Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced on Monday, July 7t,h his appointment of community member and job readiness trainer Effie Phillips as the City’s new Community Advancement and Recruitment Officer. Phillips will serve as a strategic advisor on equity-related hiring practices and strategies to attract, hire, and retain a diverse municipal workforce.
“In Yonkers, equity and inclusion are not just values—they are action steps,” said Mayor Spano. “I am confident Effie’s expertise as a job readiness trainer and active community volunteer will continue to diversify Yonkers’ talented workforce and best reflect the community in which we serve.”
Phillips will work closely with the Mayor’s Office, Human Resources, department leaders, and community stakeholders to ensure equity is embedded throughout the City’s recruitment and community outreach efforts.
“I knew I always wanted to make a difference in Yonkers. This opportunity, working alongside Mayor Spano and his team, will make that possible. Yonkers, let’s continue to be the change we want to see in the world!” Effie Phillips stated.
Effie Phillips joins the City of Yonkers with 20 years of case management experience with job placement, human resources and community program oversight. Recently, Phillips served as an Election Inspector Coordinator for the Westchester County Board of Elections, where she trained poll inspectors and monitored human resource information and documentation.
Previously, she worked for U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel in which she managed constituent services and local issues for the Congressional district. Additionally, Phillips was a case manager and job readiness trainer for the Urban League of Westchester and Westhab.
As a community leader, Phillips is the Vice President of the National Council of Negro Women-Hudson Valley Section, a lifetime member of NAACP, Yonkers Branch and member of the Yonkers African American Heritage Committee. Phillips attended Mercy College where she studied Organizational Management.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that Tairon Drake, 30, of Yonkers, was indicted on multiple felony charges for allegedly attacking his former partner inside their home, in front of their two children.
Drake was charged with the following crimes:
Aggravated Criminal Contempt (D felony, 2 counts)
First-Degree Criminal Contempt (E felony, 11 counts)
Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation (A misdemeanor, 1 count)
Third-Degree Assault (A misdemeanor, 2 counts)
Endangering the Welfare of a Child (A misdemeanor, 3 counts)
He was arraigned on the charges on Tuesday, July 8th, before Judge Susan Capeci, where he pleaded not guilty. Judge Capeci, who is the Supervising Judge of the Supreme Court (Civil Matters), set bail at $10,000 cash/$100,000 insured bond/$150,000 partially secured bond.
“Research shows that women who experience strangulation or obstruction of breathing are far more likely to be killed by their intimate partner later on. That is why it is critical for law enforcement to intervene at this stage,” DA Cacace shared.
“Protecting and supporting domestic violence survivors is among the highest priorities for my administration. There is no safe harbor for abusers in Westchester County.”
As alleged in an earlier-filed felony complaint, on May 1, 2025, at their Yonkers home, Drake placed both hands around his former partner’s neck and applied pressure, verbally threatening to kill her. The next day, he is alleged to have slapped their then-9-year-old child across the face, splitting open her lip.
Each of these alleged acts is further alleged to have been committed in violation of an order of protection that had been issued against the defendant, for the benefit of his former partner and their children, in connection with a prior criminal case.
The investigation is being conducted by the Yonkers Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Morgan Helfman of the Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Churches and houses of worship can now endorse political candidates to their congregations without losing their tax-exempt status.
Let’s be real. This isn’t just a policy change.
It’s a quiet power grab, dressed in scripture and subtle language.
They’re calling it a “family discussion,” but we know what it is:
a legalized pipeline from the pulpit to the polls.
Because when the government says religious endorsements aren’t “campaigning,” what they’re really saying is:
“Preachers, go ahead and push candidates during your sermon. We won’t tax you for it.”
That means a pastor can name-drop their favorite Senate hopeful right after the benediction and still pass the collection plate tax-free.
But this isn’t about freedom of speech.
It’s about strategic manipulation, disguised as divine authority.
