Earlier today, the Stipulation Agreement involving the Bronxville Field House was removed from the Planning Board agenda. The sudden reversal was not an accident. It was the direct result of Mount Vernon residents flooding inboxes, phones, and board members with over 100 messages in less than 48 hours, demanding accountability, transparency, and the removal of the Planning Board Chairperson. Let’s be clear: Advocacy works. Loud, persistent, fact-based advocacy makes change possible.
Proof That Public Pressure WorksResidents have noticed a shift:- Planning Board and Board of Estimate meetings have grown longer, with proper roll calls, more detailed explanations, and noticeably more caution from officials.
- The mass emails—many of them informed by The Voice—directly influenced the removal of the stipulation agreement from consideration.
- Leadership is paying attention, and that alone is evidence that organized civic pressure is effective.
But we are not done.
It’s Time for Broader ActionIf you are tired of:- Being over-taxed
- Being underserved
- Watching Mount Vernon sink deeper into financial chaos
- Watching elected officials protect themselves instead of the public
…then now is the moment to expand our pressure campaign to state and national leaders
.What State and National Leaders Need to HearBelow are verified, ongoing failures under Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Darren Morton, and members of the City Council:
1. Alleged Violation of Law by the MayorMultiple residents raised concerns after accused and jailed child sexual abuser Dwayne Murray publicly posted that Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard informed him he was under investigation—a serious breach of professional and ethical boundaries.
2. Taxes Up Nearly 50%, NYS Property Tax Cap BrokenUnder the current administration:- Property taxes have increased close to 50%
- The City Council voted with the Mayor to break the NYS property tax cap
- Residents are paying more while services deteriorate
3. Comptroller Darren Morton’s Financial Failures- Responsible for over $400,000 in preventable financial losses
- Unable to implement a functional austerity plan
- Has repeatedly approved travel for the Mayor—all on the taxpayers’ dollar
- Has repeatedly borrowed from tax coffers through TANs (Tax Anticipation Notes), signaling chronic financial mismanagement
- 4. No Credit Rating + Over $300 Million in Debt
Mount Vernon:- Has no credit rating
- Is over $300 million in debt
- Has no long-term fiscal recovery plan
- Cannot access affordable borrowing options due to years of incompetence and failure to follow state recommendations
If You Want Change, Use Your VoiceBelow is a FULL contact list for government leaders, oversight agencies, and organizations that monitor municipal performance nationwide.Write them. Email them. Copy your neighbors. Forward this article.Mount Vernon collapses only if we stay silent.CONTACT LIST FOR LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN
FEDERAL & NATIONAL OVERSIGHTU.S. Conference of Mayors (National Council of Mayors)info@usmayors.orgBloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative (Trains Mayors Nationwide)cityleadership@hks.harvard.edu
NEW YORK STATE LEADERSHIPGovernor of New York – Kathy HochulEmail: governorhochul@exec.ny.govWeb form: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
Lieutenant Governor of NY – Antonio DelgadoEmail: ltgovernor@exec.ny.gov
NYS Attorney General – Letitia JamesEmail: public.integrity@ag.ny.gov
NYS Senate Majority Leader – Andrea Stewart-CousinsEmail: asc@nyssenate.gov
NYS Assembly Member – Tyrae Woodson-SamuelsEmail: woodsonsamuelt@nyassembly.gov
NYS Assembly Member – Gary PretlowEmail: pretlowg@nyassembly.gov
REGIONAL LEADERSHIP (NY/NJ/CT)Because the embarrassment would be too much to bear
Governor of New Jersey – Phil MurphyEmail: constituent.relations@nj.gov
Governor of Connecticut – Ned LamontEmail: governor.lamont@ct.gov
GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONSNew York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM)Email: info@nycom.org
WHAT TO WRITE ABOUTTell these officials that Mount Vernon demonstrates:- Chronic financial instability
- Inaccurate, late, and incomplete financial reporting
- Broken procurement oversight
- A lack of credit rating
- No austerity plan or fiscal recovery path
- A mayor and comptroller who approve travel while residents shoulder tax increases
- An environment where appointees with conflicts of interest shape policy
- Tell them the residents have had enough.Tell them Mount Vernon deserves competent leadership, ethical governance, and basic financial stewardship.
FINAL WORDThe removal of the Bronxville Field House stipulation is your victory. It happened because ordinary people refused to back down.Imagine what else can change if we stay organized.Keep writing.Keep speaking.Keep watching.When people come together, change begins—and power shifts back to the people.
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