WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2017. From the Latimer Campaign. September 27, 2017:

 On the steps of Westchester County Center, three major women’s organizations, WCLA PAC, National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund PAC, and NOW-Westchester announced their endorsement of George Latimer (D) for Westchester County Executive.

Joined by a cheering crowd of supporters and local leaders, Latimer made clear what was at stake in November’s elections.

“Make no mistake, Westchester is the front line of Donald Trump and Rob Astorino’s war on our values,” said Latimer.  “Women’s rights, from reproductive health care to equal pay, are under attack in Trump’s Washington, and we can’t afford any local leaders who don’t take human rights seriously.  I am honored to stand with WCLA, NIRH, and NOW, and their endorsements will help us guarantee that all Westchester women have equal economic opportunity and safe access to reproductive healthcare.”

“We’re proud to endorse George Latimer for County Executive. Rob Astorino showed us his true colors when he accepted donations from a man who joked about contraception. Astorino vetoed legislation to protect women’s access to health care; George will sign it. Rob Astorino stands with Donald Trump, a man who brags about sexual assault, coddles bigots, and suggests that the right to an abortion is a ‘straw man’ to distract from real issues; George Latimer fights for decency, justice and equal rights every single day.  We stand with George Latimer because we know he always stands with us,” said Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, Director of WCLA PAC.

“The National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund PAC is proud to endorse George Latimer for Westchester County Executive. George has been a champion for the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act. At a time when our fundamental rights are under attack at the federal level, Westchester needs and deserves a County Executive that won’t play political games with our access to reproductive healthcare,” said Andrea Miller, President of the National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund PAC

“Whether it’s access to reproductive health centers, affordable childcare, closing the gender pay gap, or immigration protection; Westchester women can’t afford the backwards views and policies of Rob Astorino. It’s time for a County Executive who prioritizes the needs of Westchester women,” said Elizabeth Galani Zimmerman, Co-Chair of NOW-Westchester.

Latimer will be running on the Democratic, Independent, Working Families, Womens Equality, and Reform Party lines in the November 7^th General Election.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. Special to WPCNR from the Service Employees International Union 32BJ September 25, 2017:

On Monday evening, before a packed gallery of immigrant rights supporters, the Westchester County Board of Legislators failed to override County Executive Rob Astorino’s veto of the Westchester Immigrant Protection Act by a single vote, in a vote of 11 to 6 (all Democratic Legislators voted for the override, as did two Republicans).

Despite passing the Board on August 7 with bipartisan support, the bill was vetoed by the county executive at the end of August, setting up Monday’s override attempt.

Last week Astorino also issued an executive order on undocumented immigrants that weakened a previous county directive and failed to extend the full protections of the Immigration Protection Act.

The Act would have clarified and regulated the separation of local law enforcement from federal immigration enforcement, protecting the civil rights of immigrants and improving the safety of all county residents.

Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, the lead sponsor of the bill, has promised to reintroduce the bill this week. The following comments demonstrate the  breadth of support for the act:

“We are disappointed but undeterred by the failure to override the county executive’s veto. With bullying threats, indiscriminate arrests,  and arbitrary travel bans coming from the White House, immigrants of all statuses are rightfully nervous about interacting with any government official.

In the face of this terrifying belligerence, Westchester needs the strong protections afforded by the Immigrant Protection Act. Over the coming months, we will be working hard for candidates we have endorsed who would respect this need in the future.

According to U.S. Census figures, over a quarter of the residents of Westchester County are foreign born. When County Executive Astorino issues an order that says  ‘we won’t ask about your status’ in one line and ‘we will turn over information to ICE in criminal investigations,’ in the next, it does not provide the assurances necessary to ensure that immigrants feel trust in their county officials.

Without that trust, crimes will go unreported and victims will suffer in silence. We will do all we can to make sure county residents’ needs are fully respected. The act did not pass today, but the community has not ended its fight.” — John Santos, Vice-President 32BJ SEIU Hudson Valley

“Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and the legislators who voted against the Immigrant Protection Act today sent a clear message to their constituents that they are more than willing to help carry out the Trump Administration’s discriminatory anti-immigrant agenda.

