Community welcomes the Mayor and other city leaders at the new Remington Boys and Girls Club

To a full house that included city, county, and state elected officials, industry representatives, community stakeholders, and residents from every district in the city, New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert delivered her first State Of The City Address at the Remington Boys and Girls Club on Thursday April 11th.

Matt Stern, Council member from District 6 and Deputy Mayor for 2024, served as master of ceremonies. After an opening prayer by Rev. Dr. Denise Smartt, the national anthem was sung by Cassidy Williams, and Briana Sinkfield led the Pledge of Allegiance. Harmony Hopwood shared her original poem “On New Beginnings,” and the “Trifecta Steppers,” a girls step-dance group, performed a rousing cheer that introduced Ramos-Herbert.

Rev. Dr. Denise Smartt, Kassidy Williams, Harmony Hopwood

The Trifecta Steppers

Mayor Ramos-Herbert began by reintroducing herself. “I am a mother, I’m a wife, I’m a lawyer, and tonight I am honored to stand before you as your Mayor.”  And she shared thoughts about time: “However present, yet fleeting it is…How we must maximize it as a community, to make every second count to build on our strengths and incredible foundation to usher New Rochelle to its next chapter”.

Ramos-Herbert opened with a report on the economic status of the city.  She noted  a $2,000,000 increase to a “Rainy Day Fund” and described the downtown development project as “an investment in our city’s future,” with 32 approved development projects expected to yield $260,000,000 in additional tax revenue over the next 20 years. “This revenue potential,” she said, “sets the foundation for even more growth,” projecting “an exponential generation of financial income in the years to come. In short,” she said, “the groundbreaking initiative of form-based zoning has proven to be a visionary leap for our city, yielding dividends that give us as a city the opportunity to invest in and empower our community.”  She predicted that the development plan would enable New Rochelle to “optimize the downtown revitalization, while also actively increasing revenue in a manner that doesn’t require an increase in property taxes.”

“But it’s not all about building for the sake of building,“ she continued. “Through these efforts, we are also addressing one of the most pressing challenges in our city and our region – the issue of housing.”  Ramos-Herbert reported that the city had approved 10,000 residential rental units and 400 residential condominiums in the downtown area, with  65% of those units built and 84% leased. “Approximately 1,288 are designated affordable in the 30% to 80% Average Median Income (AMI),” she said, “nearly doubling the requirement under our city’s code.… We are building for the people of New Rochelle.” 

“We are also supporting home ownership,” she continued. “Our down payment assistance program has now provided four families with up to 20% of the down payment they needed to get the keys to access generational wealth paving the way for greater financial stability.”  With the city’s designation as a Pro Housing Choice Community, she reported, “New Rochelle is now eligible to apply for programs that are part of $650 million in state funding.”

On climate change, Ramos-Herbert warned, ”Make no mistake, climate change is real, it’s here, and we’re feeling its impact acutely. I’ve spoken with residents who’ve shared that even the thought of a rainstorm triggers significant anxiety and has a significant impact on their quality of life.”

She reported on New Rochelle’s recent analysis of all of the watersheds within the city.  “The analysis was a collaborative effort involving community participation and expert evaluations by engineers proudly funded in part by the city of New Rochelle and also supported by various grants issued by federal and state colleagues and government,” she said. “Through this very comprehensive study, the city identified more than 100 projects totaling $350 million aimed at addressing and alleviating the widespread flooding that has adversely affected our communities.” 

Ramos-Herbert described programs “nurturing our future leaders” through “a multi-faceted approach encompassing recreation, summer employment opportunities, health and wellness initiatives, and strategic collaborations with entities such as the school district, the Boys and Girls Club, Iona University, Monroe College, and the Community Justice Center,” with investments of over $6.7 million. 

And she discussed support for small businesses “to create a vibrant, attractive, and economically viable retail environment in downtown New Rochelle” and to “stabilize property values and leverage new investment in businesses and the neighborhood.”  She described “a variety of interventions designed to attract quality tenants and revitalize storefronts” and “numerous events such as the New Rochelle Street Fair, Holiday Market, and the Taste of Union that give existing and emerging business owners an opportunity to showcase and grow their companies.” 

Ramos-Herbert ended her address by acknowledging “the tireless work of those that have come before me who laid a strong foundation for the city,” adding, “and we are on the map as the fastest growing city in New York State.”

Mayor Ramos-Herbert introduced all of the members of City Council and said she is confident that they all share “the desire for a healthy, thriving, and prosperous community proud of its diversity that feels supported by its government.”

The full text of the Mayor’s State of the City Address and a video of the event are available online.