As we near the end of another year, it is an appropriate time to reflect upon the moments we all hold near and dear in our hearts and minds. We store our loving memories in a place that has no space or time and yet it always seems to remain with us.

Time flows like a gentle running stream without end pasting a stone on the shore. In that realization, the priceless moments we let go unnoticed come back to us. As human beings, we must learn to cherish each day, love every moment, and enjoy this ride called life. Too much of our lives is spent arguing over who’s wrong or right instead of focusing on solutions that makes it possible to create great achievement.

I was taught to never miss out on the moments that truly define what life is about. The amazing sunsets that take your breath away, leaving us speechless and yet descriptive in a way that words could never say. That moment you first heard someone say, “I love you” and how it took your breath away, or the first time you were touched in a very affectionate way. Can you remember that moment you first fell in love? That ultimate form of vulnerability surrendered between one another, like a bond between a child and its mother, nothing more meaningful, nothing stronger.

It’s those moments when a rainbow appears, how we forget about the rain and our eyes light up like children on Christmas day. It’s those moments that create memories to help us through our darkest times, thoughts not of what we have, but with whom we share our lives. Those special moments bringing tears of joy to our eyes by inspiring thoughts of hope that make us realize everything is going to be all right.

I remember the moment I got my first bike and how my father spent time teaching me how to ride it. Looking back, I recognize those moments were more than just teaching me how to ride a bike; he was showing me how to raise a child. The lesson I was learning at a young age showed me that the bike wasn’t as important as the time I spent with my father learning how to ride it. Although that little blue bike with the banana seat and streamers is long gone, it is the moment that has ceaselessly remained for a lifetime.

Life is short and, before you know it, another decade will have passed us by in the blink of an eye. Don’t wait until it’s too late to create a season of moments with those who matter most. As we get older, we soon realize those wrinkles on our faces aren’t from age, but from a lifetime of laughter and smiles shared between one another – from the moments that brought light to our world, a little bit at a time.

Someday, we’ll turn to our final chapter and script our very last page. And, at that moment, we will have said all we have to say. All that will be left to cherish are those memories of those moments spent with those who meant so much to us.

Wishing you and yours a pleasant and safe holiday season, one filled with truly special and lasting moments.

For more than a decade, Mount Vernon residents have been held hostage to a political battle that has impacted our children and our quality of life. Like all of you, I’ve watched this political theater filled with successive politicians tearing down one another to get a leg up on the “Memorial Field” express. Finishing this field has become the Holy Grail of mayoral politics in Mount Vernon. Through the years, the battle between Mount Vernon’s mayors and other elected officials to be the person who “completes” Memorial Field has been long, embarrassing, and costly. Moreover, the political squabbling and games being played with the project has created a blemish on the city that has deprived its residents and, especially, its children of the use of its own resources.

Many residents have asked me why the City Council filed the restraining order against the Mayor and his administration to stop work at Memorial Field this summer. The answer is simple: Mount Vernon’s taxpayers needed a timeout. We needed time to stop the destructive behavior and path that would potentially cost taxpayers additional tens of millions of dollars. The Mayor’s approach to “renovation” was to ignore all of the City’s processes and procedures and lie to anyone who would listen about what was going on. The entire project became more about assuming his place in the succession of mayors who promised to get something done about Memorial Field instead of protecting the taxpayer from waste, fraud, and abuse.

Secondly, it was time to take the political football out of the hands of the past, present, or future mayors who all have their own ideas on what it should look like – without the follow-through necessary to finish the project. We chastise President Trump for trying to erase President Obama’s legacy, however, each Mount Vernon mayor has done the same to his predecessor. While these politicians are busy throwing rocks at each other just to see how many windows they can break, no one is paying attention to the cost or impact on the taxpayers who must pay for those windows. The City has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in court, arguing over the field being contaminated, just to end up with the same result found in my 74-page report posted back in December 2015. That’s just wasteful.

When things are not working internally, sometimes its best to get someone from outside the system to make progress happen. This is why we sought intervention of the Court and engaged Westchester County in the process. With the temporary restraining order against the Mayor in place, I am happy to report that real progress is happening. A lot of time and effort has gone into working with the Court and the County to keep this project on track, and it’s about to pay off. The Memorial Field project is moving forward, and it is moving forward responsibly.

The City Council’s lawyers met with the judge last week and there were some key developments I want to share with you:

1) The temporary restraining order (TRO) remains in place. The TRO alone has saved the City of Mount Vernon over $500,000 by avoiding potential fines from the DEC due to the Mayor’s inability to complete the remediation work at the Memorial Field site in a timely manner.

2) The agreement with the County to complete the construction of the NEW Memorial Field has been approved by the Court and will be approved by the County Board of Legislators in the coming weeks.

