For over two decades, travelers have had to navigate TSA’s post-9/11 security rituals — including removing shoes, unpacking laptops, and squeezing liquid toiletries into plastic baggies. But change is on the horizon.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently announced that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering ending the long-standing 3-1-1 liquids rule, which limits carry-on liquids to 3.4 ounces per container in a single quart-sized bag. This move follows the recent rollback of the “shoes-off” policy and marks a significant shift in how the U.S. approaches airport security.
If fully implemented, the change could reshape the experience of air travel across the country — saving time, reducing passenger frustration, and potentially addressing concerns of bias and overreach in the screening process.
Why the Shift?
The decision is driven not by politics, but by technology. TSA has begun deploying advanced CT scanners that can scan bags in greater detail, allowing for more accurate threat detection without forcing passengers to unpack items or restrict liquid volume.
As Secretary Noem put it:
“We’ve got the technology. The question now is, do we have the will to modernize our process?”
These scanners, now in use at select airports, make the 3-1-1 rule technologically obsolete. The scanners offer three-dimensional imaging and threat detection powerful enough to distinguish benign items from dangerous ones — with or without size limits.
The Broader Traveler Impact
For the average traveler — businessperson, parent, student, or retiree — this could be a game-changer. No more last-minute panic over forgotten liquid containers, no more throwing out $20 hair products at the checkpoint, and no more delays from outdated screening rules.
For Black travelers and other communities that have often faced disproportionate scrutiny and profiling, fewer discretionary interactions at security checkpoints could also mean a more fair, standardized process. Streamlined policies reduce the space for subjective enforcement — a longstanding issue documented by civil rights groups and passenger reports.
Challenges Ahead
However, this transformation won’t happen overnight.
Technology deployment is uneven. Major hubs like JFK, Atlanta, and LAX are seeing upgrades, but smaller regional airports may be years away from catching up.
Consistency will vary. Travelers may still be subject to the liquids rule depending on where they depart, leading to confusion if the rules aren’t clearly and uniformly communicated.
TSA PreCheck value may shift. With fewer burdens at standard checkpoints, the incentive to pay for PreCheck may decrease unless the program evolves.
Economic and Practical Benefits
The removal of the liquids rule also benefits professionals — particularly small business owners, barbers, stylists, and product-based entrepreneurs — who frequently carry specialized liquids and tools in their bags. No more loss of inventory or delays from security rejections. It also improves the travel experience for parents, caregivers, and frequent fliers who rely on personal care items and medications.
In short, it’s about time, money, and dignity.
The Bottom Line
Ending the 3-1-1 rule would represent more than a policy change — it’s a shift in mindset. It means moving from a reactive, post-9/11 security culture to a smarter, tech-enabled model rooted in precision, not inconvenience.
But like any reform, success depends on execution. Clear communication, equitable access to upgraded technology, and national consistency are key. Otherwise, what should be a win for all travelers could become a patchwork of confusion.
Until then, travelers will do what we’ve always done: pack smart, stay alert, and keep pushing for systems that treat us with both security and respect.
In the world of boxing, greatness isn’t just measured by belts and records—it’s measured by who dares to fight the best. And now, one of the boldest matchups in women’s boxing history may be on the horizon: Claressa Shields vs. Laila Ali.
Laila Ali, 24–0 and widely recognized as the face of women’s boxing in the early 2000s, lit the match in a recent interview when she said she’d “consider” coming out of retirement to fight Shields—for the right price. Her price tag? A staggering $15–20 million. “If someone puts that money on the table, we can talk,” Ali said bluntly. “Until then, it’s just noise.”
But Claressa Shields doesn’t just respond to noise—she amplifies it.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed champion in three weight classes fired back immediately, calling out Ali on social media with a level of heat rarely seen outside of the ring. “You not a better boxer than me,” Shields posted. “At 175, I’ll put you on your back. BEEN READY FOR YOU!”
Laila Ali: Perfect Record, Powerful Name
Ali retired in 2007 with a pristine 24-0 professional record, including 21 knockouts. Over the course of her career, she held the WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA super middleweight titles, carving out a legacy not just as Muhammad Ali’s daughter—but as a dominant force in her own right. With a polished style, charisma, and media appeal, she carried women’s boxing through an era when the sport struggled for visibility. However, questions about her level of competition and the unmade fight with fellow knockout artist Ann Wolfe remain part of her story.
Ali last fought in February 2007, delivering a first-round knockout of Gwendolyn O’Neil. Since then, she’s transitioned into broadcasting, business, and wellness advocacy. But now, at 46, she’s teasing the unthinkable: one more fight.
Claressa Shields: A Resume Built for History
Standing in Ali’s path is Claressa Shields, one of the most accomplished boxers of all time. With an undefeated professional record of 14–0, Shields has conquered three weight divisions, becoming the undisputed champion in two of them—a feat unmatched in the history of women’s boxing. Add to that her two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016), and Shields has a legitimate claim to being the greatest female boxer ever.
