Politics on the Hudson

Mount Vernon City Council hopeful Samuel Rivers claimed he has filed more than twice the number of petitions than the entire Democratic party slate, and will make that announcement at a press conference tomorrow in front of the county Board of Elections at 11 a.m. Today was the last day for filing petitions at the county Board of Elections for the ‘09 primary.

Legal challenges to petitions are expected tomorrow. Democratic candidates need a minimum of 1,323 valid signatures from registered Democrats who live in the city to run in primary. City judge, city comptroller and four council seats are at stake.

In a press release, Rivers said the Mount Vernon Democratic party was “in trouble” and warned of a party coup. “I intend to re-organize the Mt Vernon Democratic Committee, and possibly organize a coup and take it over,” he wrote.

Rivers repeated his contention that the city’s Democratic committee was wrong in endorsing former Republican Janet DiFiore for county district attorney. Rivers is aligned with Tony Castro, who is challenging DiFiore for the seat.

Stay tuned for more campaign news.

Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young has confirmed the hiring of former mayoral aide John Boykin in an e-mailed statement today. Young wrote: “I have decided to end the suspension of Mr. John Boykin. He is working provisionally as the Deputy Director of the Youth Bureau at a salary of $63,469.00.”

The Journal News is hearing reports that former mayoral aide John Boykin is back at work in Mount Vernon City Hall as deputy director in the Youth Bureau. Boykin, who was suspended in March, said today that the job was “not official” and declined to comment further.

Mount Vernon chief of staff, Yolanda Robinson, did not return calls today about the matter.

Boykin was suspended amid controversy, after he was accused of making tape-recorded threats against Samuel Rivers, a critic of the mayor. Young had suspended Boykin without pay, saying he would review the matter. Rivers filed a federal lawsuit against Boykin, Mayor Clinton Young, city Democratic Party Chairman Devereaux Cannick and the city of Mount Vernon over the alleged threats, but withdrew the lawsuit in April.

Debra Stern, candidate for Mount Vernon City Council, is using Twitter to talk about her campaign and post news from around the city. You can follow her on http://twitter.com/electstern. Other Mount Vernon candidates, please send web links and Twitter links to hadely@lohud.com.

The 2010 Senate Appropriations bill includes $1 million in federal funds for Mount Vernon to renovate an existing fire station as an emergency operations center. The center would be a base to coordinate multi-agency response in case of flood, fire, crime or other emergency.

Currently, the City of Mount Vernon does not have an operations center for managing emergency situations. In these scenarios, the city can use the Mount Vernon Police Department’s Field Command Center vehicle, but officials said this can hamper police operations and the ability to respond to incidents.

The federal funds for the center were secured by U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in the appropriations bill. The bill was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and will be sent to the full Senate for a vote.

Helen Blackwood was sworn in as the newest Mount Vernon city judge on Monday. Blackwood was appointed to fill the post after Judge Brenda Dowery-Rodriguez retired. Blackwood is a name well known around the city. Her father, Ronald Blackwood, is a former Mount Vernon mayor and was the first black mayor elected in New York State. He’s also the man that the city’s court facility is named after.

Marcus Griffith wants to take over Mount Vernon’s top financial post. The councilman is seeking the endorsement of the city’s Democratic Committee to run for comptroller against incumbent Maureen Walker. The endorsement shouldn’t be hard to get, considering Walker and many of the city’s political leaders don’t see eye to eye. Still, Walker is popular among many residents because of her scrutiny of city finances. If the two are paired up in the September primary, it promises to be an interesting race.

Mount Vernon Comptroller Maureen Walker abused her power and engaged in misconduct when she failed to pay invoices to a law firm or to cooperate in a City Council investigation, Inspector General Harry Stokes charged in a report yesterday.

In the report, Stokes says that Walker obstructed a City Council investigation, gave misleading information, and had discrepancies in financial statements, among other allegations. The report can be found here: Inspector General’s Report

Walker has denied the allegations in the report. Here is a letter she wrote to Mayor Clinton Young yesterday following the release of the report.

To: Clinton I Young, Mayor

From: Maureen Walker, CPA, Comptroller

I am once again writing you to set up a meeting to discuss the role of the Inspector General in the City of Mount Vernon. This is my second request. Please refer to my letter of November 10, 2008 (attached). This request is as a result of a document released by the Inspector General dated January 12, 2009 entitled “Investigation of Allegations of Abuse.”

It appears the Inspector General was appointed by the mayor with specific instructions to “attack” the City Comptroller. After a short time on the job, he initiated an “OIG Report of PILOTS” which was done solely on my testimony at a City Council hearing. The “audit” was done without any “first hand” investigation and contained numerous untruths and inaccuracies. The conclusion arrived at in that report was not supported by facts but represented the political views of the Inspector General.

The recently released report dated January 13, 2009 is riddled with inaccuracies, untruths, unfounded allegations and is basically a political document that appears to be the work of a desperate individual who is preparing to wage a run for public office against a political opponent. (more…)

Mount Vernon marked the passing of M. Paul Redd, the president and publisher of Westchester County Press and a prominent voice for African-Americans throughout the county, with a day of remembrance. Here is a statement from Mayor Clinton Young about Redd, who died Friday:

On Friday, January 9th, 2009, Mayor Clinton I. Young, Jr. declared a day of remembrance in the City of Mount Vernon to pay homage to the life and legacy of civil rights leader and Westchester County Press Publisher M. Paul Redd, who passed away early this morning at Greenwich Hospital.

“Today Westchester has lost a giant who literally changed the consciousness of our county,” said Mayor Young. “M. Paul Redd was a true hero and inspired many of us to pursue a career in public service. Throughout his life Paul was a forthright opponent of racism and bigotry. He embodied strength and wisdom during his tenure as President of the Black Democrats of Westchester.

Paul was also one of prolific columnists in the Hudson Valley. His column entitled “M. Paul Tells All” was bold and hard-hitting. His fervent sincerity on injustice and fairness in the political realm was unparalleled. He never beat around the bush. You always knew where Paul stood on the issues. His legacy reminds us all to remain vigilant against hate and injustice – more importantly to help and teach others to achieve the American Dream. He will sorely be missed, and certainly never forgotten.”

Mayor Clinton Young said Mount Vernon is doing its part to help Gov. David Paterson reach his goals on clean energy and fiscal responsibility in New York State. Here’s more reaction from the Mount Vernon mayor on Paterson’s State of the State Address.

DATE: JANUARY 8, 2009

Mount Vernon, NY — “Yesterday, I sat in the State Assembly Chambers for Governor David A. Paterson’s first State of the State Message and I believe that New York is going to work through these difficult times and emerge stronger than ever. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you just a few reasons why I believe our state is going to make it and why the City of Mount Vernon is going to play a major part in rejuvenating the state of our state.

Fiscal Responsibility

One of the first topics that Governor Paterson spoke about is the need for greater fiscal responsibility on the state and local levels. It is paramount that at every level of government we look at what it costs to operate the services we provide. Mount Vernon is leading by example, as I am proud to say this year we have one of the lowest tax increases of all municipalities in Westchester County. In addition, the State has pledged to tightened their belts and also help us use our resources in a more efficient way.