Yonkers Insider Online Newspaper Publisher Delfim Heusler
Assemblyman Nader Sayegh alongside BeSmart Organization Leader, Kathleen Wit. BeSmart program advocates safeguarding and keeping guns locked to avoid children to having access leading to harm and death. Special thanks to BeSmart advocate community leader, Maria Abdullah.
New York State Assemblyman Nader Sayegh 90th District.
Assemblyman Nader Sayegh attending the review of 9/11 Film DUST- a documentary. Assemblyman Sayegh is the sponsor of the 9/11 Notice Act passed by the State Legislature and made law by the Governor. The 9/11 Notice Act gives notice of available compensation for 9/11 cancer and respiratory illnesses. Special thanks to former Mt.Vernon Mayor, Richard Thomas who helped organize the event and 9/11 Compensation Specialist Attorney, Michael Barasch as well as Film Director, Bridget Gormley.
Assemblyman Sayegh alongside a longtime Yonkers resident Nidal Davod, who also proudly works in our City’s Department of Public Works.
|
|
|
|
YONKERS MAYOR SPANO TEAMS UP WITH NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF WESTCHESTER
(NAMI WESTCHESTER) TO COMMEMORATE MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
NAMI Ribbons to be Displayed at Yonkers City Hall During the Month of May.
Mayor Mike Spano will join representatives of the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Westchester (NAMI Westchester) Tuesday, April 30, at 12:30PM at Yonkers City Hall (Rotunda) in commemoration of May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
As part of the awareness and education campaign, a NAMI Ribbon Campaign will bring the subject of mental illness in the Westchester communities to the forefront in a direct and visible manner. NAMI ribbons will be on display at Yonkers City Hall for the month of May. Over 40 municipalities in Westchester County are participating in the ribbon campaign.
Vote for William Wagstaff for Westchester County District Attorney in the Democratic Party Primary on June 25th.
William Wagstaff: Safety, Accountability & Equity.
For more Information on William Wagstaff Campaign for DA, Please Visit: https://www.wagstaffforda.com/
Political Advertisement Paid for by Wagstaff for DA.
Operation Prom Network's 20th Annual Prom Formal Wear Giveaway will take place at the Westchester County Center in White Plains through April 28. This event provides high quality, high style free and low-cost prom dresses and tuxedos to high school students in Westchester County.
Free Bee-Line bus trips to the County Center will be available for all participating students.
Last week, the two houses of the Legislature and the Governor’s office were able to agree on the $237 billion State Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget. This was a difficult budget year, due to rising need in so many areas, coupled with the loss of Covid aid from the federal government. Despite these challenges, there are some important legislative additions in the enacted budget that will help New Yorkers in our region and throughout the State.
Fighting for Public Education
The enacted budget restored the Governor’s proposed Foundation Aid cuts, which would have impacted nearly half the State’s school districts. All told, this year's budget raised total school funding to $35.9 billion, a 4.3% increase over last year. In the 92nd District, proposed Foundation Aid cuts to Ardsley, Briarcliff Manor, Dobbs Ferry, Greenburgh, Pocantico Hills, and the Tarrytowns were reversed, and all our districts will now see some increase over the prior year. Yonkers Public Schools — where 73% of students are economically disadvantaged and 19% of students have disabilities — will receive an increase of $38.4 million in Foundation Aid.
There have been questions for years about whether the current formula determining the distribution of Foundation Aid is fair to all school districts; and certainly, the formula's reliance on obsolete data is a self-evident problem. I am very pleased that the final budget includes $2 million for a Foundation Aid study to be conducted by the State University of New York (SUNY) Rockefeller Institute of Government, in consultation with State agencies. I look forward to a lively conversation with our school districts and other stakeholders about what we expect of our public schools, and how we should prioritize school aid.
Support for public higher education totals $20.7 billion, including opportunity program aid totalling $1.3 billion to SUNY and $858 million to the City University of New York (CUNY). Included in this aid package is a $55.7 million increase for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). SUNY Downstate Hospital, a teaching hospital which supplies newly-trained medical professionals to the entire New York metropolitan area, will remain open with investments of $300 million in capital funding and $100 million for operating expenses, with spending and planning decisions to be determined by a new community advisory board.
