The battle for New York’s 17th Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races in the country, with a new independent poll showing incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Lawler holding a narrow lead over Democratic challenger Cait Conley.
The survey, conducted by the independent polling firm co/efficient, found Lawler leading Conley 50% to 45%, with just 5% of likely voters still undecided.
The results come just weeks after a Democratic-backed poll showed Conley leading by six points, highlighting just how fluid the race remains. Together, the competing surveys reinforce why political observers continue to rate NY-17 as one of the nation’s premier congressional battlegrounds.
How NY-17 Became One of America’s Most Competitive Districts
The political landscape of New York’s 17th Congressional District changed dramatically following New York’s congressional redistricting after the 2020 Census.
Before the district lines were redrawn, NY-17 was represented by Mondaire Jones, who made history in 2020 as New York’s first openly gay Black member of Congress. At the time, the district leaned comfortably Democratic, and Jones won his seat by nearly 15 percentage points.
Following the 2020 Census, New York Democrats approved new congressional maps that Republicans argued were designed to maximize Democratic seats in Congress. The maps quickly became the subject of a legal challenge, and in 2022 the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the original congressional map violated the state’s constitutional redistricting process. A court-appointed special master was then tasked with drawing new district boundaries.
Those new lines fundamentally changed NY-17.
The revised district brought together portions of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties, creating a far more politically balanced electorate. The new map also prompted Mondaire Jones to run in a different congressional district, leaving the seat open and setting the stage for one of the nation’s biggest political upsets.
In 2022, Republican Mike Lawler defeated then-Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney, becoming one of the few Republicans to flip a Democratic-held House seat in New York. Since then, NY-17 has consistently ranked among the most competitive congressional districts in America, with both national parties investing millions of dollars to either defend or reclaim the seat.
Why NY-17 Matters
New York’s 17th Congressional District has become one of the country’s premier swing districts. With Republicans holding only a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, Democrats view flipping NY-17 as essential to regaining control of Congress. At the same time, Republicans see holding the seat as critical to maintaining their majority.
The district has consistently demonstrated a willingness to split its ticket. While Democratic presidential candidates have remained competitive throughout the region, Lawler has twice built a coalition broad enough to win congressional elections in a district where neither party can afford to take voters for granted.
Could Black Voters Become the Deciding Factor?
One of the most overlooked storylines heading into November is whether Congressman Mike Lawler can continue making inroads with Black voters throughout the Hudson Valley.
Historically, Black voters have overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates. However, recent election cycles have shown Republicans making modest gains among some Black voters nationally, particularly among homeowners, entrepreneurs, veterans, churchgoers, and working-class families, who are focused on issues such as affordability, public safety, education, and economic opportunity.
During his previous campaigns, Lawler made a visible effort to engage communities that many Republican candidates have often overlooked. He attended community events, met with Black clergy, spoke with Black business owners, participated in local forums, and sought endorsements from respected community leaders throughout Westchester and Rockland Counties. While Democrats continued to receive the overwhelming share of the Black vote, Lawler’s outreach helped him earn support from some Black voters who were willing to cross party lines.
That dynamic could prove significant again in 2026.
In a race where polls show only a five-point margin, even a modest shift in Black voter turnout—or in support among independent and swing Black voters—could influence the outcome. Both campaigns understand that they cannot afford to ignore Black communities in Mount Vernon, Peekskill, Spring Valley, White Plains, Yonkers, and other parts of the district.
For Democrats, maintaining their traditional level of support among Black voters will be critical. For Republicans, expanding upon the relationships Lawler has built over the past four years could provide the margin needed to secure another victory.
The Issues Likely to Decide the Race
Although national politics will dominate much of the campaign, local concerns remain at the forefront for many Hudson Valley residents. Among the issues expected to shape voters’ decisions are:
Inflation and the rising cost of living
Property taxes and housing affordability
Public safety
Immigration and border security
Healthcare costs
Energy and utility bills
Economic development and job creation
Both candidates are expected to spend the final months of the campaign competing for independent and moderate voters who have historically decided elections in the district.
The Bottom Line
The latest poll suggests Congressman Mike Lawler currently holds a slight advantage, but the race remains far from settled. With competing polls showing different leaders, significant national attention, and millions of dollars expected to flow into the district, NY-17 remains one of America’s premier political battlegrounds.
The race also illustrates how dramatically a congressional district can change. What was once a safely Democratic seat represented by Mondaire Jones has evolved into one of the nation’s most competitive swing districts, where independents, suburban voters, and potentially even modest shifts among Black voters could determine control of one of the most closely watched House seats in the country.
As November approaches, every vote—and every community—will matter.
Carrying On the Tradition of African American News: Twelve Years and Counting
Celebrating Black Westchester’s twelfth anniversary gives me an opportunity to reflect on how we got here and to reintroduce ourselves to those discovering us for the first time—as well as those who may not have been riding with us for the entire journey. And to everyone who has supported us since day one, I paraphrase the words of the great African American poet Shawn Corey Carter: “Allow us to reintroduce ourselves…”
Over the past several years, many of you may have noticed that Black Westchester has devoted significant attention to the local political landscape. That work is important, but it represents only one part of who we are and what we have always done.
We take our responsibility as members of the Black press seriously because we understand the tradition we inherited. We stand on the shoulders of the pioneering African American newspapers that came before us—publications that informed their communities, challenged injustice, documented Black life and reported stories the mainstream press too often ignored, distorted or refused to tell.
