INSIDE THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON'S KANGAROO COURT PART #1

The Crime Scene: Mount Vernon City Court

Embattled Mount Vernon City Court Judge Adam Seiden

Embattled Mount Vernon City Court Judge Helen Blackwood

When one appears before a Judge on a matter whether it is criminal or civil, one expects the Judge to have a complete and thorough understanding of the law and to apply the law with without bias and prejudice.  The last thing a person would expect from a sitting Judge is for that Judge to be in direct violation of the same laws they are responsible for upholding. 

This is such the case in the City of Mount Vernon court, where incompetence reigns supreme and is praised by Mount Vernon’s power brokers. There is one thing in common about the judges that currently sit on the bench in Mount Vernon; they are all guilty of committing ethics violations.  Some of these violations may get some of these judges thrown off of the bench, while other violations may land others in the slammer where they belong. 

Mount Vernon Exposed™® begins its mini-series “Inside Mount Vernon’s Kangaroo Court”. Since Mount Vernon’s own Judge William “Billy” Edwards became Acting Family and County Court Judge and was transferred to White Plains, the Mount Vernon Court System has become a dysfunctional institution.

Judge Mark Gross, appointed by Mayor Ernest Davis is 2006 decided, without legal authorization, that he would assume the self anointed title of “Supervising Judge” after the Honorable Brenda Dowery Rodriguez retired from the bench in 2009.  No such title has existed before Judge Gross’s self anointment.  In fact, Mount Vernon always had a Chief Judge that under normal circumstances went to the longest serving elected Judge in the City of Mount Vernon.  At the time Gross was appointed to the bench, the Chief Judge was Judge Rodriguez.  At the time of Judge Rodriguez’s retirement, the longest serving elected Judge in the City of Mount Vernon was Judge William Edwards.

Judge Edwards was already serving in his capacity as Acting Family and County Court Judge when Judge Rodriguez retired from the bench.  With Judge Edwards absence from Mount Vernon City Court, Judge Gross decided that he would create a new title for himself to give himself a sense of power.  However his reckless and selfish actions have been met with controversy.  Several sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed™®, that Judge Gross treats African- American 18-B attorneys much different from their Caucasian counterparts.   Mount Vernon Exposed™® has also heard of situations that Judge Gross routinely and quite possibly on purpose, tampers with the pay of 18-B by decreasing the billable hours due to each attorney and not signing the vouchers in a timely manner. 

Also known as "18-B", after the section of the statute which created it, the Assigned Counsel Plan provides free legal representation to indigent criminal defendants in the New York Supreme Court Criminal Division, and to both juvenile and adult respondents in the New York Family Courts.


An "18-B" attorney can be assigned only to eligible defendants/respondents by a Supreme Court Justice or Family Court judge. You must apply for an "18-B" attorney at your initial court appearance, and you must meet financial eligibility guidelines. Generally speaking, if you are unemployed, you qualify for free legal representation in any case to which 18-B applies.


The attorneys who provide 18-B representation are private practitioners. The State of New York reimburses them at a low rate and the Courts must assign more cases than the shrinking Panel can reasonably handle.
Judge Gross’s antics were eventually reported to Judge Alan D. Scheinkman, Administrative Judge for the 9^th judicial district.  Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed™® that a few weeks ago Judge Scheinkman came down to Mount Vernon City Court and reprimanded Judge Gross about his self anointed title.  Judge Scheinkman also explained to Judge Gross that the position of “Supervising Judge” does not exist in the City of Mount Vernon. 


Many taxpayers even argue the issue as to why Judge Gross was even appointed to the bench in the first place.  Judge Gross’ ethics violations and abuse of taxpayer dollars began long before he even became a Judge in the City of Mount Vernon. 


