I Live Here Westchester NY

Send us Fan Mail Forty-three missing children and teens located in a coordinated three-day rescue operation across Westchester. Over seventy agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, participated in the largest child recovery effort in the county's recent history. In This Episode: 0:20 Deep Dive: Forty-three Missing Children Located in Westchester 3:45 What's Happening: DHS...

Send us Fan Mail Governor Hochul's new budget amendments deliver over $100 million in state aid to Westchester—the largest infusion in recent memory. But with the county facing a potential $700 million deficit, is this relief enough? In This Episode: 0:00 Cold Open: The $100M question 0:45 Hochul's budget amendments break down 2:15 Why the budget gap is bigger than the aid 4:30 Quick Hit...

Send us Fan Mail On February 13th, Rye police and firefighters used a drone to rescue a mute swan that had become partially frozen to a pond. Instead of risking a dangerous ground approach, responders sent up an aerial view, guided the rescue safely, and transferred the bird to Animal Nation for rehabilitation. It is a small story with a bigger point: this is what competent, resourced local govern...

Send us Fan Mail One story. Three infrastructure projects. One pattern you need to understand. The County Keeps Going Back to the Well Westchester County is seeking additional bonding authority for three infrastructure projects this week. The projects are necessary. The costs keep rising. And the financing mechanism is debt backed by your property taxes. The biggest number: the Pondfield Road West...

Send us Fan Mail One story this week. It's about Playland. Not the rides. Not the beach. The money. Story: The Playland Arbitration Tab Westchester County is closing out a dispute with Standard Amusements, the private operator that was supposed to manage Playland. The relationship collapsed. It went to arbitration. The arbitrators found Standard in default, found they had effectively abandone...

Send us Fan Mail Two stories. One about federal agents on the ground in your town and the trust that erodes after they leave. One about a federal rule change that could strip protections from eighty percent of American wetlands and what that means for a county that floods. Story 1: ICE in Mount Kisco On February fifth, ICE agents conducted a targeted operation in Mount Kisco, seeking a single indi...

Send us Fan Mail County Executive Jenkins signed a $2.5B budget with 180 job cuts and 8% department slashes. Jim Jockle breaks down what the tax hike actually buys you. FULL EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Three dollars a month. That's what the county says your property taxes are going up. Sounds manageable until you see what they had to cut to get there. This week, County Executive Ken Jenkins signed W...

Send us Fan Mail Two stories. One about your electric bill and where that money actually goes. One about preventable crashes and the federal legislation trying to stop them. Story 1: The ConEd Fight Your electric delivery charges are climbing 37 percent over the next three years. But here's the number that matters: 96 percent of Con Edison's proposed infrastructure investment goes to New...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Westchester Weekly Brief, two stories dominate the conversation—and both reveal how local decisions can ripple far beyond village lines. First, we look at Irvington’s proposed North Broadway housing development, a 53-unit apartment project that has ignited a fierce debate over growth, affordability, and village identity. Supporters say the project is a long-overdu...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Westchester Brief: A statewide gas hookup ban for new buildings has been delayed by a federal court challenge. We break down what that means for developers, climate goals, and building costs in Westchester. MTA fare and toll hikes are now in effect. From Metro-North to Bee-Line to bridge crossings, we look at how much more commuters are paying—and why. And finally...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Westchester Brief , host Jim Jockle breaks down three policy developments that may seem unrelated — but together point to a larger shift in the cost and texture of everyday life in Westchester County. First, we look at Governor Hochul’s push toward universal child care and why child care is increasingly being treated as economic infrastructure rather than a privat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with Cait Conley, a fourth-generation Hudson Valley native, Special Operations combat veteran, and candidate for Congress in New York’s 17th District — one of the most competitive races in the country. Cait shares how growing up in a blue-collar, service-oriented family shaped her values, why 9/11 led her to We...

Send us Fan Mail n this episode of The Westchester Brief , we step away from the headlines and focus on the quieter decisions shaping life in Westchester County. This week’s brief looks at three developments that reveal how local and regional systems are being protected, stabilized, and quietly modernized—often without much public attention. First , we break down Westchester County’s 2026 budget....

Send us Fan Mail Episode Title: What started as a New Year’s Day dare has become one of Westchester’s most enduring community traditions. In this episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with Ken Harris , longtime leader of the Rye Triathlon Club , to talk about the Rye Polar Plunge — now in its 26th year and the longest-running, largest polar plunge in Westchester County. Ke...

Send us Fan Mail Most of the biggest decisions affecting Westchester aren’t announced — they’re approved quietly. In this week’s Westchester Brief , we step back from the headlines and focus on three stories that reveal how systems are actually working beneath the surface. First, we take a closer look at Westchester County contracts and continued investment in Playland, breaking down what’s being...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode of The Westchester Brief , host Jim Jockle breaks down three under-the-radar developments that will shape life across Westchester heading into 2026. First, a look at how recently finalized county budget and policy decisions are locking in the priorities for infrastructure, services, and long-term investments. These aren't headline-grabbing moments — but...

Send us Fan Mail We’re bringing back one of the most-loved episodes of I Live Here Westchester — a deep dive into the story, scale, and spirit behind American Christmas , the powerhouse responsible for some of the most iconic holiday displays in New York City. In this encore conversation, CEO Dan Casterella takes us behind the scenes of a business that operates year-round to deliver joy in a matte...

Send us Fan Mail In this hilarious and surprisingly insightful holiday episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with an all-star expert panel whose credentials are simple and irrefutable: They are women, and They receive gifts. Joining Jim are Christy Jockle , Lindsay Crotty Walsh , and Debbie Spano for a rapid-fire conversation about what women actually want — and absolutely...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with author Angelique Morelli to celebrate the release of her debut children’s book, Ellie Morelli and the Pack Unleash Their Superpowers . Inspired by her real-life rescue dog, Ellie, Angelique’s story blends humor, heart, and powerful lessons about kindness, courage, and embracing what makes us u...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with Carlos Martinez, Executivr Director of BRIDGES , a nonprofit dedicated to advancing independence and inclusion for people with disabilities. Carlos shares how BRIDGES is redefining the way we think about housing through a groundbreaking Universal Design home renovation in New City, NY — a model for accessi...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with Laura Rossi, Vice President for Westchester at The New York Community Trust , and Cindy Kanusher, Executive Director of The Pace Women’s Justice Center , to celebrate 50 years of philanthropy and community impact in Westchester. Laura reflects on how The Trust has connected local generosity with lo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle talks with Ashley Britton, Program Manager of the Mount Vernon Financial Empowerment Center — a groundbreaking local initiative helping Westchester residents take control of their financial futures. Ashley shares how the Legacy Planning Program is giving families the same tools and clarity once reserved for the wealthy —...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with Tibi Guzman , Executive Director & CEO of The Arc Westchester , the county’s largest provider of services for people with developmental disabilities. Tibi explains how proposed federal Medicaid cuts and the ongoing government shutdown threaten essential supports—from housing and day programs t...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when creativity meets conscience?   In this episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with actor, writer, and activist Robert Galinsky to discuss his powerful new solo theater piece, Could You Patent the Sun   — the true story of Dr. Jonas Salk, who discovered the polio vaccine and famously refused to patent it, declaring, “The people own it.” Par...

Send us Fan Mail Westchester is gearing up for one of its most exciting events in years: RevFest 250 . In this episode of I Live Here Westchester , host Jim Jockle sits down with Natasha Caputo , Director of Westchester County Tourism & Film, to explore how history, community, and celebration are coming together ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. Natasha shares the vision behind RevFest 250...