We worked hard with our members and legislators to draft a smart, bi-partisan bill that would protect all residents, and although it did not pass tonight, we will continue to stand up for the values that truly make America great: opportunity and justice for all.” –Charlotte Gossett Navarro, New York Immigration Coalition Senior Manager of Member Engagement in the Hudson Valley

“We remain resilient and persistent in light of the news regarding the Immigrant Protection Act.  Neighbors Link is committed to ensuring that immigrants and their families with deep roots in our communities should not live in fear of deportation.

We must continue our work to pass legislation that ends the practice of information sharing between the county department of corrections and federal civil immigration authorities when there is no ongoing criminal investigation.

We must protect all residents by striking a balance between county compliance with federal law and creating guidelines for such compliance.  This Act was designed to protect us all, to ensure public safety and protect the rights of all those who call Westchester County home.

We are committed to our unyielding conviction to celebrate and cultivate integration, diversity and inclusion — and passing strong legislation is a key step toward that vision.  We must all continue this work.” –Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director, Neighbors Link

“We should be concerned when government overreaches and erodes our constitutionally enshrined protections that ensure due process for all.  The County Executive Order denies immigrants in custody all constitutional protections under the New York State and United States Constitutions.  Under Astorino’s Executive Order, individuals do not have the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.  The name of any foreign born individual is reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement creating false equivalencies between civil and criminal justice systems. The Immigrant Protection Act strikes the right balance to accommodate the legitimate needs of law enforcement as balanced against the right of the individual. Tonight’s disappointing vote and The Executive Order as decreed by Mr. Astorino represents an overreach of power by the county and creates dangerous precedents for all the residents of Westchester.”  — Grace Heyman, Executive Director, Westchester Hispanic Coalition

“We are disappointed that the Legislators could not find the unity to put political and electoral considerations aside and reverse the veto in this important Protection Law. There is no time to wait or deny the importance of protecting our undocumented immigrant community. Our friends, neighbors and family, like all, are an active, dynamic and constructive part for our cities and towns. ” —Luis Yumbla, Hudson Valley Community Coalition, Acting Executive Director

Groups supporting the Westchester Immigrant Protection Act include 32BJ SEIU, Community Resource Center, Community Voices Heard, Hudson Valley Community Coalition, Hudson Valley Justice Center, Indivisible Westchester, Neighbors Link, New York Immigration Coalition, NYIC Westchester Steering Committee , Unite Here Local 100, Westchester Hispanic Coalition Yonkers Sanctuary Movement

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators Democratic Caucus. September 25, 2017:

 Last month, the Board of Legislators passed the Immigrant Protection Act (IPA), a bill which will instruct the County to not use any of its precious resources to assist the federal government in an immigration crackdown from Washington.

This bill does not instruct the County to inhibit or disobey any orders from immigration officials.  44% of Latinos, including U.S. citizens, reported that they are less likely to contact police officers if they have been the victim of a crime because of potential immigrant consequences.

Local municipalities all across Westchester are passing resolutions in support of this policy.

After the IPA’s bi-partisan passage, County Executive Rob Astorino vetoed the measure. Legislators will hold a vote to override the veto of a bill aimed to create a policy of public safety for all in Westchester.

The vote takes place, 7 PM, at 148 Martine Ave., 8th Floor, White Plains, NY 10601

 (Editor’s Note: To hear why the Service Employees International Union, the largest union membership of immigrants affected by immigration issues, is encouraging legislators to override the veto, listen to Shirley Adelbol, Vice President of SEIU 32BJ, on White Plains Television’s SPECIAL TELECAST OF PEOPLE TO BE HEARD,  at www.wpcommunitymedia.org. You can see the interview now at that web address, simply scroll down to White Plains Week-People to Be Heard to locate the program.)

