April - 2019

RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS NOT GIVING AWAY OUR CITY - Part 1 of a 3-Part Series

Apr 30, 2019

RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS NOT GIVING AWAY OUR CITY - Part 1 of a 3-Part Series

In this series, we’re going to try to get to the heart of something I call “Responsible Development” in Mount Vernon. It’s something I’ve been trying to promote as a member of the City Council and one I will implement immediately as Mayor. Responsible Development aims to have Mount Vernon reclaim control over its development agenda – how we build, what we build, and what we are willing to invest in ourselves to see the right things built. Responsible Development above all

IT'S OUR TIME, IT'S OUR CITY

Apr 27, 2019

IT'S OUR TIME, IT'S OUR CITY

Dear Neighbor, Mount Vernon has been my home for over 30 years. I’ve raised my family here, made friends here, and run a business here. There’s no place I’d rather call home. There’s no place I want to see succeed more. As City Council President, I have consistently served as the people’s voice against corruption and waste. I always vote against irresponsible developments (PILOTs) that are robbing the citizens of Mount Vernon of much needed tax revenue. I have bold and spe

Time to Stop the “Takers” from Fleecing Our City

Apr 26, 2019

Time to Stop the “Takers” from Fleecing Our City

I’m going to be outlining this topic in more detail in another 3-part series over the next few weeks, but I wanted to give you a quick preview of a discussion on a very important topic affecting every taxpayer in Mount Vernon. This series will introduce many of you to a concept you may not be familiar with: Payment in Lieu of Taxes (called PILOTs or PILOT programs). These programs are made in conjunction with local “industrial development agencies” which are authorized by S

WHAT IS THE REAL MEASURE OF
PROGRESS IN MOUNT VERNON?

Apr 23, 2019

WHAT IS THE REAL MEASURE OF PROGRESS IN MOUNT VERNON?

I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to the future of Mount Vernon. There’s a lot to accomplish in the present, but as an elected leader, part of my job involves positioning our city for future success. My background is in construction and education, so I’m always thinking about the importance of a solid foundation on which to build. This is no different than how we should approach government. Anything built on shifting sand will crumble and fall. So, the first challen

WHAT MOUNT VERNON CAN LEARN FROM SWEDEN

Apr 16, 2019

WHAT MOUNT VERNON CAN LEARN FROM SWEDEN

Last week, I came across an interesting CNBC interview with Alan Greenspan, former head of the Federal Reserve, who was discussing some of the economic challenges the country faces in the future. Mr. Greenspan is widely considered a preeminent economic expert and what he says can and often does move markets. In other words, when he talks, people listen. In this interview, he made a pretty shocking prediction about the national economy. He suggested that the burdens associated

MARIJUANA: THE LEGALIZATION DEBATE: PART 3 - PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

Apr 9, 2019

MARIJUANA: THE LEGALIZATION DEBATE: PART 3 - PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

This is the final part of the debate over legalization of marijuana. Now I will attempt to weigh the evidence for and against the legalization and share some of my conclusions. Obviously, this is going to be my position only. Your position may differ and given the complexities of the issues involved, won’t be surprising if people come to different conclusions. Understandably, people’s positions are most very likely to evolve as the issue works its way through the process. Be

Now You Can Blog from Everywhere!

Apr 4, 2019

Now You Can Blog from Everywhere!

We’ve made it quick and convenient for you to manage your blog from anywhere. In this blog post we’ll share the ways you can post to your Wix Blog. Blogging from Your Wix Blog Dashboard On the dashboard, you have everything you need to manage your blog in one place. You can create new posts, set categories and more. To head to your Dashboard, open the Wix Editor and click on Blog > Posts. Blogging from Your Published Site Did you know that you can blog right from your publish

Design a Stunning Blog

Apr 4, 2019

Design a Stunning Blog

When it comes to design, the Wix blog has everything you need to create beautiful posts that will grab your reader's attention. Check out our essential design features. Choose from 8 stunning layouts Your Wix Blog comes with 8 beautiful layouts. From your blog's settings, choose the layout that’s right for you. For example, a tiled layout is popular for helping visitors discover more posts that interest them. Or, choose a classic single column layout that lets readers scroll

Grow Your Blog Community

Apr 4, 2019

Grow Your Blog Community

With Wix Blog, you’re not only sharing your voice with the world, you can also grow an active online community. That’s why the Wix blog comes with a built-in members area - so that readers can easily sign easily up to become members of your blog. What can members do? Members can follow each other, write and reply to comments and receive blog notifications. Each member gets their own personal profile page that they can customize. Tip: You can make any member of your blog a wr

MARIJUANA: THE LEGALIZATION DEBATE. PART 2 – REAL CHALLENGES!

Apr 2, 2019

MARIJUANA: THE LEGALIZATION DEBATE. PART 2 – REAL CHALLENGES!

Last week, we discussed some of the new opportunities presented by a legalized cannabis industry in New York. Obviously, full recreational legalization is still some time away, but the momentum for it is growing. This series is designed to touch on some of the main points both for and against it. This week we’ll tackle the real world challenges that legalization presents, which are ignored or glossed over by advocates for legalization. As voters and elected officials we sho