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Politics
Westchester Mayor, Comptroller At Odds Over City Finances, Lack Of Transparency Westchester Mayor, Comptroller At Odds Over City Finances, Lack Of Transparency
Westchester Mayor, Comptroller At Odds Over City Finances, Lack Of Transparency Drastic cuts could be coming to one of Westchester’s largest cities as the Mayor butts heads with the City Comptroller. Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and the City Council recently held a joint press conference regarding Comptroller Deborah Reynolds and her “lack of transparency, accountability, and professionalism,” that has left the city at a financial crossroads. According to Patterson-Howard, as the city and state continue combating the COVID-19 crisis, Mount Vernon requires Reynolds to release more than $12 million, or austerity measures may be put in place, including a 25 …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Alleged PPP Kickback Scheme Reportedly Under Investigation In Westchester COVID-19: Alleged PPP Kickback Scheme Reportedly Under Investigation In Westchester
Covid-19: Alleged PPP Kickback Scheme Reportedly Under Investigation In Westchester Some city employees in Mount Vernon are facing an investigation for allegedly concocting a plan to cheat the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, with rumors mounting of a potential federal probe into a kickback scheme, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard issued a memo to city employees warning that there could be consequences if there is truth behind rumors of a possible scam. "If you applied for and/or received a loan, grant or ANY form of payment as part of the recently discovered 'process' that required you pay a portion of the disbursement ba…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Suspect At Large After Teen Shot, Killed In Westchester Suspect At Large After Teen Shot, Killed In Westchester
Suspect At Large After Teen Shot, Killed In Westchester The shooter of an 18-year-old who was fatally shot in Westchester remains at large, police said. Police confirm that the teen was shot in Mount Vernon on South 8th Avenue, between First and Second Street at approximately 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29. The shooter has not yet been apprehended. The 18-year-old was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 30. His name has not yet been released by police. This marks at least the fifth fatal shooting in Mount Vernon since April. 
“Another life lost to senseless viole…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Many Pushing For Mount Vernon Hospital To Stay Open Amid Outbreak COVID-19: Many Pushing For Mount Vernon Hospital To Stay Open Amid Outbreak
Covid-19: Many Pushing For Mount Vernon Hospital To Stay Open Amid Outbreak Many are calling on officials to call off plans to close Mount Vernon Hospital as the nation continues battling the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said that Montefiore applied for a Certificate of Need (CON) with the New York State Department of Health seeking approval to close the hospital this year. On Oct. 15 last year, Montefiore announced that the Department of Health will award a $41 million grant to enable Montefiore to close the only full-service hospital in Mount Vernon and open an Off-Campus Emergency Department on Sanford Bouleva…

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by Zak Failla
News
Whistleblower: Innocent People Framed By Police In Westchester, Report Says Whistleblower: Innocent People Framed By Police In Westchester, Report Says
Whistleblower: Innocent People Framed By Police In Westchester, Report Says A whistleblowing police officer in Mount Vernon secretly recorded his colleagues admitting to false arrests, planting evidence, beatings, and other misdeeds, according to a new report. For months, Gothamist/WNYC has been provided tapes by Mount Vernon Police officer Murashea Bovell, which includes statements and claims from active-duty officers within the department to various forms of corruption. In the tapes, multiple officers refer to having witnessed or taken part in misconduct that includes framing and abusing suspects, collaborating with drug dealers to curry favor, and other corrupti…

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by Zak Failla
News
Scam Instagram Page Posing As Mayor Uncovered In Westchester Scam Instagram Page Posing As Mayor Uncovered In Westchester
Scam Instagram Page Posing As Mayor Uncovered In Westchester Officials in Westchester debunked a phony Instagram page that saw fraudsters posing as the mayor of one of the county's largest cities. The fraudsters posed as Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. On Sunday, May 17, city officials were made aware of the  page impersonating Patterson-Howard that was using a tricky handle in “an attempt to deceive and exploit residents.” The fake account uses the handle @MayorSPH_, while Patterson-Howard’s actual account is @MayorSPH without the underscore. According to Patterson-Howard, the fake account sent out several personal messages with …

