County Legislator Judah Holstein

Posts

District 10 Update: March 26, 2026

A message of renewal, shared values, and unity. Spring has arrived, and with it a season of meaningful holidays for many in our community. I want to wish everyone celebrating a happy and meaningful Passover, Easter, and Eid. While these holidays are each unique, they all reflect renewal, faith, and hope tied to this seasonal turning point. It is a time when we should be focused on our shared humanity and respect for each other’s traditions. Unfortunately, there are still forces seeking to divide us and spew hate, as evidenced by the recent antisemitic incident in Irvington. During this holy season, and as we celebrate our own traditions, we should come together, not turn on each other. There is no place for hate here. Please check out my weekly update below, which includes information on the following: District 10 Events Board Celebrates Women’s History Month ...

District 10 Update: March 13, 2026

Every so often, a small change can make a real difference in the daily lives of our residents. This week, while driving from my house onto the Bronx River Parkway through the Babe Ruth Tunnel at Leewood Drive, I noticed something different. The light timing had been adjusted so cars coming off the parkway can now clear the intersection properly. It's something many people in town have complained about over the years, myself included. I've lived in Eastchester a long time and remember when that intersection was just stop signs. Since it was converted to a traffic light, cars exiting the parkway would often get stuck at the light and block the tunnel, leaving drivers trying to enter the parkway waiting and frustrated. One of the first emails I sent after being elected was to our County DPW Commissioner asking that the timing be reviewed. The department made some adjustments along the way, but ...

District 10 Update: March 6, 2026

This week Jews around the world celebrated Purim, the story of Jews in Persia who were miraculously saved from Persian Prime Minister Haman by Mordechai and Queen Esther. The story of Purim is a reminder that history can turn in unexpected ways. As we watch events unfolding in that same land today, we are reminded that moments like this rarely fit into simple narratives. Sometimes two things can be true at the same time. It is reasonable to be troubled by the way the war in Iran began. The President bypassed constitutional norms in launching it, a move that many in Congress see as a slap in the face to the role of the legislative branch. Starting a war without congressional support and a credible plan for what comes next is extraordinarily risky. At the same time, American and Israeli intelligence carried out a precise and miraculously timed operation that eliminated Ayatollah Khamenei and numerous senior IRGC leaders in a single strike. But this tactical success will mean li...

District 10 Update: February 26, 2026

This week I attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference in Washington, DC, alongside thousands of county leaders from across the country. During sessions on economic development, cybersecurity, and fiscal policy, one message came through clearly, regardless of party: federal funding is likely to shrink, and local governments must prepare now. A session titled "The Federal Fiscal Cliff Ahead" outlined the discretionary programs counties rely on, the mandates we must meet, and the structural pressures ahead. There was some discussion about Social Security. While the trust fund faces long-term strain, federal law still requires benefits to be paid, and ongoing payroll taxes continue to fund the program. That means Congress will have to act to address the gap, but the obligation itself does not simply disappear, even if the trust fund gets depleted. The same is not true for programs like Medicaid and SNAP, which depend on annual federal appropriati...