…Things Are Heating Up in Mount Vernon—Literally and Politically - Copy
In Other News… Things Are Heating Up in Mount Vernon—Literally and Politically
Mount Vernon, like much of Westchester County, has been under repeated heat advisories over the past week. But unlike other municipalities, where leadership takes proactive steps to ensure resident safety, Mount Vernon continues to manage itself almost entirely through Facebook posts and political theatrics.
We turned to the usual places—CMVNY’s official Facebook page and the Mount Vernon NewsCenter community group—to identify designated cooling centers. Instead, we found more of the same: cronyism, mismanagement, and eyebrow-raising alliances.
The Cooling Center Crony Circuit
One of the cooling centers identified was the Doles Center. The second, however, deserves deeper scrutiny: the Mount Vernon Social Adult Day Care Center. This center is operated by Serapher Conn-Halevi, who wears many hats in this city. She is the appointed Chief Marshal, with a $5,000 per month contract, and also serves as a City Marshal. In yet another role, she is reportedly the Chief Operating Officer—if not the outright owner—of the adult day care center.
This facility offers senior programming during the day but, according to numerous accounts, transforms into a de facto homeless shelter at night. While unconfirmed, the claim is persistent and widespread enough to merit attention. What is confirmed is that Conn-Halevi’s various posts and roles provide her a web of income streams—each tied, in some way, to taxpayer funds or city assets. Her political proximity to Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard appears to grant her carte blanche to operate across city systems without much scrutiny or separation of duties.
Meanwhile, at the Library…
The Mount Vernon Public Library, a long-standing refuge during heatwaves, was unable to meet cooling needs due to a failed HVAC system. The irony? Hope Marable, Library Trustee President, the Mayor’s long-time friend and frequent Facebook poster failed to ensure basic infrastructure maintenance—but was quick to tout a grant secured for repairs that may exceed $400,000... projected for 2026.
A cooling system that can’t cool? A city government that can’t govern.
There are four seasons every year. Strategic, competent leadership prepares for each of them—ideally a year in advance. Instead, Marable and her fellow trustees appear distracted. Rather than addressing basic infrastructure—roofs, stairwells, and ventilation—Marable has been laser-focused on acquiring the childhood home of E.B. White at 101 Summit Avenue.
Let’s be clear: cultural preservation has value. But so does accountability and transparency—two things in short supply during this process.
The E.B. White House Controversy
The Library Board, in January 2025, approved a $1.7 million bond referendum to purchase the E.B. White home. But only two trustees were physically present at the vote, with a third participating remotely. Under New York law, this doesn't constitute a quorum. Resident and taxpayer Axel Ebermann filed an Article 78 proceeding to halt the referendum, calling the vote illegal and the process deeply flawed. The court agreed, and the referendum was halted.
Still, this hasn’t stopped Marable from championing the purchase. Insiders claim the push is less about preserving literary heritage and more about optics—and possibly something more nefarious.
Rumors with Legs: Kickbacks and Property Flips?
Multiple sources have alleged that Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard offered the seller of the E.B. White house between $200K to $500K above asking price—with a quid pro quo arrangement to “kick back” the excess to a third-party entity. We have not confirmed where this kickback was supposed to go, but the allegations are gaining traction, particularly in light of other developments.
Remember the December 2024 arrests of Mount Vernon Building Department employees Charlene Humphreys and Damon Davis? Both were charged with orchestrating deed fraud schemes involving dead signatories, forged documents, and secret property transfers. These are not unrelated stories.
A known property investor in lower Westchester recently contacted The Voice, alleging that friends of the Mayor are buying properties without public listings. Designed to strategically keep the mayor's name directly involved. This would effectively eliminate the open market and direct city assets to a select few, likely going to the mayor's generous political donors.
If true, this could explain the Mayor’s obsessive inquiries to the Comptroller’s Office regarding the status of city-owned properties. Is Mount Vernon’s real estate being quietly funneled to a select circle of investors and friends?
What You Can—and Should—Do
Under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), residents can demand transparency. Request a full list of all city-owned properties sold or transferred over the past 26 months. You have that right. Use it.
Once the list is in hand, start connecting the dots: Who bought what? Was it publicly listed? Is there a pattern?
City Hall has 30 days to respond. If they miss that deadline, they’re in violation of state law.
In Conclusion
The Voice of Mount Vernon typically prioritizes fact over rumor. But as we’ve seen time and again in this city, the whispers in the dark often precede the headlines. It was whispered that deeds were being forged—now it’s on the record. It’s whispered that kickbacks are happening—we’ll see what the paper trail reveals.
Mount Vernon deserves a government that doesn’t need to be investigated to be trusted. Until then, we will keep watching—and writing.
LINKS FOR YOUR REVIEW
https://www.scribd.com/
https://dailyvoice.com/new-
https://blackwestchester.com/
https://law.justia.com/cases/
https://blackwestchester.com/
https://www.scribd.com/
https://westchester.news12.
https://www.scribd.com/