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.

MAYOR PROPOSES COMMON SENSE SOLUTION TO CAPITAL BUDGET IMPASSE

Councilmember Dee Barbato and I have been working closely with Mayor Amicone and community leaders to restore funding for safety projects cut out of the recent capital budget. The Mayor recently proposed a sensible solution to the impasse with the Council majority. Councilmember Barbato and I fully support the Myor's recommendation

In a Memorandum dated March 16, 2007 Deputy Mayor Bill Regan outlined a proposal which would allow the Administration to begin planning and design work for two flood control projects and new a watermain in the Crestwood neighborhood. These projects were all cut out of the Budget by a 5-2 vote of the City Council earlier this year.

The flood control projects involve work at “Troublesome Brook” and Underhill Street. The watermain project would be done in conjunction with a project already being done by United Water of New Rochelle and would, therefore, save the City substantial money over the long term. Under the proposal from Mayor Amicone, Capital Budget amendments would be adopted now so that planning and design could begin, with the understanding that bonding authority would be passed this summer in the FY 2007-2008 budget year.

Councilmember Barbato and I have been working daily with the Mayor and Homeowners Groups throughout Northeast Yonkers in order to restore the project cuts. We applaud the Mayor’s proposal as a sensible resolution which will address these critical safety and quality of life projects in a timely and cost-effective manner.