Meet the woman who is on the road to restoring the glory of Mount Vernon: Lauren Carter

Like so many of you here in Mount Vernon, I am concerned about poor city services, corruption, the uptick in violence, and so much more. As many of you know, I worked for the city for close to two (2) decades in the Planning Department and in the City Clerk’s Office. My experience makes me uniquely qualified to help move the city in the right direction. But who is Lauren Carter?

In a getting to know you interview with UMERADIO, Wume-Db, Ny I describe myself as a parent, planner, and professional who is PASSIONATE about my community; I talk about my PURPOSE as a servant; and I discuss my PLAN to tackle the challenges we have in order to set us in the right direction for growth and prosperity. How do others describe me? Trustworthy. Diligent. Responsible. Dependable. Knowledgeable. Cooperative.

I want the voters to know that I am looking to continue my decades-long service to the community, just in a different way. I’m not looking to earn money…I am not seeking a title…I am not looking to become famous… I am a Democrat running for city council and I just want to help improve my city.

As a true daughter of the soil, my academics span the Mount Vernon public schools. After graduating from Mount Vernon High School, I matriculated at New York University. I took a hiatus to have my twin daughters and I continued my studies at Fordham University where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, in English and Political Science. Currently, I am earning an Executive Master of Urban Planning (EMUP) from the University of Southern California, the nation’s #2 ranked school for public policy.

I am frequently asked what influenced my decision to run for city council. It’s a fair question and should be one every candidate answers. I credit my decision to the very residents I intend to serve.

Over the last several years, many residents would say to me, “Lauren, we need someone who knows what they are doing, [and] has integrity, why don’t you run”? And because I worked for the city during that time, I would brush off the requests for me to run and really didn’t focus on them. With those appeals to serve as an elected official came complaints: from the need to replace poor leadership with competent leadership, to public safety matters; from the deterioration of quality of life for residents, to the lack of enforcement of the city code-all which have been contributing factors to the city’s decline.

After my separation from the city in February of 2020, residents continued to urge me to return to civic duty in order to represent their voices as a decision-maker. My decision to heed the pleas of the city’s stakeholders was based on a combination of events. One such event included protests that demanded an end to police brutality and the need for police reform after the death of George Floyd. There had been protests in Mount Vernon but there were no calls for reform or community meetings. When I saw elected officials protesting, knowing that they had the authority to enact change, I had to ask myself, where are they protesting? Then it occurred to me that they too were seeking solutions. After the protests, an incident regarding law enforcement occurred that hit close to home. I knew that reform would start at the local level and I knew the process to get it done. During the lockdowns, I had taken time to pray and reflect and this incident was the “confirmation” I needed to make this journey on the road to the city council.

Mount Vernon has been headed in a backwards direction for quite some time now. The decline is evident as reflected in our sewer system leaking waste into our homes and businesses, and pollution of our waters; streets and sidewalks that are in disrepair; an aging fleet of vehicles and equipment; no credit rating; deteriorating quality of life; rat infestation; violence; littering; and the lamentations continue.

I am well-versed in the city charter and in the city code. I know how Mount Vernon was organized to operate, I have ideas on how we can improve city operations, and I know the process to get it done. I have the PURPOSE, PASSION, and PLAN to move the city in the right direction.

I have been endorsed by the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee, by the New York State Working Families Party, and by former councilmember, James Jubilee.

Please come along with me on my journey on the road to the city council. Indeed, it is OUR journey.

I am asking YOU to join this movement that is going to move Mount Vernon in the right direction!

You can contact Lauren Carter at info@laurenforcitycouncil.com, lauren@laurenforcitycouncil.com or 914-297-8088. For more information about the author and the author’s platform, visit laurenforcitycouncil.com