That legacy stretches back to Freedom’s Journal, founded in 1827 by Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm as the nation’s first African American-owned and operated newspaper. It continued through institutions such as the Chicago Defender, the Detroit Tribune and the Pittsburgh Courier; through New York’s historic Amsterdam News; and locally through publications such as the Westchester Observer and the Westchester County Press.
These newspapers did much more than report the news of the day. They served as advocates, historians, watchdogs and trusted voices for Black communities. They celebrated our achievements, exposed injustice, challenged those in power, and preserved stories that might otherwise have been erased.
Black Westchester understands the importance of carrying that mission forward. Whether we are covering politics, education, criminal justice, business, health, sports, entertainment, faith, or community affairs, our purpose remains the same: to document what is happening around us and provide the news through a perspective rooted in the experiences, concerns, and aspirations of the Black community.
We understand the Black press is a critical—but often ignored—aspect of African-American history and culture. Along with churches, political and service organizations, cultural institutions, and schools and universities, the Black press has been central to community formation, protest and advocacy, education and literacy, and economic self-sufficiency. Since the earliest known black-owned and published newspaper, like the Freedom’s Journal, the black press has provided a public sphere for an aggrieved community barred from mainstream channels of discourse. These publications disseminated African-Americans’ ideas, accomplishments, and cultural products within their communities and to the rest of the world.
African American journalism has always served a dual purpose: reporting the news and helping transform the conditions affecting Black communities. The Black press has never functioned solely as a distributor of information. It has also been an advocate, organizer, watchdog and agent of social change.
For nearly two centuries, Black newspapers have been a vital source of African American political power—informing readers, shaping public opinion, challenging injustice and holding elected officials and institutions accountable. Even at their most commercially successful, these publications have remained defenders of our shared values, interests and collective well-being.
That tradition reminds us that journalism does not have to abandon objectivity to recognize injustice or remain silent in the name of neutrality. The Black press has always understood that accurately documenting inequality, amplifying overlooked voices and demanding accountability are essential parts of telling the complete story.
The 1944 annual meeting of the National Negro Press Association adopted a “Credo for the Negro Press.” The Credo begins:
I Shall Be a Crusader…
I Shall Be an Advocate…
I Shall Be a Herald…
I Shall Be a Mirror and a Record…
Matthew F. Delmont wrote in his book titled “Black Quotidian: Everyday History In African-American Newspapers,” published by the Stanford University Press in 2019;
This special mission figures prominently in coverage of racial violence in the Black press. When Black newspapers reported on lynchings, police brutality, and other everyday acts of racial violence, they did not simply give an account of what transpired. Black reporters and editors urged local and federal authorities to defend the rights of Black people and to bring perpetrators to justice; they investigated criminal acts that law enforcement agencies either ignored or refused to probe; and they expressed outrage, on behalf of the Black community, that these acts of racial terror continued to take place in America. The Black press also recorded the names of victims, entering them into the historical record and leaving a paper trail of cases, some of which scholars, reporters, and lawyers are still trying to solve. African-American newspapers recorded murders that have become well known—such as the lynching of Emmett Till and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, killing four young girls, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley—as well as lesser-known crimes that are no less disturbing, including the bombings of the homes of the Short family in Fontana, California, and the Moore family in Mims, Florida. It would have been possible to fill Black Quotidian with only examples of the daily racial terror Black people have fought against. I elected not to do this because I wanted to illustrate how joy and the threat of violence have always been part of the quotidian lives of Black people in America.
Black Westchester as a member of the National Association of Black Journalist, the New York Association of Black Journalist and the National Newspaper Publisher Association (NNPA) – inducted as an unofficial member by the organization’s President and CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis when he appeared on Episode 297 of our weekly talk radio show People Before Politics Radio, Sunday, April 25, 2021 – we take this credo of African-American newspapers who came before us seriously as we carry on the tradition. Like Delmont, we also elect not just to give examples of the deadly consequences of being Black in America, but to illustrate and document how the threat of violence has always been part of the quotidian lives of Black people in the United States of America.
The NNPA’s Credo Of The Black Press reads;
The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back. Since World War II, it has also served as the industry’s news service, a position that it has held without peer or competitor since the Associated Negro Press dissolved by 1970.
The Black press has played a crucial role in the Fourth Estate since its inception in the early 19th century. In the early days, the Black press reported mainly on issues affecting the newly-formed African- American community and identity. African-American news organizations highlighted the challenges and triumphs of the Black community, while providing a more nuanced portrait of the lives of Black Americans when mainstream media would report predominantly negative or otherwise bigoted stories of Black Americans.
Covering events and celebrating African-American excellence like the Westchester County Press, but also realizing the need to be more radical at times like the Mount Vernon-based Westchester Observer. Ben Anderson’s motto was “Dedicated to Justice for All.” Ben Anderson wasn’t afraid to be an activist as well as accurately covering the movement of his time. Black Westchester tries to carry on the tradition of both Westchester Black Newspapers as we strive to inspire a new generation of truth-speakers.
Since our inception in 2014, Black Westchester has covered the movements, marches, and protests of the people while remaining at the forefront of the fight for freedom, justice, and equality.
