WESTCHESTER’S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPERS PRESORT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID White Plains, NY Permit #7164 Vol 111 Number 40 www.RisingMediaGroup.com Friday, September 30, 2016 Yonkers Democrats Name Homelessness in Yonkers Tom Meier New Chairman Takes Center Stage By Dan Murphy The Yonkers Democratic Committee held Astorino-Spano Feud Explodes its convention last week at Castle Royale and selected Tom Meier as the new chairman. Meier, the city’s Department of Public Works commissioner, was selected with more than 80 percent of the support of Democratic Yonkers district and ward leaders after former Chairper- son Symra Brandon withdrew her name from consideration for another term. Meier, who has served as Democratic chairman before and has served as a district and ward leader since he was 18 (he’s 57 now), spoke to Yonkers Rising after his selection. We asked Meier about Journal News Columnist Phil Reisman’s latest article, in which he puts the odds of Mayor Mike Spano running for county executive next year at 80 percent, and about the perception by some that the mayor is the de facto head of the Democratic Party. Yonkers Democratic Chairman Tom Meier “The common practice is that the chief ex- ecutive has the responsibility to lead the party,” changed,” said Meier. said Meier. “The governor is the head of the Meier said the decision to run for chairman state party and the president is the head of the again was his, and his alone. national party. People were saying I was taking “I have been a member of the Democratic over the party for the mayor, but he could do it Party for 38 years; on my 18th birthday I went without me. He is the highest elected official in to a ward meeting,” he said. “To say that I be- The drop-in homeless shelter at 101 N. Broadway. Photo by Donna Davis. the City of Yonkers.” came leader to further the mayor’s agenda is er- Ever since the “strong mayor” form of gov- roneous. I had the support of 80 percent of the By Dan Murphy to stop the shelter’s closure. ernment was enacted in Yonkers in the 1990s, party and I’ve been through hostile takeovers The difficult and complex issue of how The disagreement over how best to ac- the mayor has always been the titular head of before. That didn’t occur this time. As a mili- to house and care for the homeless population commodate the homeless population in West- the party, whether it was Republican Mayors tary guy, it’s a good idea to get new ideas and in the City of Yonkers and throughout West- chester’s largest city has turned into a dispute John Spencer and Phil Amicone or Demo- new leadership in every few years and there are chester County took center stage over the past between Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and cratic Mayor Mike Spano. “In the old days the rank-and-file Democrats who agreed and said week, as the city attempted to close a drop-in Westchester County Executive Robert Astori- party bosses pretty much ran the city and the ‘I’m with Tom Meier.’ But becoming chairman shelter for numerous housing and building no, with both hurling accusations and attempt- mayor was a ceremonial post, but times have Continued on Page 9 code violations, and the county went to court Continued on Page 6 YoFi Fest 2016: City Sued Over Bigger and Better Mosque Landmarking Yonkers natives Adrian Nugent and Rachel Heslowitz, founders of YoFi Fest. The home at 2 Grandview Boulevard, the proposed location for a mosque now the subject of a lawsuit. Photo by Bayan Baker. When YoFi Fest founders David Steck and from a richly diverse community to enable dis- By Dan Murphy hood of northeast Yonkers. Patty Schumann launched their indie film festi- course, creativity, good times and even friend- The Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board, In May, the City Council approved a land- val in Yonkers four years ago, the grand ambi- ship. Mayor Mike Spano and four Republican members marking designation for the home at 2 Grandview tion was pretty heady. This wasn’t going to be Now in its four year, the Yonkers Film Fes- of the Yonkers City Council are among the de- Boulevard, which was purchased by ICCMW for a just about offering the typical film festival work- tival, better known as YoFi Fest, returns Oct. 20 fendants named in a lawsuit filed by the Islamic future mosque. The council, by a 4-3 vote, agreed shops or avant-garde movie viewing – although to 23 to celebrate moving pictures, the people Community Center for Mid Westchester, claiming with the recommendation of the Yonkers Land- there’s that and more. Rather, the hope was to who make them, and the people who watch them. that its Civil Rights were violated during efforts to marks Preservation Board to designate the