to our first issue of 2026. We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the year than by celebrating the historic appointment of Wade Hardy as the City of White Plains First African American Commissioner of Public Safety. For decades, Mount Vernon was the only municipality in Westchester County with a Black Police Commissioner. In 2026, you have four and a Black County Executive. In June 2022, Terrance Raynor became the first Black Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, appointed by County Executive George Latimer (initially acting, then confirmed) after a distinguished career, including serving as Police Commissioner for Mount Vernon, fulfilling a goal of serving his community from within. Two months later, in August 2022, the Greenburgh Town Board unanimously voted to appoint GPD Captain Kobie Powell to assume the critical position of Chief of Police of the Greenburgh Police Department. Then, on June 30, 2025, Neil K. Reynolds was sworn in as the City of New Rochelle’s first Black Commissioner. And on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, White Plains Mayor Justin C. Brasch officially swore in Wade Hardy as the City’s new Public Safety Commissioner at City Hall.
As always, we would like to take this time to thank all the readers, listeners, supporters, sponsors, contributors, and advertisers for their support in our effort to deliver the “News With The Black Point Of View” since 2014. We are always looking for writers, photographers, and interns.
Email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to inquire. Send us your feedback, let us know what you think of this issue. Let us know subjects/topics you would like to see us cover in the future, and send your letters to the editor to BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com.
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AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief and co-owner of Black Westchester, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Rap Artist – one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist
whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
All my books are available on Amazon or you can purchase my autographed copies directly from me at www.AJROKPublishing.com Pre-order your Autographed Deluxe Edition of “Black Women of Westchester” and the 914 Hip-Hop books (email MrAJWoodson@gnail,com for more info)
Follow me at Blue Sky https://bsky.app/profile/mrajwoodson.bsky.social and Spoutible https://spoutible.com/MrAJWoodson
