The Hezitorial: A Cry for Blood By HEZI ARIS

 

The federal corruption trial of former Yonkers City Council Majority Leader Sandy Annabi and former Yonkers GOP Chairman Zehy Jereis with regard to the political shenanigans that surrounded the Forest City Ratner for bringing about the Ridge Hill Development is telling.

While many in the media have drawn the conclusion that both Ms Annabi and Mr Jereis are guilty of corruption, among other charges, the Yonkers Tribune / The Westchester Guardian have not. The facts have yet to be fully presented. The government is still in the process of making their case. It is not yet completed. The defendants have not had their turn at fully responding to the charges promulgated against them. It would be irresponsible to steer toward one possible conclusion over another. Yet a cry for blood is heard throughout many sectors of the city.

The lust for blood intensifies with greater passion after one witness or another utters an expression of so-called “fact.” Why should any community be so quick to cry for blood when many years have elapsed since after these alleged situations happened? Are the witnesses now being called rewriting the “facts” and why have they been silent in their telling of the “truth” all these years?

In the case of Ms Annabi having changed her initial non-support of the Ridge Hill Development project to eventually casting the deciding vote to move it ahead, let’s look at what transpired so far, assuming the “facts” are on target.

Forest City Ratner (FCR), having been incapable of persuading enough Yonkers City Councilmembers to endorse the project, are now labeled and recognized as political manipulators who incorporated lobbyists who were alleged to cajole or coerce their target, in this case, Ms Annabi, to have her capitulate to endorsing their project by casting her vote for the project.

Among the allegations are Mr Jereis’ professed infatuation with Ms Annabi and his being approached by FCR and other lobbyists to direct Ms Annabi’s attention to resolve to endorse the Ridge Hill Development project. Only a man, would believe another man, that he has sway over the conduct of a woman. Ask a woman that, and she will laugh in your face. The reality is that every woman, just as every man, can be reasoned with; most people are not manipulated. To imply otherwise besmirches those who suggest it.

For FCR to devise a plot that would undermine the Yonkers City Council by extorting a vote with bribes of money and jewelry, among other so-called “benefits,” is outrageous, no matter who the conduits to this ploy were. Why is FCR, the developer that may be regarded as too big to not get their way be afforded “rights” outside the parameters expected of all individuals and corporations that are permitted access to the representatives of The People?

Why does the system we have created nationally, not just here in Yonkers, be permitted to continue unabated in its ability to allegedly “corrupt” elected officials? Why are lobbyists permitted access and favor when they are presumed to only be permitted to give expression and voice to the project they promote? Can any project be presumed valuable to a community if every aspect of the project is not met? Does society suffer flawed projects by permitting developers access to those in government expected to speak for the public good? The physical imprint of a project must be judged, as well as the financial investment, and the return on investment validated. Nowhere should lobbyists, special interests, or political agendas be permitted to intrude. What should or should not be is the reality whose world we inhabit. It seems little is as we thought.

On the face of it, we expect a fair and level playing field. We expect developers to be open with the facts and we expect elected government officials, and the surrogates under their charge, to scrutinize facts and proceed when everything has been verified.  Reality is different. In Yonkers and elsewhere, heads are often turned by the assumed clout of politicians, lobbyists, elected officials, and those that can afford to pay for someone’s dinner, purchase them a car, or adorn them with jewelry.

Will the “facts,” as they are “told,” redefine the manner by which society accepts these processes? Is the task of changing the methodology and the people permitted access be curtailed to bring the process in line with what may be accepted as a ”norm” we can abide? Do we begrudge these two defendants because of their youth, ethnicity, religion, success, or cerebral prowess?

Why is former Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone not on the witness list? Didn’t the “buck stop” at his office? Didn’t he bring the likes of FCR, Melio Management, and Capelli Enterprises to Yonkers? Aren’t they “his” boys?

Will Phil Amicone answer for all the corruption surrounding his tenure in office? He had his hand in everything that transpired over 16 years of governance. He is getting off without a word. He is not on the list of expected people to testify before the federal court.

