We interviewed Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano yesterday to discuss what is going on in our City of Yonkers. This was a wide ranging interview and we discussed the many issues that affect our City of Yonkers.
We discussed his proposed budget that is currently before the Yonkers City Council, his budget proposed was under the New York State Tax Cap. We all await to see what budget the City Council Passes.
The Mayor proposed an increase of 12 Million Dollars from the City to the Yonkers Public Schools in terms of the Maintenance of Effort with our Education System, that is the highest increase ever in the City of Yonkers, we applaud Mayor Spano for always being a supporter of our Education System. Also the Mayor talked his cooperative working relationship that he has with the Yonkers City Council.
Mayor Spano stated in the interview his appreciation for Yonkers Teachers and the work that they do to teach our Students. Also the Mayor complimented the Excellent job being done by the Yonkers School Board of Trustees under the Leadership of Rev. Stephen Lopez and also the outstanding job being done by Yonkers Schools Superintendent Dr. Quezada. The Graduation rate is 86% in Yonkers Schools that is the highest amongst the Big Five Cities and that percentage is above the State Average.
Yonkers is asking the State for more money for our education, to close the Yonkers Public Schools $17.6 Million Budget Deficit. Yonkers is waiting to hear from the State.
We also discussed Economic Development in out City, since becoming Mayor during his Administration, 3 Billion Dollars of Economic Development have come to our City under Mayor Spano's Leadership. 1077 Warburton Avenue will be opening shortly.
People are coming to Yonkers as a destination in terms of Developers and also people are proud once again to say they live in Yonkers, in the past, residents weren't proud to say that they live in Yonkers. We are happy that those days are changing all thanks to the Mayor and his team of changing how people look at our City of Yonkers and as the City of Gracious Living Once again.
Quality of life in Our City is also staying on a good path, in terms of Crime, we are the lowest level in our history of Yonkers, crime has fallen 42% in Yonkers Since 2012. Yonkers is one of the safest cities for a City our size in the nation, it is all due to the great work being done by the outstanding Yonkers Police Department under the leadership of Commissioner Gardner.
Also under the Yonkers Police Department, they are working better with the Community, Yonkers Police has over thirty programs with the Community, that help make relations better with Yonkers Police and the Community. Programs like Stop and Shake - started by Hector Santiago, Explorer Program, Pizza with a Cop and also Coffee with a Cop.
There has been a 80% percent drop in complaints against Yonkers Police as well as an increase in Minority Hiring in Yonkers Police Department, all things that are positive and should be told to the Residents of Yonkers.
The Diversity in Yonkers has led to Yonkers Renaissance.
Yonkers Insider Newspaper Blog
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