3) The environmental remediation plan will be finalized by the end of this month, and the contractor that demolished the grandstands has been ordered back to work to finish the job, which should take no more than a week. Once that is done, the rest of the work will be turned over to the County.

4) Because of our suit, the State has contributed $5 million towards construction costs, saving the taxpayers from having to bear that expense.

These achievements over the objections and frivolous arguments of the Mayor show we’re on the right track. It’s not that the Mayor doesn’t want to see Memorial Field finished; it’s that he wants to see it finished on his terms and only his terms.

Here’s the fine point: no Mayor, no Council member, and no politician deserve any credit for the renovation of Memorial Field. When this project is completed, the credit should go to the residents of Mount Vernon. It’s their field, paid for with their tax dollars, and at the expense of their children who have been deprived of its use for so long. Everyone seems to have forgotten an important rule of elective politics: you need to put the people’s interest over your own and, sometimes, that means you just need to get out of the way. For politicians who forget that rule, there’s a line from Game of Thrones that applies: “Winter is coming.”

While I know there has been some frustration with the fact that this had to be accomplished through legal action, I want to assure you that it has been a complete success and has saved the Mount Vernon taxpayers far more than it cost them. We have a viable, real, and actionable path forward on Memorial Field – for the first time in decades! On behalf of the whole City Council, we would also like to thank you, Mount Vernon, for your patience and support all along the way. A renovated Memorial Field we can all be proud of is not a pipe dream anymore. It’s about to become a reality!

If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or any other, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.

I wanted to give you some great news about the renovation of Memorial Field and the City Council’s lawsuit against Mayor Thomas. The project is now moving forward and dirt is going to start flying! A lot of time and effort has gone into working with the Court to keep this project on track, and it’s about to pay off.

The City Council’s lawyers met with the judge today and there were some key developments I want to share with you:

1) The temporary restraining order (TRO) remains in place. The TRO alone has saved the City of Mount Vernon over $500,000 by avoiding potential fines from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) due to the Mayor’s inability to complete the remediation work at the Memorial Field site.

2) The agreement with the County to complete the construction of the NEW Memorial Field has been approved by the Court and will be approved by the County Board of Electors on Monday.

3) The environmental remediation plan will be finalized by the end of this month and the contractor that demolished the grandstands has been ordered back to work to finish the job, which should take no more than a week. Once that is done, the rest of the work will be turned over to the County.

4) Because of our suit, the State has contributed $5 million towards construction costs, saving the taxpayers from having to bear that expense. While I know there has been some frustration with the fact that this had to be accomplished through legal action, I want to assure you that it has been a complete success and has saved the Mount Vernon taxpayers far more than it cost them. We have a viable, real, and actionable path forward on Memorial Field – for the first time in decades! I want to thank our lawyers, Wilson & Chan, LLP, for all of their efforts in negotiating with the Court and the County.

I would also like to offer a special thanks to Councilman Marcus Griffith for his valuable contribution and support throughout this process. On behalf of the whole City Council, we would also like to thank you, Mount Vernon, for your patience and support all along the way.

A renovated Memorial Field we can all be proud of is not a pipe dream anymore.

It’s about to become a reality!

I’ve received a number of questions in the past few days and wanted to provide you with an update on what has happened with regard to the Water Department. If you’re a regular reader of this column you’ll know the story, but if not, I will summarize it briefly here. Mount Vernon’s residents were shocked to see dramatic increases in their recent water bills, some having doubled or tripled for the same water usage. As a City Councilman I was just as shocked as many of you, knowing that the City Council is responsible for setting Mount Vernon’s water rates, and we haven’t changed those rates in three years. So, how did this happen?

Someone in the Water Department or the Mayor’s administration took it upon himself or herself to raise the water rates without the authority of the City Council. Mount Vernon citizens’ are now paying an increase of about 43%. The Water Department raised the “overage” rates while reducing the “base” usage amount, which means you pay more money for the same or even less water, resulting in massive increases for Mount Vernon’s residents. The worst part of this new “tax” is that it hurts citizens on fixed incomes, particularly our seniors. Moreover, the expenditures from the Water Department are not reviewed through the regular process like many other City bills and could be used improperly for anything, including “paying the Mayor’s personal legal bills” as suggested recently by the Attorney General’s office.

I brought this complaint to the attention of the Thomas administration many times. Councilman Griffith and I even held a press conference detailing what we saw as disturbing irregularities occurring at the Water Department. The City Council simply cannot get any answers out of the Mayor’s department heads or his office. The citizens of Mount Vernon are entitled to transparency in their government, and the City’s Charter mandates that the Water Department must provide the City Council with answers to our questions. Despite that, those answers never came.

