Yonkers Caught within Traps of its Own Making and that of State Senate

Yonkers, NY -- Mayoral Director of Communications David Simpson advises by way of email notice and a Tweet of Mayor Amicone today spending the morning speaking with Governor David A. Paterson and NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli beseeching their assistance in getting Yonkers out from between the power struggle in the NYS Senate. The unexpected power struggle between the Democrats and Republicans for control of the Senate has left Yonkers incapable of proceeding forward with maintaining Yonkers cash flow to pay its municipal workers because the NYS Comptroller must sign off on the approved budget. Comptroller DiNapoli has advised that he cannot do so until until all revenues are accounted, an action that can only follow Senate approval of two revenue extender bills (mortgage recording tax & income tax surcharge) that have yet to be approved by the senate. In affect, that means Yonkers does not have a budget and therefore cannot send out tax bills. 

Mr simpson advises, "Right now the city is running on surplus money that is set to run out in a couple of weeks.  Once money runs out, the city will have to shut down operations or come to an agreement with its unions to work without paychecks until the situation is resolved.

City Hall postulates that this crisis will not be resolved before the 4th of July weekend; in fact, it may even continue beyond September 2009. "But don’t hold your breath," adminished Mr Simpson

Comments

[Nys pawns]

Hey Andrea are you paying attention now?You now have your southern version of Rochester,under you and your compadre's watch

[Jack Treacy]

Chaos, is what you get when NYC leftist Democrats have total political control of the state.Tom Golisano, funded the campaigns that gave the state control to the Democrats and it is Golisano money that had the democratic senator switch his vote to the Republicans.A strong governor could have ended this in one day.

[SAD DAY]

1 more thing wrong with this Mayor.

He can not do anything right!

He can not balance a budget, he can not work with small businesses, he can not keep our city clean, he can not keep our city safe, he can not get development off the ground, he just can not do aything right....

Phil what can you do for the people that is positive?

[Guy Gardner]

My oh my does David Simpson like to see his name in print.

A more seasoned spokesman would see to it that he was only referred to as just that -- "a spokesman."

[SAD DAY]

GREAT JOB MAYOR...RUNNING THE CITY ON EMPTY, UNLIKE YOUR CAR!!!

[Anon E. Mous]

Ohhhh, those left-wing Dems. Bad, bad news.

The Democrats take over the Senate for the first time in 40 years, and look what happens. It's called "cause and effect." Not that it was any good under the Republicans, but it wasn't THIS bad.

This is unprecedented, and it is a Democrat disaster. And that goes for Paterson, too. New York is competing with the California lefties to see who can melt down first.

Cousins said things would change under Dem control. She was right.

[MORTGAGE TAX ?]

does anyone know if since the recording tax on mortgages has not been extended is yonkers losing money on any closings that are going on right now ...???????

[just the facts]

EVERYTHING CHANGES ON DAY ONE....but having
said that dean selos should not be breaking
bread with pedro espada...if the republicans
want to gain the majority they should do it
with younger candidates who have new ideas
that can appeal to independents...they should not try to take the majority by
force as if they were the dictators of
a banana republic in central american..
not good for new york, not good for
the public and lousy politics

[Grouch]

It's very funny how this gets blamed on Democrats. We have a Republican Mayor. We have a coup orchestrated by Republican Senators.

Now, I'm not defending Democrats. The 2 low lives who were bought off by the Republicans sold out.

But this isn't a problem created by Republicans OR Democrats. It's a problem created bt Republicans AND Democrats.

[Jack Treacy]

Tom Golisano is not a Republican and he bought and paid for the Democrats to take control and than pulled in his chips when they would not make the reforms he wanted.The Democrats could end the chaos and regain the Senate by giving Tom Golisano what he wants.

[anon]

This problem in Albany started on June 8th and Amicone is just now realizing the devasting effects for Yonkers-too little, too late Amicone.

[anon]

to Sad Day..

I have a suggestion as to your question of what Amicone can do that is positive for the people = RESIGN!!

[robert]

adminished Mr Simpson. do you notice how bad the spelling is? I wonder if the reporting is any better.

[frank]

MORTGAGE TAX posted above inquiring if the State Legislature failure to extend Yonkers' authority to levy a tax on the recording of mortgages would prevent Yonkers from levying said tax.

Under the current New York State law the authority of the City of Yonkers to levy a mortgage recording tax expires
August 31, 2009.

If the Legislature does not enact legislation to extend Yonkers' authority to levy the mortgage recording tax AND said legislation is not signed into law by August 31, 2009, then YES, Yonkers will not have the authority to so tax the recording of mortgages.

