YONKERS GREENWAY PARK GROUNDBREAKING BRIDGES YONKERS & NYC COMMUNITIES AGAIN

Join the City of Yonkers on Wednesday, October 24 as Multi-Year Renovation Project

Kicks Off to Revitalize the Old Putnam Railroad for Economic Growth

 

What:                      On October 24, the Yonkers Greenway will break ground to transform an abandoned section of the Old Putnam Railroad into a revitalized park that will feature art installations, gardens and playgrounds for members of the community to enjoy.

When the entirety of the Yonkers Greenway is complete, it will once again link Yonkers to New York City with a two-mile walking and biking path. The Yonkers Greenway will also increase accessibility and encourage economic growth in surrounding areas.

Over the last four years, the City of Yonkers has been committed to developing the project through community engagement from a variety of private and public partners such as Groundwork Hudson Valley, a community-based environmental non-profit, and Bank of America.

Other partners who helped bring the Yonkers Greenway to life include the Environmental Protection Agency, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Westchester Community Foundation, Impact 100 Westchester, the Ronald McDonald House

Charities, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

When:                      October 24, 2018

                                     Media Check-in / Interviews: 1:30 p.m.

                                     Groundbreaking & Photo Opp: 2:00 p.m.

Where:                    52 Lawrence Street, Yonkers, NY, 10701

Who:                        Mike Spano , Mayor, City of Yonkers

                                   Jeff Barker , New York State President, Bank of America

                                   Brigitte Griswold , Executive Director, Groundwork Hudson Valley

                                   Michael Sabatino ,Majority Leader, Yonkers City Council

YONKERS MAYOR MIKE SPANO JOINS LOCAL VETERANS FOR “SALUTE & SERVE” COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DAY

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano will join local veterans and volunteers for Yonkers’ first-ever “Salute & Serve” Day on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 11:00AM at Melan’s African Hair Braiding 26 North Broadway Yonkers, NY 10701. “Salute & Serve” is an opportunity for the community to thank local veterans for their service by volunteering their time to a veteran and taking them to lunch/coffee or a haircut. Volunteers are paired with a local veteran and visit area restaurants, cafes and barbershops where discounted services are provided (with proof of veteran ID) to those participating in “Salute & Serve.”

“Salute & Serve” is in honor of Yonkers veteran Staff Sgt. Courtney A. Hollinsworth,  who was killed in action in 2007.  The program was created partnership with City Of Yonkers Department of Veteran Services and New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs.

***Interviews and Photo Opps***

Who:            Mike Spano, City of Yonkers Mayor

                       City of Yonkers Department of Veteran Services

                       New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs

                       Veterans & Volunteers        

                       Hope Hollinsworth Coaxum, Gold Star Mother of Staff Sgt. Courtney A. Hollinsworth                      

What:          “Salute & Serve” Community Volunteer Day

 

Where:       Melan’s African Hair Braiding

                       26 North Broadway

                       Yonkers, NY 10701

 

When:        Thursday, October 18
11:00AM

CITY OF YONKERS SCORES PERFECT 100 ON MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Yonkers Rated as One of the Top U.S. Cities Exhibiting LGBTQ Inclusion in Municipal Law & Policy

YONKERS, NY – October 12, 2018 – The Human Rights Commission Foundation, in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute, this week released its sixth 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 78 nationally.

“Our administration works tirelessly toward full equality amongst our residents and employees,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “We are once again extremely proud to continually be part of the 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.”

Yonkers was specifically recognized for its non-discrimination laws; municipal services; law enforcement and leadership of LGBTQ equality.  June 2018 marked the first time Yonkers hosted a pride festival, attracting hundreds of visitors and residents from the area.

Michael Sabatino, Yonkers City Council Majority Leader stated, “I am proud to know that Yonkers was one of 78 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. Our first pride festival was a huge success having been supported by the community at large.  Congratulations to all.”

The 2018 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, 78 cities earned perfect scores for advancing fully-inclusive policies and practices — 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. 

YONKERS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PROVIDE SAND BAGS FOR RESIDENTS IN LOW LYING AREAS

Sand Bags Available at Yonkers Organic Waste Yard Tonight, Thursday October 11, Until 9PM, In Preparation Of Possible Flooding

YONKERS, NY – October 11, 2018 – In anticipation of flooding due to expected heavy rainfall, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced that the City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will provide free sand bags for residents who live in low lying areas. Residents can pick up sand bags today until 9PM at the Yonkers Organic Waste Yard, located at 610 Nepperhan Avenue in the City of Yonkers.

“Due to the high amounts of rainfall expected, I’ve asked the DPW to make sand bags available to our residents,” said Mayor Spano. “Flood mitigation efforts are already being implemented by DPW crews in certain low lying areas, but we also want to ensure our residents take the necessary precautionary steps in protecting their homes and property.”

Residents with questions or concerns about flood mitigation should contact the Mayor’s Help Line at (914) 377-HELP (4357).

