By James Nolan, Westchester County Legislator, District 15

Oct. 11, 2023: My name is James Nolan, and I am honored to represent Yonkers and Bronxville as a Westchester County Legislator since my election in November 2021.

Earlier this year, the Board’s majority made changes to the district, so please allow me this opportunity to reintroduce myself and let you know of my first-term accomplishments.

Born and raised in Yonkers, home is now the Homefield neighborhood with my wife and our infant daughter. For more than a decade I have been an active union member after graduating from Saunders Trades and Technical High School on the High Honor Roll and while completing an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

In 2015, my brother Michael was tragically murdered, and in 2016 I founded the Michael Nolan Foundation to provide scholarships to graduates of the Yonkers Public Schools and fund other pressing community needs in his memory.

Since taking office, supporting the members of law enforcement and emergency services is a top priority. This year’s county budget included funding for an additional Emergency Services Unit truck for the County Police, a new Westchester County Police helicopter and hiring new county police officers.

I have opposed resolutions supporting the so-called “Clean Slate Act” which would make law-abiding New Yorkers less safe while supporting a repeal of New York State’s infamous bail reforms that tie judges’ hands and allow dangerous criminals out on the streets while awaiting trial. Many Westchester residents depend on public-private partnerships for essential services.

I am proud to support funding for groups like East Yonkers Rotary and the Westchester BLUE Foundation – a non-profit that provides confidential peer support to help police officers and their families cope with the stresses unique to their careers.

When the Governor proposed requiring cities and villages to permit 25,000 units of housing to be built within a half-mile radius of MetroNorth stations like Bronxville, Crestwood, Fleetwood and Tuckahoe, I opposed this assault on home rule.

After carefully listening to the testimony given by African-American and Middle-Eastern organizations at the public hearing on a proposal to ban the sale of flavored tobaccos, I voted against it … and County Executive George Latimer agreed the proposal was not well thought out and vetoed it.

However my most important responsibility is keeping Westchester affordable for our families. Gas prices and interest rates are near record levels. Food prices are up by almost 10% a year. Yet many Bronxville families are paying as much as $75,000 a year in property taxes if not more.

I pledge to you that during my next term, if reelected, I will oppose any proposed budget that includes a property tax increase.

Not every issue is a “big” issue like bail reform or property taxes. Often it is the neighborhood, quality-of-life issues that matter most. I lost my brother to inaction on a quality-of-life issue – drag racing. That’s why I’ve proposed policy solutions for local concerns like loud cars, flooding and pest control.

If you have an issue you would like to bring to my attention, please reach out. (My contact email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..) I look forward to working for you for another two years.

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