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Mount Vernon council votes down street closure for Wakanda celebration amid funding and location dispute
Summary
The Mount Vernon City Council on Aug. 13 voted against the proposed street closure for the Wakanda celebration, saying they support the event but not the requested location. Organizers and residents disputed whether event funding and permits were in place; council members offered alternative venues and pledged further help securing a site.
The Mount Vernon City Council voted against a proposed street closure for the Wakanda celebration on Aug. 13, 2025, after a heated public comment period in which organizers and neighbors disputed the event's location, parking and funding.
Organizers of the event and several neighbors told council members the Wakanda celebration is a cultural event with neighborhood support. "This event has caused no disruption to the block whatsoever. There's never been any trash. There's never been any fights," said Anne Hill, a resident and supporter. Dr. Deborah Diamond, a board member of the Wakanda celebration, said the organizers hold signed petitions from residents in the immediate area and that a Mount Vernon City School District single-use facility permit was available if the event used school parking.
Council members said they broadly support the Wakanda event but opposed the…
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