YONKERS — Despite an outcry from residents the Yonkers Zoning Board of Appeals has given a key approval to two proposed 32-story skyscrapers — nearly five times higher than current zoning allows — along the city’s riverfront The proposed development at 143 Woodworth Ave commercial space and amenities such as an outdoor swimming pool The property owner requested sweeping zoning changes a drastic height increase and a reduction in required parking spaces Tensions ran high at a recent public meeting where seven police officers were present after earlier meetings had grown heated Residents have voiced concerns over the scale of the project the potential traffic and environmental impact the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved the requested variances citing the project would improve connectivity between neighborhood and downtown increase pedestrian traffic and boost local businesses The proposal now moves forward to the Planning Board's site plan review phase, with the next meeting scheduled for May 14. exemplifying the positive balance between residential life and retail businesses in the City of Yonkers.” More: Think housing development has peaked in Westchester cities? Mayors are eager for more chirping birds and the occasional rumble of a train or overhead helicopter At a 1.35-acre site overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades cliffs stands a commercial building known as European Beauty Concepts A sign on the fence indicates that the property is under review by the city’s Planning Board The proposal would convert the commercial lot into a residential zone with two 372-foot towers rising in a neighborhood where the current height limit is just 75 feet The 672 units are projected to bring about 1,646 residents, including an estimated 28 to 55 school-age children. The city has touted the project’s potential to stimulate the local economy and support businesses They fear that the project would set a precedent for more outsized developments Woodworth Avenue resident Jeannette Garcia said the project would degrade the neighborhood's quality of life through increased traffic “The proposed changes are significant and would have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area “The proposed construction could also lead to the displacement of current residents and businesses as well as changes to the character and aesthetic of our community We believe that this could lead to segregation and inequity within our city.”     The neighborhood is primarily composed of older housing stock — single-family homes multifamily buildings and vacant lots — with nearby buildings topping out at five stories a residents group composed of 14 neighborhood associations is concerned about the potential impact on the narrow street as well as air pollution during a four-year construction period “It’s a travesty what they are doing and there’s nothing to stop them,” Armstrong said referring to the Zoning Board’s unanimous vote “Our aim is responsible development.”      Yonkers' board finds project aligned with broader renewal plan for neighborhoodThe property owner claimed their fragrance and salon sales distribution business has outgrown the space and the current commercial zoning prevents them from getting a reasonable financial return the Yonkers-based company requested a string of zoning amendments reduced setbacks and fewer parking spaces than required A lawyer for TCP Reality LLC did not respond to a request for comment the Zoning Board of Appeals approved the variances on Feb The board cited the plan's alignment with the Warburton-Ravine Avenue Urban Renewal Area an initiative launched in 2010 to improve the area’s physical environment and remove blighted conditions Key goals included redeveloping vacant lots into affordable housing and updating zoning to support mixed-use business and apartment buildings Nearby projects include a 146-unit affordable housing development three blocks away a new eight-story senior housing project replacing former public housing buildings and film studios developed by Great Point/Lionsgate Studios former industrial sites along Alexander Street have been transformed into multifamily housing The Zoning Board of Appeals stated the proposed building height is necessary to achieve the residential density required for economic feasibility It also emphasized architectural designs intended to preserve sightlines to the Hudson River and Palisades which is considered an important feature of the character of the surrounding neighborhood the proposed height would not result in undesirable change to the character of the neighborhood or a detriment to nearby properties,” the resolution read A 474-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement estimated the project would generate 28 to 55 school-age children These services would add between $338,996 and $665,885 in yearly costs for the school district and about $670,000 in emergency services expenses projected revenues of $1.2 million in property taxes and $2.2 million in school taxes were deemed sufficient to offset the cost To address emergency response concerns — especially given the adjacent Metro-North rail line and narrow street access — the developer proposed mitigation measures such as enhanced fire sprinkler systems and design changes to allow direct ambulance access The controversial project has prompted conflict between the city and the community seven police officers were stationed inside the venue in