Much like the situation with Memorial Field, the Council faced a crossroad. We could continue to let the Mayor and his administration act outside of the law, or we could stop him from doing so in court. I brought the latter option to the Council for consideration, as the consequences for our citizens were too severe to ignore. That’s the people’s money and it needs to be given back to them. Unfortunately, as these things sometimes go, I could not get the entire Council on board to file a lawsuit similar to what we did with Memorial Field. But, I felt the issue was too important, so I decided to act independently of the Council.

Last week, in my official capacity as a public officer and as a trustee of the public’s funds, I filed an Article 78 petition in Westchester County Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a preliminary injunction against Mount Vernon’s Water Department, seeking, among other things, to halt any further collection of unauthorized water usage bills, to preserve evidence, and to establish a plan to get a refund or credit to people who have been overcharged.

As the lawsuit claims, Mount Vernon’s residents, especially its seniors and most vulnerable citizens, have been subjected to a “shadow tax” by the present administration in the form of outrageous and unauthorized water bills. The revenue generated in the Water Department is being spent without any oversight and on expenses unrelated to the Water Department.

Before filing suit, for almost a year, I issued multiple official requests for clarification and transparency from the Water Department, all of which were ignored. As a trustee of the public’s money, I could not sit idle any longer and felt the only way to protect the taxpayer was to initiate legal action – especially when there are millions of dollars at stake.

Justice Susan M. Cacace agreed and issued an Order to Show Cause as to why she should not issue a permanent injunction against the Water Department at a hearing coming up on November 20, 2018. The burden is now on the Water Department to show up and prove they acted in line with the law – which they cannot do. Even the Water Department’s public statements are an admission they hiked the rates. They have even lied about turning the excess money over to the Comptroller to pay the City’s bills since the Mayor came into office. That amount, according to estimates by the Comptroller may exceed $3 million, an outrageous amount to be kept from the taxpayers.

I take my fiduciary obligations to Mount Vernon’s taxpayers very seriously, and I call upon other members of Mount Vernon’s government to stand with me in demanding answers from the Thomas administration and, particularly, the Water Department. For an administration that uses every opportunity to claim it is transparent, it has steadfastly refused to answer all requests from the City Council and the Comptroller about issues that cut to the heart of the public’s faith in its elected leaders. I also renew my call for a complete and independent investigation by State and County law enforcement into the activities at the Water Department.

While I understand the people of Mount Vernon are tired of hearing about lawsuits between its various members of government, I am confident they will understand the necessity and urgency of needing to move this way in this case. Sometimes, the rules we learned way back on the playground have application as we move through adult life. In a sense, the Water Department has been stealing our lunch money for too long. Sometimes, the only way to handle a bully is to sock him in the mouth. Regrettable, maybe, but, it’s usually effective.

If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or any other, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.

Isaac Newton, the father of physics, taught us an important lesson about life when he said that “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” We all have the power to help our young men see further, and you don’t have to be a giant to do it. We live in a world of endless possibilities, more connected and less remote than ever before. So, why are so many of our children feeling trapped, isolated, and alone? Why are our children’s visions not extending beyond a three-block radius around their homes? What does it say about us when many of our children define success as just simply surviving? It’s saying that we’ve let them down. Our young men are in a crisis without the assistance, guidance, and encouragement that many of us took for granted when we were their age. We often get upset when children make bad decisions that affects their lives forever, however, we fail to realize that we are not involved when they are making those choices. We have the power to change that sad reality.

This past weekend, I attended the NAACP lunching and was surrounded by a room full of accomplished people. I brought a couple of young people I mentor with me – so they can see what success looks like. It’s important that our youth see how successful people hold and carry themselves. The confidence that comes with accomplishment is often unseen in our poorest neighborhoods, as successful people move out, never to return. Westchester’s County Executive, George Latimer, gave a speech at the luncheon where he echoed the same sentiment. He called for people to be role models of success – to pass along the ingredients of what made people successful to those who need it most.

Everything that it takes to make a difference in those young men’s lives already exists within us. Our lives have been filled with lessons learned with great joys and sorrows. We’ve made mistakes and we have overcome great obstacles. We have seen the world beyond the neighborhood and we’ve been inspired to succeed. Now, it’s our turn to reach back and pull up one of those boys by being a mentor to them.

I have been participating in youth mentoring for over a decade, and I truly feel it is the most important work I have ever done. As a public servant, I am called to serve the City as a whole. But, as a mentor, I am called to serve one individual at a time by simply making them a priority with a gift they are not getting at home. Sometimes, it’s about life lessons. Sometimes, it’s about seeing new things or places or just about spending time together. I have seen my mentees go on to succeed and find their own paths in this world. Many have come back, asking how they can help the next generation of kids. I have never felt more proud of anyone or anything than when I heard those words.