Let’s Be Clear About the Setup
This ruling came out of a lawsuit filed by two churches in Texas and a Christian broadcasting group.
Their goal?
To open the floodgates for political endorsements in sacred spaces, without triggering the Johnson Amendment, a decades-old law that barred nonprofits from politicking.
And the IRS gave them exactly what they wanted.
Now, churches have been given a greenlight to do what other nonprofits still legally can’t: endorse candidates with no consequences.
No oversight.
No donor disclosures.
No accountability.
And all while collecting tax-deductible donations.
That’s not just a loophole.
That’s a playbook.
Why This Hits Different in Our Communities
Let’s not act brand new.
The Black church isn’t just a place of worship; it’s a cultural cornerstone.
It’s where we organize, educate, heal, and mobilize.
So when the IRS tells churches, “it’s okay to endorse,” what they’re really doing is weaponizing trust.
Because who do people still believe when the world is burning?
Their pastor.
Their imam.
Their spiritual anchor.
But now, that trusted voice could be echoing the interests of a political campaign, one that may not even serve the people in the pews.
And the scariest part?
It’s all legal now.
The Real-World Impact
Let’s run some numbers:
1 in 4 Black girls will be sexually assaulted before 18.
Black maternal mortality is 3x higher than white women.
Over 60% of Black youth attend underfunded schools.
Gun violence is the #1 killer of Black children in America.
So the question becomes:
Who benefits when churches endorse candidates who vote against our survival?
We’ve already seen how political agendas creep into sermons:
Telling congregants not to support reproductive justice.
Telling them “tough on crime” is gospel.
Telling them to trust systems that have failed us for centuries.
This ruling gives those agendas room to grow and now, nobody’s watching.
Spiritual Gentrification is Real
This is how it starts.
Take a sacred space. Introduce a subtle shift. Wrap it in tradition. Monetize the influence. And act like it’s always been that way.
They’re not trying to separate church and state.
They’re trying to merge them strategically, under the table, with a tax-free seal of approval.
And what happens when candidates start courting churches like they do influencers?
We risk our pulpits becoming platforms.
Our praise becoming propaganda.
Our faith being flipped into someone else’s funnel.
What Do We Do Now?
We stay woke in the pews.
We ask our leaders the hard questions:
Who are they aligning with?
Who benefits from that alignment?
And are our communities actually being served or simply being swayed?
Because this isn’t
just about politics.
It’s about protection.
Protection of our sacred spaces.
Protection of our right to uncoerced faith.
Protection of the people who walk through those doors looking for God, not a campaign.
Final Word: The Pulpit Isn’t For Sale
This IRS ruling might be legal but that don’t make it righteous.
Because the truth is:
Faith isn’t supposed to be a funnel for votes.
It’s supposed to be a force for freedom.
So while candidates are out here trying to cozy up to clergy, we better remember who the real power belongs to:
The people. The pews. The prophets, not the politicians.
Join us for a special edition of Black Westchester presents the People Before Politics Radio Show, Wednesday, July 9th at 8 PM for a powerful episode where we go beyond the headlines and dive deep into the issues shaping our communities.
We’re joined by Elias Husamudeen, the fearless voice behind LetsTalkPoliticsNYC.com, as we break down the New York City mayor’s race that’s capturing national attention. From political infighting to media narratives, we expose what’s really at stake for Black and Brown communities — and why this race is about more than just one city.
People Before Politics Radio, Giving You Real Talk For The Community Since 2014!
Black Westchester presents the People Before Politics Radio Show every Sunday night, 6-8 PM, simulcasting live on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, and archived on BlackWestchester.com. Giving you that Real Talk For The Community since 2014.
To support the Black Westchester and the People Before Politics Radio Show, which provides the News With The Black Point Of view and gives you the real talk for the community for free, make a donation via PayPal. In the words of Ray Charles, “One of these days, and it [might not be] long, You’re gonna look for [us], and [we’ll] be gone.” Support independent, Black-owned, Free Media!
