Shows
Local Matters WestchesterEpisode 15: Small Village, Big Questions: Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer on Elections, Development, Medicaid Cuts & Much MorePleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer joins our Local Matters Westchester podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the village’s future. We talk about the uncertain outlook for the Pleasantville Music Festival, his firm opposition to moving local elections to November, and how the village is working to strike a balance between growth and small-town character amid development questions, parking challenges, and lowering school enrollment.We also touch on affordable housing, his relationship with the Jacob Burns Film Center, village pool problems, and the mayor’s unabashed fanboy love for the Pleasantville Farmers Market — plus whether he plans to run for...2025-07-171h 02Local Matters WestchesterEpisode 14: Support Connection’s Kathy Quinn: Compassion in ActionKathy Quinn, founding director of Yorktown-based Support Connection, shares the story behind this nonprofit providing free, confidential support to women and families facing breast, ovarian, and gynecological cancers. We talk about how it started, who it helps, the group’s “Hope Takes Flight” origami crane campaign, the vital annual Support‑A‑Walk in October, and why peer support makes all the difference.2025-07-0943 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 13: Mayor Mike Cindrich Talks Medicaid Cuts, Immigration Issues, Mount Kisco’s Future, MoreMount Kisco Mayor Mike Cindrich, a former law enforcement officer, discusses masked federal agents, Medicaid cuts and their impact on his health-focused town, challenges with cell towers and battery storage systems, why he’s back in office, and what’s ahead as the municipality celebrates its 150th birthday.2025-07-041h 07Local Matters WestchesterEpisode 12: Doug Panero, Executive Director of the Upcoming Pleasantville Music FestivalThe Pleasantville Music Festival returns for its 19th year in just a couple of weeks, on Saturday, July 12, with headliner Dawes. But sustaining this local tradition hasn’t been easy. In this episode, we talk with Executive Director Doug Panero, who discusses the challenges but highlights why he believes the reinvention under his leadership will strengthen the festival’s future.We also explore New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against Live Nation, new perks like beer access throughout the grounds, a standout 10-year-old performer, Taylor Swift tribute music, a performing comedian, and much more.Plus: D...2025-06-2541 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 11: Senator Pete Harckham on Environmental Action, Protest, and PoliticsState Senator Pete Harckham joins us to break down the just-completed Albany session, including his push for packaging reduction and other environmental priorities. He also talks about attending Mount Kisco’s “No Kings” protest against President Trump—and how the tone shifted as he broke the news of the deadly political shootings in Minnesota. Plus: Con Ed rate hikes, New York’s mental health and addiction challenges, the housing crisis, and his careful response to Andrew Cuomo’s NYC mayoral run.2025-06-1829 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 10: Larry Beilenson on Fair Housing and Community ImpactJoin us this week as we speak with Larry Beilenson, Board Co-Chair of Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) and son of the late founder, Nick Beilenson.Larry shares the story behind WRO’s founding in 1968, the urgent need for federal investment to address the affordable housing crisis, the growing homelessness problem, and how looming budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could dramatically worsen the situation. Plus, hear about WRO’s upcoming fundraiser. Listen in!2025-06-1144 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 9: Steven Beschloss – Award-Winning Journalist, Professor, and AuthorChappaqua resident Steven Beschloss – award-winning journalist, professor, and author of the popular Substack America, America – joins Local Matters Westchester for a wide-ranging conversation.He shares his concerns about threats to American democracy, the looming economic fallout he sees coming to local communities, and what’s driving President Trump’s clash with higher education.Beschloss also discusses why immigration is so central to the American story, offers a sharp critique of legacy media, reflects on how living abroad shaped his worldview, retraces his path as a storyteller – and explains why, despite it all, he remains hopeful.2025-06-0659 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 8: Local Matters: Noam Bramson Talks Sustainable WestchesterThis week on Local Matters Westchester, we spoke with Noam Bramson, executive director of Sustainable Westchester (and former longtime