YONKERS, NY: Interesting letter to the editor in The Journal News by a Yonkers Resident

Interesting letter to the editor in The Journal News by a Yonkers Resident.

There has always been speculation that there is a "Goon Squad" in Yonkers. This does add interesting light on this issue. This is an issue that must come to the public's view. This is an unwritten rule. People have been quiet about this. Thank You, Mr. Frascone for bringing this out.

'Lost in Yonkers' hitting home

The 1991 film, "Lost In Yonkers," centers around two boys whose father sends them to live with their grandmother so he can repay a debt. There's an air of tragedy throughout this comic film. Although the movie was to be filmed on site in Yonkers, continually mounting "unforeseen expenses," e.g. film permit fees, caused the producers to move to Cincinnati. Robert DeNiro also nixed his plans for a film studio/workshop in Yonkers for the same "unforeseen expense" issues.

Although I am not a film producer, as a Yonkers resident, I remember reading a textbook in the final semester for my MBA that cited numerous situations using Yonkers as an example on how not to run a city. I'd never thought that the ominous "Lost in Yonkers" reality would ever hit home.

It is common knowledge on my street that if you want anything close to normal trash removal service, "you got to slip the garbage men some cash every now and then." I refuse to do this, primarily because of the high municipal taxes that I pay that, at the very least, should provide for normal trash-removal service. I cannot move to Cincinnati, and my refusal to pay gratuities, combined with voiced complaints, have me in an intimidating situation that neither my councilperson, Dee Barbato, nor the mayor's office, respond to. I am forced to pay for private trash removal in fear of continually being fined by sanitation enforcement for my position in expecting the city to provide a normal unimpeded service that one could get anywhere else.

Joe Frascone
Yonkers