NY Times Endorses Noam Bramson

The New York Times

November 2, 2013

For County Executive in Westchester

In the race for Westchester County executive, the incumbent, Rob Astorino, a Republican, pledges to continue cutting taxes and spending and to spur business. The Democratic challenger, Noam Bramson, the mayor of New Rochelle, says he will protect the social safety net while promoting “smart growth” development and greater cooperation among the county’s local governments.

But underneath those standard arguments lies a starker divide, between responsible governing and recklessness. It involves the county’s repeated failures to obey a federal court order in a long-running housing discrimination lawsuit. A 2009 settlement obligated the county to build hundreds of affordable houses and apartments and to take other steps to combat discrimination.

Mr. Astorino has been building the units since he took office, but he has repeatedly clashed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Justice Department and federal courts over the county’s other obligations, including analyzing and challenging restrictive zoning laws and other barriers to fair housing. His obstinacy has brought the county to the brink of contempt charges and cost it millions in federal housing funds.

Mr. Bramson, New Rochelle’s mayor since 2006, has the skills and vision needed to run the county well. He makes a strong case that Mr. Astorino’s spending cuts — to the planning department, mental health services and child care support, among other things — have done damage. So has the self-destructive battle over fair housing, which Mr. Bramson promises to end. We recommend Mr. Bramson.

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