A Growing Web of Political Abuse, Developer Debt, and Illegal Coordination
A newly filed lawsuit in Westchester Supreme Court adds weight to what many Mount Vernon residents have long suspected—Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard is deeply involved in a political operation powered by misused public resources, unethical campaign tactics, and a shadowy PAC known as Rise Up Mount Vernon, funded by developer interests. This lawsuit not only corroborates key allegations but also strengthens Black Westchester’s ongoing investigation into how Rise Up Mount Vernon is influencing local elections and governance behind closed doors.
The 22-page complaint, filed on June 23, 2025, by Mount Vernon resident and taxpayer Gabriel Thompson, details alleged violations of city ethics rules, state election laws, and the Public Officers Law. Among the most alarming revelations: the Mayor’s direct coordination with Rise Up Mount Vernon, which the lawsuit now documents with concrete evidence—including campaign texts, public endorsements, and shared communications infrastructure.
Gabriel Thompson v Shawyn Patterson Howard by blackwestchester on Scribd
One critical detail now comes into focus:
Rise Up Mount Vernon was not registered with the New York State Board of Elections until May 16, 2025—just four days before the May 20th School Board election.
Despite that, the group appears to have been active well before that date—sending political mailers, promoting specific candidates, and organizing smear campaigns—all in coordination with the Mayor’s office. Under New York Election Law, no political committee may raise or spend money to influence an election prior to official registration. If Rise Up engaged in any activity before May 16, that could constitute serious violations of campaign finance and election law, including unreported expenditures, illegal coordination, and operating as an unregistered committee.
The lawsuit further alleges that Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard engaged in potentially unlawful conduct when she personally alerted a close associate of a school board candidate—later arrested and charged with sexually abusing a minor—of pending allegations before informing law enforcement. According to the complaint, the Mayor received a message regarding the individual’s alleged misconduct involving a 14-year-old girl and possible financial theft from a nonprofit. Rather than treating the matter with immediate urgency by reporting it to the proper authorities, Mayor Patterson-Howard allegedly summoned the accused to City Hall and disclosed the content of the anonymous warning. The individual was subsequently arrested by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. The lawsuit claims this action demonstrates not only a serious lapse in judgment but also a possible attempt to interfere in a criminal investigation—particularly troubling given that the accused was romantically involved with one of the Mayor’s endorsed school board candidates.
Now that the lawsuit provides clear evidence of the Mayor’s direct ties to Rise Up, the legal implications multiply. This is no longer a matter of political perception—it’s a matter of potential criminal exposure. Under state law:
- Coordinating with a PAC while in public office and using city resources to advance partisan outcomes could violate Public Officers Law § 74(3)(h) and Election Law § 17-158.
- The Mayor’s use of active-duty police officers as a personal campaign security detail—without budgetary authorization—may constitute theft of services and violation of the city charter.
- The creation and promotion of fraudulent “sample ballots” tied to the Mayor’s endorsements, distributed via a PAC not yet registered, raises questions of deliberate election interference.
This mounting evidence also casts a glaring spotlight on Kenny Plummer, a political figure widely associated with Rise Up Mount Vernon. According to a Facebook post from Candidates Andre Wallace and Nicholas Mastrogiorgio, Plummer has doubled down, actively defending the PAC’s role, asserting influence over its political narrative, and even threatening candidates.
Plummer’s judgment is further questioned by his financial entanglement with PMP Lending LLC, a developer-connected firm. A UCC filing with the Westchester County Clerk confirms that Plummer entered into a sweeping mortgage agreement that gives the lender control over income generated from the property, along with other rights. Simply put, Plummer is compromised, owing significant money to a developer in a city where development policy is now intertwined with campaign politics.
Further complicating the picture, formal complaints have been filed alleging that Kenny Plummer is illegally holding a District Leader position while no longer residing at his registered address in Mount Vernon. As a District Leader, Plummer influences who the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee endorses in local elections. These complaints raise serious concerns about voter fraud, political eligibility, and the legal integrity of party leadership.
The lawsuit further alleges that Mayor Patterson-Howard and Rise Up Mount Vernon:
- Created and distributed partisan mailers disguised as official city communications
- Used taxpayer-funded police for political escort duties
- Hosted online forums for endorsed candidates
- Launched a smear website to discredit opponents just days before the primary
All of this points to a dangerous blurring of lines between government, campaign activity, and private special interests. If these claims are substantiated, Rise Up Mount Vernon did more than violate paperwork deadlines—it hijacked local elections under the cover of legitimacy, shielded by silence from other elected officials.
