A judge ruled Comptroller Deborah Reynolds must give Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas full access to the city's bank accounts and financial records.

With dozens of DPW workers behind him, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas claimed victory Thursday in what he called a lonely battle.

“The books are going to be opened up for the first time in a quarter century,” said Thomas.

The "books" Thomas is referring to are the city's finances, which, according to a New York state Supreme Court judge's ruling this week, will allow the mayor to determine how much money the city truly has and why the mayor says over $5.5 million in bills haven't been paid.

Thomas filed the suit back in September 2017 against former Comptroller Maureen Walker claiming Walker withheld over $70,000 for a new police vehicle. But when Deborah Reynolds took over, Thomas says a cover-up continued.