Building a Resilient Infrastructure
The budget invests $7.7 billion in highways, bridges, rail, aviation infrastructure, public transit outside the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and transportation facilities. Of this, $4.5 billion will fund the State Department of Transportation's (DOT's) core program for State road and bridge upkeep, and $1.3 billion will help fix our local roads and bridges. This local road and bridge aid total restores $60 million for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) and $40 million for the State Route NY Program — restorations that I advocated for in response to proposed cuts in the Executive Budget.
The MTA will receive $7.9 billion in mass transit support. Of critical importance to our district and region, $20 million will go to resiliency projects for the Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line. In future decades, the Hudson Line will require vastly more funding to remain open, as sea level rise caused by climate change will make track flooding a regular occurrence.
Our $2.5 billion investment in environmental infrastructure includes $500 million for clean water projects (doubling the Executive Budget’s proposal) and $400 for the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (another cut we successfully restored). Funding of $1 billion for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation includes $300 million in capital improvements to State parks, and $15 million to help meet the goal of planting more than 25 million trees across the State by 2033.
Increasing Aid to Our Local Governments
With the support of the Westchester Assembly delegation, Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding will increase this year by $50 million, for a total of $765.2 million. This is the first increase to AIM in over a decade, and something we hope to be able to maintain in future years. In addition, $100 million will fund an another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative — the same program that awarded $4.5 million to Sleepy Hollow last year.
Advocating for New Yorkers with Disabilities
The Legislature successfully added a 1.7% salary increase on top of a 1.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) proposed by the Executive Budget for direct service providers (DSPs), support staff, clinical staff, and non-executive administrative staff for Human Services agencies, including the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The increases we made in this year’s budget and last year is a step in the right direction, as we continue to push for paying these essential workers the wages they deserve — wages that will keep them in the field they love, so that they can continue helping many of our most vulnerable New Yorkers.
Funding that Assemblyman Nader Sayegh and I had championed was also included in the budget: $3 million for Elizabeth Seton Children’s in Yonkers, which cares for medically fragile children and young adults.
Local Journalism Tax Credit Passes
Particularly timely in our Assembly district is the Local Journalism Tax Credit, providing $30 million in tax credits for eligible print media and broadcasting companies, thereby supporting our struggling local media and helping to mitigate the spread of news deserts in New York State. I co-sponsored and advocated for this tax credit, which took on greater urgency after three local newspapers in Westchester (including the Rivertowns Enterprise) were closed in January. Kudos to the municipal governments that issued resolutions requesting its passage, as well as the many community members who communicated their concern and support.
Supporting Our Workforce
To ease the burden on families, the enacted budget includes $1.78 billion for the New York State Child Care Block Grant (an increase of $754.4 million) and $350 million for the Supplemental Empire State Child Credit.
Reforms to Tier 6 of the State pension system will help equalize retirement benefits for our public workforce. This year's reform is the first of a multi-year package that will help our State government recruit and retain quality staff with needed technical expertise.
First Responses to Our Housing Affordability Crisis
To address New York’s housing crisis, the budget includes $600 million in capital funding to support housing statewide, as well as $150 million for a new program to build affordable housing on State and municipally-owned sites. Public housing authorities outside of New York City will receive $75 million, with another $50 million for Land Banks to redevelop blighted or abandoned properties.
Also included is a new opt-in construction or commercial conversion tax exemption for affordable homes and rentals, and real property tax exemptions for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). New tenant protections prohibit removal by eviction or refusal to renew a lease without good cause within New York City and by local option in the rest of the state.
At this time, most of the housing proposals address New York City, although in Westchester the shortage of housing that is affordable for most people who live and work here is acute and worsening. The Assembly is investigating proposals — including a Mitchell-Lama 2.0 to build more affordable owner-occupied housing — in the coming years.
