Mount Vernon, NY
Politics
After Weeks Of Consternation, Mount Vernon City Council Approves 2019 Budget, Again After Weeks Of Consternation, Mount Vernon City Council Approves 2019 Budget, Again
After Weeks Of Consternation, Mount Vernon City Council Approves 2019 Budget, Again After seeing their approved budget vetoed, the Mount Vernon City Council pulled a veto of their own, overriding Mayor Richard Thomas’ veto and passing a $112 million with a near 2 percent rise in taxes. The City Council voted four to one on Wednesday night to uphold a budget that was passed earlier this month, despite protestations and dissent from Thomas. The newly approved spending plan 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 …

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by Zak Failla
Mount Vernon, NY
Politics
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…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Vernon, NY
Politics
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…

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by Zak Failla
Armonk, NY
News
Dozens Of DPW Trucks Vandalized In Westchester Before Snowstorm Dozens Of DPW Trucks Vandalized In Westchester Before Snowstorm
Dozens Of DPW Trucks Vandalized In Westchester Before Snowstorm Department of Public Works employees received an unwelcome surprise on Tuesday morning when they went to go to work, and it wasn’t snow. Police are investigating vandalism at the Mount Vernon DPW garage after workers found that the city’s snowplows, salt, garbage and sewer trucks had been sabotaged overnight. According to police, one or more suspects are believed to have entered the Canal Street garage between 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11 and 5 a.m. the following morning and stuffed latex gloves into the tanks of the municipal trucks. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas said the va…

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by Zak Failla
Mamaroneck, NY
Obituaries
Ronald Fatigate, Former Police Commissioner In Westchester, Dies At 55 Ronald Fatigate, Former Police Commissioner In Westchester, Dies At 55
Ronald Fatigate, Former Police Commissioner In Westchester, Dies At 55 Ronald Fatigate of Pearl River, a former police commissioner in Westchester, died at home, on Monday, Jan. 28 after a battle with cancer.  He was born on Aug. 11, 1963, to Ralph Fatigate and Helen Martino Fatigate. He served the City of Mount Vernon as a police officer and detective, later becoming police commissioner.  He was active in his community in Pearl River and was the owner of Raffaele's Pizzeria, where he was always generous with local charities. Ron is survived by his wife Joann, of over 26 years and his two children, Jessica and Ryan. Ron is also survived by his siblin…

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by Zak Failla
Armonk, NY
Police & Fire
Suspect Apprehended After Being Shot, Injuring Cops During BMW Chase In Westchester Suspect Apprehended After Being Shot, Injuring Cops During BMW Chase In Westchester
Suspect Apprehended After Being Shot, Injuring Cops During BMW Chase In Westchester One of two suspects has been arrested following Thursday’s manhunt in Westchester when a police officer was struck and dragged by a man in a stolen BMW as he attempted to escape. Mount Vernon resident Howard Rowlett, 24, was arrested following Thursday’s manhunt when he sought medical treatment in Fairfield County for a gunshot wound he suffered during the incident. Members of the Stamford Police Department alerted investigators in Mount Vernon, and Rowlett was arrested at Stamford Hospital Thursday night. The incident began at approximately 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, as detectives from t…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Vernon, NY
News
Fights Still Going On Following Mayor's Unannounced Visit To Mount Vernon HS With Rapper Fatboy Fights Still Going On Following Mayor's Unannounced Visit To Mount Vernon HS With Rapper Fatboy
Fights Still Going On Following Mayor's Unannounced Visit To Mount Vernon HS With Rapper Fatboy The fallout from Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas’ unexpected visit to the high school last week continues to reverberate throughout the city and school district as fighting has continued into this week. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and rapper Fatboy made an appearance at the high school on Friday, Jan. 11, unbeknownst to the school, Principal Ronald Gonzalez, or Mount Vernon Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton. During the visit - which was without notice or authorization - students got riled up and proceeded to begin fighting when the rapper reportedly “made it rain,” throwing money arou…

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by Zak Failla
Eastchester, NY
News
Building Department At Mount Vernon City Hall To Reopen After Suspicious Package, Fire Building Department At Mount Vernon City Hall To Reopen After Suspicious Package, Fire
Building Department At Mount Vernon City Hall To Reopen After Suspicious Package, Fire The Building Department at Mount Vernon City Hall is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, two days after a suspicious package and fire forced a pair of evacuations. Police said that the threat was announced at approximately 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, prompting an evacuation as officers took emergency measures. The area around City Hall was shut down. The Westchester County Police Bomb Squad responded to City Hall and determined that the package outside the Building Department contained a pest control device. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas noted that it is not a typical pest control device …

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by Zak Failla
Mount Vernon, NY
Police & Fire
Mount Vernon City Hall Evacuated Twice For Suspicious Package, Fire Mount Vernon City Hall Evacuated Twice For Suspicious Package, Fire
Mount Vernon City Hall Evacuated Twice For Suspicious Package, Fire Mount Vernon City Hall was evacuated twice on Monday morning when a suspicious package was found, followed by a suspicious fire that is under investigation. Police said that the threat was announced at approximately 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, prompting an evacuation as officers took emergency measures. The area around City Hall was shut down. The Westchester County Police Bomb Squad responded to City Hall and determined that the package outside the Building Department contained a pest control device. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas noted that it is not a typical pest control device that …

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by Zak Failla
Armonk, NY
Schools
Westchester Mayor’s Unexpected School Visit With Rapper Leads To Chaos Westchester Mayor’s Unexpected School Visit With Rapper Leads To Chaos
Westchester Mayor’s Unexpected School Visit With Rapper Leads To Chaos What was supposed to be a surprise for students at Mount Vernon High School devolved into chaos on Friday, following a visit from the mayor and an Internet rapper. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and rapper “Fatboy” made an appearance at the high school on Friday, Jan. 11, unbeknownst to the school, its principal, or Mount Vernon Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton. During the visit - which was without notice or authorization - students got riled up and proceeded to begin fighting when the rapper reportedly “made it rain,” throwing money around, which led to the chaotic scene. No injuries wer…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Vernon, NY
Schools
Mount Vernon School District Authorizes Legal Action Against Mayor, Rapper, Following HS Chaos Mount Vernon School District Authorizes Legal Action Against Mayor, Rapper, Following HS Chaos
Mount Vernon School District Authorizes Legal Action Against Mayor, Rapper, Following HS Chaos The Mount Vernon School District Board of Education has passed a resolution authorizing legal action against Mayor Richard Thomas and rapper Fatboy following last week’s chaotic incident at the high school. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and rapper “Fatboy” made an appearance at the high school on Friday, Jan. 11, unbeknownst to the school, its principal, or Mount Vernon Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton. During the visit - which was without notice or authorization - students got riled up and proceeded to begin fighting when the rapper reportedly “made it rain,” throwing money around, whic…

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by Zak Failla
Armonk, NY
Business
Restaurant Reopens Months After Fire Tore Through Building In Westchester Restaurant Reopens Months After Fire Tore Through Building In Westchester
Restaurant Reopens Months After Fire Tore Through Building In Westchester Nine months after a fire gutted a popular area, the owners have reopened the doors to the eatery, which is once again open for business. In April last year, on a rainy morning, firefighters were dispatched to the Lincoln Barbeque on East Lincoln Avenue in Mount Vernon, when a fire broke out in the ceiling and quickly spread to the rest of the structure. It took crews several hours to knock down the flames as they dealt with windy conditions and tight confines inside the building. For owner Burt Dones, the outlook was bleak.  “I didn’t know if I would be able to reopen,” he said. “I wa…

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by Zak Failla