Our reporting has also helped expose misconduct and abuse of power, contributing in some cases to officers being suspended, terminated or convicted. We have consistently held elected officials, community leaders and public institutions accountable—especially those who look like us and claim to represent us.
At times, our coverage has helped candidates gain the public’s trust and win office. In other cases, our reporting has contributed to voters deciding that certain officials no longer deserved to remain there.
That is the responsibility we accepted when we entered this work: not to protect personalities, political parties or institutions, but to serve the people, pursue the truth and demand accountability—no matter who is involved.
We have also made it a priority to shine a light on the unsung heroes and sheroes in our communities—the people who have been doing the work for years, often without recognition, headlines or public praise. By telling their stories, we hope not only to give them the acknowledgment they deserve, but also to encourage and inspire a new generation of truth-tellers, organizers, advocates and activists.
This journey has been a labor of love. At times, it has come without the support of some of the very people we have worked to educate, inform, and uplift. Still, we remain committed because we understand the role Black Westchester plays in our community and throughout the surrounding region.
We welcome those who have supported us from the beginning and those who are only now discovering our work. Together, we share the Credo of Black Westchester as we continue carrying forward the proud tradition of the African American newspapers that came before us.
At the request of my sister Nicole, I watched a video of Trevor Noah at the 2022 White House Correspondents’ Dinner; she knew it would inspire me. He ended with a challenge to the press.
“As we sit here tonight, people, I really hope you remember what the real purpose of this evening is really about… The reason we’re here is to honor and celebrate the Fourth Estate and what you stand for. An additional check and balance that holds power to account and gives voice to those who otherwise wouldn’t have one. I’m not just talking about the CNNs, Fox, or any other major organizations; I’m talking about everyone, including the local media who are not in this room. Every single one of you, whether you like it or not, is a bastion of democracy. If you ever begin to doubt your responsibilities, if you ever begin to doubt how meaningful it is, look no further than what’s happening in Ukraine. Look what’s happening there. Journalists are risking and even losing their lives to show the world what’s really happening.
You realize how amazing it is? America, you have the right to seek the truth and to speak the truth, even if that makes people in power uncomfortable. Even if it makes your viewers and your readers uncomfortable, you understand how amazing that is? I stood here tonight and made fun of the President of the United States, and I’m going to be fine… Do you understand what a blessing that is? Maybe it’s happened for so long, it might slip your mind. It is a blessing. If fact, ask yourself this question. If Russian journalists who are losing their livelihoods and freedom for daring to report on what their own government is doing, if they had the freedom to write any words, to show any stories, to ask questions? If they basically had what you have, would they be using it the same way you do? Ask yourself that question every day, because you have one of the most important roles in the world.”
My sister, as she so often is, was exactly right. Her words inspired me, and that is why I ended the book—and will end here—by saying this:
Thank you for allowing us to be your purveyors of news and information, the storytellers of our stories, agents of social change, a source of Black American political power, and defenders of our shared values and collective interests.
We understand the responsibility that comes with that role, and we remain committed to working as hard as possible to uphold it. We cannot promise that we will always do the work exactly the way everyone believes we should. We will make mistakes. We will face criticism. We will sometimes take positions that make people uncomfortable. But we can promise that we will always give our best effort, remain true to our mission, and never stop fighting to tell the stories that matter.
We understand the assignment.
No—we overstand the assignment.
And as long as Black Westchester has a voice, we will continue unapologetically delivering The News With The Black Point Of View!
Since 2014, Black Westchester has proudly delivered The News With The Black Point of View to our community free of charge. For nearly 12 years, we have remained committed to providing independent, community-focused journalism through our website, newspaper, and radio show without placing our content behind a paywall.
Unlike many media outlets that require subscriptions to access important news and information, Black Westchester remains free and accessible to everyone. We are unbought, unbossed, and truly independent. However, we could not have accomplished all we have over the years without the support of advertisers, donors, and community partners like you.
As we begin work on our upcoming 12th Anniversary Issue, we are reaching out to invite you to support Black Westchester by:
Advertising your business, organization, event, or service
Purchasing a congratulatory ad recognizing our anniversary
Making a donation to help sustain independent Black media in Westchester County and beyond
Your support helps us continue to provide quality journalism, amplify underrepresented voices, and keep our content free for the community.
The deadline to advertise in our 12th Anniversary Issue is Friday, July 31, 2026, but we encourage you not to wait until the last minute. We also offer discounted advertising packages for businesses and organizations interested in 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month advertising opportunities. Email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com for ad rates or to donate in celebration of our 12th anniversary.
The Mount Vernon NAACP Branch #2161 will host its Community Heroes Award Luncheon on Saturday, July 25, a special event dedicated to honoring extraordinary individuals whose leadership, service, and commitment have made significant contributions to the Mount Vernon community.
“There is no greater gift than a life lived in service to others. Service is more than an act of kindness—it is a commitment to making a difference, lifting others when they are down, and leaving our community stronger than we found it. Our Community Heroes Luncheon is a celebration of those remarkable individuals who have answered the call to serve. They have given of their time, talents, compassion, and leadership without seeking recognition or reward. They stood up, stepped forward, and made sacrifices so that others could have hope, opportunity, and a better future,” Kathie Brewington, President of the Mount Vernon NAACP Branch, shared.
In recognition of the occasion, Congressman George Latimer acknowledged the Community Heroes Award Luncheon on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, bringing national attention to the honorees and the important work of the Mount Vernon NAACP.
