MAYOR THOMAS SAYS "FUCK THE JUDGE" AND WILLFULLY VIOLATES COURT ORDER

CORRUPT MAYOR RICHARD THOMAS, CORRUPT DEPUTY POLICE JOSEPH SPIEZIO, AND CORRUPT CHIEF OF STAFF SHAWYN PATERSON HOWARD

Mayor Thomas and Corporation Counsel Lawrence Pocari have violated a court order issued by New York State Supreme Court Justice Susan Cacace.  Last month, Cacace ruled that the City of Mount Vernon violated her court order when they put locks on O.K. Freddy after she ordered them removed. 

 

Mayor Thomas has since gone berserk and has been going from one extreme to the other.  Yesterday morning Mayor Thomas, Corporation Counsel and his Chief of Staff/Planning Commissioner Shawyn Patterson-Howard held a meeting to discuss how to close down O.K. Freddy’s Meat Market again.  Shawyn Patterson Howard led the meeting.

 

According to a source that was present during the meeting, Mayor Thomas was cussing like a sailor and repeatedly said “FUCK THE JUDGE, I RUN MOUNT VERNON”.   The source said Mayor Thomas was adamant about closing down the businesses. 

 

Corporation Counsel Lawrence Pocari was so bold that he put his evil plan into writing.  Pocari sent out emails to City of Mount Vernon employees stating that if they did not write violations they would be written up for “Neglect of Duty”.

 

Mayor Thomas has shown complete disregard for the judicial system and apparently unfazed that he can be held in contempt of court for willfully violating a court order.

 

         

Judge Cacace ordered all parties to appear in her courtroom tomorrow morning at 11:30 A.M.  Mount Vernon Exposed will continue to follow this developing story. 

MAYOR RICHARD THOMAS' OPERATES IN TOTAL DARKNESS; CRIMINALITY PLAGUES ADMINISTRATION

MAYOR JOSEPH SPIEZIO AND SECRETARY RICHARD THOMAS

Mayor Richard Thomas promised transparency to the citizens of Mount Vernon when he was sworn in office on January 1, 2016.  Instead, Mayor Thomas has assembled an administration of criminals and thugs to run the City of Mount Vernon.  Mayor Thomas' administration continues to operate in darkness.  One man is leading the criminal activity in City Hall: Joseph Spiezio. 

Joseph Spiezio has ties with the Lucchese Crime Family and is the actual one in charge at City Hall.  Richard Thomas is a just a figurehead and has no clue as to how the day to day operations are ran in City Hall. 

The City Charter mandates that every second Monday of the month, the Mayor must meet with all Department Heads.   At this meeting, the public is allowed to bring concerns or complaints concerning city business to the attention of the Mayor. 

The meeting has been held at 9:30 A.M. for the past 30 years.   Mayor Richard Thomas, after receiving heat from the public at his first meeting, wanted to keep the public away this time.  Mayor Thomas tried to have the meeting at 8:00 A.M., 30 minutes prior to City Hall opening to the public.  When Mayor Thomas was told that having a meeting at 8:00 A.M. would be illegal, Mayor Thomas changed the start time to 8:30A.M.  The public was not notified of this time change and no notice whatsoever was posted on the City of Mount Vernon website as mandated by New York State law. 

Mount Vernon residents are urged to come out and voice their concerns regarding the lack of transparency in Mayor Thomas' administration this Wednesday, February 10, 2015 at the City Council meeting.  Please call 914-665-2358 before Wednesday at 3 P.M. if you wish to speak and address the City Council. 

