Yonkers Insider: Statement from Yonkers City Councilman Anthony Merante 6th District: FEMA STICKS YONKERS WITH A $5.2 MILLION BILL FOR HURRICANE IDA EMERGENCY REPAIRS.

STATEMENT FROM YONKERS COUNCILMEMBER ANTHONY MERANTE.

 

FEMA STCKS YONKERS WITH A $5.2 MILLION BILL FOR HURRICANE

IDA EMERGENCY REPAIRS.

YONKERS TAXPAYERS NOW MUST FOOT THE BILL.

 

( YONKERS, NY, August 1. 2024) In September of 2021,  Hurricane Ida devastated the lower Hudson Valley, Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has now denied the City of Yonkers over $5.2 million.  These were monies required to stabilize three slopes along the Hudson River and MTA Metro North Railroad.

 

The concentrated water flow caused substantial damage to the slope supporting Warburton Avenue, the homes, and a residential building, washing thousands of tons of soil down onto the Metro North Hudson Line railroad track. A residential building is virtually hanging over the cliff. A retaining wall is required to stabilize the three slopes to ensure the safety of the residents living in the apartment building.

 

Merante said, “ Our neighbors living alongside the Warburton Avenue hills must cringe every time it rains, thinking will this be the time the building slides and collapses. We are putting hundreds of lives in jeopardy and DC turns it’s back on Yonkers.  I don’t understand.  We have Democrats up and down the entire governmental ladder, Yonkers Mayor, City Council Majority, New York State Delegation and US House and Senate.  Still Yonkers taxpayers are left paying the bill for this declared Federal Disaster. This $5.2 million will need to be bonded thereby incurring thousands of dollars more in interest charges,”

 

Merante added, “ Where is the Democratic team? They should start applying pressure on the Federal delegation to force FEMA to meet its responsibilities . Afterall, we are in the last quarter of a Presidential election. Yonkers Democrats should even take this plea directly to Vice President Kamala Harris.” 

 

Merante concluded, “I’m extremely disappointed our elected officials will not fight for the people of Yonkers and force FEMA to honor its obligations. They are simply willing to shrug off another debt on Yonkers taxpayers, that’s unconscionable.”