The principle of free speech is enshrined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. In America, we are justifiably proud of our right to express our views, speak for or against various issues, openly agree or disagree with one another, or tell our elected officials how we feel about the job they’re doing.
Public libraries are a cornerstone of our society’s commitment to public education, personal enrichment, free speech, and the democratic exchange of ideas. The American Library Association (ALA), which is the largest membership association in the library industry, has the following statement about Intellectual Freedom on its website: “ALA actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession, and a basic right in our democratic society.” (Emphasis mine.) ALA’s Library Bill of Rights urges libraries to resist censorship and cooperate with those who resist the abridgement of free expression.
Shockingly, the Mount Vernon Public Library (MVPL) seems to have forgotten the cherished library principles of intellectual freedom and free speech; it is the first, and only, public library in Westchester County to turn its back on the First Amendment. In a September 12th notice posted on the library’s website, MVPL announced that it will suspend the period of public expression at its regular meetings until further notice: https://mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/public-expression-notice-2025/
The library board will vote on a resolution to implement this censorship of free speech at a special meeting scheduled for Monday, September 22nd, at 4:30 pm, when many members of the community are working and unable to attend. MVPL’s bylaws include a period of public expression, and public expression has been allowed at the library’s regular meetings for many decades. The current board, Director, and Treasurer have recently been questioned by the public about some serious concerns, including:
∙ A controversial bond proposal for the purchase of a 120-year-old single-family residence for $1.7 million;
∙ The library exceeded its annual budget by more than $600,000 in 2023-2024, and more than $500,000 in 2024-2025;
∙ Frequent violations of the Open Meetings Law;
∙ The decision to appoint MVPL’s Treasurer and Chief Account Clerk as bank signers in violation of the need for checks and balances to safeguard public funds;
∙ A one-day program devoted to honoring Rapper DMX, costing $23,000; and an improper re-vote for Board of Trustees Vice President that took place at a special meeting on July 21, 2025.
Censorship of the public is wrong, especially by a taxpayer-funded institution. Public expression allows a community to hold its leaders accountable. When the board chooses to suspend public comment, it gives the impression that they may be trying to shield impropriety from public scrutiny. If you disagree with the board’s decision, please join me in contacting the Mount Vernon Public Library’s leadership team:
Timur Davis, Library Director – timurd@mvplibrary.org
Jay Vosler, Treasurer – treasurer@mvplibrary.org
Hope Marable, President – Trustee4@mvplibrary.org
Kim Harper, Vice President – Trustee5@mvplibrary.org
Cynthia Dickerson, Secretary – Trustee2@mvplibrary.org
Cynthia Crenshaw, Trustee – Trustee1@mvplibrary.org
Loretta Thomas, Trustee – Trustee3@mvplibrary.org
The board will hold its postponed regular meeting on Wednesday, September 24th, at 6:30 pm at the Mount Vernon Public Library, 28 S. First Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY, in the Community Room.
The ability for people to speak freely at library board meetings is not just a courtesy; it is a fundamental part of our democratic process and a core value of the library. Inform Director Davis and the board that, if the library truly values the public’s input, as stated in the posted notice, they will reverse course and allow the people to speak.
Thank you for standing up for the First Amendment.
Sincerely,
Tamara Stewart
Library Advocate
Subject: “Disgruntled terminated employee, pretending to be an advocate”
Dear Mr. Woodson,
The writer of the “op-ed” is routinely promoting libelous rhetoric in her obsessive quest for vindication ♻️
It is woefully distressing to witness an individual seek to vindicate oneself by intentionally seeking to harm the reputation of his, or her local Library ♻️
In truth, she was an employee of the aforementioned institution for about a year from 2022-April of 2023 when, (by her own admission) during a public forum…
she exposed that the Executive Director terminated her employment.
She has been on an obsessive, vengeance-inspired warpath ever since, by pursuing a relentless path to be the “BOSS” of the individual…
that FIRED her ♻️
For quite some time, her unhinged behavior was tolerated,
(all concerned parties were empathetic to her position).
However, it became intolerable when the malicious tone of her personal attacks became more forceful, and the frequency of her LIES became excessive and dangerous.