Subscribe, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation this Sunday. At Black Westchester, we always put People Before Politics!
Councilman Derrick Thompson is hosting a public forum on the Charter Review Commission ballot initiatives on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Why is this important, simple? This is potentially a seismic shift in the structure of the city of Mount Vernon’s government. The Charter Review Commission would like Mount Vernon to have a City Manager and an appointed Comptroller, which can change how our city truly operates / functions.
Black Westchester is urging that all Mount Vernon residents share this with their family and friends, so they can come and get the information needed and ask questions to make an informed decision when voting. Far too often, the residents do not get the information until it is too late. We feel the residents’ voices need to be heard and again encourage public engagement and urge all to attend, listen, take notes, and ask questions so you can make an informed decision at the ballot box.
In November 2025, Mount Vernon, NY, residents may be asked to vote on proposed charter revisions. The main change is whether to switch from a strong mayor system to a city manager system. Additionally, voters will decide if the comptroller position should be held by a finance professional with CPA experience. A third proposal to replace the at-large City Council with a ward system was rejected. The two ballot questions were authorized on June 4 by the Mount Vernon Charter Revision Commission.
“In my view, the city is not professionally run,” said Commission Chair Tamala Boyd, an attorney with experience in municipal governance who moved to the city in 2023. “The complaints we heard from many residents involved how they engaged with the city, and most of the problems had to do with city operations, not policy. Why does it take a year to get a building permit? And the operations are getting annihilated by politics.”
The 15-member Charter Revision Commission, with 11 women and 4 men, passed the ballot question for the city manager form of government by a single vote, 8-7. The professional comptroller question was passed by 7-5, with two members abstaining. The ward system proposal failed 6-8. After the votes were tallied, those who voted against the ballot measures proposed holding a second vote on them once the ballot language is completed. What the residents may or may not know is that the Charter Revision Commission will be voting to put it on the ballot next Wednesday on July 16th. But it is important for all residents to come out on Thursday, July 10th at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers; this will be your last chance to be heard before the CRC votes to put it on the ballot in November.
So, What Are The Proposed Charter Revisions?
Strong Mayor vs. City Manager: The first ballot question will determine if Mount Vernon transitions from a strong mayor system, where the elected mayor runs the city and appoints all the commissioners, to a city manager system, where a professional manager handles city operations.
Comptroller Qualifications: The second question will address whether the city comptroller should be a certified public accountant with municipal finance experience.
Ward System (Rejected): A proposal to replace the at-large City Council with a ward system was not authorized for the ballot.
A Charter Revision Commission was established to review and propose changes to the city’s charter. The commission’s goal is to improve the city’s structure and responsiveness to residents’ needs, focusing on city operations rather than just policy. The commission finalized its proposals and submitted them to the voters for approval. The changes aim to address issues like slow building permit processing and the perceived negative impact of politics on city operations, according to the commission chair.
I will end this as I started for anyone who missed it. Councilman Derrick Thompson is hosting a public forum on the Charter Review Commission ballot initiatives on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Why is this important, simple? This is potentially a seismic shift in the structure of the city of Mount Vernon’s government. The Charter Review Commission would like Mount Vernon to have a City Manager and an appointed Comptroller, which can change how our city truly operates / functions.
Black Westchester is not advocating for one form of government over another but simply informing you, the residents, to come out, find out what’s being proposed, and make your voices heard. Many things go through because the public is often unaware and uninformed. If you do not like the way the city is run, the problem may not be the form of government but the candidates you vote for. Either way, you, the residents, play a big part in the state of the city. Politics is a participatory sport; you must play your part, or you can not complain when things are not going the way you want.
We can continue to complain or come out and let your voice be heard and hear what the charter revision is all about, so you know which way to vote in November!!! And that’s Real Talk!!!
