Yonkers Tribune

Mayor Amicone’s Statement Over NYS Supreme Court Ruling Demanding Yonkers Federation of Teachers Comply with Inspector General’s Subpoena

Yonkers, NY -- The following is an official statement by Mayor Phil Amicone regarding the ruling issued on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, by Judge William J. Giacomo of the New York State Supreme Court ordering the Yonkers Federation of Teachers (YFT) Welfare Fund to comply with the Yonkers Inspector General subpoena for documents by this Friday, July 29 at Noon.

Mayor Amicone Vetoes Overtime Law Citing Legal Flaws

Mayor Pledges to Work with City Council on Alternate Legislation

YONKERS, NY – June 30, 2011 --  Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone today vetoed the Overtime Reduction Law sent to him earlier this month by the City Council, saying it would have been indefensible in court against impending legal challenges from the city's unions.

The mayor praised the Council for its "laudable" attempt to address the issue of overtime spending, particularly as it relates to the practice of pension padding --- uniformed personnel who increase their state pensions by working excessive overtime in their final year before retirement. 

Mayor & City Council Reach Budget Deal

10:00 a.m. News Conference Thursday at City Hall

YONKERS, NY -- Mayor Phil Amicone and members of the City Council* have reached a deal on the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget that will include more money for the Yonkers Public Schools to help save some educational programs. The budget deal will not raise property taxes beyond the 4.8% increase that was originally proposed in the mayor's Executive Budget. City officials will hold a news conference tomorrow, Thursday, June 23rd at 10:00 a.m. to announce the details. Schools Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio is also expected to attend. 
The press conference will be held in the Mayor's Reception Room on the second floor of Yonkers City Hall. All will be available for questions and one-on-one interviews.

* Councilwoman Joan Gronowski this morning departed for a destination outside the state. Her plans had been forwarded to City Hall and the Yonkers City Council over one week ago.

Read: Breaking News Exclusive: Yonkers Mayor Amicone Finds $25 Million first published today, June 22, 2011, at 10:27 a.m. learn more.

http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2011/06/breaking-news-exclusive-yonkers-mayor-amicone-finds-25-million.html

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone Responds to Teachers Union Vote & Ongoing Budget Negotiations

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing city budget negotiations, specifically the teachers union vote against temporarily giving up automatic raises in order to help save 700+ jobs and critical programs at the Yonkers Public Schools.

"For the past six weeks, others and I have been working tirelessly to secure additional funding for the Yonkers Public Schools in order to save hundreds of jobs and critical programs that are threatened by the district's $42 million budget gap. The solution I proposed involved complicated refinancing of some of the city's debt in cooperation with New York State in order to free up additional emergency funding for the Board of Education. 

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone Responds to Ongoing Budget Negotiations

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing city budget negotiations, specifically the city's proposal to establish a City of Yonkers Transitional Financing Authority (TFA) that would free up $20 million to save school programs and jobs. The TFA requires the approval of the State Comptroller and the State Legislature.

Mayor Amicone Urges City Council Action on Plan to Save School District

Creation of Transitional Finance Authority Would Net $20 Million For Yonkers Schools In Crisis Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone has submitted a revised plan to the City Council that would help avert hundreds of layoffs and program cuts at the Yonkers Public Schools by creating a Transitional Finance Authority (TFA), allowing the city to restructure some of its debt and free up $20 million that would go the Board of Education in the FY 2012 Budget.

Mayor Issues YouTube Appeal to School Unions: 'Help Us Save Jobs'

YONKERS, NY -- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone has issued a direct appeal to the unions representing the city's public school employees via a YouTube message posted to the internet on Monday. The mayor's message is simple: help save jobs and education programs by meeting the city halfway in its solution to the budget crisis that has gripped the school district. 

Mayor Amicone's YouTube message can be seen here.

Yonkers Mayor Admonishes State Lawmakers for Selling Out Public School Children to Appease Teachers Union

Yonkers, NY -- The following is an official statement from Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone regarding the FY 2011-12 state budget adopted this week by the New York State Legislature. Specifically, the mayor’s comments concern a $14 million appropriation for the Teacher Resource and Computer Training program, a discretionary fund used by tenured teachers for continuing education classes. There are few requirements for these classes. More information can be found here: http://www.nyiteez.org/NYteachercenters/homepage.htm.

Yonkers City Council President Lesnick's Action Regarding Landmarks Board Appointments "Shameful" and "Disrespectful" By Mayor Phil Amicone

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone Official Statement on NYS Budget, Education Funding & Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Yonkers, NY, March 21, 2011 -- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone (center) was in Albany today along with Yonkers Schools Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio (right) and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino (left) for the purpose of lobbying state legislative leaders for the restoration of severe school funding cuts to Yonkers and other serious issues affecting the City of Yonkers in the state budget. They had a series of meetings with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (below right), Sen. Jeff Klein (Yonkers, The Bronx)(below left), Senate Finance Committee staff, and others. 

Mayor Urges Ethics Investigation Into Council President Lesnick's Political Ties to Towing Company

Yonkers, NY, March 16, 2011 -- Mayor Phil Amicone is calling for an ethics investigation into Council President Chuck Lesnick's relationship with a private towing company who is now suing the city after failing to win a competitive bid for city towing services.

Lesnick's relationship with the towing company, Inspector General Dan Schorr("Transit") out of Yonkers, goes back at least as far as 2009 when Transit donated the use of one of its vehicles for Lesnick's reelection campaign. That year, Lesnick disclosed a $150 donation to his campaign committee but failed to disclose the in-kind donation for the political use of Transit's vehicle(s). 

2011 State of the City Address by Yonkers Mayor Philip A. Amicone

Good evening.

Mr. Council President.

Members of the City Council.

Honorable judges and distinguished guests.

As you know, this is my final opportunity to address you as mayor in this special setting, where all of city government and many of our residents come together to join in a conversation about the state of our city.

Mayor Amicone Member in Good Standing in the “Tin-cup Brigade” By Hezi Aris

Albany, NY and Yonkers, NY, February 7, 2011 -- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone is today expected to testify before a joint panel of the New York State Legislature over Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget cuts. New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is presently testifying; Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Rochester Acting Mayor R. Carlos Carballada are expected to testify as well.

Mayor Phil Amicone Statement: Lord & Taylor Coming to Yonkers' Ridge Hill Village

Yonkers, NY -- The following is an official statement from Mayor Phil Amicone regarding today's announcement by Forest City Ratner that Lord & Taylor will be an anchor tenant at the $650 million Ridge Hill Village development in Yonkers.

Mayor Amicone’s Response to IG Schorr’s Report on YFD Sick Leave Abuse

Yonkers, NY -- Following is an official statement by Mayor Phil Amicone in response to Yonkers Inspector General Dan Schorr's November 16, 2010 report titled "Yonkers Firefighter Sick Leave." ( Download IG Schorr's YFD Sick Leave Report - 16 November 2010   )The inspector general's independent review of sick leave within the Yonkers Fire Department was conducted at Mayor Amicone's request.