By Eric Wolf Schoen
Friends, we put on our Yonkers hat for a few moments this week. In the late 1990’s the Yonkers Parking Authority at the request of city merchants led by a robust Chamber of Commerce instituted a policy where motorists parking their cars on Yonkers streets were given a free 10 minutes of parking time before they had to pay for parking.
These 10 minutes would allow motorists to run into the dry cleaners, the pharmacy, the liquor store or any place they could transact business quickly and not have to pay for meter parking.
Many parking meters on Yonkers streets still to this day have 10 minute free buttons. Street Signs above them clearly inform motorists that if they push the button they get free 10 minutes of parking. A nice perk for a motorist running into a store for 10 minutes or less.
BIG NEWS! The Yonkers Parking Authority has made a decision that, to quote Executive Director Gail Burns, ‘no new meters will have the 10 minutes of free parking button.’ Again quoting Burns, ‘The decision was made because of the fiscal constraints of the Parking Authority to do away with the free 10 minutes of parking.’
Reaction has been swift. This writer is not happy with this decision as he frequently uses the free 10 minutes of parking button. Neither is Rising Media Group Editor Dan Murphy who in travels about town frequently uses the 10 minute button. To quote Robert Stauf, former Parking Authority Board Member, ‘At the time I was a member of the Parking Authority Board, we added the 10 minutes to the Parking meter, an action designed to benefit shoppers and merchants alike. Taking the privilege away is a negative from my perspective.’
I spoke with Yonkers Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Cacace. To quote Cacace, ‘It will be missed. But with installation of new meters it gives you flexibility to extend the time which is helpful to consumers.’ Going out to eat Cacace gave as an example of this.
My research shows that at one point in time Cincinnati, Ohio had a program similar to the Yonkers one. It is a good idea that apparently did not catch on nationwide. In my travels I see many people in Yonkers use it. I have also seen the program abused in a situation where a man was having his hair cut at a Barber in Yonkers, the Haircut took a little under a half hour and 3 times he went out to push the 10 minute button so he would not have to pay for parking.
I would note that I was on Lake Avenue on Monday and in conversations with motorists coming out of their cars 3 of the 5 people I spoke with planned on using the free 10 minute button while 2 of the three were not familiar with it. If you want to make your wishes known on this topic call the Yonkers Parking Authority At 914-965-2467 and they can be found on the internet at yonkersparkingauthority.com.
Does the City of Yonkers Make any Money off the T-shirts Sold Around Town?
I am sure that you have seen them. Racks of T-shirts at places like Stop and Shop, CVS, FOODTOWN and other stores featuring the words ‘Yonkers’ on them. So I got a question from a reader who cares about the finances of his fair city. He sees racks of these shirts at Stop and Shop and Foodtown. He wants to know if the City of Yonkers gets any money for using the name Yonkers on the T-shirts. He wants to buy 4 but wants to be sure Yonkers gets a cut.
Yonkers spokeswoman Christina Gilmartin said that, ‘No, the City of Yonkers does not benefit from these sales or aware of them.‘
According to my research of the laws, a mere use of the name City of Yonkers does not infringe on copyright laws or require permission. Use of the City Seal or logo or use of copyrighted material would.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano issued the following statement:
“I don’t want to discourage people from promoting the City of Yonkers. However, we have a legal right to our City seal, and it should be protected. If anyone is improperly using the City seal, whether to financially benefit from it or not, we reserve the right to pursue legal action.”
Should this man or you for that matter buy these shirts? If you are buying them with the hope they benefit city coffers, I would say no. yonkerspride.org has an online shop with items that through sales
Benefit their annual festival and activities including college scholarships.
A Project For You!
I noticed that the complex I live in has many new residents that may not have received the Important Phone Number sheet the City of Yonkers sends out at the beginning of the year with other useful information. Neighbors have asked me questions such as the number to call for heat and hot water complaints, Yonkers Buildings Department, City Clerk for Marriage licenses and other numbers important for them to know.
I asked Mayor Spano’s Communications guru Christina Gilmartin for a pdf of the the year opening public information brochure so I could share the important phone numbers with my neighbors. She graciously emailed it to me and I duplicated the numbers for all residents in my section of the complex where I live. Neighbors who I ran into were eternally grateful.
Do your good deed for the day and if you have the initial publication copy the important number list for your neighbors. Copies can be made at the Yonkers Public Library for 15 cents each. You might include on your list important numbers like who to call in an emergency where you live or the Superintendent of your building if you live in an apartment. Tape it to the fridge.
Time Again for ‘What did we Learn About Congressman Bowman this Week?’
Yes friends you did it. You followed my advice and the advice of many others to switch your political party to Democrat on or before Valentine’s Day. If after the Congressional Redistricting dust settles, you end up in Congressman Bowman’s district, you will have the right to vote in any Primary he is involved in. He doesn’t support Israel, he pulls fire alarms at Congressional office buildings, voted against the Infrastructure Bill, I could go on and on. You know his schtick.
Jamaal Bowman once put a convicted cop killer up on a middle school’s ‘Wall of Honor’ and stands by the move. He was recently questioned about honoring Joanne Chesimard aka Assata Shakur — a black militant on the FBI Most Wanted list who was convicted with two others in the execution-style slaying of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973 before she escaped jail and fled to Cuba.
Black militant Mutulu Shakur — the stepfather of the late rapper Tupac Shakur — who served a lengthy prison sentence for armed robberies and died in July last. year of cancer after being released — was also honored, as was former Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), an antisemitic conspiracy theorist, according to the Huffington Post, which first reported on the wall.
Please note that a Marty Dolan, apparently a candidate himself in the 16th District Primary came to a 3rd Precinct Yonkers Police Community Council meeting, a forum where the public interact with Yonkers Police on issues of importance to the community to raise these issues. You know I am no fan of Congressman Bowman. His visit to the Council meeting was put off for months. His appearances in Yonkers are rare. I do not believe he has attended a meeting of the Park Hill Residents Association which represents the neighborhood in Yonkers he lives in.
This meeting was for residents of the neighborhood covered by the 3rd Precinct to meet the police officials responsible for their safety. Bowman in his role as Congressman was invited months ago to speak. Though I might agree with Dolan’s issues, this meeting was not the appropriate place for their discussion. People come to these meetings often frightened by criminal acts that have happened to them. It was inappropriate for Dolan to attend this meeting open to area residents and bring a film crew with him. I would hope that footage of the meeting would not be used for political purposes
This was not a Candidates Night. Dolan took time away from the public discussing neighborhood issues. I hope that he does not do this at another Precinct Meeting. This kind of behavior is unacceptable in Yonkers .
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com, or friend him on Facebook Eric Schoen…just look for him in the picture with Joan Rivers!
