Problems + Solutions = Resolution

Perception and reality are not always the same thing.

Given Mount Vernon’s perpetually noisy political climate, it could easily be assumed that little work is getting done on behalf of the people.

But the facts tell a different story. In the first six months of the year, 78 percent of the legislation sent by me to the City Council passed. Passage is even higher — 85 percent — for the Board of Estimate, which includes the Comptroller, as well as the Council President.

Dig a little deeper and the tally shows only 3 percent of my initiatives were voted down by the City Council. The rejection rate for the Board of Estimate was just 1 percent.

Rounding out the tally were votes on items that were either held for future consideration or received affirmative support, but not enough to pass. So, any fair look at the numbers shows the branches of government can and do work together. Here’s just one example.

In early June, Fire Commissioner Teddy Beale identified a shortfall in his budget for repairs and maintenance of the department’s aging fleet. Commissioner Beale brought the problem to my attention. Our solution — transfer $50,000 from a surplus budget line — was then presented to the Council and Comptroller. By mid-July, the Council and Board of Estimate had both passed resolutions and the money was available to fix the trucks and keep the City safe.

Government working for the people. Problem + Solution = Resolution.

While the numbers are overwhelmingly positive, some issues stubbornly defy resolution, or at least take longer than they should to resolve. Here the best example is our inability to fund the positions of Planning Commissioner and City Engineer.

A city of Mount Vernon’s size, complexity and potential simply cannot operate with a budget that allocates no money — as in zero dollars — to pay for a Planning Commissioner and City Engineer. The jobs are too important. One sets the future. The other ensures it’s built safely.

As for why multiple attempts to fund these critical positions have failed, there are plenty of excuses. There’s even a court case. But, there are no good reasons.

Circumstances, however, are aligning for change. The crisis precipitated by our crumbling sewers and the resulting legal sanctions requiring Mount Vernon to stop “illicit discharges” into the Bronx and Hutchinson Rivers have concentrated urgent focus on the necessity of having a Planning Commissioner and City Engineer.

Mount Vernon already has two highly qualified people in place: Chantelle Okarter, as Planning Commissioner, and Curtis Woods, as City Engineer. But we need to pay them.

Talks are under way to find a solution. The political logjam, hopefully, will give way to the best interests of the City, which include being able to tell the court that Mount Vernon can work cooperatively with the Environmental Protection Agency to fix our sewers and protect our water. If it takes a crisis to overcome resistance, so be it. Most important is that we keep working the formula until it reads Problem + Solution = Resolution.