City Council Debates How to Tax The 125 Millionaires Who Live in Yonkers

Yonkers City Council Minority Leader Mike Breen

“I think its a bet that the 125 people in the city of Yonkers whose income is in excess of $1 Million will be leaving New York State”

Yonkers City Council Minority Leader Mike Breen

I would encourage our Yonkers Rising readers to watch the City Council meetings held every other Tuesday night. For the past year, the meetings have been held remotely, but they have returned to the City Council chambers on the 4th Floor of City Hall.


Recent council debates have included discussion on the Invest in NY Act, a series of six bills that would have increased taxes on weathly New Yorkers.


City Council Minority Leader Mike Breen did not support the Invest in NY Act, and predicted what would happen to the 125 Millionaires who live in Yonkers, based on tax returns. Breen and republican Councilman Anthony Merante referred to the Invest in NY Act as the I Leave NY Bill.


“People who make money, spend money and invest it. If you take that money and give it to the government to spend, its not the best way to get money in the economy. I think its a bet that the 125 people in the city of Yonkers whose income is in excess of $1 Million will be leaving New York State if this ever passes. New York State did receive adequate money to get over this crisis, this is uncessary.”


The Council resolution supporting The Invest in NY Act passed 5-2, with the 5 council democrats in support: Council President Mike Khader, Majority Leader Corazon Pineda-Isaac, Councilmember Shanae Williams, Councilmember Tasha Diaz, Councilman John Rubbo.


The 5-2 democratic supermajority on the council is how many vote totals end up. Republicans Breen and Merante continue to speak up. And while many of the social issues, or state or national issues are not directly related to the duties of a councilmember, it is a good thing to hear what your councilmembers views are on the issues of the day.
So instead of wattching MSNBC, or Fox News again every night, check out the Yonkers City Council.


The City Council’s Facebook page airs the meetings live, as does the Yonkers TV channel at YonkersNY.gov.