Democrats meet community on Lincoln Avenue

Democratic candidates for Mayor of New Rochelle and District 3 City Councilmember met on Thursday evening, March 16, at 33 Lincoln Avenue to introduce themselves and answer questions from a gathering of about 40 neighbors.  The conversation, which lasted almost two  hours, highlighted significant differences among the candidates.

Candidates for City Council

In their introductions, all four Democratic candidates for City Council cited their long histories of local activism.  Kwamaine Dixon and David Peters spoke of their lifelong histories in New Rochelle and their deep roots in District 3.  Dixon presented a platform including development oriented to people’s needs, a guaranteed percentage of New Rochelle residents working at downtown construction sites, programs to reduce gun violence, infrastructure repair, and more affordable housing.  Peters described himself as an innovator, educator, and organizer, and stressed the need for ongoing community engagement so that residents have a voice on controversial issues before decisions get made.  “I won’t be able to bring change as an individual, if I don’t have you involved,” he said.

Lianne Merchant presented herself as a businesswoman with an MBA and a history of work in real estate finance and investor relations, described her years of service on the New Rochelle Library Board and Board of Education, and spoke of her work organizing a fencing program for children in Heritage Homes and Bracey Houses.   Margaret Chadwick discussed her years of community service with the Rochelle Heights Association, the Rochelle Heights Racquet Club, the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, and the Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry, and her “great relationship with City Hall.” 

All four candidates were asked to express their opinions on the LINC, the linear park that has been proposed to partially replace Memorial Highway.  Merchant said the project “could provide some quality of life for us” but said she needed to learn more about the details.  Chadwick shared concerns she had heard from some neighbors that it might be “a place of troubles.” Dixon suggested, and Peters agreed, that the area should be converted into a Black business zone, replacing the Black businesses and homes that were destroyed when Memorial  Highway was built. 

Asked about the city’s development plan, Merchant advocated for development “that fits the scale of our neighborhood,” argued that although developers receive tax abatements they also bring in added revenue, and suggested action to assure that local residents can apply for “affordable” rental units.  Asked whether her husband’s role as a real estate developer and consultant to RXR, the master developer for downtown New Rochelle, might present a conflict of interest, she said, “I am my own person…I am not defined by my husband…I am a capital raiser, I understand real estate, and I bring that to the table.”

Asked about the recent replacement of the commissioners of the Municipal Housing Authority, who were advocating a development plan for Bracey Houses that maximized the potential for it to meet resident desires and  included human services and ownership potential, Peters called the dismissal of the commissioners “unconscionable.”  Merchant, for her part, supported the former City Manager’s decision. 

Candidates for Mayor

The two Democratic candidates for Mayor then introduced themselves and their records of service.  City Council member Yadira Ramos-Herbert described her early political involvement as a member of the Library Board, the Lincoln Avenue Task Force, and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and her work to make applications for youth summer jobs more easily accessible for working families.  As a new City Council member when the COVID epidemic began in 2020, she said, she used data to demonstrate the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on the Black community and worked to bring resources to people in need, including masks, free rides for testing, and information sessions.  “There are two New Rochelles,” she said.  “We have to get comfortable talking about gun violence…housing insecurity…food insecurity….  We want to make sure all the resources the city brags about come to those who need it most.”

County legislator Damon Maher began by addressing two questions already raised by the audience.  On the LINC project, he focused on pedestrian safety, advocating for two-way streets, bike lanes, and four-way stop lights at Lincoln Avenue and Memorial Highway to allow pedestrians to cross safely.  He called the firing of the Municipal Housing Authority board without due process “absolutely horrible,” and criticized the City Council for “sitting stone-faced” while many tenant advocates condemned the decision at two “Citizens To Be Heard” sessions and then failing to respond afterwards.  He then reviewed his accomplishments as a County legislator, including bringing funding to New Rochelle for more deeply affordable housing downtown and for increased daycare, the creation of mobile mental health response teams to assist people in emotional distress, and advocating for tenants’ access to counsel at all eviction proceedings.  He also criticized the police actions that led to the killing of Kamal Flowers.

Asked about the City’s failure to fulfill the promise of hiring local people to work on projects downtown, Ramos-Herbert said this was the responsibility of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), which is led by the City Manager.  Maher pointed out that the IDA is appointed by the Council, and pledged that as Mayor he would work to appoint a labor representative to the IDA.  Ramos-Herbert agreed that labor unions should be represented on the IDA.

On affordable housing, Ramos-Herbert acknowledged that working people can’t afford to live in what is called “affordable housing,” said more affordable housing was a priority for her, and said that the Council would need to influence the IDA on this issue. 

Asked to comment on New Rochelle’s form of government, both candidates explained that the Council sets policy and hires the City Manager to implement it.  The City Manager in turn hires all commissioners and staff.  Maher stressed that the only democratic check on the City Manager is the Council’s ability to set deadlines, evaluate performance, and if necessary and after due process, terminate the City Manager.  Maher also suggested that the Mayor should serve as an ombudsman for resident concerns.

Asked about policing and public safety, Ramos-Herbert spoke about police reforms that have been instituted through the Civilian-Police Partnership Board, such as enhanced online policing data, as well as efforts to bring more resources into New Rochelle for after-school and summer youth programs.  Maher described efforts at the County level to hire professionals to investigate civilian complaints about the police.

Finally, Ramos-Herbert was asked to explain why she voted in favor of the drive-thru Starbucks next to Bracey Houses despite strong community opposition.  She said she wanted a “strong corporate partner” there.  The questioner responded that there was no objection to a “strong corporate partner,” but that the community opposed a drive-thru, and Ramos-Herbert voted for it anyway.

Candidates will be collecting signatures on nominating petitions through April 2.  Those who gather the required number of signatures will appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on June 27.