County Exec Challenger Bramson Raises Key Issues in Campaign Stop

New Rochelle mayor and Democratic county executive candidate Noam Bramson told a gathering in Mount Kisco on Thursday that Westchester must improve economic development and green construction and increase shared services.

Speaking to about two dozen residents at the Mount Kisco Public Library, Bramson criticized County Executive Rob Astorino for failing to spell out discernible goals regarding land use, economic development, environmental protection, social services reform and the elimination of duplicative services and government waste.

“We need to build a thriving green economy,” Bramson said. “We’ve got to have job opportunities that provide for upward mobility. We want to make sure that we have a stronger tax base.”

Bramson, who has served as New Rochelle’s mayor for the past eight years, said Westchester could take steps to have more effective economic development if land use regulations are revised, infrastructure is improved and residents are better prepared to fill 21st century jobs.

“If we want to have a good economic development strategy, it’s essential that we also have a good planning strategy,” he said.

Last week’s discussion was one of an ongoing series of campaign events Bramson is holding throughout Westchester to increase his visibility as he hopes to unseat Astorino, the Republican incumbent, this fall. He made sure to explain that serving as New Rochelle’s mayor has been good training ground to help lead the county, he said.

Bramson, 43, said the county should attract new businesses that would be located near transit hubs and have new buildings constructed using “green building practices.”

Westchester has $550 million in backlogged infrastructure projects, work that has not moved forward in large part due to cuts in the county engineering staff. If jumpstarted, that work could generate 5,500 new jobs, he said.

Over the past two decades New Rochelle has attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in private investments while preserving about 800 acres of open space, Bramson said.

As expected, affordable housing was a key talking point during the forum. Bramson said Astorino has misrepresented Westchester’s responsibilities in the affordable housing settlement with the federal government. More affordable units must be developed for teachers, civil servants, young professionals and seniors, he said.

“In my estimation, the county executive has taken a problem and a challenge and instead of demonstrating responsible, constructive, mature leadership to address that challenge and get us beyond it, he has instead engaged in fear tactics and deception,” Bramson said.

He criticized Astorino for publicly stating that Westchester is responsible for creating 11,000 affordable units at a cost of $1 billion while threatening the elimination of local zoning codes. The 2009 agreement requires the county to build 750 new affordable units by the end of 2016.

Cutting the cost of government through more shared services, particularly with closer partnerships between municipalities and school districts, is essential, Bramson said. That includes tasks such as road resurfacing, planning, administrative functions and payroll distribution, he said.

The county must also reform how it provides social services. Two strategies include streamlining its contracting process with nonprofit agencies and working with those organizations to provide more public health funding, especially for young children, he said.

Bramson was introduced by Democratic Majority Leader Peter Harckham. Harckham described Astorino as “short-sighted” for cuts that have significantly raised parent contributions for child care and slashed library funding, forcing the Mount Kisco Public Library to close on Sundays.

“The better way is Noam Bramson,” Harckham said. “He’s got a record of attracting business, attracting development, energy efficiency, a sustainably-sized workforce, the lowest tax rate of any municipal city (in Westchester), (and) creating green jobs. Most importantly, New Rochelle is a city that values all of its citizens.”

Somers Democratic Councilman Richard Clinchy, who attended the forum, said he has been disappointed in Astorino’s performance.

“A good leader brings people together and a good leader leads people to a better future through good planning. And in those areas I just don’t where (Astorino) has done that,” Clinchy said.

Bramson, who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard, began his government career working for Rep. Nita Lowey in 1992. In 1995 Bramson was elected to the New Rochelle City Council.