One of the hottest races in Yonkers this election is the City Council race in the 6th District, with Councilman Anthony Merante running for reelection. Merante, a CPA, is proud to run on his record over the past four years of serving as a fiscal watchdog for the taxpayers of Yonkers.
“I am a watchdog over the City’s tax dollars, and my job is to make sure that we use all the money efficiently to get thing done without having to go back to the taxpayers. The State collects $500 Million is Sales Tax and Income Tax Surcharge, and they give back $450 Million. I want some of the remaining $50 to come back to Yonkers.
“My opponent criticized me for property taxex going up by 14%, where did he get that number from? Over four years, we raised taxes twice, 2% and 6%, and I wasn’t happy about it. The Mayor signed contracts with the unions and we never got the money from the state that was promised. I will take that one on the chin, and I will try to take control of this $2 B monster called the City of Yonkers budget,” said Merante.
“If I weren’t on the council, how high would the tax increases be? I look at the numbers and I understand how budgets work. I’m constantly monitoring the Finance Department to look at our economically sensitive revenue. We have too many for lease signs up, and we need to fill them up and have people spend more money in Yonkers.”
“My focus is on keeping taxes down but also on paving our streets. We have put in about $18 Million to pave our streets, which is a critical part of our quality of life. We also have an infrastructure problem with our sewers and water mains. I encourage homeowners to get insurance coverage which will pay if there is a water main break.
“I also work to make sure that we are safe and that the police and fire departments are fully funded, staffed, trained and equipped to keep us safe when we have to call 911. People have a right to come home at night and feel safe and know that help is on the way if needed. Some of our crime issues have to do with state policy, and the police are having troubles with repeat offenders.
“I think we have done a good job over the past four years, and I want to continue the work and serve as the people’s councilperson. To me, its all about protecting the people and the taxpayers. I’m here to save our neighborhoods.”
Merante, a republican, stressed the need to have two party’s co-existing in Yonkers. “I’m here to save Yonkers from itself. You need to have different voices in government. I’m campaigning hard and speaking with a lot of people. They want to stay in Yonkers, and that’s my job. To make our city safe enough, and affordable enough, so that people stay the rest of their lives.”
Merante responded to his opponent, Tim Hodges, comments that not everyone in the 6th District knows that Merante is their councilmember. “The people know that I’m always there if they have a problem, and can call my council office. That is my job and I take it seriously. People are numb to politics and they are tired of the mailings and the knocks on the door from the right and the left. 23% of voters in Yonkers are independent and don’t like to get involved until election day. But if they need me, I’m a phone call away and I will be there to help.”
Merante challenged Hodges and asked, “What is his platform? I haven’t heard of anything except Coyotes. I’m here to take care of city problems, controlling taxes, fixing our streets, taking down trees, preparing for the next storm, this is a serious job.”
Merante also said, “I’m the true conservative in this race,” and challenged Hodges to explain how he could be running on both the democratic and conservative party lines. “He claims to be a conservative democrat, that’s an oxymoron. He hasn’t established any policies that make him a conservative. He was a republican and then he switched parties. I am the true conservative and I’m asking for their vote. Look at my record on spending and taxes. I’m a CPA located in Yonkers.”
“Will the real Tim Hodges step forward? I am focused on what the people want in this district. I won as a republican in 2017 during a Blue Wave. I didn’t receive any union endorsements then and I don’t expect any this time, even though I stepped up in the budget to save union jobs.”
“I am influenced by none, and I’m funding my own campaign. I can’t be bought. I am beholden to no one except my constituents,” said Merante.