You do need to make a commitment of your time. Usually, it works out to about four hours a month. Think of how much time you spend on Facebook, Instagram or watching reruns of shows you’ve already seen. If you add up that time alone, you’ll find you’re wasting way more than four hours a month. I can honestly tell you that no amount of “friends” or “followers” on social media will replace or surpass the connection you feel as a mentor. It will give your life a meaning it has probably been missing – one you’ve been filling with so-called friends on the Internet.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program will help you. You’re not going to be thrown into it without guidance and assistance. They’ll give you the basic tools, but the real value is going to come from you. What you show these kids by simply being present in their lives can alter the trajectory of their paths forever. Being available on the other end of the phone can be the difference between life and death. They are like sponges, soaking in everything they see – good and bad. You have the power to be a force for good in their lives. That is a power that too few of us realize we have.

In the next few months, I will be actively recruiting mentors to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Mount Vernon. If you see me on the street or in church, chances are I will try to sign you up. My primary focus will be on getting men to volunteer as mentors to our young boys. With no disrespect to our women or young girls, this program has a huge hole to fill because of a lack of male mentors. I’ve made it my mission to help fill that hole. We need successful men to make time for the next generation of successful men.

Do it for selfless reasons. Do it for selfish reasons. It doesn’t really matter. just do it. Denzel Washington, a favorite son of Mount Vernon and a huge proponent of the value of mentors said: “It’s not how much you have. It’s what you do with what you have…. The most selfish thing you can do in this world is help someone else. Why is it selfish? Because the gratification, the goodness that comes to you, the good feeling … nothing is better than that.” I can personally attest to that statement.

Remember, the greatest give that you can ever give is yourself. Over the next few months, I will be trying to get you to join me in making a difference for our young boys. You’ll thank me later.

If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or want to be a mentor, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.

From the outside looking in, Mount Vernon can look like a political circus, one for which no one is willing to purchase a ticket, except the local media. The political bickering surrounding Mount Vernon these days seems to cast a dark shadow over our city, concealing who we truly are. We are a city of mostly Democrats with over 95 different nationalities living together as one big family; and like all families, we to have our fair share of disagreements. However, no disagreement should ever be allowed to destroy a family because what we disagree on is never as important as what binds us together.

At last Thursday’s Democratic committee meeting, I watched a room filled with Democrats old and new, crafting exciting ideas for the betterment of our city. All eyes and ears were on our Chairman as he spoke about what it means to be a district leader in our community and the importance of having a united front. I’ve never felt the electricity in the air like I did that night although a few people mentioned the good old days with David Ford. While conversations can spark differences of opinion, they are vitally important to have nonetheless. The power to change our circumstances emanates from our ability to remove the cloak of silence that prevents our issues from being discussed, both internally and in broader society. Democrats give voice to those whose voices are drowned out and ignored; so it is only natural that Democrats debate and disagree sometimes. When we express our disagreements, it only exercises our rhetorical muscles, helping us become stronger and more powerful behind our collective voice.

As Democrats, these conversations uncover the differences between one another while opening our eyes to realize that we have much more in common than not. It is from this platform of commonality and possibility that we must learn to work together to empower ourselves instead of operating from our differences. Doing that only makes it impossible to find common ground because in order for someone to be right, someone has to be made wrong, leaving him or her powerless. That weakens our overall movement. But, when we choose to operate from a shared vision and common goals, people feel validated, respected and empowered, which strengthens our Democratic Party.

As with any human endeavor, opinions on how we get somewhere will vary dramatically, even when we share the same destination. Rather than stifling opinions, we need to embrace different ideas to foster a more robust plan and vision. The Democratic Party is the party of inclusion and our strength lies in our diversity of membership, backgrounds, experience and powerful ideas. As society evolves we must encourage the wellspring of new ideas and perspectives even more now than ever before. As Democrats, we must continue to welcome new entrants into our tent to expand our vision, numbers and leverage their new inspiring energy and interest.

There is a vibrant and vital Democratic message today because of the battles that have been fought long before many of us have shown up on the scene. The battles before us weren’t easy and there’s wisdom in those battle scars. We would be remiss if we did not appreciate and put that wisdom to good use. We have all seen the results when youthful energy is misdirected creating a chaotic and destructive environment. We have also seen the results when those new voices are ignored in favor of tried-and-true methods that worked decades ago.

Those “tried-and-true” methods failed us in the last national election. We’re living through a Presidency right now that succeeded because our focus was not on the message, but instead on the messenger. We attempted to anoint a successor instead of putting forth a leader, one who truly shared our vision. We’ve learned a lot in these last two years, and meetings like the one we had the other day are proof of that. It’s exciting again to be a Democrat.

The powerful conversations that night also demonstrated something that many didn’t realize before: the power to effect change is already in our hands. Together, we have the numbers, the message, and the ability to build up a new vision of America. The Democrats of today understand that this nation was built on a desire for change, even uncomfortable change, with the goal of making it a haven for people of all race, color, creed and religions. That is really what makes America great!

