New Rochelle District 6 Council Candidate: Stephen I. Mayo

Editor's note: Every candidate running for City Council in New Rochelle in the Nov. 8 election was sent the same list of questions. The answers were only edited for style. Stephen I. Mayo is running against Shari G. Rackman to represent District 6. Rackman's responses to the questionnaire can be found here. This article has been modified from the original version to include a link to Rackman's questionnaire.

Name: Stephen I. Mayo
Age: 59
Occupation: Manufacturer, attorney
Family:  Wife, Joan; children, Alyssa, Alexander and Matthew
Line(s) on the ballot: Conservative, Independence, Republican

Patch: Last winter was particularly severe, taxing city resources. What can be done to avoid similar situations?

Mayo: Prepare, prepare prepare. Pre-position rock salt and sand. Start prohibiting parking on weekdays along major thoroughfares. Ask the enormous landscaping and gardening community to pitch in; perhaps start a program where each licensed (?) operation is charged with keeping the street on which his or her business address is clear of snow. Enlist volunteers from the general population to assist in shoveling and other storm duties. Sponsor a fundraiser before the snow season starts, entire proceeds of which is to pay for special reserve fund devoted to such emergencies like blizzards, hurricanes and floods.

Patch: The city adopted the GreeNR Sustainability Plan recently. What should the city concentrate on in the short run and long run to implement it? Or should it be something that is implemented at all?

Mayo: It was a nice start. Begin with an aspect that exists and is easily promoted. Help citizens participate in the curbside recycling system and other individual-orientated parts. Budget conditions do not warrant expenditure on other sections now. Need to encourage business generation to fill coffers of city budget needed to fund essential operations.

Patch: Declining revenues and increasing costs seem to be a fact of life. How would you adjust the city's budget without hurting the quality of life for its residents?

Mayo: You can't just adjust the budget. Need to do a comprehensive audit of the budget and operating business with outside accountants. Call for CPAs and business analysts from the community to lend a hand; many of them own businesses themselves or work in the consulting and accounting fields. Seek out areas of waste, inefficiency and potential for fraud. Study results. See if processes can be changed; from the forensics of filling a pothole, to the paper trail of issuing a purchase order for asphalt and road salt. Sit down with civil servants, laborers, middle management and union representatives to seek input from them. Ask local bargaining agent and other representatives of the workers to consider give backs on significant areas of work rules and environment in exchange for time off and other non-monetary benefits.

Patch: Parking is always an issue in New Rochelle. What is the solution?

Mayo: Fees should be considered on a sliding scale. Higher for busy times of day. Less for off hours.

Patch: What are some concrete ways the city can bring more businesses to New Rochelle?

Mayo: Improve quality of life in the business district. Keep streets clean and enforce sidewalk regulations. Encourage neighbors to create a more salubrious environment for commerce and communication.

Patch: How can development be used to increase the quality of life for New Rochelle residents and help the city's coffers?

Mayo: City can encourage helpful and pleasant community redevelopment. Must start with an independently authored, comprehensive Master Plan which provides guidelines and rules for creation of the cityscape; from park land utilization and creation to business district high rise regulation.

Patch: If there is anything you want to add or if you'd like to make a statement, please feel free.

Mayo: Just find easy to initiate and inexpensive means for encouraging entrepreneurs to try their hand at marina, youth sports and storefront venues. The NR ArtsFest was a promising development. Promote it and similar events all year round. Perhaps a mid-winter street fair (see the Columbia County-City of Hudson event) would help chase away the seasonal blues and help enliven things on the street level. City Park is a great resource; start fundraising and matching-fund effort for hockey facility there as soon as possible. Look into a Summer Soccer Fest with the Westchester Hispanic Soccer League which is based at Skidelsky Field. I can help with my contacts in youth and Spanish-speaking community. Watch what the successful sectors have accomplished. Consult with dog- and pet-owning groups to study their ways of organization and promotion.