YONKERS DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN SERVICES HONORS CITY’S GOLD STAR MOTHERS

Ceremony to be held at Gold Star Mother Memorial at Van Der Donck Park Sunday, September 30 at 10AM

The Yonkers Department of Veteran Services will honor the mothers of fallen military service men and women Sunday, September 30 at 10AM at the Gold Star Mothers Memorial at Van Der Donck Park.

The ceremony is an opportunity to recognize the women in Yonkers whose child died in combat while defending the U.S. The mothers honor the memory and sacrifice of their child by supporting their country, assisting veterans and helping fellow Gold Star Mothers. Gold Star Mother’s Day has been nationally recognized since 1936.

 ***Interviews and Photo Opps***

Who:            Mayor Mike Spano

                       Yonkers City Council
Lou Navarro, Director of Department of Veteran Services

                        Hope Hollinsworth-Coaxum, President of Gold Star Mother Yonkers Chapter

What:           Gold Star Mothers Ceremony

 When:         Sunday, September 30

                        10:00 am

Where:        Gold Star Mothers Memorial

                        Van Der Donck Park at Larkin Plaza (Buena Vista Ave)

                        Yonkers, NY

MAYOR MIKE SPANO TO PAINT CEREMONIAL LINE FOR 91ST ANNUAL YONKERS COLUMBUS DAY PARADE

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano will kick-off festivities for the Yonkers Columbus Day Parade by painting the ceremonial line on Wednesday, September 26th at 11:00AM, at the corner of Midland Avenue and Mile Square Road in the City of Yonkers. 

The Parade’s Grand Marshalls, Columbus Day Parade Committee and local elected officials will be present for the ceremony.

                                                                                     ***Interviews & Photo Opps***

Who:        Mayor Mike Spano

                    Columbus Day Parade Committee

                    Yonkers City Council

What:       Yonkers Columbus Day Parade Line Painting

 

Where:     Corner of Midland Avenue & Mile Square Road
Yonkers, NY

When:      Wednesday, September 26th
11:00 AM

Mayor Spano and Climate Mayors Partner in Launch of Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative

Partnership Will Help Rapidly Electrify Municipal Fleets, Reduce Emissions and Save Money

Yonkers, NY – September 13, 2018 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and member of Climate Mayors today announced a partnership with 19 other founding US cities in launching the Climate Mayors EV Purchasing Collaborative —a turnkey, one-stop online portal providing municipalities across the country equal access to competitively bid electric vehicles and accompanying charging infrastructure.

To mark the start of the Collaborative, the 20 founding cities and two counties have publicly committed to the purchase of 391 EVs — a figure that is expected to grow as the program continues to engage cities across the country.

“The City of Yonkers is proud to be part of a coalition of cities across America committed to vehicle electrification and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mayor Spano. “The Climate Mayors EV Purchasing Collaborative will help accelerate the conversion of municipal vehicle fleets from gas to electric and demonstrates how cities can work together in taking meaningful action on climate change.”  

Transportation is the largest and fastest-growing source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The new portal is an unprecedented cooperation of cities across the country to leverage their collective buying power and accelerate the conversion of municipal fleets to electric—sending a powerful signal to the global car market and helping America maintain its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.

The platform was developed in partnership with the Electrification Coalition (EC), a nonprofit working to accelerate the mass adoption of EVs to reduce U.S. oil dependence. It will centralize expert resources and information — giving cities a roadmap for a more efficient and rapid conversion of city fleets and charging infrastructure. 

In addition to the City of Yonkers, Founding Cities include Aspen, Austin, Berkeley, Burlington, Chula Vista, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Fayetteville, Houston, Jersey City, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Rochester, San Diego, Santa Monica and Washington, DC

The EC and Climate Mayors are also working in coordination with the America’s Pledge initiative, an effort to bring the private and public sectors together to ensure the U.S. delivers on the country’s ambitious goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. “Fulfilling America’s Pledge,” the second bottom-up U.S. climate report, is being formally released at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco today.

For more information on the Collaborative, visit www.DriveEVfleets.org.

About Climate Mayors: Climate Mayors, founded in 2014 by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, is a bipartisan, peer-to-peer network of 409 U.S. Mayors representing 70 million Americans from 47 states committed to adopting, honoring, and upholding the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Climate Mayors are working together to demonstrate leadership on climate change through meaningful actions in their communities, and to express and build political will for effective federal and global policy. For more information, visit www.ClimateMayors.org.

About the Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition (EC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group of business leaders committed to promoting policies and actions that reduce America’s dependence on oil by facilitating the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale. The members of the Electrification Coalition are leaders of companies representing the entire value chain of an electrified transportation system.  For more information, visit www.ElectrificationCoalition.org.