WHERE IS THE PROOF ABOUT “FREQUENT VIOLATIONS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW”❓❓❓🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
WHERE IS THERE PROOF OF: “VIOLATIONS OF THE NEED FOR CHECKS AND BALANCES TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC FUNDS”❓❓❓🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
The “op-ed” write-up merely exposes her overall lack of knowledge, financial illiteracy ‼️and OBSESSION ‼️
Does it make sense that $600,000.00 was “overspent”, yet the Library is still up & running❓❓❓
Does it make sense that $500,000.00 was “overspent, yet the Library is STILL up & running❓❓❓
OVERSPENT from WHAT❓❓❓ when ALL funds from fiscal year 2023 through fiscal year 2025 were SOLELY allocated toward LEGITIMATE LIBRARY EXPENSES in the realm of:
OPERATING COSTS, SALARIES, OVERTIME; UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, HEALTH INSURANCE, PENSIONS, FURNITURE, BUILDING & GROUNDS, MAINTENANCE, PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, SECURITY GUARDS, BOOKS, DVD’S, MUSEUM PASSES, TECH SERVICES, etc., etc., etc.,
Every penny of the Library’s 4.7 million dollar Budget is spent on the furtherance of the LIBRARY and NOTHING ELSE‼️
Unless the so-called “ADVOCATE” can DISPEL that affirmation and “SHOW PROOF” of something else, her allegations are nothing but:
“HOT AIR” ♻️
At the end of the day, the lady is NOT an ADVOCATE 😏
She is merely a former DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE that lacks resiliency and maturity.
It is far and beyond past time for her to move on from the failures of her flawed career decisions ♻️
“WARMLY”,
Hope Marable
Mount Vernon, New York
I am answering this since it was addressed to me by name
Ms. Marable I respect your opinion of Ms. Stewart
I printed her op/ed where she addressed what she felt was important to her and gave you the opportunity to write a response which I also published
Black Westchester is not and will not be taking either side, we simply published both sides and allowed the readers to make up there own mind.
Thank you for your feedback and for reading Black Westchester
-AJ Woodson
Editor-In-Chief
“I respect everyone involved, but the ongoing negativity toward the library and board is disheartening. They work hard for this community and deserve support, not attacks. It’s time to let go and move forward.” Let’s keep supporting the library that serves us all.”
Thank you, Ms. Cheryl S. 📚
Hopeless, your screed makes clear that the Library’s leadership feels uncomfortable with legitimate public scrutiny. That discomfort is not evidence of harassment; it is a natural consequence of public inquiry into the use of taxpayer funds.
The substance of your rant is almost entirely accusatory and lacks any verifiable documentation. Assertions without evidence do not substitute for transparency. Under New York law, public institutions funded by tax revenues are required to maintain complete, accessible financial records and to operate in compliance with the Open Meetings Law and all applicable procurement and fiscal oversight rules. The public is entitled to review those records and to question how decisions are made. Its called accountability. The thing you refused to do after you were found guilty in a criminal proceeding later upheld on appeal.
If, as you claim, the Library’s 4.7 million dollar budget was entirely spent on lawful and appropriate purposes, the answer is straightforward. Release the itemized expenditures and supporting documentation for fiscal years 2023 through 2025. Transparency will end speculation; deflection only sustains it. Let’s see the Uber bills and all the legal invoices from Brill and others. Time to come clean- don’t tell us, show us.
Finally, labeling community members as disgruntled or obsessive does nothing to demonstrate compliance. What will demonstrate integrity is full disclosure and adherence to public accountability standards. When will all the records and invoices be disclosed? Till then, you are all hot air.
Mr. Rappaport,
As Steward’s of the Library, elected “By the People FOR the People”, it is the obligation of the Board President to confront FALSE Reports.
The Library’s AUDIT for FY 2023-FY 2024 is CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED to the Library’s website.
The DSJCPA Payroll Audit of 2022 was CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED on the Library’s website.
The Forensic Audit regarding the Annual Report of 2020 remains CONSPICUOUSLY posted on the Library’s website.
Nothing is being hidden and I stand by what is obvious.
The write of the op-ed is by no means an advocate for the Library.
She is disgruntled, bitter, immature and incredulous.
Fact: Hope Marable is a convicted criminal. Once her conviction was affirmed she should have stepped down. Oh and she is the only library trustee in 150 years to be removed by the Board of Regensts.
Fact: Earlier this year, Marable again improperly used private legal counsel funded by taxpayers to defend herself in disciiplinary proceedings. The State Comptroller has said such use is illegal. Here is the proof:
Application of TAMARA STEWART for the removal of Hope Marable as a trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Mount Vernon Public Library.
