Neighbors, mosque and city seek immediate enforcement and longer-term parking plan for Northside streets

Residents of Mount Vernon’s Northside told the City Council on Sept. 24 that weekly Friday prayers at the Westchester Muslim Center are creating repeated safety and quality-of-life problems, and asked the city to enforce parking laws and pursue long-term alternatives.

The most direct complaints centered on Brookfield Road, Southfield Road and adjacent blocks, where residents said cars routinely fill both sides of narrow streets and sometimes block driveways or park on corners. "We have been harassed when simply trying to reach our homes," said a resident who spoke for neighbors of 22 Brookfield Road, describing cars driving onto lawns, people shouting and persistent parking that residents said violates the site plan and building code. "We want our homes back. We won't be safe. Don't wanna be harassed."

Why it matters: City staff described the situation as both a recurring nuisance and a public-safety concern because emergency vehicles and school buses can be impeded. Council members pressed for near-term enforcement as well as structural changes that would prevent repeated recurrences.

What city staff told the council

Director Eric Crump, director of constituent services, said city staff made multiple site visits and street walks and observed a recent Friday with about 200 cars parked across the neighborhood. "On the larger wider streets, Monterey and Pasadena and everything else, they were parked both sides of the street completely filled up, spilled out from that one central neighborhood," Crump said. He said the city has encouraged the Westchester Muslim Center to negotiate use of nearby parking lots — specifically Mount Vernon High School and the Sinai Free Synagogue — and has asked Mount Vernon Police Department to ticket illegal parking, including double parking and cars on corners.

Crump said possible next steps the administration is considering include: expanding no-parking zones on the narrow blocks, replacing and clarifying existing signs, and changing street parking rules (for example, eliminating parking on one or both sides on some blocks). He also said the Department of Public Works is studying the affected blocks to determine where signs or parking restrictions should change.

Residents’ requests and examples

Several residents described the same pattern: a temporary improvement after they bring the matter to the city, then a quick return to heavy congestion. "If there was an emergency, such as a fire or someone needing an ambulance, there is no way that an emergency vehicle would be able to get through," said Marie Rizzo Siafi of 72 Brookfield Road, who said her driveway has been partially blocked by parked cars.

Other neighbors urged consistent enforcement. "If someone's blocking your driveway, the police can tow cars," said Councilman Poteet, repeating earlier staff advice to call police immediately when a car obstructs access.

Mosque leaders respond, offer cooperation

Representatives of the Westchester Muslim Center acknowledged the problem and offered cooperation. "We are open to every suggestion," said Dr. Mohammed Nain, a member of the mosque board. He and other congregants asked that enforcement target the handful of worshipers who persistently park illegally and said they were willing to support ticketing or towing of cars that block driveways or double-park.

Junaid Razak, a congregant who lives four houses from the mosque, and Dr. Nain said the mosque has negotiated summer-use of the high school parking lot and will continue to seek arrangements. "We actually did a month and a half ago with them, and they said come back for next summer again," Dr. Nain said.

Council response and direction

Council members said they want faster, sustained enforcement and practical alternatives. Councilwoman Gleeson said she favored being more aggressive sooner rather than waiting for the traffic study: "We might as well just put no parking." Council members proposed a mix of actions: regular ticketing on Fridays, expanded "no parking" signage where narrow streets create safety hazards, increased presence of officers on known congestion days, and negotiations for shuttle or valet-style service from larger parking lots.

On enforcement, Director Crump said MVPD has been ticketing illegal parking and was asked to increase patrols for the Fridays in question; he also said DPW is in the process of replacing confused or missing parking signs. Council members asked the administration to ensure tickets are enforceable in court by providing officers to appear when needed.

Other related items raised at the microphone

Residents also raised building-permit and site-plan compliance concerns about the Muslim Center’s property, including a tent/permanent structure used for summer programs. Council members asked the administration to follow up with the Building Department to confirm whether the tent is permitted; Director Crump said he would do so.

What was decided and what remains pending

No formal ordinance or council vote was taken on parking restrictions at the meeting. The city directed staff to continue enforcement and to study signage and street restrictions on the identified blocks; staff said they would pursue available parking agreements with the high school and Sinai Free Synagogue and urged the mosque to spread service times or arrange shuttle/valet options. Council members asked staff to report back to the council and residents on progress. Residents asked for quicker results from enforcement and for the city to ensure citations are upheld in court.

Ending

Council members and mosque leaders agreed to continue working together. Several council members said they expect the administration to provide a status update and for DPW and the police to take measurable interim steps before the next recurring Friday services.