To support the Black Westchester, which provides the News With The Black Point Of view and gives you the real talk for the community for free, make a donation via PayPal. In the words of Ray Charles, “One of these days, and it [might not be] long, You’re gonna look for [us], and [we’ll] be gone.” Support independent, Black-owned, Free Media! At Black Westchester, we always put People Before Politics!
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins testified in person, Wednesday, July 9th, at a New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing to voice the County’s strong opposition to proposed rate increases by Con Edison.
The hearings were held on Tuesday, July 8th at Cortlandt Town Hall – Vincent F. Nyberg Meeting Room 1 Heady Street in Cortlandt Manor, and Wednesday, July 9th at Westchester County Center – First Floor Meeting Room, 198 Central Avenue in White Plains, provided Westchester residents with a critical opportunity to speak on the record and demand accountability from the utility giant.
For those who missed the hearing in Cortlandt Manor and the County Center, there will also be another hearing on Thursday, July 10th, from 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the Residence Inn – Marriott Meeting Rooms A and B located at 1776 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461. There are seven hearings in total throughout the five boroughs and Westchester County.
It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material to speak at an in-person hearing. Individuals will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each public statement hearing will be open for at least thirty minutes or until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. A verbatim transcript of each public statement hearing will be included in the record of these proceedings.
Jenkins, who previously testified at a virtual PSC hearing, has remained a vocal critic of the proposed hikes. He recently signed legislation—unanimously passed by the bipartisan Westchester County Board of Legislators—officially making Westchester a party to the state’s major rate case against Con Edison.
“The proposed Con Edison rate increases are unfair, unaffordable, and unacceptable. Families across Westchester are being pushed to the breaking point,” Jenkins said. “Seniors on fixed incomes, working parents, and small business owners cannot afford to pay more for an essential service while wages stay flat and inflation rises. Forcing people to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table is simply wrong.”
Jenkins emphasized that while he supports investment in reliable infrastructure and clean energy, such progress must not come at the expense of affordability.
A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 109-160 OF ARTICLE XVII, CHAPTER 109, PART 2, ARTICLE XVII OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF YONKERS RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Yonkers has adopted the above-mentioned legislation that amends the City Code to discourage double-parking Within the City of Yonkers, by increasing the penalties for illegal parking within the City of Yonkers, and by updating the maximum charges permitted for towing services and vehicle storage to reflect present and actual labor, equipment, costs, and effort for various towing services within the City of Yonkers.
Parking, standing, and stopping violations shall be punished as follows: Type of Violation Fee Expired meter (on street) $30 Over time, parking at a meter (on street) $30 Expired meter (off street) $30 Failed to activate meter (on street) $30 Over time, parking at a meter (off street) $30 Failed to activate meter (off street) $30 Parking in 2-meter spaces (on street) $50 Parking rear to meter (on street) $50 Parking in 2-meter spaces (off street) $50 Parking rear to meter (off street) $50 No parking $50 Over time parking, no meter $50 Parking in driveway, public or private $100 Parking within 30 feet of a stop sign $50 Parking within 10 feet of the crosswalk at the intersection $60 Parking in a loading zone $50
M/T 12 inches from curb, 2-way street $50 M/T 12 inches from curb, 1-way street $50 Parking left side to curb, 2-way street $50 Parking in the wrong direction, 2-way street $50 Parking in the wrong direction, 1-way street $50 Parking opposite the construction site $50 Improper parking $50 Parked rear to curb $50 Improper angle parking $50 Angle parking prohibited, 2-way street $50 Angle parking prohibited, 1-way street $50 Wheels not turned to the curb on the hill $50 Parking a trailer, semitrailer, tractor-trailer, tractor, house-on-wheels, bus, or school bus $500