Anyone planning on purchasing a home or otherwise recording a mortgage should seriously consider putting off the transaction until September 1, 2009. Perhaps the State Senate will still be in shambles and several thousands of dollars could be saved from the dirty hands of Mayor Amicone to spend on his cronies on the second floor.

[SeniorCitz.]

PS... HAS PHIL OF SHIT AMIPHONY DONE 1 THING HE PROMISED DURING HIS RE-ELECTION?
HUH???
NOT 1 THING DONE. NOT 1!!!
FUCKING DISGRACE. WHATTA BUM!

[Kell Keenan]

Puhlease.

Since the Mayor had the Governor on the phone, why didn't he ask the Governor to sign the bills passed on Tuesday - especially the one for Yonkers taxes?

Could it be another problem - like the Comptroller was not going to approve the Yonkers budget?

Governor Paterson could just sign the bills passed and let the Republican Senators - who should find it hard to sleep at night - take the matter to court after the bills were signed into law.

Speaking of funding - Golisano was not the only money player. Bloomberg was funding the Republican Senators - looks like for the vote on Mayoral controls of the schools.

This is all about Republicans who didn't like getting what they have been givng to Democrats for the last 40 years.

The Republicans are the ones who increased the Senate to 62 (to protect oe of their own last redistricting) so ties could happen.

Check the record.

[sick of living with trash]

GOOD.
just like rats: the longer there is no money around, the sooner the crooks will look elsewhere to be fed.

[Clifton Clowers]

Paterson said he wasn't gonna sign any bills passed by the Democrats because what they did wasn't legal. That's all there is to that one.

Amicone couldn't talk to anyone up there till Yonkers had a budget, which it didn't have till just lately.

The blame game only works if you got the facts right.

[bobby bo]

amicone is the worst mayor since zieleski

[bobby bo]

it's time to talk about the real cuts that can be made in yonkers... how about the garbage men who work half days .. hey hezi check out the garbage man that works from 7am to 3pm for the city but has to report to st. johns hospital for his other job at 11am .... hmmm that means he's working at least 4 hours a day at another job while he's on the city dime.. hmm but that's ok right ???? I'm so sick of this city and it's nonsense when will someone come in and really make the cuts where they are needed, how about the parks guys who cut grass at 7pm... how about lorraine lopez, city cars, expense accounts, too many employees in city hall, the inflated school budget, the fire department having almost 3 full fleets of vehicles when next to nothing burns in this city... they even have a water tanker ??? can someone show me where there is an area of this city without hydrants??? wake up folks, does the city council need consultants, a ton of administrative aides, do we need city hall tv that nobody watches, stop the bussing and save a ton of money there. Cut back on some parks and rec programs that nobody uses..no more stupid parades for every group in the city. Does the mayor really need a spokesman ??? And what about fleming ?? what a waste. To the city council, pass the LDA and get the work started downtown and stop letting the small business owners down, wake up and be part of the solution not the friggen problem. Sorry for the rant folks, but enough is enough

[anon]

***Mr Simpson advises, "Right now the city is running on surplus money that is set to run out in a couple of weeks. Once money runs out, the city will have to shut down operations or come to an agreement with its unions to work without paychecks until the situation is resolved.***

That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.
Except Dave got it wrong:
The solution is cutting jobs, not running onward on fumes.
What you failed to mention Dave is this: we can start with cutting your job.
Happy Independence Day.

indeed: enough is enough.

[So Fucking Corrupt]

This is the cliff Phil talked about Yonkers falling off--and did nothing about---one year ago.

RESIGN PHIL.

[silvertongue]

it's a shame when you see peoples who their job is politics and they are bad at it. Right now the whole city is being opened up in a display of public works all over Yonkers, tieing up the roads. Rip up the road and leave patches all over tearing up your car. Its amature hour as usual.

[Fed up]

Bobbybo if they pass the LDA they will have confermed the destruction of downtown...There is no one to build !!! They have NO MONEY!!! They had to borrow money (on a personal loan rom the SBA) to payback an outstanding loan they were unable to pay!! DDOOOYYYYY

[Anon E. Mous]

BobbyBo makes some good points. And wasn't it a bench painter from 456 who made over $150,000 a year or two ago thanks to overtime abuse? A bench painter/wall painter. That was great, and symbolic of the abuses and waste in 456, the fire dept. and the police dept.

But when it came to the recent budget, and despite the severe recession, NO ONE -- not the Council, not Amicone -- wanted to open up the union contracts and negotiate pay cuts or anything else, for that matter.

Amicone also didn't want to eliminate any patronage jobs or institute furloughs.

The recession is everywhere, except if you are an employee of the city of Yonkers. For them, life goes on as usual and the costs get passed on to the taxpayers, just like they always are. The blame for this falls squarely on both the Council and Amicone.