response to past disruptions City of Yonkers spokesperson Christina Gilmartin said police were a precaution and the development went through its standard approvals “It is not uncommon for Yonkers Police to attend community meetings where contentious topics are discussed,” Gilmartin said many of the previous meetings where this topic was discussed became contentious Multiple community members made disrespectful remarks towards some board members; one community member threated protests outside their homes.” Helu Wang covers economic growth and real estate for The Journal News/lohud and USA Today Network HRCA is a group of dedicated citizens who love our area and are actively working to make it a better place to live We came together over 45 years ago to address some of the issues and concerns facing our neighborhood such as deteriorating housing beautification and the need for all residents to commit to community service are some of our primary concerns HRCA has partnered with several other community organizations for a common community goal such as the Yonkers Community Development Agency the Yonkers Committee for Smart Development Members are representative of all of the River Towns but the majority are from the area bounded on the north by the Hastings city line Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month (except for July and August).  The next meeting date is Wednesday and 7 people running for City Council President will be there Email – mail@hudsonrivercommunityassociation.org an unassuming room tucked behind a classroom has become a sanctuary for students in need It’s called Lavender Lane—a boutique created not by adults or corporations but by three courageous and compassionate seniors: Aldijana Srdanović What started with a few bags of clothes and the backing of their health teacher has grown into something profoundly beautiful: a place where dignity is restored Aldijana watched classmates lose everything in a fire She didn’t want to just watch—she wanted to do something paperwork-free space where students in crisis could get clean clothes A toddler’s coat request brought Aldijana to tears—it reminded her of her own baby brother A boy walked in during winter wearing only a hoodie “I really needed one because my old one ripped.” That coat didn’t just warm his body—it restored a sense of worth The impact of Lavender Lane goes far beyond material support Students once quiet and withdrawn now smile and attend school regularly their confidence slowly mending with each act of care The trio handles everything—sorting donations they make it a welcoming space filled with empathy Another powerful arm of their mission is donating suitcases to foster children many of whom are forced to move between homes with their belongings stuffed in trash bags That didn’t sit right with these young women “We wanted to give them something better—something that says and you are not forgotten,” Aldijana wrote Building trust with students who are scared to ask for help takes time And the shelves—though sometimes full—never seem to meet every need she dreams that Lavender Lane will continue to grow “like giving a pair of socks—can change someone’s life.” A reminder that when young people lead with heart A 69-year-old Yonkers man found not guilty in late March in the 2020 fatal stabbing of a female friend has died following an apparent fall James Hilliard was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a friend's home on Stanley Place on Sunday Police confirmed that first responders went there and that Hilliard was pronounced dead at the scene "It's very unfortunate and sad that he has passed," the lawyer "He was looking forward to spending time at home and being with his friends and family." She said she had seen Hilliard just two days earlier on the day she filed notices of claim on his behalf alerting Yonkers and an upstate psychiatric hospital that he planned to sue for wrongful arrest medical malpractice and improper diagnosis James Hilliard had been held at a psychiatric center before trial went forwardHilliard was held at Central New York Psychiatric Center in Marcy from September 2021 to July 2024 while doctors there found he was not competent to stand trial But he was ultimately found competent following a hearing in Westchester County Court last year after police responded to his 911 call and found Denise Smith stabbed a dozen times in his apartment at 63 Beaumont Circle Although he claimed self-defense that day, he testified at his trial this year that an intruder Hilliard said he and Smith were friends and he had no reason to harm her But he did acknowledge that he became angry because he believed she had set him up to be robbed by ‘Artez’ and that she had come at him with a knife The jury found Hilliard not guilty of second-degree murder and weapon possession Hall said Hilliard had a history of brain aneurysms including one while in the county jail during the trial although that only forced a one day postponement She also said that he was denied a earlier trial and endured five years in custody even though he had never before been diagnosed with a mental illness She said she expects his estate to pursue the lawsuit which according to the notice of claim would seek $20 million Spokespersons for Yonkers and the state Office of Mental Health which oversees Central New York Psychiatric did not immediately respond to requests for comment Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced Friday was convicted at