§64 Consultations with heads of departments; public hearings

The Mayor shall call together the heads of the City departments for consultation and advice upon the affairs of the City on the second Monday of each month, or in case that day shall fall upon a legal holiday, then on the day following, and at such other times as he may deem advisable and necessary. At such meetings he shall call upon the heads of the departments to submit to him such reports upon the subject matters under their control and management as he may deem proper. At such meetings, the Mayor shall receive complaints and suggestions made by residents of the City or owners of taxable property therein concerning the conduct of its administrative departments, the performance of public contracts, the preservation of public property, the construction, repair and maintenance of streets, the condition of public utilities, the care of parks, playgrounds and sidewalks, and the reform or improvement in efficiency of its departmental business methods, or any other matters relating to the welfare and good government of the City. He may grant public hearings upon such complaints and suggestions, and may in his discretion report to the City Council any of such complaints or suggestions and propose legislative action thereon. At such meetings rules and regulations shall be adopted for the harmonious, systematic and efficient administration of the affairs of the City, not inconsistent with law or ordinance. The Mayor's Secretary shall be the Clerk and keep the records of such meetings.

EDITORIAL FROM THE ORACLE

THE ORACLE

Mount Vernon Exposed is pleased to announce that "The Oracle" has committed to writing for Mount Vernon Exposed. 

Misguided Mayor Thomas:

Once again I have watched you on television as you carefully vocalized your well-crafted political script to delude the public.  I understand all too well the games which you play as I myself was once misguided and entangled in a world of corruption such as you are today.  Like a well-rehearsed routine taken from the Bowery Boys I would also create a diversion and sideshow while my hand reached into the cookie jar.  I have since changed my ways for the lord has taught me well.  But Mayor Thomas, you have continued to sell yourself, your brothers and sisters for your own self-aggrandizement.  

You will never see what you’re doing because you are visionless caused by your own foolish pride. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13.  Stop carrying your bible just for show; begin to read it, as it is your only way out.

Your Puppet Master will continue to set the stage for you to glorify yourself as your payment, and in return he commandeers our city knowing you’re not wise enough to understand.  Your Puppet Master knows you are not a good shepherd, but thinks of you as hireling fool who will throw anyone under the bus to save himself.  ^“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.” John 10:11-12. Take a good look around you Mayor as your sheep are dwindling right before your very eyes.  You need to change your ways because there is nothing worse than ignorance in action.  I am praying for you and our city as I continue to watch from afar. 

The Oracle

EMBATTLED MAYOR ELECT RICHARD THOMAS DEMANDS $10K PER MEETING; WILL BECOME PART OWNER OF PROJECT HE STEERED TOWARD "PREFERRED" DEVELOPER

EMBATTLED MAYOR-ELECT RICHARD THOMAS

Embattled Mayor-elect Richard Thomas ran a campaign of thuggery, shakedowns, bribery, and thievery.  Thomas promised a campaign and an administration of transparency, but has miserably failed to deliver on that promise.

Thomas has committed serious crimes and Mount Vernon taxpayers are wondering where is the long arm of the law to prosecute Thomas and his gang of thieves for the crimes they committed.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas held an illegal fundraiser at Leewood Golf Club.  Kyle Munoz, Anthony DeBellis, and Frank Fraley hosted the fundraiser.  The price to attend this glitzy event was a whopping $2,500 per person.  The maximum contribution allowable by law was only $1,801. Richard Thomas named this illegal fundraiser "Win The Future".

RICHARD THOMAS ILLEGAL "WIN THE FUTURE" FUNDRAISER

A Mount Vernon business owner contacted Mount Vernon Exposed last week to report an attempted shakedown by Richard Thomas' campaign staff.  The business owner told Mount Vernon Exposed that he had scheduled a private meeting with Richard Thomas' prior to the "Win The Future" fundraiser.  The business owner who did not attend the "Win The Future" fundraiser met with Thomas about quality of life issues and about improving Mount Vernon's business climate.  The business owner said that at the conclusion of the meeting, Thomas gave him several invitations to the "Win The Future" fundraiser and Thomas said to the business owner, "I hope to see you there."

The business owner told Mount Vernon Exposed that they did not formally commit to going to the fundraiser because of the hefty price tag and because they thought that amount was a bit much for a fundraiser.  The business owner told Thomas that he will "see what they can do" about selling tickets.  The business then told Thomas that they will "see" if they can sell four tickets to the event.  The business owner told Mount Vernon Exposed that they did not sell any tickets to the "Win The Future" fundraiser. 

