Local Matters Westchester

Army veteran Cait Conley talks to Local Matters Westchester about her Hudson Valley roots, what motivated her decision to choose West Point, and why she’s challenging Rep. Mike Lawler for the 17th Congressional District seat. She addresses affordability, health care reform, housing, immigration accountability, climate action and foreign policy while defending her advisory work after a recent report. Conley calls the criticism misleading and argues she’s the Democrat best positioned to flip the district in November.

Tracey Bilski of Friends of Buttonhook Forest joins to us discuss the grassroots effort to preserve the 20-acre Chappaqua woodland from development. She talks about the legal fight, fundraising push, environmental stakes and the broader effort to honor local indigenous history.

In this episode of Local Matters Westchester, we examine the Jimmy Collins case with three people who were at the center of the civil fight for accountability: lead plaintiff Greg Ardanowski, fellow plaintiff Scott Roth, and attorney Sarah Klein of Manly, Stewart & Finaldi. Klein was the first known victim of former Olympic women’s gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, and has become a leading advocate.

The trio tell us how decades-old abuse came to light, how the Child Victims Act made the case possible, and what accountability (criminal and civil) means for local survivors.

To read a more detailed description of the case, and hear perspective from Collins’ attorney, visit:

https://www.theexaminernews.com/the-enduring-stain-of-our-communitys-open-secret-and-a-mount-kisco-natives-heroics/

Today, we’re joined by Beth Davidson, a Rockland County legislator and Democratic candidate for New York’s 17th Congressional District. This interview is part of an ongoing series where we’re speaking with all the Democratic primary candidates ahead of the June election.

‘Shaking in Our Boots’: Inside a Crisis with Mount Kisco Child Care Center Director Dawn Meyerski
Mount Kisco Child Care Center Executive Director Dawn Meyerski talks staffing shortages, federal funding changes, and the various challenges of running a nonprofit childcare center in today’s climate.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we speak with Nicole Ferrara and David Kaufstein of The Nicholas Center, a nonprofit with locations in Pleasantville and Port Washington. The organization helps people with autism learn, live, and work in their communities. Ferrara shares what inspired her to found the organization, while Kaufstein discusses the programs supporting learning and social development. 

Former FBI analyst John Sullivan, who was one of the bureau’s most senior openly gay officials, joins us to discuss his run for Congress in New York’s 17th District. We ask why he left the FBI over concerns about the Trump administration, his experiences as a cancer survivor, and his views on public safety, health care, LGBTQ rights, and more.

Sullivan also shares his campaign priorities in the Democratic primary, how he plans to position himself in a potential general election against incumbent Republican Mike Lawler, and his approach to tackling affordability, foreign policy, and local issues.

Superintendent Mary Fox‑Alter reflects on 40+ years in education, from Pleasantville to East Ramapo to leading Ossining schools. We cover district leadership, a $210M school bond, responsible use of AI in classrooms, and the political pressures facing public school leaders today.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we sit down with Scarsdale-based comedian Ben Rosenfeld—Russian-Jewish immigrant, sharp-witted storyteller, and one half of the comedy duo behind Westchester Comedy Club and Living Room Laughs. Ben talks about building a real comedy scene in the suburbs, teaching stand-up to beginners, and why being the father of a seven-year-old shapes so much of his material.

He shares how comics stay calm when a joke bombs, why most people can learn to be funny, and what audiences can expect from his and Michelle Slonim’s upcoming New Year’s Eve shows in White Plains. We also get into married-to-a-comedian life (“We just take turns being sad,” he deadpans), and whether AI can actually write jokes.

Smart, dry, and very funny, Rosenfeld pulls back the curtain on the craft, business, and emotional endurance of stand-up.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, the hosts talk with longtime Westchester journalist David McKay Wilson, who wrapped up a remarkable career with The Journal News/LoHud/Gannett in September.

Wilson discusses the state of local journalism, the next chapter of his reporting life on Substack, and his community projects, including the Stars of Hope holiday art effort and his church's ballroom dance nights.