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Memorial Field

$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…
New Plan Announced For New $25M Memorial Field In Mount Vernon New Plan Announced For New $25M Memorial Field In Mount Vernon
New Plan Announced For New $25M Memorial Field In Mount Vernon After years of consternation, debate, and bickering, a true revitalization of Memorial Field is underway in Westchester. Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced a $25 million plan that could see the once-vibrant Mount Vernon park operational as soon as 2021. The county has committed $20 million to the project, with the rest set to come from the state. According to Latimer, the proposal would include an NCAA football field that could also double as a soccer, lacrosse or field hockey field, as well as a high school-certified eight-lane track. There would be a skateboard park, t…
Multi-Million Dollar Bid For For Cleanup Of Mount Vernon's Memorial Field Approved Multi-Million Dollar Bid For For Cleanup Of Mount Vernon's Memorial Field Approved
Multi-Million Dollar Bid For For Cleanup Of Mount Vernon's Memorial Field Approved After years of bickering and debate, Mount Vernon officials may have finally come to an agreement to clean up and restore Memorial Field. This week, officials approved a $2.27 million plan to clean up contaminated dirt that was dumped at Memorial Field, a fraction of the originally expected cost. The city Board of Estimates voted 2-0 on Tuesday, Sept. 17 to accept a bid from Tully Environment for the cleanup efforts. The number is down from the initially projected cost of approximately $3.75 million. In total, Tully is expected to remove approximately 30,000 tons of dirt and debris. The pl…
It's Official: Mount Vernon Democratic Primary Winner Named It's Official: Mount Vernon Democratic Primary Winner Named
It's Official: Mount Vernon Democratic Primary Winner Named Affidavit and absentee ballots have been counted and Shawyn Patterson-Howard will be named the winner of the Mount Vernon Democratic mayoral primary. Although current Mayor Richard Thomas has yet to concede - and has filed a lawsuit claiming voting irregularities - the final vote count sits at 2,384 for Patterson-Howard and 2,175 for Thomas following the primary on Tuesday, June 25. A judge is reportedly currently reviewing Thomas’ case, while the Board of Elections says there is no merit to the lawsuit. If she is ultimately elected in the heavily Democrat-leaning city, Patterson-Howard - …
City Council 'Robbing Peter To Pay Paul,' Mount Vernon Mayor Says City Council 'Robbing Peter To Pay Paul,' Mount Vernon Mayor Says
City Council 'Robbing Peter To Pay Paul,' Mount Vernon Mayor Says Internal strife, bickering and finger-pointing inside Mount Vernon City Hall is back, with the mayor now vetoing a City Council transfer of funds, claiming that they are “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced this week that he vetoed a City Council resolution that sought to transfer funds within the Department of Public Works to free up grant-matching funds to match EPA compliance. The city is facing millions of dollars in fines from the Department of Justice and EPA for its failing sewer system and other violations. The latest back-and-forth between the m…
Mount Vernon Mayor Vetoes Passed 2019 Budget Mount Vernon Mayor Vetoes Passed 2019 Budget
Mount Vernon Mayor Vetoes Passed 2019 Budget Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced that he has vetoed a budget for 2019 that was passed earlier in the day. On Friday morning, after weeks of debate and disdain, the Mount Vernon City Council passed a $112 million budget for 2019 that represents a rise in city taxes of nearly 2 percent. Thomas announced that he is vetoing the "illegal" 2019 budget in an email sent at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon. With a 4 to 1 vote, the City Council approved the budget, which will see the average taxpayer spending approximately $77 more this year. The passage comes after weeks of c…
After Weeks Of Consternation, Mount Vernon City Council Approves 2019 Budget After Weeks Of Consternation, Mount Vernon City Council Approves 2019 Budget
After Weeks Of Consternation, Mount Vernon City Council Approves 2019 Budget Weeks after a spending plan is traditionally approved, the Mount Vernon City Council has passed a $112 million budget for 2019 that represents a rise in city taxes of nearly 2 percent. With a 4 to 1 vote, the City Council approved the budget, which will see the average taxpayer spending approximately $77 more this year. The passage comes after weeks of contention between Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas, Comptroller Deborah and the City Council over the city’s finances. According to a lohud report, Councilwoman Janice Duarte was the one to vote against the budget, calling it “fundamentally…
