On Wednesday, March 13, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano delivered his annual State of the City Address in the Riverfront Library. He touched on familiar topics under the theme of “Our Time.” There are several key elements like public safety, education, and business development that hone in on the Mayor’s vision for Yonkers. At the start of his fourth term, he sees it as a continuation of his prior 12 years of work; saying, “I see this time as a chance to build upon the foundation we’ve created for ourselves.”
We now can stand on the summit with little in our way and declare, this is OUR TIME – our time to hit our stride and our time to reach our fullest potential.
Public Safety
Mayor Spano highlighted the hard work done by the Yonkers Police Department by citing a 24% drop in reported crime since he first entered office in 2011. He touted new technologies like the AWARE Crime Control Center which opened last year. This central hub of all city-wide data provides first responders greater speed at tracking down suspects and locating missing persons. The Mayor said this technology helped police respond to 700 calls last year alone.
The City also plans to invest in new technology to help keep officers and civilians safer during criminal pursuits. This includes GPS trackers and an all-purpose drone to provide a real-time bird’s-eye view assessing situations. New cameras mounted on school buses also catch dangerous drivers threatening the well-being of commuting students.
Economic and Housing Development
Mayor Spano has promised to continue building more housing. Last year, the administration approved the construction of over 1,950 new residential units. While focused on the west side, Spano touted the forthcoming four-mile-long riverfront walkway with a new green space in the Ludlow Park neighborhood.
Advancing the City’s Climate Action Plan, Mayor Spano announced a new “Solar for All” initiative. A training program will prepare 60 workers for jobs in solar installation. These installers aim to equip 10,000 homes across southwest Yonkers with solar power. Home solar energy installations can reduce utility bills by up to 20% and offer equitable opportunities in underserved areas. This “Solar for All” plan further advances Yonkers’ position as a green energy leader along with other programs like the expansion of food scrap collection and backyard composting.
The residential growth in the city is rivaled only by the growth in industry. The Mayor noted the self-proclaimed “Hollywood on Hudson” film sector brought in over $300,000 in revenue last year despite the actor and writers’ strikes. But, even more excitement builds for the gaming industry. Mayor Spano hopes that 2024 is the year the dream of expanding MGM Resorts comes to fruition. With the possibility of a full-gaming license being approved, renovations are already underway at the famed “racino.”
We’ve supported this historic property for 125 years and I’m excited about the significant impact full-gaming will have on our city for years to come.
Education
The first newly constructed school in 20 years opens this fall. The Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School will serve about 675 students ranging from pre-K to eighth grade. The $80 million project sits on the former St. Denis Catholic School site at McLean Avenue and Lawrence Street.
However, despite the joy and anticipation at a new school building, budget woes plague the district. Facing an $86 million deficit, the plan put forth by Mayor Spano relies on more state funding. As such, he asks the community to apply pressure on other politicians in Albany.
Watch the State of the City 2024 below
Mayor Mike Spano concluded his hour-long speech by embracing the diversity of the city. We encourage you to read the full transcript of the speech or watch the video recording below.
Read the speech in full by clicking here.