Several weeks after the fundraiser, the business owner said they were contacted by Richard Thomas' campaign team about the fundraiser.  The business owner said that the person from Richard Thomas' camp said, "You had a meeting several weeks ago with Richard Thomas and you committed to raising $10K."  The business owner told Mount Vernon Exposed that they were totally caught off guard by the phone call from Thomas' camp and at first thought it was a joke until the caller from Thomas' camp gave explicit details regarding the meeting held between the business owner and Thomas.

The caller then further stated, "Richard keeps a log of everyone he meets with and it doesn't show in the log that you gave $10K".  The business owner told Mount Vernon Exposed that the caller from Thomas' camp was very aggressive and demanding.  The caller further stated, "Richard remembers all of those who gave and all of those who didn't give and won't be having any meetings in the future with those who don't commit to him".   The business owner then said, "What do you want me to do? Cut a check for $10K right now?"  The caller then said "That will be nice".  The business owner then said "Not happening and hung up the phone".

Federal investigators must subpoena Richard Thomas and his campaign staff's financial records at once.  A paper trail of contributions and expenditures must be properly established since Thomas' campaign financial disclosures are permeated with fraud and riddled with errors. 

Richard Thomas has indicated that his administration will be "pay to play".  In other words, only those with serious cash will be able to develop and get things done in the City of Mount Vernon.

Thomas has aligned himself with shady businessman Joseph Spiezio who is alleged to have ties to the Lucchese Crime Family.  Spiezio, a known con man and fraudster, has a trail of lawsuits in State and Federal Court to support this claim.  Spiezio has even been named as a defendant in a Federal R.I.C.O. lawsuit claiming he swindled millions of dollars from a development project for his own personal gain and use. 

A political insider has informed Mount Vernon Exposed that all development projects will go through Spiezio.  One such project that Thomas has committed to building is a massive low-income project near the Mount Vernon East Train Station.

Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that in recent weeks, Thomas gave the "OK" for the project to move forward as soon as he takes office. It is unclear how much cash Richard received and what kickbacks he was promised for giving his blessing on the low-income project. 

The developer of the project is Larry Regan, CEO of Regan Development.  Thomas has promised Regan massive tax breaks through the City's Industrial Development Agency.  So what is in this deal for Richard one may ask? Did Larry Reegan drop an envelope in Richard's lap in exchange for Thomas allowing Reegan to construct low-income housing near the Mount Vernon East train station? Sources have also confirmed to Mount Vernon Exposed that Thomas is pushing for this project to go through because Thomas will become a part owner of the project once the development is completed. 

LARRY REEGAN OF REGAN DEVELOPMENT 

LOW INCOME VILLAGE PROPOSED BY WEINGARTEN AND REGAN

Reegan has retained Mark Weingarten of the law firm DelBello, Donnellan, Weingarten Tartaglia, Wise, & Wiederkehr L.L.P.  Many in political circles throughout Westchester County view Weingarten as a shady land use attorney that is involved in many controversial projects throughout Westchester. 

CORRUPT ATTORNEY MARK WEINGARTEN

According to a Journal News article published on June 20, 2015 titled "Party favors: Dual posts, perks for political bosses", Weingarten represented G&S Investors of Long Island in a controversial development along the Port Chester waterfront.  Westchester County Election Commissioner Reginald Lafayette was also named in the controversy.

The Chairman's Circle

While not paid as party boss, LaFayette runs the Chairman's Circle, a committee that has spent $183,449 since 2008, when The Journal News first revealed the committee, according to records from the state Board of Elections.

Only $58,276, or 32 percent of the total, went to campaign-related expenses, and nearly half of that was for one Port Chester village election. The rest of the money paid for the various costs of vehicles LaFayette leases, unitemized reimbursements and for dozens of meals, including 21 at Mulino's Restaurant in White Plains.

To pay for it, LaFayette used $102,831 in contributions he received from 2008 through 2014, more than half of it from developers, contractors, and law and accounting firms that do business in Westchester. Other committees donated $43,826, including those of U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel and Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore, both Democrats.

