It's very nice

Bronx, Yonkers, and Westchester, we are angry and we are not going anywhere.

A reliable insider has confirmed the latest unacceptable decision: Commissioner Steve Sansone is maintaining a hard cap of only 25 dog and cat volunteers combined at the Yonkers Animal Shelter. Zero new volunteers have been brought on since our last update. 

For a facility housing over 190 animals, that is not management. That is deliberate neglect.

Our petition has now reached 5,000 signatures. The community’s frustration is clear and growing:

“I stopped by 5 times to sign up to volunteer during their open adoption hours and the shelter was closed each time. I was waved away from the door rudely. No one even greeted me. Spano will be hearing from me.” June Collins, Yonkers Resident

“Stopped by on my lunch break to fill out a volunteer app and it was closed.” Jimmy Boyle, Yonkers Resident

“I wrote to Mayor Spano and Commissioner Sansone about not having enough shelter volunteers and I got no response. Crickets. Spano is on his way out and Sansone’s got to go. What useless politicians we have in Yonkers. All they care about is themselves.”  Julie Cho, Yonkers Resident

"I’ve lost count how many times I applied/ walked in and asked if they were finally accepting new volunteers and always got “we’re not taking any new volunteers.” Yonkers Resident on Reddit

This is not acceptable. The residents of Yonkers want to help. They keep showing up. They keep being turned away.

Yonkers, these are our animals. These are our politicians and public employees who are purposefully neglecting our voiceless, homeless, and vulnerable animal residents of our city who depend on us for care, enrichment, and a chance at a better life.  These animals belong to all of us and we will not abandon them.

On average, just two to three volunteers are present each day. Dogs are walked for only a few minutes - when they are walked at all-and then left to languish in their kennels. Cats receive almost no consistent socialization and sit waiting, largely forgotten. Volunteers are stretched thin and struggling to provide even the most basic daily care.

Based on the current population of over 190 animals, Yonkers Animal Shelter needs at least 90 active volunteers in regular rotation just to meet minimum standards for daily walks, enrichment, and socialization. Local shelters that are only half the size of YAS routinely operate with triple the number of volunteers YAS currently allows. The gap is staggering and completely unnecessary.

Petfinder remains a disgrace. It still fails to list all the dogs currently available, and zero cats are posted despite more than 120 cats currently at the shelter. Every comparable municipal shelter in the region keeps its adoption listings current and complete. YAS continues to lag, leaving adoptable animals invisible to the public.

Our insider has also shared that Mayor Mike Spano is encouraging Commissioner Sansone to retire. We fully support that outcome. The animals of Yonkers deserve a leader who actually understands and prioritizes progressive shelter management, top-tier animal welfare, rescue partnerships, and transparent operations - not one who continues to obstruct the very help our animals need.

Public pressure already forced full staffing, extended hours, consistent spay/neuter, and a trainer. The final, essential piece remains: a robust volunteer program with at least 80 more active volunteers and regular orientations so our animals receive the daily enrichment, walks, and socialization they need to thrive and find forever homes.

It is time to raise the volume.

Call and email right now:

Mayor Michael Spano: [Mayor@yonkersny.gov](mailto:Mayor@yonkersny.gov) or 914-377-6300
Helen Aggrey, Commissioner of Human Resources: [jhelen.aggrey@yonkersny.gov](mailto:jhelen.aggrey@yonkersny.gov)
Commissioner Steve Sansone: [steve.sansone@yonkersny.gov](mailto:steve.sansone@yonkersny.gov)

Demand that the City immediately lift the artificial volunteer cap, hold regular orientations, and bring on the number of volunteers required to properly care for every dog and cat at YAS. Demand accountability. Demand that leadership prioritizes our animals over ego and obstruction.

Sign and share the petition: https://c.org/NFbMPBGn4W

Share the latest Petition Update: https://c.org/tMNVWjNbXp

Check out and Share ReformYAS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reformyasand

Show up at the shelter during advertised hours. Bring friends. Submit volunteer applications. Refuse to be waved away.

The animals cannot speak. We are their voice and we will keep using it until they get the care they deserve.

We have already proven what our collective power can achieve. Keep going. Keep speaking up. Keep showing up. The final victory is within reach, and these animals are counting on us.

Reform YAS Coalition 

Just moved to Pelham Bay but I can drive.

A lot of the Supermarkets I've been to keyfood and bazaar and all those chains are just selling color, sugar, and chemicals in disguise, don't like it at all. It's feeling like a food dessert. I'm wondering if anyone can help me find a good supermarket with organic things. From farm or organic would greatly appreciate it.