“As Mayor, I am proud to support the mission of the Mount Vernon NAACP and grateful for the organization’s continued dedication to advancing equality, empowering our residents, and building a stronger, more inclusive community. Together, we will continue working toward a future where justice, opportunity, and hope are accessible to all,” said Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. “Congratulations to this year’s honorees and thank you to the Mount Vernon NAACP for your continued leadership, partnership, and service to our community.”
This year’s Community Heroes honorees include:
Mr. Abishai Ben-Rubin, a master African percussionist, cultural educator, healer, activist, and respected community leader.
Mr. Al-Farid Salahuddin, a retired 41-year veteran of the Mount Vernon Fire Department.
Coach Craig Ramsey, a lifelong mentor, coach, and community advocate.
Ms. Donna Houston, a driving force in community service.
Dr. Natasha Hunter-McGregor, a distinguished educational leader with 37 years of dedicated service to scholars and families throughout New York City and Westchester County.
Mount Vernon Fire Commissioner Kevin Holt recognized for his lifelong commitment to protecting, serving, and advancing the well-being of the City of Mount Vernon and its residents.
Ms. Judith Watson, CEO of the Westchester Community Health Center, formerly known as the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center;
The Rev. Dr. Martello Payne Jr., a distinguished community leader, dedicated pastor, and decorated U.S. Army veteran with a profound legacy of service spanning over six decades.
Mr. Ralph Burts, a distinguished educator with more than 43 years of dedicated service in the Mount Vernon City School District.
Jermire Pyatt will also receive special recognition for his commitment to serving and uplifting the next generation through volunteerism, civic engagement, and youth leadership.
“I extend congratulations to the 2026 honorees, and thank them for their commitment, involvement, and dedication to the Mount Vernon community. Their immeasurable contributions and involvement exemplify the importance of good citizenry and highlight Westchester County as a great place in which to live and work,” County Executive Kenneth Jenkins shared.
Mariam Saidykhan will perform Mariah Carey’s inspiring 1993 hit single, “Hero,” during the Community Heroes Luncheon. Many in Mount Vernon may remember her outstanding performance in the Mount Vernon City School District Performing and Visual Arts Magnet School’s 2018 production of The Lion King Jr. at Mount Vernon High School. Just a few months later, she returned to the stage in the student production of The Color Purple, delivering another memorable performance as Young Celie.
“On Saturday, July 25th, we will celebrate those who have answered the call to serve—not for recognition, but because they understand that strong communities are built by people willing to stand up, speak out, and work together for the greater good. Their contributions remind us that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they are guided by purpose, compassion, and a commitment to justice,” MV NAACP Vice President AJ Woodson added.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was established in 1909 and is America’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. It was formed in New York City by Black and White activists, partially in response to the ongoing violence against Black Americans around the country. In the NAACP’s early decades, its anti lynching campaign was central to its agenda. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the association led the black civil rights struggle in fighting injustices such as the denial of voting rights, racial violence, discrimination in employment, and segregated public facilities. During the civil rights era in the 1950s and 1960s, the group won major legal victories, and today the NAACP has more than 2,200 branches and some half a million members worldwide. Dedicated to the goal of an integrated society, the national leadership has always been interracial, although the membership has remained predominantly African American.
The Mount Vernon NAACP (Branch #2161) holds its general monthly meetings on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM. The meetings take place at Macedonia Baptist Church, located at 141 South 9th Avenue in Mount Vernon. For more information, updates, or to confirm meeting details before attending, you can check the Mount Vernon, NY NAACP Website or view the NAACP – Mount Vernon, NY Branch Facebook Page.
In 1963, Malcolm X gave Black America a warning that still cuts today. He said the white conservative was like a wolf — snarling, obvious, easy to see coming. But the white liberal, he said, was a fox: showing the same teeth, but smiling while he did it. The danger wasn’t the wolf’s open hostility. It was the fox’s hidden hostility, dressed up as friendship, that led people to believe help had finally arrived.
Sixty years later, Black voters across this country are asking the right question: after generations of Democratic majorities in city halls, state houses, and Congress, where is the tangible payoff? Where are the fully funded schools in Black neighborhoods, the closed wealth gap, the reparative investment promised election after election? The frustration is earned and national — this is not a New York story; it is an American one. The Democratic Party has, for decades, treated Black voters as a guaranteed bloc rather than a constituency it had to keep delivering for — and that is the central “smiling fox” lesson Malcolm X warned against.
The mistake would be assuming that a new label — democratic socialist — automatically means a different animal, and that mistake isn’t confined to one city. Zohran Mamdani’s rise to the New York City mayoralty is the most visible example right now, but he is a symbol of a wider national moment: democratic socialism presenting itself, from New York to Chicago to statehouses around the country, as a break from the old machine — something promising to fight for working people rather than manage decline on their behalf. For Black voters everywhere who are skeptical of the Democratic establishment, that message can sound like exactly the alternative Malcolm X never got to see.
But the argument worth making, for Black America broadly and not just for one city’s electorate, is this: a change in branding is not the same as a change in species. Democratic socialism, as practiced through DSA-aligned politics wherever it takes root, is still organized largely around coalition politics where Black working-class concerns compete with — and often lose out to — other priorities within the coalition. That matters because the real question is not whether the coalition sounds progressive, but whose agenda gets funded first when budgets get tight — the same question Malcolm X insisted people ask of liberals who claimed to be allies.
