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| EMBATTLED MAYOR ELECT RICHARD THOMAS |
Last night, over 40 Mount
Vernon taxpayers came out to the planning board meeting to protest against a
developer seeking to put up a building in the middle of Wilson Woods Park.
The project, a hideous and
poorly designed 120 Unit multi family building, was voted in favor for by
Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas. Mayor-Elect
Richard Thomas has a habit of voting for controversial projects and then
disappearing into thin air when it hits the fan.
While on the City Council,
Mayor Elect Thomas praised the project as one of the best developments on the
drawing board in the City of Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon taxpayers disagree.
One after the other, residents took to the podium to vent their
frustration with the developer, The City Council, and the Industrial Development
Agency.
Some residents even cried
fouled and called for a federal investigation into the business relationship
between Mayor Elect Richard Thomas and the attorney representing the developer,
Mark Weingarten, of DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP. Mark
Weingarten is a registered NYS registered lobbyist and also a financial donor
to Mayor Elect Richard Thomas' campaign coffers.
At
the center of the controversy is the zoning change approved by the Mount Vernon
City Council. Mayor Elect Richard Thomas
voted in favor of this zoning change.
Prior to the controversial city council vote, the property in Wilson
Woods Park was zoned commercial. City
Council members, including Richard Thomas voted in favor of rezoning a property
within Wilson Woods Park from commercial to residential. Deborah Reynolds was the only City Council
member that voted in opposition to the zoning change.
On
October 7, 2015 Weingarten's law firm made a $500 donation to "The Friends
of Richard". Sources have told
Mount Vernon Exposed that Weingarten pledged to raise over $150K for Richard's
campaign, however Weingarten never raised the funds. A political insider informed Mount Vernon
Exposed that Thomas should have recused himself from any vote involving Mark
Weingarten or the DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP law
firm.
According
to the insider, the relationship between Thomas and Weingarten goes back to
when Richard used to work for Gov. David Patterson. Did Weingarten, a lobbyist, call on Richard
for favors while Richard worked for the governor?
In
addition to being the attorney of record representing Woods Partners, the
developer seeking to construct the hideous apartments in Wilson Woods,
Weingarten is also the registered lobbyist for the project.
Even
though Weingarten is registered with New York State as a lobbyist, it is
unclear if he disclosed his financial arrangement getting compensated as a
lobbyist by Woods Partners, to Mount Vernon City Council members prior to the
zoning vote change. Weingarten and his
law firm are being paid $5,000 per month from Wood Partners to get the required
approvals for this project. The agreement began January 7, 2015 and runs until
December 31, 2015. On November 20, 2015,
Wood Partners entered in an extension that will extend Weingarten's agreement
from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2016.
In
the reports filed with the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics,
Weingarten stated that the lobbied " NYS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH; STATE
AGENCIES; COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER". Weingarten makes no mention in the reports of
lobbying any elected officials in Mount Vernon whatsoever.
Prior to the zoning vote change, Richard Thomas told
members of the community that he was against the Wilson Woods project. What made Richard change his mind and his
vote? Was he promised something in
exchange for switching his vote?
One by one residents slammed the developer for
spoiling the natural park setting of Wilson Woods. Dozen of trees will be destroyed and cut down
in the process. Wildlife will be
destroyed. Many residents said that they
would like to see an upscale catering banquet facility at the location
currently being proposed for the substandard housing. Residents spoke of having
Mount Vernon's own "Tavern on the Green" in Wilson Woods Park. Residents wholeheartedly supported the idea
of an upscale banquet hall with scenic views of the Hutchinson River. Mount
Vernon residents complained about always having to go outside of Mount Vernon to
the beach clubs in New Rochelle to attend functions.
Residents also questioned the traffic study that was
done by the developer and urged Planning Board members to get their own
independent traffic report.
Outsiders such as Wood Partners and Weingarten
always feel the need the dictate what they "feel is best" for Mount
Vernon as if Mount Vernon is some third world country in need of "bailout
rescue aid". There is not a lack of housing in Mount Vernon. In fact, there are a substantial vacant and
zombie homes all throughout Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon leads Westchester County
in foreclosures. Perhaps, Woods Partners
should purchase these derelict properties and convert them to "luxury
housing".
During
his presentation to the planning board, Weingarten stated that due to the
"shrinking commercial base in the area"; it was necessary to apply
for the zoning change. That statement
made by Weingarten is absolutely false. Mr. Weingarten also stated that the
seller was not able to find a buyer for the property because of the "shrinking
tax base". Cross County has recently undergone $250M in renovations. A
hotel is now located in Cross County.
Bay Plaza is rapidly expanding. A
mall was opened in Bay Plaza several months ago. Dave and Buster's and Panera
Bread are now open in Pelham Manor. Where is this "shrinking tax
base" Mr. Weingarten referring to?
The project as proposed,
falls short on taxes. The developer
received a P.I.L.O.T or Payment in lieu of taxes, agreement from the Mount
Vernon Industrial Development Agency.
The developer wants to construct studio, one, and two bedroom
apartments.
It costs approximately
$30K per year to educate each pupil in the City of Mount Vernon. The developer
stated that out of 120 units with approximately 52 two bedrooms, only 10 students
will occupy the Mount Vernon school district.
Residents feel that around
40-60 kids from the massive complex would occupy local schools. That would be an additional $1.2M -$1.8M cost
to Mount Vernon taxpayers.
Weingarten was able to get
his client to pay $450K per taxes the first year, with slight increases every
year thereafter. Taxpayers are forced once again to pick up the tab of a greedy
developer with no ties to the Mount Vernon community. Weingarten also got his
client exemptions for sales and mortgage recording tax.
According
to Wood Partners website: STRONG
FOUNDATION
In little more
than a decade and a half, Atlanta-based Wood Partners has become one of the
most active and progressive multifamily investment firms in the nation. The
company’s rapid rise owes to a strong foundation.
Does
this sound like a company that needs tax breaks?
Planning Board
Commissioners voiced their concern over developers doing a bait and
switch. In the past, developers have
changed the project after the initial approval process, to affordable housing when
they were not able to secure funds to build.
Mr. Weingarten should look
to build in his own community before he comes to Mount Vernon with projects
that will bankrupt taxpayers.
Westchester
County is currently being sued for having zoning laws in mostly white
neighborhoods that do not allow the construction of affordable multi family
housing, the same type of housing Weingarten and Wood Partner are seeking to
construct at Wilson Woods Park.
According
to the Federal Consent Decree:
(a) No less than six hundred
thirty (630) of the Affordable AFFH Units shall meet the following locational
criteria:
(i) the municipality in which the units are to
be developed had, according to 2000 Census data, both a “single race
African-American only” population less than three (3) percent and a Hispanic
population less than seven (7) percent, as calculated after removing people
living in group quarters as defined by the 2000 Census of Population and
Housing (U.S. Census Bureau) (“group quarters”) from the relevant population;
and
(ii) the units shall not be developed in any
census block which had, according to 2000 Census data, (A) a “single race
African-American only” population of more than ten (10) percent and a total
African-American population of twenty (20) or more, or (B) a Hispanic
population of more than ten (10) percent and a total Hispanic population of
twenty (20) or more, as calculated after removing people living in group
quarters from the relevant population, except to the extent such requirement is
waived pursuant to paragraph 15(a)(ii).
Mr. Weingarten's very own community is in violation of the
Federal Consent Decree. Mount Vernon
Planning Board Commissioner's should ask Mr. Weingarten about the progress he
has made in his own community before they allow this project to go any further.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
