Bitter Feud Between Mount Vernon Mayor, Councilman Leaves $1 Million Mess

An emergency operations center in Mount Vernon that was meant to protect the public in a disaster is now in shambles and the political fingerpointing is costing taxpayers, critics say. 

The center, located inside a fire station, would be vital to saving lives and property, and could respond to multiple disasters, according to the federal government in 2014. 

"It was supposed to be your one-stop shop for safety," said Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas. 

But two years and $1 million dollar, the facility isn't even close to done. The rooms remain empty, with no electrical work done and old tiles still on the ground, and the newly installed elevator never used.

As for an explanation for the mess, "there were significant concerns about the cost of the project and quality of the work," said Thomas, blaming city councilman Andre Wallace, whose construction company built out the rooms before he was elected to the council. 

Wallace ambushed NBC 4 New York's interview with Thomas with his own cellphone camera rolling.

"You having fun today, mayor? I'm here to join you. Let's get the whole story out," he said. 

Wallace's company was paid over $900,000 from a federal grant for the construction work on the emergency operations center. But Thomas is refusing to pay a remaining $234,000 -- so Wallace sued. 

The mayor said, "Federal regulators came down and took a look. Not up to standards. We were told we may have to pay back the government $1 million because of what we face now." 

But 4-Investigates found that the federal government, via state inspectors, did approve the work that's been done so far, and last month a judge ruled the city had to pay Wallace because "the record does not show that the city has ever claimed defective work." 

The mayor said that's because records have gone missing. Wallace believes it's nothing but political payback.

The bitter fight between two city leaders who were once campaign buddies shows no signs of abating. Thomas walked away from the confrontation with Wallace while NBC 4 cameras were rolling but soon returned to show video of workers he claims were underpaid by Wallace's company. 

"You got workers cheated out of their wages," Thomas said.

Wallace responded, "He needs to be in jail with the rest of them... he's a criminal, the guy's a criminal." 

The bottom line, according to City Council President Marcus Griffith, is that the whole feud is "quite shameful." 

In the end, taxpayers are the ones who will end up paying the most if the feud between two city leaders continues, Griffith said. 

"The city needs to pay it and we need to stop incurring late fees and interest in the meantime," he said. 

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