The test Malcolm X offered wasn’t “is this person nicer than the last one.” It was: does the smile come with delivered results, or does it just come with a smile? Applied here, the fair question isn’t whether Mamdani or any democratic-socialist leader is more likable or more sincere-sounding than the establishment they ran against — by most accounts, many of them are. The question, for Black communities from New York to any other city or state where this politics takes hold, is whether these coalitions produce a specific, trackable Black agenda. If that doesn’t materialize, then what’s changed is the smile, not the jaws.
This is where former Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s role in the movement deserves a close look. Bowman, a Bronx democratic socialist and early Mamdani backer, has been one of the loudest voices insisting this movement speaks for and represents Black people’s concerns. That claim should be tested against the same standard Malcolm X applied to anyone claiming to be an ally of Black people: not what’s said, but what’s built. On the specific question of Black wealth, the socialist agenda as it currently stands has no real answer.
Economics 101 says there are only three real pathways to building and keeping generational wealth: equity ownership, real estate, and entrepreneurship. Look at where democratic socialism, as a movement, actually stands on each one. Stock and equity ownership is treated as a symbol of the very capital class the movement organizes against. Real estate is approached almost entirely through the lens of tenants versus landlords — rent freezes and rent control, not a serious push to get more Black families into ownership positions where property appreciation can compound across generations. And small business formation, historically one of the clearest routes Black families have used to build wealth, gets treated with the same suspicion as any other capitalist enterprise. A movement can be sincerely pro-worker and still have nothing to say about ownership — and ownership, not wages, is what generational wealth is actually made of.
That’s the warning worth writing plainly, for Black America as a whole: don’t trade a fox for a fox just because the new one smiles differently, wears a different party pin, or has Black surrogates vouching for it. Hold the receipts wherever this movement asks for your vote. Ask for the wealth-building agenda in writing — not the wage agenda, the ownership agenda. Judge by results, the same way Malcolm X always insisted Black voters should — no matter which city, which election, or which spokesperson it shows up with.
A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING PART IX, CHAPTER 100, OF THE CODE, ENTITLED PARKS AND PUBLIC PLACES, BY ADDING Article XV TO THE CODE, ENTITLED “VEHICLES IN PARKS”
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Yonkers has adopted the abovementioned legislation to amend the City Code to address vehicles in parks and explicitly penalize any vehicular activities which may cause damage to city parks.
Part IX of the Code of the City of Yonkers entitled “Parks and Public Places” is hereby amended in part by adding a new Article XV entitled “Vehicles in Parks” to read as follows:
Article XV VEHICLES IN PARKS
§ 100-82.
A. No person shall operate, drive, propel, stand, or park any motor vehicle, including any motorized bike or scooter, all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle within any City Park except in any roadway or parking lot or area explicitly permitting vehicles or unless authorized by the Parks Commissioner.
B. No person shall operate any motor vehicle including any motorized bike or scooter, all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle, within any City Park in a manner that damages, defaces, or destroys any lawn, field, planting, tree, shrub, turf, walkway, fixture, structure, or other park property.
C. No person shall operate a motor vehicle including any motorized bike or scooter, all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle, in any manner that endangers persons or property.
§ 100-83. Penalties
Violations of this article shall constitute a class II offense; however, if such violation is determined to cause property damage, then such violation shall constitute a class I offense.
Penalties as defined in Article III: Penalties, § 1-21 Penalties for offenses; lesser included offenses:
(1) Class I offense:
(a)
Criminal penalties: A Class I offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, subject to a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.
(b)
Civil penalties: A Class I offense is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $500 nor more than $10,000.
(2) Class II offense:
(a)
Criminal penalties: A Class II offense is a violation, subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than 15 days in jail, or both.[Amended 6-26-2012 by L.L. No. 5-2012]
(b)
Civil penalties: A Class II offense is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $250 nor more than $5,000.
The complete text of the ordinance is on file and may be examined at the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 40 S. Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701.
A public disagreement inside New York’s Democratic Party escalated this week after Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a sharp rebuke of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), using social media to compare the organization to one of Malcolm X’s most famous political warnings.
Richards’ comments came after reporting highlighted growing tensions between the DSA and Black and Latino Democrats over whether the socialist organization adequately represents the interests of communities of color.
Instead of remaining silent, Richards responded with two posts that quickly drew attention.
His first message was brief but direct:
“White supremacy comes in all forms.”
The statement appeared to be a response to criticism surrounding the DSA and reflected Richards’ frustration with what he sees as a political movement that claims to champion marginalized communities while failing to fully address Black concerns.
Hours later, Richards doubled down.
He posted Malcolm X’s famous observation about white liberals:
“The white liberals are more dangerous than the conservatives… as the Negro runs from the growling wolf, he flees into the open jaws of the smiling fox.”
The quote, originally delivered by Malcolm X in 1963, warned Black Americans not to judge political movements solely by their rhetoric but by whether they genuinely advance Black interests.
A Rare Public Break
Richards’ comments are significant because they represent one of the strongest public criticisms of the DSA from a prominent Black Democratic elected official.
Although disagreements between establishment Democrats and Democratic Socialists have existed for years, those disputes have typically centered on housing, taxation, policing, or government spending.
Richards instead framed the disagreement around race, political representation, and trust.