Work Underway At Memorial Field In Mount Vernon Work Underway At Memorial Field In Mount Vernon
Work Underway At Memorial Field In Mount Vernon At long last, work has resumed at Memorial Field, after years of bickering and debate about the once vibrant recreation hub, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced. “Silly politics are behind us,” the mayor said. “What’s in front of us is getting Memorial field back.” Earlier this month, Westchester County officials unanimously voted to take over renovations at the once-vibrant recreation hub, which has stood vacant and desolate for years. The field has been a topic of consternation between Westchester residents, local and county officials. Previously, the city had taken over renovati…
Westchester Taking Second Shot At Memorial Field Renovation In Mount Vernon Westchester Taking Second Shot At Memorial Field Renovation In Mount Vernon
Westchester Taking Second Shot At Memorial Field Renovation In Mount Vernon Is there hope on the horizon for the historic Memorial Field in Mount Vernon? Westchester County officials unanimously voted to take over renovations at the once-vibrant recreation hub, which has stood vacant and desolate for years. The field has been a topic of consternation between Westchester residents, local and county officials. Previously, the city had taken over renovation efforts, which came under fire when contaminated debris was illegally dumped at the field. The charge for change and the county taking over was led by Mount Vernon legislator Lyndon Williams, who said that the pa…
Mount Vernon Reaches Agreement With Westchester County Over Memorial Field Mount Vernon Reaches Agreement With Westchester County Over Memorial Field
Mount Vernon Reaches Agreement With Westchester County Over Memorial Field There may be a light at the end of the tunnel that has become the Memorial Field debacle in Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced on Tuesday that he has signed an amended agreement between the city and Westchester County involving the restoration of the once vibrant, historic, Memorial Field. Thomas said that the amendment “reiterates the city and county’s commitment to a competitive  eight-lane track, a field, and replacement of the decayed grandstands.” It amends the previous agreement, signed in December of 2008, between the city and the county. According to Thomas,…
State Pledges $5M For Memorial Field If Mount Vernon Gives Up Control State Pledges $5M For Memorial Field If Mount Vernon Gives Up Control
State Pledges $5M For Memorial Field If Mount Vernon Gives Up Control As the battle over Memorial Field rages in Mount Vernon, New York State has offered $5 million to help rebuild the once vibrant park - but with a caveat. New York State has offered the money, but only if Mount Vernon cedes control to Westchester County to handle construction efforts, officials said. The field has been a sore spot for locals and elected officials as it lays dormant, with thousands of tons of illegally dumped dirt and debris on its surface. The county seized control of cleanup efforts earlier this year amid the controversies.  Earlier this year, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Th…
Mount Vernon Mayor, Hip-Hop Star 'Diddy,' Discuss Historic Memorial Field Mount Vernon Mayor, Hip-Hop Star 'Diddy,' Discuss Historic Memorial Field
Mount Vernon Mayor, Hip-Hop Star 'Diddy,' Discuss Historic Memorial Field The battle over the historic Memorial Field in Mount Vernon has gone Hollywood. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas was in Los Angeles last week to meet with hip-hop star Sean “Diddy” Combs to “continue collaboration talks to grow Mount Vernon’s sports and entertainment economy.” The meeting came following a similar get together with the mogul in Miami earlier this year. Thomas said that talks included restoring Memorial Field, “making it a premier east coast destination for Olympic athletes and local champions to train, compete and connect with the community.” "I thank Diddy for the in…
Restraining Order On Memorial Field Cleanup Stays In Place Restraining Order On Memorial Field Cleanup Stays In Place