Her accolades aren’t just on paper—they’re in the ring. Shields has beaten the best of her generation with superior footwork, timing, and ring IQ. And unlike most champions, she’s not just defending belts—she’s chasing names. In Ali, Shields sees not just a challenge, but a statement.
What’s Really at Stake?
This isn’t just another “fantasy fight.” It’s legacy vs. legitimacy.
For Shields, the Ali fight represents something bigger than money or titles—it’s validation. Despite her accomplishments, Shields has often been overlooked by mainstream media and denied the full spotlight her record deserves. Fighting—and beating—Laila Ali would silence any lingering doubts about her status in the sport.
For Ali, this is legacy preservation. She hasn’t fought in 17 years. She has nothing left to prove—unless, of course, her name, brand, and unbeaten record are put on the line in a historic bout that could net her generational wealth and reignite her place in the public eye.
Real Fight or Promotional Fantasy?
The reality is, there’s no official deal. No promoters have stepped up. No contracts signed. But what there is—already—is public interest, media buzz, and pressure. With Saudi Arabia, Netflix, or another mega-platform in play, it’s not farfetched to think $20 million could be found.
The money is there. The stakes are clear. The only question is: will the gloves go on?
Until then, the hype builds, the fans debate, and the boxing world waits. One legend. One champion. Both undefeated. And possibly, one ring to settle it all.
Follow Black Westchester for updates as this potential dream match develops—and for real talk on sports, power, and purpose.
New York State is facing a projected $22 billion deficit. Predictably, politicians are pointing fingers everywhere but the mirror. Governor Hochul blames Washington for scaling back emergency COVID funds. But the truth is simpler and less politically convenient: this crisis was not imposed by external forces. It was manufactured right here in Albany.
The numbers speak for themselves. New York’s $254 billion budget increased by over $12 billion in a single year, despite clear signs of slowing revenue and expiring federal aid. That is not fiscal misfortune — that is fiscal irresponsibility.
A significant driver of this deficit is the expansion of the state’s Essential Plan to cover undocumented immigrants — a population explicitly excluded from federal benefit programs under longstanding federal law. This includes the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and Title XIX of the Social Security Act, which governs Medicaid. These laws exist for a reason: to ensure that federal funds are used for legal residents and citizens. New York knowingly bypassed this by funding the coverage with state taxpayer dollars.
No one in Washington told New York to do this. In fact, federal law made it clear it could not. So when Governor Hochul now complains about a lack of federal support, the complaint rings hollow. You cannot expect reimbursement for expenses you were never authorized to incur.
But let’s not pretend this is the only problem. The state’s Medicaid program — now topping $109 billion — is bloated and mismanaged. Education aid increased again, with little regard for performance outcomes.
The first thing people will do is point to state employees, as if their salaries are the source of New York’s fiscal problems. But they are not the problem. The real issue is Albany’s addiction to uncontrolled spending across the board — not just in payroll, but in entitlement expansions, subsidies, and programs that grow faster than the tax base. Public workers, many of whom are underpaid compared to those in the private sector, are an easy political target. But they don’t drive the crisis — it’s driven by a government that refuses to live within its means. Unlike private businesses that must operate under market discipline, the state makes long-term financial commitments with other people’s money and no accountability when the bills come due. This isn’t a question of wages — it’s a question of willpower. And Albany has shown very little of it.
Instead of aligning spending with fiscal reality, Albany relied on one-time tricks: using leftover COVID funds, shifting costs between years, and raiding reserves. These are not solutions. They are illusions. And illusions eventually fade.
Education Spending Without Accountability
New York leads the nation in per-pupil spending — over $29,000 per student — yet continues to produce mediocre academic outcomes, particularly in urban and high-poverty districts. In many Black districts, schools have failed to properly educate our children in trades, AI, and give them the actual skills to make a living even if they dont go on to higher education. Despite years of increased funding, there’s no serious effort to tie spending to student performance. School aid is distributed more by political influence than educational need, rewarding well-connected districts. Meanwhile, enrollment is declining across the state, especially in New York City. But rather than adjust spending to reflect these realities, Albany doubles down on a failed formula: more money, fewer students, no results. In a rational system, funding would follow success. In New York, it follows politics.
Failing Infrastructure and a Broken Transit System
While education spending inflates without outcomes, New York’s infrastructure deteriorates in plain sight. Subways are delayed, highways are crumbling, and major capital projects routinely go over budget and past deadline. The MTA alone operates on a multi-billion-dollar deficit while delivering unreliable service and demanding endless bailouts. Statewide, road and bridge maintenance is deferred while funds are diverted to politically favored projects. The result is not just inconvenience, but economic inefficiency, as goods, workers, and services slow down under the weight of a transit system in decline. Instead of tightening oversight or introducing cost discipline, Albany treats every infrastructure failure as an excuse to spend more, without ever asking why past spending didn’t solve the problem.
