A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF THE MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL
HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025.
Scheduled for 7:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Mount Vernon, New York.
*** This meeting was held in the City Council Chambers, with virtual participation via ZOOM and
CMVNY Facebook. The meeting was not closed to the public.***
Danielle Browne, President
PRESIDING:
OTHERS:
Nicole Bonilla, City Clerk; Jordan A. Riullano, Deputy City Clerk; Antoinette
Anderson, Legislative Aide; Johan Powell, Deputy Corporation Counsel.
CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council President Danielle Browne called the meeting to order and provided general house-keeping
rules, including encouraging citizens to share the meeting on social media and what to do “in case of
emergency”. Council President Browne explained the 3-minute-plus-1 public comment rule. She then
asked a Councilperson to lead the council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council President then proceeded
to the Public Speakers session of the evening (listed below as public comment).
PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Melissa Cardany, Mount Vernon, NY Topic: French Day event 7:03 pm
Councilman Gleason - wished the event well.
2. Pastor Richard Garnor Topic: Hazardous traffic conditions 7:04 pm
3. Karen Witherspoon, Mount Vernon, NY submitted written comments via Toni Gamils Topic:
Hazardous conditions 7:08 pm
4. Toni Hunter Gamils, Mount Vernon, NY Topic: unsafe conditions near 22 Brookfield Rd 7:08
pm
5. Susan Risenzweig, Mount Vernon, NY Topic: Building permits and other concerns 7:12 pm
6. Christian Raftopol, Mount Vernon, NY No Show 7:17 pm
7. Elena Raftopol, Mount Vernon, NY No Show 7:17 pm
8. Marie Rizzo, Mount Vernon, NY Topic: Afraid to leave house due to chaotic traffic conditions
and dangerous drivers7:19 pm
9. Linda Finn, Mount Vernon, NY Topic: Friday's near 22 Brookfield 7:22 pm
10. Christopher Goad, Mount Vernon, NY No Show 7:03
Eric Crump - Constituent Services spoke regarding the parking situation during events at the
Westchester Islamic Center, he discussed how he observed over 200 cars illegally parked. Mayor and
Eric met with Islamic Center to and discussed the available parking that are empty. However, the Friday
prayer block during the mid-day. We have given them options. Tickets were given out this past Friday.
Car owners told the officers to give them the ticket and they did not move the cars. DPW is doing a
study on the traffic and the parking. It is a safety hazard, a school bus could not get around the corner.
An EMS truck could not get through with the double park cars and cars parking on both sides of the
narrow block. Spoke with Mosque leaders on spreading out the services. A suggestion is to change the
parking signs to “no parking”. PD will start towing
Council President Browne - witnessed a judge dismiss every ticket because the officer was not present.
We need to have an officer that can represent the city.
Board member of the Mosque spoke on the situation and the agreement with the school district and the
use of their parking lots and agreed with PD giving tickets to the “bad apples” not following the rules.
Does not have objections to the suggestions from the Council and they want to fully comply, but they