Restraining Order On Memorial Field Cleanup Stays In Place A restraining order remains in place following stalled work at Memorial Field, as Mayor Richard Thomas and other elected officials continue to butt heads, this time before a Supreme Court Judge. On Tuesday, lawyers representing both sides of the debate met with New York State Supreme Court Judge Gerald Loehr to discuss the debacle that has become Memorial Field, which remains a destitute destination in the city after decades of being one of Westchester’s premier locations for families and events. Memorial Field remains a point of contention among elected officials in Mount Vernon, with the …
Demolition Of Grandstands At Mount Vernon Icon Memorial Field Begins Demolition Of Grandstands At Mount Vernon Icon Memorial Field Begins
Demolition Of Grandstands At Mount Vernon Icon Memorial Field Begins After years of discussion, debate and discourse, efforts to restore the once vibrant Memorial Field in Mount Vernon have begun in earnest. Earlier this year, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced a “two-prong” approach to reopen the once vibrant recreation hub that has laid in ruins for the better part of a decade. On Monday, the first shoe dropped, as demolition of the deteriorating Memorial Field grandstands kicked off shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday morning. The demolition project and subsequent removal of debris is expected to take up to three weeks, then a full restoration effort…
It's Going Down: Grandstands At Memorial Field To Be Demolished It's Going Down: Grandstands At Memorial Field To Be Demolished
It's Going Down: Grandstands At Memorial Field To Be Demolished They say that “slow and steady wins the race.” Mount Vernon is putting that to the test with revitalization efforts at Memorial Field. Earlier this year, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced a “two-prong” approach to reopen the once vibrant recreation hub that has laid in ruins for the better part of a decade. In the short term, Thomas said that crews will grow out new grass in anticipation of a temporary track that will be installed over the summer, which the mayor said “would allow for walking, jogging, frisbee throwing, pick-up soccer and touch football games and other outdoor act…
Former Mount Vernon Nutritionist Sues City, Mayor Following Firing Former Mount Vernon Nutritionist Sues City, Mayor Following Firing
Former Mount Vernon Nutritionist Sues City, Mayor Following Firing A former member of the Mount Vernon Department of Recreation is suing Mayor Richard Thomas, the city and Darren Morton, the Commissioner of his former department, alleging that he was fired for attending for attending a meeting regarding Memorial Field with former Mayor Ernest Davis. In a lawsuit filed this week, Larry McDowdell, a former nutritionist, claims that he attended a meeting with Thomas and Morton regarding the possibility of a new roof at the Memorial Field tennis center, and the mayor subsequently sent an email to City Council stating that “he was surprised to see Mayor Davis in…
Mount Vernon Mayor Gives 'Industrial Strength Valentine' To Memorial Field Mount Vernon Mayor Gives 'Industrial Strength Valentine' To Memorial Field
Mount Vernon Mayor Gives 'Industrial Strength Valentine' To Memorial Field Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas has laid out ambitious short and long-term plans to revitalize Memorial Field and remove contaminated soil from the park at a cost of $800,000 for taxpayers. Thomas gave Memorial Field an “industrial strength valentine” on Wednesday, announcing a “two-prong” approach to reopen the once vibrant recreation hub that has laid in ruins for the better part of a decade. “No cards, candy or flowers,” Thomas said at a press conference announcing the proposal. “Instead we brought bulldozers and dump trucks. Who says moving dirt and boulders can't be romantic? The poi…
Former Astorino Advisors Appointed To Mount Vernon IDA Former Astorino Advisors Appointed To Mount Vernon IDA
Former Astorino Advisors Appointed To Mount Vernon IDA A pair of top officials from former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino’s administration has joined the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced the appointments of Eileen Mildenberger as the Executive Director of the IDA, having previously served as director of Economic Development for Westchester County. Former Astorino Communications Director Ned McCormack will assume the same role with the IDA, as well as serving as a senior advisor to Thomas. Both McCormack and Mildenberger are due to make a reported $135,000 annually, making the IDA…