What’s missing from this entire debate is any mention of trade-offs. Resources are finite. Money spent in one area is money unavailable elsewhere. By choosing to subsidize individuals who are ineligible under federal law, the state diverts funds from services that benefit citizens — services like mental health programs, public safety, or tax relief for working families.
Compassion, if not guided by discipline, becomes recklessness. The moral high ground is meaningless if it collapses under financial mismanagement.
The problem is not that New York lacks options. The problem is that it refuses to make choices. Politicians in Albany have adopted the modern progressive habit of treating government as a bottomless purse and voters as children who must be shielded from hard truths. The truth is that every benefit has a cost — and someone eventually pays.
If there’s any lesson here, it’s this: good intentions are not a substitute for sound policy. A state that cannot prioritize, cannot govern. And one that refuses to face economic reality will be forced to face economic consequences.
New York’s fiscal crisis is not a failure of federal policy. It is a failure of leadership, accountability, and basic arithmetic.
Emotional Politics — Logical Failure is the book you need.
In this bold and unfiltered work, Damon K. Jones delivers the hard truths many are afraid to say out loud: Black America has been loyal to a system that has failed to deliver. We’ve mastered symbolism but forfeited strategy. We show up to vote, but not to fund. We speak out, but rarely build. And the result? Speeches instead of solutions. Visibility instead of victory.
This book is not about left or right. It’s about logic over emotion. Power over performance. It’s a call to wake up, re-strategize, and use our political currency with purpose.
If you’re tired of being used, overlooked, and sold out—this book is your blueprint for change. Your voice is powerful. Your vote is valuable. But your money, your mindset, and your political clarity are what will make the difference.
Read the book. Share the message. Challenge the tradition. And let’s finally start getting what we pay for.
Congressman George Latimer (NY-16) released the following statement after he voted against rescinding funding, which is already law, for public broadcasting and life-saving foreign aid:
“This rescissions package reflects the extreme and out-of-touch DOGE agenda. It slashes civilian aid to Ukraine and Eastern European allies, strips access to basic family planning for 48 million women worldwide, and eliminates the U.S. contribution to UNICEF. It even eliminates funding for public broadcasting, jeopardizing PBS Kids, local public TV and radio, and the emergency alert systems communities rely on during natural disasters.
Republicans call these cuts ‘savings,’ but this is funding they voted for in the bipartisan Continuing Resolution. This isn’t about fiscal responsibility. It’s about imposing a harmful, ideological agenda at home and abroad. It is an agenda that will destroy America.”
The recissions bill pulls back $9 billion in funding Congress already voted on and President Trump signed into law this year. The measure cuts $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding for NPR and PBS. It cuts another $8 billion from foreign aid, including funding for USAID and programs promoting global health and refugee assistance.
On Wednesday, the Mount Vernon Charter Review Commission held a meeting to vote on adopting their final report in the Council Council Chambers. A majority of the commission voted against adopting the final report, so the proposed revision will not appear on the November ballot for Mount Vernon voters to consider.
“A majority of the Commission (8/7) voted against adopting the final report. Four of those people spoke at length about their reasons; three others have pretty consistently agreed with those positions, although two of the three have not been as vocal. I’m uncertain about the reasons of the 8th person,” Charter review Commission Chair Tamala Boyd shared with Black Westchester. “Without the final report, which must be presented to the clerk with the ballot questions, there was nothing for the ballot. So the Commission’s work is basically done, save some clean up items. The Commission will expire by operation of law on Election Day, since this will be the second General Election since its creation.”
The Mount Vernon Charter Review Commission is composed of (15) fifteen members who must reside in the City of Mount Vernon, New York, and are appointed by the Mayor and the City Council.
The Commission was tasked to prepare a report of its work and conclusions and make its recommendations for revision or amendment to the existing Charter directly to the residents of the City, in either one proposed ballot question or a series of questions, through the City Clerk, who shall be responsible for assuring that these questions are properly and timely available for consideration at a referendum to be held on the next scheduled general election day. For a full description, please see § 268 Charter Commission
Black Westchester is told next steps will include the mayor looking at some of the other proposals and recommendations that could be moved forward and adopted by the city council.
Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story as more details become available.
Westchester Latinos Unidos Founder and Executive Director Elvira Castillo wrote a strongly worded letter, Tuesday, July 15th, to Charter Review Committee Chairwoman Tamala Boyd expressing her disappointment in the committee’s lack of Latino stakeholders being contacted for their input in the proposed charter revision.
Black Westchester obtained a copy. In the letter, Castillo states that “The broader Latino community, a significant and growing segment of Mount Vernon, was systematically excluded from this process. This is not merely a missed opportunity; it is a violation of democratic principles and, arguably, a breach of New York State law. From the outset, the Commission failed to engage in meaningful outreach to the city’s Latino residents. Despite being urged by members of your own voting committee to do so, there was: No Spanish-language outreach, No town halls or engagement events in predominantly Latino neighborhoods, and No outreach through trusted Latino organizations or community leaders.”
