RESOLUTION
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLLINS-BELLAMY, MAJORITY LEADER RUBBO, MAJORITY WHIP ROBINSON, MINORITY LEADER BREEN, COUNCILMEMBERS PINEDA-ISAAC, DIAZ, AND MERANTE:
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RESOLUTION OF THE YONKERS CITY COUNCIL TO HONOR THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY’S REQUEST TO HONORARILY RENAME RAVINE AVENUE AND UNION PLACE “SADIE OLIVER WAY”
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WHEREAS, Sadie Oliver dedicated over two decades of her life to uplifting and empowering troubled youth as a supervisor at Graham Windham Group Home from the 1970s through the 1990s. In this esteemed position, she became a catalyst for change in the lives of countless children, profoundly impacting them through after-school tutorial programs and job-skill development initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Sadie went beyond her professional duties, providing a safe and loving environment for the youth under her care. Her warmth, compassion, and unwavering dedication made her a trusted role model and a cornerstone of a nurturing community; and
WHEREAS, Sadie extended her service to the greater Yonkers community as a devoted volunteer at the Nepperhan Community Center under the leadership of Ms. Gains. There, she organized a variety of youth programs, including launching a free Girl Scout program to foster leadership and sisterhood, and creating basketball leagues for boys that promoted teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship; and
WHEREAS, she organized lively neighborhood events that brought families together, transforming local streets into vibrant spaces of joy and togetherness, strengthening the bonds among neighbors; and
WHEREAS, Sadie also instilled pride and community responsibility by organizing summer clean-up days, providing gloves, brooms, and garbage bags to residents and leading by example in keeping the Ravine and Woodworth areas clean and welcoming; and
WHEREAS, as an active member of the Neighborhood Watch, she diligently worked to enhance community safety and unity. Known for her kindness and reliability, she routinely checked on elderly neighbors and offered assistance to anyone in need, fostering a deep sense of care and connectedness in her neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, to her family, the Olivers and the Degrees, Sadie represented the heart of family unity and tradition, organizing annual family reunions and demonstrating the strength of love and togetherness; and
WHEREAS, to this day, hundreds of former residents of the Graham Windham Group Home continue to express their gratitude for Sadie’s profound influence on their lives. Many recall her as the mother they never had - a steady source of support, guidance, and unconditional love who shaped their paths toward brighter futures; and
WHEREAS, Sadie’s legacy is one of compassion, dedication, and community spirit. Her life serves as a shining example of the power of one individual to transform lives and uplift a community. Through her example, she continues to inspire future generations to serve others with heart and humility; and
WHEREAS, Sadie Oliver has left us all a great legacy - one that challenges us to continue her work with the same care and determination she embodied. The Yonkers City Council wishes to recognize her enduring contributions to the success and progress of our city and to publicly honor her life of service that enhanced the humanity among us all; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of her extraordinary life and contributions to the City of Yonkers, a completed and executed petition has been duly filed with the Office of the City Clerk requesting that Ravine Avenue and Union Place be honorarily renamed “Sadie Oliver Way.”; and
WHEREAS, It is the desire of the Yonkers City Council to honor this request and establish a lasting tribute to her life and service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Yonkers City Council hereby directs the City Clerk to set and properly publicize a Public Hearing on this matter for consideration of the honorary street renaming of Ravine Avenue and Union Place as “Sadie Oliver Way.”
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon approval, the Department of Public Works shall install the appropriate honorary street signage at the intersections of Ravine Avenue and Union Place, designating the area as “Sadie Oliver Way.”
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ABOVE LEGISLATION IS TO BE HELD AT ON October 28, 2025, AT 6:15 PM