To Grow Mount Vernon Must Invest in Itself

We are encouraged to learn about our sister city New Rochelle’s winning bid for a $10 million grant from the state. There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly competition between our cities and, what’s good for New Rochelle’s economy, is often good for Mount Vernon’s.

Of course, as the gateway city of Westchester County, we were disappointed that Mount Vernon wasn’t picked. So why New Rochelle instead of Mount Vernon?

Grants, developers, investors: the common thread is return on investment dollar. This most recent grant called the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, is all about taking existing city resources and leveraging them into an economic boom. New Rochelle’s success showed the grants go to those who are first willing to invest in themselves.

The potentially good news for Mount Vernon is that there is still more time. My proposed 2019 budget contains two specific ways for Mount Vernon to get in the game:

• a $5 million capital plan that invests in long-term needs like fixing our roads and sewers and modernizing equipment and computers to improve the delivery of services, and
• a $500,000 fund specifically designated to ensure the city has the financial and professional resources to seek and win state, federal and private grants that can pay for city services and turbocharge the local economy.

In the weeks ahead, my administration will be working closely with the City Council to approve a budget that not only addresses our immediate needs but also provides the framework for future savings, efficiencies, and growth.

Budgets are always tight in Mount Vernon. Nothing wrong with that. This money belongs to the people. But, the city can’t afford to be penny wise and pound foolish. There is no good reason for the city not to aggressively pursue grants that not only match the city’s commitments — but in most cases return multiples.

For example, for a net cost of $122,000, Mount Vernon qualifies for a $1.6 million sewer grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. But the city must have its money and people in place before the state grant comes through.

Funders want a city that is focused on progress, not politics. They are looking to see projects that attract millennials and young people and accommodate creative mixed-use development. They also want a role to partner in the city’s future.

New Rochelle was successful in part because it has an ongoing capital plan that provides the foundation for growth. Its winning application spoke to a vision for “ultra-high-speed public access” and an ability to attract young professionals to a technologically-immersed town.

There is nothing stopping Mount Vernon from doing the same and building on our unique advantages like three stops on Metro-North and walking distance to the New York City Subway. We simply need a united and serious commitment to our future. Passage of a 2019 budget with a capital plan and seed money for grants is how we get started.

God and New York State help those that help themselves. It’s time for Mount Vernon to raise itself up.

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