LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS & ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE SPANO TO HELP PRESERVE PARKING NEAR RACEWAY CLEARS BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE; Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature

             State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF – 35^th District) and Assemblyman Mike Spano (D/C/WF – Yonkers) announced today that legislation they sponsored together was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate and Assembly.  Senate bill 4392A/Assembly bill 5493A will resolve the ongoing parking problem for residents in East Yonkers by establishing a residential parking permit system near the Yonkers Raceway and Empire City at Yonkers Raceway.

“Passage of this legislation was extremely important to the residents of the area surrounding the Raceway who continuously have difficulty parking where they live.  I was pleased to sponsor the bill which provides a solution to this ongoing problem,” Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins stated. 

Assemblyman Spano stated, “The residents who live near Yonkers Raceway often have trouble parking near their homes which is both inconvenient and dangerous.  The permit parking system will guarantee that those living near Yonkers Raceway have access to the street parking they deserve.”

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said that the benefits of the parking system will be offered to the residents of five streets and approximately 260 homes.  The included streets are Belmont Avenue, from Orient Street to Yonkers Avenue; Boone Street, from Central Park Avenue to Dead End; Clark Street, from Central Park Avenue to Orient Street; Loring Avenue, from Central Park Avenue to Orient Street and Chamberlain Avenue, from Belmont Avenue to Central Park Avenue.

            Local residents have also reported littering and excessive noise from Raceway patrons, as well, Spano said.  The result of this parking permit system will help keep the streets safer and cleaner, thereby preserving the quality of life of this residential community.

Senator Stewart-Cousins and Assemblyman Spano concluded that the shortage of parking and noise and pollution in the Yonkers Raceway/Empire City area has been a problem for some time now and we commend the residents of this area for making us aware of this problem and pursuing a fair solution. 

The legislation will now be forwarded to Governor Paterson for his approval.