PRESS RELEASE: City of Yonkers and Empire City Casino to Host Veterans Job Fair on Thursday, November 17th from 1PM to 6PM

YONKERS, NY – October 28, 2016 -- Mayor Mike Spano and the City of Yonkers Department of Veterans Services, in conjunction with Empire City Casino today announced the City of Yonkers will host HIRE A HERO INITIATIVE – a job fair for veterans and military spouses who are seeking employment, November 17th from 1PM to 6PM at Empire City Casino, at 810 Yonkers Avenue. 

The event will take place in The Good Time Room and is aimed towards connecting employers with service men and women who are returning from overseas and are looking to re-enter the workforce.  

“The ‘Hire a Hero’ Veteran’s Job Fair is going to be a special day in Yonkers as veterans of all ages will be afforded the opportunity to meet representatives from both the public and private sector,” said Mayor Mike Spano.  “We are grateful to Empire City Casino for partnering with us on this venture as we aim to secure as many jobs as possible for veterans looking for work. Veterans have served our country well – it’s now time for us to serve them.”

The men and women who have bravely served in the military will have the opportunity to network, interview and engage with employers from all sectors of industry. Among the employers expected to attend the fair include The Home Depot, ShopRite Supermarket, Con Ed, Merrill Lynch, Liberty Lines, Sears, Metro North, MTA, Westchester Community College, the Yonkers Fire Department and Yonkers Police Department.

“We owe these young men and women a debt we’ll never be able to repay,” said Timothy Rooney, Owner & Operator of Empire City Casino. “This is our way of saying thank you and our way of giving other employers a way to show their gratitude as well.”

New York has one of the highest veteran population rates in the nation with over 800,000 veterans living within the Empire State.  Veterans from the entire tri-state area and beyond are encouraged to attend and apply for available positions from participating employers.

Employers who are interested in submitting an application and veterans who are interested in pre-registering should visit www.empirecitycasino.com/veterans for more details and information.

Veterans must present their military identification or a valid government issued photo ID to participate in the event.

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The City of Yonkers Department of Veterans Service & Director Lou Navarro assist veterans, spouses, and dependents in the community obtain every benefit they are eligible for under the law. There are never any costs for the department’s services to veterans.  They are located at 120 New Main Street in Yonkers and are open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.  Contact Louis.Navarro@YonkersNY.gov for any questions or inquires.  

Empire City Casino is one of the largest entertainment and gaming destinations in the northeast. Featuring 5,300 of the hottest slots, electronic  craps, roulette, baccarat and sic bo, Empire City Casino also offers guests  year-round harness racing and International simulcasting, live entertainment including the best party, tribute and Latin bands, comedy, New York’s hottest DJ’s, and more. A plethora of dining options will satisfy even the most discerning palate with Italian cuisine at Nonno’s Trattoria; Dan Rooney’s, a high-energy sports bar; Alley 810, a craft cocktail lounge with retro bowling lanes; and  convenient delicious options at the International Food Court or Lil’ Cocina. Visit Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway located at 810 Yonkers Avenue (off I-87 at Central Avenue) Yonkers, NY, Westchester County, open seven days a week from 10:00am to 6:00am. Visit www.empirecitycasino.com or call 914.968.4200 for information.

PRESS RELEASE: City of Yonkers Issues Halloween Curfew for Children 16 and Under

YONKERS, NY -- October 27, 2016 – In order to provide for a safe and enjoyable holiday, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced that Yonkers will issue a citywide curfew for children 16 years of age and younger on Halloween night - Monday, October 31. 

“Halloween is a fun holiday meant to be enjoyed by all, which is why we are taking a proactive approach in providing a safe Halloween for our communities,” said Mayor Spano. “In addition to the curfew, we also encourage all parents to be mindful of their children’s activities that evening so our trick-or-treaters have a happy – and safe – Halloween this year.”

As part of the curfew, the Yonkers Police Department advises children 12 and younger must be home by 10PM, children ages 12 to 13 must be home by 10:30PM, and those 14 to 16 years old must return home by 11PM. The curfew is extended to 6AM to individuals based on the following exceptions:

·         Unless accompanied by parent or guardian

·         On errand with parental permission with prior notice to Police Community Affairs Division 

·         Half hour after a school, religious and volunteer public entertainment no later than 12:30AM unless police are notified by host organization 24 hours in advance

·         Half hour after work, with proof from employer

·         All youngsters 16 and under not subject to curfew if on or immediately next to their home (and if neighbor does not object)

Violators to the curfew will be taken to the nearest Yonkers Police Precinct and parents/guardian will be notified. For more information about the Halloween curfew, contact the Yonkers Police Department at 914-377-7375.

“We are asking for parents to help make this Halloween a safe and enjoyable day for all involved,” said Charles Gardner, Yonkers Police Commissioner.  “Please know where your children are and make sure that they are home by the designated times of the curfew.”  