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SATURDAY NIGHT, 7:30 ON WHITE PLAINS TV

EXCLUSIVE!

and on

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

RIGHT NOW

A SPECIAL PEOPLE TO BE HEARD ON WHITE PLAINS TV

JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS

SHIRLEY ALDEBOL

VICE PRESIDENT, SECURITY

TRI STATE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION 32BJ

On

www.communitymedia.org

OR FIOS CHANNEL 45 COUNTYWIDE AND WHITE PLAINS ALTICE CABLEVISION, CHANNEL 76

ON

THE IMPACT OF THE ROBERT ASTORINO EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THE IMMIGRANT PROTECTION ACT

WHY IT DOES NOT PROTECT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AT ALL

THE TACTICS ICE IS USING ON LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, MEMBERS OF HER UNION NOW.

DETENTION WITHOUT DUE PROCESS

HER SOLUTION TO THE ILLEGAL RESIDENT CRISIS

WHAT SEIU WILL PURSUE IF ASTORINO OVERRIDE IS NOT PASSED.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. September 20, 2017 

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino today issued an Executive Order that states county law enforcement will “continue to cooperate with federal authorities in investigating and apprehending aliens involved in criminal activity,” but will be prohibited, as has been the policy since 2006, from inquiring about “a person’s immigration status unless such officer is required by law to do so or is investigating illegal activity other than mere status as an undocumented alien.”

Astorino said the Executive Order is a balanced compromise designed to foster trust within the immigrant community, while not providing sanctuary to criminals.

Astorino added that the Executive Order reinforces existing County Police procedure, and replaces a 2006 Executive Order by then-County Executive Andrew Spano that was determined by the County Attorney to be in violation of federal law.

“For years, Washington has failed us,” Astorino said.  “We have a broken immigration system and borders that are not secure.  This is a failure of Congress, both parties and multiple Presidential administrations.  While we wait for Washington to finally get its act together, Westchester will continue to protect all of its residents. However, if you end up in our jail for committing a crime, and you’re not here legally, we’re not providing a sanctuary to you and we will cooperate fully with federal immigration officials.(Italics, The editor)”

In August, Astorino vetoed an Act passed by the Board of Legislators because of strong objections by many in law enforcement, the County Attorney and others who said that the bill would turn Westchester into a “Sanctuary County,” as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In his veto message, Astorino said the Act “violates federal law, infringes upon long-established principles of law enforcement cooperation, and jeopardizes millions in federal public safety grants.”

Westchester County Department of Public Safety Commissioner George Longworth added that “anything that inhibits our ability to work with federal law enforcement partners like the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies is a bad and reckless idea.”

Hector Lopez, president of the Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association, said the Act would have placed  “handcuffs on our law enforcement officers, not the criminals” and would have opened the doors for undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activity, such as the ruthless MS-13 gang, to migrate to Westchester and prey on other immigrants.

The Legal Aid Society of Westchester was concerned that restricting Homeland Security from the county jail would have caused them to “move to other areas to find non-citizens such as courts, houses of worship, schools, etc.”

Astorino said he believes his Executive Order should calm the stated fears of undocumented immigrants that they cannot report crimes or seek medical assistance for fear that they will be deported.

“Everyone in Westchester, no matter what their immigration status is, should feel safe to report crimes and seek medical attention,” said Astorino.  “However, Westchester cannot and must not become a ‘Sanctuary County’ that provides a safe haven to criminals.  My Executive Order protects the former, and my veto of the Act prevents the latter.”

The new Executive Order has support of members of the Board of Legislators throughout Westchester.

“This Executive Order strikes the right balance between the concerns of law enforcement and the concerns of the immigrant community and I’m happy to support it,” said Board of Legislators Minority Leader John Testa, R-Peekskill.

“I support immigrants and they should always feel welcome in our community,” said Legislator Francis Corcoran, R-Bedford. “This Executive Order moves us to the proper place to protect all of our residents and gets to the heart of the concerns raised by some of my constituents.”

“The Executive Order is a common sense measure designed to support law enforcement, protect public safety and give peace of mind to the immigrant community should they need to seek medical or police assistance, or are simply walking down the street,” said Legislator Margaret Cunzio, C-Mount Pleasant.

“I worked diligently with the stakeholders in my district and County Executive Astorino to codify these protections for all residents in this Executive Order,” said Legislator David Tubiolo, R-Yonkers. “Westchester County will continue to welcome everyone regardless of where they came from or who their parents were. That’s what the American dream is all about.”