Yonkers’ newly elected Mayor Zoran Mamdani is encouraging businesses that may be feeling uncertain about their future to consider moving from the city to the suburbs instead of leaving the state entirely.
“I don’t want to be the last one waiting at the train station, saying, ‘Why didn’t you stop here? You could have come to us,’” remarked Mayor Mike Spano in an interview. “So, I want to be straightforward and really express that I appreciate billionaires.”
“I appreciate millionaires, and I appreciate regular folks. So, I invite you to come to Yonkers and explore what we offer. If you’re thinking of leaving, think about stopping here first,” he added.
Mr. Spano, a former state representative, identifies himself as a “radical moderate” Democrat. He commented, “When New York City sneezes, we catch a cold.” He’s currently promoting Yonkers through an eye-catching video ad titled “Think Yonkers.”
In the ad, he emphasizes, “Here in Yonkers, we’ve cultivated a city committed to business, development, and most importantly, its residents. So if you’re looking to expand, consider Yonkers.”
Despite his differences with Mr. Mamdani, Mr. Spano stated that he doesn’t hold any grievances and looks forward to collaborating with him in the future. He wants to confront the concerns surrounding New York’s business environment directly.
Mamdani has expressed support for higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund his democratic socialist initiatives. Critics, however, worry this might drive businesses away in search of lower costs.
Yonkers, easily accessible from the subway, has seen growth in its downtown area and offers a variety of local employers, including Kawasaki, a rail car manufacturer, and Lionsgate’s film and television studios.
Local business owners mentioned that the city has historically welcomed waves of immigrants, although there’s uncertainty if Mamdani’s win will repeat that trend.
Mr. Spano pointed out that Yonkers offers a “microcosm of New York City,” being just 24 miles from midtown Manhattan but with advantages, such as lower corporate taxes and fewer business fees compared to New York City.
Hershey Friedman, chairman of Azorim, a major real estate developer in Yonkers, stated, “Even before this situation, we saw potential here. Taxes are low. It has everything people want. As far as we know, Yonkers is the spot to be.”
Residents of Yonkers are familiar with the narrative of New York’s decline.
Amanda Breen, who co-owns the Irish Coffee Shop on McLean Avenue, remarked, “This sounds a lot like the mass exodus we saw during COVID-19.”
“People were buying homes here and throughout Westchester,” she shared.
Rory Dolan, who has operated his Irish Pub and Restaurant in Yonkers for 32 years, mentioned that he has witnessed similar trends before.
“After 9/11, there was an exodus, but most people returned within a year. I expect something similar post-coronavirus,” he said.
However, he feels that claims of the city’s demise are overstated.
“I moved here in 1986. We were in the midst of various mayors, and the city didn’t collapse back then,” he recalled.
