Mayor Mike Spano

 

Mike Spano (full name Michael Joseph Spano, born April 22, 1964) is the 42nd and current Mayor of Yonkers, New York, the state's third-largest city.

A lifelong Yonkers resident, he has served as mayor since January 1, 2012.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_SpanoEarly Life and Family

Spano is the ninth of sixteen children born to Josephine and Leonard Spano in Yonkers.

He comes from a prominent local political family. He attended Manhattan College and has been involved in community organizations, including the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce and others.

He has been married to CBS New York anchor Mary Calvi since 1996, and they have three children.Political Career 

• State Assembly: Spano was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992 as its youngest member at the time (representing Yonkers). His initial seat was eliminated due to reapportionment, but he returned and served multiple terms (1990s–early 2000s, and again 2007–2011). He initially ran as a Republican but switched to the Democratic Party in 2007. 
  
  
• Key focuses in Assembly: He led efforts on child protection, including the Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women (SAVE New York) and supported Megan’s Law. 
  
  https://www.yonkersny.gov/673/About-Mayor-Mike-Spano
  
  
• Mayor of Yonkers: Elected in 2011, he took office in 2012. He has won re-election multiple times (2015, 2019, etc.). The Yonkers City Council extended term limits twice to allow him to continue serving.

Tenure as Mayor 

Spano emphasizes economic development, education, and revitalization. Highlights from his administration and official biography include:

• Budgets and fiscal management: Passage of balanced, bipartisan budgets without service cuts, while staying within New York’s property tax cap. 
  
  
• Education: Historic investments in Yonkers Public Schools, leading to improved graduation rates (reported at ~90% among "Big 5" districts). New schools opened, including the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School. Recognition from the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. 
  
  
• Economic growth and development: Yonkers is described as the fastest-growing city in New York State. Efforts include a ~$5 billion waterfront revitalization, attracting businesses/tech/arts, job creation, and positioning the city as “Hollywood on Hudson” with major film production studios (largest in the Northeast). Support for MGM’s Empire City Casino and advocacy for expanded gaming. 
  
  
• Other initiatives: Park upgrades, affordable housing efforts, arts events (e.g., Yonkers Arts Weekend), and public safety measures. 
  
  https://mikespano.com/

He remains active in promoting the city through events, social media, and his annual State of the City address (e.g., the 2026 edition highlighted innovation, education, infrastructure, and sustainability).Controversies

Spano and his family have faced scrutiny over alleged nepotism and conflicts of interest:

• Multiple family members (reports vary from ~14–22 relatives) have held city jobs, with collective earnings in the millions annually.
  
  
• His brother Nick Spano’s lobbying firm (Empire Strategic Planning) has represented clients with business before the city (e.g., developers, unions), raising questions despite denials of direct lobbying of the mayor’s administration. Emails reportedly show some interactions.
  
  https://nysfocus.com/2025/04/30/yonkers-spano-family-lobbying-conflicts
  
  
• Spano has denied any wrongdoing, stating the administration follows all laws.
  
  

Overall, Spano is credited by supporters with driving Yonkers’ modern transformation from a challenged industrial city toward growth in film, tech, housing.