Dear Editor,

Yonkers County Legislator Ken Jenkins has failed to comprehend that the Yonkers
Family Court need to evolve from a revolving-door institution that solely metes out
the law, to a progressive institution devoted to social change and delivery of
needed services to the vulnerable women and children of our district. In his recent
press releases and News 12 interviews, Mr. Jenkins has proven to Yonkers how
completely out of touch he is with his constituency by categorically rejecting the
co-location of Yonkers Family Court and the Yonkers Department of Social
Services.
In the 1980s and 1990s, a movement developed toward therapeutic jurisprudence.
This movement developed as a result of the increasing frustration felt by judges,
attorneys and social workers, regarding the shortcomings of the traditional court
system. Judges were frustrated social services were not effectively allocated
through the court system. Problem-solving courts developed in local courts to
remedy detrimental community conditions through social service delivery to
litigants who were experiencing debilitating personal conditions. The concept of
service delivery is paramount to prevent recidivism and ease the burden on
litigants who have difficulty navigating the bureaucracy of the courts and social
services.
For the above reasons, Family Court Judge Kathie Davidson came before the
Westchester County Board of Legislators imploring the body to ameliorate the
long-standing abominable conditions in our Yonkers Family Court. Judge
Davidson presides over these courts each day and sees the dire needs of these
families. She understands that the basic concept is delivery of services to prevent
further family dysfunction.
In his recent press release, Mr. Jenkins cloaked his personal political agenda in a
pre-textual argument of inability to collect $4.5 million in rental arrears by the
landlord of DSS, $2.5 from the County for the adjacent parking garage and a false
concern for the safety of litigants, who have orders of protection against each other.
In yesterdays interview with News 12, Judge Davidson alluded to the argument of
separate entrances as irrelevant. She went on to state thats the way the
courthouses here in White Plains functions, New Rochelle and across the state of
New York function. We always take precautions. As you come in to any
courthouse, you have to go through security. As a family court judge, security is
paramount to me. The bigger issue is why we treat and how we treat the litigants
of Family Court with dignity. The concept of a one-stop is a level of the
importance of dignity (of the litigant).

Mr. Jenkins has demonstrated that he is not interested in preserving the dignity of
his constituents. Nor has he put forth putting forth a feasible plan over the past five
years to ameliorate the dire conditions in Yonkers Family Court to ensure the
dignity of his most vulnerable constituents.
Legislator Jenkins is clearly out of touch with the needs of his constituents. Mr.
Jenkins is not about his constituents. He is not about the women and children of
Yonkers. He is not about efficient government. However, it is crystal clear that Mr.
Jenkins is solely concerned with appeasing the real estate interests of his campaign
donors, preserving his salary as Yonkers IDA president despite the flagrant ethical
conflict of interest, and keeping his legislative seat warm now that he has a primary
challenger for the first time in his political career.
Is clearly time for new leadership in Yonkers 16th Legislative District. Lets not
wait another decade for choice in leadership.
Respectfully,

Nicole Benjamin-Horsford
Primary Candidate
Yonkers County Legislator 16th Legislative District