The theme or mantra promoted by Mayor Amicone over the last six years has been economic development, education, and a better, safer Yonkers. He said he would achieve this without partisan politics, with open government, cost savings, and reaping the tax benefits of his guesstimate revenue stream of millions of dollars. This, combined with thousands of new jobs both temporary and permanent would well serve the residents of Yonkers. He, Mayor Amicone, may even become the "little Bloomberg on the Hudson."
As always, watch what they do, not what they say!
The Mayor's "No Plan Plan" has spread financial fertilizer in the millions of dollars of taxpayer money which has over the years withered in dry beds of economic weeds. The green shoots are dying fast. Its all over; you pick your favorite project. And yet, at the opposite end of the spectrum our tax dollars and subsidies continue to underwrite :affordable housing," which ironically draws more non-Yonkers residents to heavily subsidized units. Both ventures are collapsing. No taxes, no benefits, no jobs; only more of our hard earned tax dollars going to support the dream of a seemingly "out of touch" mayor who is still obsessed in looking for a rooftop baseball stadium. Go figure.
His government is wholly partisan, exclusive, elitist, punitive, secretive, sneaky, well, I guess much like his associates from Hog Hill.
The economic climate has not stopped hiring "Friends and Family" at City Hall, In fact, if you can't get in at City Hall, they will arrange something for you at the Board of Education (BoE).
If you recall, the contemplated merger of the BoE into a department of City Hall never happened, despite the initial public outrage. After 6 years, City Hall hasn't even been able to figure out how to meld shared services.
The BoE is now controlled by Mayor Amicone through longtime operative and friend, Bernadette Dunne. She seems to be the only person capable of being President of the Board of Trustees. In fact, she reminds us of a female Robert Ferrito. Mayor Amicone has so much respect for the Trustees that two seats have been left vacant since May of this year. In so doing, Mayor Amicone contrived a diminished and compliant group of 7 out of what should be 9 Trustees who are controlled by the personality of Mrs. Dunne, empowered by Mayor Amicone, and of course, the "let me retire in peace with my BIG BUCKS" Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio.
The non-educational side of the BoE is a quiet breeding ground for more lucrative development deals, as well as jobs for the "Friends and Family Club." Check their roster. to find everyone from Mr Carr, who came directly out of City Hall, to Mr Flath, who arrived by way of his wife Aileen who came through City Hall. Digging all the way down to the bottom of the barrel, we find Lorraine Lopez' s husband; he too came from City Hall. It goes on and on.
