As members of community organizations committed to the expansion of affordable housing in the City of Yonkers, we are extremely disappointed with the City Council members who voted to not to override Mayor Spano’s veto of the Affordable Housing Ordinance -we are particularly frustrated by the votes of Council members Tasha Diaz and John Rubbo.
On June 23, 2021, all five Democrats voted for and passed the Affordable Housing Ordinance. The ordinance called for developers to set aside 20% of units in buildings of more than 100 units for families making at least $35,000 or $40,000. Unfortunately, a few days later, Mayor Spano vetoed it while assuring voters that he would propose an alternative. More than 90 days later, the Yonkers City Council has yet to receive a plan from the Mayor!
Rather than using this ordinance as an opportunity to develop a critical affordable housing policy for the 3rdlargest city in New York State, the Yonkers City Council has dropped the ball, fragmented and unfocused on this issue. Watching two Democrats, Council members Tasha Diaz and John Rubbo, who ran for office on improving access to affordable housing, vote with the two minority Republicans was painful to witness and impossible to understand.
We call on Yonkers City Council President Mike Khader, and Democratic Majority Leader Corazon Pineda-Isaac to bring the Democratic Caucus together to develop a new proposal for the Affordable Housing Ordinance. We call on them to act with urgency to put forth and vote on a plan that helps Yonkers residents who need safe, quality, and affordable housing.
Signed,
Juanita O. Lewis, Executive Director of Community Voices Heard
NY CD-16 Indivisible
Westchester-Putnam Working Families Party
Rev. Frank Coleman Jr, President of the Yonkers NAACP
Pastor of the Messiah Baptist Church of Yonkers
Hudson River Community Association