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New Rochelle City Manager 

Wilfredo Melendez 

Dear Neighbors,

As we head into fall, this column looks back on some of our successful summer programming and ahead to more events and initiatives.

This year the 2025 Summer Youth Employment Program gave valuable job experience to 500 New Rochelle teens and young adults, while businesses and City departments received additional support and the chance to inspire the workforce of tomorrow. A special thank you to the New Rochelle Youth Bureau staff for coordinating this vital program, as well as the Back to School backpack giveaway in August, where we distributed over 1,500 backpacks to families.

Our New Rochelle Forward vocational training program celebrated the graduation of two cohorts in August. This valuable initiative, presented in partnership with Soulful Synergy, provides certification courses, hands-on training, career readiness, case management and job placement services to New Rochelle residents. For more information visit ideallynewrochelle.com/forward. 

Here are some highlights of what’s coming up in September:

Affordable Housing Lottery: Applications are being accepted until September 19th for apartments at Allen, a new luxury building at 247 North Avenue in downtown New Rochelle. Thirty-one (31) fair and affordable rental apartments are available by lottery, ranging from studio to 2 bedrooms. The lottery will be held on October 7. More information is available on our website www.newrochelleny.gov/housing 

Down Payment Assistance Program: If you are a first-time home buyer seeking to purchase a home within the City of New Rochelle, you may be eligible for the City’s new First-Time Home Buyer’s Down Payment Assistance Program. The program will provide eligible and approved applicants up to 19% of the purchase price of a single-family home depending on the qualification of the homebuyer, and is towards the down payment on a new home. The program is funded through a combination of local and federal dollars through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME program and the City’s Affordable Housing Fund. Workshops for more information will be held on September 18th and 26th.

Quaker Ridge Road Public Hearing: The City is applying for the newly-created Westchester County Complete Streets Municipal Assistance Program in September for Quaker Ridge Road, which recently had repairs completed in numerous sections between Weaver Street and Van Meter Fens. Complete Streets projects are aimed at creating and improving roads to be more useful and safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. New Rochelle residents are invited to attend a Public Hearing on September 9th at 7 p.m. at City Hall(515 North Avenue) to support the grant application. Comments and questions can be sent to the City at CompleteStreets@newrochelleny.gov.

Here are upcoming events:

September 5: As part of the 9/11 National Day of Service, the City of New Rochelle, Volunteer New York!, Monroe University, and Feeding Westchester will jointly host a community service project at Monroe University to help local residents with food insecurity challenges by packing 50,000 meals for distribution by Feeding Westchester. Learn more at volunteernewyork.org/newrochelle

September 11: The Fire Department will conduct their annual Remembrance Ceremony at 9:59 AM at Station 1(45 Harrison Street) remembering the emergency personnel lost during the 9/11 attacks. At 11AM, all welcome to join us at City Hall for a Memorial Ceremony on the front steps. In the evening the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association will host a Candlelight Service at 7:30 PM at American Legion Post 8 (112 North Avenue.) 

September 13: Our 12th annual New Rochelle Street Fair will fill the area surrounding City Hall from 11AM to 5PM with vendors, food, live performers and more! Earlier that morning, our annual Kids’ Snapper Fishing Derby will take place at Hudson Park at 9AM. 

September 17: Hispanic Heritage Month Recognition Event at City Hall at 5-7PM, recognizing the contributions of Hispanic. Upcoming heritage recognitions this fall include German American on October 3 and Italian American on October 10. 

September 20: Adults ages 21+ are invited to come down to Hudson Park for Glow in the Dark 90’s themed party from 6:30 – 9 PM, a fun, new event presented by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

In closing, here are some important reminders:

Fall Collection Hours resume September 1 for Public Works: Please place materials curbside for pickup by 7AM. Remember: City Code requires trash cans be no larger than 32 gallons and weigh no more than 75 pounds when filled.  And avoid waking up to loose waste scattered on your street by putting smaller bags of trash inside of a container and securely bundling cardboard boxes and cartons.

Leaf Blower Ban: Please don’t use gas-powered leaf blowers until October 1.  Aside from causing noise and air pollution, those using a gas-powered leaf blower prior to the permitted time can face a fine. 

No signs on public property: City Code (Section 270-7) prohibits the placement of signs on any public property, including medians, sidewalks, and utility poles. Violation of this code section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $250 or by imprisonment of not more than 15 days, or both. Signs are only allowed on private property with the owner’s permission. Please help keep our community clean and safe!

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.

Changes to the 2026 Assessment calendar: For the 2026 assessment cycle, exemption forms will now be due by December 1, 2025.

September is Preparedness Month. It’s time to Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Stay Safe. And if you haven’t already, please sign up for our NewRoAlert calls, emails and text messages. We use this system for emergency and community updates and it’s important that we stay in touch. Sign up at newrochelleny.com/newroalert. 

Information on all of the above can be found on the City website 

newrochelleny.gov, and our social media pages. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office at (914) 654-2140.