Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who is due to take the oath of office in Washington and become a member of Congress on Jan. 3 to represent New York’s 16th Congressional District, plans to have ceremonial inaugurations for the public in both Westchester and the Bronx.
Latimer also plans to open Congressional District Offices in both Westchester and the Bronx. The 16th District covers southern Westchester as well as a section of the Bronx that includes the apartment complex at Co-Op City. Latimer won a decisive victory on the Democratic ticket in the Nov. 5 election, after having defeated incumbent Jamaal Bowman in a hotly contested Democratic primary. Although Bowman carried the Bronx, Latimer racked up a landslide win in Westchester in the primary.
Latimer says that the two district offices will be accessible and community-centered, reflecting his commitment to ensuring that every constituent feels connected to their federal representative and empowered to seek assistance.
The Westchester District Office will be at 222 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains while the Bronx District Office will be at 177 Dreiser Loop in the Bronx.
“Everyone who knows me knows that I am committed to being as embedded in the communities I serve as possible,” Latimer said. “These two district offices will ensure that residents of the Bronx and Westchester County have direct access to their federal representative. This is about listening, responding and solving problems together.”
According to Latimer’s staff, the district offices are intended to provide constituent services such as assistance with federal programs, including Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits, and immigration. They will be centers for community outreach that includes engaging with local organizations, hosting town halls, and collaborating on community initiatives. In addition, they will be used as bases for advocacy support in helping deal with federal agencies and addressing pressing local issues.
In addition to the official swearing in ceremony in Washington, Latimer is planning to hold a public ceremony in Westchester on Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Rye High School Performing Arts Center. There also will be a ceremonial event open to the public the day before, Jan. 25, in the Dreiser Auditorium in Co-Op City in the Bronx.
Latimer is scheduled to deliver a farewell address as county executive at a meeting of the County Board of Legislators on Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Legislative Chambers in the County Office Building in White Plains.
