The Westchester County Board of Legislators passed several measures on Monday night to honor local veterans; protect residents from the malicious use of Artificial Intelligence (AI); secure future access to clean drinking water and approve much-needed renovations to Westchester Community College facilities.

Honoring Veterans

To honor the service and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans, the Board of Legislators unanimously voted to approve an Act providing free County park passes to all veterans living in Westchester. 

“We are so proud to have veterans here in Westchester County. We value them, their families and the skills they contribute to our communities. We wanted to find a way to give back to them, especially those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford visiting our beautiful parks,” said the Act’s sponsor, Legislator Erika Pierce (D- Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers).

This measure welcomes local veterans from all branches of the U.S. military to enjoy the health and wellness benefits that come with spending time in nature. County Parks programs also are a way for veterans of all ages to engage socially with the broader community. This Act adds to existing County programs that provide free passes for active duty and disabled veterans.

“Such enthusiastic bipartisan support from legislators reflects the gratitude we all share for these important community members,” said Chairman Vedat Gashi (D- New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) of the Act which was unanimously approved last week by the Board’s committees on Legislation, Parks and Environment and Veterans, Seniors and Youth. 

There are approximately 100,000 veterans currently residing in Westchester County, according to the Westchester County Veterans Service Agency, many of them senior citizens.

More information about County Park Passes can be found here.

Advancing Innovative AI Law

The Board of Legislators, in partnership with the Westchester District Attorney’s Office and the County Law Department, is working to protect residents’ privacy and safety by making it a local crime to share digitally deceptive material with the intent to harm. They are advancing a bill that would help keep residents free from harassment, extortion, and sexual exploitation using content create with AI. Specifically, the use of images, audio and videos created with AI and without consent, including those mimicking a person’s voice, will be considered a crime with the passage of this local law. 

The Board voted unanimously Monday night to set a public hearing for this bill at its next meeting on Monday, February 10th. Last week, the Board’s committees on Legislation, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, and Public Safety approved the bill with unanimous bipartisan support.

“This is a true testament to what we can achieve when we work together for the greater good,” said the bill’s sponsor and Chair of the Information and Cybersecurity Committee Legislator Judah Holstein, (D-Eastchester, New Rochelle, Tuckahoe). “This is a critical step in protecting our community from the growing threats of AI and other emerging technologies being misused to deceive or harm our most vulnerable populations, especially seniors and youth.”

Safeguarding Clean Water

The Board unanimously approved a measure that will safeguard County residents’ access to clean drinking water in the future by allowing the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to build a new water tunnel beneath County property.

The tunnel, to be built 100 feet below ground, will provide a back-up conveyance route between the Kensico Reservoir and a waste water disinfection facility in Mount Pleasant. Improving the system's operational resiliency and redundancy will allow for future increased needs in New York City and for residents living in 20 Westchester municipalities.

Refreshing WCC Facilities

The Board also authorized a series of renovations at Westchester Community College in Valhalla to ensure it is safe, clean, well-lit and conducive for working and learning. Improvements included upgrades to the HVAC system and the replacement of floor tiles at the Virginia Marx Children’s Center, which provides care for the preschool children of students and staff and the expansion of the student center. 

Watch the full meeting here