If productive change is what we seek, then change is what we can deliver. When Democrats see institutions, they see organic, changeable things that should adapt to include those who have been excluded. When Democrats see prosperity, they see a growing divide that is leaving too many behind. Inspiring words are not enough these days. We need feet on the ground. People who want to be included and who want to prosper must be empowered to do so. Policies, priorities and procedures need to change if that is to happen. Leadership needs to change if that is to happen.

However, none of that can happen if we stay home on Election Day. None of that change can occur if we let disagreements between ourselves create excuses for not showing up at the ballot box. Importantly, none of that will happen if we become the divided party we are accused of being by the other side. It has never been more important to fly your flag as a Democrat and to encourage your neighbors to do the same. Change, just like a victory in an election, begins with one person, one vote, and their desire to make a difference by showing up to be counted. There’s an old saying in American politics, one that we should not forget next week on Election Day: “When Democrats vote, Democrats win.” Let’s go win!

If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or any other, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.

We teach our children to be honest, to say what you mean, and to mean what you say. We tell ourselves that we are truthful and that our word is our bond. We say that a person’s handshake is more powerful than any words written on a piece of paper. Furthermore, that the commitments we share between one another should bear the strength of steel and shall not bend or break. So why do we accept our politicians’ untruthful behavior, yet we punish our children for far less? Why is that behavior rewarded and even defended in a way that normalizes it? When did our wrongs become right and this overwhelming urge to kneel to deception be deemed acceptable? I remember my father mentioning to me as a child “fear causes people to lie because they are afraid of an unfavorable outcome, so they create a false perception to avoid true reality.” It’s been over 40 years since we had that conversation. It was the first time I was taught about the importance of integrity and keeping my word. So why are so many elected official granted a free pass on integrity or keeping their word? The question is simple. When we remain silent or turn a blind eye to untruthful or lawless behavior, we actually grant our politicians permission to continue with business as usual. We accept their excuses so why should they keep their word.

To avoid keeping their word, politicians are allowed to blame it on politics as an excuse to disregard every one of those concepts mentioned. If that doesn’t work, they blame the voters, saying they should just vote the politicians who fail them out of office. However, that task is never that simple. Voters are busy living their lives and providing for their families. Many of them have larger problems to deal with, and they don’t have time to take on a second (or third) job of baby-sitting their political officials at every turn. Nonetheless, residents still have every right to expect the service of an elected official that values integrity and honesty.

This is why the blame should fall on the politicians who all ran for office with a promise to do the people’s business. If they betray that promise and pursue their own self-interest at the expense of the citizens, those politicians should be held accountable. So, it’s important to distinguish between a politician and an elected leader.

Politicians exist to feed off the system only by taking what they can from the public, while telling them what they think they want to hear. A politician’s moral compass always faces toward his or her own self-interest; to be blunt, a politician is a lot like a shark – always moving, never retreating, and constantly looking for its next opportunity. You can always spot a politician by his or her inability to say one simple word: “no!” No polished politician would ever be caught dead telling a would-be voter no. They will dodge, dip, duck, and deflect, but they’ll never deny a voter anything to his face, even when the answer should be “no.”

Elected leaders come to office to be in service to the public. Their mission is far more meaningful because they are engaged in a larger purpose. They strive to create a system(s) that will change people’s lives. The best-elected leaders have thought hard about their positions on issues, have an abiding sense of right and wrong, and do not need to resort to cheap theatrics to look relevant. They read the legislation they are expected to vote on and focus on the details. A leader will tell you what they think, how they’re going to vote, and then follow through on that vote. That’s what having integrity means. Unlike politicians, the office inhabited does not define who they are because their credibility and integrity means more than the office they hold.

So, why do we find ourselves up to our elbows in politicians? Why are leaders so few and far between? It’s because being a leader is the harder path, and politicians just don’t want to do the work. Leadership requires effort, consistency and grit. A leader understands the enormous challenges facing them and agrees to take it head on, while a politician will only admire the challenge from afar, never really engaging the challenge. A politician will, however, tell you who’s to blame for it as long as someone is there to listen. Once the audience is gone, they retreat into irrelevance.

If you want to see if you’ve elected a politician or a leader, ask them about their record on one issue: term limits. It’s a great topic because it requires a politician to do the one thing they never want to do: give up office. A politician will usually be against it outright, although they may never come right out and admit it. Term limits mean an end to a politician’s existence. Do you really follow up on a politician after they’ve been elected to see if they are keeping their word? The more sinister brand of politician will tell you everything you want to hear while running for office, and then vote against everything they have told you once they are elected. This happens because politicians know voters will not remember their campaign position and if pressed about it later will just deflect and move on to another issue.

