As the country prepares for a second Donald Trump presidency in 2025, those in the Lower Hudson Valley are gearing up for ways the incoming administration could affect their communities. What’s more, the region will have a new face representing them in Washington this year as George Latimer heads to Congress.
The Journal News/lohud staff came together to preview some of the big issues and questions that will drive talk, debate and the news into 2025. We’ll be sharing what we found, a few subjects at a time, over the next few days.
An early flashpoint will be the $9 toll New York is set to begin charging drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street on Jan. 5.
Its purpose is to reduce traffic in New York City’s busiest core while raising money for mass transit improvements by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. But the plan is deeply unpopular in the suburbs and President-elect Trump has vowed to kill it after taking office on Jan. 20, setting up a potential clash between Hochul and the toll’s opponents in the White House and Congress.
Learn more:The NYC congestion toll starts Jan. 5. How will the political blowback affect Gov. Hochul?
President-elect Trump campaigned on promises to deport large numbers of undocumented immigrants, starting with those who have committed crimes and then moving on to “others.”
Now communities across the Lower Hudson Valley — and the nation — that are home to substantial numbers of immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are anxiously waiting to see how things will play out.
Trump and his future border czar, Tom Homan, have talked about deporting children who were born in the U.S., and are citizens, along with their undocumented parents. Immigrant advocates are pushing for the state Legislature to pass a bill that would prevent local police and government agencies from turning someone over to the feds without an arrest warrant.
George Latimer is stepping aside as Westchester County executive to become, at age 71, a rookie congressman. He has decades of government experience but must flex his aisle-crossing abilities to make any mark as a Democrat in a capital fully controlled by Republicans.
GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents the neighboring Hudson Valley district, just handily won a second term. He has a chance to do far more and raise his profile further in a GOP-ruled Washington. He may also have higher ambitions: the 2026 governor’s race.
Westchester will hold a special election early in the year to fill Latimer’s office for the rest of 2025. Then there will be a regular election in November for a full, four-year term. The only contender so far is Democrat Ken Jenkins, Latimer’s deputy county executive.
Across the Hudson in Rockland County, Republican County Executive Ed Day plans to seek a fourth term in an office that has been in GOP hands for almost 30 years. No Democrat has declared plans to run.
Contributing: Lohud’s Chris McKenna