The reality is that it is easy to focus on Ms Annabi and Mr Jereis because they seem too weak and too inconsequential to matter if they are thrown in as sacrificial lambs to those who scream for their hide. Judge as you please while reflecting that many will be burned at the stake to deflect attention from the likes of former Mayor Phil Amicone who created a distorted environment and culture within Yonkers City Hall,  which was, and still retains much of the corruption that is spoken about but to which little attention will be paid. There is simply too much to cover up and protect.

I pray that the construct, tenets, and regimentation of the law, as it is decreed for us to abide by will be a comforting overlay to the common sensibilities of The People for which the court will rule.

Until then, I will believe that the two defendants are innocent. Should they be found otherwise, I will submit to a reality that does not wish to delve into the complexity of this “mess,” because it is easier to make a show of those we shunned for what I believe are the wrong reasons. The verdict they receive will give wider berth to those too big to tackle and diminish the value of those caught in the backroom connivances. Those that plot will continue to have their way unabated; the rest of us will be singed by their greed and lawlessness. 

 

Comments

[cty of Chills]

Politics in Yonkers is like walking on the thin edge of an ice shelf. It is slippery even when negotiated well. Sometimes nature or those around you will cause the sheet to crack or break and the abyss below is massive. Such was the case here and it continues unabated as it has for the last half century. When new players enter the game they are immediatly asked whose side they are on and why they have the nerve to tred upon these grounds. Like bullies at a playground when new kids move in they are more interested in proctecting their reps and guarding their ball fields the idea that someone new may be friendly and helpful never enters the equasion. Here we have a well entrenched group that has been used to deviding the spoils among themselves for so long that they failed to look up when counting the loot to see that others were watching. Many hands in these cookie jars and crumbs for the rest of us. Stay home and don't get involved. Safer and quieter. If you actually care and try to do good there are too many of them left. Perhaps when the jails are fuller then the halls of City Hall we will get involved. Till then. Happy days to all.

[Union and proud of it]

And still no testimony from the biggest crook of all Amicone. How is that the feds want to talk to past council members but not the past mayor. That scumbag did more damage to this city than all the jokers the feds are calling in this trial.

[insider with city hall]

I also agree Liam mclaughlin is also ainvolved with his hand out from FCR and he used his city car illegally costing tax payer thousands of dollars is gas and now he wants to ack like he is innocent, give me a break I worked with his wife who he got a job in city hall allong with his brother a DPW job who was caught taking money for regular garbage. pick up. He should go to jail and. payback all the money in exchanged for his vote.the city is better off with out him. But only in yonkers this creep will get away with this.

[Michael]

If this is true I will investigate, I do know he gave his wife a job and one brother but I thought the other one was lockedup. As far as city gas we are aware he has stolen from the people of yonkers and his brother isn't far behind because it is illegal to dump at the city facility. I believe he is under investigation for a sheetrock bid he helped out in a. Price fixingcontacts lower bid

[anon]

If it looks like a skunk,smells like a skunk....Guilty from A (Annabi) to Z (Zereis).

[retired]

What ever happened to Lorraine Lopez?
You think by now she would have been
locked up?????

[yonkers insider]

Sandy Annabi has been involved with married men for years! Her family liars, schemers, and s**t talkers all of them....the arab community and every community at that knows all about these people and she is no differnt, words can not describe how discusting these people are untill you witness it yourself....is she guilty? like john murtagh said "that will be for the 12 men and women to decide"....if convicted her father Sami will be able to help her out since he is a well known rat - doing 15 years in prison and being arrested for 2 heroin cases hes a pro! ANNABI = TRASH

[anon]

The post above by "yonkers insider" is really over the line. It is defamatory and verbally abusive to Annabi. Make your points, but not like this.

[yonkers insider]

to anon - her and her families actions have done much more than verbal abuse to many innocent people....sorry to offend anyone else

[anon]

its amazing how some posters decide who is guilty
and who is not..just because they have a vendetta
against that particular individual..liam's name is
only on the witness list because he was a sitting
councilman...whether or not he got a car or gas is
irrelevant in the bribery extortion issue involved
in ridge hill...the government does have to prove
that annabi got something and that something was a
quid pro quo for her vote..considering that jeries
was paying for her stuff long before ridge hill ever
was on the drawing boards how do you think the government is going to be able to establish a connection between what sandi got and why she changed
her vote since the vote change was after the developer
upped the anti by 10 million..and since if annabi was
in jeries pocket..why oppose the project at all?

