U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was in Westchester today hosting a Veterans Roundtable discussion with leaders of the veterans community as well as other government leaders.

State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers 35th District) and William Mooney, President of the Westchester County Association are among several leaders and officials from Westchester and the Hudson Valley named to Governor Andrew Cuomo's new "Mandate Relief Design Team."

The concept of the team was unveiled during the Governor's State of the State address earlier this week and it is tasked with reviewing existing unfunded and under-funded mandates imposed by New York State on school districts, local governments and other local taxing districts. 

The team includes representatives from private industry, labor and government and will look for ways to reduce the costs of mandated programs, identify mandates that are ineffective and outdated and help determine how school districts and local governments can have greater ability to control expenses.

The Team is chaired by Senior Advisor to the Governor, Larry Schwartz.

Westchester State Senator Andrea-Stewart-Cousins (35th District D/WF) announced today that the Wage Theft prevention Act, which she co-sponsored in the Senate, has been signed into law by Governor David Paterson.

The new law effectively expands workplace rights of employees by requiring employers to provide employees with necessary wage information and puts into place sanctions against employers who fail to propertly pay their workers full earned waves and overtime.

Studies have indicated that a large number of workers are earning less than the state-mandated minimum wage in New York and are not receiving the proper amount of overtime, when indicated.

The new measure raises the criminal penalties for those who fail to pay minimum wage to up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine.

It also strengthens protections for whistleblowrs in wage violation cases and increases the amount of wages that can be recovered as damages in a suit for non-payment over and above the lost wages themselves-from 25% to 100%.

Election Day 2010 may have come and gone, but there are several key races in Westchester County that are still undecided. The State Senate race in the 37th District between longtime incumbent Suzi Oppenheimer and Republican Challenger Bob Cohen is still too close to call. At last look, with 80% of the votes in the district tallied, Oppenheimer was leading Cohen by a slim 180 point margin. Elections officials say reported voting irregularities in the district have forced a recount of the votes, a move they say, could take at least another 3 days.

Members of CSEA Local 860 has endorsed State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins in her re-election bid.

In making their endorsement, CSEA Local 860 President John Staino, Southern Region 3 President Billy Riccaldo and Unit 9169 president Bobbie DiBattista cited Stewart-Cousins' record of reform as well as her "tireless efforts on behalf of the working people of Westchester County."

A second poll taken in New York's 35th State Senate District race finds incumbent Democratic Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins maintaining a seven point lead over Republican challenger, Liam McLaughlin.

The latest  RNN-TV/Westchester County Association poll taken by Iona College finds among likely voters, 45% of people questioned said they'd vote for Stewart-Cousins, while 38% said McLaughlin.

17% remain undecided.

Dr. Jeanne Zaino, coordinator of the Iona College poll and professor of political science at the school, said "The large undecided proportion on this question indicates that there is considerable uncertainty in the voters' minds, which means both campaigns have a lot of convincing to do."

The Iona College poll has a margin of error of plus/minus 3.9%.

Democratic members of the Yonkers City Council today endorsed State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-WF) in the 35th State Senate District race.

Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick said "Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins has long served the best interests of Yonkers residents and businessowners as a tireless leader and legislator," adding, "She has been a powerful advocate in our community providing funding for jobs, education and law enforcement. Her compassion for  our city's elderly,youth and crime victims is well known."

City Council Majority Leader Patricia McDow echoed the sentiment saying, "It has been a privilege to work with Andrea to better our entire city and touch the lives of so many people."

Stewart-Cousins is facing a challenge by Republican Liam McLaughlin.