MAYOR YOUNG LOOKS TO STEER $1M NO-BID CONTRACT TO CAMPAIGN SUPPORTER; COMPANY APPEARS TO BE RUNNING SHAM OPERATION

EMBATTLED MAYOR CLINTON I. YOUNG

 

 

DWIGHT MCLEOD OF CAPSTONE STRATEGIES

On Tuesday, February 08, 2011 the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon held their bi-weekly work session which is usually held the day before their bi-weekly City Council meeting.  The meeting started with the City Council going into executive session to discuss personnel issues with the fire department.  The fire department was given 8 minutes to make their presentation.  After about 5 minutes or so, Mount Vernon Exposed™® was let back into the City Council committee room. 

The City Council members accompanied by Corporation Counsel Loretta Hottinger and her sidekick Joana Aggrey went into their work session.  Each one of them reviewed information from a packet that was in front of them.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® was not provided with a packet at the time of the meeting.  The City Council spoke in codes that were virtually impossible to decipher unless you were looking at the packet that they were looking at.  

However one item of discussion stood out in particular.  There was a request for a company to enter into a contact with the City of Mount Vernon for $325K.  When this item was discussed,  City Council members were baffled of the complexity and by the amount of the proposed contract.  By listening to the Council members speak; it appeared that this contract was for well over $1.2M.  The company, Capstone Strategies, led by Dwight McLeod is a personal friend of Mayor Clinton Young.  

Dwight McLeod was an active campaigner for Mayor Young and was initially promised the job of Management Services Commissioner, a job now held by Mayor Young’s sister Mary Young.  According to sources familiar with the employment arrangement, Mayor Young told Mr. McLeod not to take the job because he wasn’t able to make any money by working for the City of Mount Vernon.  Mayor Young allegedly told Mr. McLeod that he would steer lucrative city contracts to his buddy Dwight in exchange for kickbacks.  Mr. Young held up his end of the bargain. 

In addition to trying to get his greedy little paws on city contracts, Dwight McLeod was allegedly practicing real estate without a license.  McLeod contacted several real estate brokers and told them that he was representing Mayor Young and that Mayor Young wanted a bank in the Third Street corridor preferably a Wachovia Bank, the bank that Mayor Young banks with.  McLeod was not successful in his real estate ventures. 

Dwight McLeod already received a city contract to provide cars to be shared between the government and City of Mount Vernon residents.  Mayor Young knowing that he will be defeated in September in his bid for re-election is trying to loot the City and hook up his friends before he leaves office.  When will the pillaging stop?   Only time will tell.  

The City Council now armed with this information can stop the pillaging of the coffers before the pillaging begins.  The City Council must investigate and thoroughly vet all companies looking to do business with the City of Mount Vernon.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® decided to launch an investigation into Capstone Strategies. 

         Here are our findings:

• ·                Capstone Strategy does have a company website located at http://capstonestrategygroup.com/index.html.  The website is mediocre and doesn’t really explain what a client will be getting for their money.
• ·               When you hit the “about us” tab there is a photo displayed with about 100 people that gives the impression that Mr. McLeod is running a major Fortune 500 operation, but that is not the case.  Those person displayed in the pictures do not appear to work at Capstone Strategies. It appears that Mr. McLeod is running this company from his residence.  
• ·             There is a phone number listed on the site for Capstone Strategy.  (914) 667 -4659 when dialed rings and the voice on the answering machine in Dwight McLeod.  The City Council and taxpayers should be weary that a company looking to do this amount of business in the City of Mount Vernon doesn’t even have an address listed that business is conducted out of.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WAS A REPUBLICAN NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA

MAYOR YOUNG CONTINUES TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC; CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN CORPORATION COUNSEL'S OFFICE

CORRUPT CORPORATION COUNSEL LORETTA HOTTINGER

On Wednesday, February 9^th, 2011 the Mount Vernon City Council voted to sell 323 E. 3^rd Street to Henry Solly for $25,000.  Coverage of this transaction was provided in the Journal News the following day.  Upon reading the headlines and the article one would gather that some impropriety or corruption or back door deal making took place.  However, that is not the case.

Mount Vernon Exposed™® was present during the Mount Vernon City Council work session on February 8^th, 2011 when various city properties were discussed including the one the City Council voted to sell to Henry Solly.  When the subject property came up for discussion it was a very sticky issue.  City Council President Karen Watts and Councilwoman Diane Munro-Morris grilled Corporation Counsel Loretta Hottinger and her trusted sidekick Assistant Corporation Counsel Joana Aggrey for approximately 20 minutes about the 323 E. 3^rd Street property.  