Judge Gross was counsel for the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply from July 1990 through January 2006.  His annual salary was $10,000 and remained at that level until he resigned.  During this time he contributed 3% toward his pension.  However, there is something wrong with this picture.  Judge Gross was never a full time City of Mount Vernon employee.  Instead of getting a retainer for $10,000, Judge Gross opted to be added to the City of Mount Vernon payroll at the least amount possible that is required to receive health benefits and pension credits in the NYS retirement system.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® has learned that a formal complaint was sent to NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and NYS Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli requesting an investigation into Judge Gross’ perfidious activities.

Mount Vernon Democratic Committee Chairman Devereaux Cannick and also a partner of the law firm Aiello and Cannick was also improperly listed as an employee of the Mount Vernon School System.  As a result of the investigation conducted by NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the law firm of Aiello and Cannick was ordered to repay $75,000 to NYS and forfeit all credits to the pension system. 

JUDGE ADAM SEIDEN

Judge Seiden Ethics

The next character that is part of the Kangaroo Court in Mount Vernon is Judge Adam Seiden.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® has learned that a complaint was recently filed with the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Judge Seiden has engaged in conduct that is in violation of opinions issued by the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Professional Ethics and the New York State Court system's Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics.

In 1992, the above mentioned bar association directed that part-time judges should not appear before zoning and planning boards in municipalities where they serve.

Judge Seiden has represented numerous applicants before the City of Mount Vernon Planning and Zoning Boards. 

Some of the properties that Seiden has represented applicants before the planning and zoning boards are: 520 E. 3^rd Street; 24-26 E. Devonia Avenue, and 440 Franklin Avenue.  There are many more.

At the time Judge Seiden appeared before the zoning board, the applicant, Ralph Tedesco, was Commissioner of buildings for the City of Mount Vernon.  The applicant of 440 Franklin Avenue, Terrence Horton, is currently the Commissioner of Public Works for the City of Mount Vernon. 

Judge Seiden was successful for all of the above mentioned applicants that appeared before the zoning and planning boards.  However, the City of Mount Vernon and the applicant for 520 E. 3^rd Street are facing legal challenges in New York State Supreme Court from a neighboring business who contends that the project was rushed through without appropriate review from city officials.

Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed™® that Judge Seiden acts as if the world revolves around him when it comes to his court calendar.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® has learned of one instance when Judge Seiden allegedly delayed his court calendar, without notifying court personnel, because he had a previously scheduled real estate closing the same morning.

JUDGE HELEN BLACKWOOD

Judge Helen Blackwood Complaint

The last and newest member to the Kangaroo Court is Judge Helen Blackwood.  With less than a year on the bench, Judge Blackwood has managed to surpass her superiors when it comes to questionable behavior and ethics violations.  Judge Blackwood was appointed to the bench in April 2009, by embattled Mayor Clinton I. Young Jr.  Blackwood narrowly cruised to victory in the September 2009 Democratic primary by just over 100 votes. 

Judge Blackwood has also joined her colleagues being on the receiving end of complaints filed with the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct.  Judge Blackwood was accused of violating several statues of Part 100 of the Chief Judge Administrative Judge Rules concerning Judicial Conduct. 

The incompetence displayed by the judges that make up Mount Vernon’s Kangaroo Court can be directly attributed to the leaders that appointed the Judges to the bench and the Democratic leaders who nominated these creepy individuals to public office. 

DPW WORKERS CAUGHT RED-HANDED WORKING AT DPW SUPERVISOR RUDY PERSAUD'S HOME; DPW WORKERS TAKE OFFENSE TO CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT YUHANNA EDWARD'S RACIST REMARKS

