There has been a lot of discussion, rumors, email blasts, social media posts, and comments about the proposed Charter Review Commission report for 2024–2025 and the amendments that they are asking the people of Mount Vernon to vote on in the November election. I’ve witnessed a lot of false information, smear campaigns, attacks on members of the charter revision committee, and accusations against the City Council, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, and others who are allegedly attempting to thwart the proposed revisions in order to retain their power. At this point, the residents and voters are unsure of what is true, what is not, and who and what to believe.

Let’s start here first. For individuals who would like to read the proposed Charter Review Commission report for themselves, Black Westchester has obtained a copy (see below for the complete report). The Charter Review Commission will not vote on it until Wednesday, July 16, 2025; therefore, even though it is named the Adopted Final Report, it cannot yet be adopted as final yet. Second, why does the report’s cover image not feature a photo of Mount Vernon City Hall? No one could go outside and snap a picture or look up a photo of Mount Vernon, NY City Hall online, so I’m not sure where they found that picture but to put it on the cover of the report is either lazy or shows they do not care enough to have the correct picture on the cover.

And lastly, there has been a lot of talk about a survey that was shared on social media and on the city website, but only 300-plus people (which included some of the commission members themselves) of the 41,000-plus registered voters filled out the survey. I am not sure what the commission did to inform the community, but 300 out of 41,000 people shows they did not do a good job of getting the word out. How are we asking the residents to vote on this in November when only 0.73% of the registered voters in the City of Mount Vernon filled out the survey?

One of the things the commission could have done, and it would have been free, was to contact Black Westchester to help spread the news on our website and by making an appearance on our weekly radio show, People Before Politics Radio. They could have also spent a few dollars to boost their social media post to target resident in the city so it would show up in their timelines.

These are only some recommendations. Several residents have contacted Black Westchester to let us know they were unaware of or had not seen the study. It begs the question: Did they really make an effort to contact every voter in every section of the city, given that they felt confident enough to use a survey with only 0.73% of registered voters participating? According to their own statements at the Thursday, July 10th Charter Revision Forum in City Hall, which was hosted by Councilman Derrick Thompson, only one zip code was adequately represented. The other zip codes are very badly represented, with one Mount Vernon zip code not being represented at all.

So, first and foremost, below is the 320-page report from the commission.

FULL FINAL 24-25 Charter Commission Report by Black Westchester Magazine on Scribd

Here are key bullet points from the Mount Vernon Charter Review Commission Final Report (2024–2025):

🗳️ Ballot Questions & Major Proposals

Ballot Question #1: Transition to Council-Manager Government

Shifts executive power from the elected Mayor to a professionally appointed City Manager.
The mayor becomes the presiding officer of the City Council and ceremonial leader.
Board of Estimate and Contract abolished; its functions reassigned to the City Manager and the Council.
Takes effect January 1, 2028 (after the current Mayor’s term ends). Note: This is a blending of the powers of the Executive Branch (The Mayor) and the Legislative Branch (The City Council)

Note: This is a blending of the powers of the Executive Branch (The Mayor) and the Legislative Branch (The City Council). The principle of “equal branches of government” refers to the idea that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of a government should be independent and have roughly equal power, preventing any one branch from becoming too dominant. The same can be said for the elected Comptroller, which is dealt with in ballot question #2. This is often achieved through a system of checks and balances, where each branch can limit the power of the others.

Ballot Question #2: Appointed Commissioner of Finance

Replaces elected Comptroller with an appointed, credentialed Commissioner of Finance.
Commissioner accountable to City Manager (if Ballot #1 passes) or Mayor (if not).
Board of Estimate and Contract also abolished under this plan.
Takes effect January 1, 2030 (after next Comptroller term).

Note: Again, turning the Comptroller from an elected position (by the people) into an appointment (by the city council) removes that independence and opens the door to the very abuse the revision is supposed to be protecting the residents from.

📋 Executive Summary Highlights

The Commission aims to modernize government, enhance accountability, and improve services.
Proposals reflect best practices and lessons from interviews, research, and other cities.
Voters will decide on changes in the November 4, 2025, general election.