This is why voters must remain involved long after the election is over and hold politicians’ feet to the fire. We must let politicians know that their behavior is not acceptable by no longer accepting it. If we are going to change the culture, we must choose leaders who keep their word. We must make them know when they are not fulfilling their duties. And, most importantly, if we are going to change what we get from our elected leader then we must choose based upon the content of their character and not on image, slogans, or relationships.

We’re just a few weeks from another election; I encourage you to pay attention to those looking for your vote this November. See if they place more importance on themselves or the issues voters are facing. Above all, ask yourself if you see any leaders there. Or, just more sharks circling.

If you have any questions or comments on this topic or have other topics you’d like to see featured in a future column, e-mail me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.

The activities leading up to the recent confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanagh to the U.S. Supreme Court has brought to the forefront the importance of credibility, temperament, judgment, decency, and impartiality in making appointments to official positions. At the heart of the confirmation issue was whether Kavanaugh’s past activities would impact his ability to make fair and impartial decisions in the future. These same issues are playing out in the recent headlines related to Mayor Thomas’ brazen appointment of his former criminal attorney, Charles Knapp, as Mount Vernon’s new Inspector General. For argument’s sake, let’s assume that Mr. Knapp is a smart, capable, and an experienced attorney. And, by accepting this appointment without pay, he sees it as a generous gesture to offer his public service to the City of Mount Vernon. However, there are many reasons why Charles Knapp’s appointment is a bad idea.

For starters, Mr. Knapp represented Mayor Thomas in criminal proceedings arising from his activities leading up to and while in office. As the Mayor’s criminal attorney, Mr. Knapp has access to confidential information about the Mayor that he may not divulge due to attorney-client privilege. This privilege extends to information that may be material and relevant in any impartial investigation of other activities of the Mayor. He has knowledge of associates, bank records, and conversations that he is prohibited from sharing. By his own admission in his introductory press conference, Mr. Knapp said that he helped bring Mayor Thomas’ new criminal lawyers “up to speed.” Only someone with intimate knowledge of the facts underlying the criminal charges can make such a statement.

The history of the office of Mount Vernon’s Inspector General started in 2008, when then-Mayor Clinton Young charged the Inspector General “with investigating complaints of fraud, waste, and abuse of offices in City government.” Since its inception, only two individuals have held the title and, each only for short periods of time. What became clear was that an Inspector General was just not a very good idea in a small city like Mount Vernon. It was entirely too political, not sufficiently independent, and just plain ineffective. In fact, the office has not been budgeted for several years and even Mayor Thomas’ 2019 proposed budget allocates zero dollars toward the Office of the Inspector General. For the purposes of investigating official wrongdoing in Mount Vernon, it is more effective, cost efficient, and less political to rely upon the Mount Vernon Board of Ethics, and if there are findings of wrongdoing, then referral to the New York State Attorney General.

It baffles the mind, then, that this Mayor, the very same one that has been indicted for multiple crimes and stands a good chance of being incarcerated, would appoint his former criminal attorney as the City’s principal watchdog. Clearly this appointment screams conflict of interest – not just for the Mayor and the City but also for Mr. Knapp. There are several problematic questions that leap to mind. Wouldn’t Mr. Knapp, a good standing officer of the court, have advised the Mayor that this appointment is a conflict of interest? Wouldn’t the Mayor have thought it best to appoint someone whose credibility couldn’t be called into question so easily? And why now? It seems rather suspicious that the appointment is being made at what could very well be the end of the Mayor’s tenure and not at the beginning. Who is Mr. Knapp supposed to investigate? Is there an ulterior motive to all of this? Are others being protected? How then can Mr. Knapp convince Mount Vernon’s residents that he is here as a neutral party, tasked with simply helping seniors and “writing reports”? By the very nature of his relationship with the Mayor, his neutrality is impossible. He is simply the wrong candidate for Mount Vernon’s Inspector General.

Only a couple of weeks ago, I revealed what appears to be improper financial activities at the Mount Vernon Water Department. One wonders how Mr. Knapp will proceed if his investigation reveals that the Mayor is improperly using funds from the Water Department for expenses unrelated to the Water Department or even the City? What if Mr. Knapp recognizes that some of the same characters appear in this investigation as appeared in the Mayor prior criminal activities? Will his previous position as the Mayor’s criminal lawyer make him hinder, delay, or squash this investigation or, worse, falsely report no findings of criminal mischief in order to protect his former client and others? Or, will we see the resignation of another Inspector General? As we speak, is Mr. Knapp tampering with records and destroying files that may implicate the Mayor? We don’t know. But, these are logical concerns, given the relationship between the Mayor and Mr. Knapp.

