The Big Reveal!!

On April 2, I won an important victory for the people of Mount Vernon that will lift a veil obscuring the City’s finances.

The victory was a decision by the State Supreme Court Justice Susan Cacace, who issued a nine-page decision in favor of my efforts to bring transparency to how the City spends its money, particularly when it comes to paying our bills.

A TWO-YEAR BATTLE

My struggle and wait for the truth about Mount Vernon’s finances began in 2017 when former Comptroller Maureen Walker was in office. I wanted to see ALL the City’s financial records, but then-Comptroller Walker refused to grant me or my staff access to some of the most basic banking records in the 21st century, the online accounts.

Former Comptroller Walker maintained that the City’s rules didn’t allow me to look at online records, and it took two years for a court to tell her and current Comptroller Deborah Reynolds that they are wrong.

ACCESS IS THE LAW

“This court finds that the (creators) of the City Charter clearly expressed their intention…to vest authority in the Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon to himself examine, or to designate other competent individuals to examine the books and records of all departments of the City, including the Comptroller’s Office, the Finance Department and any bank account owned by the city as often as he wishes to do so, and without first being required to provide notice to the Comptroller’s Office,” Cacace wrote in her decision.

To put the court’s decision in the simplest terms: you can’t drive a car blindfolded. I was essentially steering the City without having a clear view through the windshield or the rear-view mirror.

CAUSE & EFFECT

This limited financial view brought the city into embarrassing situations like the recent disruption in garbage collection, or — more frighteningly — a City garbage truck’s crash into a home because its aged gears failed.

Our victory in court comes after the higher powers and elected officials abandoned us. Earlier this year, representatives from the New York State Comptroller Office suddenly left City Hall as they were beginning an audit. When I appealed to state officials to return the auditors so they can uncover malfeasance by Comptroller Reynolds or our flawed Board of Ethics, there was no response.

THE QUESTION

Will Comptroller Reynolds abide by the ruling in favor of the People? And if she disobeys a court order to give my administration access to bank records, will the City Council finally hold Reynolds accountable?

So far, the City Council has let Comptroller Reynolds slide. She hasn’t even been required to purchase the proper insurance in case she is sued, which leaves the City on the hook for any judgments or lawsuits against her.

WHAT THE RULING MEANS

The court’s decision doesn’t mean that I now control the City’s finances or that I can pay bills or issue checks at will. Comptroller Reynolds still holds that power and she must perform her duties, not hide behind a shroud of financial secrecy.

I hope that unobstructed access to the City’s financial records will allow me to see the real deal. Where are we? If the City’s bills aren’t paid, I’ll know for sure whether there is or isn’t money to pay them.

THANK YOU!

I’m grateful to Justice Cacace for helping us to shine a light. We are steering the city for greatness, and with this court order, the road to greatness has now become a little clearer.