NEWSROOM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 914-619-5252

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: 39% OF

MAJOR WESTCHESTER ROADWAYS

"UNACCEPTABLE"

But Flatfooted Spano Administration

Loses Out on Stimulus Dollars
 

White Plains, NY-Oct. 7...Westchester County is losing out on tens of millions of "stimulus dollars" from the federal government for urgently needed roadway repairs and other projects, even though an astounding 38.7% of major roadways in the county are now designated as being in "unacceptable" condition by the federal government, according to a USA Today analysis, reform Westchester county executive candidate Rob Astorino (R-I) today charged.

Mr. Astorino said poor planning by County Executive Andy Spano (D-WFP) put Westchester in the embarrassing position of being unable to obtain more stimulus dollars because road repair projects weren't "shovel ready." Westchester, which has 147 miles of "unacceptable" roadway, received just $4.7 million in federal dollars under the road repair program, while Monroe County, with just 21.6 miles of roadway in bad shape, received more than seven times that amount, $33.8 million, according to a recent Journal News Story.

"How is it possible that Westchester taxpayers, who pay the highest taxes in America and have some of the worst roads in the state, are getting shortchanged on stimulus dollars?" Mr. Astorino asked. "The Spano Administration got caught completely flatfooted on this. They should have been better prepared."

Mr. Astorino also pointed out that Westchester has not received nearly as much in overall federal stimulus dollars as neighboring counties, despite paying higher taxes than they do. Nassau County has received almost twice as many stimulus dollars to date as Westchester, and Suffolk County has received almost three times the amount. (Chart below).

"Westchester County residents are getting shafted," Mr. Astorino said. "We are paying through the nose for other people's road repairs. This county's infrastructure is in serious disrepair; it's time our dollars got spent here where they are needed."

 

Compare Westchester's stimulus aid to other counties.