Politics on the Hudson

Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young announced a celebrity mayoral endorsement from actor Denzel Washington.

The incumbent Democrat faces a challenge from three rivals in the Sept. 13 primary.

Here’s what Young’s email from yesterday included:

“I love my hometown. I am in Mount Vernon often and I see tremendous progress. I am proud of the work Mayor Young has done. I support and endorse him. I ask you to do the same,” Oscar Winning Actor Denzel Washington said in the press release.

Young also announced today that he received endorsements from the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body, AFL-CIO and Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers.

Young’s campaign previously announced that the  Mount Vernon Fire Fighters Union Local 107 would endorse Young, but that endorsement has been postponed, according to Young’s campaign.

Young’s ther endorsements include outgoing Mount Vernon Councilman Steven Horton, state Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Bronx/Mount Vernon, Rep. Eliot Engel, state Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx/Westchester, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon, County Legislator Lyndon Williams, D-Mount Vernon and County Legislator Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers.

Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young was endorsed on Monday by several prominent city clergy for the Sept. 13 Democratic primary.

The endorsements included the Rev. Franklyn Richardson of the Grace Baptist Church and the Rev. Darin Moore of the Greater Centennial AME Zion Church.

In a press release, the Young campaign stated that the endorsements are significant because the endorsing religious leaders represent more than 20,000 congregants.

Former Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis will get an endorsement from the National Black Association of Police, Westchester Chapter Blacks in Law Enforcement on Saturday.

The 11 a.m. event at City Hall Plaza will include a talk about crime by Davis and Damon K. Jones, the organization’s president. Davis is trying to unseat Mayor Clinton Young in the Sept. 13 primary, where the mayor’s race will be essentially decided in this overwhelmingly Democratic city.

Earlier today Jones said that his group decided to support Davis because of Davis’ history of working with youth and ex-offenders, and for his economic development record.

“You can’t just arrest your way out of the problems,” said Jones, whose group has 30 members in police, corrections and the courts. “Our philosophy is that policing is not just policing through the law. It has to be economic development, education and having jobs.”

Mount Vernon Comptroller Maureen Walker, a Democrat, got an endorsement from the CSEA Southern Region PAC in her mayoral campaign to unseat Mayor Clinton Young, she announced today.

“Maureen Walker has proven herself to be a trusted fiscal steward over her nearly 20 years working for the city,” said CSEA southern region president Billy Riccaldo. “We are confident she is the right choice for mayor.”

The CSEA represents workers in the City of Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon City School District and the Mount Vernon Public Library.

The Sept. 13 Democratic primary is expected to decide the city’s mayoral and City Council races in this overwhelmingly Democratic city.

Here is the full release (more…)

Mount Vernon Comptroller Maureen Walker got an endorsement from the 1199 SEIU health-care union, she announced today.

Walker, who has been comptroller for 17 years, hopes to unseat incumbent Mayor Clinton Young in the Sept. 13 Democratic primary election. The winner of that election effectively wins the general election in this overwhelmingly Democratic city.

“We need a leader like Maureen Walker now more than ever before,” said George Gresham, president of the 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. “During these tough economic times, we need a mayor who will create jobs and strengthen the economy. We decided to endorse Maureen Walker because we believe she has integrity, she knows the issues that affect working people, and we trust she will move Mount Vernon in the right direction.”

Mount Vernon Comptroller Maureen Walker outlined her crime-reduction platform for her mayoral campaign earlier this week.

The Democrat seeks to unseat Mayor Clinton Young in the Sept. 13 primary election and she has repeatedly claimed that crime is up in the city, while Young has claimed that crime has significantly fallen.

Walker outlined six points in her crime-reduction strategy that she would implement if elected. They are a reestablishment of the Police Athletic League, a return of the DARE program to the public schools, more recreational and after-school programs, school conflict-resolution programs, community-based policing and a reward program for turning in illegal firearms.

Unlike some police agencies, such as Yonkers, the Mount Vernon Police does not post crime statistics on the city’s website, so it’s unclear if crime is rising or falling this year compared with last. The Journal News will seek those statistics shortly.

Details about Walker’s platform are posted on her campaign website.

Mount Vernon mayoral candidate Ernest Davis will hold a motorcade on Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. through the city.

The three-hour event is designed to allow supporters to show their love for the Democrat and former three-term mayor, who seeks to unseat Mayor Clinton Young.

The motorcade begins at 49 S. Fifth Ave.

The primary election is Sept. 13 and it will effectively decide the next mayor in this overwhelmingly Democratic city.

Mount Vernon Councilwoman Diane Munro-Morris has been removed from the Democratic primary ballot, according to the Westchester County Board of Elections.

The Board of Elections confirmed that she’s off the ballot after a hearing today.

Munro-Morris, 43, was elected to the council in 2009 to fill a two-year term, but she did not receive the city Democrats’ official backing for the 2011 primary, which essentially decides the winners in this heavily Democratic city.

Hank Miller, a city Democratic operative and former deputy chief of staff for Mayor Clinton Young, was the objector who successfully knocked the councilwoman off the ballot.

Munro-Morris could not be reached for comment on her cell phone. She also tried to get on the Independence party line, but earlier this month the Board of Elections deemed her petitions ineligible.

The Wartburg Adult Care Community and various neighborhood associations will host a mayoral debate on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.

Mayor Clinton Young is expected to be joined by his three challengers, former Mayor Ernest Davis, city Comptroller Maureen Walker and city Councilman Yuhanna Edwards.

“We are pleased to be able to bring such an important event to our campus,” said David Gentner, president and CEO of The Wartburg. “The residents of Mount Vernon will benefit form a valuable open debate about the key issues facing the city today.”

The Wartburg is located at 1 Wartburg Place in Mount Vernon. The Democratic primary is Sept. 13.

Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins endorsed Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young for a second term on Friday.

“I am here with Mayor Young because I believe in him and am proud of what he has already accomplished,” Dinkins said in a statement released by Young’s campaign.

Young said in the statement that Dinkins deserved a lot of credit for helping to turn New York City around.

“His endorsement is proof that word is out about our improving image and that progress must continue in Mount Vernon,” Young said.