This is one of those head-shaking moments in Mount Vernon. We could certainly theorize as to the Mayor’s motivation for making this selection however one looks at it, there is an obvious appearance of impropriety. One could conjecture that Mayor Thomas wants to protect himself and his cronies from future prosecution. Or, maybe he wants to obtain ammunition against those in government he perceives as his political enemies. Whatever the motivation, on its face, Charles Knapp is unsuitable for this job. It is an affront to concept of impartiality in the position of Inspector General and, frankly, an embarrassment to the people of Mount Vernon, who have certainly and rightly had enough of these cheap political theatrics from the Mayor’s office.

If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or any other, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.

On June 1, 2018, Mayor Richard Thomas, when speaking about his plan to renovate Memorial Field by any means necessary, said: “The process involves removing both the dirty dirt and tenants that refuse to pay back-rent amounting to more than five hundred thousand dollars. We will give Mount Vernon back a bigger, better revenue-generating Memorial Field no matter what is in the way.” Mayor Thomas’ plan for Memorial Field now stands to cost the City of Mount Vernon dearly. In his quest to return Memorial Field to its residents, the Mayor has acted without regard to process, law, or common sense when he instructed the illegal entry to the tennis center and the destruction of personal property. His unlawful operation may in fact cost Mount Vernon taxpayers far more than the total revenue to be ever generated from Memorial Field.

What’s the cost? As it turns out, a whole lot. Let’s see how the Mayor’s actions have impacted Mount Vernon taxpayer and residents:

•The operator of the tennis center, that was “in the way”, has sued the City for $27 million dollars. Taxpayer dollars will be used to defend the Mayor in this lawsuit. Likewise, any judgment the tennis center operators receive will be borne by Mount Vernon taxpayers.

•During his election to become Mayor, Richard Thomas as a bash against his predecessor, Ernie Davis, asserted that the dirt in Memorial Field was dirty. There was no proof or valid information to support this claim. It was simply a political ploy. Well, it turns out, it wasn’t dirty after all. Several rounds of environmental testing determined no real contamination on either the Memorial Field site or under the tennis center. And, yes, taxpayers will pay for these tests.

•Furthermore, after the Mayor’s assertions about the dirty dirt, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) requested immediate testing of the soil. The Mayor failed to meet the deadline so NYSDEC levied a $10,000 fine against the City of Mount Vernon for failure to test the “dirty dirt”. Mount Vernon taxpayers will pay this fine and any further fines from NYSDEC.

•The Mount Vernon City Charter requires City Council approvals prior to renovation of Memorial Field; however, this Mayor deemed the City Council to be “in the way” of city progress and wanted to proceed without council approvals. In response to the Mayor’s unlawful actions, the City Council sought a temporary restraining order from the Westchester County Supreme Court to prevent Mayor Thomas from violating the law. Subsequently, Mayor Thomas then instructed his lawyers to file a frivolous appeal of that order, which the presiding judge rejected. Who will pay those legal fees? You guessed it. The Mount Vernon’s taxpayers will.

•Westchester County has authorized its Executive to file suit against Mount Vernon for breaching a 2008 agreement with Mount Vernon which allowed County to renovate Memorial Field. A requirement of this arrangement is that the Mayor and the County negotiate particular details; however, the Mayor, by not being a helpful participant, has acted in bad faith. It is now very possible that the County may choose legal actions against the City at the expense of Mount Vernon taxpayers.

•The contractors the Mayor hired to tear down the grandstands and the tennis bubble still haven’t been paid; at least one of them has already filed suit against the city. Those legal fees and subsequent judgement will come out of our pockets.

•The 300 Mount Vernon young people that use the Kela Tennis Center were needlessly deprived of that facility for the entire summer. And, at this rate there will be no facility for them next summer as well.

There is no logical explanation for Mayor Thomas’ inability to comply with basic orders and reasonable request to cooperate, especially when the County is willing and able to begin Memorial Field’s renovation. The County is willing to undertake the renovation cost thereby relieving Mount Vernon taxpayers of this burden. And, more importantly the job will be done in a timely fashion. Mayor Thomas is turning away a free gift for Mount Vernon! This makes no sense. Worst of all, the entire fiasco has become another colossal embarrassment for the City and its citizens. And, it distracts our city officials from doing the job of taking care of your needs, Mount Vernon residents.

On June 1st, Mayor Thomas also said, “sometimes you have to break a few eggs.” It appears he broke a lot more than that: like Mount Vernon taxpayers’ bank accounts and spirit. But, Memorial Field will be renovated and returned to the residents of Mount Vernon. But, not because of Mayor Thomas. It will in spite of him.

If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or any other, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.