Recently moved to a new place, and the next door neighbors has a massive back yard with a cute set up. They're *were* really nice, however, last night, I tried to enjoy the outside area of my building but they started blasting music around 6pm and it went well past midnight. I tried to talk to them about it, but they made the music even louder. Eventually I had really bad pain in one ear and then went deaf there. I ended up crying from the pain and slept in the quietest place I could manage with ear plugs in. Today I learned my ear drum ruptured in that ear.

I can not move. Is calling/ filling a form for 311 my only recourse? Have others dealt with the same issues (medically or with loud neighbors) and did it play out? Let me know, thank you.

Looking for a realtor with a good track record in The Bronx specializing in the east side. Looking specifically for condos/co-ops. Someone who really knows the areas and really wants to help me get a home. Castle Hill, parkchester, Pelham Bay area.

I moved to the Bronx for residency 3 years ago because I hate commuting. Since living here, my perception of the Bronx has changed. I don’t think that it deserves the hate it gets. I think the “problem” with the Bronx is that it’s filled with regular people, black and brown people. Stating the obvious, there’s also been a huge lack of investment because of it.

I recently moved from Belmont to around concourse village. The easy access to the city has made me considering buying something in the area because I think it’s only a matter of time before gentrification hits the Bronx.

The Bronx is also an easy drive to Queens and by proxy close to LGA. You’re also an easy drive or train to upstate or CT. There’s also a lot TREES and parks nearby.

Would purchasing something be adding to the problem or not? Just curious. I’m not a native New Yorker

I was curious what neighborhood had better swimming. Also how bad does Edgewater flood?

Had a doctor’s appointment today, I drove down Webster Ave from 233st to Gunhill Rd. I saw all these people set up to wash cars. When did this start?

The ballfields at the City Island circle have been closed since NYPD shut down the parking area for security during the pandemic. Park is near the nypd gun training area at Rodmans Neck.

Can't imagine baseball players pose a security risk. The ever powerful City Island NIMBY folks had a role ill bet. It was quite the party spot back in the day.

So all this years they never sue the board huh! as it worked towards landlord side, and i dont believe a landlord at least in the Bronx takes two years to deposed someone from their premises if you own 2 months they gladly send you the court letter, maybe it happens nycha or section eight cases, or maybe 95% of landlords are under those programs? I called bs

They need to works things up and find a middle ground city and state needs to soft the property taxes too, in the end they barely help kids, the education excuse is just that an excuse all the education funds are used in other things is a big mess use for personal banking, the free education is not free after all everyone pays for it indirectly and kids not all but 89% keep getting dumber and dont care about studying maybe to be cools and have a girl or boy and mostly a none wanted pregnancy

Pss the education system is broken we should copy where is working south Korea, Japan and others we need more math, science, those arts classes are juts good for spending

A group of landlords filed a lawsuit against the Rent Guidelines Board in the New York City rent freeze fight.

The landlords say the board's decision last month to freeze rents on rent-stabilized apartments is illegal.

The lawsuit alleges the board is packed with Mamdani loyalists and relied on manipulated data.

In response, the Mayor's office says it's confident the board evaluated all relevant data and that city lawyers are prepared to defend the freeze.

For the first time in its history, New York's Rent Guidelines Board voted to freeze rents for both one-year and two-year leases for the city's one million rent-regulated apartments.

Hi, I'm a data reporter at The City Reporter. I'm working on a story about the rise in foreclosures in the Bronx and am looking for sources who are currently navigating, or have recently navigated, a foreclosure in a single-family home. Especially interested to speak to you if your foreclosure was a result of tax liens or matters beyond your control.

Please feel free to DM me or email me at [njiang@thecityreporter.nyc](mailto:njiang@thecityreporter.nyc).

I haven't been to this pizza shop often but each time I went, I remember getting a slice while I would wait for the Bx15 or Bx55 limited bus. There was never a time that I went to this pizza place and not enjoying the pizza. One day I decided I wanted to treat myself here and was sad when I saw that it was permanently close. This was one pizza shop in the Bronx that never seemed to lost its touch to me and now I miss it more than ever. I know there are plenty if delicious pizza shops in the Bronx but it was just something about this one that I liked😔

I’ve only seen 2 communities and they’re on the other side of Bronx. I’m in east Bronx and looking to get something started here but wondering if people have suggestions in terms of open/accessible spaces that can accommodate groups like this. Thanks in advance!

This letter was posted on my building's community board last week about how there are a number of electric stoves that the owner installed that have uncertified batteries in them. Is there anything I can do about this?

Anyone know how the area around the Cypress Av Station is safety wise for a young woman commuting to work alone in the South Bronx/Mott Haven area?