Editor’s Note: We received a letter from Yonkers resident Judith Bauer, who commended Mayor Spano for his efforts to support the BLM Mural in the downtown, and his efforts while Mayor to support African-American and female employees in his administration and in public office.
This letter is in contrast to a story we ran in June on Councilwoman Shanae Williams. Councilwoman Williams made comments at a BLM rally in Bedford that we attended and interviewed her about.. During the interview, Williams said that she was passed over for promoition in the Mayor’s office where she worked for five years, citing “systemic racism.”
This letter contrasts Councilwoman Williams version of her time working for the Mayor and eventually, her election to the City Council.
Letter to the Editor: Mr. Murphy. First I would like to thank you for Yonkers Rising. It is both an interesting and informative read about what is happening in our City. I’m writing to thank Mayor Mike Spano for his recent support of the Black Lives Matter mural on South Broadway. I also agree with his comments about how the location of the mural is an appropriate location, next to the Veterans Memorial.
As I read the discussion, both on Social Media and in Yonkers Rising about the mural, I also recalled that Mayor Spano has promoted African-Americans, and women, in his administration.
Our new Veterans Affairs Director is Rev. William Norman. City Councilwoman Shanae Williams was also appointed by the Mayor to the council and then won election with the help of the Mayor in a democratic primary.
I read a story in Yonkers Rising a few months ago where Councilwoman Williams did not thank the Mayor, but claimed that she did not move up to a higher position on the Mayor’s staff because of instituional racicsm.
It is my understanding that Williams served as a intern in Albany for Spano in 2011. She then was hired in the Mayor’s office in 2012, where she served as Assistant to the Mayor for 4 years, and then took another job as Secretary to the Human Rights Commissioner, before returning as an Assitant to the Mayor.
Her salary increased, as does every civil servant, in her five years working in City Hall. In fact her salary almost doubled from 2012-2017. I would ask you to FOIL those records if you wish to verify.
Williams was then selected from a number of qualified and experienced Yonkers democrats who wanted to serve as the next councilmember after Councilman Christopher Johnson was elected to the County Board of Legislators in 2017. At that time, there was opposition to the appointment of Williams to the council seat, but the Mayor had trust in her faith and her ability to serve the 1st District, and the City.
After her appointment in 2018, Councilwoman Williams had to run for election to the seat in 2019.She faced opposition in the democratic primary and was not endorsed by the Yonkers Democratic Party. Williams faced a very difficult primary and was endorsed and supported by Mayor Spano. Many democratic friends of mine from Yonkers do not believe that Williams would have won the primary without the support from the Mayor.
In your story from this summer, Councilwoman Williams does not mention the specific individuals in the Mayor’s office who she claims was promoted infront of her, so I canniot be sure who those person may be. But after reviewing the announcements from the Mayor’s office about promotion of existing employees, I found two employees who worked in similar postiions with Williams.
Both of those individuals, had prior work experience, or served in Yonkers City Hall for a longer period of time. Williams was hired in 2012 as her first job after college.
I think that Mayor Spano made an excellent choice in appointing Shanae Williams to the Council. She has proven to be a strong advocate for the residents in the First District.
But I also believe that Mayor Spano helped Williams in her career, and did not exhibit institutional racicsm. The recent efforts of the Mayor to support the BLM Mural, and promote people of color in his administration, is evidence to me that the Mayor should be applauded, and not condemned.
Judith Bauer, Yonkers