[the yonkers insider]

btw: the comment by "yonkers insider" was not made by me. i just want to make that clear.

del of the yonkers insider online blog and radio show on blog talk radio.

[yonkers insider]

agree with anon about liam - not fair

[LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY]

wonderful grammatical language, "insider"....HER and her family...you must be a product of our Yonkers public schools.

Only a fool would blame a 12-year old for her parent's crimes, which is exactly what you are doing.

I don't care about her love life either. The prosecutors would have one believe that Sandy Annabi was on Zereis's retainer for her entire tenure on the city council, just in case, mind you, her vote should be a swing vote??!! He allegedly spent $170,000 to get a $60K job, which whittled to $15K in the end. Not too good a wheeler and dealer is he?

Wonderful prosecutors we have. The Milios get off scot free for failing to pay $2M in income taxes, all in return for testifying against Annabi, when there never was a direct link between them. What a total joke.

The worst POS in this entire public display is John Murtagh, who, from the day after Annabi was indicted, appeared in the media with bulls..t legislative obfuscations of his real motive which was playing on her predicament just one day after the endictment, with trashing her his main objective. He continues to do it today. So much for that attorney beliving in the assumption of innocent until proven guilty.

It would be nice if Mr. Murtagh discussed just how his legal career was enhanced by HIS connection to Jereis and the Spano Family.

[Big head is good]

Thanks Liams Tigers and @ssholes

[LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY]

wonderful response...another beauty school dropout...why don't you address the issues I raised, if you were even able to read them...moreover, I am not Liam..

[anon]

Lions there you go again with your single minded hatred of Murtagh. It was tiresome during the campaign and now its downright boring.

John has stated the same facts about the attempted influence on his vote consistently for years, and only now due you have an issue? Do you have any information that you can prove? Doubt it because the FBI does not.

Why don't you take your petty hatred and, well,

shut the F up.

You would be better spending on your energy on Edelman, who has become the hired hit man of the Spanos, who is tasked with squashing any hint of negative press here or anywhere else. To me that is far more dangerous.

[anon e independent]

looks like the above poster wants to chill any
defense of the facts..that is what is dangerous..
someone who wants to dominate the discussion with
his own agenda and his own point of view about the spanos neither of whom by the way is remotely involved with the ridge hill case.and that is according to the
government

[LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY]

excuse me but murtagh had no problem voting for the SFC project, which has tied up the downtown property for up to 10 years with no action required, and with less return to the city re revenue. But, I guess that was OK because it wasn't in his backyard. You are a fraud and a fake. And, again, after two of the city's largest development projects are voted, he then introduces a lobbying registry piece of legislation. After all of the horses and chickens have left the barn and coop. No braveheart, he.

[anon]

ridge hill is a succesful project that would not
have been built unless the developer got the concessions from the city that he got...no other developer was interested and now that its up its
a winner...annabi's defense attorney should simply
put the new york city jury in a bus and take them
there.....jury nullification

[Waiting for Godot]

that's really funny
A successful project is something that brings value to a community.
Prove your bullshit statement.

[anon]

easily provable...taxes that are paid by the businesses
taxes that are paid by those employed by the businesse
jobs that are created by all the businesses when they
are all built..property taxes paid by the residents
of the buildings...revenue from people outside
of yonkers who come to ridge hill to spend their
dollars...and on and on...the naysayers didn't want
the project BECAUSE THEY NEVER WANT ANY PROJECT...
there should have been no need to pay anyone any bribe
the project should have been unanimously supported
by each and every councilperson for the good of the city and not the parochial interests of their constituents

[I'm No Woodward and Bernstein But...]

So anyone who expressed concerns about the project plans is responsible for bribes? Dealing with objections is a part of the process. In a healthy process they lead to compromises that often make a project better. Only in a corrupted process do they lead to bribery.