By Dan Murphy
The City of Yonkers has become the focal point of the State Senate special election to be held on April 24 between Democrat Shelley Mayer and Republican Julie Killian. Mayer represents Yonkers in the Assembly and calls the City home. Killian is from Rye but has spent a large amount of time in Yonkers, perhaps realizing that she needs to win the city, or at least hold her own, if she stands any chance at winning the special election to replace former Sen. and now County Exec. George Latimer.
Killian recently came to Yonkers to receive the endorsement from former Governor George Pataki. “I am proud to endorse Julie Killian as the next state senator from Westchester,” said Pataki. “I follow Albany and I can tell you Albany is a mess – it taxes too much, it spends too much, and the corruption in Albany is unacceptable. We need change, and the right person to make that change is Julie Killian… She doesn’t come from Albany, she’s not part of the corrupt culture that has been there for far too long. Lowering the tax burden is essential. Our property taxes are way too high. So, at a critical time, I’m proud to be here to endorse Julie Killian.”
Mayer recently received the endorsement and support of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has appeared with Mayer on several occasions. “Everything we believe, everything we stand for, they (Republicans) oppose. We made New York the progressive capital of the nation. The diversity, the acceptance, the non-judgmentalism, they reject it. We are immigrants and we are proud of it. The $15 minimum wage, paid family leave, marriage equality, they are against it. Shelly Mayer’s credentials are impeccable and unquestioned, as an attorney and as Assembly woman. She believes in these values and what she has fought for all her life. Shelley will be the 32nd Democrat in the Senate and 32 is the magic number,” said Cuomo.
The battle lines have been drawn for this race in Yonkers –with local elected officials from both parties standing up for their respective candidates. Republicans on the Yonkers City Council blaming Mayer and the democrats in Albany for a lack of additional State Aid coming back to Yonkers, and Democrats on the City Council highlighting the additional funds that did come back and pointing the finger at the republican majority in the senate for not doing more—make sure this makes sense—xxx
“This year’s school funding increase is the highest percentage among the Big Five School Districts. Our delegation has led the fight to pass legislation and fund the rebuilding of Yonkers Public Schools (YPS), brought in $21 million in capital resources, including funding for a new football field, additional funding for arts and after school programming in Yonkers. Our city is incredibly lucky to have Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow in our corner, fighting for us in Albany,” said Council President Mike Khader.
“I am really tired of hearing our Republican colleagues on the City Council whining about our state delegation not delivering funds for Yonkers,” said Majority Leader Michael Sabatino, “Let me point out that the current State Senate is controlled by Republicans, who reduced the amount of money in the original Assembly budget bill by millions of dollars. Where were my Republican colleagues? Their job was to meet and lobby their Republican colleagues in the Senate to fight for us in Yonkers and deliver the funds, and they failed miserably. Don’t point the finger or attempt to blame those who have delivered for Yonkers, as our State Delegation has – look in the mirror and assess your own advocacy or lack thereof. I give them an F.”
“Year after year, Assembly member Mayer has secured capital, arts, and after school funding. We have more to do, but the notion that our legislative delegation has not fought for us could not be further from the truth. I thank the state delegation for their tireless efforts in securing the additional funds.” said Councilwoman Corazon Pineda-Isaac in a statement.
Last week, republican councilmembers came out swinging against the State delegation to Albany, including Mayer. “The State failed us once again,” said Minority Leader Michael Breen, “While our state senators and assembly members were voting for a budget that contained an additional $12 million to close Albany’s budget gap, they failed to put an extra nickel in for the City of Yonkers to meet its own needs.”
Breen was referring to a lack of additional state aid to municipalities, (AIM), and the fact that the Yonkers Public Schools did not receive additional education aid above and beyond the xx increases given to school districts statewide. But Mayer and Senator Stewart-Cousins were able to bring back an additional $21 Million in capital funds for the YPS.
Councilman John Rubbo said, “Majority Leader Michael Sabatino attacked the Republican caucus on the Yonkers City Council in an offensive political attack. The Majority Leader claimed that the two Yonkers Assemblypeople and Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins delivered $21 million for Yonkers Public Schools; however, he hides the fact that this was delivered by Shelley Mayer 3 years ago. Money that still has not landed in the Yonkers Public School’s coffers.”
During a Yonkers PTA meeting where Councilman John Rubbo was present, Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada announced the true number of new school aid. Yonkers is only receiving an addition $7 million dollars in new school aid. “While we thank our state delegation for any increase, it simply is not enough and certainly not the amount that is being suggested we will receive,” stated Councilman Rubbo, who added. “I feel it is important to note that I do like Shelley Mayer personally and she was very helpful when my Yonkers business needed help navigating the State Liquor Authority and other state agencies. I now wear two hats. One as a business owner and one as a representative for the people of Yonkers. As a City Councilperson I need to do everything I possibly can to save the nearly 400 families of firefighters, teachers, police officers and teamsters that may be facing layoffs this coming budget year.”
“We should be demanding our state representatives to explain why they voted to send millions of additional dollars to Albany, and nothing to Yonkers,” said Councilman Anthony Merante.
The back and forth between councilmembers is an example of the negative attacks in TV ads and mailings that have permeated this race, but it’s the same with almost every important election in Yonkers and Westchester over the past few years.