CORRUPT DPW SUPERVISOR RUDY PERSAUD

DPW WORKERS AS THEY WORK ON RUDY PERSAUD'S PRIVATE HOME WITHOUT PERMIT

DPW WORKER STANDING NEXT TO CITY OWNED EQUIPMENT PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS

DPW WORKERS AS THEY WORK ON RUDY PERSAUD'S HOME

DPW WORKERS HAVING A CASUAL CONVERSATION AT PERSAUD'S HOME

UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS WORKING ON PERSAUD'S HOME WITHOUT A BUILDING PERMIT

CITY OWNED VEHICLE AND CITY OWNED EQUIPMENT AT PERSAUD'S HOME

DPW WORKING AT PERSAUD'S HOME HAVING A CASUAL CONVERSATION ON THE TAXPAYER'S DIME

RUDY PERSAUD'S YARD RUBBISH DUMPED ON A SIDE STREET AND LATER REMOVED BY 2 DPW SEASONAL WORKERS.  THE 2 SEASONAL WORKERS HAVE SINCE BEEN TERMINATED BY DPW COMMISSIONER TERRENCE HORTON

DPW WORKER AND CITY OWNED VEHICLE

CITY OWNED EQUIPMENT AND CITY OWNED VEHICLE

Dpw Commissioner Terernce Horton is a Convicted Criminal

Mount Vernon taxpayers have become outraged at the latest scandal to plague the administration of Mayor Clinton I. Young Jr.  On Tuesday, April 13^th, 2010, community activist and Democratic district leader Samuel L. Rivers held a press conference in front of City Hall.  Rivers publicly called for an investigation into DPW Commissioner Terrence Horton and DPW Supervisor Rudy Persaud. 

Rudy Persaud has a history of treating equipment paid by City of Mount Vernon taxpayers as his own.  In 1996, Rudy Persaud was suspended without pay for lending out a City owned power saw to a co-worker.  Sources have also told Mount Vernon Exposed®™ that every year Rudy Persaud steals flowers paid for by Mount Vernon taxpayers for his personal use.  The source said all you have to do is drive by Rudy’s house and compare the flowers planted in his yard to the flowers planted around the City of Mount Vernon. 

Last week, Rivers received in the mail, photographs that show Rudy Persaud using City equipment and City workers to do work at his private residence located at 312 E. Lincoln Avenue.  On Wednesday, April 14^th, 2010 Rivers presented the photographs to the Mount Vernon City Council and called for an investigation into Persaud’s illegal activities. 

City Councilwoman Karen Watts stated publicly that theft of services in unacceptable to the taxpayers of Mount Vernon and asked that the matter be referred to law enforcement officials for investigation while City Council President J. Yuhanna Edwards took a different approach to the situation. 

Samuel L. Rivers presented a wealth of information to the City Council body of Wednesday evening.  Rivers asked, “Why are taxpayers paying for the storage of 8 brand new garbage trucks at the Department of Public works garage?”  Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed®™ that these garbage trucks have already been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and have already been added to the City of Mount Vernon’s insurance policy.  Sources have also said that Commissioner Horton is waiting until Memorial Day to put these trucks on the road and that Horton is also waiting to have his name as well as the Mayor’s name put on these trucks.  There has never been a DPW Commissioner in the history of Mount Vernon that has had his name out on sanitation trucks. 

When it was time for the Councilmember’s to respond to the public’s comments, City Council President J. Yuhanna Edwards went off the deep end when responding to Rivers’ comments.  Instead of thanking Rivers’ for bringing information about corruption in the Department of Public Works to the City Council, Council President Edwards told Rivers’ on the record, that he is no longer going to be allowed to put “Political Prostitution” as the topic of discussion at City Council meetings.  Edwards stated his reason for doing so, was because he wasn’t a political prostitute.  It was quite evident that Edwards was sipping Kool-Aid from the same cup as Mayor Young, just from opposite ends of the cup. 

During the break after public commentary, Rivers’ approached Edwards and told him that he was infringing upon his constitutional rights to free speech by not allowing him to speak on topics of his choosing.  Rivers’ also told Edwards that if he restricted him from speaking about what he wanted to speak about, that he would be sued in his individual capacity.  Edwards responded, “Stick to Real Estate, you’ll make more money.”  Rivers then called over City Clerk George Brown and informed him that if he attempts to censor any of Rivers’ topics of discussion that he too will be sued for infringing upon Rivers’ constitutional rights.  Brown then responded that he will seek an opinion from the Corporation Counsel’s office.  After a few minutes or so, Brown told Rivers “problem solved”, whatever that meant.

