Statement from Mario De Giorgio Republican Party Candidate for Yonkers Mayor.

How It Can Be Done:

I have been getting a lot of questions on where will the money come from to fix Yonkers and how it can be done. Here is what I want to do:

- City Budgeting: The way the current administration operates is that all of the revenues received are spent simply because they are available for that year. I would operate the City like an enterprise where excess revenues are accumulated to makeup for any shortfall in revenues in the case of a recession. This is referred to as the “Rainy Days Fund”. Taxpayers don’t have to pick up the tab when these funds are available.

- Hirings: Hiring at the City level should be done based on a necessity. Under the current administration, hiring is done simply because a position is vacant. I will review all hirings and ensure the necessity and the benefit to the taxpayers. Hirings should be competitive and open to the Yonkers residents and compensation should commensurate with experience.

- City Cars: City cars should not be taken home, be used for commuting, or for personal use. All City Officials must return city cars after conducting their official city business. This will reduce the number of cars needed and the maintenance on those cars.

- Bulk Purchases: Yonkers is one of the largest cities in NY. Therefore, purchases by the City should be done in bulk to take advantage of discounts. Currently, every city department do their own purchases with no coordination. That’s a lost saving for the Yonkers taxpayers.

- Make money from Trash: Many municipalities have entered into joint ventures with private companies where trash collected is combusted and turned into either electricity sold to utilities companies or metals that can be re-used. That’s good for the environment and the Yonkers residents pockets. I am planning on exploring such joint venture.

- Parks Sponsorship: I will invite corporations across the State to sponsor a park in Yonkers. Corporations need the exposure and we need to transfer the cost of maintaining the parks to the sponsors. This will expose Yonkers to these companies to invest and even move here into Yonkers. It’s a win win situation. Many times when I tell someone out of Yonkers that I live in Yonkers, the question is “ Where is that, Bronx?” Yonkers is not the Bronx and we should market our City and this program will help.

- Schools and School Program Sponsorship: Corporations across the US are hungry for talent. I will recruit companies to sponsor a school or a school program. Keeping asking the State for money hasn’t worked so we must be creative. Once we get the exposure and interest from the Corporations, the State will offer the help and we won’t have to ask for it anymore.

- Tax Breaks and Abatements to Developers: I can’t let the Yonkers residents keep absorbing the cost of the tax breaks and abatements given to developers. I will require them to contribute their fair share to Yonkers.

I have a vested interest in making Yonkers better than any other City in the US. We need the new leadership and the creativity and willingness to lead.

I have mentioned some of my plans to deal with and fix our issues. This Election, the voters will get to decide our fate for the next 4 years.

I will continue to work hard knocking on doors and getting our message out to the voters but we need your help. Every vote counts.

Thank you Yonkers

Mario De Giorgio Republican Party Candidate for Yonkers Mayor.