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.

Official School Year Calendar - Yonkers Public Schools

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KPwqDhebMiOI8zcvg526R1tsBxk1dEGV/view?usp=sharing

PRESS RELEASE: Yonkers launches anti-littering campaign

YONKERS, NY – Yonkers officials are tired of seeing litter on City streets and are now taking action with the launch of a new anti-litter initiative.

On Wednesday, City Council President Liam McLaughlin, Mayor Mike Spano and others officially unveiled the new ‘Respect Yonkers’ advertising campaign that includes shrink-wrapped garbage receptacles and bus shelters using catchy marketing phrases and buzz-words that discourage littering.

“We are encouraging our residents, businesses, and particularly our young people to help keep our City clean,” McLaughlin said. “Litter is a problem that we have to battle on a daily basis. However, with the public’s help we can win this battle.”

“With so many beautiful neighborhoods and vibrant business districts throughout Yonkers, we need to respect how they look as we attract more residents and visitors to our city,” said Mayor Spano. “This campaign speaks to our younger generation specifically who need to be reminded to give respect and take pride in their community. By making good choices, we all can make Yonkers a cleaner place to live, work and play.”

The campaign is geared toward shifting individual perceptions towards littering and includes a multitude of soon-to-be-released initiatives by various City agencies designed to decrease littering. The City Council also passed a new law which raised the fine for littering from a class III offense to a class II offense in June.

With these newly adorned bus shelters and garbage receptacles, people are sure to feel more proud to be from Yonkers. This pride will increase as littering decreases, and residents ‘Respect Yonkers.’

PRESS RELEASE: Yonkers City Council Questions Yonkers School Construction Bill

YONKERS, NY – With a call to “Rebuild our Schools,” they asked to be treated like other cities, but what Yonkers school children received was something different entirely.

The state legislature passed legislation this week to create the Yonkers Joint Schools Construction Board, which pays Yonkers less than two-thirds of what other upstate cities receive. 

Council President Liam McLaughlin said, “Our state delegations spent months tweaking the language to give themselves more oversight and control and completely missed the boat on the most important aspect of the legislation, the reimbursement rate for the city. We agree with the Mayor that it is a nice first step, but the rate that was passed is woefully inadequate. The parents, teachers, administrators, students and their families that have stood with us to rebuild our aging schools are to be commended.”

Under the legislation that was passed, Yonkers will receive less than a 70% reimbursement from the state for its capital construction, far short of the overall goal for the city of 98% reimbursement that was requested. That amount is on par with what Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, who have undertaken similar school reconstructions, receive from state government.

Majority Leader John Larkin said, “Albany took $110 million from us with the Gap Elimination Adjustment, they left a $28 million hole after the IMA, and then another $11 million hole next year at the expiration of the mortgage fund transfer to the schools. Albany’s efforts to rebuild our schools have once again left us holding the bill. As the parent of four children who graduated from the Yonkers Public Schools I say enough is enough.”

Yonkers, the first municipality to successfully join a Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, New Yorkers’ for Students Education Rights v. State of New York following a vote by the City Council Majority, is currently litigating with Albany to recover the $110 taken by the Gap Elimination Adjustment, or GEA, created as a budget balancing gimmick by Senate Democrats in 2010. Senate Republicans fully restored the GEA this year.

Council member Mike Breen said, “As education chairman I was pleased that the City was able to provide yet another an increase for Board of Education’s budget to $539 million, an increase of $15 million, plus an additional $35 million for school improvements and $5 million for textbooks and equipment. Albany has not done its share, though, and the budget could have been far less painful to taxpayers if we received the additional funding we are entitled to.”

Council member Dennis Shepherd said, “Why has our delegation supported school funding for Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester, while shortchanging the people they are supposed to represent?”|

A new public authority created by the legislation would be authorized to borrow up to $2 billion to cover the costs of refurbishing 37 schools and building 3 new schools, making the City’s local share almost $600,000,000, a price tag the Yonkers Public Schools Superintendent has said is unaffordable.

Even though Yonkers is considered to be one of the “big five” school districts, the state requires the City to fund forty-five percent of the cost of education. Meanwhile, the other districts pay no more than twenty percent.

Union Officials Who Conspired To Cover-Up Child Abuse Must Go, Council Says

YONKERS, NY – An undercover investigation by journalists from Project Veritas has gone viral.

Pat Puleo and Paul Diamond, president and vice-president of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers, were caught on tape explaining how to sweep allegations of child abuse under the rug.

City Council President Liam McLaughlin said, “There is much good that happens in our schools and many fine teachers and employees. We cannot let the actions of a few outshine the hard work and dedication of so many, but we also cannot allow a situation where a cover-up could be directed by City employees to hide allegations of child abuse, use of racial epithets, fraud and theft of honest services in the school system. We feel those responsible should resign immediately.”

