County Legislator Judah Holstein

Dear Friends and Neighbors,  This week, I had the privilege of celebrating seniors at the Senior Dance and Senior Social, women at the Women's United annual luncheon, youth at the Eco Ambassadors graduation, and diversity at the Muslim American Heritage Celebration at Kensico. While at the celebration at Kensico, two young men approached me about the Magen David Adom pin I wear on my lapel, which features both the American and Israeli flags, and which I've worn consistently since October 7. They challenged me about why I wore it at the event and ultimately about US government support for Israel with taxpayer dollars. It was, without question, an uncomfortable conversation. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed. While we didn't agree on the history or politics of the Middle East, we ultimat...

This past week, I was honored to join residents at the Jewish American Heritage Festival. It was a joyful celebration of Jewish culture and contributions to Westchester and beyond, and a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength that comes from community. Moments like these show the best of who we are when we come together. At the same time, we face serious challenges. The so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" shifts the cost of SNAP (food stamps) onto New York State and Westchester County, raising our share from 50% to 75%. It also adds new filing and certification requirements, forcing our Department of Social Services to expand staffing while shouldering higher costs. This will make it harder for people in need to continue accessing this vital service — just as more Westchester families are seeking support. Together, thes...

Please take a moment to submit your comments to the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and ask them to reject Con Edison's proposed electric and gas rate increases. Share how these hikes would affect you and your family. Submit your comments using the links below: Electric rate case – Case 25-E-0072 Gas rate case – Case 25-G-0073 The Westchester County Board of Legislators continues to hear from residents about the impact of Con Edison's repeated and aggressive rate hikes. Last week, the Board held a public session in Rye Brook to hear directly from the community, and next week we will announce our next hearing in Mount Kisco. While we are committed to raising these concerns locally, the final decision rests with the PSC. So far, just over 6,000 comments have been submitted on the electric case and about 4,500 on the gas case. Most appear to come from New York City. Westche...

I was honored to participate on a panel at the recent Converge Conference, where we discussed the current landscape and future direction of AI legislation. I shared insights from the AI legislation I sponsored , which prohibits the unlawful use of digitally deceptive material in Westchester. This law expands penalties for the creation and distribution of digitally enhanced media, ensuring that our residents are better protected from the circulation of harmful, false content. The successful passage of this law highlights the critical role local governments play in developing meaningful policies informed by direct community needs. These local initiatives often serve as effective blueprints for state, and ultimately federal laws. We also expl...