When I look at my paycheck, I look at my pay and deductions. Yonkers, like New York City, has an additional local income tax on top of state and federal income tax. Even though we have discussions about area median income and the rate of poverty for our students, Yonkers residents and anyone employed in Yonkers pays an additional income tax.
I have often questioned this additional tax. If we are in fact a city with lower financial means, why is there an additional tax imposed upon our pay? This led me to think, what exactly do I get for this additional tax? It also led me to think, what do our local leaders do with our money? It is supposed to be allocated for them to run a good government. I am aware that income tax is not the sole source of funding, but it is skin in the game.
What is “good government”?
This will be measured differently based on the individual. For me, good government is expected to be trustworthy, ethical, accountable, transparent and accessible. That being said, recently there was local law sponsored by City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy citing Section 106 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York. This new law creates an order to take, preserve, and make available minutes for the Yonkers City Ethics Board meetings. Seemingly, this legislation increases transparency.
The ethics board mandate is a great start. However, we need full transparency and access to all boards and committees in the City of Yonkers. Quite frankly, we fund it all with our taxpayer pooled money. We are paying for our elected officials to create laws and policies for us. If our government is working in the best interest of its constituents, this should be a welcomed progressive move.
Since the Public Officers Law already exempts matters that do not need to be included, what most may consider best practice is making available recordings of all meetings for each of the boards and committees, as well as agendas and minutes. Westchester County government already seamlessly does this to ensure transparency. Yonkers regularly updates its website and City Council meetings are already made available for easy access. Since we have the existing structure, ability, and precedent this should be relatively easy to implement. We have a full division dedicated to information technology. I am certain our hard-working members of our technology department can easily upload the video meetings onto our city website.
I am fully aware that we will have to pay for additional storage for these meetings. Nevertheless, this is a wise investment and a necessary cost to pay for faith in our local government.
What is not good government?
Recently, the City Council and the Mayor gave themselves significant raises through two pieces of legislation. The first was sponsored by newly re-elected council person and Minority Leader for a fourth term, Mike Breen, newly re-elected council person and Majority Leader Tasha Diaz and City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, three of the four people who elected to extend term limits without a public referendum. This law raised the mayor’s salary from about $156,000 to $228,000, retroactive to January 2023. That’s $72,000 back pay to the mayor, as well as $72,000 additional each year going forward.
The second piece of legislation sponsored by all the members was for a nearly 16% increase to their own salaries. Additionally, there is an increase in the stipend for committee assignments from $5,000 to $15,000, a startling 300% increase. Although Councilperson Corazon Pineda-Isaac dissented to the Mayor’s retroactive pay and Councilperson Anthony Merante to both legislations, all pay raises passed with a 6-1 vote, with Councilperson Merante being the only “no” vote.
I believe that everyone should make a living wage; aligned with a good quality of life for its region. I fully understand and support the Mayor’s pay to be in the 200,000’s, especially since we live in the Metropolitan area, and that position is full-time. What I do not agree with is having raises, immediately post-election, that are retroactive for any Mayor. This seems like, though it may not be, a fully calculated chess move, because getting an almost 16% raise and a 46% raise with retroactive pay could cost a politician their re-election.
Quickly introducing legislation that does not benefit the public, but rather, benefits the individuals who are in power, who then vote and implement it solely for their pay to increase, with little public input and without consequence, is not good government. Perhaps, in the same vein we can introduce legislation for the public to vote for increases for our elected officials based on the percent increase for the lowest union contract annually, instead of these large percentages in one shot. I would love to vote to support my elected officials and have a voice in this process. Moreso if they work hard for my rights and needs.
A Call for Action
When veils and screens are put up, with frustrating systems and long waits, or partial answers for Freedom Of Information Law (FOIL) requests from City Governmental agencies, residents become upset. A resident even created a website to track FOIL requests because of just how aggravating the process has been. We should not be this annoyed when trying to access the very government we pay for. It leads to distrust in our leaders and we experience disappointment in the people who are supposed to represent us. I believe part of the issue is the state law has no consequences for municipalities that do not follow the FOIL law. The only redress is to have a constituent sue the City.
Though this proposed legislation could give its residents access to the minutes of the Board of Ethics, I’m left questioning– why does the legislation not include all the boards and committees?
I immediately think why do we have to fight so hard for our rights? When the City Council is supposed to be a check and balance, but nothing is in balance, it leads to hopelessness. We elect people to proactively work for us to have more rights. I vote for elected officials hoping they will put my rights, needs, and benefit above their own. All I see is elected officials who are working together to enrich their own bank accounts.
So, I am asking for a real shift to a trustworthy government,. This includes full transparency, and public access to all boards and committee meetings. An amendment to this legislation should be “recorded meetings will be included for all boards and committees.” Yonkers is a city that charges its citizens property tax and income tax. Can we please get more bang for our buck?
I am cautiously optimistic that the Yonkers City Council will mindfully work together to amend this law and add in all the committees and boards. I believe there are more than 22 in our city government. This would show us their commitment to full transparency, accountability and accessibility. It will show us that their motives are in fact for the people, who pay the taxes who fund their newly increased salaries.
