Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
Mayor Yadzira Ramos Herbert, New Rochelle's first female mayor, delivered the 2026 State of the City Address at the JCC, presenting a progress report and vision focused on small business support, downtown revitalization, affordable housing, climate resilience, parks, and community services. Deputy Mayor David Peters welcomed attendees; Pastor Horace Sanders gave the invocation; New Rochelle High School students performed and student Saira Lopez read an original poem.
Good evening, everybody. As was mentioned, my name is David Peters. I'm the Deputy Mayor and the City Council member proudly representing District Three. On behalf of the City Council and the administration, welcome to the 2026 State of the City Address. Let's give ourselves a hand. A little housekeeping as we as we begin today. Please, I know you're all very busy, but please silence your mobile devices. We appreciate your understanding. We also regarding the limited seating that we have here this evening. However, tonight's address will be rebroadcast on cable as well as online. To begin, please welcome Pastor Horace Sanders of Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle to lead our opening prayer. Pastor Sanders. Good evening. Let us bow our heads and humble our hearts as we open in prayer. Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of this day and for the privilege of gathering as one community in the city of New Rochelle. We're grateful for all who have served our city throughout the past twelve months. Our mayor and elected leaders, our city employees, first responders, educators, health care workers, community organizations, local businesses, faith communities, and residents who gave their time and care to make New Rochelle a better place to live. As we reflect on the year behind us, the progress made, the challenges faced, and the needs that remain. Grant us wisdom to hear with open minds and humble hearts. Bless Mayor Ramos Herbert as she shares this report today, and guide every public servant entrusted with responsibility for our city. Give them clarity in decision making, courage to address difficult issues, and compassion for every person and neighborhood they serve. Strengthen the bond that unite us across differences, and keep before us the need of our children and young people and our seniors and families under strain, those seeking opportunity and all who may feel unseen or unheard. Help us to build a city where every resident can find safety, dignity, hope, and a meaningful place in our shared future. May tonight's gathering not only lead us not only to reflection but to renewal. May it lead us to commitment to serve faithfully and work together and care for one another. We ask your blessings upon New Rochelle, its people, and all who labor for its good. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Thank you, Pastor Sanders, for that beautiful prayer. Next, we will have the New Rochelle High School paved choir who will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, and the Negro National Anthem as well. Please rise. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. It's very well which you stand under God invisible with liberty and justice by the dawn what so broadly wealth at the twilight starts whose bustries and brides starts through the roll of spot or the room we're so galaxy and the rock is red was tour strength land for the land on the frame of all the free voice and single ring with all meet our be joy singles high as the sunning skies let it resign loud as the rolling sea song full of the faith that the darkness has taught us full of the hope that the present has brought us facing the rising sun of our new day be gun let us march on till victory is wall okay let's get the excitement meter going a little bit more they did a fantastic job let's go this is Pai from Urishal High School And now it is my pleasure to introduce Sarah Lopez to March Hello my name is Saira Lopez and this is an original poem called Apprene Learn inspired during the Hispanic Heritage Month and this will be read to you first in Spanish como caminar for meses in the desired y como nadar para sobrevivir tu idioma natal y alvidate obedecer como conformarte in la caja de stereotypes que han creado para las personas con tu structure facial and defenderte pero más que todo desaprende y aprende de nuevo aprende a ser rebelde a caminar lejos de los stereotypes atomar todo el espacio del mundo and absorbed to the conocimiento apprende a rechazar la idea de que debería ser tonta y aprende como expresarte in qualke idioma teachman tiha in chicote chakza sin importar lo que diga to has lo que se te de la gana learn learn how to walk for months in the desert and how to swim as a means of survival learn to forget your native language and to forget yourself learn to obey learn how to fit in to fit in the stereotypes for people with your facial structure learn how to be small and never defend yourself learn but most of all unlearn and learn again learn to be rebellious to walk far away from enclosed beliefs take up as much space as the world offers learn to absorb all the knowledge there is learn to reject the idea that you need to be dumb and learn how to express yourself in every language no matter what they say do whatever you want thank you Learn to observe all the knowledge there is. Learn to reject the idea that you need to be dumb. And learn how to express yourself in every language. No matter what they say, do whatever you want. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Tomaj for those powerful words. And in addition to that, your reflections and insights on what it means to be in this country and what it means to be a part of the New Rochelle experience and how it has such vibrancy and at the same time also has some anxiety and disappointment around how to move forward on a day-to-day basis. We thank you for your for your powerful words. Please give each and every one of these entities a round of applause. Now