Our Q&A’s for Councilman Anthony Merante
By Dan Murphy
We asked City Councilman Anthony Merante, who is running for reelection to the council from the 6th District, several questions for our readers.
1. WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR ANOTHER TERM?
I truly love my job as a City Councilmember. Helping people solve their problems gives me the greatest satisfaction. As a businessman, I have always focused on customer service, and I bring that same approach to public service. I see my constituents as customers who pay taxes and deserve responsive and effective service from their government. That is why I created an online portal where residents can easily submit their concerns at https://tinyurl.com/HelpMeAnthony. Nothing makes me happier than hearing “Thank you, Anthony” and seeing a smile on someone’s face when their issue is resolved.
2. WHAT ISSUES ARE VOTERS TELLING YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM?
The biggest concerns are quality of life and affordability. Yonkers residents pay some of the highest taxes in the county and deserve better services—smooth roads, quieter neighborhoods, and safer streets. People want to see more foot patrols and stronger enforcement against noise and speeding. Affordability is also a major issue. High taxes, high rents, and high utility bills are driving people out. We need less luxury housing for wealthy commuters and more affordable homes for seniors, working families, and city employees. Con Edison’s excessive rates are hurting residents and must be addressed.
3. WHAT ISSUES DO YOU HOPE TO WORK ON IN THE COUNCIL?
I have several pieces of legislation that I’ve written and are waiting to be brought to the Council floor for a vote. One calls on the governor to reform the Public Service Commission, so it truly represents the public, not Con Edison, which it has become a rubber stamp for, approving all their rate hikes! Another would establish strong local laws regulating lithium-ion battery storage facilities, especially the one proposed for the Homefield neighborhood. I’ve also introduced legislation to strengthen hillside and construction safety following the Peterson’s Tools rockslide. Yonkers is a “City of Hills” and any poorly planned construction can put residents’ safety at risk. I am also always focused on improving our quality of life and making Yonkers more affordable for everyone.
4. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS TO VOTE FOR YOU INSTEAD OF YOUR OPPONENT?
The choice is clear. I am independent and refuse to be a rubber stamp for the administration like the majority of the current Council. I voted against the last four city budgets that raised property taxes by 15 percent, and I was the only Councilmember to oppose the massive pay raises for the Council and the Mayor. I’ve spoken out against overdevelopment that hurts neighborhoods and benefits only developers. My opponent has already said he will support the Mayor 100 percent and be a “yes” vote for his agenda. I like the Mayor personally and will support him on projects that truly benefit Yonkers residents, but I will always speak up when something is not right. I work for the taxpayers, not the administration.
5-HOW HAVE YOU -OR HOW CAN YOU USE YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN ACCOUNTANT -CPA -TO MONITOR THE CITY’S BUDGET-FINANCES AND TAX INCREASES?
I’m extremely proud of my work as Chairman of the City Council Budget Committee for the 2021–2022 budget. Using my CPA expertise, I closely scrutinized the numbers, dug into the details, and helped craft a responsible plan that resulted in a zero-percent tax increase a budget I was proud to vote yes on. Unfortunately, after that success, the majority of the Council and the administration made sure I was never again a Budget Chairman. I suppose they didn’t want a CPA asking tough questions and demanding accountability.
6. WHAT VOTES OR ACTIONS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I’m proud to have voted against the recent proposal to raise the acceptable decibel level for noise. Yonkers already struggles with excessive noise, and increasing the limit would only make the problem worse. I’m also proud to have supported capital budgets that fund critical infrastructure improvements such as road paving, new equipment for our first responders, and much-needed upgrades to our public schools.
7. DO YOU REGRET ANY OF YOUR VOTES?
I don’t know that I regret any of my votes, but I did learn from one early experience. In my first term, I was newly sworn in that January and was immediately thrown into a budget process that was already near completion. I voted for a budget that included a tax increase after the Mayor warned that the city faced massive layoffs including essential employees like teachers, firefighters, and police officers. At the time, there was little opportunity to ask questions, and as a newcomer, I relied too heavily on the administration’s guidance. That was the first and last time I made that mistake. Experience has taught me to question everything.