🔍 Background

The commission is required by the 2019 Charter amendment, mandating review every 5 years.
Comprised of diverse Mount Vernon residents and legal/technical advisors.
Supported by National Civic League and Marks DiPalermo Wilson LLP for legal and governance expertise.

👥 Public Outreach

Three-phase process: education, community forums, and ongoing outreach through 2025.
Mixed in-person and virtual engagement; virtual forum viewed over 500 times.
A public survey was conducted to assess resident views.

Note: 300-plus people out of 41,000 registered voters of the City of Mount Vernon (0.73%) filled out the survey. Not a great representation of residents’ views, I’m just saying.

🧑‍⚖️ Commission Structure

15 commissioners, supported by an advisory board, legal counsel, and consultants.
Subcommittees reviewed specific Charter sections (Finance, Governance, HR/Social Services, Public Works).
Interviews were conducted with officials from New Rochelle, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, and others.

🧩 Subcommittee Results

Finance: Rejected tax cap and lien amendment proposals. Found Charter already sufficient for budget rules.
Governance: Advanced proposals for Council-Manager and appointed Finance Commissioner. Rejected term limits and non-partisan elections.
HR/Social Services: No formal proposals advanced.
Public Works: Identified fragmentation and called for structural/code improvements, not Charter amendments.

📚 Legal Basis

Proposals authorized by NYS Municipal Home Rule Law §36 and the NYS Constitution.
Charter amendments require public referendum approval.

🧭 Future Considerations

Non-partisan primaries.
Model City Charter adoption.
Mandatory referendum to exceed property tax cap.
Hybrid district/at-large City Council election system.

So why did I feel it was important to share all of this? Simply. This is potentially a seismic shift in the structure of the city of Mount Vernon’s government. Is it good or bad? It will be up to you to decide. The Charter Review Commission would like Mount Vernon to have a City Manager and an appointed Comptroller, which can change how our city truly operates / functions. More importantly, you, the resident, will be required to vote on these proposed revisions that you had very little input on.

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 members are Tamala Boyd, Chair, David Rogers, Vice Chair, Kareen Bell, Secretary, Rosia Blackwell – Lawrence, Brian Dwyer, Anitra Hadley, Mary Kingsley, Susan Lally, Eileen Lambert, Delores Lopes, Erin McGarry, Geeta Morris, Kevin Morrison, Haley Pilgrim, and Monica L. Whiting – Hogans. Charter Review Commission meetings, minutes, and agenda can be found here, the 7th board or commission listed on the page. The commission also has an advisory board that includes individuals not selected as commission members, as well as current and former elected officials, who will contribute ideas and identify areas for charter revision.

Because this affects all of you and your families, Black Westchester is not urging anyone to support or oppose the proposed charter revisions. Instead, the goal of sharing this information is to hopefully increase your knowledge, so you can ask the right questions and make better decisions at the polls. We can not blame the state of the city on just our leaders, elected officials, commission, and board members; you have a very vital role to play as well. I have said countless times, politics is a participatory sport. You, as a citizen, resident, and registered voter, have an active role to play in shaping your government and society. That participation is crucial for a healthy democracy and goes beyond just voting. It includes contacting elected officials and, in this case, the charter review commission members, and engaging in public discourse and holding your leaders accountable. It includes showing up and being counted at city council, school board, and library board meetings (many of which are livestreamed so you can watch at home or listen to in your car on your way home), participating in things like surveys for charter revisions, and doing everything you can to be informed. We are all busy, but you can always contact the city clerk, city council members, district leaders, etc, and find out what’s going on in your city

While I put most of the onus on this commission for not doing a great job getting the word out, how good of a job are you doing to stay informed and be engaged? If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem, and you cannot continue to complain on social media when you are not doing your part!!!

There is a phrase I use a lot: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” It is a proverb that means you can provide someone with an opportunity or the resources to do something, but you cannot force them to take advantage of it or to be successful. It highlights the idea that ultimately, individuals must be willing and motivated to act on their own. So while I hold our elected officials and leaders’ feet to the fire, I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t hold the residents of the city equally accountable.

You have the information, at least enough to make you ask questions and seek answers from your leaders, so what are you going to do with it?

Also check Damon K Jones’ column, From The Publisher’s Desk; It’s Not The Mount Vernon Charter — It’s Who Mount Vernon Elects.

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