Author: DAMON K JONES

Riots have swept across Los Angeles after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed coordinated deportation warrants across the region. While media outlets and activists are framing the events as a humanitarian crisis, the truth is simpler—and more uncomfortable for some to accept: these were lawful deportations, carried out on individuals who had already exhausted their legal options. The chaos that followed raises serious questions about whether American cities will respect the rule of law or allow emotional narratives to override it. The unrest began on June 6, when ICE conducted targeted operations at construction sites, transit hubs, and migrant-heavy…

The Rise Up Mount Vernon PAC is no longer just a political curiosity—it’s a case study in how outside money manipulates Black communities under the guise of progress. Our previous investigation revealed that Rise Up Mount Vernon is a registered Political Action Committee financed partly by a $25,000 personal contribution from developer Rella Fogliano, after she had already donated $30,000 to the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee in 2023 and 2024. These aren’t random campaign donations—they are calculated political investments meant to dominate both sides of the ballot and steer city elections from behind the scenes. Even more troubling is…

It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the truth: America may have lived through one of the most significant presidential cover-ups in modern history. The revelations in Original Sin, the explosive book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, pull the curtain back on a White House that knew—at the highest levels—that President Joe Biden was not cognitively fit to lead, yet moved mountains to hide it from the American people. This is not about partisanship. It is not about whether one supports Democrats or Republicans. It is about transparency, trust, and the dangerous precedent that has now been set for executive…

In a significant step toward workforce development and environmental sustainability, thirteen residents from Mount Vernon and New Rochelle have successfully completed a six-week training program on air-source heat pumps, offered by Comrie Enterprises in partnership with Tauris Tech. The initiative is part of the NYSERDA-funded “Adopt Clean Energy” campaign, subcontracted through the Urban League of Westchester. The program, held at the Dole Center in Mount Vernon, was designed to equip participants with critical skills for entry into the growing clean energy sector. Each graduate earned the highly valued 608 EPA Certification, positioning them for employment in heating, ventilation, and air…

In 1989, Congressman John Conyers had the foresight and courage to formally introduce H.R. 40, igniting a national conversation about reparations for the descendants of American slaves. He understood that until America acknowledged the damage it had done — through its laws, its institutions, and its systems — true justice would remain out of reach. For decades, Conyers reintroduced the bill, session after session, laying the groundwork for a national reckoning. But since then, Black politics and Black leadership have dropped the ball. What should have been built into a movement for repair and redress has been reduced to a…

In a historic and symbolic move, former President Donald Trump appointed Alice Marie Johnson, the first Black woman to serve as a federal clemency advisor, his official “Pardon Czar.” Johnson, a criminal justice reform advocate who was granted clemency by Trump in 2018 after serving over two decades for a nonviolent drug offense, now leads the charge in reviewing clemency requests and advising on one of the most powerful tools of the presidency: the pardon. Her appointment stands as a milestone for criminal justice reform and representation at the highest levels of executive decision-making. It reflects Trump’s ongoing effort to…

In 1989, Congressman John Conyers had the foresight and courage to formally introduce H.R. 40, igniting a national conversation about reparations for the descendants of American slaves. He understood that until America acknowledged the damage it had done — through its laws, its institutions, and its systems — true justice would remain out of reach. For decades, Conyers reintroduced the bill, session after session, laying the groundwork for a national reckoning. But since then, Black politics and Black leadership have dropped the ball. What should have been built into a movement for repair and redress has been reduced to a…

This article is a follow-up to our investigation into the Rise Up Mount Vernon candidate line. This controversial and registered political operation has raised legal and ethical questions about transparency, accountability, and outside influence. What we’ve now uncovered deepens the concern: a major developer bankrolling candidates through this questionable political line and donating across the county to both sides of the political equation. In a time when local politics are more influential than ever, few things reshape a community faster than a developer with deep pockets—and strategic donations. The recent revelation that Rella Fogliano, owner of a private development company, donated $25,000 to Rise Up Mount Vernon is a…

There are moments in American politics that cut through the noise—not because of who’s speaking, but because of what’s being said. President Donald J. Trump’s unveiling of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report is one of those moments, and for Black America, it deserves serious attention. For decades, our communities have been at the epicenter of every major public health crisis—diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, mental illness, and prescription drug dependency. While politicians on both sides have offered slogans and photo ops, none have made a comprehensive, actionable move like this: rethinking food policy, reining in pharmaceutical prices, and calling out the…

When you think nothing can add more confusion and dysfunction, Mount Vernon leadership never disappoints. It is more than a procedural formality—it is a reflection of unity, trust, and accountability. It is earned through engagement with community stakeholders, district leaders, and voters who expect candidates to uphold not only shared values but a commitment to the party structure that represents them. When Democratic-endorsed candidates choose to also run on another political line, it is more than just a strategy—it is a betrayal of the party’s unity, its delegates, and its process. Recent developments have made this betrayal even more troubling.…