Yonkers Rising endorses Councilwoman Shanae Williams for re-election to the Yonkers City Council in the First District. Williams was originally appointed by Mayor Mike Spano to the council, and last year she successfully was elected by the voters in the district to finish the council term or her predecessor.
We have watched Councilwoman Williams during her first year and a half in office and have been impressed and more than satisfied with her diligence, outreach in her community, and her ability to bring new ideas to try and solve old problems in the first district, which includes downtown Yonkers and the Southwest and Northwest portions of the city.
Williams is not afraid to tackle one issue that other’s have passed on, like the relocation of the homeless shelter from Getty Square. Williams has been at the center of discussions on this issue, but at the same time, has tried to give the homeless population in downtown a voice, and a helping hand in the programs that she has sponsored including free haircuts and food and toiletry drives, shows a compassion that we haven’t seen before.
Councilwoman Williams has also been a strong advocate for her community. During budget negotiations, Williams has advocated for more education funding and this year the City has contributed $12 Million in addition funds for the Yonkers Public Schools.
Williams has also called for an increase in the percentage of affordable apartments that new development projects are required to have, currently at 10%. Williams wants 18%, one of several issues where she differs with Mayor Spano on.
This year, Democratic ward leaders in the First District did not nominate Councilwoman Williams for re-election. Instead they endorsed Terrence Miller, Williams opponent in the democratic primary June 25.
The reason given as to why an incumbent Councilwoman was not endorsed by her own party for re-election was that she voted for term limits and is not seen and heard enough in the district.
We reject both of these reasons. First, these same district leaders who voted against Williams, voted for Mike Spano for re-election as Mayor. If their complaint was against Williams and other’s for extending term limits, why did they endorse Mayor Spano for a third term?
And our interactions with many residents, community groups and small businesses in the first district have found Councilwoman Williams to be involved, approachable, accessible and visible in her district and the city.
Most important may be Williams ability to deliver for her district, which was made evident by the recent earmarks of $100,000 in more funding for SNUG, and $100,000 for My Brother’s Keeper, MBK, two successful programs that help addresses opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color; and helps local law enforcement and anti-violence community groups steer at-risk residents away from a culture of violence.
Williams was also endorsed this week by her fellow Democrats on the City Council, including Council President Mike Khader, Council Majority Leader Michael Sabatino, Councilwoman Corazon Pineda-Isaac.
Williams has also heard the complaints from residents in the district about potholes and the lack of garbage cans by making sure that capital funds are in the budget for street repaving and that replacement garbage bins have been made available at some locations.
We spoke to Councilwoman Williams about her record and the upcoming primary. “I’m proud of my record and my ability to deliver for my district. I have experience working on two billion-dollar budgets and being at the table and having real legislative experience. My opponent claims to have experience but only as an intern for our State Senator and then working for another State Senator not from Yonkers. I have 8 years of experience working in Yonkers government,” said Williams.
And what about Mayor Spano appointing her to the council two years ago? “Yes, Mayor Spano did appoint me. There were 8 other people who wanted the position, and some of those who were not appointed by the Mayor were the same people that voted against me at the democratic convention, including my current opponent. I was elected last year, so the people have now voted me in, and I’m confident that they will re-elect me on June 25. “
“The Mayor and I do not agree on everything. He told me that he wouldn’t support an 18% affordable housing ordinance, but I will continue to work on it with my council colleagues. I also didn’t agree with the decision to remove all of the trash bins, and we have been working to get them back. That’s why its important to have the ability to negotiate and work together to provide for the community.”
“I am my own person, and when I disagree with the Mayor, I let him know and we talk about it, and have discussion, and we don’t always agree. But we are both working to move Yonkers forward. Sometimes having a good relationship with the Mayor is a good thing,” said Williams who asked democrats in the fist district for their vote.
“I’d like to ask them to look at my record, of highlighting health issues important for women, and veterans and seniors. And my efforts to focus on the most vulnerable in our community, to make sure we have licenses for all immigrants, and to work with our police department, and to clean up vacant lots, and to address the fact that this district has been neglected for too long.
“I have been proud to support this budget for our parents and for education. As a lifelong democrat, I would ask the voters to remember that they have someone currently fighting for them on all levels, and I will continue to lead this effort, but I need your support on June 25,” said Councilwoman Shanae Williams, who is an effective, intelligent councilwoman, who Yonkers Rising endorses for re-election.