His decision to invoke Malcolm X suggests he believes the debate extends beyond policy differences to a broader question of whether the DSA understands—or prioritizes—the concerns of Black communities.
The Membership Question
One criticism frequently raised by opponents of the DSA involves the organization’s membership.
According to a 2021 Democratic Socialists of America membership survey, approximately 85% of members identified as white, while only about 4% identified as Black.
Although the organization has helped elect several candidates of color, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, critics argue those numbers raise legitimate questions about who shapes the organization’s priorities and whose voices are most influential within the movement.
Supporters counter that the DSA’s policies are intended to benefit all working-class people regardless of race.
Critics respond that universal policies are not necessarily the same as a focused agenda addressing the specific historical and economic challenges facing Black Americans.
Why Richards’ Comments Matter
Richards is not a political outsider.
He serves as Borough President of Queens, represents one of the city’s largest Black constituencies, and has spent years advocating for Black homeownership and economic opportunity.
His criticism therefore carries weight inside Democratic politics.
It also comes at a time when Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the DSA continue to expand their influence over the direction of New York City’s Democratic Party.
A Growing Divide
Richards’ posts underscore a broader debate unfolding within Democratic politics.
Increasingly, the disagreement is not simply between Democrats and Republicans.
It is between Democrats who believe broad progressive policies are sufficient to improve the lives of Black communities and those who argue Black communities require more intentional political and economic priorities.
By invoking Malcolm X, Richards challenged Black voters to ask a fundamental question:
Should political movements be judged by their language of equity—or by measurable outcomes for Black communities?
That question is likely to remain part of New York’s political conversation long after the latest social media exchange fades
You don’t wake up one morning as a caregiver, and yet, after some time of making up schedules in your head and trying to squeeze in your dad’s doctor’s appointments in your day, it becomes obvious.
You’ve become one. And it’s changed your life for good.
Back when your parents were raising you, you probably expected to move out, live your own life, and if your parents got to the point where they couldn’t take care of themselves, they’d move into a care facility.
That’s what most people thought, so why are more and more families becoming caregivers?
Modern families have less support than ever, but they’re asked to do more.
And they say yes because… What’s the alternative?
Why Family Caregiving Is Becoming So Common
If you look at the numbers, you can see they are pretty dark.
About 63 million Americans (that’s about 1 in 4 adults) now provide unpaid care to a family member. That’s almost 20 million more compared to the last decade, which is an increase of a whopping 45%!
So, what’s behind these numbers? Why is this happening?
One of the reasons is that people are simply living longer now, which is a good thing. The problem is that living longer doesn’t necessarily mean living healthier, even with the medical advances we have today.
Out of all the adults living in the U.S., 75% of them are dealing with at least 1 chronic condition. When it comes to people who are aged 65 or higher, that number goes up to 93%. Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and dementia don’t always require a person to stay in the hospital, but they all require help. Ongoing help, that is. There has to be someone who keeps an eye on medications, who schedules appointments, helps with hygiene, prepares meals, and so on. Someone has to do it, and that someone is increasingly becoming a family member.
Aside from longer lifespans, families look different nowadays.
People who were adults in the 1950s and 1960s usually had a lot of siblings, which is no longer the case for modern adults. Families are smaller now, so there aren’t as many people to take care of older relatives.
Also, approx. 29% of caregivers are part of the sandwich generation, which means that they’re raising kids AND taking care of their parents at the same time. And when you account for the fact that many adults don’t live in the same state as their parents, the situation gets even more complicated.
And then there’s the money. Because how could money not be part of this, right?
If you thought the numbers you’ve read so far are bad, get ready for truly brutal ones.
If you look at the national median cost for a private room in a nursing home, the price is now more than $129,000 (USD)a year. A semi-private room is up to $114,000, and assisted living communities are about $74,400 a year. Now, how can an average household with an income of roughly $80,000 per year afford these monstrous costs? They can’t.
And before you mention insurance, yes – long-term care insurance does exist, but it’s expensive and not many people have it. Medicare won’t cover most of these costs, and Medicaid is useless until the person has spent down almost all of their assets.
The only option here for so many families is that adult children become caregivers.
But let’s say you can afford long-term care for your parents. You’re still not done. You still have to visit (well, if you’re a decent person, you’d want to) your parents and stay in the loop on everything related to their care.
And speaking of care, let’s talk about the quality of care you get for those insane prices facilities charge. There’s no guarantee that it’ll be decent, let alone high. There are many scandals surrounding nursing homes and how they treat their residents.
The silver lining in that is that you don’t have to cross your arms and put up with it. You can always contact a lawyer if an incident should occur.
Each state has its own laws, but generally, abuse is never tolerated.
Here in New York, we have an extra statutory remedy through the Public Health Law to protect our seniors.
But if you take a Massachusetts nursing home neglect lawyer, they’d tell you that cases are usually built around negligence and laws on resident rights. The legal processes aren’t the same, either, but in any case, there are ways to protect your loved ones and hold institutions accountable.
Conclusion
Sadly, this increase in the number of family caregivers isn’t some trend that’s likely to pass soon. If anything, the numbers will keep getting higher because many families have no other choice. When you look at the reasons why that’s the case, it seems as though everything’s conspiring against them.
Caregiving is hard work, and it’s so much more than helping with groceries once in a while.
It’s a way of life, and unless it’s organized, caregiver burnout is almost guaranteed.
