The walls of the Yonkers Parking Authority (YPA) have been witness to an interesting turn of events ever since it became public knowledge that now former Executive Director Michael Dalton retired from his position. Former Mayor John Spencer applied; so did former Senator Nick Spano’s brother John.
John Spencer applied for the position by sending an email application. Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone’s professed concern for Mr. Spencer did not translate to his getting the opportunity to attend a face-to-face interview.
News of the employment opportunity would eventually make its way to John Spano. Mr. Spano WAS asked to appear before the YPA Board of Directors for an interview. He attended the interview but had not been advised that he was not in the running.
One of the YPA Board of Directors, when contacted Thursday night, would not confirm who was called before the board of directors and who was not. It was evidently beyond his pay scale. He could only regurgitate that the process is on-going. Issues that we had uncovered before calling him.
In the meanwhile, Bill Regan, the conflicted Yonkers Deputy Mayor and YPA Board Chairman had his heart set on the able Anita Morck, a member of the Yonkers Parking and Violations Bureau for the position. Inquiries distilled from disparate acid-tongued sources reveal that as of last Friday the appointment would go to Anita Morck.
The slam dunk scenario would be foiled by a call to Mayor Amicone from John’s “big brother.” The catalyst initiating the telephone conversation by Nick Spano was the former senator’s displeasure with Bill Regan’s “choice.”
In spite of YPA Board Director Michael Ramondelli’s reference to the on-going interview process to this day, Mayor Amicone is now expected to direct Mr. Regan and the YPA Board, including Mr. Ramondelli, to approve John Spano’s application for YPA Executive Director.
In Yonkers, the able are most often eclipsed by the politically connected. Is that the paradigm in Yonkers because of political clout or is it because of political payback?