In February 2013, the Chairman's Circle also received $5,000 each from Greg Wasser, Douglas Riley and Lawrence Traub, partners with the development firm G&S Investors of Old Bethpage. Another $2,500 came from G&S partner Robert Weinberg, and $5,000 from RMC Development Company, Weinberg's Elmsford-based firm.

G&S developed the Port Chester waterfront, and has been part of a lingering controversy over a damaged bulkhead along the Byram River. G&S, the village and Westchester County are at odds over who is responsible for rebuilding the bulkhead, a repair expected to cost upwards of $7 million.

Port Chester Republicans, who threatened to take control of the village board in 2013, were pushing for G&S to pay for the repairs, and also opposed rezoning a property on Main Street that the developer owns.

In March 2013, LaFayette's committee spent $25,018 on the village election, 93 percent of all campaign-related expenses that year and 43 percent of all campaign-related spending from 2008 through 2014. It was the only election that the committee devoted significant funds to over that span, according to the records.

Democrat Dennis Pilla lost the mayoral seat, but the board ended in a virtual deadlock between the parties. Bart Didden, a Republican trustee who lost a re-election bid, was among those who cried foul.

"G&S has, from the very beginning, supported the Democrats and their actions have hurt property owners through this whole development to the tune of millions of dollars," said Didden, who has a separate legal dispute with G&S. "It definitely doesn't smell right because the people of Port Chester would never know how their politics are being influenced by the largest property holder in the village of Port Chester. There is no transparency here."

Officials at G&S did not return calls seeking comment.

LaFayette maintained that he was not aware that G&S developed the Port Chester waterfront, nor that there was a dispute over the collapsed bulkhead. He said village Democrats simply asked for help and he provided it.

"In terms of coincidence, these are big companies who do business all over," he said. "You know, you do mailings out to people and ask for contributions, and you have a mailing list and you mail to the same people. You don't necessarily know where they're building."

Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Thomas told folks during the campaign that Weingarten and his law firm pledged to raise $150K for Thomas' Mayoral campaign but according to sources, Weingarten never came through with any funds and has only surfaced recently in Mount Vernon with the Reegan development.

What did Weingarten promise Richard Thomas?  Did he promise to make Richard a partner in the deal?  Why is Richard selling off the City of Mount Vernon to the highest bidder?

Federal investigators must investigate the Thomas/Reegan/Spiezio/Weingarten relationship at once before they further destroy the City of Mount Vernon. 

To be continued...

 

MAYOR ELECT RICHARD THOMAS' TRANSITION TEAM CO-CHAIR UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

Mayor Elect Thomas Transition Advisory Board: 

Symbolism without Substance

EMBATTLED MAYOR ELECT RICHARD THOMAS AND
 LUCCHESE AFFILIATED TOP ADVISOR JOSEPH SPIEZIO 

Mount Vernon Mayor Elect Richard Thomas announced his advisory council to the pubic yesterday. What was missing from Thomas' advisory council was his promise of real community connection. Where are the community leaders? Where are the people that have been out front in support of Thomas’s campaign from the beginning? Mayor Thomas has gone astray and alienated the core group of supporters that put him in office. 

As we say in Mount Vernon, the streets are talking and the streets are saying that Thomas has turned his back on his main supporters that gave him the credibility to galvanize the support of the masses of Mt. Vernon.

Are we to believe that the list of advisors presented by Mayor-elect Richard Thomas actually knows how to advise Thomas on the day-to-day operations in Mount Vernon?

Are we the people of Mt. Vernon to be bamboozled by titles and corporate positions and no real history in our community?

Mayor Elect Richard Thomas has assembled a transition team headed by an individual that has ties to former New York State Majority Leader Dean Skelos.  United States Attorney Preet Baharara has indicted Skelos and his son.

Mayor Elect Richard Thomas has named Arthur "Jerry" Kremer who heads a company called Empire Government Strategies.  Kremer's company is tied to Senator Skelos' indictment. 

