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.
