COMPTROLLER REYNOLDS SETS UP MOUNT VERNON TO LOSE MILLIONS
PRESS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019
CONTACT: CHARLES KNAPP | PHONE: 917–291–0436
COMPTROLLER REYNOLDS SETS UP MOUNT VERNON TO LOSE MILLIONS
Planning Commissioner, Budget & Technology Commissioner, Mayor Thomas URGED IMMEDIATE ACTION to Correct Previous Administrations’ Mismanagement to Protect the People of Mount Vernon
Inspector General Issues TRUTH AND FACT Report on Steps that Mount Vernon Must Take to Get Moody’s Credit Rating Back
(TODAY, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019 | MOUNT VERNON, NY) — If you want to know the truth about what is really going on in Mount Vernon, if you want to know the facts, and if you want to know the who, what, when and how — COMPTROLLER REYNOLDS IS SETTING UP MOUNT VERNON TO LOSE MILLIONS, then watch the City of Mount Vernon’s press conference where the Inspector General, Commissioners, and the Mayor lay out the facts on how the Comptroller and City Council has done nothing and continues to do nothing about it! In the meantime, harm has been done to our beloved city and Mayor Thomas is fighting to protect the people from further risk.
You can also view this truth and fact press conference online here or by copying the following link into a web browser at <<https://www.facebook.com/MayorRichardThomas/videos/418693308672788/>>. For follow up information please contact Mount Vernon Inspector General Charles Knapp at 917–291–0436.
Following Moody’s Investor Service’s decision on January 2, 2019, to withdraw the credit rating of the City of Mount Vernon, Mayor Richard Thomas continues to take definitive action to protect Mount Vernon. Mayor Thomas said, “PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND PUT PEOPLE FIRST!” He urged the City Council and Comptroller to work together for the people and follow the Federal Judge’s order “to get on board with the Mayor’s plan” to fix what’s broken and move Mount Vernon forward, together.
Management Services Commissioner Brett Erasmus, who is responsible for the city’s purchasing and technology needs, said, “Clearly, Mayor Thomas has done everything he can, and he continues to do all he can for the people of Mount Vernon. It is hard watching blatant lies and inaccuracies, when his administration works so hard and follows the process.” He added that there is little more the administration can do to convince the City Council and Comptroller to do their jobs. “The real situation is Mayor Thomas has done all he could do for the people and will continue to do all he can do for the people. All that we ask is that you read the facts, know the facts, and speak facts with us. The documents answer all your questions. Protect us, protect our Mayor, and help us to help the people of Mount Vernon,” he concluded.
Planning Commissioner Chantelle Okarter gave an impassioned account of the years of obstruction by the City Council and Comptroller. “The administration has been met with denials and No’s! from the City Council and Comptroller, making it impossible to operate,” she said and then outlined the federal rules and regulations.
“The fact is Mount Vernon has an agreement with HUD to receive federal grant dollars. Federal dollars should be used to help the people. Those monies should go to programs, not to patronage jobs for the prior administration. Now that we are trying to fix the longstanding compliance issues, we are being hit with NO’s! from the City Council and the Comptroller,” she said and then continued by calling on the elected officials to come back to the table to finish and pass the budget for FY 2019. “Don’t just come here and show up to say I showed up. Serve the people. Do the people’s business,” she said.
Next, Inspector General Charles Knapp provided an overview of his preliminary report on how the City of Mount Vernon lost its credit rating with Moody’s and outlined the steps it must take to avoid this from happening again. “I am not interested in the politics, I am interested in cooperative good government,” said Knapp. “The people of Mount Vernon deserve nothing less from all of their elected officials.” He went on to explain that in 2016 the Mayor was prepared to assist the New York Attorney General in fighting corruption and instead former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman used a criminal referral from the New York State Comptroller’s Office to target the Mayor for blowing the whistle. As a result, Mount Vernon taxpayers remain on the hook for millions in undocumented loans made by the previous administration and other federal issues.
To read the Inspector General’s report click here or copy and paste the following link into a web browser:
LINK:http://cmvny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SKM_22719012916340.pdf
The following key documents were released in a PowerPoint presentation to the public so the facts can get to the people. The presentation is available here and the main documents:
1. GRANTEE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MOUNT VERNON AND U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
a. Truth and fact is that the City of Mount Vernon is responsible for the costs of the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency.
b. Direct Link to Grantee Agreement between CMVNY and HUD
2. FEDERAL LAWS GOVERN FEDERAL GRANT $$$DOLLARS
a. The rules are clear that the City of Mount Vernon must follow the federal rules for using federal tax dollars.
b. Direct link to federal rules governing federal grant dollars.
3. MAYOR THOMAS’ LEGAL VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE AGAINST COMPTROLLER REYNOLDS:
a. On Thursday, January 24, 2019, a State Supreme Court Judge ordered Comptroller Reynolds to pay the bills that are outstanding! A major victory by the Mayor for the people. The first wave of payments amounts to $700,000. Now seniors should get toilet paper and heat at senior centers and the gas to run the trucks for police, fire and public works will not be cut off.
b. Direct link to September 2018 Court filing against Comptroller Reynolds and the signed Court Order directing Reynolds to pay the outstanding bills.
4. TRUTH AND FACT REPORT FROM NATIONALLY RESPECTED CONSULTANTS TO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ISSUED TO THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON ON ITS URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY OBLIGATIONS
a. A truth and fact report from nationally respected consultants to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, named TDA Consultants, outlines that obligations of the City of Mount Vernon for receiving and distributing federal grant dollars.
5. PINOCCHIO — MORE LIES FROM COMPTROLLER REYNOLDS
a. An email from Comptroller Reynolds to HUD, which states that her “only” responsibility is to be a pass through for federal tax dollars, is not true.
b. Direct link to email exchange between Comptroller Reynolds and HUD.
6. COMPTROLLER REYNOLDS SETS UP MOUNT VERNON TO LOSE $$$$MILLIONS
a. A monitoring letter from HUD that states that Mount Vernon is at risk of losing millions in federal grant dollars because Comptroller Reynolds is not doing her job by withholding money designated for the URA.
7. MAYOR THOMAS TELLS TRUTH & FACT ON URA AUDIT — DEMANDS CITY COUNCIL FUND THE URA AUDIT AND THE COMPTROLLER DO HER JOB
a. Mayor Thomas’ “Four Page Letter” urging the City Council to act on funding the URA audit as they agreed to; yet they are still denying funding for four years running. This led to Moody’s withdrawing its credit rating of the City of Mount Vernon.
b. Direct link to the “Four Page Letter” from Mayor Thomas telling the truth and facts about the City Council and Comptroller actively blocking funding for the URA 2016 and 2017 audits, causing the current financial mess resulting in Moody’s withdrawing its credit rating to the City.
8. TRUTH AND FACT REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ON STEPS THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON MUST TAKE TO GET BACK ITS MOODY’S RATING
a. Inspector General Report speaks for itself. Here are the key points:
b. Clearly, shenanigans had been going on for a long time before Mayor Thomas took office.
c. Clearly, Mayor Thomas discovered it, became a whistle-blower and now they are penalizing him for revealing the corruption.
d. Clearly, all the back and forth, all the lies, all the falsehoods, all the misrepresentations are a direct result of Mayor Thomas bringing corruption issues into the light.
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