Three men are shaking hands in front of a set of concrete stairs. The man on the left is wearing a light gray suit, the man in the middle is wearing glasses, a cap, a military-style vest with a U.S. Navy patch, and a camouflage long-sleeve shirt, and the man on the right is wearing a beret with military insignia and a brown polo shirt.

Although I’m a native son of Harlem and currently live in Harlem, I spent 15 years living in Mt. Vernon. As a concerned citizen, I decided to run for City Council against incumbents and won. Serving as an elected official is an extension of the same values that guide my work as a developer and educator: accountability, transparency, and a deep respect for community voices.

As a former member of the Mount Vernon City Council, I worked to advance policies that strengthen neighborhoods, expand housing opportunity, and promote responsible economic development.

My focus included:

Housing affordability and tenant protections
Fiscal responsibility and long-term planning
Infrastructure, sustainability, and quality-of-life investments
Ethical governance and community engagement

I approached public office the same way I approach development and teaching—by listening first, asking hard questions, and working collaboratively toward solutions that last. Through this process, I was able, along with my fellow elected officials, to pass the first comprehensive plan in Mt. Vernon in over 60 years. Being an elected official provided a critical vantage point: understanding how policy decisions affect residents on the ground, how budgets reflect values, and how government can either remove barriers—or unintentionally create them.

This role allowed me to bridge policy, practice, and people, ensuring that decisions made in government reflect the lived realities of the communities they serve

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Public Service Rooted in Accountability