By Dan Murphy
Last month, Mt. Vernon resident and taxpayer Gabriel Thompson filed a lawsuit against Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawn Patterson-Howard, alleging illegal use of taxpayer funds. Thompson’s suit also alleges that the Mayor improperly tipped off a coach who is now charged by the Westchester DA of sexual abuse of a 13 year old.
Other allegations against the Mayor include:
During the period leading up to the May 20, 2025, Mount Vernon School Board Trustee and Library Board Trustee elections, Defendant Patterson-Howard misused her position as Mayor—and leveraged official city branding and resources—to publicly endorse candidates in what is intended to be a fair, nonpartisan election. In doing so, she disparaged opposing candidates and engaged in conduct that compromised public trust and safety.
According to the suit,
Patterson-Howard Alerts Child Molester of Pending Allegations
- On or around April 28, 2025, Defendant Patterson-Howard was sent a text message alerting her to deeply troubling allegations concerning an individual closely associated with her:
Separately, I’m hearing troubling reports that a middle-aged close associate of yours is accused of having inappropriate physical relations with a 14-year-old eighth grader and of stealing from a
nonprofit organization. It is also being reported that you were aware of both allegations. Is this true?”
Ex. B (Screenshot of Text). - This message did not include the name of any individual, nor did it provide identifying details. Despite this, what followed raises serious questions about Defendant Patterson-Howard’s judgment, priorities, and potential obstruction of justice.
On information and belief, Defendant Patterson-Howard not only shared the text
message with Murray, but she summoned him to her office at City Hall to do so.
- On May 15, 2025, following a press conference by Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announcing Murray’s arrest, Defendant Patterson-Howard issued a public statement claiming that she had recently received “a vague, anonymous, and suspicious text message containing allegations of sexual misconduct.” The mayor stated: While the message lacked specific details and appeared politically motivated, I did not hesitate to act. . . . Allegations of this nature must always be treated with urgency and care . . . . I immediately contacted the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office . . . . I treat all allegations of sexual abuse with the gravity they deserve and have followed all proper protocols to allow justice to take its full and fair course.
- Defendant Patterson-Howard’s statement omitted several critical facts:: (1) that she contacted the accused directly before, or in very close proximity to, contacting the District Attorney, (2) that she somehow identified Dwayne Murray as the subject of a “vague, anonymous” complaint, and (3) that summoning an alleged child molester to City Hall and personally disclosing the complaint cannot reasonably be construed as “following proper protocols.”
- These actions raise serious concerns about Defendant Patterson-Howard’s judgment, her potential interference with an active or anticipated criminal investigation, and her motivations for prioritizing communication with the alleged perpetrator over immediate notification to law enforcement authorities. They also call into question whether her actions were motivated by her political alliance with Murray during a contested local election. Notably, Murray was previously engaged to, and still living with school board trustee candidate Erica Petersen, whom Defendant Patterson-Howard publicly supported.
The suit also attempts to link Mayor Patterson-Howard to a group “Rise Up Mount Vernon.”
Defamatory Website Promoted by Patterson-Howard Allies
- On or around June 20, 2025, a political organization known as “Rise Up Mount
Vernon”—which, on information and belief, acts as a political surrogate for Defendant
Patterson-Howard—launched a website designed to defame Democratic City Council
candidates Nicholas Mastrogiorgio and Andre Wallace. The site is styled in the format of
political opposition research and contains personal photographs, disparaging statements,
and misleading or inflammatory narratives about the candidates. At the bottom of the site,
in small print, is the disclaimer: “Paid for by Rise Up Mount Vernon.”
The design, tone, and timing of this website make it indistinguishable from a digital extension of Defendant Patterson-Howard’s campaign efforts. Its content closely mirrors language and tactics seen in the mayor’s other campaign literature and mailers, reinforcing the inference of a coordinated and sanctioned smear campaign.
- The nature of the site—anonymous in design but clearly affiliated with political operatives closely aligned with Defendant Patterson-Howard—illustrates a calculated attempt to undermine political opponents while shielding the mayor from direct accountability. The site’s launch in the final days before the June 2025 primary suggests a deliberate strategy to cause reputational harm with minimal time for rebuttal or correction.
Coordinated Smear Campaign via Social Media - In addition to the defamatory website, Defendant Patterson-Howard and her allies are believed to have initiated a coordinated telephone and social media campaign around the same time, soliciting individuals to publicly attack and discredit opposition candidates online. Several individuals who received these calls have come forward, stating that Mayor Patterson-Howard personally asked them to post defamatory content on social media.
Obstructing a law enforcement investigation is a felony. Act accordingly.
In a statement issued from City Hall, Patterson-Howard stated, “This is a politically motivated and frivolous lawsuit filed by a so-called activist,” she said. “Unfortunately, it will force the City to divert valuable resources at a time when we are focused on public safety, economic development, and housing for our residents. It seeks to drag Mount Vernon back to an era of chaos and confusion we’ve worked so hard to move beyond. When I took office, I promised to lead with integrity and not to do anything that would embarrass our community and I have kept that promise. We will allow this matter to play out in court.”
Legal experts analysis of the suit:
In Yonkers, the Mayor’s security detail is based on threat assessments and safety vulnerability. Wherever the Mayor goes, so goes his security detail. You cannot separate the Mayor from the person. To accuse Mayor Patterson-Howard of using her police officer to travel around the city as an illegal act will be difficult to prove.
If Mayor Patterson-Howard did tip off Dwayne Murray before the DA announced his arrest is a criminal accusation, which will be resolved in criminal courts and by the DA.
Regarding Rise Up Mt. Vernon, first it will have to be proven that the charges made by the group were defamatory or illegal. If there is a finding against Rise Up Mt. Vernon, the next hurdle will be to determine Mayor Patterson-Howard’s affiliation and involvement with the group.
