Pine Brook CondominiumsWestchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said "no" today to Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz's request for the county to adopt reports from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Monitor that would put Westchester's local municipalities at "great risk." Specifically, Kaplowitz had asked Astorino to incorporate by Sept. 15 reports with inaccurate data and faulty conclusions as part of the county's Analysis of Impediments, which is required under the 2009 Affordable Housing Settlement with the federal government.

"To incorporate the Monitor's reports into the County's AI would completely undermine the principle of Home Rule since the County would be agreeing to turn over decision making on local zoning to a federal agency," wrote Astorino as one of his eight reasons for rejecting Kaplowitz's request. The attached is Astorino's full letter.