Mount Vernon, like other municipalities in Westchester County, has a significant and diverse Latino community, with strong representation from various countries, particularly Brazil and other Latin American nations. Organizations like Westchester Latinos Unidos work to empower and support the Latino population in the area, providing resources and fostering community engagement. This organization focuses on social well-being and education within the Latino community, offering various initiatives and support services. The Hispanic Seventh-Day Adventist Mission and the Spanish Central Mount Vernon SDA Church provide spiritual guidance and community outreach to the Latino population. Organizations like Family Services of Westchester and Family Ties of Westchester offer support groups and services in Spanish, catering to the needs of Latino families and individuals.
Despite the efforts of the aforementioned groups and organizations, Castillo feels the Charter Review Committee “failed to engage in meaningful outreach to the city’s Latino residents.”
“Although it was initially communicated that outreach had occurred across the entire community via mail to all zip codes, this claim is demonstrably false. We now understand that there were no mailing and outreach efforts were limited, inconsistent, and geographically insufficient, and particularly with respect to Latino residents and other communities of color,” Castillo continued.
This is not the first time such complaints have been raised in Mount Vernon. A significant challenge in Mount Vernon, similar to other communities with a growing Hispanic/Latino population, is the reported lack of sufficient outreach to this community. This lack of outreach contributes to barriers in accessing essential services and programs designed to help residents. Many governmental programs operate only in English, creating a barrier for Spanish-speaking and other non-English speaking Latino residents trying to understand and access public information, program enrollment, and support services.
Then there is the digital divide: While many organizations are utilizing digital platforms for outreach, many Latino families are smartphone-dependent and may lack consistent internet access, potentially impacting their ability to receive information and engage with services that rely solely on online communication.
There have long been calls for efforts to improve outreach and address these challenges, which can include strategies such as employing bicultural and bilingual staff, utilizing various communication channels beyond just the internet and social media, and partnering with trusted community organizations and leaders to build trust and facilitate access to resources.
Our leaders cannot claim to represent all residents and truly serve the entire community until issues like these are addressed!
You can read Castillo’s letter in its entirety below:
Dear Commission Members and Fellow Mount Vernon Residents,
I write today not only as a concerned citizen but also as a lifelong advocate for equity, inclusion, and justice within our public institutions. My name is Elvira Castillo, and I serve as the Founder and Executive Director of Westchester Latinos Unidos, a leading advocacy organization supporting Latino communities throughout Westchester and New York State. I am a long-time Mount Vernon resident, a local business and property owner, a municipal zoning expert, and a member of the Mount Vernon Zoning Board. I am also a proud mother and grandmother who, through my housing work, represents more than 500 families on the South Side of Mount Vernon. And yet, despite my civic contributions and longstanding community involvement, neither I or other key Latino stakeholders were ever contacted by the Charter Revision Commission for input. The broader Latino community, a significant and growing segment of Mount Vernon, was systematically excluded from this process. This is not merely a missed opportunity, it is a violation of democratic principles and, arguably, a breach of New York State law.
From the outset, the Commission failed to engage in meaningful outreach to the city’s Latino residents. Despite being urged by members of your own voting committee to do so, there was:
No Spanish-language outreach
No town halls or engagement events in predominantly Latino neighborhoods
No outreach through trusted Latino organizations or community leaders
Although it was initially communicated that outreach had occurred across the entire community via mail to all zip codes, this claim is demonstrably false. We now understand that there were no mailing and outreach efforts were limited, inconsistent, and geographically insufficient, and particularly with respect to Latino residents and other communities of color.
Let me be clear: now that this glaring omission has come to light, the appropriate remedy is not a rushed, retroactive attempt at damage control. It is not acceptable to consult with legal counsel only now to revise or refine documents after key decisions have already been made. It is not acceptable to begin engaging Latino communities only after proposals have been voted on or submitted for ballot inclusion. It is too late to correct an exclusion after the harm has occurred.
This process must restart from the beginning, with authentic, inclusive outreach and serious and wide-ranging public engagement. Anything less perpetuates the harm, undermines public trust, and exposes the process to further legal and ethical scrutiny.
It is deeply concerning that individuals who recently relocated to Mount Vernon from places such as Seattle, Germany, and Philadelphia were given seats at the table, while deeply rooted Latino leaders and stakeholders were entirely excluded. This is not to assign blame to any individual commissioner, but rather to identify a collective failure of process. We have always welcomed newcomers to Mount Vernon, and will continue to do so, yet it is vital for those with lifelong investment and lived experience in our communities to have significant input in deciding the future of this city.
