ED POTEAT
Longtime Mount Vernon resident Ed Poteat is an expert in urban planning with a passion to give back to his community and plan for a more sustainable future.
Ed is an adjunct professor at Columbia University and has a Masters in Urban Planning. Besides Columbia, he has lectured at several universities on urban planning and affordable housing concerns and authored a book entitled the Fiscal Cliff which describes fundamental issues which impacts declining cities. He also has a small business which works with local community organizations to implement redevelopment plans and neighborhood improvement strategies for their communities.
His work in planning and community development is personal and rooted in his background as someone who was the first in his family to attend college and who grew up in subsidized housing.
He is the proud father of a 6 year old daughter and has roots in both the African American and Carribean community. He is also the founder of the Mount Vernon Independent Business Alliance, which launched the Buy Local initiative throughout the city last fall. A member of the local chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and the All Islands Association, he is a former Democratic district leader.
WHY I'M RUNNING
Mount Vernon is the jewel of Westchester. Our diversity and our people are the strength of this city. We are blessed with location. With access to transportation and commercial infrastructure. With open space and beautiful residential homes. What we lack is a unity of purpose. There is too much infighting, too many rivalries, too many bad news stories about city government. I am running to help change that narrative.
True leaders are public servants whose sole job is to serve their constituents and not themselves. As an experienced professional in urban planning, I have worked with many public officials. It is my calling to make sure that communities pull together to encourage development that works for everyone. We need that in Mount Vernon. We must have a master plan, and we must work together. I know that changing the narrative won’t be easy. But I intend to bring a persistent, fighting spirit to the City Council to help my neighbors and build for a better future.