Mayor Richard Thomas Weekly Report for July 22, 2017
Town Hall
This week, Mayor Thomas held a town hall at Our Lady of Victory school in Mount Vernon. The presentation included a detailed discussion of the changes at Memorial Field, the beginning of our sewer repair projects, park revitalization.
Click here to watch the full Town Hall.
Sewer Trucks Are Here!
This week, Mount Vernon received the delivery of a sewer combination truck. This truck will enable us to begin our sewer repair work right way. The Department of Justice has told the city it is time to scope and repair our aging sewer system.
The sewer truck acquisition represents a significant change in the way Mount Vernon does business. This investment in ourselves will lead to a cleaner Mount Vernon. Investing in this equipment is key to our long-term growth and renewal of our streets. Click here to see Commissioner Joe Nigro with our new truck in action.
Mayors’ Institute on City Design 2017
This week, Mayor Richard Thomas was one of only 8 mayor’s invited to Providence, RI to participate in the 2017 Mayors’ Institute on City Design session. The highly exclusive conference is an intimate work session produced by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Endowment for the Arts. Mayor Thomas’ national promotion of the revitalization of Mount Vernon and the design vision for Memorial Field will be the focus of the session.
Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities. Mayor Thomas will present to the conference his plans and vision for Memorial Field, Canal Village, and Citywide designs. He will also collaborate with some of the greatest urban designers in the country and evaluate interesting new ideas and strategies that will be applied to Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon Entrepreneurship Summer Academy
The Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, in partnership with Westchester Community College — Mount Vernon Extension Center, is continuing to provide summer learning and career training opportunities for young people. This week, eighteen young people ages 15–17 participated in the Entrepreneurship Summer Academy (ESA). The ESA is a 5 ½ week entrepreneurship skills training program which gives participants the chance to engage in career and small business exploration; field trips; guest speakers; basic accounting skills; marketing and presentation skills; positive work ethics and behaviors; and daily business operations.
On July 13th, the ESA participants had their first Entrepreneurial Field Trip to Premier Brands in Mount Vernon, NY where they learned about company branding, marketing, and how to run a successful business. They also visited The Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Bedford, NY on July 18th to further expand their knowledge on how to run a successful business through the 12 principles.
Food Bank of Westchester & MV Pop Up Block Party Volunteers
On Friday, July 14th, nine young people from the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau’s VICTORY and WDAY programs joined a team of volunteers in participating in the for the Food Bank Fresh Market. The volunteers helped to organize and distribute FREE, fresh produce to all Mount Vernon residents who showed up, including many of our senior citizens who appreciated the central location of the Fresh Market.
On Saturday, July 15th, six young people from the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau’s Step Up! and CAPP programs volunteered their time at the city’s Pop-Up Block Party. Volunteers monitored the line and the number of children in the bouncy house at one, playground, and water sport area providing a safe and secure environment. They also assisted the children in jumping rope and hula hooping.
These young people volunteering to mentor fellow Mount Vernon residents is a prime example of why “We are one Mount Vernon family!”
Mount Vernon Continues Our Zombie Tear-Downs
We razed another zombie structure in Mount Vernon this week. Mayor Richard Thomas is dedicated to eradicating these dangerous structures. As they pose a serious public health and safety risk to the people of Mount Vernon. Mayor has said, “enough is enough!.” We know Mount Vernon deserves better!
Thanks to the Department of Justice’s mandate to the city that it is time to clean up, the City Council and Comptroller Maureen Walker have agreed to pay the contractors who do the work of slaying our zombie vampires and support the people’s desire to tear these structures down. Click here to watch a video of the latest demolition.
Pop-Up Block Parties
Mayor Richard Thomas brought back the Mount Vernon Pop-Up Block Parties again this year. Last week we brought the party to Madison (add in full street names) between Franklin and Union. This week the BBQ, bouncy castles and water blasters visit Oakland Ave between Sheridan and Pennsylvania from 1–4 pm. Come join us for a fun day of food, music and games for the kids. For a complete list of upcoming pop-ups visit www.cmvny.com. Click here to see video from last week’s block party.
Summer Breeze Concert Series
This past Thursday, the Summer Breeze concert series moved up Gramatan Avenue to the corner of and Grand Street. Live music headliners included Hip-hop artist JP Reynolds and Indie Rock band Monogold. If you missed this week’s concert, don’t worry, there’s still more to come. All summer long, Summer Breeze will be keeping our Thursday nights cool. So come gather on the plaza outside City Hall and enjoy the summer night breeze, live music, entertainment, and new this year, delicious jerk chicken fresh off the grill. If you missed last week, don’t worry; click here for a video of the concert.
Slide the City is Coming Back to Mount Vernon
Mark your calendars, Mount Vernon, the one and only Slide the City is back in town! This 1,000 foot long “slip-n-side” will be taking over Gramatan Avenue the last weekend in August. Grab your swimsuits and flip-flops and be prepared for summertime right in our backyards. Click here to watch videos of last year’s event. Click here to see highlights from last year’s Slide the City in Mount Vernon.
Fire Prevention Week!
Members of Mount Vernon’s Bravest visited kids at Willson Woods Pool this week to share some tips on fire safety. Sparky the Fire Safety Dog also joined in on the fun. As many people use fans and portable a/c units during the summer, circuits can overloaded leading to an increase in potential fire. It’s always important to practice smart safety tips.
Mount Vernon Green Thumb Challenge
Mayor Richard Thomas and The Mount Vernon Department of Public Works are calling on all gardeners to participate in our 1st Annual Green Thumb Challenge throughout the Summer. As the season approaches, we want to see how you are keeping Mount Vernon beautiful. Send us pictures of your gardens, flowers, trees, and greenery. Submit pictures along with your name and address to MayorThomas@cmvny.com using the subject “Mount Vernon Green Thumb Challenge 2017” or post your pictures to Social Media and tag us at Mayor Thomas’ Facebook Page www.facebook.com/MayorRichardThomas or on Twitter using @MayorRichThomas AND @MVDPW along with the hashtag #MVGreenThumb. Be Sure to Include Your Name with All Pictures!!
Mark Your Calendars: Slide the City 2017 is August 26th-27th. MV Cityfest is set for September 16th.
Listen to us live:
Every week, Mayor Thomas speaks to Yonkers Tribune radio with host Hezi Aris: Catch this week’s interview here for an unvarnished look at what’s happening in Mount Vernon: Mayor Thomas also hosts Mount Vernon Moving Forward every Friday on WVOX, from 5pm to 6pm. You can listen to last week’s show here for an in-depth discussion about the what’s going on in Mount Vernon. On the Internet, tune in to Future 98.9 every Wednesday at 8:30am to listen to Mayor Thomas and Minister P. Tyson. You can find last week’s interview here. On Tuesdays at 8am, you can hear Mayor Thomas on 101.5 Linkage Radio. Catch last week’s discussion here.
STAY CONNECTED:
