Yonkers Tribune

MISSING ALERT: Pierce Crowley

Former Yonkers Police Commissioner Harnett Withdraws from Contention for West Palm Beach Chief of Police By HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY – May 23, 2012 – He was considered one of the two finalists after a two-day grueling interview process that seemingly had West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio using language that placed Former Yonkers Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett ahead of Cincinnati Assistant Chief Vince Demasi to be chosen the next Police Chief of West Palm Beach. After the two-day interviewing process, an in-depth one to two-week process was engaged.

Former Yonkers Police Commissioner Hartnett in Contention to Be the Next West Palm Beach Police Chief By HEZI ARIS

WEST PALM BEACH, FL  -- West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio today announced that he has narrowed the field on six candidates for West Palm Beach Police Chief to two; that of Cincinnati Assistant Police Chief Vincent Demassi, and former Yonkers Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett.

Mayor Muoio, having just concluded an intensive two-day interviewing process will now undertake a two-week, extensive background check before again bringing Demasi and Harnett for their final interviews prior to one being hired. One of these men will replace former Police Chief Delsa Bush who resigned in October after have engaged Mayor Muoio in a dispute. 

 

EXCLUSIVE: Dawn Merritt Placed on 30-day Suspension from Yonkers Human Resources Department By HEZI ARIS

UPDATED: May 18, 2012, 1400 hrs.

YONKERS, NY – May 17, 2012 – Since his appointment by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano in mid April, 2012, John Delaney, who replaced Carl Maniscalco as the new Budget Director has been charged to scrutinize every aspect of the budget on a line by line basis. Almost from the onset an abnormality revealed itself. Specifically, it showed that Dawn Merritt, a long-time employee of Yonkers, last working for the Human Resources Department had allegedly accepted, through negligence or ignorance or foreknowledge, five years worth of gym membership for herself, as well as for her daughter and son. Yonkers Tribune had initially been aware of the issue but not that it had been fomenting for almost a months’ time; also, contrary to what has been learned today, the gym membership payment at issue was paid by Ms Merritt, but had not been properly registered. Such a circumstance can and does happen, but would unlikely be replicated over a five-year time span. When again questioned today for proof mitigating the allegations, Ms Merritt, permitted the opportunity to present any information that would prove her take on the alleged circumstances was not able to justify her take on the situation. Ms Merritt recoiled from the confrontation and did not challenge the contention that there was wrong-doing that had transpired over the last five years. Ms Merrit was placed on 30-days suspension without pay.

The Albany Correspondent: Espada Guilty! By CARLOS GONZALEZ

ALBANY, NY  -- May 14, 2012 -- Former New York State Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. was found guilty Monday, May 14, 2012, on four counts of theft from The Bronx medical clinic he founded. 

Additional counts against the lawmaker and his son are unresolved.

BREAKING NEWS: Cover-up at the Yonkers Board of Education By HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY – March 28, 2012 -- Anthony Marinello, a teacher at Cross Hill Academy, was yesterday arrested by the Pelham Police Department for a felony committed in Pelham, New York. It seems few in Yonkers are aware of the happenstance. Upon this reading, they will. Let’s face it, the Yonkers Board of Education Central Office should have been advised. Notice of the felony charge and arrest is cause for dismissal of his present responsibilities. Stepping beyond propriety is something that seems to come easily to Mr Marinello.

U.S. Senate Passes Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 2, 2012 -- The Wall Street Journal has divulged that the U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved passage of the legislation known as “Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act,” a/k/a/ the “Stock Act” by a 96-3 vote margin after years of delay. The legislation goes toward banning lawmakers from trading stocks based upon insider information. The bill is now expected to move to the House.

Learn more from The Wall Street Journal report:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203711104577199113513037068.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

 

Breaking News: Tragedy Deflects Republican Candidate Donna Nolan from Actively Seeking the 93rd Assembly District Vacancy By HEZI ARIS

 

 Donna Nolan - picture by and courtesy of News 12 Westchester.

YONKERS, NY -- January 25, 2012 -- Reliable sources have advised the Yonkers Tribune / The Westchester Guardian that Donna Nolan, Republican endorsed candidate seeking to complete the final months of the office vacated by Mike Spano in order to accede to the office of Mayor of the City of Yonkers will not actively seek to represent the 93^rd Assembly District. The last minute turn of events came about upon the tragedy that has befallen the family; Donna Nolan’s fallen has suffered a stroke. Ms Nolan has chosen to focus her attention upon the arduous task of assisting her father in the recovery process that is demanded of any patient in the rehabilitation process. Yonkersites will empathize with Ms Nolan.