trial this week of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and separately in the third degree for which he could face life in prison due to previous felony offenses The announcement follows the Trump administration’s commitment since inauguration to curb repeat offenders of felony crimes She said this represents Thomas’ third such conviction for a designated felony offense rendering him a “persistent violent felony offender,” and that under the law he is required to be sentenced to an indeterminate sentence for which the maximum term must be life imprisonment Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27 before Westchester County Court Judge Maurice D “The defendant has had ample opportunity during the course of his life to find a better path,” Cacace said he chose to revert to criminality time and time again individuals who repeatedly flout the most serious criminal laws are given carceral penalties that match the severity of their conduct.” “There is no question that gun violence remains among the most persistent problems we face as a society today We must use every tool at our disposal to protect Westchester residents from its attendant harms.” according to Westchester County prosecutors members of the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) New Rochelle Office with assistance from the Yonkers Police Department’s Gang Unit They said Thomas had been on parole for an attempted criminal possession of a weapon conviction from 2018 and said a Taurus 9 mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with nine cartridges was discovered during the search We asked the Westchester DA’s office for details of Thomas’s prior arrests/convictions and will share any additional information we receive a White House proclamation to mark National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from the Office of the President read in part “To aid the righteous mission of the men and women in blue my Administration is committed to enhancing legal protections for law enforcement officers I am also asking the Congress for a new crime bill that will get tough on repeat offenders while enhancing protection for our law enforcement officials so they can do their jobs without fear of their lives being destroyed.” be a country where the blessings of life and peace exist freely in our homes Our citizens will be able to live without the threat of getting robbed as we honor the lives of victims and their families I reaffirm my solemn pledge to build a safer and more secure Nation for citizens of every race the Westchester County Department of Labs and Research and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety for their work on the case which is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Counsel Brian Bendish and Assistant District Attorney Celia Curtis View current print edition Click here to read our disclaimer >> Mary’s Church (Immaculate Conception) has been revoked Mary’s Friends has announced that the appeal made to the Vatican for St Mary’s Church to remain as an independent parish has been successful The Holy See has revoked the decree issued last year by Cardinal Timothy Dolan which had eliminated Immaculate Conception Parish in Yonkers merged Immaculate Conception Parish (known as “St Denis in an “extinctive union,” meaning that following the merger only one parish containing three churches existed The revocation of this decree returns things to the way they were prior to the merger Mary’s parishioners filed an appeal with Cardinal Dolan on June 8 Mary’s should remain an independent parish these parishioners made a higher appeal to the “Dicastery for the Clergy of the Holy See,” a department of the Vatican which hears appeals against the elimination of parishes and the permanent closure of churches Those who made the appeal recently learned of its success—Cardinal Dolan’s decree was revoked.  This is the first time in the history of the New York State Archdiocese that a decree was revoked by the Vatican The decision also marks only the ninth time in modern Catholic history when a decree eliminating a parish has been revoked by the Holy See.  the Dicastery for the Clergy found Cardinal Dolan lacked a sufficient canonically “just” cause to warrant the merging of Immaculate Conception Parish with the Parish of St While Cardinal Dolan had argued in his decree that the COVID 19 pandemic had reduced attendance at Immaculate Conception Parish the Dicastery for the Clergy found in the year immediately prior to the parish’s closure there had been a 76% increase in attendance which had eliminated Immaculate Conception Parish in Yonkers.  Cardinal Dolan’s decree also resulted in the elimination of Spanish language masses In actuality there was an increase of Spanish-speaking Catholics in the parish Spanish-speaking parishioners were forced to attend St but many were turned away due to overcrowded attendance and parking conditions These factors weighed heavily in the Dicastery’s decision to revoke Cardinal Dolan’s decree.  