r/yonkers

The Official Tribute to Warped Tour is coming to Yonkers Brewing Co this THURSDAY, May 14! Expect all the classics and high-energy chaos. Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Green Day, Good Charlotte, punk, ska, hardcore & more. Ends early for elder emos with jobs.

https://www.yonkersbrewing.com/event-details-registration/the-warped-band

Anyone else get this?

I received this email claiming to be from “NY EBT” saying there was “unusual activity” and asking me to confirm my identity.

I don’t have SNAP or EBT, and I don’t live in New York, so I’m treating it as phishing and not clicking anything.

Posting as a warning in case others are seeing the same email. Don’t use the button or links in the email.

It's better to go directly to the official site/app or contact the agency through official channels instead.

Couple weeks ago there was a thread about animals spotted in Yonkers and somebody said they’d like to see a turtle.

Spotted this one in Troublesome Brook in Crestwood this morning.

Yonkers, Westchester, Bronx, and NYC, it’s time to get angry — and stay angry.

We have all been asking why Commissioner Steve Sansone refuses to build the YAS volunteer program for the 190+ animals that so desperately need support for daily walks, socialization, enrichment, and basic humane care?

A reliable insider has now exposed the disturbing reality:

Commissioner Sansone is actively working to shut down the volunteer program entirely and release all current volunteers by early 2027.

He recently dismissed two dedicated volunteers without any cause or explanation. Simply telling them after many years of loyal service that they were “no longer needed.”

No explanation. No warning. 

This is just the beginning.

His own reported words reveal the ugly truth:

“I want them all gone.”

“I don’t want more eyes.”

“We wouldn’t have had to make all of these changes at the shelter if it wasn’t for the volunteers and petition.”

“I don’t want the volunteers monitoring walk logs. We can get in trouble if the dogs aren’t walked long enough.”

He has even instructed employees to document that they walked dogs for 15 minutes even when they only walked them for 5 minutes in order to appear compliant with state expectations.

Can you imagine going out of your way to lie to the state, doctor official logs, and deliberately set up systems that keep dogs and cats in an avoidable state of suffering all to avoid bringing in more volunteers?

How does someone with a heart do that to defenseless, voiceless, and vulnerable shelter animals?

For years, Commissioner Sansone blocked volunteers from posting a simple public shelter wish list because, according to him, “it made the shelter look bad.” Every other municipal and private shelter in New York State uses public wish lists to provide essential items that shelter budgets don’t cover: enrichment toys, Kongs, peanut butter, churros, puzzle feeders, beds, blankets, treats, leashes, scratch pads, collars, grooming supplies, cat trees, and more.

But not Yonkers. Sansone would rather animals go without than let the public see what’s missing.

In 2025, Volunteers forced his hand and he begrudgingly approved posting the shelter wish list on social media. 

This is who is in charge of your animal shelter. 

This is the same Commissioner who fought against installing surveillance cameras for years in this "state of the art facility" - despite claims of abuse, theft of donations, and animal mismanagement. In 2025, a volunteer driven petition forced him to install much needed cameras throughout the shelter.

Petition can be found here: https://c.org/hR8trmtcKy

In 2022, this is the same Commissioner who tried to take away two vital play yards from shelter dogs to turn them into a public dog park, only to be stopped by another determined volunteer driven petition.

Petition can be found here: https://c.org/KkNL4LJYSV

These are just a few examples of repeated failures that prove exactly how out of touch and incompetent Sansone is when it comes to managing the shelter.

He openly admits that nothing would have changed without the petition and the volunteers, donors, and YAS rescue partners forcing accountability. He resents the “eyes” that make him do his job.

Meanwhile, he faces an internal investigation for alleged misappropriation of budget funds — with over 80 approved projects (critical plumbing and rodent issues, broken gates and kennels that allowed dogs to reach each other, security systems, cleaning supplies, a catio, and more) left undone while the money vanished.

This is outrageous. This is unacceptable. This is cruel.

This is AVOIDABLE. 

Look at Toby (see his photo howling in his kennel after he wasn't walked for a month). Toby arrived at the shelter adoptable, sweet, and able to be walked by most volunteers. Now this poor boy has deteriorated severely. The heartbreaking result of stress from being locked in a kennel for nearly 24 hours a day.

Kennel craze, anxiety, and behavioral decline are significantly reduced when shelter animals receive a minimum of two 15-minute enrichment sessions or walks outside their kennels every day.

Dogs such as Toby, Bison, Finn, Max, Peanut, and Casper came in friendly and adoptable. Now they are visibly deteriorating before our eyes — pacing endlessly, losing weight, shutting down, developing anxiety and aggression — all because they receive just 4 minutes of walk time per day and almost no consistent socialization or enrichment. Cats fare even worse, with only a handful of volunteers and many left unnamed and forgotten by the Cat Manager. 

A robust volunteer team is the proven backbone of every successful shelter in New York. Volunteers provide the daily exercise, mental stimulation, socialization, and one-on-one care that paid staff alone cannot deliver at the necessary scale. They prevent kennel craze, dramatically reduce stress and behavioral issues, lower adoption return rates, boost live-release numbers, and strengthen partnerships with rescue groups — all at virtually zero cost to taxpayers. Most importantly, they serve as essential checks and balances, ensuring animals are walked, monitored, cleaned, and treated humanely.

Commissioner Sansone’s own words prove exactly why he fears them.

Our petition has climbed to 3,503 signatures, with the overwhelming majority from Yonkers residents who are fed up with the neglect and obstruction at our city’s animal shelter.

We have already forced real, life-saving progress: full staffing after decades of dangerous shortages, extended hours, consistent weekly spay/neuter surgeries, and a hired trainer.

Yonkers, enough is enough.

We will not allow one man’s ego, fear of accountability, and alleged mismanagement to condemn 190+ innocent animals to isolation, suffering, and a slow decline.

Contact Mayor Spano’s office and demand immediate action:

•  Email: Mayor@yonkersny.gov

•  Call: 914-377-6300

Demand he overrule Commissioner Sansone and approve a full volunteer program of at least 80 active volunteers across dog walking, cat socialization, enrichment, social media, adoption support, fundraising, and rescue outreach.

Sign and share this petition: https://c.org/XGCDBPFdLS

Show up at the shelter in person, fill out volunteer applications, bring friends, and refuse to be turned away.

We have already forced massive reforms through public pressure. We will force this life-saving change.

The animals have no voice.

We are their voice — and we are furious.

Sign. Share. Call. Show up.

For Toby howling in his crate.

For Bison, Finn, Max, Peanut, and Casper.

For every dog that is stuck for almost 24 hours a day in their kennel. 

For every unnamed cat wasting away.

For every tax dollar that disappeared instead of fixing the shelter.

We will not stop. The power is in our numbers — let’s use it.

Reform YAS Coalition

Current & Former Volunteers | Donors | Rescue Partners | Outraged Yonkers Residents