Other Commercial vehicle/bus parking $50 Parked on bridge $50 Unattended vehicle $70 Parked at theater entrance $50 Parked on private property $50 Parked without lights $50 Inspection violations $50 Parked on entrance or exit ramps, state highway $50 Parked on state highway $50 Parked alongside curb cut $100 Parked for purpose of vehicle sale $50
Parked for vehicle repair, except emergency $125 Parked on highway with speed limit over 35 mph for purpose of selling frozen desserts $50
Parked within safety island $60 Parked within crosswalk $60 Parked within intersection $60 Parked on sidewalk $160 No standing $70 No stopping $70 No stopping, bus stop $50 Stopped on pavement $50 Registration violations $70 Unregistered motorcycle $70 Tab improperly on plate $70 License plate violations $90 No current license plate $90 Unauthorized license plate $90 Parked leaving L/T 10 feet roadway $90 Restricted area $70 Restricted area, parking lot $70 Restricted area, off street $70 Restricted, raceway parking $70 Obstructing traffic $90 Obstructing traffic, L/T 10 feet roadway $90
Double-parked $150 Double-parked commuting hours (Mon. – Fri. 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., excluding holidays) $100
Parked within 15 feet of fire hydrant $125 Parked in fire zone $90 Parked within 20 feet of fire station entrance $90 Parked in tow-away zone $90 Emergency snow removal $90 Parked in handicap space, no permit, on street $200 Parked in handicap space, no permit, off street $100 Abandoned vehicle $450 Abandoned vehicle in an emergency a designated emergency $500
All other parking violations, including violations of Article 32 of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law $50
In the event that a respondent does not enter a plea or remit the fine due for a parking, standing or stopping violation as and when required by this chapter, then they shall pay a late payment penalty equal and in addition to the scheduled fine for the violation charged.
In the event that a vehicle is towed pursuant to this chapter, the owner or person entitled to possession of the vehicle shall pay a towing charge and a storage charge as set by the rules and regulations of the City of Yonkers. These charges shall be in addition to any fines or penalties for illegal stopping, standing, parking, abandonment or any other offense under this chapter. Towing and storage charges shall be paid as lawfully. No vehicle shall be released unless all towing and storage fees, outstanding parking violations, and related penalties are paid in full.
The following fees shall be the maximum charged for all passenger cars, regardless of weight, for either private towing or towing pursuant to roster call or impound:
A maximum charge of $350 for passenger vehicles, and $150 for mopeds The above maximum charge shall include: [1] Winching (if required) [2] Use of dollies/skates [3] Lockout service (if required) [4] Shrink wrap application for broken or missing windows
Storage charges shall be at the rate of not more than $75 for each 24 hours or part thereof for passenger vehicles, and for mopeds, $35 for each 24 hours. All vehicles must be stored on the premises of the licensee, whether indoors or outdoors, and shall not be permitted on City streets. Truck and trailer storage shall be at the rate of not more than $350 for small to medium size trucks and $550 for large trucks for each 24 hours or part thereof.
Administrative fees may be charged at a maximum rate of $100 for the retrieval of owner/lienholder information and mailing of certified letters to all relevant parties.
Heavy towing is a maximum charge of $750 per hour with a 2-hour minimum charge and $650 per hour thereafter.
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.
Following a report in Lohud that Rep. Mike Lawler’s Deputy District Director Erin Crowley infiltrated a private Signal chat of concerned community members and urged them to disrupt Rep. Lawler’s event, a dozen community groups have released a letter calling for Crowley’s resignation:
We, the undersigned grassroots and community organizations, call for the immediate resignation of Deputy District Director Erin Crowley following the shocking revelation that she infiltrated a private Signal chat of community activists. This unethical and deceitful behavior represents a gross abuse of power, a violation of trust, and an affront to democratic values.
Public officials must be held to the highest ethical standards. Crowley’s actions—posing as a concerned citizen to spy on constituents—demonstrate a blatant disregard for transparency and accountability. Such conduct is unacceptable from anyone in a position of public trust, particularly one tasked with serving the needs of the district.
