The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) has released its 2025 Legislative Agenda. The document outlines the issues that BCW believes will be important during the year and that it believes should be key priorities for federal, state, and local lawmakers.
“We are committed to working closely with our elected officials to enact legislation that addresses our community’s most pressing needs,” said John Ravitz, BCW’s executive vice president and COO.
A significant item on the BCW’s agenda for 2025 is continuing support for the state’s approval of a full gaming license for Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Yonkers. The BCW said that it believes that granting the license would not only generate substantial revenue for the state and local economies but also create many jobs and enhance entertainment and tourism in Westchester.
The BCW called for state legislation to lower Unemployment Insurance (UI) taxes. At the same time, it urged the state to allocate state and federal funds to bolster the UI system, ensuring its long-term stability while also relieving the burden on employers.
The BCW said it continues to oppose any new costly mandates or regulations that would hinder business growth. It said that the regulatory environment should promote innovation and competitiveness, rather than imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses.
“It is also essential that Westchester’s municipal governments do all they can to assist businesses in all sectors,” BCW said in its document. “In 2025, the BCW encourages all county municipalities to look to adopt programs that will offer a practical, manageable and viable approach to support its local businesses while preserving the character and scale of their communities. To this end, local governments must continue to engage their citizens to be active and positive participants in this process that will only help Westchester’s businesses move forward.”
The BCW reiterated its support for the Westchester County Airport and said that the coalition it put together to advocate for the airport will in 2025 push for additional and necessary enhancements to make the airport more attractive so that it can continue to play an important role in creating economic development opportunities for the county.
The BCW said its Airport Coalition will remind its political leaders that the airport is a key element in the county’s transportation infrastructure, is one of the county’s most valuable economic assets, is essential to attract and retain businesses in Westchester and that the airport employs thousands of people in diverse industries.
The BCW pointed out that the Westchester County Center will be 100 years old in 2030 and expressed support for the county’s effort to reimagine the facility.
“Businesses and individuals should participate in all public opportunities to voice their ideas about how this unique event venue should be restored and used,” the BCW said. “Additionally, continued investment in parks’ capital projects, particularly infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, continues to be a BCW goal.”
The BCW again noted that there is an urgent need for new energy sources to replace the closed Indian Point Energy Center. It pointed out that last year it established its Clean Energy Action Coalition to accelerate clean energy adoption across Westchester County.
