Mount Vernon State of the City 2018
As I travel from event to event in our community, residents ask me what it is like to be a Mayor of Mount Vernon, and do I like the job? Without hesitation, I tell them how rewarding it is to be part of a movement to make our city a model for the state and even our country.
One of the most important — and fun — parts of my job is that once a year I give a report to the residents of Mount Vernon on the status of their city — what’s working and what needs improvement.
It is called the annual State of the City Address and you’re invited. It will be held on Thursday, March 15. It starts at 7 p.m. and there will be refreshments.
On the plus side, we will discuss how:
· Crime is down 32 percent since 2011
· Memorial Field is set to re-open this summer
· Work is underway to clean up the DPW yard and open 241 acres of parkland alongside the Hutchinson River.
· Single family home prices are up 7 percent this year and sellers are receiving 95 percent of their asking price.
We will also talk about the steps being taken to make our city more responsive to its residents. In January, we hired 15 new police officers. But other departments need to catch up. And its not just about spending more. In some cases, woeful underfunding is actually costing taxpayers money. For example, a lack of inspectors in the Building Department not only put safety at risk, it also caused revenues to drop dramatically because fee-generating permits could not be processed in a timely manner.
The State of the City address will lay out my proposals to our new Comptroller and City Council on how we can work together to ensure that all of our departments have financial foundations under them that are sensitive to the needs of our taxpayers, but also realistic enough to provide the services required by a modern city.
Another topic will be the city’s cable television contract. A lot of people ask me, but especially our seniors, “When are we going to get a cable television contract?” My hope is soon, because finalizing the contract will mean $1 million dollars a year in revenue for the city, better service and lower rates, especially for seniors. The contract is now with the City Council. My office, starting with me, is ready to help in any way to finalize passage as quickly as possible.
There is always a lot of work to do. But, I’m optimistic about the future of our city. I hope you can join me at our State of the City address, so I can tell you why. Together, we can move Mount Vernon forward.