Mary’s Church (Parish of the Immaculate Conception Parish) was founded in Yonkers in 1848 as the first Catholic parish in the city Mary’s Church for English-speaking and Arabic-speaking Catholics Spanish-speaking parishioners are hopeful that masses in Spanish will soon resume Mary’s Parishioners are eager to work with Cardinal Dolan and the Archdiocese of New York to ensure that the parish can spiritually nourish all of its parishioners for years to come Roads in an area of Yonkers were closed Monday after police addressed a partial building collapse in the area of 1256 Saw Mill River Rd According to CBS News New York a large boulder came loose sometime overnight on Sunday The damage was discovered sometime after 7 a.m. Authorities soon shuttered Saw Mill River Road in both directions between Tompkins Avenue and Rider Avenue according to the Yonkers Police Department Facebook page The Journal News had reached out to the police department earlier Monday but had not yet heard back by 4:30 p.m "Through traffic should avoid the area of Sawmill River Rd between Odell Ave and Jackson Ave" police posted to Facebook was still closed at the time of this story Carroll says at first he had heard it was a boulder that came down off the sloping hill behind that caused Peterson Tool Rental but has since heard that "it could have been a landslide," noting that it was a lot of damage for "just one big boulder." According to the United States Geological Survey a landslide is the movement of "a mass of rock or earth down a slope," typically caused on areas of slopes that are "already on the verge of movement by rainfall changes in ground water," and other environmental factors Of interest: Rainy, chilly start to the week in the Lower Hudson Valley. See NWS forecast The Yonkers area has seen at least 1.75 inches of rain since April 4, according to available data from the National Weather Service. Rain is expected to continue in Yonkers Monday night with a 30% chance of light precipitation before 10 p.m Some media reports are calling the Saw Mill River Rd. incident a "rockslide," which is essentially what happens when a large mass of rock suddenly and quickly moves down the side of a hill Yonkers area no stranger to landslidesCarroll said it wasn't the first time a landslide had happened in the area in the last 10 years or so" Carroll continued "noting that rains could contribute to falling debris from the cliffside The City of Yonkers provides handy tips to keep your home and property safe from landslides on its website: "Prepare for landslides by following proper land-use procedures— avoid building near steep slopes or along natural erosion valleys.""Consult a professional for advice on appropriate preventative measures for your home or business which can better resist breakage."(This story may update.) L-R: Yonkers City Council Whip Deana Robinson; Yonkers City Council Lakisha Collins-Bellamy; Yonkers Board of Education Student Trustee William Williams; Yonkers Board of Education Student Trustee Jaelynn Wesley; Yonkers Board of Education Student Trustee Margaret Ennin; Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano; Yonkers Board of Education Student Trustee Rafael Diaz; Yonkers City Council Majority Leader John Rubbo; Yonkers Board of Education President Dr Rosalba Corrado DelVecchio; Yonkers City Council Member Tasha Diaz; Yonkers Board of Education Trustee Sheila Greenwald; Superintendent of Schools Aníbal Soler Students to Serve as Ex-Officio Members to the Official Policy-Making Body of Yonkers Public Schools  2025 – Mayor Mike Spano today swore in four Yonkers Public Schools students to the Yonkers Board of Education As non-voting ex-officio trustees of the Yonkers Board of Education which is the official policy-making body of the School District “I am very proud to appoint some of Yonkers Public Schools’ finest young men and women to the Yonkers Board of Education,” stated Mayor Spano These students are the very best and brightest of our student body exemplifying their commitment to education fostering communication and leadership among their peers Congratulations to them all – I am excited to see what their future holds.” Mayor Spano appointed the following Yonkers Public Schools student trustees to the Yonkers Board of Education: William Williams – Williams is a senior at Saunders Trade & Technical High School and will serve as a trustee through the end of the school year He is an active member of Yonkers My Brother’s Keeper where he recently was named State Champion in Prepared Speech Williams plans to attend Emory University in the fall Jaelynn Wesely – Wesely is a senior at Yonkers High School and will serve as a trustee through the end of the school year She serves as a Junior Senator of the Yonkers High School Council and is a member of the Unified Students Leadership Council Yearbook Club and has been on the Principals List and High Honor Roll since 2021 Rafael Diaz –Diaz is a junior at Saunders Trade and Technical High School and will serve as an alternate to the Board Diaz is enrolled in the Electrical Computer Circuity CTE Program and recently attended New York University’s Cyber Security program He is an active member of his school’s Robotics Club and the Unified Yonkers Student Leadership Council Margaret Ennin – Ennin is a junior at Lincoln High School and will serve as an alternate to the Board She is the Vice President of the school’s Film Club and Newspaper Club and the Student Council Secretary Ennin also is a member of the Science National Honor Society Social Studies National Honor Society and is on the school’s Principals List As ex-officio members of the Yonkers Board of Education the student trustees will sit with the Board at public meetings and hearings and participate in other board activities at the Board's discretion They will not attend executive sessions or other non-public meetings bringing fresh voices and lived experiences that enrich our conversations and decisions We value their insight and their commitment to representing their peers with integrity and heart Yonkers is fortunate to have such thoughtful young people stepping up — we’re excited to listen Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools Aníbal Soler welcoming these four incredible student representatives to the Yonkers Board of Education These young leaders are stepping into an important role — not only as the voice of their own schools but as advocates for over 24,000 students Their presence reminds us why we do this work I look forward to hearing their perspectives and working alongside them to move Yonkers Public Schools forward They’re already making their schools and their city proud.” New York State Legislation was passed and signed requiring school districts to have at least one non-voting student representative on its Board of Education “I am delighted to join Mayor Mike Spano and Superintendent Aníbal Soler in congratulating and welcoming four Yonkers Public Schools students as non-voting ex-officio members of the school board I proudly sponsored the legislation that requires all school districts to have one student member and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Education I am excited to see the active role these students will take and how it will positively impact our school community These students will bring valuable perspectives as they step into their roles as members of our shared civil society Congratulations to the Seniors William Williams and Jaelynn Wesley and the Junior alternates “Special thanks to our State Senator Mayer for her insight and leadership in ensuring our students are given seats at the table and their voices are heard,” added Mayor Spano “These historic appointments will set our students and District up for future successes and provide us unique insights into the experience of a Yonkers Public Schools student.” Recreation and Conservation Commissioner Kathy O’Connor has issued an Emergency Order in an effort to expedite the opening of Playland Amusement Park for the 2025 operating season According the order attached: “The Emergency order will allow the County to hire a company to inspect specific rides secure all necessary supplies and parts to operate the rides Standard’s abrupt departure leaves the County with little time to properly carry out all of this work Standard left little or no spare parts in inventory in some cases did not properly winterize rides and a number of rides were left dis-assembled.” the Parks Department determined that competitive bidding could not be pursued to carry out the necessary emergency work which includes inspecting replacing and maintaining these specific rides and procuring necessary supplies and parts Zamperla is a worldwide company.  The County owns 11 rides that were manufactured by Zamperla and a number of other rides manufactured by a company that is no longer in business Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A high-speed pursuit that started on the Saw Mill River Parkway in Westchester ended with a dramatic crash foot chases across train tracks and through a park Stills taken from the body camera footage of the chase which was released by both the Yonkers and Westchester County Police Department Police released images of the guns recovered when a vehicle fled from a Westchester County Police traffic stop on the Saw Mill Parkway the department announced along with the Yonkers Police Department on Friday The suspects’ luck soon ran out after they took the Yonkers Avenue exit a move police say turned out to be a critical mistake That's because Yonkers Police Officers were already waiting at the exit ramp The pursuit then continued through Yonkers city streets ending with a crash and multiple suspects fleeing on foot What followed was a chaotic chase through a park and train tracks with police eventually deploying a TASER device to subdue the suspects All three were taken into custody without serious injuries Police also said they found the suspects with two loaded Glock handguns one gun equipped with a 30-round extended magazine The suspects were identified as Mathiu Garcia Each were charged with criminal possession of a weapon while Garcia was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance A body camera video of the dramatic chase was posted to social media on Friday depicting the chase from the Saw Mill River Parkway exit to the train tracks where the TASER device was used:  An official website of the United States government The developers of La Mora Senior Apartments used modular construction techniques to bring 60 units of affordable senior housing to Yonkers Photo credit: Andrew Rugge/Perkins Eastman La Mora Senior Apartments opened in July 2024 to help address the city’s shortage of affordable senior housing. The project was codeveloped by the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY) and Mulford Corporation, a nonprofit organization founded by MHACY. The developers used innovative construction techniques to provide energy- and cost-efficient affordable housing for seniors All units are restricted to seniors earning up to 60 percent of the area median income and feature a fully equipped kitchen and a range of resident support services for seniors as well as convenient access to parks and transit The opening of La Mora Senior Apartments represents a long-term commitment to meeting senior housing needs The developers used modular construction techniques to reduce costs and the project’s carbon footprint while providing a much-needed contribution to Yonkers’ affordable housing supply for seniors The contents of this article are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S Past PD&R Leadership Messages Past Featured Articles Past In Practice Articles News Archive Partner Report Archive PD&R at 50 Archive Past Research Articles Trending Archive Past Data Spotlight Articles PD&R Past Articles Cityscape: Volume 26, Number 3 Related: 'Not the first time' rockslide has happened in Saw Mill Rd. area of Yonkers, neighbor says No injuries were reported at the time of the collapse, which was discovered early Monday morning Saw Mill River Road was closed in both directions between Tompkins Avenue and Rider Avenue from 7 a.m building inspectors discovered that the part of the building damaged was an addition to the building made in the 1980s Yonkers Building Department officials plan to stabilize the roof and structure of the main building while scheduling demolition for the affected addition of the building in the coming days An all-new Mediterranean eatery coming to a shopping center in Westchester will soon have you covered The new CAVA locale at the Cross County Center is expected to open in summer Cross County Center in Yonkers has announced that CAVA the popular Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain will open a new 2,180-square-foot location at 8000 Mall Walk The space was previously occupied by Boston Market the new CAVA location will offer both indoor seating and outdoor dining with access to the open-air shopping center’s scenic dining areas Known for its customizable Mediterranean bowls CAVA has built a strong following among food lovers looking for healthy “We kept hearing from our customers and visitors that they wanted CAVA at Cross County Center,” said Craig Deitelzweig “So we delivered CAVA at Cross County Center!”   Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A Yonkers costumes and props shop has filed for bankruptcy protection citing setbacks from the Covid-19 pandemic declared $273,240 in assets and $491,844 in liabilities in a Chapter 11 reorganization petition filed April 1 in U.S The “bankruptcy filing was necessitated by the aggressive acts of the former landlord will immediately affect the debtor’s ability to operate,” owner Kyuryon Zweibon states in an affidavit The business was incorporated in 2000 as Westchester Costumes Ltd and changed its name to Beyond Costumes Inc The business boasts on its website that it has more than 20,000 costumes for rent or purchase including vintage designer clothing and Broadway outfits Among its clients are professional theater companies The costumes and props are valued at $250,000 Zweibon blamed her problems on disruptions from the landlord-tenant dispute (c and the national writers and actors strike (2023) She believes the business is on the brink of profitability but actions by her former landlord “present an imminent threat to the debtor’s ability to continue its regular business operations.” The business has not filed federal or state tax returns from 2022 to 2024 Zweibon said the tax returns will be filed soon and she believes the business will not owe any taxes This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access. and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" CNN (CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday while receiving the John F CNN (CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday while receiving the John.. Trending Westchester A Yonkers hotel that served as a migrant shelter for New York City for 20 months has paid a $515,000 fine to settle a lawsuit claiming it was being used as an illegal boarding house The payment was meant to compensate Yonkers for tax revenue it lost when the 103-room Ramada by Wyndham was operating as a shelter rather than a hotel City officials had estimated the arrangement was costing Yonkers roughly $22,000 a month in sales and hotel occupancy taxes that the Ramada would ordinarily be paying The asylum-seeking families who were living in the hotel on Tuckahoe Road have since moved into more permanent housing or New York City's own shelters Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said in announcing the resolution the residents have now vacated without disruption," Spano said in a statement "I am pleased that through our partnerships with local non-for-profits and social services these families now can continue their journey in seeking asylum in our country.” Are asylum seekers still living in the Yonkers hotel?The number of migrants at the Ramada was already dwindling as the influx of asylum seekers into New York City subsided last year The city had contracted with as many as 14 hotels around the state in 2023 to supplement its shelter space but ended that practice by the end of the year Unlike other counties and towns in the Hudson Valley, Yonkers and Westchester County took no legal action to block New York City's hotel placements. But Yonkers sued the Ramada a few months after the first families arrived there in May 2023 claiming the owners were violating their certificate of occupancy and city codes City officials demanded $200,000 in reimbursement for lost revenue as of that time The Ramada was renamed Plaza Esperanza while serving as a shelter and was nearly filled for a time housing more than 200 parents and children That count gradually dropped last year and had sunk to about 