Issues

A strong education is one of the most powerful foundations we can give a child. It opens doors, builds confidence, strengthens families, and helps determine whether every young person has a genuine opportunity to thrive.

While New York State and our local school districts—not county government—have primary responsibility for public education, I never view that distinction as a reason for county leaders to stand on the sidelines. Education remains one of the most important concerns for parents, and the wellbeing of our schools is inseparable from the wellbeing of our communities.

County government can and should be a strong partner—supporting youth mental health, safe and healthy communities, childcare and family services, libraries, workforce development, after-school opportunities, public health, and pathways to higher education, including Westchester Community College. We can also use our voice to advocate for equitable state resources and policies that give every child, in every ZIP code, the chance to succeed.

As a proud product of the Greenburgh schools, I understand personally how much a community’s investment in its young people matters. Education may not fall primarily under the County’s jurisdiction, but our children’s futures are everyone’s responsibility.

Reproductive Healthcare and Choice

I believe abortion is healthcare and that decisions about pregnancy and reproductive care should remain between a woman and her healthcare provider.

This issue is also personal to me. I went through a long and ultimately unsuccessful infertility journey that required multiple medical procedures. Some of the same types of reproductive-health treatments and procedures that patients rely upon are now the subject of efforts to restrict access or create uncertainty around their availability.

That experience informs my view that women must be able to make deeply personal healthcare decisions without unnecessary government interference. I support protecting access to abortion, contraception, infertility care, miscarriage management, and other forms of reproductive healthcare, and I will continue to support policies that safeguard a woman’s right to make her own reproductive healthcare choices.

Housing is more than a roof over someone’s head. It is the foundation for stability, health, educational opportunity, economic security, and strong communities. I believe Westchester must remain a place where working families, young adults, seniors, essential workers, and people with disabilities can afford to live in the communities they call home.

County government does not control local zoning, but it has an important role to play. We can continue to invest in affordable housing development, support preservation of existing affordable units, partner with municipalities and nonprofit developers, expand pathways to homeownership, and help residents remain safely housed as costs continue to rise.

I also believe affordability must include a range of housing options. Our communities need apartments for working families, accessible housing for people with disabilities, opportunities for first-time homebuyers, and options that allow seniors to age in place with dignity.

As Westchester continues to grow, we must be intentional about ensuring that the people who teach our children, care for our families, keep our communities safe, work in our hospitals, and sustain our local economy can also afford to live here.

A strong Westchester should have room for everyone—not only those who can afford its highest housing costs.

Westchester County is fortunate to have an extraordinary network of beautiful, expansive parks, trails, preserves, recreational facilities, and open spaces. Our County Parks Department operates a nationally accredited park system, reflecting the professionalism and high standards that go into caring for these public resources.

I support continued investment in our parks—not only maintaining and modernizing what we already have, but also identifying opportunities to expand public access to open space, improve trails and recreational amenities, protect environmentally sensitive land, and ensure that residents in every part of the County can enjoy safe, welcoming outdoor spaces.

Parks contribute to far more than recreation. They support physical and mental health, provide places for families and communities to gather, protect natural habitats, improve environmental resilience, and contribute significantly to Westchester’s quality of life.

As Vice Chair of the Board’s Parks & Environment Committee, I view stewardship of these resources as both a present responsibility and a long-term commitment. I support thoughtful capital investment, accessibility improvements, environmental protection, and opportunities to preserve and expand open space so that Westchester’s park system remains a treasured public asset for generations to come.

I believe access to quality healthcare should not depend on a person’s income, employment status, ZIP code, or ability to navigate a complicated system. While the structure of universal healthcare is primarily a federal policy issue, I support the goal of ensuring that every person can obtain the care they need without fear that doing so will create financial hardship.

At the county level, we have an important role in helping connect residents to care, addressing health disparities, preventing disease, and strengthening the public-health infrastructure that supports every community.

I am especially proud of the community health centers serving Westchester, which provide essential primary, preventive, dental, behavioral, maternal, and other healthcare services to residents, including those who might otherwise face significant barriers to care. These centers are indispensable partners in our broader healthcare system.

Our Westchester County Department of Health also provides a wide range of vital services—from disease prevention and health education to immunizations, environmental health protections, maternal and child health initiatives, emergency preparedness, and programs designed to improve community health.

As Chair of the Board’s Health Committee, I see every day how closely healthcare access is tied to everything else that affects quality of life. Preventive care, maternal health, mental health, chronic disease management, environmental health, and access to trusted providers are all part of building healthier communities.

Although county government cannot create a national healthcare system, we can strengthen the resources available here at home, support our healthcare partners, address inequities, and advocate for policies that move us closer to a future in which everyone has meaningful access to quality healthcare.