Mount Vernon taxpayer Steven Vazquez appeared on Black Westchester presents The People Before Politics Radio Show, Sunday, December 14th, to discuss the upcoming rally in front of Mount Vernon City Hall, Tuesday, December 16th, calling on the Justice Department to investigate the city government — from broken finances to public safety concerns to elected officials communicating with sex offenders.
Last week, we published an editorial Mount Vernon on the Brink of a Tax Hike: What It Means for You. Explaining how Mount Vernon — like many cities across New York State — is wrestling with rising costs, shrinking revenue, and tough decisions about how to fund essential services. At the center of community debate is a proposed increase in property taxes and other local levies that could affect nearly every homeowner in the city, and talk that Mount Vernon is on the brink of bankruptcy, read more….
Black Westchester continues to recommend that residents stay informed and involved in ALL local hearings and meetings, like the upcoming City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 16th, at 6-8pm, as it will give residents the best chance to influence how these tax policies are shaped and applied.
Residents are planning a rally in front of City Hall ahead of the December 16th City Council meeting.
Politics is not a spectator sport, where you just vote and then sit back until the next election; it is a participatory sport, where the residents must actively take part and get involved. Democracy thrives on active citizen involvement, not just watching from the sidelines; like a game, it requires voters to show up (vote), engage in community discussions, contact officials, and stay informed, because low participation leads to policies that don’t reflect everyone’s needs, while high engagement ensures a more representative and healthy government. It emphasizes that doing something—whether voting, advocating, or discussing—is crucial for shaping outcomes, as ignoring the arena lets others dominate, and a government depends on informed, active citizens to make sound decisions.