Additional Highlights from the SFY 2024-25 Budget
The Work Ahead
Every budget session closes with an acknowledgement of how much more remains to be done, and this year was no different. Our future agenda must include the following:
May 7th!
JC Fogarty's
WE ARE NOW HIRING!
CONTACT US TODAY
(914)-779-7666 Transit Auto Towing
Paid for by Cacace for DA.
Blanco Contracting Services Inc.
75 North Broadway, Yonkers, N.Y. 10701
Contact Oscar: Email: blancocontractingservices.job@
Phone Number: 917-560-1243
For More Info On Blanco Contracting Services, Inc. Please Visit: https://www.blancocontracting.com/
Submitted and Paid for by Blanco Contracting Services, Inc.
Yonkers Insider: Political Advertisement: William Wagstaff Democrat for Westchester County District Attorney.
Vote for William Wagstaff for Westchester County District Attorney in the Democratic Party Primary on June 25th.
William Wagstaff: Safety, Accountability & Equity.
For more Information on William Wagstaff Campaign for DA, Please Visit: https://www.wagstaffforda.com/
Political Advertisement Paid for by Wagstaff for DA.
Mayor Spano joined Yonkers Arts and artist Robin Alcantara to unveil a new public mural at Palisade Towers entitled "Together," featuring Mary J. Blige.
Mayor Spano joined Yonkers Parks to celebrate Arbor Day and plant trees throughout the City of Yonkers.
Mayor Spano wishes Jewish families celebrating, a Happy and Peaceful Passover.
|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week, as Housing and Planning Committee Chair, I called a joint committee meeting with Human Services to discuss the County’s homeless shelters and services provided by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Office for Temporary Housing Assistance (OTHA). We had a wonderful presentation by the administration, a great conversation, and now we have a clearer understanding of some improvements we can make to better the lives of Westchester residents who find themselves in our shelter system. If you would like to know more, check out the video of the meeting here: https://westchestercountyny.granicus.com/player/clip/6943?view_id=1&redirect=true
Sincerely,
Honorable Shanae V. Williams
Legislator, 16th District
.jpeg)
For More Info on Assemblyman Sayegh work for Yonkers in Albany, Please Visit his New York State Assembly Page: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Nader-J-Sayegh
Yonkers Insider Publisher Delfim Heusler
MAYOR MIKE SPANO & YONKERS STUDENTS CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY WITH
TREE PLANTING AT JFK MEMORIAL PARK & MARINA.
Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation Observe Arbor Day with Tree Plantings Across City.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, along with the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation will celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 26 at 11:30AM at JFK Memorial Park & Marina (Warburton Avenue at JFK Memorial Drive) with a tree planting with students from Riverside High School.
The Yonkers Parks Department also will plant trees at the following locations:
§ 9:30AM at Andrus Park (Central Avenue at Arlington Street) with Little Learner Students
§ 10:30AM at Vark Park (Vark Street at Riverdale Avenue) with Thomas Cornell Academy Students
Yonkers has been honored as a “Tree City USA Community” for the 37th consecutive year. Tree City USA distinction is earned by meeting standards set by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.
April 26th marks the 152nd celebration of Arbor Day, which has been observed throughout the nation, with the main purpose of encouraging the planting and care of trees for the benefit of our urban, community, and rural landscapes.
YONKERS MAYOR MIKE SPANO PROPOSES FISCAL YEAR 2025 EXECUTIVE BUDGET.
Reaffirms Commitment to Education with Largest-Ever Contribution to Yonkers Public Schools; No Cuts to Municipal Services and Active Workforce.
YONKERS, NY – April 24, 2024 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today released his Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Executive Budget proposal, which contains no cuts to municipal services or active workforce and reaffirms the Administration’s commitment to Yonkers Public Schools.
“The City will continue to remain successful and we have a lot on the horizon, but to get there, we need to be fiscally responsible and reimagine how we navigate this cost-effective journey,” said Mayor Spano. “Together, despite the tight dollars, we will move forward by making the right financial decisions to benefit our taxpayers and our kids.”