This incident raises serious concerns about the extent of surveillance and political espionage conducted by Representative Mike Lawler’s office. If Crowley acted independently, she has proven herself unfit for office. If she acted with the knowledge or approval of her superiors, this scandal implicates the entire congressional office. Either way, her continued employment erodes public confidence in our representatives.
We demand Crowley’s resignation from her position in Rep. Lawler’s office and a full investigation into this misconduct. Public servants must work for the people—not spy on them. Until she steps down, the shadow of this behavior will hang over every interaction her office has with constituents.
Signers
Citizen Action of New York Community Voices Heard Power Indivisible CCoHOPE Indivisible Rockland Indivisible Westchester Indivisible Yorktown Joining Forces New York Communities for Change New York Working Families Party Northern Westchester Indivisible Peekskill Progressives Putnam Progressives
Crowley, 40, in her first term in the Putnam County Legislature, was named Lawler’s deputy district director in 2023 and runs his district office at Carmel Town Hall. She’s seeking election to a second term in the Putnam County Legislature in November.
I thought to myself, this can’t stay in my notes. So I’m sharing it through my lens, through the heartbeat of Yonkers, through the eyes of a people who are often dismissed, overmedicated, and underserved.
Because let’s be real: most of us are taught to treat symptoms, not the source. We’re told “just go to therapy” or “just take the meds,” but nobody’s asking what’s really inflaming us, in our bodies, in our environments, and in our spirits.
Yonkers: The Struggle Is Systemic, But So Is the Strength
In Yonkers, where over 25% of residents live below the poverty line, we face compounding barriers to wellness:
Zip codes 10701 and 10703 are federally recognized food deserts, where thousands of residents, many without cars, have little to no access to affordable, fresh food.
Processed food, corner stores, and fast food dominate the local landscape, while supermarkets, wellness hubs, and green markets are rare or hard to reach.
These neighborhoods also have some of the highest rates of preventable hospitalizations in Westchester County, driven by nutrition-related illnesses, unmanaged stress, and environmental toxins.
So while people talk about “mental health awareness,” they’re missing the setup:
You can’t heal a community with no access to clean food.
The Gut–Brain Connection is Real
Dr. Natasha’s lecture drops the science: the gut and brain are constantly talking. When your gut is inflamed, whether from antibiotics, processed foods, toxins, or chronic stress, your brain struggles to regulate emotion, focus, or energy.
Conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders aren’t always mental. They’re often metabolic. Inflammation and leaky gut disrupt the brain’s ability to function clearly.
This isn’t a theory. It’s biology.
GAPS Protocol: A Blueprint for Restoring, Not Just Coping
The GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) protocol is a return to what our grandmothers knew:
Bone broths to heal the gut lining
Fermented foods to rebuild internal balance
Real, whole foods that regulate the nervous system
Cutting out processed sugar, chemicals, and toxic habits
This is not about being perfect. This is about being present, in your own body.
Who’s Allowing the Erosion of Our Health?
Let’s call it what it is: Community boards in Yonkers have been complicit.
While families in 10701 and 10703 are juggling two jobs just to survive, these boards are approving the expansion of liquor stores, check-cashing joints, smoke shops, and fast-food chains. All in walking distance of our schools, parks, and bus stops.
And they do it like it’s business as usual. But for us? It’s life or death.
Every time a new Popeyes slides into a rezoning plan while we still can’t get a full-service grocery store or farmers market in southwest Yonkers, that’s not oversight. That’s violence.
Because these entities don’t invest in us—they extract from us.
They profit off our hunger, our time poverty, and our trauma.
And community boards let it happen in the name of “economic growth.”
So yes, corporations are allowed to patronize our blocks, but we’re the ones paying the price, in heart disease, in chronic stress, in misdiagnosed behavior issues, in preventable deaths.
Our babies don’t need another 2-for-1 combo meal.