MAYOR MIKE SPANO & CITY OF YONKERS TO COMMEMORATE 9/11 AT TWO REMEMBRANCE CEREMONIES ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th

At Yonkers 9/11 Waterfront Memorial at 8:30AM;

At Conor Park’s 9/11 Monument at 7:00PM

Mayor Mike Spano will be joined by elected officials and members of the Yonkers community at two events on Tuesday, September 11th to remember and honor the 26 Yonkers residents who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 

The City’s remembrance ceremonies will take place at the Yonkers 9/11 Waterfront Memorial (Water Grant St.) at 8:30AM and at Conor Park at 7PM, where the City dedicated a monument derived from a 38-foot, 4,000 lb. piece of World Trade Center steel.

***Interviews & Photo Opps***

Who:                    Mike Spano, City of Yonkers Mayor

                               Yonkers City Council

                               Families of the September 11 Victims

                               Yonkers Police Department

                               Yonkers Fire Department

                               Yonkers Community & Residents

What:                  City of Yonkers 9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies

Where & When:   9/ 11 Memorial – Water Grant Street – Waterfront     

                                   Tuesday, September 11 at 8:30AM

                                   &

                                   9/11 Monument – Conor Park – McLean Ave & Central Ave

                                   Tuesday, September 11 at 7:00PM

MAYOR MIKE SPANO TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 400 BACKPACKS TO THOMAS CORNELL ACADEMY STUDENTS AT 7th ANNUAL “BACKPACK TO SCHOOL” DRIVE

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano will join Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Quezada, Board of Education Trustees, parents, students and staff of Thomas Cornell Academy in Yonkers for the 7th Annual “Backpack to School Drive” Wednesday, August 29th at 1:00 PM at Thomas Cornell Academy’s St. Mary’s Hall, at 15 St. Mary’s Street, in Yonkers, NY. 

The Mayor will distribute backpacks and school supplies received through the “Backpack to School Drive” to the students and families in attendance.  Backpacks and School Supplies were donated by sponsors Empire City Casino, Heavenly Productions Foundation, Sears, Elite Investigations LTD, Rock & Rod’s Collector Car Club, Castle Royale and Yonkers residents.

***Interviews and Photo Opps** 

Who:           Mayor Mike Spano

                       Yonkers City Council

                       School Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada

                       Yonkers Board of Education Trustees

                       Thomas Cornell Academy Principal Dr. Edward Beglane   

                       Thomas Cornell Academy Families & Students

                       Event Sponsors

What:          “Backpack to School” Drive Press Conference & Distribution

Where:       Cornell Academy’s St. Mary’s Hall (adjacent to school entrance) 

                       15 St. Mary’s Street, Yonkers

When:        Wednesday, August 29

                       1:00 PM

YONKERS MAYOR MIKE SPANO ANNOUNCES COOLING CENTERS AS EXTREME HEAT HITS THE CITY

YONKERS, NY – August 28, 2018 Mayor Mike Spano announced today the City of Yonkers will designate several locations throughout the city as Cooling Centers as temperatures will reach 95+ degrees, combined with high levels of humidity.

“As a city it is important that when heat waves hit our area, we make Cooling Centers available to all residents in need of a cool place to rest and stay hydrated,” said Mayor Spano. “I especially encourage our city’s older adults, residents with medical conditions and those working outside to please stay safe and utilize a Cooling Center located nearest to you if needed.”

Mayor Spano said each Cooling Center will be equipped with water, seating and air conditioning. The following locations will be open as Cooling Centers during specified hours for all residents:

Bernice Spreckman Community Center

777 McLean Avenue

12:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Scotti Community Center

680 Bronx River Road

11:30 AM to 3:30 PM 

Nodine Hill Community Center

140 Fillmore Street

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Nepperhan Community Center

342 Warburton Avenue

Until 3:00PM

North Yonkers Preservation

219 Ridge Avenue

Until 2:00PM

Yonkers Riverfront Library

One Larkin Center
Until 8:00PM

Grinton I. Will Library

1500 Central Park Avenue

Until 9:00PM

Crestwood Library

16 Thompson Street

Until 9:00PM

Chema Community Center

435 Riverdale Avenue

Until 4:30PM

To ensure safety, the Mayor is also raising awareness of heat safety precautions residents should take during periods of extreme heat:

·         If you have air conditioning already installed, make sure it works properly before the use.

·         Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate them if necessary. Check your home’s air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.

·         Install temporary window reflectors, such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, between windows and drapes to reflect heat back outside.

·         Install weather stripping on your home’s doors and windowsills to keep cool air in and hot air out.

·         Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers, which can reduce the heat entering a home by up to 80 percent.

·         Keep storm windows in place year-round.

·         If you don’t have air conditioning, open your windows during the coolest part of the day and keep fresh air moving around your home with circulating fans.

·         Drink plenty of cool non-alcoholic liquids, especially water.

·         Protect your face and head with a wide-brimmed hat, and wear light-colored clothing to reflect sunlight (dark clothing more readily absorbs sunlight).

·         Keep pets indoors and refill their water bowls frequently.

For more information on City Cooling Centers or for any additional assistance, please call the Mayor’s Help Line at 377-HELP.