I wanted to take a moment to share something a bit more personal with you today – the “why” behind my campaign for Yorktown Supervisor.

Yorktown isn’t just where I live; it’s the community that has, in many ways, shaped who I am. Like many of you, I’ve watched our town grow and change over the years. I’ve celebrated at our community events, enjoyed our beautiful parks, and built meaningful connections with neighbors who’ve become friends.

What drives me to run isn’t just politics – it’s a deep-seated belief that Yorktown’s best days are still ahead. I envision a town where our local businesses thrive, where families feel safe and supported, and where our natural resources are protected for generations to come.

I am proud to run as a Democrat and deeply honored to have earned endorsements from the Working Families Party, Local Laborers 235, and Eleanor’s Legacy. These endorsements reflect our shared values and collective vision for a Yorktown that works for everyone.

But endorsements aside, this campaign is about you – your concerns, your hopes, and your vision for our town. Every conversation I have with a neighbor reminds me why this work matters. Whether you’re worried about how the town spends your tax dollars or you care about thoughtful growth that keeps Yorktown feeling like home, I’m here to listen.

I bring to this role not just my professional experience, but my perspective as a neighbor who cares deeply about our community’s future. I believe that with thoughtful leadership and genuine collaboration, we can address our challenges while preserving what makes Yorktown special.

I’d love to hear your story too. What brought you to Yorktown? What keeps you here? And most importantly, what’s your vision for our town’s future?

Looking forward to connecting,

Jann Mirchandani Candidate for Yorktown Supervisor

P.S. I’ll be at the Rochambeau Festival at the Grange this Saturday and the Lupus Awareness Health and Wellness Fair on Sunday. If you’re there and see me, please stop by and say hello! I’d love to chat in person.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As Yorktown residents face rising costs across the board, it’s time to examine a policy that affects every taxpayer’s wallet: the 485-b tax exemption law. Enacted in 2017 and never reviewed since, this law provides substantial tax breaks to commercial developments that shift the tax burden onto residential property owners.

Town Board members point to developments like Uncle Giuseppe’s, Lowe’s, and Optum as justification for continuing these permanent tax exemptions. However, this argument overlooks a crucial fact: our neighboring municipalities attract similar commercial investments without offering such generous tax breaks. These businesses chose their locations based on market potential and community needs, not tax incentives.

The real impact of 485-b falls on Yorktown’s homeowners. While commercial properties enjoy reduced tax bills, our town’s expenses continue to rise. Basic math tells us that when some pay less, others must pay more. This “as-of-right” exemption effectively transfers the tax burden from commercial enterprises to residential property owners.

Look at our neighbors: Cortlandt has attracted major developments like ShopRite and multiple medical offices without offering blanket tax breaks. Mount Kisco continues to see new restaurants and retail establishments open their doors. Somers has welcomed new businesses in their downtown corridor. These communities prove that commercial development follows strong market conditions and community demand, not tax giveaways. Instead of automatic exemptions, our neighbors evaluate commercial incentives case by case, ensuring any tax benefits truly serve the public interest.

After six years, it’s time for a thorough review of 485-b. Do these tax breaks actually generate additional development, or are we simply subsidizing businesses that would invest here anyway? Our Town Board needs to examine this policy’s real costs and benefits, not just accept its continuation without question.

Our tax policies should benefit all Yorktown residents, not just commercial developers. The Town Board’s characterization of 485-b as merely “deferring” income rather than losing it is misleading. Under this law, commercial properties receive a 50% tax exemption in the first year, which gradually decreases over ten years. This reduced tax burden is never recovered – the town permanently foregoes that revenue. When a property’s assessment increases due to improvements, the exemption applies to that increase, meaning we lose half of the potential new revenue in year one, 45% in year two, and so on. This isn’t a deferral; it’s a decade-long subsidy that homeowners must offset.

Let’s start an honest conversation about 485-b before the next budget cycle makes the burden even heavier on homeowners’ pockets.

Jann Mirchandani
Yorktown Heights

The following letter was submitted to the Yorktown News in December 2024 but was not published. While the original letter was written as a community member concerned about the chamber’s direction, I am sharing it here on my campaign page in the interest of transparency about my positions on local issues. The content reflects my views on how our community organizations should operate independently of political influence.

I was dismayed to see how the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce’s merger with the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce was reported in the November 21 Yorktown News. The article does not include responses from any current members and prominently quotes two former presidents, neither of whom belongs to either Chamber.
As a member of both organizations – as many Yorktown Chamber members are – I recognize the benefits of the merger: economies of scale, expanded networking opportunities, and stronger positioning for local businesses regionally.

In his quote, Mr. Visconti states that he is disappointed in the merger and the state of the Chamber. He goes on to quote membership numbers that do not seem accurate. He also does not mention the mass exodus of local business owners from the Chamber after he and his board endorsed Michael Grace for Yorktown Supervisor. Taking the unprecedented step of endorsing political candidates was the last straw for many, including myself. I resigned my membership, as did many others, including several board members. It’s worth noting that while Mr. Esposito, also quoted in the article, was President, the Chamber moved its offices from Parkside Corner Shopping Center to the Grace Building, further alienating those who did not support Mr. Grace politically and causing more damage to what should be a non-political organization.

It was only when Karen Trendell took over as President that I was encouraged to give the Yorktown Chamber another look. When I did, I saw Karen and the Board making significant changes to depoliticize the Yorktown Chamber and refocus on member benefits for all members, not just those who support specific candidates or parties. I rejoined the Yorktown Chamber several years ago as a direct response to the work Karen and the Board were putting in, and have been thrilled with the new direction, growth, and support.
Moving forward, I encourage the Yorktown News to take a more measured approach to reporting on local stories. The current membership of both organizations is publicly available. Any number of businesses impacted by the merger could have been reached for comment and would have provided much-needed perspective for the piece.

In the meantime, I look forward to the shared growth of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber and the Yorktown Chamber. I encourage other business owners to join us for one of our breakfast networking meetings, attend a business after-hours, or another event. Get to know the Chamber and other business owners in the area and discover how the Chamber can help you grow your business.

Sincerely,
Jann Mirchandani
Owner, Westchester Marketing Cafe
Board Member Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce
Member, Yorktown Chamber of Commerce