Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young has ambitious goals for the city, including making it “a model city for the world.”
Speaking before members of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce recently, Young asked the business community for help in achieving the goals.
“I plan to make this city the best city in Westchester County,” he said. “I want not just immediate but long-term successes.”
Young wants to create a master plan, something the city has not had since the early 1960s, and said he intends to schedule meetings with stakeholder groups and hold public hearings on the topic.
He said specific development proposals could not be discussed until the master plan process is under way. He did, however, offer some general ideas, such as attracting office and commercial space to the corridor between the transit hub on Prospect Avenue down to Third Street.
As for residential development, Young said Mount Vernon needs to build more market-rate housing ”“ “a real catalyst for growth here” ”“ while continuing to provide low- to moderate-income housing for residents.
The mayor said he will focus on redeveloping Memorial Field, though he didn”™t discuss specifics.
Since he took office Jan. 1, Young said, he has already heard from some 25 developers who have proposed various projects ”“ of at least $15 million apiece ”“ for the city.
“There is an excitement about Mount Vernon now, the potential is there for real success,” he said. “There are going to be opportunities, but it needs to be the right development, we”™re not going to take just anyone.”
Young said one of his goals is improving the city”™s image to help draw businesses and residents here. He said efforts such as eliminating graffiti and adding more police foot patrol will make the city safer for residents and non-residents, which in turn will improve business.
“I recognize that there are a lot of great success stories here,” he said. “But I could not ignore the things that needed to be addressed.”
Young also asked the assembled business owners to consider hiring local teenagers for part-time work either during the summer or after school.
Young said city hall will be more “user-friendly” and “each and every department in my administration will be easier to work with.”
Along those lines, Young said he would work with the city”™s Empire Zone coordinator to streamline the process and get zone applications to Albany for approval quicker.
He also pledged to make the city”™s budget process as transparent as possible. “The public needs to know where each and every penny is being spent.”