75 by mid-December when New York City had already emptied most of the other hotels it had used outside its borders 2023 lawsuit: Yonkers seeks fines against hotel for housing asylum seekers longer than a month The $515,000 settlement exceeds the $440,000 that the city may have collected over 20 months But it doesn't appear to account for a separate claim city officials made in court papers: that schooling for children living in the hotel had cost Yonkers School District more than $600,000 by the end of September confirmed on Wednesday that the hotel had paid Yonkers $515,000 to settle the case and replace lost revenue The Ramada has not yet reopened since ceasing to operate as a shelter Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network A man who fatally shot a friend in the head in Westchester after a night out in February 2024 has learned how long he will spend behind bars April 25 to 12 years in state prison by Westchester County Court Judge Maurice D Williams after being convicted in March of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon the Westchester County DA's Office announced on Monday 2024 killing of 51-year-old Francisco Gordillo who was found dead inside his vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head outside Ramos-Cervantes’ Yonkers apartment As previously reported by Daily Voice, the two had been out drinking when Gordillo gave Ramos-Cervantes a ride home around 4:45 a.m Ramos-Cervantes briefly went into his apartment returned to the vehicle with a .45 caliber pistol then wrapped his arm around Gordillo and pulled the trigger Ramos-Cervantes initially told police that Gordillo had died by suicide Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace called Gordillo's death "completely avoidable."  "The defendant’s decision to introduce a gun into this situation fundamentally altered the course of their lives he will be held accountable for his reckless conduct," Cacace continued Ramos-Cervantes will be required to serve five years of post-release supervision two fast-food chains in a bustling Westchester square haven’t shut down permanently but they are temporarily closed due to a gas leak The Burger King and Popeyes at 53 South Broadway in Yonkers are temporarily closed Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano addressed growing rumors on social media clarifying that Burger King and Popeyes at 53 South Broadway in Getty Square were closed only after Con Edison shut off gas service to the building last week Con Ed crews detected a gas leak and turned off service as a safety precaution which are individually responsible for their gas service have since hired a licensed plumber to locate and repair the leak the businesses must pass required inspections before Con Ed can safely restore service "We’ll continue to monitor the situation and share updates as they become available," the mayor added Yonkers Downtown Restaurant Week is back — and you've got three weeks to enjoy the deals diners can find special pre-fixe menus with $20 two-course lunches and $45 or $55 three-course dinners at 17 restaurants The new additions include One Pier Steakhouse Sam’s Deli & Pizzeria and La Pizzeria Del Sabor More: Valentine's Day gifts you can find in Westchester, Rockland for the foodie in your life Yonkers Brewing Company and Zuppa Restaurant "We’re thrilled to extend the event to seventeen restaurants giving everyone even more chances to experience the culinary diversity our downtown has to offer," said Sara Brody "Our restaurants are evolving as our city grows and we aim to attract more residents and visitors from the tri-state area to explore the diverse food scene in Yonkers Downtown throughout these three weeks." The event has been run annually by the Yonkers Downtown/Waterfront Business Improvement District (YDWBID) since 2008. For more details, go to yonkersdowntown.com/restaurantweek A man who fired shots at two people riding on a moped in Yonkers in 2023 was convicted of all charges following a trial in Westchester County Court found 29-year-old Rakwon Goodine-Smith of Yonkers guilty of first-degree attempted assault second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment “This defendant’s outrageous conduct put the lives of two passersby in jeopardy," Westchester DA Susan Cacace said in a statement announcing the verdict "That he committed this act on a residential street imperiling the safety of the entire neighborhood when Goodine-Smith fired four shots from a .32 caliber pistol at the two people on the moped as it drove by Yonkers police reviewed video surveillance showing the shooting and also that the shooter had been drinking from a distinctive white cup and put it on the ground just before walking into the street and opening fire The cup was left at the scene and recovered by crime scene detectives and video showed no one else touching it from the time the shooter drank from it and its recovery by police A swab from the cup yielded a DNA profile with a major contributor and a minor contributor The Westchester forensics lab submitted it to the national Combined DNA Index System database and a match identified Goodine-Smith as the major contributor to the evidence on the cup defense lawyer Richard Ferrante unsuccessfully challenged the identification of Goodine-Smith as the shooter The defendant was returned to the county jail to await sentencing which Westchester Judge Anne Bianchi scheduled for May 14 Goodine-Smith faces up to 15 years in prison