By Dan Murphy
Two lawsuits filed against the City of Mt. Vernon and a community protest that included a calling out of the Mt. Vernon Police Department to solve murders in the city have resulted in another unflattering portrait of city government under the leadership of Mayor Richard Thomas.
The new comptroller in the City of Mt. Vernon is Deborah Reynolds, who defeated longtime Comptroller Maureen Walker last year. Walker battled with former Mayor Ernie Davis and current Mayor Richard Thomas over a variety of financial matters.
With the election of Reynolds, the belief was that city government could now work together for the betterment of the city. But Thomas is now seeking a court order to force Reynolds to pay the city’s bills.
In court papers filed Friday in State Supreme Court, Thomas accused Reynolds of failing to perform her duties by not paying bills that the City Council and the mayor have authorized.
“Companies who in good faith provide services to the city have to be paid on a timely basis,” Thomas wrote in a statement. “It is a sad day when we have to resort to the courts to get the comptroller to do her sworn duties and pay the city’s bills.”
Thomas’ allegations are similar to accusations and legal arguments made against former Comptroller Walker.
Thomas claims that among the $1.1 million in unpaid bills are invoices for a city truck that was repossessed for lack of payment to legal services to environmental testing at Memorial Field.
Reynolds responded to the mayor’s allegations in two ways: First, she claimed in an email that Thomas “fabricates and uses deceit to make the public believe he is doing right and that I am doing something wrong. In spite of his attacks, I will continue to work in the best interest for the residents of Mount Vernon.”
But Reynolds initially did not answer why the bills were unpaid, and previously had been confused about what accounts the invoices should be paid from.
Later last week, Reynolds said that any unpaid bills are because Thomas has not signed checks that are left on his desk. Former Comptroller Walker also said that Thomas did not sign checks and may have done so purposely so that he could create a controversy.
Reynolds added that Thomas is trying to distract from his legal problems, including allegations that he misused and abused his campaign accounts for personal use.
Thomas was joined at a press conference announcing his legal challenge to Reynolds by Council President Lisa Copeland, Council Member Janice Duarte, representatives of the Civil Service Commission and labor leaders, and city commissioners and employees, who all concurred that some legitimate city bills were not being paid.
Lawsuit number two against the city involves the closure of a local bakery and allegations of harassment against Thomas. The Cupcake Boutique in Mt. Vernon was closed over the summer for building code violations. Its owners, Miesha Stokely and Montika Jones, claim that their business was shut down because their family has been openly critical of Thomas and his administration.
Attorney Lauren Raysor announced a $1.5 million suit against the city on behalf of Stokely, Jones and their business, alleging “harm to reputation, emotional distress and the loss of business.”
“The Notice of Claim states that Richard Thomas engaged in a pattern of harassment by using city employees to harass and intimidate Ms. Stokely and Ms. Jones because of their relationship to Damon Jones, publisher (and) owner of ‘Black Westchester’ newspaper and vocal critic of the mayor and his administration,” said Raysor in a statement. “Ms. Jones, who is also a detective with the City of Mount Vernon Police Department, has been the subject of alleged harassment under Mayor Thomas’ administration and recently settled claims of civil rights violations.”
A surprise inspection resulted in the bakery being closed Aug 3, “without notice, without a violation and without due process,” according to the lawsuit. But the bakery was closed for only one day
Mt. Vernon Corporation Counsel Lawrence Porcari called the bakery lawsuit “meritless and without factual basis. It has been referred to outside counsel, which will defend the city’s position vigorously,” he said. “Some of the city’s concerns were outlined in an Aug. 17 letter to the Westchester County Department of Health and to the establishment in question.”
Finally, a group called Save Mount Vernon held another rally outside City Hall to bring attention to what they claim is a disregard for public safety in their city and a number of unsolved major crimes, including murders.
Save Mount Vernon issued a statement outlining its concerns:
“With public allegations and recent news reports of Mayor Richard William Thomas and Deputy Police Commissioner Joseph Spiezio abusing the powers of the Mount Vernon Police Department, regrettably, we have to question the actions of the entire department to adherence to the rule of law… Since the election of Mayor Richard Thomas and his illegal appointment of deputy police commissioner Joe Spiezio, we have seen our department transform into his own personal military brass – to harass, retaliate and obstruct justice against our citizens and city hall employees.
“We stand as citizens of the great City of Mount Vernon outraged to hear the recent legal testimony of former Police Commissioner Robert Kelly, who alleges several unethical and possible criminal acts of the Thomas administration involving the police department.
“Kelly testified that Spiezio produced a Florida driver’s license,” continued Save Mount Vernon. “It was illegal for any official of the Mount Vernon city government to appoint Spiezio as deputy police commissioner. Kelly alleged a clear violation by Mayor Richard Thomas of New York State Public Officers Law, which states that no police officers or peace officers shall appoint any police officer who shall not be a resident of the State of New York.
“According to Kelly’s testimony, on April 7, 2016, Thomas directed Kelly to change an official police report.
“Meanwhile, Nazarene Duncan’s son, 24-year-old Wilbert Francis, known as Junior, was shot 14 times and died Friday, June 10. According to Duncan, she was approached by Roberta James, a former federal felon and former Thomas campaign manager. Apparently, Roberta setup a conference call and introduced Spiezio by telephone to Duncan.”
Save Mount Vernon continued:
“Duncan questioned Speizio’s authority and why James was involved in her son’s homicide investigation. So, she filed a complaint at the Mount Vernon Police Department. She went public with the complaint, she lost all contact with the investigators, and any leads to solve the homicide was stalled.
“The family and legal team of Rahsi McLean held a press conference on the steps of City Hall on May 31, 2017 to call for oversight of the Mount Vernon Police Department and announce the filing of a civil rights lawsuit.
“‘There needs to be a comprehensive investigation by a higher authority into this matter,’ said attorney Pamela Hayes.
“Westchester County Assistant District Attorney Prisco called the Mount Vernon Police ‘incompetent’ and said ‘they need an overhaul of the police department’ in County Court on May 10.
“We recently requested a meeting with Commissioner Shawn Harris, who refused to meet with us until after our rally. This is unfortunate; stipulations should never be put on citizens and taxpayers concerned about public safety under his command. The testimony of former Commissioner Kelly, the statement of the District Attorney’s Office and the complaint of Duncan will not change after the rally. By no means is this a combative rally – it is a request for help.
“We are focused on unsolved murders in Mount Vernon and the demand for more oversight. Our purpose of the rally is to ask for help; ask for assistance from the county, state and federal authorities. No other city is allowed to operate like Mt. Vernon.” (End of statement from Save Mount Vernon.)
All of these allegations and lawsuits come as the city and county remain at odds on how to clean up and open up Memorial Field for the people of Mt. Vernon again. Two months ago, Mayor Thomas held a photo opportunity with rapper/businessman and Hollywood entrepreneur P. Diddy about the future of Memorial Field. Since that photo-op, there has been no progress or information about when Memorial Field might open again.
County Executive George Latimer has offered to get the county involved, help clean up and repair the field and grandstand, and return the park to the city. It is the best offer that Thomas and the city will get.
