YONKERS MAYOR SPANO & CITY COUNCILWOMAN SHANAE WILLIAMS HOST ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano along with City Councilwoman Shanae Williams will host the City’s annual Black History Month celebration Thursday, February 27th  at 6:00PM in the Ceremonial Courtroom at Yonkers City Hall. This year’s theme for Black History month is “African Americans and the Vote” as it speaks to the ongoing struggle on the part of both black men and women throughout American History.

The City’s celebration will include performances from local community members and remarks by the Yonkers Public School student winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poem/Essay/Video contest.

***Interviews and Photo Ops***

Who:               Mike Spano, City of Yonkers Mayor
Shanae Williams, Yonkers City Councilwoman

Mayor’s African American Advisory Board

Mayor Spano’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Poem/Essay/Video Contest Winners

What:             City of Yonkers Black History Month Celebration

Where:           Ceremonial Courtroom, 4th Floor
Yonkers City Hall
40 S. Broadway, Yonkers

When:             Thursday, February 27, 2020

6:00PM

YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO JOIN CITY OFFICIALS FOR CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF PLASTIC STRAW FREE LEGISLATION

Starting March 1, Food & Beverage Establishments in Yonkers Prohibited from Providing Single-Use Plastic Straws

 

Yonkers Public School students will join Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and City Council President Mike Khader Thursday, February 27 at 1 PM at Paideia School 15as they sign a new city ordinance prohibiting food and beverage establishments in Yonkers from providing single-use plastic straws, unless requested by customers.

Last year, Paideia School 15 students advocated city officials to move forward with the ban of plastic straws in an effort to combat the negative environmental impacts of the manufacturing and disposal of the straws. Yonkers City Council approved the legislation in recent weeks resulting in the plastic straw ban, effective March 1, 2020.

Plastic drinking straws are among the top 10 contributors to marine debris pollution. Most plastic straws are not biodegradable and instead break down over years into smaller microplastics, releasing chemicals into the soil, air, and water that are harmful to animals, plants, people, and the environment.

***Interviews and Photo Opps***

WHO:            Mike Spano, City of Yonkers Mayor

                        Yonkers City Council

                        Dr. Edwin M. Quezada, Superintendent of Schools

                        Paideia School 15 students, teachers and staff

WHAT:         Signing of Plastic Straw Free Yonkers Legislation

WHERE:        Paideia School 15

                        175 Westchester Ave.

                        Yonkers, NY

CITY OF YONKERS TO PROVIDE FREE REUSABLE BAGS FOR RESIDENTS AT LOCATIONS ACROSS CITY

Bags Made Available at Yonkers City Hall & Yonkers Public Library Branches and at ShopRite Wednesday, February 26th from 12-2PM

 

YONKERS, NY – February 25, 2020 – In anticipation of the start of the statewide ban on single-use plastic bags beginning March 1, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced the city will provide free Yonkers Green City reusable bags to residents across the city.

 

“In Yonkers, we are doing our part in being stewards of the environment by relieving residents’ reliance on plastic bags,” said Mayor Spano. “Making these free bags available to our residents hopefully will ease the transition from plastic to more sustainable carry-out bags. Together, we can create a cleaner, greener Yonkers. I urge all our residents to do their part and reuse.”

Residents are encouraged to visit Yonkers City Hall (40 S. Broadway) Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm or any of the three Yonkers Public Library branches during its hours of operation to receive their free Yonkers Green City bag. Bags also will made available Wednesday, February 26 from 12pm-2pm at ShopRite located at 25-43 Prospect Street.

The City of Yonkers has already distributed over 10,000 reusable bags to residents over the last year. For more information on the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Law, visit www.dec.ny.gov.