Statement from Yonkers City Council President, Mike Khader.

Message From Mike

Dear Neighbor, This week the City Council held its last meeting of the legislative session and will now go into recess for the summer. Since the start of the session, the City Council has passed dozens of resolutions, ordinances, and local laws. While many of these were necessary procedural items that keep our city running, a number of these will improve the quality of life for our residents, provide relief to our schools, and keep Yonkers looking toward the future. Here are some recent highlights. Dog Waste Disposal Stations – The adoption of a local law earlier this year will now require apartment buildings with 25+ units to have easily-accessible dog waste disposal stations for tenants’ use. This will not only help dog owners while cutting down on an obvious nuisance, it will help keep our neighborhoods cleaner, and residents, healthier. Inspector General Operational Auditor – The authorization of funding for an operational auditor to work under the City’s Inspector General is a big step towards improving transparency and cutting down on waste that will provide a fresh perspective on City operations and help save taxpayer dollars. Increased Funding for Roads – Earlier this year, the City Council authorized an increase in capital funding for road repaving throughout Yonkers. You may have noticed that the City has already begun working on these repairs. With work continuing nonstop this summer, potholes in many problem areas will become a thing of the past. Funding for Textbooks, Software, and School Rehabilitation – This year, the Council approved funding for the purchase of new books and software, as well as long-overdue rehabilitation projects in various schools throughout the district. This will help give students and teachers the tools they need to be successful, and continue our turnaround of Yonkers Public Schools. Location for a New School – Yonkers Public Schools being more than 4,000 students over capacity is a clear and serious problem that again leaves our kids disadvantaged. This authorization of funding for the purchase of property at the St. Denis School will allow us to begin plans for constructing a much-needed school to help address this problem and inject new life into our school system.  YPS recognizes Eid al-Fitr – Recently the Board of Education took action on an earlier resolution unanimously passed by the Council urging the addition of Eid al-Fitr to the Yonkers Public Schools official calendar. Now, Muslim students will be allowed a day off on one of their holiest days. I thank Dr. Quezada and the Board of Education for acknowledging the needs of the Yonkers Muslim community.   Vacant Buildings Registry – At our most recent Council Meeting, I was pleased to receive unanimous support for my Vacant Buildings Registry. Owners of “zombie” homes now have to register with the Department of Housing and Buildings annually and install plexiglass cutouts on the first-story windows in order to allow for an unobstructed view inside the building, cutting down on illicit activity and improving the neighborhood’s quality of life. These are just a few of the many items that this City Council has passed to help residents. This summer I will be looking into a number of items that will help improve the quality of life in our city even more. I thank you for your continued support and look forward to continuing to work on your behalf. During the summer, you may not hear from me as often as you're used to. While the Council is still working diligently on behalf of the hardworking families of this great City, I will begin sending out my newsletter biweekly instead of every week. In the meantime, to keep up with what's going on in City Hall, like my facebook page, follow me on twitter, and instagram. As always, feel free to reach out to my office with any suggestions or concerns about how we can help to improve the quality of life of those who call Yonkers home. My office can be reached at 914-377-6060 or by sending us an email at councilpresident@yonkersny.gov Hope you have a safe and fun-filled summer, and don't forget to wear sunscreen! Best, Mike