They need green space, fresh food, and policy that protects their futures.
If your board seat means rubber-stamping toxic zoning into Black and Brown neighborhoods, you’re not a community leader, you’re a gatekeeper of decay.
Healing begins when extraction ends.
And Yonkers deserves better.
Who’s Really Responsible?
Let’s be clear: it’s not just the community board.
There’s a whole chain of decision-makers who’ve allowed this health crisis to root itself in our soil and they need to be named.
The Real Roster of Responsibility:
Zoning & Planning Departments – They approve what gets built. They’ve prioritized profit over prevention for decades.
City Council & Local Elected Officials – They smile for ribbon cuttings while ignoring budgets for food access and wellness infrastructure.
Developers & Landlords – They give rent deals to fast food chains and push out community-owned co-ops. That’s economic violence.
Local Hospitals & Health Systems – You can’t preach “mental health awareness” and stay silent on food apartheid. If you treat the symptom and ignore the cause, you’re hustling, not healing.
County & State Agencies – They talk public health equity while slashing funding to mobile clinics, food justice orgs, and maternal health programs.
Local Media – If they only report on shootings, but not on the systems that make wellness nearly impossible, they’re shaping public opinion to normalize neglect.
And yes…
Sometimes, it’s us too.
We can’t afford to stay uninformed or uninvolved.
If we’re not at the hearings, the budget meetings, the board votes, decisions get made without us, but always about us.
But hear me clearly: we didn’t build this system. So we shouldn’t bear it alone.
Accountability must start at the top.
How to Find a Practitioner Who Works For You
Remember: when you seek healing support, you are the client, not the case file.
Ask:
“Have you worked with people who look like me or live like me?”
“Do you support gut-brain healing?”
“How do you define long-term healing, not just symptom control?”
“Do you partner with other community healers or food justice networks?”
Trust the Vibe:
If you leave feeling dismissed, silenced, or shamed that’s not healing.
If they don’t respect your cultural roots or lived experience, move on.
Tools:
Try Therapy for Black Girls, Health in Her HUE, Latinx Therapy
Look for local clinics, mutual aid healing circles, and mobile wellness vans
Build a care team: nutritionist, therapist, spiritual healer, herbalist
Healing is not linear. Healing is not singular.
Healing is layered, and it’s political.
So I shared this lecture to remind you: your body’s not broken, your mind’s not weak, and your zip code shouldn’t determine your chance at peace.
Start here:
Then ask the deeper questions.
Build your team.
Challenge the zoning.
Demand your birthright to feel good.
Because when the gut heals, the mind clears.
And when we clear? We don’t just survive, we organize.
A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 109-160 OF ARTICLE XVII, CHAPTER 109, PART 2, ARTICLE XVII OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF YONKERS RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Yonkers has adopted the above-mentioned legislation that amends the City Code to discourage illegal parking within the City of Yonkers by increasing the penalties for illegal parking within the City of Yonkers.
The penalties for violation of this ordinance are as follows:
Type of Violation Fee
Parking in driveway, public or private $100.00
Parked alongside curb cut $100.00
Parked on sidewalk $160.00
Parked within 15 feet of a Fire Hydrant $125.00
Parked for vehicle repair, except emergency $125.00
Double-parked $150.00
In the event that a respondent does not enter a plea or remit the fine due for a parking, standing, or stopping violation as and when required by this chapter, then they shall pay a late payment penalty equal to and in addition to the scheduled fine for the violation charged.
In the event that a vehicle is towed pursuant to this chapter, the owner or person entitled to possession of the vehicle shall pay a towing charge and a storage charge as set by the rules and regulations of the City of Yonkers. These charges shall be in addition to any fines or penalties for illegal stopping, standing, parking, abandonment or any other offense under this chapter. Towing and storage charges shall be paid as lawfully. No vehicle shall be released unless all towing and storage fees, outstanding parking violations, and related penalties are paid in full.
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.