The moment people check into a hotel, they place their trust in more than a room. They trust the lock on the door, the camera near the entrance, the person at the front desk, and the simple expectation that someone is paying attention if something feels wrong.
That should not be too much to expect.
Hotels are busy places. People come and go at all hours. Some are guests. Some are workers. Some are visitors. Some may have no obvious reason to be on the property. That is exactly why safety cannot be treated like a side issue. A hallway, stairwell, parking lot, or side entrance can become dangerous when no one is watching closely enough.
That matters because sexual violence is a public health issue. Prevention starts before a police report, before a lawsuit, and before a family is left asking why warning signs were ignored.
Public Safety Does Not Stop at the Lobby
When people talk about public safety, the conversation usually turns to police, courts, elected officials, and crime data. Those conversations matter, but they leave out many of the places where people actually move through the world.
Hotels, motels, and extended stays may be private businesses, but they operate like public spaces. Guests, workers, delivery drivers, contractors, event attendees, and local residents pass through them every day. The lobby may look controlled, but the real test is often somewhere else: a back stairwell, a poorly lit lot, a laundry room, a side door that does not close right.
When safety fails in those places, the harm does not stay behind one door. It follows families, workers, travelers, and communities. New York has already seen how weak survivor-protection systems can leave people exposed, even when rules exist on paper.
Hotels should be judged the same way. A policy means little if staff are not trained. A camera means little if no one checks it. A complaint log means little if no one acts on what is written inside it.
The Safety Problems Guests Rarely See
Most guests do not know if the camera near the side entrance is recording. They do not know if the stairwell lock has been broken for weeks. They do not know if someone has already complained about harassment, stalking, or suspicious behavior on the property.
They see what they are meant to see: a clean lobby, a room number, fresh sheets, and a key card. Behind that can be a different story. Delayed repairs. Thin staffing. Ignored complaints. Side doors left unsecured. Managers hoping a problem goes away instead of dealing with it.
That is where accountability matters. Survivors and families may later examine hotel negligence sexual abuse claims when the facts point to preventable failures such as broken locks, poor lighting, weak key-card control, careless hiring, ignored misconduct complaints, or security that existed in name only.
No one can predict every crime. That is not the issue. The issue is whether warning signs were there and whether someone with responsibility chose to ignore them.
Extended Stays Need a Closer Look
Extended-stay properties bring their own set of risks. Some guests are there for weeks or months. Staff get used to familiar faces. Routines settle in. After a while, behavior that should raise concern can start to feel normal.
Those conditions can make blind spots more dangerous. An unsecured side entrance, an unchecked parking lot, an avoided stairwell, or a laundry room tucked far from the front desk may seem like small details on paper. For people living on the property for weeks or months, they shape whether the place feels safe.
Many extended stays also serve people with limited options: families between homes, workers on temporary jobs, people leaving unsafe situations, and guests with few safe alternatives. That should make safety a higher priority, not something management treats as routine.
If a business profits from housing people, even temporarily, security has to be part of the service. It cannot be buried behind check-in paperwork, housekeeping schedules, or excuses about being short-staffed.
What Real Hotel Safety Looks Like
Real safety is usually basic. Working locks. Cameras that are checked. Staff who know how to respond. Side entrances that stay secure. Complaints that are written down, reviewed, and taken seriously.
It also means fixing problems before they become tragedies. A broken lock that stays broken is no longer just maintenance. A complaint that gets brushed aside may be the warning sign everyone remembers later. A report of harassment should never depend on whether the person at the desk decides to take it seriously.
Guests should not have to guess whether a property is paying attention. Families, workers, event organizers, and local leaders have every right to ask direct questions. Are entrances monitored? Are stairwells checked? Are employees trained to respond to harassment or stalking? Are past incidents reviewed, or quietly forgotten?
Prevention Should Be the Standard
A hotel room should be a place to rest. People should be able to close the door and feel safe. When that trust is broken because basic safety steps were ignored, the damage reaches beyond one guest and one property.
Hotels, motels, and extended stays should not be allowed to call danger unpredictable when the warning signs were already sitting in plain sight. Public safety includes the private places where the public is invited inside.
The standard should be simple: take complaints seriously, fix known problems, train staff, secure the property, and act before someone gets hurt. Apologies after the damage is done are not enough.
While much of the conversation surrounding rap focuses on the industry’s biggest stars, two Yonkers artists are proving that longevity, perseverance, and purpose continue to define the city’s rap scene.
For Julisa Robinson, better known as JuJu F’n Baby, music has been a lifelong passion shaped by family and experience. Growing up around DJs, she developed a love for hip-hop at an early age and later performed with rap groups before building her own identity as a solo artist. Today, she performs at open mic events throughout New York and New Jersey and is preparing to take her music to Puerto Rico.
A mother herself, JuJu says her greatest inspiration is her son. Looking back, she wishes she had stopped doubting herself sooner and ignored people who tried to dim her light. She also recalls nearly being signed at the former Yonkers nightclub Razzous, a moment that reinforced how close opportunity can be. Beyond performing, JuJu has also shared her passion by teaching young people how to write songs. One of the artists who inspires her most is 50 Cent.
JuJu F’n Baby won the “Good Stock” open mic championship in 2025 at the Yonkers Brewing Company, and she followed it by winning the Female Breakout Artist of the Year award at the MoneyStylesNYC Awards. She has been dominating the local Hip-Hop scene with her producer, Rico Cookin Beats.