Under the New York State Language Access Law, effective July 1, 2022, state agencies that provide direct public services are required to:
Provide oral interpretation services in any language for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals
Translate vital documents into the twelve most spoken non-English languages in New York State, including Spanish
Develop and publish a Language Access Plan and designate a coordinator to ensure compliance
While this law does not formally apply to local government bodies such as municipal charter review commissions, its standards reflect a broader commitment to equitable public access. Given the significant implications of charter reform, failure to voluntarily uphold these principles—especially in a city with a large LEP population—raises serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and inclusive governance. We recognize the need for reform. However, reform without representation is not reform, it is regression. We call on each member of the Commission who believes in fairness, transparency, and democratic governance to:
Vote NO on advancing the current proposals
Publicly acknowledge that key communities — including the Latino community — were not engaged
Reopen the charter process with comprehensive community participation from day one
One can only imagine how differently this process might have unfolded if someone on the Charter Commission with, say, significant municipal legal expertise — someone perhaps with a résumé stacked with public sector experience, regulatory acumen, and executive leadership in city governance — had chosen to apply even a fraction of that training during deliberations. But perhaps when appearances suggest that the outcome is pre-determined, legal acumen becomes inconvenient. In this case, it seems expertise wasn’t absent — it was simply ignored.
Mount Vernon deserves better. Our Latino families, workers, business owners, and civic leaders are vital to the city’s fabric. We cannot — and will not — be excluded from decisions that shape our government, our homes, our families, and our future.
Sincerely,
Elvira Castillo
Founder and Executive Director, Westchester Latinos Unidos
Mount Vernon Resident, Business Owner, and Community Leader
The letter was cc’d to the Mount Vernon Charter Review Committee Members, Mount Vernon City Council, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Comptroller Darren Morton, Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, NYS Senator Jamaal Bailey, County Legislators Tyrae Woodson-Samuels & David Tubiolo, Hon. Lyndon D. Williams, Chairman of Westchester County Charter Review Commission, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, Congressman George Latimer.
Mayor Thomas urges Mount Vernon to delay charter proposals, fix the process, and return stronger in November 2026.
Former Mayor Richard W. Thomas released a statement calling for a pause in the Charter Revision process until November 2026 to give the residents time to rebuild the process with proper staffing, clear rules, ethical disclosures, a public website, and real opportunities for residents to weigh in.
“Mount Vernon deserves a Charter Revision process that’s open, ethical, professional, and truly shaped by the people. Right now, it’s not,” Thomas said. “Rushing ahead now, without transparency or trust, risks writing changes into law that do not reflect our community’s best interests, or prepare us for the real financial challenges ahead. Before we rewrite the Charter, let’s pause and rebuild the process.”
You can read Mayor Thomas’ full statement below;
“Mt. Vernonites, My Friends, My Neighbors,
I come to you today not as someone standing on the sidelines, but as the former Mayor of Mount Vernon, the very person who first empaneled the Charter Revision Commission because I believed deeply that our city’s biggest problem was politics. And I still believe that the solution to Mount Vernon’s problems is to detox City Hall of politics and replace it with systems that work for everyday people.
But let me also be clear: process matters. How we do things is just as important as what we do.
In New York City, the Charter Revision Commission is supported by a team of over 30 full-time professionals. They have clear rules, established procedures, dedicated staff, a robust website, public records, and a transparent system of ethics disclosures that protect the integrity of their work and reassure taxpayers that decisions are being made above board.
Unfortunately, here in Mount Vernon, we have taken a very different and frankly troubling approach. We have a Charter Revision Commission that is moving forward without rules, without procedures, without required ethics disclosures, without a website, without adequate staff support, and critically, without meaningful opportunities for the public to comment at its meetings. The last meeting I watched in dismay as Commissioners and Advisory Board members were close to throwing blows.
Just as bad, if not worse, one survey conducted on these proposed changes found that just 0.6% of residents in the 10551 zip code participated. That is not public engagement. That is a fig leaf. And this is why Jesus cursed the fig tree… because it flowered before producing fruit for the people. This is fitting because the proposed charter revision proposals seem to come from a poisonous tree.
That’s why I’m urging the Charter Revision Commission to pause and not put this up for a vote in November 2025. Stop this rushed process. Restart it with proper rules, staffing, budget, and genuine public input. This will empower truly transformative work, re-engaging residents to tackle real issues throughout next year. Then, after these careful reforms are in place, we can achieve the Charter Revision goal of voting on meaningful policy priorities in November 2026.
Even Dr. Martin Luther King, standing at the head of thousands marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, chose to turn back when he realized his people weren’t yet ready for what lay ahead. There is no shame in pausing. In fact, sometimes it is the most courageous thing we can do.
Let us use this time to rebuild trust in the process.
Reinstating the Commission with proper staffing and resources.
Establishing a clear calendar that invites more ideas, more surveys, and more resident-led solutions.
Setting up a robust website and publishing all proposals, minutes, and reports online so no one has to find out what is being decided for them by downloading a document off a third party site.