The City of Yonkers is issues Halloween safety tips for parents and trick-or-treaters, including: 

Parents

·         Arrange for an adult to accompany trick-or-treaters

·         Know the route your child will travel and give him or her a curfew

• Be sure children can see through their masks. Costumes should be easy to see, either made from light colors or marked for nighttime with reflective tap
• Dispose of unwrapped candy or candy that appears altered

• Don't leave your children unattended
• To help plan a safe route, visit the sex offender registry at www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/search_index.htm

Trick-or-Treaters

·         Don't eat anything from trick-or-treat bag before your parents have looked at it

·         Always stay with people who you know, and stay in your own neighborhood.

• Tell your parents where you are trick-or-treating, and stay away from dark streets and buildings.

PRESS RELEASE: City of Yonkers Scores Perfect 100 on 2016 Municipal Equality Index

YONKERS, NY – October 18, 2016 – The Human Rights Commission Foundation, in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute, this week released its fifth annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the only nationwide rating system of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law and policy, scoring the City of Yonkers with a perfect 100. Yonkers was one of four cities in New York to receive a perfect score and one of 60 nationally.

“Our administration works tirelessly toward full equality amongst our residents and employees,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “I am proud to join a growing list of communities with a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index. Our rating reflects diversity as Yonkers’ greatest strength and the respect we have for one another, regardless of who you love.”

This marks the second consecutive year the City of Yonkers has scored a perfect score on the MEI. Yonkers was specifically recognized for its non-discrimination laws; transgender-inclusive insurance coverage; elected gay officials, as well as the LGBTQ Advisory Board Mayor Spano established in 2014. 

Michael Sabatino, Yonkers City Council Minority Leader stated, “I am proud to know that Yonkers was one of 60 cities nationwide to score a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index.   We can attribute this to the hard work of Mayor Spano’s administration and the Mayor’s LGBTQ advisory board.   Yonkers is truly a diverse city where our residents are respected and embraced regardless of their ethnicity, religion or their sexual orientation.   We promote a safe environment that allows everyone to co-exist and creates an atmosphere that allows all to contribute to the betterment of the City of Yonkers. Congratulations to all.”

Robert Voorheis, of Mayor Spano’s LQBTQ Advisory Board commented, “The Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board is pleased that through the efforts of the Mayor, his staff, the Commissioners and the City Council Minority Leader, we again have received a 100% rating.  Yonkers is working very hard to provide a safe environment for the members of the LBGTQ Community and all citizens of our great city.”

The 2016 MEI reveals that cities across the nation are not waiting for their states to extend vital protections to the LGBTQ community, nor are they intimidated by some state elected officials threatening to deny cities the ability to extend fully-inclusive protections to their residents and workers. This year, 60 cities earned perfect scores for advancing fully-inclusive policies and practices -- up from 47 in 2015 and 11 in 2012, the first year of the MEI -- at a time when the nation has been seeing a record number of anti-LGBTQ measures proposed by state elected officials bent on promoting discrimination. 

The MEI rates cities based on 44 criteria that fall into five broad categories:

·         Non-discrimination laws

·         Municipal employment policies, including transgender-inclusive insurance coverage and non-discrimination requirements for contractors

·         Inclusiveness of city services

·         Law enforcement, including hate crimes reporting

·         Municipal leadership on matters of equality

PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Spano presents School 23 with School of The Month Award for September 2016

YONKERS, NY – October 17, 2016 – Mayor Spano this week joined members of Yonkers City Council and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin M. Quezada to present the School of the Month Award for September 2016 to the deserving administration, faculty, staff, parents and students at School 23. Under the leadership of Principal Michael Walpole, School 23 is achieving great success in the areas English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.

“School 23 has placed a strong focus on literacy and mathematics, which we know are crucial to the success of a student,” said Mayor Spano. “By instilling a love of reading and critical thinking in math in our students at an early age, the administrators and teachers at School 23 are setting these children up for future success.” 

From the 2014-15 to the 2015-16 school year, School 23 is experiencing great success inside the classroom and on standardized testing. They have increased 11.1 percentage points in English Language Arts and 8.6 percentage points in Math scores. This type of drastic improvement proves that School 23 is dedicated to the success of our students. 

According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin M. Quezada, “The significant increase in student achievement outcomes at School 23 was accomplished because the administration, teachers and parents were focused on the needs of children.  The work took data-driven analysis aligned to individual student needs. Above all, it required the leadership of Principal Michael Walpole and Assistant Principal Theresa Abate working hand-in-hand with School 23’s teachers who believe our children can succeed.”

“The accomplishments at School 23 truly personify our newly adopted District mission to create a foundation for success and excellence for all,” noted Board of Education President Rev. Steve Lopez.  The Mayor’s School of the Month honor primarily goes to the students at School 23 who worked so hard and learned so much from their teachers and administrators; congratulations to all.”

