Dear Friends,
We’ve come to the close of a turbulent year. 2020 has been marked by challenges that can only be described as biblical. A global pandemic responsible for the deaths of over 300,000 Americans, crippling economic conditions, racial and social unrest and political dissension threatening to tear the country apart. Each challenge is formidable on its own. Together, they seemed insurmountable. Many of us blink back tears while wondering how we managed to survive. Some are crawling to the finish line as they contemplate what’s next, while others feel like this year has left a scar on their soul. And, far too many are stuck, unable to handle their current conditions, much less plan for the future. As painful and protracted as this year has been, we can’t just wish it away.
We must acknowledge the 2020 mental, physical, social, economic and emotional tolls. We are collectively mourning the loss of the lives that COVID-19 forced us to abandon. The joy of fellowship at our faith-based institutions and congregating for social events; concerts, games, parades, cultural and community activities has changed significantly. Going to work and sending our children off to school feels like a time of the past while we all tap into a virtual space. Even the simple joy of connecting with a friend or loved one, activities long taken for granted, now haunt us as ghosts of lives that we once knew, we wonder if things will ever be the same.
The hardest part of my job by far has been saying goodbye to the Mount Vernonites that we’ve lost to COVID. Calling to console grieving families and reflecting on the lives claimed by this awful virus brings tears to my eyes. Despite the national surge and omnipresent threat, it still didn’t feel real to lose my neighbors. Remaining resilient in the face of loss and need has been challenging, and I often find myself drawing deep into my well, a reservoir of courage and compassion filled by faith, family, friends and neighbors.
Much worse than a climate catastrophe like a storm or an earthquake, this year has been like a series of rolling natural disasters with no end in sight. Just as we mastered one crisis, another unfolded. We spent weeks at home glued breathlessly to the television for daily coronavirus updates when just stepping outside felt life-threatening. Months of sheltering in place finally ended and were immediately followed by the brutal killing of George Floyd and details on the death of Breonna Taylor which brought about the subsequent outpouring of pain and outrage expressed through worldwide protests. Yet, Mount Vernon has been leading the way on police reform, doing the work since day 1 to help reshape and reimagine policing. We formed a diverse and engaging Police Reform Commission to help reform our Police Department and look forward to their impact.
The staggering economic burden still looms overhead as needy families forego necessities and turn to food pantries for support. Mental health check-ins with friends and loved ones took on extra gravity. This holiday season may be the most challenging period yet. This is the time of year to gather with friends and family to celebrate the season, and socially distancing from those we love is heart-wrenching, especially given what we’ve had to endure.
When I was sworn in as Mayor, I came to the position with high hopes for quickly turning around our great City. On that cold and clear January day, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead. As COVID-19 weaved its way through every aspect of our lives, it forced me to change direction and marshal the strength and resilience to lead Mount Vernon through some of the hardest moments in our shared history. My training as a social worker and minister, and my experience as an executive and administrator helped prepare me for the necessary work. Secured 29.6 million in funding for Memorial Field, which will be open by end of 2021. Uplifted our small businesses and help maintain our sales tax revenue, we are the only city in the Hudson Valley to keep our economy on track. Fought the closure of Mount Vernon Hospital, increased testing for our residents through the Neighborhood Health Center. Invested in technology to bring our government into the 21st century. Making certain that our residents had financial and emotional resources to make it through the toughest moments. Creating a slate of virtual programming to keep adults and children engaged and optimistic. Navigating a budget with limited financial data and support to purchase life-saving PPE. Partnering with community and faith-based organizations to provide more than a million pounds of food. Checking on City workers to make certain that they balanced the strain of keeping Mount Vernon running smoothly while handling their personal lives.
I’ve witnessed countless Mount Vernon residents tap into that same inner strength during the pandemic. As a community and a City, we’ve been forced to develop new ways to communicate and engage with one another. We’ve been called to be the keepers of our brothers and sisters, to encourage each other and find novel ways to connect. I’ve been so proud of how we’ve become our own lifelines. Neighbors helping neighbors. Shopping on behalf of vulnerable people to get them food and medicine. Dropping off cooked meals to our elders. Communities volunteering to distribute food and essential supplies like masks and hand sanitizer. Demonstrating appreciation and providing support to our First Responders and Essential Workers enlarged all of our spirits. Mount Vernon, we did our absolute best to ensure that no one went to bed hungry. We’ve done an admirable job holding up one another through the pandemic and have some of the lowest infection rates in Westchester County. Handling the COVID crisis has made us a stronger and more unified city--the kind that supports and defines itself. Now, it’s time to pivot to the next phase: creating our new normal.
In this COVID environment, life won’t be the same. Even with social distancing and the promise of mass vaccination, the nature of gatherings will change. Gestures we once took for granted such as hugs and handshakes will be reserved for close circles. For many, the frameworks for working and attending school are forever altered. The world is changing, and we must also evolve.
This is the time to reimagine Mount Vernon and how we live our lives. As we prepare for the 2021 budget, we must look at bold new ways to increase our revenue base to take the burden off of our residents. Smart and responsible development, supporting existing business and attracting new ones, securing additional grants, can help our community become more equity-centered. In 2021 we will launch innovative programs like Mayor’s for Guaranteed Income and Financial Navigators which will offer a more robust safety net and provide financial mobility for the vulnerable among us. We will support small businesses and entrepreneurship through the creation of the Office of Economic Empowerment which with partner with SOBRO, WEDC, Lehman College Small Business Development Center and others to offer training, networking and capacity building. We will partner with financial institutions to gain access to capital and other critical resources for our entrepreneurs and small businesses. We will spur economic growth and provide opportunities for home ownership for our community by returning foreclosed properties to the tax rolls. We will reconnect and expand social, emotional, mental and recreational supports for youth, seniors and veterans. We will utilize Federal Funding to provide access to capital and shop locally whenever possible. We will continue to strengthen Public Safety through Police, Fire and Emergency Management. We will address our crumbling infrastructure, roads, sewers, and bridges, with the help of our Department of Public Works. Through Operation: Better Living, we will improve the Quality of Life, code enforcement, cleanliness, pride and love for our city, attacking blight and zombie homes where we see it. We can invest more time and energy in our neighborhoods. Like the elders before us who shaped the modern world and secured rights for women, Black and Brown Americans, and other marginalized groups, we must boldly forge new beginnings. Mount Vernon our greatest strength is the diversity, grit, resilience, and passion of our residents. This is the time both locally and globally to champion more robust social benefits. It’s time to demand more and better educational resources so that our babies can return to school. It’s time for universal access to healthcare. It’s time to build a better world.
A brighter future is within reach. Let’s continue moving forward together in 2021.
Happy New Year.
In Service,
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, MPA
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