The councilwoman’s’ intense questioning of Hottinger was to ensure that Mr. Solly paid up his tax arrears of $131K before he was allowed to close on the 323 E. 3^rd Street property.  Ms. Hottinger informed the council persons that there is a clause in all contracts for city owned properties that the prospective purchaser can have no outstanding tax liabilities.  Councilwoman Diane Munro and Council President Karen Watts were adamant that they did not want the property sold to Mr. Solly until all his taxes were paid.  They also said they did not want to give the perception that is ok to purchase city property if you owe outstanding taxes. 

Council President Watts’ even asked if the Comptroller drafted purchase contracts for the sale of City property.  Ms. Hottinger answered no and explained all contracts are prepared by her office.  So it was with the advice of Ms. Hottinger that the City Council weighed in making their determination that everything was above board and ok to move forward with the sale of the property to Mr. Solly.  

Mount Vernon Exposed™® has earlier reported that there is a conflict of interest within the Office of the Corporation Counsel.   Ms. Hottinger sued the City Council on behalf of Mayor Young last year.  It has been proven time and time again that Ms. Hottinger is biased towards the City Council and is not capable of being fair and impartial.  How can Ms. Hottinger sue the City Council then have the audacity to give them legal advice?  Serious reform is needed in City Hall to prevent these conflicts of interest from occurring in the future.  In the end, it is only the taxpayers that suffer from incompetent legal advice. 

Mayor Young being the political whore that he is didn’t waste any time seizing the spotlight.  Mayor Young stated that he will be vetoing the legislation of the sale of 323 E. 3^rd Street.  Even Stevie Wonder could see that Mayor Young is political grandstanding. 

The City Council work sessions are usually never recorded.  However Mount Vernon Exposed™® did record the meeting.  Elected officials who are corrupt and have something to hide fear the tape recorder.  Elected officials who are above board and are honest never fear being recorded. In this case the tape recorder clarified a situation that was misrepresented to the public.  As you listen to the recording you will clearly hear that the City Council did act in the best interests of the taxpayers of the City of Mount Vernon.  

STATEMENT FROM CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KAREN WATTS

 I would like to address the circumstance surrounding the potential sale of 323 E. 3rd Street. Once again, incomplete information has gone out to the public. The sale of any city owned property requires that there be a contractual agreement, signed by both the City of Mount Vernon (represented by the Corporation Counsel) and the prospective buyer. In that agreement (contract), there is a stipulation that states in part, that the prospective purchaser must pay all taxes on properties owned that are in arrears before the process of securing an additional property can proceed to closing. During this period of time, an estimated 45 days, the property remains in the possession of the City of Mount Vernon. After 45 days, and at the discretion of the Corporation Counsel, the offer of the property can be rescinded and potentially returned to the Real Estate Committee to be offered/sold to another interested party.

It was on this basis, as explained to us by the City of Mount Vernon’s Corporation Counsel, that the City Council voted to accept the offer on the property located at 323 East 3rd Street. 

Further, the Charter is silent on this issue. Though it might seem reasonable that properties owned by the city should not be sold to anyone owing taxes, this is not the rule. As department heads and legislators, we cannot make up the rules on a case by case basis. The Charter provides the protocols and we are directed to act within its parameters.

Karen Watts President
Mt. Vernon City Council

Mount Vernon Council Agrees to Sell City Owned Property

CORRUPT REAL ESTATE BROKER LOOKS TO EXPAND MAYOR YOUNG'S CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE THROUGH INTIMIDATION AND EXTORTION

CORRUPT REAL ESTATE BROKER JAMES "JAMIE" DICKERSON

Most people would learn their lesson after being arrested and thrown in the slammer for assaulting a critic of Mayor Young, but James “Jamie” Dickerson is not letting anything get in his way on his road to riches.  Hook or crook, Jamie is looking to get paid. 

On Monday, January 31, 2011, Atlantic Development and a subsidiary of Atlantic Development, Knickerbocker Construction, held a workshop at Mount Vernon Public Library for the purpose of soliciting Mount Vernon based contractors for the construction of the controversial massive low-income high rise on Gramatan Avenue.  

Mount Vernon Exposed™® was contacted by several contractors who were in attendance at the workshop held by Atlantic Development.  It was learned that Jamie Dickerson was also in attendance at the workshop held by Atlantic Development.  The contractors told Mount Vernon Exposed™® that Jamie was at the door taking attendance and writing down every name that came through the door.  After giving their information to Jamie, Jamie then told the contractors “everything comes through me”.  The contractor told Mount Vernon Exposed™® that he viewed the actions of Dickerson as an attempted shakedown.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® has reason to believe that the contractor’s encounter with Dickerson was tape recorded. Any contractor that may be a victim of Dickerson’s extortion and racketeering attempts must contact Mount Vernon Exposed™® immediately.  All information will be kept confidential. 

