This too is Yonkers–by a Eric Schoen
Week 1 in the New Year 2020 is over. The question remains is this the first year of a new decade or last year of the last decade. A question that those on a higher pay grade than yours truly will have to ponder about over the next year.
Elected officials around the county have put their hands up in the air and been sworn into office. We didn’t expect Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano to be entering his third term in office on the stage of the Riverfront Library January 1, 2020, but hey, This, Too is Yonkers! The City Council and the Mayor changed the term limits for themselves allowing 3 instead of 2 four year terms. This is based on the premise that they are doing a great job so why not keep a good thing going. I’ll let you decide that!
I was surprised that there were very few new initiatives in the Mayor’s speech. He pat himself on the back for accomplishments he made over the last 8 years. My guess is that there will be initiatives announced at his State of the City speech.
Well, I have some things I hope he will work on over the next four years. By the way, the rumors of his leaving office for a higher position, let’s say County Clerk a position his father of blessed memory held for many years just ain’t happening. He has much moore to control and power as a Yonkers Mayor than as County Clerk. County Executive now that’s another story. But George Latimer has worked hard since he was elected and I don’t think George will be going anywhere as he works to stabilize the County government for at least another 4 years.
Some of these initiatives for Mayor Spano are, to quote Beauty and the Beast, ‘Tales as Old as Time’ and some are new. And let’s face it, to quote Fred Astaire, we have ‘Changed Partners and (it’s time to) Dance with Me’ having one of our State Senators as the leader of the Senate in Albany and the other State Senator from Yonkers as Chair of the powerful Education Committee. This brings enormous clout to Yonkers!
While we are dancing, the yearly ‘Budget Tango’ where budget deficits are announced, layoffs are proposed and the City and Board of Education are in crisis for one maybe two months has got to end. It’s humiliating when people are ‘deemed non-essential’ and/or you get a lay-off notice. The Budget Tango upsetting people’s and hardworking families and students lives has got to stop.
People wonder, ‘With all the development going on around town, where is the money the development is bringing in going to? Yonkers always is crying wolf, but as the Mayor always proclaims there are billions of dollars being invested by the business community in our fair city. People have to understand where the revenue from the investments in Yonkers is going.
Speaking of development, it seems like in every piece of vacant land something is going up. This has to take a toll on the ages old infrastructure. On the one hand it’s good to see development but on the other hand we need to leave some green space to enjoy.
Transit oriented development (TOD) sounds great. You travel to and from Yonkers using public transit and have no need for a car. Less car pollution. But try getting anywhere in Yonkers without a car. Residents who live by the waterfront quickly find that out, and that’s why there is a severe parking shortage in downtown Yonkers. Builders must allow for 2 parking places for every apartment. There can be no deviation from that.
When I look at the development going on at the old Kimball Theater site and along Bronx River Road and across the train tracks in Mount Vernon, I wonder where are all these people going to park? Don’t tell me they won’t have a need for cars. It’s almost impossible to find a place to park on Bronx River Road right now!
Speaking of development, for the second time this week a merchant wanting to open a small business told me of the ‘Red Tape’ and ‘Bureaucracy’ he faced, sometimes lasting several years to get his business open. They had to find ‘someone’ to get the project moving, and as soon as they did they got things going and they received the permits they needed. I don’t like to think of who this ‘someone’ was who got things moving after years of delay, but the city must work with small business owners just like they work with large companies to get the ball rolling!
Parking agents being sent out to ticket at 7:50 p.m. when meters go off at 8:00 p.m.? This nonsense has got to stop. Drivers parking illegally in handicapped spots. This has got to be enforced by Parking Agents and the Police. Placards illegally used. See ‘em everyday!
So often I hear of complaints about the Yonkers Red Light Camera program. After the recent AAA report critical of our program ,I asked City Hall if the they are going to address the items raised in the Report. Specifically increases in accidents and injuries at Red Light Camera locations and Lack of signs approaching the Red Light Cameras intersections alerting motorists to their existence Also, any engineering studies of specific intersections that saw increases in accidents and injuries planned?
From the Mayor’s spokesperson I was told,’The bulk of the increase in accidents results from a small number of intersections. The City will take a closer look at all factors that may be contributing to accidents at these intersections and see if there are measures we can take that will make them safer for motorists and pedestrians.’
So it’s 2020. A New decade or the final year of the last one. Remember our public servants work for us. If you have any thoughts or ideas for them, contact them through the City of Yonkers website or via telephone.
New decade. Same Mayor. We wish Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano godspeed and offer him our help to make a Yonkers once again the City of Gracious Living!
Briefs: We pray for the people of Australia hit by terrible wildfires. So many people arrested who might have dropped a match or a lit cigarette as well as those with malice on their minds. A half a billion animals were killed in the wildfires. That’s a number hard to comprehend.
6.4 earthquake in PUERTO Rico this week. Talking to my friends who live on the island, they need not only our help but our prayers!
Everyone is sick. Get your flu shot. Wash your hands. Drink plenty of water. You know what to do!
Let’s hope that our legislators in Albany immediately Reform the Bail Reform they put in place that started January 1. Disturbing that those who commit anti-Semitic attacks are being set free
as well as those in the general jail population who were set free and went back to society and committed crimes!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
