SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS JOINED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW CUOMO AT TOWN HALL FORUM; Information on the New York Local Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act Provided to Public

           State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins (D/WF – 35^th District) and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo conducted a public and press event on Tuesday at the Mount Pleasant Town Hall in Valhalla. The meeting highlighted the provisions of the New York Local Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act, a program bill from the Attorney General which Senator Stewart- Cousins sponsored in the State Senate.

          “I was pleased to work with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo on the government consolidation bill, which I believe is an outstanding piece of legislation,” said Senator Stewart- Cousins. “As the bill’s sponsor in the State Senate, I am confident that this new law will result in real and lasting reform that is good for business, good for taxpayers, and good for New York State.”

            Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said that the bill, signed into law by Governor Paterson (Chapter 74 of the Laws of 2009) last month, codifies into law a process for consolidating the more than 10,500 local government entities throughout the state of New York.

            As Chairwoman of the Senate’s Local Government Committee, Senator Stewart- Cousins was able to secure the co-sponsorship of the committee’s Ranking Minority member, Republican Senator Betty Little. This marked the first time in New York State’s history that a Senate committee Chairperson and Ranking Minority member had cosponsored a piece of legislation.

            The event drew a crowd of nearly 40 people, including Mt. Pleasant Supervisor Robert Meeham, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky,  County Executive Andy Spano and Westchester County Legislator John Nonna. Members of the League of Women Voters and various local volunteer fire department members were also in attendance.

           “Our residents need to be able to choose the cost, size and scope of their own government.  This  measure not only reaches this goal, but also has the potential of providing substantive property tax relief while streamlining government efficiency,” concluded Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

           For more information about this event or the New York Local Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act, please contact Senator Andrea Stewart- Cousins' office at 914-207-6081.