YONKERS CITY HALL LIMITS ACCESS TO PUBLIC AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK

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YONKERS, NY – March 17, 2020 – Due to the national COVID-19 outbreak, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced Yonkers City Hall, located at 40 S. Broadway,  and its annex locations will remain open but with limited access to the public.

After New York State Governor Cuomo recently declared local governments must operate with fifty percent of its operating staff with essential employees only, the following city departments’ services will be available with limited access or by appointment only, effective immediately:

  • Engineering Department: closed to walk-ins; call ahead to 914-377-6210; visit www.yonkersny.gov for permit application information
  • Housing & Building Department: closed to walk-ins; call ahead to 914-377-6500; visit www.yonkersny.gov for permit application information
  • City Clerk Office: closed to walk-ins; call ahead to 914-377-6020
  • Tax Office: Accepting in-person payments but encouraging checks or payment by credit card; credit card fees will be waived and appear as a credit on next payment due.
  • Tax Assessment Office: closed to walk-ins; e-mail CityAssessor@yonkersny.gov or call 914-377-6200 to schedule an appointment; visitwww.yonkersny.gov/assessment for information
  • Office of Constituent Services: closed to walk-ins; for assistance call 914-377-6010  or the Mayor’s Helpline at 914-377-HELP (4357) after hours
  • Office for the Aging (435 Riverdale Ave.): closed to walk-ins; call ahead to 914-376-6822
  • Veterans Affairs (120 New Main Street): closed to walk-ins: call ahead to 914-377-6700
  • Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation (285 Nepperhan Ave.): Closed to walk-ins, call ahead to 914-377-6450; for permit applications and updates on recreational sites visit www.yonkersny.gov
  • Yonkers Career Center and New York State Department of Labor (28 Wells Avenue, Bldg 3, 4th Fl): closed to walk-ins; call center number and New York State Department of Labor 914-461-9077 for assistance
  • Consumer Protection Bureau (87 Nepperhan Ave): Closed to walk-ins; all hearings postponed; call ahead to 914-377-3000; visit Forms page at www.yonkersny.gov to download applications
  • Planning & Development Department (87 Nepperhan Ave.): closed to walk-ins; call ahead to 914-377-6150
  • Parking Violations Bureau (87 Nepperhan Ave.): Open 8:30am-4:00pm for payment; no Wednesday evening hours until further notice; all scheduled parking, red light camera and code enforcement hearings have been cancelled; a new date to appear will be sent in the mail once hearings resume; submit  requests for a hearing by mail and to make ticket payments online at www.yonkersny.gov, by phone at (866) 377-9665 or by mail directly to Yonkers PVB, 87 Nepperhan Ave., Yonkers, N.Y. 10701
  • Yonkers Parking Authority (8 Buena Vista Ave.): closed to the public Monday, Wednesday and Fridays until further notice; call YPA office with questions at (914) 965-2467 on those days; all permit transactions can be done on-line from the 15th through the 27th by visiting  permit www.YPAPERMITS.YONKERSNY.GOV or in person Tuesdays and Thursdays (8:30am-4:00pm); evening office hours will be cancelled until further notice
  • Yonkers Police Department: All four precincts closed to public as well as the Records Division  (914) 377-7232; Commissioner’s Office (914) 377-7200; Property Clerk (914) 377-7941 *(Open on Wednesdays to public access); Community Affairs Division – (914) 377-7375; and Traffic Unit / Hack Unit – (914) 377-7387; members of the public are requested to conduct as much police business over the telephone; if immediate assistance or a police response is needed, call dispatch at (914) 377-7900 – emergencies dial 9-1-1.
  • Yonkers Fire Department: All fire stations and fire headquarters closed to public; public asked to call for assistance.  Fire Prevention (914) 377-7525 or email FirePrevention@yonkersny.gov; Fire Commissioners Office (914) 377-7500; if immediate assistance or a fire response is needed, call dispatch at (914) 377-7900 – emergencies dial 9-1-1.
  • Yonkers Public Library: All three branches closed until March 31 and possibly longer
  • Yonkers Public Schools: Closed until March 31 and possibly longer

 

Residents are encouraged to call the Mayor’s 24 hour Helpline at 914-377-HELP (4357) with any questions.

CITY OF YONKERS CANCELS CITY SPONSORED PROGRAMS IN EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

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Yonkers Public Schools to Close Friday, March 13th to Develop Instructional Continuity Plans

YONKERS, NY – March 12, 2020 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced several closures and cancellations of city sponsored events and programs in its efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin M. Quezada and the Yonkers Board of Trustees also announced all Yonkers Public Schools will be closed Friday, March 13 as a Superintendent’s Conference day for teachers and administrators to develop school-based instructional continuity plans.

