Coto (Photo provided)
WHITE PLAINS — There was a sea of pink outside Westchester County’s Michaelian Office Building early on an evening in late June as CSEA members, family and friends gathered to remember fallen Westchester County Unit member Maria Coto.
A known fashionista, Maria embraced pink as her signature color, with the brightness of that hue extending to her personality. At work and in the community, Maria made an impression wherever she went.
“We wanted this to be a celebration of Maria’s life and a chance to pay tribute to her,” Westchester County Local President Hattie Adams, who also serves as president of the county bargaining unit.
Westchester County Local and Unit President Hattie Adams, far right, addresses the crowd at the vigil held outside county offices. Joining Adams are, from left, Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth, Deputy Commissioner of Westchester County Social Services (Children’s Services) Lisette Matos, Westchester County Chief of Operations/County Executive’s Office Joan McDonald, Westchester Department of Social Services Commissioner Leonard Townes, CSEA Southern Region Director Kate Fitzpatrick, CSEA Southern Region President Anthony Adamo, Deputy Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, and Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
Maria died June 19, roughly a month after being brutally attacked in the City of Peekskill while doing her job as a senior caseworker at the Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS).
Her death has had a chilling effect on caseworkers and other CSEA members working in our communities and has resulted in media attention regarding the dangers workers encounter.
Maria’s longtime supervisor, CSEA member Linda Argiento, spoke on behalf of Maria’s colleagues at the county DSS.
Argiento
“Maria was murdered while performing her job and trying to serve and help the less fortunate of Westchester County,” said Argiento. “I have no words to describe the hurt, anger, disgust and fear that I am carrying since this tragedy. As a civil servant, I know we serve our community unarmed, hopeful and unsure of what we will be facing. Our service to others is what we come armed with. Maria did not deserve to be brutally beaten to death because of the badge of service she wore.”
CSEA leaders and staff have met with county officials to ramp up safety precautions. The county expanded an existing contract for private security guards to escort workers when needed and discussions continue on other measures to keep workers safe when they’re working in our communities.
From left, CSEA Westchester County Unit members Desmond “Paul” Krachy and Coretta Essilfie-Akrong light a candle in memory of fallen Westchester County Caseworker Maria Coto at a vigil outside county offices in White Plains this summer.
“It is not a privilege to come home after work. It’s a right,” said CSEA Southern Region President Anthony Adamo, when speaking at the vigil. “CSEA will not stop advocating, fighting for and protecting social services workers until everyone has that.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer offered words of comfort during the ceremony and noted the county’s commitment to bolstering workplace security.
“Her job was to make sure that other people were safe,” said Latimer. “It is a terrible, terrible irony that in the act of her doing her job, the job that others of you do, she lost her life.”
Hasseem Jenkins, 31, of Peekskill has been indicted on two counts of second-degree murder, along with other charges.
— Jessica Ladlee
Thank you from Westchester County Unit officers
On behalf of Westchester County Unit 9200 officers and representatives, we wanted to take a moment to thank all of our union family for their expressions of sympathy and wanting to assist us in remembering our fallen member, Maria Coto. Your collective care and empathy was transferred back as positive energy for Maria’s co-workers, friends and family. It is truly our shared experience and like-minded unity that continues to make our CSEA union so very important.
In solidarity,
Hattie Adams, Unit President
Tim Cronin, 1st Vice President
John Infelice, 2nd Vice President
Yazmin Hernandez, 3rd Vice President
Zubaidah Jackson, 4th Vice President
Teri Rella, Secretary
Steve Sandoval, Treasurer