Almost immediately following any government mishap, there is a well-orchestrated cover-up complete with statements meant to misdirect and confuse the public with rehearsed talking points so all the players can present the same alternative facts. As part of that, people who refuse to tow the line on the official “story” are demoted, suspended, escorted out by police or fired to intimidate them into not talking. This type of activity isn’t just reserved for the national government, but lately it’s also been seen at the local level. Shortly after I reported about the City of Mount Vernon Water Department suspiciously increasing Mount Vernon’s water rates, the cover-up campaign began with newsletters, television interviews, and social media blogs. I would like to address the most common “explanations” offered by the Water Department by providing valid information and solid logic.

Keep in mind the reality as you consider the Water Department’s “explanations” – Mount Vernon’s residents are seeing substantially higher increases in their bills, many of which have doubled and tripled. That’s a fact. The one glaring conclusion to be drawn from the Water Department’s various declarations is that they are definitely collecting more money from Mount Vernon’s residents than is required.

Explanation #1 – New York City is Gouging Mount Vernon. The Water Department’s most recent television interviews along with the most recent memo (published September 29th 2018 by the Mayor in his Weekly Report) states the primary justification for raising the rates from $3.30 to $3.75 per 100 cubic feet (a 13.6% rate hike) is to prepare for an “anticipated” increase in cost from New York City, the source of Mount Vernon’s water supply. There are a couple of problems with this explanation. Firstly, according to the Mount Vernon City Charter section § 49 titled “Water rates”, only the Mount Vernon City Council is authorized to increase water rates. Neither the Water Department nor the Mayor can increase water rates without Council approval and, the City Council most certainly did not increase the water rates. As to their claim that they published “notices” of the increase in local papers, that’s patently irrelevant. They can publish it on the front page of the New York Times if they want. It doesn’t give them any authority to independently raise water rates. If they want to raise water rates, they are obligated to come to the City Council, which they have not done.

Secondly, now the Water Department Superintendent claims that he has “advanced” knowledge that New York City (the source of Mount Vernon’s water) plans to increase its water rate; yet, he has sought to keep this information from the public and the Mount Vernon City Council, to whom he is legally obliged to submit his report. I have formally requested in writing the “anticipated” increased rate directly from New York City and expect to have a definitive answer very quickly. Based on publicly available information, however, the anticipated increase looks to be more like 1.25% – roughly one-tenth the amount of the 13.6% increase the Water Department claim they instituted.

Explanation #2 – Actual Water Consumption Has Exploded. The most audacious claim by the Water Department is that Mount Vernon residents are just using more water. In fact, Mount Vernon rates of usage suggested by the Water Department are more aligned with residents of Las Vegas and Phoenix – two cities located in the desert – than with its surrounding communities, including New York City. The 2017 Water Quality Report issued by the same Water Department tried to claim that the Typical Annual Consumption Rate (TAC) of 164,000 gallons per family of four to be true. Unfortunately, it doesn’t match up with another reality contained in the same report: that the Overall Flow Through City Mains has actually decreased from 2016 to 2017, showing people are using less water in 2017 than they were in 2016.

Are you taking twice as many showers? Watering your lawn twice as much? Washing your car twice as much? Of course not, however, the Water Department claims not only some people are doing that, they’re claiming everyone who lives in Mount Vernon is doing it. And, they know this because they claim they are tracking it better, even if their annual report says otherwise.

Explanation #3 – The Sewer Lawsuit is the Cause. The most preposterous claim is that the lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice to address disrepair of Mount Vernon’s sewer pipes requires a massive increase in water revenue. This is fractured logic because the Water Department is not responsible for the storm water or sewer system; that is under the auspices of the Department of Public Works (DPW). The City Council and Comptroller has already funded a City Engineer, Planning Commissioner, and additional DPW workers to address the sewer system; furthermore, the Water Department is prohibited from raising water rates to funds sewer pipe repairs.

So, what’s really going on here? Maybe this department is just criminally incompetent in a way that it has no explanation for any of its actions or why the rates have gone through the roof. It could be that simple. The other possibility, however, is more serious. Maybe we’re dealing with incompetent criminals, either actively involved or being used as pawns by others while they simply look the other way. If this department is being used as a slush fund, they are engaging in criminal activity either way. In one of my favorite movies, “All the President’s Men”, Bob Woodward was told by Deep Throat to “follow the money” if he wanted to figure out what happened. Eventually, the misconduct led all the way up to people with far more power than the petty burglars that the investigation started with.

At its best, the Water Department’s response to questions about its lack of transparency and accountability demonstrates a violation of public trust. At its worst, this has the making of criminal cover up. Given an opportunity to come clean, the Water Department’s leadership has decided to thwart this investigation with misleading information that would not even fool a first-grader. As mentioned in my press conference, local and state law enforcement officials have been notified. I will persist until all excess funds paid to the Water Department are retuned to Mount Vernon residents.

If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or any other, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.