County Legislator Judah Holstein

This week I was proud to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month by honoring the Westchester Jewish Council.  For 50 years, WJC has been bringing people together across synagogues, schools, and organizations, creating a unified voice that is stronger than any one institution alone. They build relationships not just within the Jewish community, but across faiths and across communities, because they understand that real strength comes from unity,trust and standing together. Across the c...

I hadn’t planned on sending a newsletter this week because of the holiday, but something happened that I need to share. On Thursday, the New York City Council voted on a proposal to create 25-foot buffer zones around places of worship. I strongly support the First Amendment, along with reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that protect both free expression and safe access. Learn more about these restrictions. Westchester County worked diligently to ensure our Clinic Access Law does exactly that, protecting both First Amendment rights and access to reproductive healthcare with 25-foot buffer zones. That approach earned support from civil rights groups like the NYCLU and is reflected federally in the FACE Act. Read about NYCLU support for these protections. After protests in front of synagogues and Hebrew schools here in District 10, and in other parts of Westchester, I explored similar protections for all religious inst...

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 ...

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 ...