to build curiosity while exploring understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusions within personal and professional careers. It was also designed to help attendees develop the skills needed to be successful and create actionable steps towards impactful change.

This year’s keynote speaker, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2024” and President and CEO of TIAA, shared the stage with Michelle Mills Clement, CEO of Chicago Association of REALTORS®, where they discussed financial inclusion, retirement, building generational wealth, and importance of financial inclusion.

Duckett is determined to put more underserved Americans on a path to financial health and resilience. She helped launch Advancing Black Pathways, an initiative to help more Black Americans achieve sustained economic success. She’s also striving to help the 40% of all Americans at risk of running out of their retirement savings.

The first day of the Summit launched with Bias Override, an approved continuing education course to combat bias in the industry led by certified instructor Matt Difanis. The next day included close to 20 speakers and panelists on various topics.

“With over 200 attendees from several associations mainly from New York and New Jersey, this year’s DEI Summit was our best yet,” said Freddimir Garcia, HGAR’s DEI Officer. “It was uplifting and invigorating to hear a strong support of DEI from our keynote speaker, Thasunda Brown Duckett and Michelle Mills Clement, among others.” The topics covered included advocacy, appraisal bias, advancing DEI, and on the field challenges with the “-isms.”

“This powerful and innovative summit is the leading Realtor DEI event in the Northeast,” added HGAR CEO Lynda Fernandez.  “It engages members of participating Associations, while advancing DEI throughout the region’s real estate markets through collaboration and by securing top speakers and industry leaders who address the latest topics and issues impacting DEI.”