Mount Vernon DPW commissioner defends sidewalk projects by his properties

Hannan Adely. The Journal News. January 18, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – The commissioner of the Department of Public Works has had city crews replace sidewalks and curbs near his personal properties in two separate projects since summer.

Terrence Horton insisted his role as a commissioner had no bearing on the selection of those projects and said both streets had hazards that needed to be addressed. The commissioner said he could not neglect problems on a street just because he lived there or owned property there.

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Hundreds of students leave Mount Vernon public schools

By Hannan Adely • The Journal News • December 8, 2008

MOUNT VERNON – When it’s time for school, Marilyn Davis’ son hops into a carpool with two other sixth-graders and they make their way toward Tuckahoe Middle School, even though they all live in Mount Vernon.

The three students are among a growing number of city schoolchildren whose families pay to educate them in other districts or in parochial and private schools. Parents say that concerns about safety, academic rigor and resources have led them to make such choices.

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Details of Mount Vernon firefighters’ criminal pasts elusive

By Hannan Adely • The Journal News • November 16, 2008

MOUNT VERNON – One of the city’s newly hired firefighters spent time in state prison for selling cocaine while another was busted for having stolen weapons.

The two men are among a crop of eight recruits hired by the city in September, despite the fact that six of them had records of criminal arrests.

The Journal News has been seeking more information on the firefighters’ backgrounds through calls to officials and requests for records under the state Freedom of Information Law a month ago. Still, the reasons for the firefighters’ arrests and the number of arrests in each one’s history have been slow to be revealed.

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Mount Vernon mayor wants to undo sister’s raise

By Hannan Adely • The Journal News • November 18, 2008

MOUNT VERNON – Mayor Clinton Young is supporting a measure to retract a raise for his sister, who received the pay increase shortly after he appointed her as the city’s commissioner of management services in August.

The city’s Board of Estimate and Contract is expected to vote on a resolution today to lower Mary Young’s salary from $94,164 back to $87,060 – the salary at which her brother hired her. Young said he wanted to undo the raise because of public sentiment surrounding the situation.

“I understand reality and perception,” he said. “In addition, she was hired at a particular salary that she agreed to.”

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Mount Vernon residents protest 2009 budget plan

Winter sports rescued in Mount Vernon by anonymous donor

By Hannan Adely • The Journal News • October 15, 2008

MOUNT VERNON – The Knights’ famed hoopsters will hit the basketball courts again this winter as another season of school athletics has been saved from the ax by a large, anonymous donation.

Ronnie Cox, president of the Mount Vernon Educational Foundation, said yesterday that the donation helped the district meet its goal of raising $300,000 for winter sports, which also includes track and field, wrestling, swimming and cheerleading. The foundation will announce details of the donation at a news conference at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the district’s Education Center.

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Raise for mayor’s sister stays in place, for now

By Hannan Adely • The Journal News • November 18, 2008

MOUNT VERNON – A measure to retract a raise for Mayor Clinton Young’s sister, the new commissioner of management services, once again did not get enough votes to pass today.

Only two out the three members of the city’s Board of Estimate and Contract were at a meeting this morning – the mayor, who voted for the reduction in salary, and Comptroller Maureen Walker, who abstained. The third board member, City Council President Loretta Hottinger, was absent.

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Historic presidential election inspires Mt. Vernon residents

By Hannan Adely • The Journal News • November 2, 2008

MOUNT VERNON – Derrick Smith says he never voted in the past because he didn’t know much about the candidates or their platforms. He also was discouraged by voting controversies in the 2000 presidential election and thought his vote would not matter.

This year, inspired by an upswell of political activity in his community and the chance to participate in a historic election, the 26-year-old Mount Vernon resident will vote for the first time.

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Three of four Mount Vernon fire department ladder trucks out of service

Mount Vernon firefighter suspended from training after argument

Hannan Adely – The Journal News - Nov. 8, 2008

MOUNT VERNON – A city firefighter in training was suspended from the county fire academy this week following a report that he was involved in a verbal dispute at the facility.

Mount Vernon Fire Commissioner Noah Lighty on Thursday denied any probationary firefighter had been removed from the academy. But yesterday, he acknowledged he suspended firefighter Michael Holt after learning on Monday from instructors at the Westchester County Career Fire Academy about the incident.

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