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Is the city’s infrastructure prepared to deal with an increase in traffic if all these new businesses come to fruition? Mount Vernon’s transit system is a major strength. We have three Metro- North train stations, two subway stations, six highways, and countless buses—this comprises the county’s strongest transportation system. Not only that, but we have 11 bridges that cover MTA tracks. We hope to col- laborate with the MTA through the $26 billion MTA Capital Plan. They have not invested in any of those bridges over the past 100 years, and they have an obligation to fix that.
Why is targeting “zombie homes” so important?
There are around 700 foreclosure actions in various stages within Mount Vernon, with 54 properties under control of the city. We have drafted legislation designed to empower Millennials and middle- class families to participate in auctions for these properties. It is important that we make decisions with the future in mind. Our goal is to take these zombies and use them to help bring people into the city without pushing anyone out.
You’re a golfer. What have you learned from the game?
I grew up on the streets of Mount Vernon, but I was raised on the greens
of golf courses. I lied about my age to start carrying golf clubs at Siwanoy [Country Club] when I was 10 and caddied throughout college. I was able
to spend time on the course with Mike Bloomberg; I got my first real job in high school assisting [billionaire investor] Mario Gabelli’s team on the trading desk after caddying for him. It was great just being around these executives—seeing how they play, how they move, how they think, or negotiate. I learned that you can tell a lot about somebody by how they play golf: Are they honest or dishonest? Do they play by the rules, or do they constantly blur them?
Have you brought that way of thinking into the mayor’s office? For the past 20 years, you had a patron- age model, where you had 32 jobs to give out: 16 commissioners and 16 deputies for 16 agencies. I’m not doing that, and there are many people that are not pleased. I’m going to whittle that down and make people more account- able for the work.
Q2 2016 www.westchestermagazine.com 21
Tech
Download Local
Four new Westchester-area apps are finding success.
POINT PICKUP: Same-day package delivery Seeking to be the Uber of package delivery, Greenwich-based Point Pickup offers Westchester residents easy, safe, same-day package delivery
via its “pickup partner” network of vetted drivers. Launched in November 2015 by CEO Tom Fiorita, the app lets users input items that need to be picked up and delivered locally; Point Pickup drivers see the input, and the first one to say, “I’ll do it” gets the gig.
QUADJOBS: Hire college students, fast Greenwich-based QuadJobs, which was launched
as a website in November 2014 and is now also an app, pairs college-age students with local employers seeking to fill a wide range of positions, from tutoring and babysitting to catering and retail. Founders Bridie Loverro, Betsy O’Reilly, and Andra Newman say Westchester is the ideal market for this app, thanks to the county’s wealth of high-performing students.
YARDHUB: Yard work made easy
Somers resident James Albis and Bill Ralph of White Plains are tapping into the $75 billion outdoor-home- care market with YardHub, a just-launched app that allows homeowners to easily find and schedule out- door services such as snow plowing, lawn care, pool cleaning, and tree removal. Users are connected with YardHub’s pre-screened and insured contractors, who execute the service.
▼ ZOOTLY: Hassle-free moving
New Rochelle resident Rudy Callegari started Zootly out of his frustration with the traditional, slow-paced moving industry. The app, which launched
in October 2015, gives customers 24/7 access to a stable of qualified, professional movers, allowing them to track their belongings during a move. It also helps local moving companies profit from underutilized vehicles. After a recent round of roughly $10 million in funding, Zootly is expanding outside the New York Metro area.