WESTCHESTER DEM LEADER CONTINUES TO ENDORSE FAILURES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE; NYS ASSEMBLY J. GARY PRETLOW THREATENS OPPONENT

On Sunday, July 3^rd, 2010, Mount Vernon Exposed™® crossed paths with Westchester County Democratic Chairman Reginald LaFayette, the first encounter since Mount Vernon Exposed™® published an article about alleged drug abuse by LaFayette, Sha-Kee Williams, and Westchester County Family Court Judge Nilda Morales Horowitz.

Last month, an anonymous e-mail was sent to Mount Vernon Exposed™® from a person claiming to be a New Rochelle Democratic district leader.  The email stated that the district leader overheard New Rochelle Dem Chair Arnold Klugman discuss Mr. Lafayette’s abuse of illegal narcotics, specifically cocaine.  The district leader also overheard Klugman state that Lafayette’s girlfriend Sha-Kee Williams also abused cocaine.

Mr. Lafayette was very angry and belligerent, behavior that is not normal for a person that is a public servant, when approached by Mount Vernon Exposed publisher Samuel L. Rivers.  “I am not shaking the hand of someone that said I use cocaine” said LaFayette.  Mr. Rivers simply told LaFayette that he was not the author of the email or the allegations and simply is reporting on matters on public concern.  New York State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow was also in attendance during the encounter with Mr. LaFayette.  Mr. Pretlow also became belligerent when Mr. Rivers was speaking to Mr. LaFayette.  “What if someone writes a story and said that you are a child molester?” asked LaFayette.  Mr. Rivers told LaFayette, “this is a free country and you are free to write and say what you want but make sure it is true and if you say or write something that is not true, then you will be sued without hesitation. 

Mr.  Pretlow then chimed in and said to Mr.  Rivers “you are a fucking moron” and proceeded to issue a statement that many would perceive to be a threat.  Mr. Pretlow then said, “You better not write anything about me that isn’t true because I am not as nice as Reggie”.  What exactly did Mr. Pretlow mean by his comments?  Was he threatening bodily harm to Mr. Rivers?  Was he suggesting that he would conspire with Mr. LaFayette to sabotage the election and Mr. Rivers campaign against Mr. Pretlow? It is apparent that Mr. Pretlow is now engaging in the same behavior and practices that disgraced former Mayoral Aide John Boykin was heard speaking about during the famous tape recorded conversation. 

Mr. LaFayette denied that he abuses or has abused illegal narcotics.  However, Mr. Lafayette did not deny that he slept with Westchester Family Court Judge Kathie Davidson and Westchester County Family Court Judge Nilda Morales Horowitz in exchange for the Democratic nomination.  Judge Kathie Davidson has made headlines recently due to her involvement with Mayor Clinton Young.  Sources have confirmed that Mayor Young was using a taxpayer funded bodyguard, vehicle, and gas to be dropped off at Kathie Davidson’s house at all hours of the night.  Sources have also confirmed that Judge Davidson and Mayor Young have been romantically involved for several years.  Perhaps Judge Davidson will become the first lady of Mount Vernon.   Mr. LaFayette also did not deny other allegations set forth in the email such as taking payments from Cappelli for facilitating meetings with former New Rochelle Mayor Tim Idoni and other New Rochelle elected officials.  So we must assume these serious allegations to be true.

Mr. LaFayette also said that Mount Vernon Exposed™® has ruined the reputation of his girlfriend, Sha-Kee Williams.  The district leader from New Rochelle said that Sha-Kee Williams engaged in promiscuous activity with her current boss, Westchester County Court Judge James Hubert.  Hubert was endorsed and wholeheartedly supported by LaFayette last during his bid to be elected to New York State Supreme Court.  Hubert failed to get elected to New York State Supreme Court. 

Hubert is not the only failure supported by LaFayette.  LaFayette continues to support Judge Nilda Morales Horowitz.  Judge Horowitz has been publicly censured by New York State’s highest court for attempting on six different occasions to fix cases for her friends that were at that time before other justices of the Westchester Family Court.  Hal Greenwald is another failure supported by Mr. LaFayette. Hal Greenwald is quite the political prostitute and is desperate for his chance to take a sip from the public water fountain.  Greenwald has been mentored by Ken Jenkins, the disgraced Chairman of the Westchester County Legislators recently accused of voter fraud.  It is alleged that Jenkins does not live in the district that he represents. If Greenwald takes his advice from Ken Jenkins, it would not be hard to figure out what kind of Judge he would be.

