County Executives Answer Business Leaders’ Questions at College Forum

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Rockland County Executive Ed Day participated in the County Executive’s Forum at Rosary Hall. Palisades Institute Executive Director Stan Jacoby moderated the event.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus were at Dominican College on Wednesday, June 7, to take part in the annual County Executives Forum sponsored by the Palisades Institute.The County leaders spoke about economic development, the fiscal health of their counties, and a host of other topics.  

During a question and answer period, both leaders said they were opposed to an increase in the tolls on the Tappan Zee Bridge. County Executive Day said he fears an increased toll would discourage shoppers coming to the Palisades Center Mall from Westchester.  In addition, he said, truck toll increases could trickle down to higher prices for consumers. “Please resist the urge to compare the tolls to the GW or to the Whitestone Bridge.  There’s no comparison.  Compare it to the Bear Mountain or any bridge north in the Hudson Valley region,” said Day. 

County Executive Neuhaus discussed the transformational effect that flights from Norwegian Airlines coming into Stewart Airport will have on the region. “I am going to be bringing in 7,000 people a week to that airport.  It’s going to double the amount of flights and double the amount of people coming in there,”  said Neuhaus.

Both Day and Neuhaus are Republican County Executives who began their four-year terms in 2014.

The Palisades Institute was created in 1990 as part of Dominican College to serve business, government, and not-for-profit organizations in Rockland and nearby counties. The Institute encourages professionals to integrate the concepts of leadership, quality, and ethics to achieve long-term success.