According to an article in the Shelter Island Reporter titled, "Suffolk Close-up: A Long Island web of corruption:

The arrest on federal corruption charges of Long Islander Dean Skelos, majority leader of the New York State Senate, and his resignation from that post last week, casts a spotlight on a major law firm.

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek is a mover-and-shaker of governments on Long Island and one of its partners is an East Ender in charge of lobbying activities for the firm.

The Times article said “the criminal complaint in the case — which cataloged a series of accusations centered on the senator’s efforts to use his official position to extort money for his son — did not reflect well on the firm.” The Times noted that the federal charge alleged, “At the senator’s request, the law firm ‘steered title insurance work’ to his son, Adam B. Skelos, ‘including at least one real estate transaction’ for over $32.6 million.”

Mr. Skelos was presented on the law firm’s website in the context of his official position — “Senator Dean G. Skelos, Of Counsel,” was its heading. Although now mired in legal problems involving alleged corruption, one passage speaks, with an irony that’s almost funny, about Senator Skelos “building upon his record of combating fraud and abuse in government.”

According to the federal charge, the senator began working at the firm in 1994, he has been paid more than $2.6 million, despite the fact that it appears, based on evidence gathered during the investigation, that Mr. Skelos “did not perform any actual legal work” for the firm.

An unusual aspect of the firm is what it calls its “government relations arm, Empire Government Strategies.” This is headed by Arthur “Jerry” Kremer of Bridgehampton.

ARTHUR "JERRY" KREMER

CORRUPT NYS SENATOR DEAN SKELOS
(CURRENTLY INDICTED BY FEDS ON CORRUPTION CHARGES)

In a section on the law firm’s website devoted to Mr. Kremer, under his photo is a quote: “Law and politics have always been closely aligned. Many of my clients turn to me for legal counsel, but also for my insights into the political arena, which is a constantly changing landscape.” He is described as a partner in the law firm.

Mr. Kremer is a Democrat and for 23 years was a member of the New York State Assembly. As a lobbyist, he’s been active in Suffolk County representing, among other clients, the tobacco industry and seeking to block measures advanced by the Suffolk Legislature to restrict smoking.

Although a highly active lobbyist, for 20 years he has regularly appeared as a political and government analyst on Cablevision’s News12.

Newsday, in an investigative article by reporter Mark Harrington in 2013, detailed how the “influential law firm and its government relations arm have a history of close ties to the Long Island Power Authority and stand to gain billions if new LIPA contracts come their clients’ way in coming weeks and months.”

It noted that the Uniondale-based firm “long has represented Caithness of New York City through its government relations arm” and “helped the energy company through lobbying and consulting work to secure a $1.49 billion LIPA contract for a new power plant.” Caithness is now pushing to add a second gas-fired power plant to the one it built in Yaphank.

The law firm through its “Empire Government Strategies,” the Newsday piece continued, “Also has represented PSEG of New Jersey since at least last year. PSEG is slated to see a $200 million-plus expansion of its $3.8 billion contract with LIPA if the State Legislature OKs Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal to give PSEG near total control of the LIPA grid in January,”

Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, which includes Long Island, has been doing a extraordinary job exposing how New York State government functions (or dysfunctions). His charges against Mr. Skelos of Rockville Centre follow the indictment in February, also on corruption charges, of the top Democrat in the State Legislature, Sheldon Silver of Manhattan, the Assembly speaker, also forced to resign his leadership post. Earlier, Mr. Bharara brought a series of successful prosecutions against other state officials.

Thomas’s connection with alleged Lucchese crime family associate Joseph Spiezio has run all of Thomas’s credible support away and running for the hills. The exposure of the Spiezio Thomas connection has forced Thomas to downplay the leadership role of his lead advisor. Make no mistake about it, Spiezio is still running things and he still is making Thomas’ decisions.  

What we are witnessing are acts of desperation by an administration that has spiraled out of control before the administration has even taken office.

We must continue to hold elected officials accountable and not tolerate shenanigans from any elected official, even if he has a smile and a collage degree!!