A troubling email exchange between Mount Vernon Chief of Staff Malcolm Clark and a city resident has reignited debate over the administration’s tone and transparency — particularly as the City Council prepares to hold a public hearing on the city’s controversial Comprehensive Plan, which some residents are calling an “attack on single-family neighborhoods.”
A Disrespectful Response from the Chief of Staff
The controversy began when a resident emailed the City Clerk’s office to request missing materials that, by law, must be publicly posted before City Council meetings. Clark, who was only copied on the email, took it upon himself to respond with what many describe as an arrogant and dismissive rant.
In his reply, Clark accused the resident of hypocrisy, belittled their inquiry, and conflated two unrelated city processes — the Comprehensive Plan and the City Charter Review — exposing a serious misunderstanding of Mount Vernon’s own procedures.
“It would’ve taken you about 10 seconds to note it was online,” Clark wrote, chastising the resident while overlooking the legal requirement that all documents be posted on the city’s Granicus Legistar portal prior to public hearings.
The resident’s composed but firm response questioned why the Chief of Staff — not the City Clerk — was interfering in a matter outside his jurisdiction. They also corrected his misstatements, noting that several critical documents were not properly posted as required. The resident concluded pointedly:“Perhaps the planning department can give you a lesson.” Community Frustration Reaches Boiling PointThis exchange underscores what many see as a pattern of arrogance within City Hall, where residents who ask legitimate questions are met with hostility rather than respect. It also comes at a time when public trust in the city’s leadership is fragile — and the Comprehensive Plan itself is stirring widespread concern.
Residents Mobilize Against the “Comprehensive Plan”
With the public hearing set for Tuesday, October 14 at 6:00 PM in City Hall, residents are uniting against what they believe is a developer-driven agenda disguised as “modernization.”
According to a community flyer circulated ahead of the meeting, the new plan would eliminate single-family zoningacross Mount Vernon — a move that critics say would fundamentally alter the character, space, and safety of longtime neighborhoods.
The flyer warns:“Don’t be fooled by the nice language about ‘modernizing’ or ‘increasing housing options.’ This plan sells out our neighborhoods to developers — paving over the character, space, and safety that make Mount Vernon home.” It calls on residents to “pack the room and send a message loud and clear: HANDS OFF OUR SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.”
Those unable to attend are urged to email their comments directly to City Clerk Nicole Bonilla and Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard to ensure their concerns are entered into the public record.
A Letter from the CommunityIn a letter dated October 8, 2025, Mount Vernon resident Gabriel Thompson voiced strong opposition to the plan, calling it “a stealth attempt to wipe out single-family neighborhoods and hand the city over to developers looking to profit off our stability and our history.”Thompson writes:“Let’s be honest — this plan doesn’t ‘modernize’ zoning; it bulldozes it. By pushing ‘missing middle’ housing and ‘flexible’ lot sizes, you’re setting the stage for multi-unit buildings jammed onto single-family blocks, destroying the quiet character that makes our neighborhoods livable — for Black, Latino, Asian, Indian, and working-class families alike.” He argues that the so-called Envision Mount Vernon Comprehensive Plan would erase pathways to homeownership and generational wealth, disproportionately harming the city’s diverse, working-class residents who have sustained Mount Vernon for generations.
What’s at Stake
The 475-page plan — available on the city’s website — promotes density and affordability, but critics say it prioritizes developers’ interests over Mount Vernon’s fiscal health and homeowners’ rights.
As the city prepares for the public hearing, tensions are mounting between residents demanding accountability and an administration accused of silencing dissent.Whether the Comprehensive Plan represents progress or betrayal may depend on who shows up — and whether City Hall is finally ready to listen.
|
|
