Outraged Seniors Occupy Comptroller Deborah Reynolds' Office

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 (New York): Today, a contingent of seniors visited Mount Vernon City Hall to demand immediate action from Comptroller Deborah Reynolds. For weeks, her office has delayed, and in some instances, refused to process authorized payments to service providers for the city. This has resulted in a stoppage of city services across departments including the delivery of toilet paper to the Doles Center and the Armory, Mount Vernon’s two facilities that provide programming and nutrition to seniors.

After days of being forced to bring toilet paper from home and relying on donations from community members, senior program participants headed to City Hall, demanding to meet with the Comptroller. Approximately 15 senior citizens were turned away from her office when Reynolds refused to meet with them or respond to their needs.

Mayor Richard Thomas encouraged the seniors, and all Mount Vernon residents, to speak out and demand a government that works for the people. Mayor Thomas said “Our seniors are suffering because the Comptroller won’t pay authorized bills. There is no excuse and it’s unacceptable.” Ms. Eula Lee Myers, of the city’s Department of Aging (and mother of hip-hop legend Heavy D.), noted that she was “outraged of the treatment of our Mount Vernon seniors. The seniors demand the Comptroller to pay the bills and treat them with respect.”

Click here to watch video of Mount Vernon’s seniors being turned away from Comptroller Deborah Reynolds office. Many of those assembled indicated they were unsatisfied with Reynolds’ casual dismissal and they stated their intention to return on Friday, October 19, 2018.