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New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert delivered her second annual State of the City Address this evening to a large crowd at New Roc City on Thursday, May 8.

Mayor Ramos-Herbert is the 24th mayor of the City of New Rochelle, and the first woman and person of color to represent the people of the City in this role since her inauguration in 2024. From 2020-2023, she served as a member of the New Rochelle City Council, representing District 3.

Ramos-Herbert reflected on her time serving New Rochelle and how the City has evolved since she joined the community as a resident in 2007. She described New Rochelle as a City "ready to step fully into her potential," building on its already strong foundation.

Focusing first on New Rochelle's economic landscape, Ramos-Herbert identified the state of the economy as "strong." She emphasized how new development is creating long-term value for residents and visitors alike — not only through expanded housing options and small business growth, but also by helping fund essential public services. One example is the City's use of Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs), which offer a predictable stream of revenue that grows alongside new development. Through these regular payments that increase over time – starting from the original value of the property and gradually rising as development takes shape – the City is "projected to generate more than $260 million in the first 20 years, and nearly $770 million in the 20 years after that. PILOT revenue helps fuel the essential services that keep New Rochelle thriving."

Ramos-Herbert underscored the importance of ensuring all of this development withstands the test of time, affirming "New Rochelle stands strong in our commitment to a resilient, sustainable future for everyone who calls our City home." She discussed the City's updated Climate Vulnerability Assessment, a cornerstone of the 2025 Work Plan, which "identifies the specific climate-related risks our community faces, including increased flooding, extreme heat, and infrastructure vulnerabilities." The findings will inform how the City allocates the "$13 million in grant funding" secured to support and expand sustainability efforts.

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"Ensuring that all communities – especially historically disadvantaged ones – have equitable access to resources and protections from climate risks," Ramos-Herbert explored how the City updated its GreeNR Sustainability Plan to prioritize environmental justice.

Ramos-Herbert then discussed various investments in the future of New Rochelle – from small businesses and young people to overall workforce development. "Small businesses are the heartbeat of New Rochelle," she stated, which is why "small business support is a core pillar of The Vanguard – our bold initiative to revitalize and reimagine our downtown. As we build new housing and attract new investment, we are just as committed to creating an ecosystem where small businesses can start, grow, and flourish."

Ramos-Herbert announced that for the second summer in a row, the City "will provide paid employment opportunities to 500 teens" through the Summer Youth Employment Program. Further, recognizing that transportation for young children can be a barrier to summer camp for some families, Ramos-Hebert stated that "for the first time, the City of New Rochelle is offering transportation for some of our youngest neighbors enrolled in our city-run camp – helping to ease that burden and ensure more children have a safe, enriching place to spend their summer days."

Through partnerships with organizations like Soulful Synergy, the Women's Enterprise Development Center, and the First Source Referral Center, the City is offering critical job training resources and "sponsoring programs that empower entrepreneurs – especially women and minority-owned businesses – to grow and thrive."

As the fastest growing city in New York State, New Rochelle continues to lead the way on housing creation. Ramos-Herbert noted that over the past decade, the City has authorized more than 11,000 housing units of housing, with 7,941 already approved – including 126 affordable condominiums. Nearly 17% of approved housing is affordable – far exceeding the legal 10% threshold – and the City's Down Payment Assistance Program offers eligible first-time homebuyers 19% toward their down payment, an amount fully forgiven after five years of residency. All of these efforts are "affirmative steps toward bridging the generational wealth gap," stated Ramos-Herbert.

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During the latter half of her remarks, Ramos-Hebert previewed projects that are part of the City's larger goal of reconnecting the community. Ramos-Herbert described the LINC as "one of the most ambitious, people-centered projects our city has ever undertaken." It will transform New Rochelle's main highway, Memorial Highway, into a vibrant public space and reconnect the Lincoln Avenue neighborhood – an historically underserved community – to the City's vibrant downtown, "unlocking new pathways for economic growth." As Ramos-Hebert noted, the "project will include critical stormwater mitigation, helping protect our neighborhoods from flooding and making New Rochelle more resilient in the face of climate change."

New Rochelle is already the busiest stop on the New Haven Line in New York State outside of New York City and will soon become the first city in Westchester County with direct Metro-North access to both Grand Central and Penn Station. As the City prepares for an influx of residents and visitors alike, Ramos-Herbert discussed plans "to reimagine the train station as more than just a drop-off point." The City will redesign the Transit Center to serve as a true community hub that will improve connections to the downtown, enhance pedestrian safety, and offer access to local businesses.

"In keeping with our commitment to repurposing and modernizing how we use space, the City has officially given the green light for Pratt Landing – and we're heading toward groundbreaking on one of the most transformative projects in New Rochelle's history," stated Ramos-Hebert. The project will transform New Rochelle's long-overlooked waterfront into a vibrant, accessible community for everyone. It will also feature a reimagined Armory, restored as a premier community and event space, and two thousand square feet of dedicated space for veterans.

Ramos-Herbert praised the contributions of various municipal departments and their dedication to serving the community, and emphasized the importance of collaboration and teamwork in achieving the City's goals, including the work of New Rochelle's City Manager Wilfredo Melendez and Deputy City Manager Todd Castaldo.

Ramos-Herbert concluded by underscoring that every member of the New Rochelle community – "whether you live steps from Main Street or miles from it" – is part of the City's historic transformation.

The "state of our city is strong. And I firmly believe that New Rochelle's most vibrant, equitable, and inclusive future is ahead of us," said Ramos-Hebert. "What a privilege it is to be part of this chapter in our story – to shape it, to witness it, and to know that when the history books are written, we were the ones who dared to believe in what New Rochelle could become."

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