Lady Slim, born Kitreace Harris, is an independent Hip-Hop recording artist and songwriter raised in Yonkers, New York. Respected throughout the local music community for her razor-sharp lyricism, fearless authenticity, and commanding presence, she remains deeply committed to representing her city and helping preserve, strengthen, and elevate Yonkers’ rich Hip-Hop culture.
Lady Slim’s journey began at a young age; she began rapping at just nine years old. She gained widespread local exposure, where she holds her own with her standout verse on the hit regional anthem “So Yonkers” by Cash B, a collaborative track showcasing the city’s diverse talent and unity.
A graduate of Lincoln High School, Lady Slim has been rapping since childhood and brings far more than lyrical ability to the stage. A versatile musician, she sings, raps, and plays the drums, giving her a well-rounded musical foundation and dynamic performance style. Like fellow Yonkers artist JuJu, Lady Slim also sharpened her skills performing at Razzous, one of the city’s notable showcases for emerging local talent.
Now a parent, Lady Slim says motherhood has changed her perspective, sharpened her priorities, and strengthened her determination to succeed. Her advice to aspiring artists is direct and practical: save your money, remain focused on building your career, and never allow relationships or distractions to pull you away from your goals. Musically, she draws inspiration from influential artists such as Lauryn Hill, whose honesty, versatility, and powerful storytelling continue to resonate with her.
JuJu F’n Baby and Lady Slim—“Baby and Slim,” but not the famous New Orleans duo—are carving out their own lane and making serious noise in Yonkers’ growing Hip-Hop scene.
Keep an eye on both artists as they continue striving in their careers.
The City’s toughest housing rhetoric has been aimed at private landlords. But if equal accountability is the standard, New York’s own public housing should lead the way.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made holding private landlords accountable one of the defining themes of his administration. Press conferences. New inspection initiatives. Public hearings. Tough rhetoric. The message is clear: negligent landlords will be held accountable.
No reasonable person should oppose safe housing. Every New Yorker deserves to live in an apartment free of mold, leaks, broken heat, pests, and unsafe conditions. Private landlords who violate the law should absolutely be held accountable.
But there is one question City Hall has yet to answer.
If housing justice is truly the goal, why doesn’t it start at NYCHA?
The New York City Housing Authority is home to nearly 280,000 residents, including more than 120,000 Black New Yorkers. These are some of the poorest families in the city. Many are seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and working families living on limited incomes. They often cannot simply move if conditions become unbearable. They depend on the City to provide safe, decent housing.
Yet the administration’s most visible housing campaign has been directed at private property owners through aggressive inspections, enforcement actions, and public “Rental Ripoff” hearings, while NYCHA continues to struggle with long-standing complaints involving mold, heating failures, broken elevators, water leaks, pests, and delayed repairs.
To be fair, Mayor Mamdani has committed significant funding to NYCHA. His administration has announced a long-term investment plan totaling approximately $5.6 billion for repairs, modernization, and restoring vacant apartments. Investment in public housing is necessary, and no one should dismiss the importance of funding.
But funding alone is not accountability.
Every mayor in recent history has announced new money for NYCHA. The question is not whether dollars have been allocated. The question is whether City Hall is holding itself to the same visible standards it demands of private landlords.
The contrast has not gone unnoticed by the very people City Hall says it wants to protect.
When Mayor Mamdani launched his highly publicized “Rental Ripoff” hearings, many NYCHA residents asked a simple question: Why aren’t we included? Residents pointed out that they continue to live with many of the same conditions the Mayor condemns in private housing. Their concern was not that private landlords should receive less scrutiny, but that NYCHA should receive the same level of urgency and accountability.
Those complaints are not new. For years, NYCHA residents and community organizations have documented deteriorating living conditions throughout the City’s public housing system. During this year’s budget debate, a coalition that included NYCHA residents criticized the Mayor’s housing priorities, arguing that he had retreated from campaign promises on housing assistance. The frustration reflects a broader concern that the City’s most visible housing campaign has focused on private landlords while public housing remains plagued by longstanding problems.
This is not an argument against enforcing housing laws. It is an argument for enforcing them consistently.
If aggressive inspections, public hearings, transparency, and public accountability are the right approach for private landlords, then why isn’t the City applying those same visible standards to NYCHA—the largest landlord in New York City?
Imagine if the same inspection model used against private landlords were applied to NYCHA. Imagine public hearings dedicated solely to NYCHA conditions. Imagine publicly released inspection reports for every development. Imagine firm repair deadlines with regular public progress updates. Imagine the Mayor standing inside deteriorating NYCHA developments with the same frequency he stands in front of privately owned buildings announcing new enforcement actions.
Government should lead by example. If the City expects every private landlord to provide safe and dignified housing, then it should hold itself to at least the same standard. Housing justice should begin with the housing the City owns.
Housing justice cannot be selective.
If Mayor Mamdani wants to build a lasting legacy on housing reform, that legacy should begin with the families who have the fewest choices. It should begin with NYCHA residents. They deserve not only billions in investment, but also the same inspections, transparency, public scrutiny, and accountability that the administration demands from every private landlord.
Until that happens, New Yorkers will continue to ask a simple question:
If housing justice is the goal, why doesn’t it start at NYCHA?