A New York Post editorial from June 8, ‘A Teachers Union at Work’ makes it clear that City employees, in their capacity as President and Vice-President of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers, advised “fraud and violations of workplace rules to a man they thought was a teacher who’d hit a student.”

“Beyond the growing national embarrassment this situation has caused, we worry for both the safety of our children and the integrity of the personnel and time & attendance systems and procedures in place at the Yonkers Public Schools,” Majority Leader John Larkin said. “What kind of people would conspire to conceal child abuse and assist in covering up a teacher going AWOL for two weeks without permission?”

A subsequent Facebook live-streamed interview on June 8th by the same investigative journalists with the same individuals has only confirmed that the “theoretical” situation played out in the original video may be a regular occurrence.

“Fraud is a very serious accusation that this City Council will not abide,” Council member Mike Breen said. “Especially in light of the City’s recent budget crises caused by misassumption of funds at the Board of Education, we owe a fiduciary duty to the people of the City of Yonkers to see corrective action taken. The Inspector General must be directed to look into this right away.”

“These tapes reflects very poorly on our beloved City and its employees and they are difficult to watch,” Council member Dennis Shepherd said. “The two City employees depicted therein display blatant disregard for the integrity of our school system and do not appear to be overly concerned at the prospect of defrauding the City and manipulating the system for personal gain. This unethical and amoral behavior has now been rebroadcast to tens of millions of viewers throughout the nation. What a sad day for Yonkers.”

The YFT officials have allegedly submitted an apology letter to the Board of Education and could face inquiry from the Yonkers Inspector General. The four City Council members today said that nothing short of their resignations would suffice and vowed not to support a new contract until those responsible had stepped down.

PRESS RELEASE: Yonkers City Council Votes To Landmark Haas Murals

YONKERS, NY – The City Council voted to approve the Richard Haas Mural Historic District in downtown Yonkers today, bringing to a close an eighteen month process. 

The District is comprised of three buildings and represents several periods and styles of art and architecture typical of past eras.

“The preservation community in the city of Yonkers is very active and often takes a role in pointing out some of the treasurers that we sometimes take for granted or maybe even didn’t recognize,” Council President Liam McLaughlin said. “They opened my eyes once before with the Phillipse Manor Hall Historic District, but in this case it wasn’t necessary at all. I was on the City Council when we first authorized the money for the murals. At that time, some questioned the expenditures, and when it was done, people were quite frankly speechless. I’m very proud to have supported it then, and I am proud to support it now.”

The Richard Haas Mural Historic District has special character and special historic value with the triptych of multi-story murals on the east side of two buildings and the north side of the last building that form a back drop to an open public plaza, pulling the viewer into a larger than life diorama.

The subject of the murals, a fanciful look at the earliest history of the area around the plaza and of the persons and events leading up to present day Yonkers, creates a special historic value by extolling the history of the City while highlighting the historic nature of the buildings upon which they were painted. Each mural, worked in the classic fresco, brings its own contributing historic and architectural value to the new district.

Majority Leader John Larkin said, “I would like to thank the Landmarks Preservation Board, the applicants, Richard Haas as well as the entire preservation community for carrying this issue forward and negotiating in good faith throughout the process.”

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 2, to a roar of applause from those in attendance. The vote itself had been in question when earlier today, the building was condemned by the City Building Department in response to an engineering report ordered by the developer.

Many questioned why after months of delays, the developer waited to commission the report until the week before the City Council’s vote. Others called for an independent assessment that was not based simply on visual inspection and used more sound engineering techniques.

“You should have had your report the week after the first Real Estate Committee meeting,” Larkin said. “This should be preserved and saved for generations. A condemnation does not mean we tear it down, it means we repair and we fix what is wrong.”

Larkin pointed to the successful redevelopment of the Boyce Thompson Center, which was at one point in a similar situation to the Haas murals and was ultimately saved from condemnation.

“In the City of Yonkers we are trying to promote the arts and it is doing amazing things particularly for the downtown. The loss of the murals would in fact be a tragedy,” Council President McLaughlin added. “Like many of the other council members, I question the timing of the report. We had numerous meetings and we gave plenty of time. If the building was or is in such disrepair, certainly the developer, with all of their building acumen, would have recognized this issue and would have taken steps previously to shore this up.”

The Landmarks Preservation Board, at its meeting on December 5, 2014 accepted the application and voted to approve it May 6, 2015 by a vote of 9-1-1. Because the City Council has approved the land marking application, under the Yonkers City Code, the murals and the underlying structures upon which they are painted cannot be demolished with approval of the Landmarks Preservation Board.

Haas, a world-renowned muralist, is a Yonkers resident.