Hal Greenwald has been unsuccessfully running for office for almost a decade.  In 2003, Hal Greenwald unsuccessfully ran for County Legislator and in 2007 was the Yonkers Democratic Party’s nominee for Westchester County Family Court.  Greenwald failed to win the Family Court election.  It was also reported to Mount Vernon Exposed by Mr. LaFayette that Greenwald also ran unsuccessfully for Yonkers City Council and NYS Assembly.  Mr. LaFayette also said that this is the first time Hal Greenwald is running for office countywide.  Mr. Lafayette once again proves to be a liar and someone that cannot be trusted. 

Mount Vernon Exposed™® received notification that Mr. LaFayette has encountered several people that are outraged that the Westchester County Democratic Executive Committee did not endorse Judge Bill Edwards for one of the four judicial seats.  According to a source, Layette said that he couldn’t sell Judge Edwards throughout Westchester County because of his wife Helena R. Edwards’ blog. www.straighttalkinmountvernon.typepad.com.  

Mr. Lafayette also didn’t mention that the Ivy League educated Judge Edwards has had several decisions published in New York Law Journal. Supervising Judge Kathie Davidson had never had a decision published in New York Law Journal. No other candidate currently seeking to be elected to Westchester County Family Court has had a decision published in the New York Law Journal.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® could not find any decisions published by Judge Nilda Morales Horowitz, however inserting her name into the Google search did bring up her horrendous record and admonishment. Clearly, the nomination is not about education, integrity, and competence.

So just what does it take to receive a Democratic Judicial nomination?  Is one required to offer sex or sexual acts to party bosses?  Are you required to share a passion of illegal narcotics abuse? Or are you required to pay 10% percent to party chairs? We may never know the answer to this question, but one this is for sure, we know that nominations are not based on qualifications and competence but based solely on politics and those that know how to drop it like it’s hot. 

Mount Vernon Exposed™®  will continue to educate the public on this year’s judicial races and has taken the quest for insight into these candidates into the community.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® spoke with several attorneys about Judge Davidson, Judge Horowitz, Judge David Klein, and Judge Bill Edwards, Patricia O’ Callaghan, Michelle Shauer, and Hal Greenwald.  At a later date and time, Mount Vernon Exposed™® will release our endorsements for Westchester Family Court, Westchester County Court and all political races that affect the City of Mount Vernon.  Judicial candidates can request a questionnaire by emailing mountvernonexposed@gmail.com.

Information that will researched and released to the public includes the following. 

•          Admonishments and Public Censures
•          Published Opinions, Decisions, etc.
•          Drug Use/Abuse- All candidates will be asked to voluntarily submit to a drug test using a follicle of hair.  The names of those candidates that refuse to submit to a drug test will be released to the public.
•          Work ethic and attendance
•          Current Case Load (for current sitting Judges)
•          Relationship amongst peers at work
•          All candidates will be asked to furnish 3 letters of recommendation.  One letter shall be from an attorney that actively practices in Family Court.  One letter shall be from a former Judge of the New York State Unified Court System, and one letter shall be from a dean of the law school attended by candidate.

CAN YOU SUPERSIZE THAT? MOUNT VERNON POLICE OFFICER'S WILLFULLY VIOLATE LAW

Officer Erin Holly, Officer Muendel, and K-9 Officer socializing over meal

K-9 OFFICER'S VEHICLE ILLEGALLY PARKED IN FIRE LANE

OFFICER ERIN HOLLY'S VEHICLE ILLEGALLY PARKED IN FIRE LANE AND OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC

Illegally parking in a fire lane or parking in a handicap parking space without the proper permit can get your car towed and/or can result in a hefty fine.  But, for some of Mount Vernon’s finest, these same violations that they write dozens of tickets for do not seem to apply to them. 

On Thursday, May 20^th, 2010, Mount Vernon Exposed™® received a tip that 3 Mount Vernon Police Officers were casually socializing and enjoying a hearty meal at McDonald’s and at the same time, their vehicles were illegally parked in McDonald’s parking causing mass confusion.  When Mount Vernon Exposed™® arrived on the scene, the sight was beyond comprehension. 

Two Mount Vernon police vehicles were parked in the fire lane, obstructing traffic and another police cruiser was illegally parked in a handicap parking space.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® videotaped the illegally parked police cruisers and then went inside to get an explanation from the Mount Vernon police officer’s that were on the scene. 

