Mayor Richard Thomas Delivers State of the City Address

Here are the key take-away’s:

Crime is way down. Our police officers responded to 12-hundred plus criminal incidents during 2012-but that’s dropped to just 708 in the year that just ended. That’s down 42 percent! We still have challenges ahead, but Mt. Vernon is safer than it’s been in quite a while. The men and women of the MVPD are serving us well.

Our fire department is now more fully staffed. Not too long ago we had 16 firefighters per shift FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, we now have 26 per shift Right now. Once shamefully dependent on mutual aid from our neighbors because of anemic budgets and poor management, Mount Vernon Fire Department can now offer help when our neighbors require, and in turn expect it when things get busy here. We are carrying our own weight, we are training our own cadets and are safer because of the bravest — Mount Vernon’s Fire fighters.

We are beginning to erase the artificial barrier that divides our city and limits freedom of movement. The blocked 14th Avenue bridge will be re-opened soon to traffic for the first time in 11 years! It is one of 5 MTA bridges that were allowed to fall into disrepair, one of three that were closed to traffic. Our efforts have prompted the MTA to increase maintenance funding for these bridges six-fold, from a mere $10million dollars to 60-million. In the past the MTA spent its money elsewhere along the line to wealthier communities on the assumption Mount Vernon didn’t care. Now they know differently.

Mount Vernon is about to become a smarter city. HollyWall Development Company will invest $82 Million to build a new fiber optic network to every fiber of Mount Vernon. This is the largest private investment into Mount Vernon’s digital history. Similar to Empire City Subway, Mount Vernon will co-own the new conduit infrastructure delivering 5G internet services that will bridge the digital divide with Free Public Wi-Fi, support education, strengthen business, and generate millions in new revenue from long-term lease agreements with tech companies. Additionally, our Police Department will get new Motorola Radios and a comprehensive suite of smart city technology systems to better secure our businesses and families.

Mount Vernon is brighter. Literally — OUR Streetlights are on! The replacement of the City’s nearly 4,500 streetlamps is virtually complete. The upgrade was done in partnership with the New York Power Authority and will save Mount Vernon taxpayers an annual $776,000 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,500 tons a year-the equivalent of taking 530 cars off the road.

The Mount Vernon Youth Bureau employed 138 Mount Vernon residents between the ages of 18–24 this past year using federal funds. Youth were placed at not-for-profit agencies, government offices and private sector companies. Industries included but were not limited to healthcare, childcare, warehouse, education and training, arts and recreational services, media and telecommunications, and administrative and support services. Each youth earned at least $600.00 per week.

105 youth enrolled in the Mount Vernon Youth STEAM program held through the Safe Have After-School program.

The Police Civilian Academy which graduated over 238 (and 22 are on the way) and the Youth Police Academy which served 117. This is a trust builder on both sides of the badge.

Partnership with Feeding Westchester and the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon is now serving 75 families on top of the 350 Families that we serve at the Fresh Market. This totals 425 families and over 1.2million pounds of fresh produce distributed in Mount Vernon… cutting hunger by 30%.

Since 2016, the Department of Buildings… has issued 5,172 permits representing an estimated $435 million new investments into Mount Vernon. Trulia.com confirms that property values increased by 24% and this is quite a boom for a city that last added a parking space in 1987!

Recently, we worked with Senators Biaggi and Bailey on going after 44 bank owned zombie properties. Can you believe that the banks owe Mount Vernon $4 million in penalties? We anticipate taking ownership of these 44 sites and my proposal tonight is to work with the Council and Comptroller to set these locations aside for ordinary, middle class, hard working people.