Mt. Vernon Independent Democrats "Our Mission"

“If that body of elected officials are ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. As members of Mt. Vernon Independent Democrats we will demand any fraud of the people be stopped.”

The Mt. Vernon Independent Democrats (MVID) will use innovative grassroots organizing strategies to help candidates break through the political glass ceiling. The MVID will target and mobilize support for all the races (including any important ballot measures) in one coordinated campaign. We also recruit and endorse strong community activist early in their political careers, recognizing that a candidate may have to run more than once to win.

The Mount Vernon Independent Democrats will be the voice for residents of Mt. Vernon in the politics of the Democratic Party. Born from the idea of the need of reform of the usual party boss rule for political gain without gain for the people in Mt. Vernon that includes all ethic groups and economic backgrounds.

As Independent Democrats we will continue to support progressive government and issues, help elect honest and intelligent public officials, and supports deserving and qualified judicial candidates. We serve as a direct conduit to local elected officials, organize forums to introduce prospective candidates to the voters, and then organize support behind our endorsed candidates.

With the MVID dedicated membership, and its network with other grassroots and community organizations, the MVID offers distinct benefits to both the candidates and the causes we support, as well as to the people who contribute to them. This is an organization "For the People and by the People."

Monday, August 19, 2013

Rejection of two Candidates Claiming to be Independent Democrats

Rejection of two Candidates Claiming to be Independent Democrats
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In recent advertisement, two candidates for Mount Vernon City Council have represented themselves as the “Independent Democratic Team”.  We the Westchester Independent Democrats are greatly disappointed in the misrepresentation of two Mount Vernon City Council Candidates Andre R. Bailey and Maria L. Carabaillo. 
 
As the Chairman of the Westchester Independent Democrats, these two candidates have no affiliation with our organization or the Mount Vernon Chapter of the Independent Democrats. 
 
Mr. Bailey or Mrs. Carabaillo have never been vetted to be endorsed or given permission to represent the name Independent Democrat in the city of Mount Vernon or Westchester County. This is definitely a misuse of the peoples trust in our mission and beliefs and complete fraud to gain votes from people in Mount Vernon who otherwise would not vote for them.

Anthony  C. Mitchell
Chairman

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Westchester loses $7.4M in HUD grants over housing case


Westchester loses $7.4M in HUD grants over housing case

Aug. 16, 2013   |  
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Written by
Elizabeth Ganga

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After giving Westchester one last chance to comply with its demands over a central element of a 2009 fair housing settlement, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Friday it would take $7.4 million in grants to help low-income areas away from the county and send them to other communities.
Some of the 2011 Community Development Block Grant moneyand other funds could go to Westchester’s big cities, which are funded separately from the county. But nonprofits and municipal projects in needy areas of Port Chester, Peekskill, Greenburgh and other municipalities will not get it. The grants from 2012 and 2013 also are being withheld but their fate won’t be decided until later. HUD officials have said if the 2011 money is not reallocated by Sept. 30 it will go back to the federal Treasury.
HUD officials laid the blame on the county for not complying with its civil rights obligations.
“HUD has tried to be a partner with the county, but the county is unwilling to comply with the terms of the settlement,” Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones said in a statement. “In choosing to disregard its civil rights and federal grantee obligations, county officials are depriving its citizens of funding for infrastructure improvements, programs for the youth and senior citizens.”
But Ned McCormack, a spokesman for County Executive Rob Astorino, said Westchester is in compliance and HUD is acting arbitrarily.
“It’s disappointing,” he said. “It’s clear that HUD is set on hurting some of Westchester’s neediest residents.”
The county had asked whether the state could take over the administration of the grants, as it did with Superstorm Sandy aid, but HUD said that was not legally allowed.
The grants were first held back and now will be reallocated because the county has not completed an analysis of impediments to fair housing, and particularly an analysis of zoning in Westchester communities, that HUD will accept. In giving the county a final chance to keep the money last week, HUD said the county had to agree to put language in the analysis acknowledging that zoning in some places may exclude potential residents based on race, national origin or family status.
The county refused and has been challenging the reallocation in federal court. After a judge dismissed its case this week, the county filed an appeal Friday.
County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, said HUD has given the county many chances to comply but Astorino has chosen not to. Now he’s worried what other money could be at stake, including the full liability from the original lawsuit if the county ends up back in court.
“It’s a $500 million liability that this kind of path is putting us on,” he said.

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