Instituting ethical disclosure requirements, like New York City’s, to ensure every member’s private interests are fully transparent before they reshape the very foundations of our local government.
Because we have big challenges ahead. Washington is already signaling that massive federal funding may dry up, forcing cities like ours to rethink how we protect home values, maintain infrastructure, and fund parks, senior programs, and public safety. Mount Vernon homeowners deserve options that unlock their equity and keep neighborhoods strong. Imagine giving parents the power to have their school tax dollars follow their child, a true home rule idea that could raise property values and give kids better educational outcomes. Whether we pursue that or not, it is just one of many ideas we need on the table.
We also need to think about how to eliminate our unconstitutional Board of Estimate and give the City Council a stronger voice for taxpayers. How to introduce neighborhood budgets tied to capital plans that actually fix sidewalks, sewers, streets, and get rats out of our lives, so we are not all stuck dodging potholes and waiting until the next election cycle for help.
But we cannot solve these problems with a process that feels rushed, opaque, or compromised. Right now, there is simply not enough evidence that this process has met the standard of transparency or ethical integrity that the people of Mount Vernon deserve.
That is why I am asking the Charter Revision Commission:
Pause. Regroup. Do not rush to vote on these proposals now.
Instead, vote to re-establish the Commission with a proper structure, clear rules, ethics disclosures, a professional team, and a robust plan for true community engagement.
Because the future of Mount Vernon is not just about what is written in our Charter. It is about whether people trust the process that wrote it.
As President Obama often reminded us, “democracy does not require uniformity.” But it does require a basic sense of mutual respect. And my faith is real, as scripture has taught me, and life tests created a testimony that I can share is that God’s delays are not his denials. Sometimes the pause is exactly where the groundwork gets laid for an even greater victory ahead.
So let us take a moment. Let us do it right.
For our homeowners. For our kids. For our seniors. For pets and rescue animals. For everyone who wants Mount Vernon to rise up to its highest promise.
Because if we get the process right, we can get the outcomes right, together.”
Local unions appear to be pushing back as well against the proposed Mount Vernon Charter Revisions. In a letter sent out early Wednesday afternoon, Ernie Richardson – President, Local 107, FDMV, and Robert Richardson of Teamsters Local 456 are encouraging the report to be voted against.
“We are not seeking favoritism; we are seeking fairness, transparency, and respect. The men and women we represent dedicate their lives to Mount Vernon. They deserve to have a seat at the table—not to be left in the dark while decisions that affect their livelihoods and communities are made behind closed doors. This proposal, in its current form, is incomplete, unexamined, and unworthy of adoption. For the sake of democratic accountability, fiscal responsibility, and labor justice, we urge you to vote NO,” the letter states. See the letter in its entirety below:
As the union president of Local 107, Mount Vernon Firefighters Union, and a representative of the unions that support and sustain Mount Vernon’s essential services—those who keep our city clean, functioning, and safe—we write to express our collective and unequivocal opposition to the adoption of the Charter Review Final Report in its current form.
Despite public claims of inclusiveness and community engagement, the process undertaken by this Commission has glaringly failed to involve Mount Vernon’s labor unions in any meaningful or substantive way. Most notably, there has been no consultation with Local 107, firefighters uion members risk their lives daily to protect this city. These are the individuals who run into burning buildings when others are running out. Excluding them from discussions about the structure of city government is not only a policy failure; it is a profound insult to Mount Vernon’s Bravest. Many of our firefighters live in the city they serve, and their voices are indispensable in shaping decisions that will impact public safety, emergency response coordination, and municipal accountability. Their exclusion from the charter review process is a slap in the face to those who have dedicated their lives to protecting this community.
Including firefighters in municipal restructuring efforts—such as charter revisions—is essential. Fire departments are foundational components of city operations, and changes in government structure can directly affect chain of command, emergency response funding, collective bargaining, and long-standing operational protocols. In cities across the country, fire unions have rightfully insisted on a seat at the table during charter reviews to ensure that any governmental transition does not compromise public safety or labor protections. Mount Vernon must do the same.
In addition to ignoring the firefighters, there has been no direct outreach to the leadership or members of Teamsters Local 456, which represents the dedicated personnel in our Department of Public Works, sanitation services, Recreation Department, water department and public safety—including certain employees within the police and fire departments. No communication has been made with CSEA, which represents hundreds of school and municipal employees. Likewise, there has been no engagement with 1199SEIU or the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), who serve our city’s healthcare needs and represent a substantial portion of Mount Vernon’s workforce.
A government cannot responsibly restructure itself while excluding the very individuals who make its operations possible. The proposal to transition from a strong mayoral system to a city manager model was developed and advanced:
Without any financial impact study available to the public
Without a clear implementation or transition plan
Without an assessment of how current collective bargaining agreements will be maintained or renegotiated
Without identifying who would serve as the city’s chief bargaining authority under the new structure—or seeking any input from unions on whether this is acceptable
This level of opacity is not just disappointing; it is dangerous from both a labor and fiscal standpoint. The proposal threatens to upend years of progress in labor relations and jeopardize job security for countless city employees.
