Court Warns Mount Vernon City Council About Memorial Field Funding
For Immediate Release
Feb. 15, 2019
Contact: Lou Migliore, 914–384–5660
Court warns Mount Vernon City Council about Memorial Field funding
Today, Friday, February 15, 2019, Judge Gerald Loehr warned the Mount Vernon City Council about failing to fund the restoration of Memorial Field.
“It is the court’s recommendation that the budget not be enacted unless or until it includes dollars set aside for the Memorial Field project which includes some funding identified for remediation, at least some significant number will be necessary,” Judge Loehr said. “Because to pass a budget without that is stating to the citizens that their access to the facility is being delayed, if not prevented.”
This morning the Mount Vernon City Council defied Judge Loehr’s warning and approved a budget with no significant funding for Memorial Field.
Mayor Thomas said, “We are getting closer to the City Council providing and Comptroller releasing the monies needed to fix Memorial Field! I am grateful that Judge Loehr recognizes the crisis the City Council and Comptroller created over the years by repeatedly denying adequate staffing and funding for my administration. This lawsuit was filed by the City Council to stop me from cleaning up and fixing Memorial Field. Can you imagine voting against a quality of life issue for our citizens? Everyday Truth and facts keep revealing the City Council’s hidden agenda to keep Mount Vernon down and distracted from the real priorities of the people. Thank you Judge Loehr for calling the City Council and Comptroller out on short changing the people. I am appreciative of Legislator Lyndon Williams who continues to advocate for the restoration of our beloved Park. We look forward to gathering with him and County Executive George Latimer’s team to go over the big business vision for Memorial Field to compete with the Barclays Center, reducing property tax burdens, while increasing new family memories. Despite the challenges MOUNT VERNON will continue to RISE!”
Below is a letter address to Legislator Williams on Wednesday:
February 13, 2019
Honorable Lyndon William
Westchester County Board of Legislators
800 Michaelian Office Building
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor
White Plains, New York 10601
Dear Legislator Williams,
I was encouraged and disappointed by your call to action tonight regarding Memorial Field and funding for its overdue clean-up.
You are correct that the Reynolds/Wallace proposed 2019 budget adopted by the Board of Estimate and Contract contains no funding for the Memorial Field clean-up.
However, I object to being included in the collective blame for not funding the clean-up.
I not only opposed approving the Reynolds/Wallace budget, I vetoed their illegal budget. It did not contain funding for Memorial Field or for the repairs of our faltering sewers that are the subject of a binding agreement with the federal government, among other issues.
For the record, here is a short list of the steps I’ve taken in my under-the-tax-cap budget:
· My budget included an estimated $430,000 for bond principal and interest payments in 2019 on a proposed $5 million capital plan that included borrowing for parks and infrastructure, particularly Memorial Field. The Reynolds/Wallace budget does not include a line for any responsible borrowing.
· My budget included $500,000 for grant matching amounts. The Reynolds/Wallace budget does not include any amount for grant matching. These matching funds would have allowed the city to draw down upon grants for many programs, one of which is Memorial Field.
In addition to these budgetary measures, I’m also seeking corporate sponsorship that would finance the redevelopment of Memorial Field at no cost to the taxpayers. To date we have held discussions with Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Mark Messier and Loida Lewis-widow of the 1st black billionaire deal-maker. In fact, one corporate investor indicated that they are ready to invest $120 million in a domed stadium at Memorial Field to rival Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
I hope you will understand that I’m trying to bring solutions to the table-those solutions include redeveloping Memorial Field and developing a ferry terminal two blocks away. That ferry will connect Mount Vernon to City Island, LaGuardia Airport and New York City. This will expand our commercial tax base to reduce the property tax burden and create jobs by delivering visitors and tourists without adding to road congestion.
I have another commitment tonight, so I can’t attend the budget meeting. Nonetheless, I support you and all those who advocate for funding the city’s real priorities, especially bringing Memorial Field back to life.
Perhaps we can meet and discuss this and many other important issues to benefit the people of Mount Vernon in the next five days?
For more information please visit http://cmvny.com/2019budget/.
Regards,
Mayor Richard Thomas