Dickerson has no regard for the law and corruption seems to be the main ingredient of his daily diet.  Dickerson has come under fire before for bilking taxpayers out of tens of thousands of dollars while he was employed with the City of Mount Vernon. (Please see www.jamiedickersonre.com).  There have also been allegations that Jamie Dickerson is the bagman for Mayor Clinton Young and has already delivered envelopes filled with cash to Mayor Young and several other co-conspirators.  

Mount Vernon Exposed™® also has direct knowledge that Dickerson is directly in contact with Peter Fine and has contacted several elected officials throughout Westchester County for letters of support regarding the Atlantic Development project.  According to the New York Commission on Public Integrity, Dickerson is not registered as a lobbyist, so his actions and attempts to influence elected officials may be in violation of the law.  Mount Vernon Exposed™® will keep the public informed of the above mentioned activities. 

One must ask why Mayor Young surrounds himself with such shady and creepy characters such as Jamie Dickerson. Dickerson was instrumental in securing a position for his longtime girlfriend Tracy Thompson in the Mayor’s office.  Tracy is the daughter of NYS Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson. 

MOUNT VERNON PARENTS BEWARE; SEXUAL PREDATOR ON THE PROWL

Mount Vernon Parents Beware

THE BLACK POLITICAL CAUCUS OF WESTCHESTER, INC. ACQUIRES CORRUPTION REPORTING BLOG MOUNT VERNON EXPOSED

For Immediate Release             
For More Information Contact: Samuel L. Rivers 914.760.8136   

The Black Political Caucus of Westchester, Inc. 

acquires corruption reporting blog  Mount Vernon Exposed™®  

Mount Vernon, NY February 10, 2010- On Thursday, February 10, 2011 a deal was reached between The Black Political Caucus of Westchester, Inc. and Mount Vernon Exposed™® publisher Samuel L. Rivers to acquire the highly successful corruption reporting blog Mount Vernon Exposed™®. 

Details of the blockbuster deal were not available at press time.  “I am humbled that an organization such as The Black Political Caucus of Westchester, Inc. sees the value and understands the vision of Mount Vernon Exposed™® and what we were trying to accomplish.  The Black Political Caucus has the resources and the commitment to take Mount Vernon Exposed™® to the next level.  This is a win-win situation for the taxpayers of Westchester County.” Rivers said  Read more about the acquisition of Mount Vernon Exposed on Sunday, February 13, 2011 @ www.mountvernon2day.com.  

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MOUNT VERNON COUNCIL AGREES TO SELL CITY OWNED PROPERTY

MOUNT VERNON COUNCIL AGREES TO SELL CITY OWNED PROPERTY

MOUNT VERNON DPW COMMISSIONER TERRENCE HORTON FACING FORECLOSURE

Dpw Commissioner Terrence Horton Facing Foreclosure

MOUNT VERNON DPW COMMISSIONER TERRENCE HORTON FACING FORECLOSURE

Dpw Commissioner Terrence Horton Facing Foreclosure

***REVISED***** VICTORY FOR MOUNT VERNON TAXPAYERS

 

Mount Vernon Exposed would like to apologize to its readers if we gave the impression that the City Council approved the sale of a property to the Chamber of Commerce.  Upon further review of the City Charter of Mount Vernon it appears that the City Council needed four out of five votes to approve the sale of a city owned property.  While Mount Vernon Exposed™® strives to be accurate in its reporting,  we recognize that we do not always receive perfect information.  Mount Vernon Exposed thanks those readers that provided us with the tips to present to the City Council. For now, this property is in control of Mount Vernon taxpayers.

§ 47. Disposition of real estate; franchises.

No ordinance shall be passed making or authorizing a sale or lease of City real estate or of any franchise belonging to or under the control of the City except by a four-fifths vote of all the members of the City Council. In case of a proposed sale or lease of real estate or of a franchise, the ordinance must provide for a disposition of the same at either a public auction to the highest bidder or through a private sale, and act to grant, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the

City Council may deem proper, any right, title and interest which the City may have in such real property. In the case of a sale by public auction to the highest bidder, such public auction shall be conducted under proper regulations as to the giving of security, and after the public notice published once each week for three weeks in the official paper or papers. A sale or lease of real estate or a franchise shall not be valid or take effect unless made as aforesaid and subsequently approved by the Board of Estimate and Contract. No franchise shall be granted or be operated for a period longer than fifty years. The City Council may, however, grant to the owner or lessee of an existing franchise, under which operations are being actually carried on, such additional rights or extensions in the street or streets in which the said franchise exists, upon such terms as the interests of the City may require, with or without an advertisement, as the City Council may determine; provided, however, that no such grant shall be operative unless approved by the Board of Estimate and Contract, and also by the Mayor. (As amended by L.L. 1972, No. 1; L.L. 2001, No. 2)