Political Gain Trumps Oversight of Taxpayer’s Funding By Some Yonkers Councilmembers By Hezi Aris

YONKERS, NY -- A battle royale broke out over Resolution 12, sponsored by Majority Leader Sandy Annabi and Councilmember Joan Gronowski last night. The resolution was shepherded under their aegis and submitted to the Yonkers City Council. The resolution called for a mechanism to safeguard taxpayer money from being misappropriated after their being disbursed to the various Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

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The catalyst that brought about this resolution was founded upon Majority Leader Annabi and Councilmember Gronowski becoming aware of an alleged embezzlement of $66,000 in taxpayer funded money from the South Broadway Business Improvement District first reported on the Yonkers Tribune Website. The resolution calls upon the Yonkers Inspector General’s office to perform an operational and financial review of the South Broadway B.I.D., and to report its findings and recommendations to the Yonkers City Council. The Yonkers Final Budget for 2008 Grant Budget total is $5.8 million; including $3.6 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), over $165,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG), and over $1.9 million in Home Grants. What seemed a straightforward response to a happenstance to which elected officials should be sensitive, instead became a political display of prowess by the unannounced contenders for the office of Yonkers City Council President.

Councilmember John Murtagh expressed legal concern over passing legislation that would insinuate itself into an ongoing investigation of alleged embezzlement by the Office of Westchester County District Attorney Janet DeFiore. He also stipulated that he could not fathom why Annabi was unaware of the alleged embezzlement since she sits on the board of directors.

Annabi advised that she had requested information from the South Broadway BID many times over yet had not received a response from Executive Director Jose Velez of the South Broadway BID or its  Board of Directors. Upon hearing of the embezzlement charges, it became prudent for her to promote a mechanism of oversight that could scrutinize the South Broadway BID’s operating procedure, henceforth the legislation.

Within minutes, Councilmember Dee Barbato took the baton from Murtagh to also challenge Annabi. Next it was Councilmember Pat McDow. As each tried to impose their will over the Yonkers City Council, President Chuck Lesnick tried to accommodate the warring factions. His intention for rapprochement, while politically astute, did not bring decorum to the Yonkers City Council chambers. It was a free for all. Barbato challenging Annabi, aided by a challenge from McDow, and egged onward by Murtagh. Minority Leader Liam McLaughlin challenged Murtagh’s discomfort with placing a layer of oversight by the Inpector General’s Office because of his concern that any legislation might cause the Westchester District Attorney’s Office from failing to conclude their case. McLaughlin pointed out that this was not a legally founded argument. Gronowski demanded a vote be taken to conclude approval of the proposed legislation to protect taxpayer’s money.

The squabble continued. Murtagh attempted to hold up the proceedings on a make-believe technicality that could not be found anywhere in writing. Barbato didn’t realize the ruse was failing so she continued the attack. McDow, having little knowledge of protocol but greater sensitivity to the collapsing ploy, slowly receded to await the vote.

Lesnick called for the vote after a few clauses were changed to the satisfaction of seemingly all, including Inspector General Phil Zissman, but in their haste to out do each other, one of the clauses went unchanged and Barbato asked, “What did we just vote for?”

The vote to scrutinize the use of taxpayer money by unannounced spot-check audit by the Office of the Yonkers Inspector General  passed 4-3.

Councilmember Dee Barbato – Against

Councilmember John Murtagh – Against

Minority Leader Liam McLaughlin – For

Councilmember Joan Gronowski – For

Majority Leader Sandy Annabi – For

Councilmember Pat McDow – Against

City Council President Chuck Lesnick – For

Comments

HOW COULD ANYONE ON THIS SILLY COUNCIL BE AGAINST MORE OVERSIGHT OF PUBLIC FUNDS, ESPECIALLY IN GOOD OL' YONKS...

The problem with this story is that it is NOT the full story.

No one in that room was against more oversight. To do so would be moronic. But like everthing else, political pandering by Annabi, who is running for Council President may sound good, in reality it was flawed.

The point being missed was that the legislation was sufficiently flawed that it should have been returned to committee so it could have been fixed in a calm deliberative manner. Instead, we got a free for all that stank to high heaven. Lesnick cant run a meeting; time and time again he loses control. This was the perfect opportunity for him to get it back into committee, so it could have been fixed and made a genuinelly good piece or work. Instead it was such a mess that after it was approved Dee realized that an entire section was wrong and in conflict with what they had approved. Would it not have been more professional for the council to calmly discuss it in committee rather than lob potshots?