Decision No. 18,599
(July 21, 2025)
Brill Legal Group, P.C., attorneys for respondent, Peter E. Brill, Esq., of counsel
ROSA., Commissioner.–Petitioner seeks the removal of Hope Marable (“trustee Marable”) as a trustee of the Mount Vernon Public Library (“board”). The application must be denied for lack of jurisdiction. The trustees of education corporations such as the Mount Vernon Public Library are not subject to removal under Education Law § 306. That law only pertains to board members, certain job titles, and “school officer[s]” within the public school system (Education Law § 306 [1]). The Board of Regents, by contrast, may remove the trustees of an education corporation pursuant to Education Law § 226 (4).
In light of this determination, I need not address the parties’ remaining contentions.
THE APPLICATION IS DENIED.
3. Fact: The MVPL refuses to show the public the invoices for legal fees spend by the Library nor will it disclose the payments for Uber bills incurred by so called volunteers like Hopeless in taking cab rides to the Library instead of walking there. Yes, they be hiding.
4. Fact: As per the report below, the local history room has been looted and neglected under the watch of Hopeless and her feckless board of rubber stampers who erased women’s history at the Community Room by re-naming it for Gary PretLOW in exchange for some small donations. Mount Vernon? Nah….. Mount Vermin is more like it. Notice who tasked the report – the same true steward of the Library who Hopeless berates and slanders. Aint that rich – a convicted criminal, a so called elected official, engaging in this manner of attacks on a law abiding citizen. Yet silence from our other ciper nobodies like Tyrae, Bailey, Ken Jenkins, and George Latimer who say nothing about the erasure of women’s history and the loss of public discussion. Ahh yes, the one party state. Look what it was done to Mt. Vernon. Corruption and dysfunction with the endless scandals at the MVPL headed by a criminal and her gang of talentles boot licking nobodies.
MOUNT VERNON PUBLIC LIBRARY
M V P L
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY
Local History room action plan
Daniel Frett, Archivist 12/20/2022
In late October 2022 upon my rehiring at the Mount Vernon Public Library, the
Assistant Director Tamara Stewart tasked me with writing this report on the upgrade
and future of the local history room. Future and current projects involving the Local
History Room that serve the patrons of the library and the people of Mount Vernon will
be addressed in this report.
The local history room is closed to the public until the necessary upgrades occur.
Research will be conducted by archivist Daniel Frett (author) using the materials in the
room. Patrons can make an appointment to consult with me to view the materials of
the collection. Any meetings will take place in the Trustee Room, or another
place in the library. This procedure will allow materials to remain safe, with the
anticipation of future renovations of the room.
I had a conversation on October 20th, 2022 with David Cambillo and Leroy Lea
about the establishment of a separate email address for the Local History Room. This is
email address was approved in December as mtvhistory@wlsmail.org. Patrons can
use the Email address to ask help with questions and make appointments. This allows
me time to research the question first, see if we have the proper information in the
the library to gain copies of the budget. A blurb about the library is mentioned in the
budgets from 2008 to 2014. On the other hand, the library is not mentioned in the last
six budgets from the years of 2015-2022.
The improved space and understanding of preservation should allow us to
reacquire records from Dr. Larry Spruill. We should be able to prove that we have a
plan in place, and the proper space for our records.
Collection development is another focus. A policy should be written on what the
library will collect and will make available for research. A code of conducts of patrons
that use the room should be posted on our website. Moreover, this is similar to what
New Rochelle has in place.
The Local History Room could serve as the focus point for a City of Mount Vernon
Historical Society. A meeting was held in the summer to discuss this topic with various
Citizens of Mount Vernon. Through research, I learned that the Yonkers Historical
society operates in the Grinton I. Will library branch within their building. This may be a
way for both institutions to coexist. Through the meeting with Barbara Davis, another
idea is a roundtable that could solve some of the previous problems other attempts to
document Mount Vernon history ran into.
Archivist status
My status as archivist needs to be addressed. A promotion up to full time position
is needed to shepherd these various projects to conclusion. In both my previous and
current service as archivist, the other demands of this library have impacted my time
available to serve as archivist. The research needed for this report was directly
impacted by the hours spent as the computer monitor. More computer monitors are
needed, so I do not have to divert my time during the middle of the project to watching
the computers. The extra hours will be invaluable to service of the local history room.
collection for patrons to use online. This will allow more access from patrons all over
the world. This is also a way of preserving material for the future patrons and
researchers of Mount Vernon history.