Meet Ben Boykin: Candidate for County Legislature

White Plains Councilman Ben Boykin is running for County Legislature to represent District 5 that includes Scarsdale, most of White Plains and a portion of Harrison. He is running for the seat currently held by Bill Ryan and is running against former Scarsdale Mayor Miriam Flisser. He is a CPA who served as Assistant Treasurer at RJR Nabisco, and also worked at Deloitte. Boykin is a graduate of UNC and the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern. You can learn more about his campaign at voteboykin.com.

Here is what he has to say about County Government and Scarsdale:

Though 20% of our local taxes are paid to Westchester County, many in Scarsdale are not aware of what the County Government does here in the Village. Can you tell our readers how the County impacts Scarsdale and what changes we would see if you are elected?

County government is the critical linchpin between federal/state agencies and local municipalities in providing vital and essential services to the residents of Westchester County. Regional coordination is pivotal to efficient delivery of services to taxpayers. County government provides numerous services that are used by all County residents. County government should continue to:

• Provide critical safety and security services through Public Safety, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Correction, etc.
• Act as the social safety net for food, shelter and medical care and provide funding for social service and nonprofit entities
• Protect drinking water and air quality and manage wastewater treatment, handling of solid waste and delivery of clean water countywide
• Provide mass transit, operate regional airport and coordinate regional transportation initiatives
• Invest in and protect critical infrastructure countywide- roads, bridges, wastewater treatment facilities, mass transit and coordinate with local municipalities
• Work with businesses, local municipalities and state agencies to create jobs and improve regional economy
• Provide planning services to assist local municipalities in preparing zoning codes, comprehensive plans and environmental impact statements
• Serve as the administrative arm of the State for mandated services and also advocate for mandate relief
• Operate, protect and maintain countywide system of parks and recreation facilities
• Coordinate the delivery of emergency protective measures and services countywide dealing with natural and man-made disasters

Some of the roads that individuals in Scarsdale use are owned and maintained by the County such as Post Road and the Bronx River Parkway. The County Police provide safety and security for the Bronx River Parkway which traverses Scarsdale.

During the Spano Administration, Westchester County allocated $50 million to assist municipalities with flooding issues. Scarsdale received $1.6 million from the County (approximately half of the $3.2 million cost) for the South Fox Meadow drainage project. The Astorino Administration stopped this funding source and Scarsdale has not any additional funding to assist with flood mitigation. The Sheldrake drainage project to be completed in 2013-14 is expected to cost $600,000. I will work at the County Board to bring back the $50 million funding and assist Scarsdale with flooding and other infrastructure work.

One of my priorities at the County Board: Partner on Flooding, Infrastructure, Transportation

It is imperative that all levels of government work together to address unfunded mandates that increase our local tax burden. I will strive to ensure county, local and state entities collaborate effectively to solve the critical flooding, infrastructure and transportation issues that face our community.

What is your view on shared services among municipalities and how would that affect Scarsdale Village Government?

Shared services are critical to our municipalities if we are to continue to provide a high level of services in a cost effective manner to our residents. I am Chairman of the Shared Services Committee for the City of White Plains and the School District. I am using my broad-based business and financial expertise to save taxpayers money through service consolidations, cost reductions and efficiency improvements. As an example, under my leadership, the City of White Plains is maintaining and repairing all School District vehicles saving the taxpayers $75,000 to $100,000 per year.

The Scarsdale Village and Scarsdale School District should explore shared services opportunities that might include road and parking lot resurfacing, share vehicles to install LED lighting (the City of White Plains is using its bucket trucks to install LED lights on school property – another shared services opportunity) as a starting point for cost reductions and efficiency improvements.

An EPA lawsuit has charged that Water District #1 is not in compliance with the Safe Water Drinking Act. What do you plan to do to address this issue? Who will pay for the new water treatment infrastructure?

First, let me state that the Village's drinking water is safe. Water District 1 is administered by the County and includes White Plains, Scarsdale, Mount Vernon and Yonkers. The EPA has sued the County for failure to provide ultraviolent treatment to reduce the bacteria in the water system (giardia and cryptosporidium). Over the past two years, the Astorino Administration has gone back and forth on various ways to address the issues raised in the lawsuit. It is time for the County Executive and his staff to dialogue with the Federal government on these issues and develop an implementation action plan.
As a member of the White Plains Common Council, when we have been faced with issues relating to drinking water or environmental issues, the City has worked to gather information, seek clarification to better understand the situation(s) and work with the various agencies to resolve any disputes or comply as appropriate.