Is City Council Presidents J. Yuhanna Edwards a racist?

CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT J.YUHANNA EDWARDS

Mount Vernon Exposed ®™ has received several calls and emails over the past few weeks concerning the conduct of City Council President J. Yuhanna Edwards.  During the City Council’s radio show on WVOX, a DPW worker called into the show complaining about DPW Commissioner Terrence Horton and the horrendous working conditions that they endure on a daily basis. 

Mount Vernon Exposed®™ was informed that City Council President Edwards quickly interrupted the DPW worker and told him to put his grievance in writing.  The following morning, Edwards went down to the DPW yard and spoke to the men during morning roll call.  Many, if not all of the DPW workers took offense to Edwards remarks.  

The DPW department has already become a hostile environment since Terrence “Hitler” Horton takeover.  Edwards’s speech and presence that morning only made matters worse and further divided the department.  Mount Vernon Exposed®™ interviewed approximately 25 DPW workers of various ethnic backgrounds to get an idea of just how bad things are in the department and details of Yuhanna Edward’s speech.  One African-American worker said “Yuhanna Edwards’ speech was uncalled for; I cannot believe that he came down here and defended Terrence Horton.”  “Did Yuhanna forget that the previous Commissioner (James Finch) was black?” he added.

Mount Vernon Exposed was told that Yuhanna Edwards told DPW workers of his past business relationship with Joan Horton, the mother of DPW Commissioner Terrence Horton.  Edwards told them that he took Joan Horton to court and successfully sued her for a dispute arising from their business partnership.  Joan Horton and Edwards ran a paint store together at 12 E. 3^rd Street in Mount Vernon at the site DPW Commissioner Terrence Horton uses as the corporate headquarters for Q.F.I. Inc.  Commissioner Horton is nearly 3 years behind on property taxes, owing in excess of $30K.  Foreclose proceeding will begin next month unless Horton pays the past due balance to the City of Mount Vernon. 

Mount Vernon Exposed®™ was informed that Edwards also told DPW workers during his speech, “I don’t like Terrence, I love him”, and “If the DPW Commissioner was white, you wouldn’t act like or treat your Commissioner like this”. 

Mount Vernon Exposed®™ spoke with City Council President Yuhanna Edwards earlier during the week.  Edwards immediately asked Mount Vernon Exposed®™ publisher Samuel L. Rivers “Are you taping me?”

Rivers was surprised that Edwards would ask such a question, as only “political prostitutes” and crooked politicians ask if they are being taped.  It was now quite clear that Yuhanna Edwards is making a deal for a higher office or some other political favor.

Rivers told Edwards about the frustration that many of the DPW workers had expressed in the past few days and also asked him about his comments that were perceived to be racist in nature.  Edwards responded that some of the guys down there are racist and they don’t like taking orders from Terrence Horton.  Edwards further stated that if what he said was repeated about the DPW workers being racist, he would deny it. 

City Council President J. Yuhanna Edwards appears to be out of touch with reality or chooses to simply ignore the wrongdoings and criminal activity taking place in the Department of Public Works.  It has become increasingly clear that his prior business relationship with Joan Horton is clouding his judgment when it comes to making decisions affecting the Department of Public Works.  It is recommended that City Council President Edwards abstain from voting and recuse himself from any investigation involving the Department of Public Works.  Many taxpayers have expressed concerns that Yuhanna Edwards’s previous business relationship with Joan Horton is a conflict of interest.

City Council President Yuhanna Edwards must take a position and must not flip flop on issues of public concern.  Either you are against corruption or you are for it.  There is no in between.  It has also been stated that City Council President Yuhanna Edwards is considering a run for Mayor in 2011 if Comptroller Maureen Walker declares her candidacy.  Edwards’s reason for doing so is because his pal Steve Horton has apparently become ineligible due his blatant violation of federal law, specifically the Hatch Act of 1939.