YONKERS CITIZENS TAKE CAPITAL BUDGET FIGHT "ON LINE"

Citizens of Yonkers fighting to restore capital projects cut in their Council Districts have taken their fight to the internet.

In what may be a first for Yonkers, residents of northeast Yonkers, led by Taffy Williams of the Crestwood Civic Association, have begun an “on-line” petition drive to demand that the City Council majority restore a much needed watermain project to the Capital Budget.

The project which was slated for this Spring and Summer was cut by a 5-2 vote of the Council last month. The project was to have been done in conjunction with another watermain project being done by United Water of New Rochelle in the same location. By combining the projects, the City would have saved substantial money and lessened the impact on the neighborhood. By delaying the project, the eventual cost will be substantially greater and the streets will have to be opened twice.

Councilmember Dee Barbato and I have been working closely with the Mayor and the citizens to restore the projects to the budget. However, the internet petition takes the battle to a new high-tech level.

Grassroots community activism has been on the rise for several years in Yonkers. Together with other citizen led efforts such as YonkersTV.blogspot.com, an on-line petition is the next logical step in empowering citizens and giving them a direct voice.

The petition can be found by searching “water main” and “Yonkers City Council” on the website www.thepetitionsite.com.