The primary route through which municipal corruption exists in New Rochelle is the Municipal Civil Service Commission ("CSC") of the City of New Rochelle. The CSC sits in an entirely unique position, the only entity in New Rochelle that has a formal governmental function for both the City of New Rochelle and the City School District of New Rochelle. Anyone hired for any civil service position within the borders of the City of New Rochelle must go through the CSC. As a result, it is the Commissioner of the CSC alone who straddles both spheres of our local government. The local CSC is theoretically accountable to the City Manager, the Mayor of New Rochelle and the Superintendent of Schools, as well as, the New York State Civil Service Commission. In practice, due to a complete lack of oversight, transparency and accountability, the CSC has operated independently, led by its Chairman, Domenic Procopio
(WHITE PLAINS, NY) -- Former New Rochelle DPW Fleet Manager Richard Fevang was led away in handcuffs by Westchester County police officers after Judge Albert Lorenzo unsealed a 66 Count Grand Jury indictment against Fevang. As the indictment was unsealed, Fevang stood before Judge Lorenzo, head slightly bowed, his hands together in front of him, his suit jacket draped over the handcuffs secured to each wrist.
The indictment ends an investigation that began after allegations against Fevang were first published on Talk of the Sound in 2009. New Rochelle City Council Member Louis Trangucci played a critical role in advancing the investigation when he delivered boxes of DPW invoices to Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureaus in early 2010. Conway was on hand as the indictment was unsealed. Assistant District Attorney Shara Abraham of the Investigations Division is working with Conway in prosecuting the case.
Read moreI watched Martin Scorcese's Academy Award winning film The Departed with Jack Nicholson depicting a fictionalized but accurate portrayal of the famous Boston mobster and a cast that includes Leonard DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg. It got me thinking: What New Rochelle can learn from "Whitey" Bulger?
Ned Rauch of the Journal News is reporting that the City School District of New Rochelle has been ordered to pay $89,958.33 in tuition fees to reimburse the parents of a special needs student formerly enrolled at the Barnard School who placed their child in the Manhattan Children's Center, a school based on the Applied Behavior Analysis approach.
Read moreMom, boy speak out about bullying incident
Read moreNew Rochelle Schools Buildings & Grounds Supervisor James Bonanno last month ordered three school district employees to report to work at a house owned by his girlfriend in upstate New York over a period of several days as part of an ongoing renovation of the property, sources say. The house, owned by Bonanno's girlfriend, Heidi Reyes, is located at in Cornwall, NY near West Point, in Orange County.
New Rochelle Schools spokesperson Paul Costigliano declined to comment on the matter.
According to Orange County property records for 30 Hampton Place in Cornwall, NY, the house was built in 1997. It was purchased from the original owner, Reiger Homes, Inc. in 2004 by Ricardo Reyes who then sold the land and house to Heidi Reyes for $1.00. The estimated market value of the property in 2010 was $426,900.
Read moreSince mid-May, Anthony Bongo has been telling people he "graduated" from Teachers College at Columbia University. The Isaac E. Young web site was edited to insert the title "Dr." before mentions of his name, even for letters and memos written and published before he "graduated".
A week after Bongo "graduated", we corrected the record: Isaac E. Young Principal Anthony Bongo Hooded at Columbia University Ceremony; Claims "Doctor" Title Prematurely
Read moreAlbert Leonard Middle School - An assault occurred near the school, at the corner of Pinebrook and Albert Leonard Road, on June 9th. Arrested were Kim Hinds, 44, a Mount Vernon resident and an unnamed female, 17, from New Rochelle. Hinds is charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use it while a 17-year-old female from New Rochelle is charged with criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use it and assault with intent to cause physical injury.
Isaac E. Young Middle School - An arrest made on June 13. Kevin M. Hopper,22, was arrested at 1:15 a.m. at Isaac E. Young Middle School. He is charged with menacing with a weapon.
Albert Leonard Middle School - A middle school student was suspended after bringing an air pistol to school. No arrests were made and the school was not put on lock down.
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