CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY: New York State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg and Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators Catherine Borgia held a press conference on Friday, April 14 to call for continued vigilance to protect the interests of Hudson River communities throughout the Indian Point decommissioning process. They were joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both sides of the Hudson River: New York State Assemblymembers Steve Otis, Chris Eachus, and MaryJane Shimsky, former State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, and Westchester County Legislators Vedat Gashi, Terry Clements, and Jimmy Nolan. Local elected officials in attendance included Cortlandt Deputy Supervisor James Creighton, Ossining Town Supervisor Elizabeth Feldman, and Peekskill Common Council Member Kathleen Talbot. A diverse array of local advocates also came out to support the effort, including Tracy Brown, President of Riverkeeper; Courtney Williams, Peekskill resident and co-founder of the Safe Energy Rights Group; Susan H. Shapiro, Attorney & Board Member of the Radiation & Public Health Project and the Rockland Environmental Group; Kathy Meany, President of the League of Women Voters of Westchester; and Joyce White, a Hendrick Hudson School District parent, joined by several members of the Hendrick Hudson PTA.

Chairwoman Catherine Borgia issued a video statement in response to reports regarding the termination of a former employee. In addition to the statement, the Chair has also shared a copy of a letter addressed to the Chief of the White Plains Division for the US Attorney’s Office.

“We stand in full solidarity with ousted Tennessee Representatives Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) and Justin Jones (D-Nashville) who were unjustly expelled from the state legislature for protesting against gun violence. We believe that the right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the actions of these legislators were a powerful demonstration of their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of their constituents.

“We at the Board of Legislators are outraged at the announcement yesterday by Holtec International that they are moving forward with dumping wastewater into the Hudson River. Then, to add insult to injury, Holtec shortened the timeframe for eliminating the waste from August to May. The decision not to listen to the public’s outcry over the risks to life, but also the fact that they moved up the schedule, prove what a bad actor Holtec truly is.