THE
CityREVIEW NewRochelle Auugust 26, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 23 | www.cityreviewnr.com
Jenkins ‘committed’ to county executive run
MO, NEW RO ROLL
By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief
Former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is hung up on the basepaths as WFAN radio host Craig Carton tries to hold him to a double on Aug. 18. Rivera laced up his cleats to play alongside the New Rochelle allstars in a charity softball game against Carton’s team last week. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith
Finance commissioner report: City in ‘good fiscal shape’ By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant The city of New Rochelle is in “good fiscal shape as of Dec. 31, 2015,” according to acting Finance Commissioner Michael Lewis, who prepared the city’s 2015 comprehensive financial report that was released in June this year.
Some highlights of the report include city revenues exceeding projected amounts by $3.7 million, while expenditures came in under budget by roughly $3.6 million. The city’s unassigned fund balance grew to more than $13.7 million by the end of 2015, a 48 percent increase from 2014. According to the financial report,
an unassigned fund balance is not limited to use for specific purposes by “either an external party, the city itself, or an individual that has been delegated authority to assign resources for use for particular purposes by the City Council.” This money is part of the city’s general fund, the main operating fund for New Rochelle.
Lewis is the temporary successor of Howard Rattner, who retired earlier this year. PFK O’Connor Davies LLP, an accounting and advisory firm in Harrison, opined on the report on June 27 after conducting an audit of the city’s financial statements. Partners Nicholas DeSantis and FINANCE continued on page 11
When Ken Jenkins lost the Democratic nomination for Westchester County executive in 2013, it taught him a lot, he says. Three years later, Jenkins will try to use that experience to propel himself to the top office in the county. Jenkins, a Democrat from Yonkers who currently serves on the county Board of Legislators, formally announced his candidacy for county executive on Aug. 17, well in advance of the 2017 campaign. He wanted to get out early to avoid a situation similar to last time when, he said, some people realized he was running too late in the process. “We’re not going to have that scenario this time around,” he told the Review. Noam Bramson, the mayor of New Rochelle, went on to clinch the 2013 nomination besting Jenkins, but lost the general election to County Executive Rob Astorino, the Republican incumbent. At the convention, Jenkins, 55, made a commitment to party leaders not to challenge Bramson’s nomination by way of a primary, a decision he’s proud he stuck to. During this campaign, however, he is willing to fight to the end. “I’m committed to making the case to the people of Westchester both in a primary, if that’s necessary [this time], and certainly in a general election,” he said.
Primaries aren’t bad, Jenkins says. “It gets more people involved, more engaged, and the net result is a better product overall. Your person might not win, but you’re able to influence platform and policy,” he said, adding that the Democratic presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders helped reinforce that philosophy. Throughout the upcoming campaign, Jenkins says he plans to expose the financial missteps of the Astorino administration, as well as the “flat-out lies” to protect the county executive’s no tax increase mantra he’s touted since taking office in 2010. He criticized his political rival for using gimmicks, such as overestimating sales tax income to make the budget numbers work, and then borrowing to compensate for shortfalls in revenue. This year alone, Jenkins says, the county is $26 million over its budget projections. “Borrowing to pay for daily operating expenses is something we wouldn’t do as individuals. JENKINS continued on page 8