Mayor Spano added, “This year’s Executive Budget is based on New York State’s adopted budget, which was passed over the weekend by the State Legislature. This Executive Budget is honest and lean, maintaining our workforce and services while reaffirming our commitment to education.”
Executive Budget Overview:
The Executive Budget for the Fiscal Year 2025 for the combined City and Board of Education (BOE) Operating Funds is $1.46 billion, an increase of $32.7 million or 2.28%.
Yonkers Board of Education
The Executive Budget includes a record $298.5 million appropriation for the Board of Education, the largest-ever budgeted by an Administration.
For FY25, the Administration has combined Debt Service and Maintenance of Effort contribution to education with an increased allocation of $7.3 million in comparison to FY24. This is an increase of $498.5 million cumulatively since Fiscal Year 2012.
In total, the Administration is providing $12.7 million of additional funding that includes an increased MOE, and the absorption of costs that will help pay for the projected BOE consolidated budget expenditure growth.
Mayor Spano reapportioned $5 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance Aid awarded by New York State and it directed toward Yonkers Public Schools.
“I want to thank the Governor and state delegation for endeavoring these important funds on behalf of our City,” Mayor Spano said. “We decided to place it where it was needed most, our schools, and unfortunately, it’s still not enough.”
This year, Yonkers Public Schools will see the loss of $33 million from non-recurring aid provided by the American Rescue Plan and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Acts. As a result, Yonkers Public Schools will need to restructure and consolidate to accommodate for the changing District that has seen a reduction of approximately 2,400 (or 10%) in-district regular students and a substantial increase in the number of special education students.
Municipal Operating Budget
Included in the Executive Budget is a municipal General Fund operating budget of $715.7 million. General Fund Departmental Expenditures, Department Debt Services, and Special Items are budgeted at $375.8 million, a decrease of $3.4 million or approximately 1%.
With rising costs, an increased transfer to the public school budget due to the State’s lack of funding, a $23 million increase in healthcare costs, and subdued housing-related activity as a result of high mortgage rates, the Executive Budget proposes the tax rate per thousand dollars of assessed value would increase by $48.73, an increase in the tax rate of 5.51%, requiring the City to break the state-mandated tax cap.
Under the proposal, a typical one-to-three-family home at the median assessed value of $10,900 would see its annual property tax bill increase by $531, or approximately $44 per month.
This year’s Executive Budget contains a newly formulated Senior Citizen Tax exemption, which raised the income exemption level, providing Yonkers seniors an approximate total of $2.4 million in savings on their property taxes. Senior citizens, who applied, and for the first time qualified for the higher income limit senior citizen tax exemption program, will likely see a reduction in their property taxes.
Mayor Spano added, “The Administration continues to be efficient and conscientious of our fiscal challenges. I hope that the 2025 Executive Budget is a basis for discussions and decisions. I ask our City Council members to continue to build upon the spirit of cooperation that has passed twelve consecutive bipartisan budgets during my time in office.”
Budget Snapshot:
• $1.46 billion total budget
• Tax rate of 5.51%, requiring the City to break the state-mandated tax cap.
• $298.85 million appropriation for the Board of Education, the largest ever budgeted by an Administration.
• $59 million, which includes the school portion ($15.4 million), earmarked for capital improvements
• $18.3 million grant budget, including more than $6 million for paving initiatives
• The elimination of 10 vacant positions
• The addition of 15, revenue-producing, cost-containing, and/or revenue-neutral positions with the most budgeted for a January 1, 2025 start date. Eight of the 15 positions are contractually obligated.
• Maintains city services and municipal workforce
The Yonkers City Council must adopt the City budget by June 1 for it to take effect by the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2024.
To view Mayor Spano’s proposed Executive Budget, visit www.yonkersny.gov.
Assemblyman Nader Sayegh alongside BeSmart Organization Leader, Kathleen Wit. BeSmart program advocates safeguarding and keeping guns loc...
