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New Rochelle City Manager 

Wilfredo Melendez 

Dear Neighbors,

This month’s column begins with an overview of the Quality of Life presentation I gave to our City Council in July. The biggest news was the announcement of our new “Mobile NR” App, which will enhance communication between City Hall and our citizens. The Mobile NR app allows you to submit a request or bring a quality of life matter to the attention of appropriate staff, including potholes and street lighting issues; and enables you to request a TV or metal pickup, pay a parking ticket online, find community resources, and more. The app is available for android and iOS devices and can be accessed through computer portal, too. Learn about it at newrochelleny.gov/mobileNR. 

Additional Quality of Life highlights include:

• Safety & Security: Progress towards the activation of the kiosk in Ruby Dee Park by the New Rochelle Police Department; additional Community Service Officers for the downtown; continued Property Code Enforcement for common violations like commercial vehicles, graffiti on private property, and litter and debris; upgrades to our ornamental street lights including the replacement of over 120 LED modules and painting of over 90 light poles;

• Health & Wellbeing: Pet waste stations installed in the downtown in partnership with the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District; Regulation of Tobacco Smoke Shops and Adult-use Cannabis Dispensaries; Regulation of Massage Parlors; 

• Growth & Development, Social Connections: Addressing long-term commercial vacancies with a Vacancy Registration program to reduce blight and support revitalization of downtown; The launch of our “Need Assistance” campaign, promoting resources available to our citizens experiencing challenges.

From our Finance Department come the following reminders: 

First half of the 2025-2026 School and Library Tax Bill Due in September 2025:

In January of 2025, the City Council adopted legislation changing the collection months for School and Library taxes from October and April to September and March. The first half of the 2025-2026 School and Library tax bill is now due on or before September 30th. The City’s Tax Office has provided notice to all banks that make tax payments on behalf of a resident, via escrow, about this change in collection dates. For more information contact the City of New Rochelle Tax office at (914) 654-2058.

New Assessment Calendar Dates

The City of New Rochelle has altered its assessment calendar. New assessment dates are as follows and will begin for the 2026 assessment cycle:

December 1 – Taxable status date.  Exemption forms due

December 1- Valuation date

February 1- Tentative assessment roll

Third Tuesday in February – Grievance Day

April 1- Final assessment roll

May 1- Deadline for appeals filed with the County Clerk

September 1 – School tax bill first half

January 1- City tax bill

March 1 – School tax bill second half

June 1 – County tax bill

For those who travel Quaker Ridge Road frequently, thank you for your patience as we complete  concrete pavement repairs between Van Meter Fens and Weaver Street. The contractor has reduced the busy, 4-lane artery down to one lane in each direction as they repair and refill patches of deteriorating concrete, ensuring that Quaker Ridge Road remains safe and setting the foundation for additional improvements and enhancements in the years to come. In other Quaker Ridge Road news, the City will be applying for the newly created Westchester County Complete Streets Municipal Assistance Program (BPL 39) in September. The City will be holding a Public Hearing on September 9th at 7 p.m. here at City Hall to garner support for our grant application. I urge all residents interested in seeing complete streets improvements made to Quaker Ridge Road to attend. 

We continue to open affordable housing options in New Rochelle. A new lottery has opened up for 31 apartments at Allen, a new building in the heart of New Rochelle’s downtown at 247 North Avenue, with studio and 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Learn more at ideallynewrochelle.com/live-here/#new-rochelle-developments. 

In closing, our summer events are in full swing and we invite you to enjoy all that our City has to offer. This summer, the Youth Bureau has employed, or referred, over 520 youth through our Summer Youth Employment Program (“SYEP”). The City’s Parks & Recreation Department has enrolled over 720 youth in our different summer camp offerings while providing free transportation to close to 100 participants. 

Our 3rd Annual Downtown Summer Sizzle has a world-class lineup at Ruby Dee Park every Saturday night through the end of the month, and on Wednesdays and Fridays the New Rochelle Council on the Arts Summer Sounds Concert series brings a wide variety of musical acts to the Hudson Park bandshell. Our first ever Youth Expo will occur on August 8th at New Roc Downtown Rec and will feature youth vendors from our SYEP Secure the Bag: Learn and Earn program who have launched their own small businesses. Stop by to shop, support, and celebrate youth creativity and entrepreneurship. Join Parks & Recreation staff for open space play at Fosina Field at Flowers City Park on Monday nights through August 11th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. No reservation or fee required.

Other August events include the Youth Bureau and Parks & Recreation’s Backpack Giveaway at City Hall on Friday, August 8 (pre-registration is required), Coffee with the Mayor at City Hall on August 23 and later that afternoon, the Taste of Horton Avenue.  Access information on all of these events at our website newrochelleny.gov/events.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable rest of the summer.