Fighting Through Obstruction
Dear Mount Vernon Friends and Family -
When I took office in January of 2016, I pledged to make Public Safety my number one priority. We all know our Mount Vernon Police Department is in dire need of further resources, from new equipment to modernized fleet vehicles to funding for a Police Commissioner. Unfortunately, it seems the City Comptroller has once again obstructed needed improvements to public safety.
Recent news reports that my office withheld payment from the School District are ridiculous. Our quality control process regarding checks has been clear for months. We review all checks sent to our office and evaluate them to ensure taxpayer monies are spent in a clear and accountable manner.
In the world of PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo, direct deposit, electronic transfer of funds, the fact that a modern city is trapped in medieval tactics, using paper checks, is absurd.
Don’t be fooled by politics and news stories that fail to ask the real question: “Why didn’t Comptroller Walker transfer money electronically to the schools like she eventually did to our fuel vendor after she deliberately withheld payment for gas during the March 2017 snow storm?” The question to ask is why isn’t the Department of Finance using a modern electronic system where payments can be easily made and traced?
It is sad that Mount Vernon taxpayers have had to, once again, resort to the judicial system to ensure that basic government functions are carried out. It is even more sad that it is our men and women in law enforcement who are bearing the brunt of this. It’s also sad that our children and educators had to suffer.
Despite the obstruction, my invitation to sit down and discuss ways to move forward still stands. There are many challenges that we must overcome for the benefit of the city and this issue with a police vehicle is a sad distraction from higher priorities. My door is always open when it comes to discussing ways we can serve the people of Mount Vernon.
Respectfully
Mayor Richard Thomas
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