Newly Minted Congressman Latimer Returns to Council & Warns Federal Cuts May Trickle Down

NY-16 Congressman George Latimer came full circle at the Rye City Council on Wednesday evening. Latimer began his political career as a local Rye councilman in 1988. Thirty seven years later, he returned to Rye City hall just four months into his new job with a dire tone.

“I fear I am not Sally Sunshine here,” said Latimer.

He warned the City to be proactive and identify direct or indirect federal dollars the City receives and to be prepared in the case those dollars evaporate. The City should be looking at existing federal dollar commitments and prospective funding, including funds already committed in writing, as at risk. He also told officials to understand indirect funding impacts as well – cases where dollars flow from the federal government to state or county programs before they reach a city such as Rye. The  current and proposed cuts are so wide ranging it is hard for anyone to get a handle on the scale and impact, he said.

One example he gave was Community Development Block Grants. The County disperses federal funds through this program and the entire program may be on the chopping block. The County just announced $700,000 in CDBG grants in March in the area of food insecurity and infectious disease control. The local Port Chester Carver Center received $100,000 for its food pantry and Meals on Main Street (based in Port Chester) received $200,000 for the renovation of their new community kitchen in Mount Kisco.

Tariffs will also impact the cost of various goods the city may need for various services or capital projects. Before the new administration and during budget season last December, acting comptroller Joe Fazzino and then City Manager Greg Ursy were already warning of expected budget increases of 5% in upcoming years due to the rising cost of goods.