Authority Shift: The power to negotiate labor contracts may move from an elected official to an unelected administrator, introducing ambiguity and potential delays in contract negotiations, grievance procedures, and arbitration enforcement.
Privatization & Reclassification Risks: City manager systems are often used to justify outsourcing and departmental reorganization—moves that weaken unions, eliminate positions, and erode the quality of public services.
Disruption of Legal Norms: Without a structured transition plan, it is unclear how Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), grievance timelines, and arbitration clauses will be honored or enforced.
Loss of Institutional Trust: Our unions have built longstanding, constructive relationships with city leadership. Transferring decision-making to a new, disconnected administrator risks turning those partnerships into adversarial relationships.
The Commission has not answered a critical question: How will existing union contracts be honored during and after this transition?
From Westchester County to Albany, organized labor has long stood against opaque efforts to undermine public sector workers and weaken democratic accountability.
Teamsters Local 456 has fought vigorously to protect frontline workers across Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and New Rochelle from privatization and anti-union policy shifts.
In the 1970s and 1980s, fire and DPW unions nationwide resisted city manager schemes that prioritized fiscal expediency over worker protections and community welfare.
In New York City, unions rightly warned that Mayor Giuliani’s 1990s privatization efforts would harm working-class communities, especially Black and Latino families. Those warnings came true.
Today, this proposal in Mount Vernon shows similar red flags: exclusion, haste, lack of transparency, and disregard for labor rights.
We strongly urge this Commission to:
Vote NO on the current version of the final report.
Restart the charter review process—this time with robust and meaningful participation from labor unions.
Commission a full fiscal and legal impact study before recommending any structural government changes to the voters. This study must be provided to all Mount Vernon residents, stakeholders, and unions well in advance of any Commission vote.
We are not seeking favoritism; we are seeking fairness, transparency, and respect. The men and women we represent dedicate their lives to Mount Vernon. They deserve to have a seat at the table—not to be left in the dark while decisions that affect their livelihoods and communities are made behind closed doors. This proposal, in its current form, is incomplete, unexamined, and unworthy of adoption. For the sake of democratic accountability, fiscal responsibility, and labor justice, we urge you to vote NO.
The Rescissions Act of 2025 has stirred outrage in some corners of Black leadership. Many are decrying the billions in foreign aid cuts to Africa, the Caribbean, and global health programs. But let’s stop and ask the uncomfortable question no one in these circles wants to raise: why were we funding global development before we fixed our own house?
America’s inner cities are bleeding — not from foreign wars, but from neglect, broken schools, economic dependency, and moral confusion. We don’t need another USAID roundtable. We need functioning school boards, fathers in homes, land ownership, business financing, and the restoration of discipline and dignity in our communities. Yet when federal dollars were flowing, many Black nonprofits chased grants tied to global missions while the Black neighborhoods they came from remained in economic ruins.
Let’s be clear: this bill doesn’t cut food stamps, housing, or Medicaid. It doesn’t touch school funding or job programs. It stops writing checks to international organizations while Black Americans still can’t get a mortgage in their own zip code. If anything, this is a long-overdue course correction. But instead of embracing this pivot, too many so-called Black leaders are lamenting the loss of contracts tied to foreign aid dollars — dollars that rarely translated into tangible gains for our people here at home.
This is the same class of leaders who show up for press conferences but not policy. They manage the system but never change it. They celebrate symbolic diversity at the UN while ignoring the structural disrepair in Detroit, Newark, or the South Side of Chicago.
And yes — we say we want to buy real estate in Ghana, and that’s nice. But let’s be honest: how can any country in Africa truly respect us when we don’t even control our own economy here in America? From our culture to our fashion to our music, our greatest assets are owned and monetized by others. Meanwhile, too many Black boys and girls are homeless right here in Westchester County. The spiritual optics of return mean little if we’re unwilling to fight for shelter, safety, and sovereignty for our own children first. Until we build power at home, any talk of pan-African connection is just performance
And while we’re on it: how is it that we’re mobilizing for migrants — many of whom have over 1 million final deportation orders — yet we are not mobilizing to demand vocational education, safe streets, and safe parks for our own children? How did our priorities get so upside down?
This is not selfishness. It’s wisdom. Just like on an airplane when they tell you: put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others. If we can’t breathe — financially, educationally, spiritually — how can we possibly save anyone else?
In 2025, we can’t keep blaming racism for everything when we’re still pumping over $1.5 trillion a year into the very system we claim oppresses us. At some point, the blame shifts from the system to our choices within it. No educated consumer continues to spend money where they’re disrespected, underserved, and exploited. Yet we do it proudly — celebrating brands that mock us, voting for parties that ignore us, and enriching industries that give nothing back. Power doesn’t come from protest — it comes from ownership. Until we redirect our spending toward institutions that reflect our values, we’re not being oppressed — we’re volunteering.