Mount Vernon Exposed™® then noticed three Mount Vernon Police officer’s enjoying a hearty meal and having a casual conversation upon approaching their table.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® Publisher Samuel L. Rivers then said to the officers, “Do you know that you are illegally parked outside?”  Police Officer Muendel then said that the officers had a hot call.  Officer Muendel then stated that he was on his dinner break and that he was finished and now was up and going.  However, Officer Muendel never stated if this “hot call” he was on was at McDonald’s or at another location.

Officer Muendel was joined by two other Mount Vernon Police Officer’s, Officer Erin Holly and a K-9 officer.  Officer Holly was munching on what appeared to be a McChicken sandwich and the K-9 officer appeared to just have received his order because he was still unpacking it from the bag when Mount Vernon Exposed™® arrived on the scene.

Officer Muendel was very polite and realized that he had quite possibly parked his car incorrectly in the parking lot.  He then went to go park it correctly.  Officer Holly could care less if she was breaking the law.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® publisher Samuel L. Rivers then informed the officer’s that if a private citizen parked illegally and exhibited the same disregard for the law as displayed by these officers, the private citizen would be ticketed without hesitation. 

Officer Holly disagreed.  She stated it was a private lot and therefore a ticket could not be issued.  She also stated that she was getting calls left and right.  In Officer Holly’s language, that meant she was entitled to park however and wherever she chose, and she was entitled to her McChicken sandwich even if that wasn’t her regularly scheduled dinner break.  The K-9 officer remained silent the entire time and did not speak to Mount Vernon Exposed™®.

Officer Holly became arrogant and belligerent when she was questioned about her high handed behavior.  She responded “Can I enjoy my meal?” She did not care that cars, yes taxpayers that pay her salary, were being inconvenienced and traffic was backing up onto Fulton Avenue.  The savory juices from the McChicken sandwich were satisfying to her mouth and she refused to be disturbed.

Samuel L. Rivers then left and telephoned the Mount Vernon Police Department and spoke with Sgt. Godshall and informed him of the illegally parked vehicles at McDonald’s.  Sgt. Godshall then said he would look into the matter.

If these three officers were indeed scheduled to have dinner at the same time and at the same place, then the Mount Vernon Police department manual needs to be looked at.  Not only is this poor planning, this is a major safety issue.  In Seattle a few months ago, a gunman killed four police officers that were having the morning coffee.  All four officers were sitting together when the gunman opened fire. 

Mount Vernon Exposed™® Publisher Samuel L. Rivers then recognized Officer Holly from another run-in he had with her just a few weeks prior, where she demonstrated the exact same arrogance and unprofessionalism that she displayed in McDonald’s.

Corrupt DPW Commissioner Terrence Horton called the police to the DPW Yard on numerous occasions on Mount Vernon Exposed™® Publisher Samuel L. Rivers.  One of the officers that responded was Officer Holly.  Officer Holly was asked by Samuel L. Rivers if she had a copy of the City Charter and/or City ordinances in her vehicles to resolve the dispute if Terrence Horton had the legal authority to remove Samuel L. Rivers from the premises.  Officer Holly responded, “Do not ask me what I have in my car?”

It was then evident that Officer Holly did not receive adequate training in the police academy, was unhappy with her job or a combination of the two. 

Officer Holly has a reputation for being arrogant and unprofessional.  A few weeks prior to the DPW incident, Officer Holly was involved in an incident with Gary Fuller, Chairman of the City of Mount Vernon Board of Ethics.  Officer Holly was dispatched to a scene that involved a city taxi that was attempting to overcharge Mr. Fuller.  The Mount Vernon Police Department has jurisdiction over the Mount Vernon Police Department. 

Officer Holly and her partner (Shield #2106) told Mr. Fuller that they would sic their dog on Mr. Fuller if he did not leave the taxi.  Mr. Fuller had refused to leave the taxi because the taxi driver was attempting to charge him more than the legal fare.  Officer Holly also refused repeated requests to call a supervisor to the scene. 

Officer Holly, without regard for taxpayers, then decided to waste valuable resources and called an ambulance to the scene.  Officer Holly and her partner had declared that Mr. Fuller was an “emotionally disturbed person.”   Officer Holly and her arrogance and blatant disregard for the law and the taxpayers of Mount Vernon will not be tolerated.  It is unfathomable to think that Mount Vernon taxpayers must pay these arrogant and abusive officers such as Officer Holly, and at the same time be subjected to their high handed behavior and harassment.  However, we must not blame Officer Holly for her reckless actions and unprofessionalism.  Officer Holly has only been on the force for a few years.  We must hold those accountable that trained her and taught her how to behave and act this way.  

OFFICER ERIN HOLLY THREATENS MOUNT VERNON RESIDENT WITH POLICE DOG