BCW Political Leadership Series: Legislators Zero In on Affordability

Twelve members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators joined the Business Council of Westchester’s Political Leadership Series Board of Legislators Breakfast on Wednesday, with much of the conversation centered on a major theme: affordability for employers and residents.

BCW Vice-President and COO John Ravitz began the panel by noting that the breakfast panel was a continuation of the BCW’s close work with past chairs of the Board of Legislators that has created a robust line of communication.

“It’s helped because they’ve invited us to go to their committee meetings to give our thoughts on specific pieces of legislation,” said Ravitz. “We can agree to disagree at times, but we can do it with respect, knowing that at the end of the day we all have to work together.”

The legislators in attendance were The Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi, Board Co-Chair Terry Clements, Nancy Barr, Margaret Cunzio, Judah Holstein, David Imamura, Anant Nambiar, Erika Pierce, Jenn Puja, Colin Smith, Emiljana Ulaj and Jewel Williams Johnson.

Board of Legislators Chairman Gashi described the Board of Legislators’ important new initiative.

“The board’s been hearing a lot about the financial pressures facing business and residents, and something we were concerned about, and we want to respond in a serious way,” Gashi said. “So, in April… we announced the launch of the Affordability and Economic Development Task Force to dig into the issues and come back with some real actionable policy recommendations.”

The Board of Legislators has invited the BCW to participate in the task force. Gashi explained that the new task force is designed to go beyond a traditional legislative committee by bringing businesses and nonprofits directly to the table.

“We thought an answer to that question would be better reached if we can have legislators with businesses, with nonprofits, with everybody coming together to talk about not only the problems they’re facing, but solutions that we can actually come to… tackling affordability and growing our economy going hand in hand,” Gashi said.

Legislators described plans to build a countywide data bank of key cost drivers, including housing, utilities, energy, childcare and other business expenses, to guide policy and advocacy at the county, state and federal levels. The aim is to make it more feasible for people to live and work in Westchester while allowing employers of all sizes to manage costs and compete for talent.

Several lawmakers highlighted childcare as a critical workforce issue, noting efforts to use county funds to front delayed state dollars so childcare providers and working parents receive support sooner. Others pointed to nonprofits as economic engines, stressing that Westchester relies on them both for jobs and essential services.

On the cost side, legislators cited utilities, drinking water contamination issues, and housing affordability as major pressure points for employers and workers. They discussed initiatives ranging from support for small businesses grappling with contaminated wells to landlord grants that encourage building improvements while moderating rent increases.

Maintaining the county’s bond rating, investing in infrastructure, and avoiding shifting burdens to families and businesses will remain central to the board’s fiscal approach, said Gashi.