Mayor Mike Spano has an ambitious Yonkers agenda for the next four years, which is the message he’s taking to the voters as Election Day nears in less than two weeks.
Leading his agenda is the next stage in rebuilding the schools’ infrastructure and continuing to improve performance. “Our increase in test scores and graduation rates have led the state’s ‘big cities’ during the past several years, and that’s a big change from the past,” said Spano, “But we can’t stop there. We need to continue adequate funding and support to do even better.”
Spano noted that that the city provided a record increase in school funding this year, even while staying below the state-mandated property tax cap. “That’s a win for the taxpayers and our students, when you can keep taxes down yet still provide more funds for the schools,” he said.
Still needed, said Spano, is more state aid. Spano said that’s where his experience as a mayor and as a former state legislator have proven important.
“Sen. Stewart-Cousins as majority leader and Sen. Mayer as chair of the Education Committee were both key players in getting us a targeted appropriation this year,” said Spano. “I will be working with them again, along with Assemblymembers Pretlow and Sayegh. The new term in Albany starts in January, and my experience allows me to hit the ground running rather than learning the ropes.”
Spano said he is also excited about two transformative projects coming to Yonkers – the development of the MGM Casino at Yonkers Raceway and the development of Chicken Island next to City Hall.
Spano said he sees it as a question of when, not if, MGM gets a full casino license. When that happens, MGM will be completely revamping not only the existing casino, but will be adding a hotel, concert venue, and other entertainment and retail facilities. Spano said that while MGM has already proven to be an outstanding corporate partner, he’ll also be negotiating payments to the city from MGM in return for the city’s signoff on the expansion plan.
“We’ve already begun discussions with MGM and our job is to get the best deal for Yonkers,” he said. “This is another reason I am running again – because I want to finish what we’ve started.”
Spano is similarly excited about the plans that AMS Acquisitions has for Chicken Island, the long-vacant parcel next to City Hall that was sold to AMS in June. “This will probably be the single biggest development the city will see in the downtown, so it’s essential we get it right,” he said. “I envision a mixed-use development with housing, retail, entertainment and office space. We’ve been waiting more than 40 years to development that parcel, and I’m excited about the chance to finish it during my time as mayor.”
Spano is also running on his record of controlling crime. Crime in Yonkers is at the lowest since the city has been keeping records, and it is the safest city of its size in the nation. Spano said that during his administration, the police department has improved its techniques for controlling crime.
“We focus on career criminals,” he said. “A small number of repeat offenders commit most crimes, so our police department is targeting those individuals.” Spano added that the police department also regularly monitors crime patterns so they can respond to an uptick or change in crime patterns and address them before they become more serious.
At the same time, Spano said the city has increased its focus on quality-of-life complaints, such as illegal dumping or property that is not well maintained. He said if it looks like the city doesn’t care about an area, then criminals are more likely to feel they are safe.
Spano noted that he is keeping up a full schedule of debates, candidate nights and neighborhood meetings. He said that while he prides himself on staying in touch with the people of Yonkers, he believes it is especially important to accept every invitation at election time.
“People deserve to have the candidates debate and answer questions,” said Spano.” It’s good for the voters, and it’s good for me, as well. I learn a lot during candidates’ nights, and the comments I get from the public will help me do a better job as mayor if I have the honor of being re-elected.”
So far, Spano and his republican opponent Mario De Giorgio have met in a debate this week sponsored by the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce with more debates to come.
The election is Nov. 5, but early voting will begin Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Riverfront Library and Will Library from during the following hours: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27 from noon to 5 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 29 from noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 31 from noon to 8 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1 and 2 from noon to 5 p.m.
