Mount Vernon, NY, August 5, 2010 -- On Monday, August 2, 2010, a decision by New York State Supreme Court Justice Joan Lefkowitz re-affirmed the power of the executive branch of government in Mount Vernon and its mayor.
The decision stems from a legal action undertaken by Mayor Young against the Mount Vernon City Council with regard to their passage of Local Law 1-2010 which repealed a 2008 local law that created the Office of the Inspector General. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is charged with deterring waste, fraud and corruption. Upon taking office in January, 2008 one of Mayor Young’s very first actions was to fund and staff the OIG in order to prevent the reoccurrences of three high-profile cases involving fraud and corruption that took place under the previous administration.
In her three page decision, Justice Lefkowitz states that “the Court holds that Local Law 1-2010 which repealed Local Law 1-2008 (which had created the Office of the Inspector General) is invalid“
“Justice Lefkowitz’ decision re-affirms my authority as Mayor and my efforts to run a city government that is free of fraud and corruption,” said Mayor Young. “My attempts to reason with the City Council fell on deaf ears. They were willing to accept that their actions were not only irresponsible, but also encroached upon my Executive Powers that exist under the Mayor’s Office. Unfortunately, their illegal action unnecessarily cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees.”
