Mount Vernon joins Sustainable Westchester

From left to right: Sustainable Westchester representatives Dan Welsh, Jasmine Graham and Bob Elliott stand with Mayor Richard Thomas, second from right.

Mount Vernon Joins Sustainable Westchester

(Friday, March 1, 2019) Mayor Richard Thomas announced that Mount Vernon is joining Sustainable Westchester.

Sustainable Westchester is a collaboration of Westchester County local governments that empowers municipal leaders, concerned citizens, businesses and local organizations to partner in the development of sustainability initiatives and share tools, resources, and incentives for healthy, vibrant and attractive communities now and in the future.

The Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency will coordinate the City’s alignment with Sustainable Westchester. The partnership with Sustainable Westchester will complement Mayor Thomas’ Mount Vernon Clean & Green Initiative, an effort to repair the City’s polluting sewers and transform contaminated areas into environmental assets like parks and green spaces.

Mayor Thomas told Sustainable Westchester’s representatives that the City’s green transformation has already begun with work on identifying sources of water pollution. MayorThomas also said the City is ready for transformation and he welcomed ideas.

“Just know that we are the laboratory and we want you to start experimenting, so I think the follow up talk is going to be what ever you’re imagining,” said Mayor Thomas.

Mount Vernon is the last large municipality in Westchester County to join Sustainable Westchester.

“We’re really pleased to have all the big cities in the program now,” said Bob Elliott, Sustainable Westchester’s Executive Director. “What we have is leaders who really understand global warming, the need to reduce greenhouse gases, all the things that we can do.”

Marilyn Crawford, the Mount Vernon IDA’s Executive Director, said a focus on the environment will attract businesses.

“Sustainable Westchester is a clear path for economic development,” said Crawford.

Sustainable Westchester’s five focus areas are:

• Energy, with programs including Westchester Power (CCA), Solarize Westchester, and Community Solar
• Transportation and land use, which includes Clean Transportation (EVs and charging stations)
• Waste management and materials
• Food
• Water

Elliott noted that Sustainable Westchester’s programs are voluntary for the member communities.

“We’re not here to tell anybody what to do. We’re just here to assist and work with the municipalities,” said Elliott.