Black Westchester Magazine / Councilman André Wallace Snow Alert
Mount Vernon – Mark Alexander of the Alexander Group who are the developers of the 42 Broad Street project, in an effort to serve the community has opened the Fleetwood Garage to the public to park their cars free of charge during the upcoming snow storm.
“The Fleetwood Parking garage is open and free to the public during the snow emergency event, with preference given to existing Parking Permit holders,” Alexander tells BW. “The garage has security and all floors will be plowed, including the roof deck to enable it to fill to capacity.”
Winter Storm Jonas is forecast to develop into a major snowstorm Friday through the weekend, potentially blanketing a broad swath of the East Coast in snow, including parts of Southern Westchester, New York City, Long Island, New York state and Connecticut.
While some of the previous storm alerts warnings did not produce the accumulation predicted, Winter Storm Jonas is the first storm of the season, after a unseasonally warm December. This storm will also be the first test of the Thomas Administration, which has residents curious to see how his administration will handle the current upcoming storm, after being very critical of the Davis Administration’s handling of last winter back to back snow storms.
Alexander recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 42 Broad Street project which will produce 249 unit building, that has been hotly contested by some Fleetwood residents who started the organization the Fleetwood Citizen’s Society to fight the new development. Alexander in an effort to show he supports of the community, opens the garage to those in the area including those who were against the building of the project.
The Lower Hudson Valley remains under a winter storm watch as a nor’easter heads toward the region this weekend, snowfall projections fluctuate, 2-10 inches of snow this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Mayor Thomas Holds Emergency Storm Meeting
In preparation of the first winter snow storm of the Thomas Administration, Mayor Thomas holds an emergency storm meeting. In the meeting the Mount Vernon School District has agreed to partner with the City of Mount Vernon to clean the streets in unison. Together, they will help clear major roads and side streets. The Thomas Administration, strongly advises the residents of Mount Vernon to do the following to ensure efficiency:
- Calling 211 for Non-life threatening complaints and 911 for emergency services.
- Parking as close to the curb as possible to allow snow plows a space to clear the streets.
- Clearing your sidewalks within ten hours of LAST snowfall; Summonses will be given if they are not.
- Removing your car from school parking lots before nightfall on Sunday; Cars that remain overnight will be towed.
Mount Vernon will have the Armory, Benjamin Turner School, Doles Center and Montefiore as warming center sites and shelters for those who must escape the weather.
The Thomas Administration faces its first real test of the winter. The same time last year, Winter Storm Juno, an “all-out blizzard” dropped more than a foot of snow falling in the area. The Davis Administration received heavy criticism for the city’s snow removal efforts. One of the most critical was then Councilman Richard Thomas. Now as Mayor he receives first opportunity to put forth a better response to the city’s first real snow fall.
While predictions of actually how much snow the Lower Hudson Valley will receive, it’s a good chance to see just what the Thomas Administration has planned to deal with whatever we do get.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt there’s going to be a major storm,” AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines told The Journal News Wednesday, but the severity could vary depending on how far north or south the storm hits the East Coast.
“I think there are still some question marks with this storm,” Kines said.
BW is urging all residents to be safe, stay off roads if you do not need to go out and bundle up if you do have to leave your homes.
