Phil Zisman is former Inspector General of the City of Yonkers
Recently, I had a chance to speak with County Executive Ken Jenkins on a wide range of subjects, with a particular emphasis on Yonkers-related matters. In our conversation, he outlined the reasons why he believes he is ready to take the helm of Westchester County government.
Ken Jenkins has been Sworn in as our New County Executive
Ken Jenkins was sworn in as the new Westchester County Executive on January 6, 2025, and he wants us to get to know him. (Click here for his official bio on the County website) Although he has been a force in Westchester and Yonkers politics for 30 years, he is probably correct in thinking that many County residents may not really know him, and frankly, many may not even be sure of exactly what County government does. This is understandable because after all, the County doesn’t pick up our garbage, plow our residential streets in winter, or have responsibility for our local schools.
County government does, however, play an important role in the quality of life that Westchester provides to the people who are lucky enough to live here. With an annual budget of $2.5 billion – which includes revenue of $542 million from the County’s portion of property taxes and $970 million from sales taxes – County government is responsible for administering
and maintaining County parks, County roads and highways, Beeline Bus system, County courts, District Attorney’s Office, Department of Corrections and County Police. In addition, the County plays a large role in public health, economic development, housing affordability and
environmental protection.
Before the Westchester County Board of Legislators appointed him to the top job, Jenkins served seven years as the Deputy County Executive under George Latimer who stepped down after being elected to Congress. If Jenkins wants to keep his job – and he clearly does – he will need to be elected in a special election on February 11, 2025, to complete the remainder of Latimer’s unfinished term, and if he wins this first election, he will then face re-election come November for a new four-year term starting on January 1, 2026.
A Seamless Transition
In his role as Deputy County Executive, Jenkins described how he worked hand in hand with Mr. Latimer to build a strong administrative team. That team remains in place, and Jenkins intends to continue the policies and build on the initiatives of his predecessor. Jenkins asserted that the Latimer administration brought stability to County government based on a foundation of fiscal responsibility, tax reductions, and improved partnerships with local municipalities, and this has been a formula for success. He highlighted the fact that County property taxes are now below where they were in 2018, and that the County’s bond ratings from
Wall Street have improved. He also cited the settlement of County labor contracts with the municipal unions as evidence of fiscal responsibility, which has added to the government’s stability.
Jenkins is also particularly proud of the partnership between the County and local municipalities to develop 6,000 units of affordable housing since 2018. The County supports affordable housing development efforts through help with site acquisition and infrastructure improvements.
Support for the City of Yonkers
Jenkins is a long-time resident of the City of Yonkers. With a population of almost 210,000, Yonkers makes up roughly 21% of the total Westchester population of approximately 1 million residents. Jenkins cited three specific Yonkers related matters that his administration will continue to work on:
- Affordable Housing: He cited the need for more affordable housing throughout the city and stated that the County remains ready to assist the city in new projects.
- Green Spaces: He said that Yonkers has a deficit of open, green spaces in west Yonkers that is detrimental to public health as it relates to extreme heat cause by climate change. Jenkins cited the County’s work with Mayor Spano’s administration on the proposed waterfront park along the Hudson, which will bring much needed additional green space to the southwestern quadrant of the city.
- Economic Development: He stated that if the MGM casino at the Raceway is successful in its application for an expanded gaming license, it is projected to bring an additional $57 million to the city and $15 million to the County in annual revenue. This would allow for creative solutions to transportation problems along McClean Avenue and could even potentially begin a serious discussion of the expansion of the New York City No. 4 subway into Yonkers.
The Political Climate
When our conversation turned to politics, Jenkins acknowledged that he will likely face three elections this year: the special election on February 11th , a general election in November and potentially a June Democratic primary. In the upcoming special election, he will face off against Republican candidate Christine Sculti, who ran for County Executive against George Latimer in 2021.
When I asked Jenkins to comment on Ms. Sculti’s criticism of him for “protecting criminal illegals instead of our residents, his out-of-control tax and spending and his support of…MTA commuter tax/congestion pricing,” he dismissed her attacks on his record as political noise and not based inn reality. He defended the administration’s accomplishments in maintaining fiscal discipline and public safety, and stated that immigrants who lived in three County hotels had not caused any problems, and the County had followed all applicable laws that applied to immigration. “The facts on the ground speak for themselves,” he said, and that allegations were indicative of a disregard for the truth.
Jenkins acknowledged the challenge of getting voters to the polls in the February 11th special election, but expressed confidence in the improvements to election infrastructure, including early voting and mail-in ballots. He also stated that if he faces multiple elections this year, he is not concerned that campaigning will adversely impact government effectiveness, as he has a strong team in place to ensure proper government administration.
Throughout the interview, Jenkins emphasized the importance of unity and civil discourse. He reflected on Westchester’s moderate political culture as a strength, describing it as a “unicorn” in today’s polarized environment. “We need to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.” Politically, he sees himself as a middle of the road Democrat, which he believes is consistent with most voters in the County.
The Role of Local News and the Importance of Government Accountability and Transparency
Jenkins, who once served as a political commentator on TV’s News 12, lamented the loss of effective local new coverage in the County. He acknowledged that in the not-too-distant past, the Journal News and News 12, provided comprehensive coverage of political and civic affairs in the County, but that they were now a shell of their former selves. He recognized that the local news media used to present objective facts regarding government actions and held politicians accountable for their shortcomings, but that was not the case today. He acknowledged that it was much harder for residents to learn about what was happening in local government, and that local politicians now had to do much more community outreach.
With respect to ethical governance in the County, Jenkins pointed to the role of the County Ethics Board in ensuring transparency and accountability in government and praised therequirement that County officials submit comprehensive ethics disclosure forms. He encouraged residents to use the Ethics Board as a resource, meaning that it was appropriate to file complaints with the Board if there were concerns that a County official or employee violated applicable ethical standards.
Biggest Challenges
With my final question, I asked Jenkins what he saw as his greatest challenge, and he turned back to the topic of community polarization. He said that if County government is to truly serve the needs of all County residents, there needs to be a threshold understanding of what the basic issues are and an agreement as to the underlying facts. To achieve this level of understanding, people need to speak civilly to each other and respect differences of opinion. He emphasized that it isn’t enough to listen only to people who agree with him politically, he also needs to hear from those who disagree with him, so that he can incorporate their concerns into his thinking. His greatest challenge is building unity and finding common ground in a political environment where people too frequently disrespected those who they didn’t agree with.
Jenkins also acknowledged that with the election of President Trump, there is more uncertainty as to what to expect from our federal government, especially regarding regarding federal funding. This new political landscape is likely to present additional challenges for to his administration.
Final Thoughts
It is clear that Jenkins relishes his new position as County Executive. When he speaks about what County government has done and what it will continue to do under his leadership, his enthusiasm is palpable. Jenkins exudes confidence that he can manage every challenge that comes his way. It is also clear that in the last seven years when he served as Deputy County Executive, Mr. Jenkins learned a lot about the County, and he has a plan for getting things done. He has been given this opportunity to show that he has what it takes to lead our County government, and he now must deliver for the voters who this year will have multiple opportunities to decide whether he has done enough to earn their vote.