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by Zak Failla
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ID Released For Fatal Westchester Shooting Victim As Suspect Remains At Large ID Released For Fatal Westchester Shooting Victim As Suspect Remains At Large
ID Released For Fatal Westchester Shooting Victim As Suspect Remains At Large A shooter is on the loose after fatally shooting a 28-year-old man in Westchester, according to officials. Shortly before 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, Mount Vernon resident Kayshawn Smith suffered multiple gunshot wounds outside an apartment complex on Millington Avenue, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said. His injuries were fatal. The shooter has not been identified. Patterson-Howard noted that the investigation into the fatal shooting is open and active. No arrests have been made. Earlier story: Westchester Man Charged With Murder For Fatal Shooting Of Area Resident Anyone wit…

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by Zak Failla
News
$29M Mount Vernon Memorial Field Plan Gains Approval $29M Mount Vernon Memorial Field Plan Gains Approval
$29M Mount Vernon Memorial Field Plan Gains Approval After nearly a decade is disrepair, a Westchester icon is set to get a multi-million renovation that could see it open as soon as 2021. Lawmakers in Westchester approved a $29 million renovation plan for Memorial Field in Mount Vernon after numerous previous proposals started and stalled due to political strife and a question of where funding would come from. The Westchester Board of Legislators overwhelmingly approved the project with a 15-2 vote. “It was important to ensure that while Mount Vernon is the jewel of Westchester, Memorial Field is the jewel of Mount Vernon,” Mayor Shawyn Pat…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Walk-In Testing Facility Opens In Westchester COVID-19: New Walk-In Testing Facility Opens In Westchester
Covid-19: New Walk-In Testing Facility Opens In Westchester A new walk-through testing facility for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is coming to Westchester. A new COVID-19 testing center is being set up at the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, on 4th Street which will open up on Friday, April 17. Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said that the site will operate as a mobile facility for those who do not have access to a car, allowing people to use the facility by walking through instead of pulling up in a car. As of late on Wednesday, April 15, Mount Vernon had 1,313 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the Westchester County Departm…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Three Killed In Apparent Westchester Murder-Suicide Three Killed In Apparent Westchester Murder-Suicide
Three Killed In Apparent Westchester Murder-Suicide Three people were killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Westchester, officials said. City officials said that it is likely a man killed his wife and 12-year-old daughter in Mount Vernon on Sunday, April 5, in an apparent murder-suicide in their West Fourth Street home. “Mount Vernon has experienced a heartbreaking tragedy this morning,” Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said. “We are investigating a probable murder-suicide in which a man killed his wife and daughter and took his own life. This investigation is still in the early stages. Our prayers are with the family during this…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Who Did You Vote For On Election Day In Westchester? Who Did You Vote For On Election Day In Westchester?
Who Did You Vote For On Election Day In Westchester? Many local municipalities held elections for town supervisors, village and city mayors, council members and judges on Tuesday, Nov. 5.  Westchester County legislators also were up for re-election. Several towns had local propositions on their ballots. For expanded coverage of politics, schools and lifestyle, visit Daily Voice Plus With the onset of "early voting" in New York state, registered voters were able to cast votes since Friday, Oct. 26. Additional details about candidates on the ballot can be found by clicking here.  Towns and Villages Across Westchester, Democrats enj…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
New Turn In Mount Vernon's Mayoral Musical Chairs: Judge's Ruling Results In Change New Turn In Mount Vernon's Mayoral Musical Chairs: Judge's Ruling Results In Change
New Turn In Mount Vernon's Mayoral Musical Chairs: Judge's Ruling Results In Change The lengthy game of musical chairs over who ultimately lands in the mayor’s seat in Mount Vernon may have come to a merciful end after more than five weeks of debate. A state judge has determined that Andre Wallace is the mayor of Mount Vernon, and will stay in that seat through the remainder of the year. "Today a Supreme Court Judge ruled in favor of me," Wallace said. "I assumed the role of acting mayor the moment former-Mayor Richard Thomas took a plea deal. No action to change city council leadership changes that." The ruling ends 37 days of mayoral mayhem over who was actually in char…

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by Zak Failla