The Business Council of Westchester is among a coalition of 20 business organizations representing tens of thousands of businesses of all sectors and sizes across New York, which is requesting rejection of proposed legislation that would dramatically increase short-term disability benefits. According to a letter from the coalition to House Speaker Carl Heastie and the entire New York Assembly, passage of the bill S.172/A.84 would have a devastating effect on the state’s business community. “The viability of New York’s economy depends on businesses, small and large, and a sudden and massive increase in short term disability benefits will place an […]

The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) hosted its annual Westchester County Board of Legislators Reception on Tuesday, bringing together county lawmakers and the business community for a dialogue on the most pressing issues facing our region. The event, held at the Cambria Hotel in White Plains, provided a valuable platform for legislators to articulate the top concerns of their constituents, with a clear focus on the challenges of affordability, housing, and development. “This relationship that we have with the Board of Legislators solidified itself when Legislator Ben Boykin met with the BCW. He told us that the legislators want to […]

On Thursday, lohud.com published an editorial by BCW Executive Vice President and COO John Ravitz, who argues that a proposed bill requiring prevailing wages on private construction projects in New York will severely hinder Westchester’s development, exacerbate the housing crisis, and lead to significant job and economic losses. Click here to read the editorial.

In what is an unprecedented Westchester County public-private partnership, BCW Member MacQuesten Development broke ground on Crescent Manor, a new construction project of 73 affordable senior housing which includes one live-in Superintendent’s unit. The building has been designed for seniors to age in place. It will be a low-rise elevator building, with 79 on-site parking spaces at 136-140 Croton Avenue in the Village of Ossining, NY. The 73 apartments are affordable to individuals and couples ages 62 and over. The apartments are made up of 33 studios,40 one-bedroom. Rents are set at 40%, 50% ,60% of the Westchester AMI. Free […]

The City of Yonkers is launching a multi-platform advertising campaign aimed at positioning Yonkers as “Hollywood on Hudson,” the largest film and TV production hub in the Northeast. The ad campaign, which debuted Wednesday, includes TV commercials, bus exteriors, billboards, MTA car cards on trains, paid social and organic social. The goal is to position Yonkers as Hollywood on Hudson to residents and filmmakers alike and to continue to build the brand which is copyrighted. “Yonkers isn’t just making movies; we’re making history. This multi-platform campaign showcases our incredible studios and diverse locations, and it celebrates the Yonkers residents whose […]

The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) is taking a strong stance against the proposed “Fostering Affordability and Integrity through Reasonable (FAIR) Business Practices Act.” We recently joined almost 40 organizations from a statewide coalition in a letter to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, Speaker Carl Heastie, and members of the New York Legislature, urging them to reject this deeply problematic bill proposed by Attorney General Letitia James. The FAIR Act, as drafted, poses a significant threat to New York’s business climate and the integrity of our civil justice system. By expanding the definition of unlawful business conduct and removing the […]