“The Westchester Department of Health recently notified us that Yonkers currently has six confirmed cases of the coronavirus, none of which are directly linked to our schools,” said Mayor Spano.  “Out of an abundance of caution as our area continues to manage the spread of COVID-19, Yonkers will cancel non-essential programs/facilities to limit public interaction among residents, especially ones involving those who are at high risk of contracting the virus. We will continue to monitor the impact of this pandemic and continue to reassess these programs and facilities in the coming weeks.”

Effective immediately, the following programs/events will be canceled through March 27:

  • Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation Senior Recreational Programs at:

o   Cola Community Center

o   Scotti Community Center

o   Bernice Spreckman Community Center

o   Nodine Community Center

o   Nepperhan Community Center

  • Senior Centers at non-parks facilities at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian, St. Mark’s Hall, Runyon House, Northeast Jewish Center, Nepperhan Community Center and Our Lady of Fatima
  • Little Learners Program located at the Cola, Scotti, Spreckman Community Centers and Will Library
  • All Parks Community Recreation and Developmentally Disabled Programs at Parks Facilities
  • All indoor Parks Department program permits at Yonkers Public Schools
  • All public programs scheduled at all Yonkers Public Library branches
  • All Mayor Advisory Boards Meetings
  • Mayor’s Mobile Tax Offices
  • E.J. Murray’s Skating Rink
  • Coyne Park Rifle Range
  • City of Yonkers events through the end of March including Women of Distinction Ceremony, Yonkers Senior Spring Dance and the Yonkers Annual Skating Exhibition

*Note: All Office for the Aging nutritional programs for seniors will remain operational; sites will be closed starting Monday, March 16. Yonkers Animal Shelter will remain open by APPOINTMENT ONLY.

To limit residents’ need to visit City Hall to pay taxes due next month, City of Yonkers also will reimburse online credit card fees should taxpayers opt to pay taxes online at www.yonkersny.gov.

Yonkers Public Schools also will close Friday, March 13. In preparation for potential school closings as a result of any confirmed coronavirus cases, Yonkers teachers and administrators will develop school-based instructional continuity plans that will offer opportunities for educational continuity that can be accomplished at home.  These materials will offer students the ability to practice their skills and progress towards graduation requirements.  The instructional materials will be available through electronic learning on school and teacher webpages as well as homework packets.

“There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in our schools, but we must be prepared for prolonged school closing,” noted Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin M. Quezada.  “In addition, our custodial and food services staffs will do an enhanced cleaning in schools on Friday, and as necessary over the weekend.  I have directed the yellow bus company to thoroughly sanitize their buses.”

Rev. Steve Lopez, President of the Yonkers Public Schools Board of Trustees commented, “Should there be a need for school closures, instructional materials will be available at the District website.  There will also be resources for Multilingual Learners (MLL) and Students with Disabilities (SWD) to help parents and guardians support instruction at home.  The learning materials may be provided to students in hard copies and will be available on the District’s website, www.yonkerspublicschools.org.”

 

Mayor Spano added, “I want to reassure our residents that the administration and schools are in constant communication with the state and county health departments and we are assessing the needs of our residents on a continual basis. City departments have established business continuity plans so as to not disrupt necessary city services and programs. As always, we will continue to keep residents updated with information as it becomes available.”

CITY OF YONKERS ACCEPTING 2020 NOMINATIONS FOR MAYOR MIKE SPANO’S ANNUAL “WOMEN OF DISTINCTION” AWARD

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Award Ceremony Held Annually in Yonkers to Commemorate Women’s History Month

YONKERS, NY – March 2, 2020 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced that the City of Yonkers is accepting nominations for the city’s annual “Women of Distinction” Award, presented each year during March to celebrate Women’s History Month. The annual “Women of Distinction” Award recognizes Yonkers women who have served their local community and positively impacted the lives of Yonkers residents.  Nominations for a Woman of Distinction can be submitted at www.YonkersNY.gov.

“So often our women give so much of themselves to ensure Yonkers becomes a better city in which to live, work and play. They are our community leaders, educators and agents of social change,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “I encourage our Yonkers residents to nominate the heroes in their lives for our Women of Distinction Award.

The deadline to submit a nomination is Wednesday, March 18; the award ceremony will be held on Friday, March 27 at 6:00 pm at Yonkers City Hall (Ceremonial Courtroom, 4thFloor).

About Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month originated in 1981 when Congress passed a resolution requesting President Reagan to commemorate “Women’s History Week.” The President proclaimed the week beginning on March 7, 1982 as the first Women’s History Week and the nation continued to designate a week in March as Women’s History Week until 1987 when the month of March was officially declared “Women’s History Month.”  Learn more atwww.womenshistorymonth.gov.