prop- create a vibrant meeting place that would draw Continued on Page 8 build a mosque in the Colonial Heights neighbor- Continued on Page 7 St. Joseph’s: Mental Health Latimer Endorsed By & Substance Abuse Recovery Local Firefighters Union A group shot of the staff from Saint Joseph’s Positive Directions program and the opioid treatment program. State Sen. George Latimer receives an endorsement from Yonkers Firefighters Local 628. By Shelagh Dolan abuse treatment. Led by Executive Director and Mental health and substance abuse re- Senior Vice President Bernadette Kingham- State Sen. George Latimer has been en- “I firmly believe state government has a re- covery services are among the nation’s most Bez and Director of Recovery Services Emma dorsed by the Yonkers Firefighter Union Lo- sponsibility to protect New Yorkers and to en- needed, and yet are often the most forgotten or DeMarco, Saint Joseph’s is pushing for more cal 628 as he seeks to continue representing sure our heroic first-responders have the tools ignored due to the stigma of mental health and inclusive recovery services for individuals and the 37th Senate District in Albany. Latimer has and resources they need to keep our communi- addiction. families. been a long-time advocate for increased aid for ties safe,” he said. “I am honored to receive the Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers, A Commitment to Treatment and Recovery New York’s first-responders, and those efforts backing of the Yonkers Firefighters Union Lo- however, has a long-standing history of involve- Offering both inpatient and outpatient ser- have earned him the respect and support of lo- cal 628 and I will continue my efforts to ensure ment with mental health issues and substance Continued on Page 8 cal firefighters and their families. Continued on Page 8 PAGE 2 - YONKERS RISING - FRIDay, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 Riverside & Gorton Are Science Barge Gets Power Victors in H.S. Football Boost from Green Mountain Senior members of the Saunders High School football team. By Phil Foley extra point run. Two Yonkers high school football teams were The Yonkers Montessori Eagles lost a heart- victorious last weekend: Riverside beat Yonkers breaker to Croton on Sept. 24 at YMA Field. 53-8, and Gorton easily defeated Palisades Prep Holding a 12-0 lead at half-time YMA lost when 48-8. Croton scored 14 unanswered points in the second When I saw The Journal News on Sun- half. Scoring for YMA were Lou Barge on a 10- day morning I thought we had a third win, but it yard TD pass from Jason Garcia and Carlos (the was not to be; the paper had Yonkers Montessori Fridge) Garcia on a 1-yard plunge to paydirt. Gar- The Yonkers Science Barge. School defeating Croton 14-12, but the score was cia was 14/23 passing for 192 yards with his one printed in reverse and Croton actually won the TD pass. Barge caught five passes for 116 yards Mayor Mike Spano will flip the switch on a sustainable farming for the future, with zero car- game. and one TD reception. new, more efficient-energy system for the Science bon emissions, zero pesticides, and zero runoff,” In other action, Hackley shut out Roosevelt Thanks, Coach Elie Moise, for the game in- Barge, located on Yonkers’ waterfront, Thursday, added Walters. 41-0 on Sept. 23. Then on Sept. 24, Saunders formation. Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. The system, donated by Green Accompanying Spano at the press event will played a hard-fought game with Pelham, but lost For you Roosevelt fans, I did not hear from Mountain Energy Sun Club at a value of $50,000, be representatives from Green Mountain Energy 28-14. their head coach after their loss to Hackley on will modernize the off-grid solar electric system Sun Club and Green Mountain Energy Company, Let me recap some of the action for you, Yon- Sept. 23. aboard the Science Barge. Science Barge staff and volunteers, local elected kers sports fans… This week’s high school football schedule is “This donation from the Sun Club propels officials, and members of Groundwork Hudson In the 53-8 win over Yonkers, the stars of the as follows: the Barge into the next era, totally updating the Valley’s youth Green Team. There will be refresh- game for Riverside were Isiah Frias, who rushed Friday, Sept. 30, Lincoln at Harrison at 7 p.m. energy system that powers our hydroponic farm,” ments and giveaways for attendees. for 93 yards and had two touchdowns; and Calil and Gorton at Pelham at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. said Bob Walters, director of the Science Barge, a The Science Barge educators are also rolling Dixon, who had 136 all-purpose yards and three 1, Hastings at Yonkers Montessori at 3 p.m., Yon- program of Groundwork Hudson Valley.