mayor of New Rochelle), to talk about what the organization is doing locally to address climate challenges.We asked Bramson about Sustainable Westchester’s clean energy efforts, the debate over automatic opt-in policies, concerns around battery storage, the impact of national energy policy, the organization’s goals for the future, whether he plans to run for elected office in the future, and more.Plus, we discussed how he stays optimistic—on most days—even when the challenge...2025-05-2853 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 7: Legislator and Firefighter, Margaret Cunzio, on Local MattersWestchester County Legislator Margaret Cunzio joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about her role as Minority Leader on the Board of Legislators—one of just two members in the minority—and what bipartisanship looks like in county government.We get into term limits, state mandates, the county budget, affordable housing, and the proposed Con Ed rate hikes. Cunzio also shares how becoming a volunteer firefighter after COVID has given her a frontline view of public safety issues like electric vehicle fires and Battery Energy Storage Systems.With a journalism degree from Iona, advanced education credentials, and...2025-05-2246 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 6: Derek Anderson, Pres. of NWH, on Northwell's Merger with Nuvance and MoreNorthern Westchester Hospital President Derek Anderson joins us to discuss Northwell Health’s merger with Nuvance, the potential real-world impact of looming Medicaid cuts, and a new mental health initiative for local youth.We also explore how nonprofit culture shapes care at NWH, the hospital’s embrace of holistic health, what becoming a teaching hospital means for patients, Anderson’s unique journey from missionary work in Cambodia to hospital leadership in Westchester—and much more.2025-05-1555 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 5: Mayer Talks NY Budget, School Cellphone Ban, ConEd, MoreNew York’s $254 billion state budget is finally passed, and on this week’s Local Matters Westchester, State Senator Shelley Mayer breaks down the major highlights — including the new and controversial bell-to-bell school cellphone ban, which she initially opposed.We also cover ConEd’s proposed rate hikes, affordable housing efforts, public safety measures, and President Trump’s push to abolish the U.S. Department of Education.(Recorded after a hectic final push at the Capitol in Albany.)Tune in for a fast-moving 30-minute conversation about what’s happening across New York and how it impacts Westchester.2025-05-1029 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 4: Welcoming Refugees, with Ted BuergerThis week on Local Matters, we speak with Ted Buerger, co-founder of Open Arms for Refugees — a volunteer-led group helping resettle refugee families across our area.Ted offers a powerful mix of compassion, insight, and personal emotion, shedding light on a complex issue with heartfelt stories and practical ways local people can make a difference.2025-04-3056 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 3: Karin Anderson PonzerThis week on Local Matters Westchester, we’re joined by Karin Anderson Ponzer, Director of Legal Services at Neighbors Link, for a timely conversation about immigration rights, policy shifts, and how local residents facing fear and uncertainty can navigate the system and find support.2025-04-2354 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 2: Assemblymember Chris BurdickBurdick on the Pod: Budget Standoff, Immigration, Jacob Burns & MoreNew York’s state budget is now more than two weeks late, with negotiations stalled over key policy disagreements between Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders.The governor is pushing several high-profile proposals – including a statewide school cellphone ban, changes to the state’s involuntary commitment law, and revisions to pretrial discovery rules – while lawmakers push back on both the process and the priorities.Assemblymember Chris Burdick joined Adam Stone, Martin Wilbur, and Shane McGaffey for Episode 2 of our Local Matters: Westchester podcast to unpack...2025-04-1655 minLocal Matters WestchesterEpisode 1: Congressman George LatimerPodcast Debut: Westchester Congressman on Trump, Tariffs, the Left – and Which of Us Is a Ryan Reynolds LookalikeThe first episode of our new Local Matters Westchester podcast features Democratic Congressman George Latimer, who joins Examiner founding Editor-in-Chief and current Recorder journalist Martin Wilbur, former PCTV station manager Shane McGaffey, and Examiner Publisher Adam Stone for a wide-ranging discussion. We cover:The way Latimer believes President Trump misunderstands tariffsHis bipartisan effort with Republican Congressman Mike Lawler to keep a local Social Security office open – and why it failedHis own Con E...2025-04-101h 13