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Sketch of a tally sheet headed Board of Estimate Vote, with the Aye column full of tally marks and the Nay column blank

In Theory, Mount Vernon Elects a Comptroller to Protect Taxpayers. Does It Work?

In theory, an elected comptroller is an independent check on city spending. In practice, the board where he votes has approved 828 items this year and rejected none.

Mount Vernon still elects its comptroller. He warned of bankruptcy, doubted the revenue, and voted aye 828 times. The nay column is empty.
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The Comptroller Has Diagnosed Mount Vernon’s Fiscal Problem. Now Let’s Talk About His Record.

Darren Morton’s second-quarter report is honest about the overspending. It is quiet about who was supposed to stop it.

Morton’s own Q2 report shows a $4.32M deficit and police overtime at 201% of budget. He promised to control spending. Six months in, he hasn’t.
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face-with-hands-on-it

Criticism Is Not “Chaos”: A Dangerous Mindset in Mount Vernon Politics

The dysfunction came first. The criticism followed. Officials have the order reversed.

When elected officials reframe civic criticism as an attack on the city, the goal isn't to answer residents. It's to delegitimize them.
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cannabis-fleetwood

A 4/20 “Takeover” in Fleetwood — and No One Seems to Be in Charge

Residents are asking basic questions about a weekend 'cannabis takeover' in Fleetwood. City Hall isn't answering.

Residents are asking basic questions about a multi-day cannabis takeover in Fleetwood this weekend. No permit, no council vote, no response from City Hall.
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hunts-woods-contaminated sign

Sewage Is Flowing Into Hunt’s Woods. And No One Has Fixed It.

Testing Shows Fecal Bacteria at 45 Times the Safe Level. The City's Response: Set Up Signs Blaming Dog Owners.

Sewage Is Flowing Into Hunt’s Woods. And No One Has Fixed It.
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city-hall-robot-sketch

The Commuter Tax Proposal: Legally Suspect, Politically Dead, and Missing the Point

Mayor Patterson-Howard's latest revenue idea has a problem. Several, actually.

Mount Vernon's proposed commuter tax is dead on arrival in Albany and unconstitutional under existing precedent. So why is the mayor pushing it anyway?
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non-profit-city-call-cartoon

City Hall’s Private Charities

How Mount Vernon Officials Built Two Nonprofits to Fund Themselves with Your Money

Two city-employee-run nonprofits operate out of the same room in Mount Vernon City Hall. The Comptroller leads both — and approved $60,000 in federal funds to one of them. Public records reveal deep conflicts of
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gary-pretlow-assemblymember

We Met With Assemblyman Pretlow About Mount Vernon’s Fiscal Emergency

He supports state financial oversight — if the city council asks for it.

MVCIP met with Assemblyman Pretlow to discuss Mount Vernon's fiscal crisis. He supports state financial oversight — but the City Council must request it first.
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building-department-vegas

The Austerity Budget That Wasn’t

Mount Vernon is operating under what City officials describe as “austerity budget protocols.”

Mount Vernon officials approved $20,800 in conference travel, a Las Vegas junket for a Building Commissioner whose department is in shambles, and a portrait ceremony — all while claiming austerity.
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city-hall-balloon-cartoon

If It’s Administrative, Why Create It?

City Hall Ignores Austerity Budget and Lowers the Bar for Civil Service

Mount Vernon’s new infrastructure chief raises questions about executive power, consultant costs, and long-term fiscal risk. Who really pays?
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