County Legislator Judah Holstein

  Government should make people's lives better and easier, not create barriers when they need help. That's why the Social Security Administration's decision to reject Westchester County's offer of county-owned space for the Hearing Office in White Plains is so disappointing. With White Plains set to close and the Newburgh office already shut down, there will soon be no Social Security Hearing Offices left in the Hudson Valley. People who need to resolve important issues -- like disability claims or benefit appeals -- will have to travel long distances just to be heard. Westchester County offered a simple, local solution, but instead of working with us, the federal government chose to walk away. I started the week joining community leaders and advoc...

Dear Friends and Neighbors,  Over the past week, I had the privilege of attending a series of events throughout Westchester County that reinforced the importance of being an ally. True allyship requires us to engage with different communities, experience their traditions, listen to their stories and histories, and work together to address shared challenges. Last week, Iona University and the American Jewish Committee of Westchester and Fairfield Counties hosted the "Shared Roots, Divergent Paths" series, featuring the program "Neither Rejected nor Accursed: Catholic Responsibility to Counter Antisemitism." Participants engaged in meaningful interfaith dialogue, exploring the unique perspectives and experiences of the Christian and Jewish communities. On Tuesday, I attended an Iftar event, celebrating the breaking of the fast of Ramadan at the Upper Westchester Muslim Society in Pleasantville. The Chair of the Bo...

Dear Friends and Neighbors,  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins signed legislation that solidifies the County's commitment to challenging Con Edison's proposed utility rate increases. This action follows a unanimous, bipartisan vote by the Westchester County Board of Legislators to join the major rate case in New York State.  I join with my colleagues to take a stand against Con Edison's unfair rate hikes by challenging these excessive increases because our residents shouldn't have to foot the bill for a company already making record profits. I've heard from so many of you, families, seniors, and business owners, who are outraged by these skyrocketing costs. You deserve better. ConEd's rates are already substantially higher than those charged by other New York suppliers such as National Grid, and yet they continue to push for increases while raking in billi...

    Dear Friends and Neighbors,  This week, I had the pleasure of celebrating several grand openings across District 10. It's exciting to see new businesses investing in our neighborhoods, bringing fresh opportunities and energy to our community. I also had the honor of marking the transition from Black History Month to Women's History Month and Irish American Heritage Month. My friend Linda Tarrant-Reid led a fantastic tour of the The Lincoln Park Conservancy exhibit at the New Rochelle Public Library, showcasing the rich history of Black Westchester and New Rochelle, including images from her personal collection. Additionally, I joined Women United of Westchester Social Club and the Eastchester Irish American Social Club as they kicked off their annual celebrations, highlighting the stories and contributions t...