Hundreds of Mount Vernon residents, business owners and public officials gathered at Grace Baptist Church Monday night to discuss a variety of issues with County Executive Rob Astorino. The event was the 22nd "Ask Astorino" town hall held over the last year.
Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, senior pastor of Grace Baptist, hosted the event. Astorino began his remarks by thanking Richardson and members of his congregation and saying that Mount Vernon, the place he was born, was always "number one" with him.
Astorino recognized two local winners (right) of the Astorino Challenge in Education. The program, launched last September to encourage kids to do their best in the classroom, awards a free season pass to Playland Park if a student achieves a 3.8 GPA or higher, or perfect attendance for the entire school year. J'air Myree of Longfellow Middle School and Hannah Zamor of Immaculate Conception School each achieved a GPA higher than the 3.8 benchmark and were presented with special certificates by the county executive along with their Playland passes.
Keeping kids and neighborhoods safe was a key topic of discussion as well as the success of the "Mutual Aid Program" between the Mount Vernon and Westchester County Police being conducted under Astorino's Safer Communities program.
Since June, six uniformed officers and two detectives from the County Department of Public Safety have been working alongside the members of the Mount Vernon Police Department on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. So far, the program has resulted in 140 arrests, 28 for felonies, and the seizure of more than 34 pounds of marijuana with no complaints from the community.
"That's people who are off the street," said Astorino. "That's making it safer and that's the county working with the city, especially during the summertime, to rid some of our hot spots of some of the bad elements that are making our streets and our communities unsafe."
Astorino then went on to give an overview of the goals of his administration (providing tax relief, preserving essential services and promoting economic growth), the results that have been achieved to date, and the challenges that must be overcome to continue making progress.
Since Astorino took office, the county property tax levy has been reduced by 2 percent and spending has been reduced by 5.2 percent. In the five years prior to Astorino taking office, the county tax levy had increased by 17 percent and spending had skyrocketed by 23 percent.
Astorino reiterated his commitment to those friends and neighbors who are less fortunate. In the last three years, the county has increased its share of the Social Services budget $30 million. State and federal aid was cut a total of $13 million, during the same time period.
Astorino stressed the need for economic development and job creation in Mount Vernon and around the county. He encouraged residents to take advantage of the county's One-Stop Employment Center located at 100 East First Street in Mount Vernon. The center helps connect employers and job seekers throughout the county.
He introduced Jim Coleman, the executive director of the county's Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation, who is also in charge of the Minority and Women Owned Business Program.
Questions from the audience ranged from taxes to parks to access to social programs.
Senior staff on hand to take questions from residents included Public Safety Commissioner George Longworth, Department of Social Services Commissioner Kevin McGuire and Department of Senior Programs and Services Mae Carpenter.