January 13, 2017 by The City Review New Rochelle

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CityREVIEW NewRochelle January 13, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 2 | www.cityreviewnr.com

Cuomo pins inflated taxes on local lawmakers By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

A ban on gun shows held at county facilities was pushed forward by Westchester County lawmakers this week following a razor-thin 9-8 partisan vote, but County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, may have the final say, as a veto looms large. For story, see page 6. Photo/Aaron Kershaw

Westchester County to hold public hearing on Bee-Line fare hikes By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The cost to ride Westchester County’s Bee-Line bus service could increase in early 2017, following the outcome of a January public hearing. County officials have scheduled a public hearing for Monday, Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Westchester County Center, seeking input from residents on two MTA-proposed plans for MetroCard price increases, called Proposal 1 and Proposal 2. Westchester adopted the MetroCard system in 2007,

tethering the Bee-Line prices to the prices for New York City buses and subways, but also allowing for a free transfer between the two systems. The MTA intends to increase its bus and subway fare this year as part of its long-term financial plan. Both Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 would increase the cost of the seven-day unlimited pass from $31 to $32 and would increase the 30-day unlimited pass from $116.50 to $121. Only Proposal 2 would increase the single ride price, or base fare, from $2.75 to $3. That plan would also keep fares for

senior citizens and riders with disabilities at half-price, while Proposal 1 would slightly reduce that rate. For those who purchase a 30-day pass each month, the annual cost increase would be $54 per year for either of the two new plans. Student MetroCard costs would increase by $2 on either proposal. However, the bus fare would not increase for the WestchesterManhattan Express line; that fare costs $7.50 per ride. In July 2016, the county raised fares on its curb-to-curb Bee-Line service for those with

disabilities, ParaTransit, from $4 per trip to $5. The Americans with Disabilities Act allows the county to charge twice the rate of normal bus fare for ParaTransit. According to Daniel Branda, a spokesman for the county administration, Westchester had the option to decline the MTA’s proposed fare hikes, but would have had to renegotiate its agreement with MTA to use the MetroCard, which he said would have been impractical. According to the MTA’s HIKES continued on page 5

With a pit stop at SUNY Purchase College this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, completed another leg of his unorthodox statewide State of the State tour, criticizing Westchester lawmakers for cumbersome taxes. On Tuesday, at the college’s Performing Arts Center, Cuomo addressed Westchester County constituents and lawmakers on both the current standing of the state as well as his vision for New York’s future, foregoing a usual singular address to the state’s Legislature for six smaller ones. Cuomo touted the state’s success in passing marriage equality legislation and paid family leave, and the passage of a bill raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Reflection on the state’s significant spending cuts, however, took a front seat in his 45-minute address. “New York state was spending more money than the people in the state were earning,” said Cuomo, standing in front of a projection showing previous governors’ rates of spending. “Let me say that again; the spending increase in New York was higher than the increase in the wages of the people of the state of New York.” According to the governor’s office, state spending has fallen to a generational low rate of 1.4 percent of inflation, compared to

previous administrations—including that of Cuomo’s father, Mario Cuomo, a Democrat, and Republican George Pataki— which hovered around 6.5 percent. The governor’s most pointed comments, however, were aimed at local and county-elected officials, who he criticized for levying burdensome property tax rates, which he stated are “killing this state.” To mend the growing strain the state’s property tax—the highest in the country, with Westchester County being the epicenter—has put on residents, Cuomo said it’s incumbent, not on the Legislature, but regional governments, to work together to bring costs down. “You pay high taxes, don’t be mad at me. I’m only the little yellow bar,” Cuomo said pointing to a bar showing the disparity between the median state income tax and local property taxes; $1,800 to $4,700, respectively. To reel in costs, Cuomo announced an initiative that would require every county outside of New York City to prepare a plan to help “streamline” government and cut waste. That plan, according to the governor’s synopsis, would be prepared by each county’s chief executive and would then be subject to public hearings, critiques from the county’s legislative body and local lawmakers, CUOMO continued on page 8