The EPA lawsuit could cost the County (or the municipalities) taxpayers about $1.0 million if this suit is not settled. At the County, I will seek to improve relationships between the County Board of Legislators and the County Executive to work with our municipalities to solve mutual issues.

It is not clear that a new water treatment facility is needed or required. The County may be able to retrofit existing water facilities to resolve the lawsuit. Assuming that a new water treatment infrastructure is built, the County would bond for this capital investment and repay the principal and interest over time. I would press for the County to seek federal funding for this project in order to reduce the cost that would otherwise have to be borne by taxpayers.

Westchester recently lost out on $7.4 million in community development grants because the county failed to comply with the terms of the affordable housing settlement. Do you think these funds are lost? Is there anything the County can do to recoup them?

Unfortunately due to the intransigence of the Astorino Administration and its failure to file a proper Analysis of Impediments (AI), the County has lost $7.4 million in funding from HUD permanently when a federal Appeals Court ruled that HUD could reallocate the funds. The County is at risk of losing another $11 million next year. What is so regrettable about this is that the Astorino Administration has continued to mischaracterize the settlement despite clear statements from HUD. It is interesting to note that it is the County's filing of improper AIs that formed the basis of the initial lawsuit and why the filing of a complete AI has been an important piece of the settlement. This reallocation of funds hurts the neediest in Westchester County. The Astornio Administration needs to work with HUD to resolve issues relating to the Housing Settlement that requires the County to build 750 units of affordable housing. About 325 units are currently in process or already built.

It is not possible for the County to recoup the $7.4 million at this juncture. But we can work to prevent the loss of additional funds. It should be noted that HUD has stated that in the reallocation process it will work to keep the monies in the region funding projects to other governmental entities that are entitled to apply directly to HUD for funding. Unfortunately it does not help those communities that were depending on these funds.

All residents should understand that neither Scarsdale nor any municipality in Westchester is a party to the settlement. The settlement is solely between the County and HUD and those are the only two parties with obligations under the agreement. The Housing Settlement has not and will not have any impact on Scarsdale.

New York is a Home Rule State and Land Use State. Under NY State Law, local municipalities control zoning. Federal, State and/or County government cannot change municipal zoning ordinances.

What is your position on the Women's Equality Act and a woman's right to choose?

• I am fully supportive of the Women's Equality Act and was disappointed that it did not become NY State law this year.
• One of my County priorities is to Protect a Woman's Right to Reproductive Health Care.
• I am Pro-Choice and will work to ensure that women have access to reproductive health care including information and affordable health services.

What is your position on gun control? Do you propose to limit gun sales in Westchester?

• I support the NY Safe Act that was approved by the NY State Assembly and NY Senate and then signed into law by Governor Cuomo in January 2013.
• I believe that individuals have the right to bear arms as provided under the Constitution. However, there are other issues that we must consider especially relating to mental health issues.
• Many crimes are done with illegal guns and we must stop the flow of these arms into our communities which get into the hands of individuals who commit crimes.
• I do not support gun shows at the County Center. I hope they can be legally barred from County owned property.

What past accomplishments are you most proud of? How will you use what you learned to make improvements in Westchester County?

I have been a member of the White Plains Common Council since 2000, and have been Council President three times. During my time on the Council, I was instrumental in $1.2 billion investment in downtown White Plains, fought to change zoning to protect White Plains neighborhoods, supported public safety initiatives to protect residents, protected our environment and created 180 units of workforce housing.

The City has reduced its carbon footprint through our environmental initiatives, including expanded use of LED lights, installing the first dedicated bike lanes in Westchester and adopting the Property Assessed for Clean Energy (PACE) program, which provides city businesses and co-ops a new way to finance sustainable energy improvements.

As a businessman, I understand that the economic future for Westchester County is dependent upon balance investment and attracting and retaining businesses, both big and small.

I am an experienced leader with a vision for our future. I will take my business expertise, governmental leadership and school board experience to work for all of us at the County Board. At the County Board, I will work to:

• Adopt fiscally responsible budgets
• Hold down property taxes
• Include funding for a safety net and vital programs for those in need
• Protect a women's right to reproductive health care
• Provide funds for safety and security
• Create jobs and improve our economy
• Protect the environment and implement sustainable initiatives
• Partner with all levels of government to solve flooding, infrastructure and transportation issues

Women for Ben Boykin will hold a fundraiser for him on Sunday October 27 at 3 pm in White Plains. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousin will attend. To R.S.V.P contact Deborah West Zipf at DZipf@optonline.net or call her at 914-686-6970.