Mayor Spano’s School of the Month recognition program began in January 2014 as a way to celebrate the significant academic success, extracurricular achievements and community volunteerism of Yonkers’ students, teachers, administration and staff at Yonkers Public Schools.

PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Mike Spano calls for nominations for The 2016 Yonkers Sports Hall of Fame

Yonkers, NY – October 17, 2016 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced the City of Yonkers, in collaboration with the Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation, is calling for nominations to the Yonkers Sports Hall of Fame.  The Sports Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding professionals and amateurs in the field of sports, living or deceased, who have gained prominence or make substantial contribution to sports in the City of Yonkers.

Established in 1966, the Yonkers Sports Hall of Fame was formed to honor residents for their playing ability, integrity, character, sportsmanship and advocacy of sports.  They must have brought honor, fame and prestige not only to themselves, but also to the City of Yonkers. Their actions must have inspired young people to participate and their example must have encouraged others to promote and initiate community sports and recreation programs.  The names of those selected will be permanently enshrined upon plaques located within the Yonkers Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, at 285 Nepperhan Avenue.  

“Our Sports Hall of Fame is memorable way of honoring past and present residents who enhanced Yonkers through their athletic accomplishments,” said Mayor Spano. “Throughout the years, many outstanding local citizens have gained prominence and fame within world of sports.  The pride and honor they brought to themselves and others should live on as symbols of achievement and examples of hard work for future generations in our community.”

Residents are encouraged to nominate individuals they feel are worthy of the Hall of Fame at www.YonkersNY.gov/SportsHallofFame. To be eligible for nomination to the Yonkers Sports Hall of Fame, an individual must meet the following criteria of eligibility:

· Attain local, state and national recognition and prominence in either professional or amateur sports as a player, coach, manager, official, owner, writer, broadcaster or any special category as established by the Committee.

· Candidate must be a retired participant of the sport for a period of five years or have passed his/her 55th birthday. 

· Must have resided in Yonkers for a minimum of 15 years.

The Yonkers Hall of Fame Committee shall consist of members who reside in Yonkers and/or whose principal employment is within the City limits and who have exhibited an interest in sports activities. The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members. Members to be included are as follows:

·         Three (3) Parks Board Members, voted by the Board, for a two (2) year term

·         Commissioner, Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation

·         Deputy Commissioner, Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation

·         Two (2) Community Members at Large, voted by the Board, for a one(1) year term

·         Chairman must be selected from the Members of the Parks Board

No member of a current Yonkers Sports Hall of Fame Committee can be elected to the Yonkers Sports Hall of Fame. Entry deadline for submitting applications for nominations is February 1, 2017.

Experience Yonkers Sound And Light Project Open to Public for Content Submissions

YONKERS, NY – October 11, 2016 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced the official launch of the next phase of the EXPERIENCE YONKERS downtown light art project, which will include photos, artwork, music or video performances submitted by the public at www.YonkersNY.gov.  The interactive urban experience known as EXPERIENCE YONKERS features art and music projected on the exterior side wall of the Yonkers Riverfront Library, on the sidewalks of Getty Square and under the Main Street overpass. Experience Yonkers content features video, music, art and information relating to Yonkers and its community. Yonkers is the first city in the U.S. to permanently install and display this technology, created by Gotham Innovation Greenhouse.

“Yonkers is creating an interactive urban experience and destination that our residents and visitors will thoroughly enjoy,” said Mayor Spano.  “I encourage residents to participate in this modern technology by sending us as much content as possible for us to display.  This can be a great way for our community to stay engaged with the happenings of Yonkers as well as highlighting all of the talented individuals we have in our city.  Experience Yonkers will put our emerging arts scene and booming economic development on full display, while celebrating our local communities and their achievements.”

Experience Yonkers features video content that runs each night at Yonkers Riverfront Library at Larkin Center and in Getty Square, while sound plays from speakers mounted on nearby street light posts. The installation also includes colorful moving light shows and exterior wall lightings under the Main Street overpass that can be created and changed daily.

The new technology not only contains video and music, but also has the capability to play connected drone footage and communicate via social media for mobile devices.  Individuals can submit photos in any form that can potentially be featured in city-themed slide shows.  All video and musical submissions must be provided with a unique You Tube URL address in order to be properly displayed.

"There have been wall projections and technology like this in a few U.S. cities and several in Europe -- but those have mostly been for short term art festivals," said Norm Jacknis – President and Co-Founder of Gotham Innovation Greenhouse.  "Yonkers is the first big city in the country to create a permanent installation of this kind to bring history, performance, interactivity and inspiration on a permanent basis.  

To be a part of our EXPERIENCE YONKERS light art project and submit content, visit www.YonkersNY.gov/ExperienceYonkers.  For further assistance or other questions, contact EXPERIENCE YONKERS at ExperienceYonkers@yonkersny.gov.