Now that there’s documented coordination between the Mayor and Rise Up, several key outcomes are possible:
- The New York State Board of Elections Enforcement Division may launch a full investigation
- The Attorney General or District Attorney could pursue charges for misuse of public resources or illegal campaign coordination
- Other candidates backed by Rise Up may now be vulnerable to ethics complaints or financial scrutiny
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said the lawsuit is frivolous and politically motivated.
“This is a politically motivated and frivolous lawsuit filed by a so-called activist. Unfortunately, it will force the City to divert valuable resources at a time when we are focused on public safety, economic development, and housing for our residents. It seeks to drag Mount Vernon back to an era we’ve worked hard to move beyond. When I took office, I promised to lead with integrity and not to do anything that would embarrass our community—and I have kept that promise. We will allow this matter to play out in court,” Mayor SPH shared with Black Westchester.
Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story.
5 Comments
Mount Vernon is not just a city, it’s sacred ground. The streets, the stoops, the sanctuaries, they hold the prayers of our elders, the sweat of our labor, and the dreams we’ve carried across generations. So when questions arise about the integrity of our leadership and systems, it’s not just a legal matter, it’s spiritual.
These are allegations, and the truth must come forward in its time. But even in the in-between, the community deserves transparency. Not as a weapon, but as a form of collective protection. Because when public trust is disrupted, it ripples through the spirit of the people.
This is not about punishment. It’s about purification. Sacred work requires sacred accountability and that means any space funded by the people must be in service to the people, rooted in care, truth, and alignment with something greater than ego or ambition.
Mount Vernon, now is the time to stand in that sacred energy. Not in rage or gossip, but in remembrance. That we come from a people who don’t turn away from discomfort, but lean into it with clarity and compassion. That justice, when real, is never vindictive, it’s restorative.
May the light guide what needs to be revealed. May ego give way to alignment. And may we hold this moment with the reverence it deserves.
Truth is sacred. Community is holy. Let’s protect both.
Lawsuits filed are now evidence without any basis of proof? This editor clearly has a bias for this mayor and black women in leadership.
No one claimed the lawsuit alone is proof of guilt—but it is absolutely evidence. In our legal system, a verified complaint backed by sworn statements, documented communications, and specific timelines is more than speculation. It triggers a legal process that demands a response—especially when it involves potential misuse of taxpayer funds, election fraud, and abuse of public office.
Black Westchester has been reporting on Rise Up Mount Vernon and its questionable—and possibly criminal—activities for the past three weeks, citing concerns under both New York State and federal election law. This includes illegal coordination with public officials, campaign finance violations, and fraudulent political communications. The recent lawsuit is not an isolated accusation—it is a step toward real accountability.
In addition, multiple formal complaints have been filed with different oversight and ethics boards, including the Westchester County Board of Elections, the New York State Board of Elections Enforcement Division, and other state-level ethics agencies. These complaints involve allegations of voter registration fraud, abuse of city resources for political purposes, and conflicts of interest tied to developer money and PAC activity.
And since you went there—are we supposed to turn a blind eye to unethical or possibly criminal behavior just because a politician is a Black woman? Or should we hold them to the same standard of accountability we demand from Black men, white politicians, or anyone else in public office?
For the record, Black Westchester has held every mayor to the same standard of professionalism and accountability. From Davis to Young to Thomas and now Patterson-Howard, our reporting has always been guided by facts, public records, and the concerns of the community. We cannot report on questionable behavior if the people—taxpayers, voters, whistleblowers—aren’t the ones bringing these allegations forward.
This is not about attacking Black women in power. It’s about defending the public’s right to ethical leadership. Our loyalty is to the people, not the power brokers. Accountability is not bias—but silence, blind loyalty, and selective outrage are. If we don’t hold our own leadership to account, who will?
**And I’ll tell you this, as I’ve said multiple times—**if there is anything false or defamatory in what we’ve published, they can sue us. Let them take it to court and let a judge decide.
What’s with the AI generated pics and content? This isn’t journalism.
HOPE MAN WINS LAW SUIT AGAINST MAYOR SHAWYN.