Yonkers Tribune

Gronowski Reintroduces‭ ‬“Tuition Tax Credit‭” ‬Legislation

Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Third District Councilmember Joan Gronowski has reintroduced legislation calling for a “Tuition Tax Credit”, Co-sponsored by Minority Leader, John Murtagh, which would assist low and middle-income families in sending their children to a bona fide school of their choice, and would relieve the state of some of the burden of funding public education by allowing more students to attend private schools.  

Yonkers Councilwoman Gronowski Blasts Administration for Unscionable Lack of Garbage Pickup

 YONKERS, NY, July 14, 2010 -- Yonkers Third District Councilmember Joan Gronowski is criticizing the Amicone Administration on their efforts to resolve the city’s growing garbage problem.    “From last week until now, I have not seen any progress in the pickup of garbage commingle items.” Gronowski stated. “The city administration has asked residents of Yonkers to be patient until the sanitation workers learn their ‘new’ routes, but calls from patient residents have now turned to outrage, and rightly so.”  Gronowski noted that garbage in areas of the 3rd istrict has been sitting on curbsides and in the streets for over two weeks.  There have also been comments regarding the continuous robo calls made to residents that have caused more chaos and confusion by instructing residents to do their part by putting the garbage out on a certain day without it’s being picked up.  

Councilwoman Gronowski Cites Mayor Amicone, DPW, and Union Leaders for Lack of Response to Garbage Collection in Yonkers

 YONKERS, NY, July 7, 2010 -- Yonkers Third District Councilmember Joan Gronowski is calling for the Amicone administration to immediately take action in responding to the outcries of Yonkers residents that have garbage piling up in their neighborhoods.  Gronowski’s office has been inundated for two weeks with calls of angry residents that are disheartened by the dismal quality of life in their neighborhoods. They no longer know where to turn for help.

Councilwoman Gronowski Questions City Council Bonding to Pay Parking Authority Settlement

YONKERS, NY, July 6, 2010 -- Yonkers Third District Councilmember Joan Gronowski is criticizing a plan that calls for the Yonkers City Council to bond an $800,000 settlement facing the Yonkers Parking Authority stemming from its 2001 seizure of property through Eminent Domain.   The property is a parking lot at 310 Saw Mill River Road.  According to Deputy Mayor William Regan, also Chair of the Parking Authority Board, the agency doesn’t have enough money to pay for the settlement.  The City Council CIP bonding was an alternative financing option suggested by Yonkers Inspector General Dan Schorr, which includes annual repayments of approximately $85,000 by the Authority to the City of Yonkers until 2024.  

Gronowski Reintroduces Campaign Finance Reform Legislation

 Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Councilmember Joan Gronowski (3rd District) has reintroduced legislation calling for Campaign Finance Reform which would limit the amounts of campaign contributions incumbents and challenging candidates may receive.  Her proposed legislation also calls for all candidates to be prohibited from accepting contributions from specific sources: such as individuals or businesses receiving government contracts for services; those who have submitted bids or proposals; are involved in any business relationship with the City of Yonkers; or who receive or seek to receive funds from the City or grant money.  The legislation also excludes contributions from all corporations, developers, contractors, political action committees (PACs), labor organizations and other entities which face a substantial likelihood of having matters under consideration by the City of Yonkers.   

Councilmember Gronowski’s Position Validated by State Civil Service Official Faults Yonkers for NOT Following Civil Service Laws

 The Journal News’ reporter Ernie Garcia today published the article in which he divulged that the New York State Department of Civil Service, by inference, validated the position taken by Councilmember Joan Gronowski as they criticized Yonkers for having 36 provisional appointees to Civil  Service jobs who have not demonstrated fitness to serve by passing a competitive exam. Read the rest of the article >>> 

Councilwoman Gronowski Calls for Suspension of Taxpayer Funded Parades and Festivals

Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Third District Councilmember Joan Gronowski is calling upon the city administration to cancel all upcoming parades and festivals in the City of Yonkers for the 2010 fiscal year, unless they can be independently funded by the sponsoring organization.

Councilwoman Gronowski Calls for Parity in Employee Parking at Municipal Lots

Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Third District Councilmember Joan Gronowski has asked the city administration to implement a policy whereby all City of Yonkers employees who utilize the Government Center Garage adjacent to City Hall, pay for their parking – including elected officials and commissioners.  Gronowski initially raised this issue during her campaign for city council, and this second request was prompted by the recent elimination of free parking for employees of the downtown Yonkers Public Library at the Buena Vista Garage.   Gronowski stated, “Deputy Mayor Bill Regan noted that ‘We’re in the parking business.  We’re not here to give free parking’, when referencing the parking changes implemented for the library employees.”  Gronowski continued, “That policy should hold true for all employees who must pay for parking at structures operated by the Yonkers Parking Authority – especially the Government Center Garage at City Hall.  Either every city employee pays or no one should pay.”