Enough.
This is a moment for moral clarity. The message should be simple: Black America first. Not in rhetoric — in results. Our children should not be the last to read, the last to be hired, and the first to be aborted or incarcerated while our leaders fund mission trips and photo ops abroad.
Foreign solidarity is admirable, but misplaced when it comes at the expense of our survival. Let other nations build their institutions. We have to rebuild ours.
The money is moving. The federal government is shifting. The question is: will we shift with it — or remain chained to an outdated nonprofit-industrial complex that teaches us to fight for inclusion, but never control?
Black America doesn’t need more global gestures. We need focused, principled, disciplined leadership that puts our communities first — in housing, in education, in health, in economics, and in spirit.
If you’re a Black leader and your primary concern is how this bill affects your global grant pipeline, maybe it’s time to ask yourself who you’re really serving.
Emotional Politics — Logical Failure is the book you need.
In this bold and unfiltered work, Damon K. Jones delivers the hard truths many are afraid to say out loud: Black America has been loyal to a system that has failed to deliver. We’ve mastered symbolism but forfeited strategy. We show up to vote, but not to fund. We speak out, but rarely build. And the result? Speeches instead of solutions. Visibility instead of victory.
This book is not about left or right. It’s about logic over emotion. Power over performance. It’s a call to wake up, re-strategize, and use our political currency with purpose.
If you’re tired of being used, overlooked, and sold out—this book is your blueprint for change. Your voice is powerful. Your vote is valuable. But your money, your mindset, and your political clarity are what will make the difference.
Read the book. Share the message. Challenge the tradition. And let’s finally start getting what we pay for.
In a society where transparency is lauded as a democratic virtue, the ongoing saga surrounding the Epstein files exposes a disturbing reality: when political calculations override truth, the public pays the price. What began as a pursuit of justice has devolved into a partisan blame game where both parties jockey for advantage, while the central issue—accountability—remains unresolved.
Let’s dispense with illusions. The American people were told Jeffrey Epstein’s death ended the matter. That Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction closed the book. But as evidence continues to surface, and court documents hint at names shielded from scrutiny, the question isn’t whether there’s more to uncover—it’s why so many are invested in keeping it hidden.
Consider the current landscape. The Department of Justice recently claimed there is no “client list” and doubled down on the narrative that Epstein acted alone. Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch conservative and Trump ally, broke ranks and called for full disclosure. Yet, despite having the majority, House Republicans blocked a vote to release the documents. Why?
Because power protects itself. Not by accident—but by design.
In classic political fashion, we are watching a managed response to a metastasizing crisis. Democrats, smelling opportunity, now demand transparency, but where was this urgency when they controlled Congress? Republicans, meanwhile, say they are the party of law and order, yet balk when disclosure might implicate their allies. This isn’t oversight—it’s theater.
The Epstein case has become a mirror, not just of elite misconduct, but of institutional cowardice. Our justice system, once believed to be blind, is now squinting selectively. Political leaders are calculating which names might surface and how that affects poll numbers—not whether victims receive justice.
We must not lose sight of first principles. Justice is not partisan. Truth is not subject to polling data. And trust in government cannot coexist with selective transparency.
What’s at stake here is larger than Epstein. This is about whether the law applies equally, or only to the nameless and powerless. If the powerful can exploit children and walk free because they have the right connections, then we are not a nation of laws—we are a nation of legal fictions.
There is a reason people no longer believe the government. It isn’t because of internet conspiracies or fringe media. It’s because when given the chance to be honest, our institutions chose political expediency instead.
A free society cannot function when its leaders are more loyal to party than to principle. As Thomas Sowell has often observed, “It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.”
The Epstein case is no longer just a scandal—it’s a test. A test of whether our leaders fear truth more than corruption. A test of whether public servants will serve the people or their patrons. And most critically, a test of whether the American public will demand answers—or just move on.
The truth doesn’t go away just because it’s inconvenient. But justice will—if we allow it.
Emotional Politics — Logical Failure is the book you need.
In this bold and unfiltered work, Damon K. Jones delivers the hard truths many are afraid to say out loud: Black America has been loyal to a system that has failed to deliver. We’ve mastered symbolism but forfeited strategy. We show up to vote, but not to fund. We speak out, but rarely build. And the result? Speeches instead of solutions. Visibility instead of victory.
This book is not about left or right. It’s about logic over emotion. Power over performance. It’s a call to wake up, re-strategize, and use our political currency with purpose.
If you’re tired of being used, overlooked, and sold out—this book is your blueprint for change. Your voice is powerful. Your vote is valuable. But your money, your mindset, and your political clarity are what will make the difference.
Read the book. Share the message. Challenge the tradition. And let’s finally start getting what we pay for.