EXCLUSIVE: Commissioners Kirven and Meyer Forced to Step Down BY HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY -- Yonkers Tribune has learned that Office of Economic Development Commissioner Louis C. Kirven and The Department of Housing & Buildings Commissioner John P. Meyer, P.E., have been advised that their services are no longer required. They are among the many that have been told to depart. They will not be part of Mayor-elect Mike Spano’s administration. They will not survive beyond 2011.

Governor Cuomo Designates Westchester County D.A. DiFiore to Joint Commission on Public Ethics

ALBANY, NY and YONKERS, NY -- December 13, 2011 -- Governor Andrew Cuomo has designated Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore to chair the new Joint Commission on Public Ethics. The  commission will be entrusted to scrutinize New York State’s lobbying industry and their interaction with elected officials. By accepting this new role, DiFiore is saddled with the formidable challenges and responsibility of the Office of Westchester Country District Attorney and the Joint Commission of Public Ethics.

DiFiore is a person competent and able to balance the responsibilities both efforts will demand and exact.

Breaking News Exclusive: Mayor Amicone’s Chief of Staff to Become Executive Director of Yonkers Parking Authority By HEZI ARIS

She was plucked out of obscurity years ago by Yonkers economic guru Edward Sheeran. It was Ed’s wife who suggested she might be a loyal worker. She did as she was told. She would soon take a fancy to Deputy Mayor Phil Amicone when she was instructed to engage in a City Hall-wide effort to elect Phil Amicone to the office of mayor. And she did, particularly in earning the support of her church’s fellow congregants. Her effort would afford Phil Amicone the margin of victory he hadn’t even considered getting. With gratitude, Phil Amicone was known to have promised her the plumb position of Chief of Staff. The promise was not consummated until about two years later. Kathy Spring Spencer would hold onto her position of Chief of Staff beyond her service to her husband, the then Mayor John Spencer. In a sense, Kathy Spring Spencer was a bridge between the Spencer administration, under which Phil Amicone served as deputy mayor, and then to Phil Amicone as mayor to the consternation of the Chief of Staff in waiting. In time, the simmering disdain for Mayor Amicone’s inability to deliver on his promise to Lisa Mrijaj brought the two to verbal blows. Kathy Spring Spencer was dismissed; Lisa Mrijaj would accede to Chief of Staff. Her qualifications then and even now remained non –existent, at best, they should be designated as nil.

President Obama Announces Full Troop Withdrawal by End of 2011.

The BBC report President Barack Obama has announced "all US troops will be pulled out of Iraq by the end of 2011 - nearly nine years after the invasion."

For more details:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news>>>

Financial Times Report Obama Announces Deal on US Debt Limit

President Barack Obama announced on Sunday night that US Congressional leaders had reached and agreement on a tentative deal that would extend the debt ceiling and avoid a US default, ahead of the opening of Asian markets.  He said there was a framework in place to cut spending and guarantee further deficit-reduction steps to “end the crisis that Washington imposed on America”. He said that the process had “been messy and taken far too long,” leaving him concerned about the impact on business confidence and consumer confidence. The president gave assurances that the deficit cutting “won’t be a drag on a fragile economy”.  http://link.ft.com/r/S4XZQQ/AM5UFH/69ASY/EWM9D3/C44RNJ/YT/h?a1=2011&a2=7&a3=31

 

 

Exclusive: Breaking News - New York State Comptroller's Review of Yonkers Adopted Budget By HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY -- July 6, 2011 -- It was on July 1, 2011, that New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli addressed a letter to Yonkers Mayor Amicone in which Comptroller DiNaolpi stated, "as Fiscal Agent for the City of Yonkers (City), I have the responsibility for reviewing the 2011-2012 adopted budget of the City to determine compliance with Chapter 488 of the Laws of 1976 (Act) and the ordinances of the City adopted subsequent thereto determining the terms, form and detail of issuance of the City's serial bonds and providing for the rights of the holders of said bonds and other obligations of the City (Ordinances). The City's 2011-2012 adopted budget, along with numerous Justificatio  Deocuments, was filed with me on June 27, 2011."

Breaking News Exclusive: Yonkers Mayor Amicone Finds $25 Million

YONKERS, NY -- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone has somehow found almost $25 million  and assisting his effort, Yonkers Public School Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio has found another $7 to $10 million. The numbers may be off a bit. At minimum the combination of funds founds equal $25 million. At issue is not that the funds were found but rather who audited the books not finding the funds found today.