It was the best TV comedy on last night ;)

No, the trouble is that Murtagh actually believes he is an urbane, witty legislator. He is full of himself and a lot of other things. Also, his very studied eyeglass earpiece chewing is getting very annoying. I would imagine the ends look much like a teething ring by now. Let's not even go there. Further, the facial mugging that goes on between him and his sidekick, Dee Barbato, is unprofessional, to say the least. I almost expected them to start singing "I got you Babe" last night.

Also, a word of advice to the Divine Miss B: Council meetings are televised. STOP PICKING YOUR TEETH!

Only in Yonkers would someone who is as tainted by the likes of Zehy Jereis as Annabi is even be on the Council. Not that some of the others are any good, either. But Annabi is a prime example of all that's wrong in local politics.

Imagine the champions of the peoples money are now on the other side. I wonder will they be rushing to Amacajones side to cry. So we are back to some balance on the council, and the Mayors watergirls are carrying his water again.

It's the usual block voting again, but good to see someone is standing up against this tax and spend Administration.

and who might that be?

PLEASE READ THE STORY. YOU'LL SEE.

In the Council Presidents 09' race this result is translated as:

Dee Barbato – 0
John Murtagh – 0
Liam McLaughlin – 1
Joan Gronowski – 1
Sandy Annabi – 1
Pat McDow – 0
Chuck Lesnick – 1

If Amicone is OK with this bill, he'll sign it. If he isn't, he'll veto it. Maybe he'll send it back for fixing, or maybe not.

Amicone will not have any more oversight of his government. He does not want anyone telling him what to do. So he'll veto it.

WE CAN ONLY BLAME DEE, JOHN AND PAT WHEN THE VETO HAPPENS. NOBODY ELSE.

Seems Miss Piggy was in a very bad mood.....someone should have called Kermit.

Who in their right mind would want Annabi doing oversight of anything?

VETO the bill. It's a mess, anyway.

And the games continue to the detriment of the public good.
Remember, it's not only Annabi running for Council President.
How can we forget it with all the grandstanding going on these days?

Dear dear, how many of them are running for city council? And is Lesnick going to run for Mayor? He has to choose whether to run for re-election or to run for Mayor?
Please chime in on this.

Did they pull Fitzpatrick along the carpet last night for his horrible overspending habits or was he no where to be found?

dee is a real political pig, once the
voters know that she and her wife are
politically employed by county democrats
she is done.

SPITZER, MORE HOOKERS AND THE COUNTY TAXES

Just another day. Spitzer caught up in ANOTHER hooker ring, and the County Democrats raise the county's Yonkers taxes by 24 percent. 24 percent.

But just keep Spano and those Democratic legislators, who are trying to get big raises, right where they are, instead of abolishing county government.

Andy Spano and his legislators are like a hooker ring, themselves. With Andy being the madam.

Dee is the quintessential HACK.

Dee is "Simply the Best"!

Dee has picked up Murtaugh's juvenile eye glass affectations. Why did Murtaugh mention Sansone by name? The best was when Mcdow wanted to first meet with the organizations subject to Zizman's review and ask them how they felt about it.

why was sansone mentioned

This legislation was all about Annabi being pissed because she was asleep at the switch as a board member of the So. Broadway BID when the embezzelment went on and Velez dissed her on it. It's a witch hunt. What Hezi fails to report is that this bit of get-even legislation also sticks it to all the small community organizations that get grants. In an effort to justify her witch hunt of Velez, Annabi picks on all the little guys, What a farce this whole thing is and YES it is about ALL council members running for Council President, including Annabi, McLaughlin and McDow. Probably the only one who isn't is Joan, but then it's ear;y in the game. Giver her time..

dee is simply a hack
before politics
dee was a waitress
rich was a barber
after politics
dee has worked for every single adminstration rep and dem
rich works for dem iodoni
both barbatos never took a civil service exam.

dee is simply a hack
before politics
dee was a waitress
rich was a barber
after politics
dee has worked for every single adminstration rep and dem
rich works for dem iodoni
both barbatos never took a civil service exam.

JUST VETO THIS FARCE LEGISLATION.