Talk of the Sound was sent a copy of a letter to Michael Blakeney, the Founder and Director of Good Profit, which we republish here with permission.

Good Day,

We understand that you were recently awarded rights to develop the New Rochelle Armory despite immense protestations from New Rochelle Veterans and an overwhelming populace of New Rochelleans. Please note that it is no reflection of your good intentions, but the malice and politically motivated initiative of the Mayor of New Rochelle.

Yesterday, hundreds of veterans and law enforcement supporters fully engulfed the New Rochelle City Council and showed their displeasure of the Mayor and some in the City Council. There has been no fair effort to be inclusive and the Mayor has driven his agenda and placed you in the middle of what is sure to be a challenging public relations nightmare for you in the near future.

The Mayor is a driven person who does not seek alliances and is divisive. In an effort to move the project full speed ahead, he will then move the Public Works Yard and all its sanitation vehicles to the west End of New Rochelle that is inhabited overwhelmingly by working class people of color.

Below is the text of a speech delivered Wednesday night to the City Council during Citizens to be Heard:

My name is James Murphy.

I am a 31 year member of New Rochelle Post 8 American Legion, a 15 year member of Maceo Bacon Post 2882, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a longtime officer of United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association.

I am also a founding member of the New Rochelle Save Our Armory Committee.

For 15 years I have worked with other New Rochelle Veterans and concerned citizens of our City to fight to preserve our
New York Naval Militia Armory, for conversion into a Memorial Community Center.

The one constant on City Council during that entire time has been the implacable opposition of Noam Bramson to preserving
the Armory, first as a City Council member and for the last six years as Mayor.

I have no conception of why the Mayor has been so determined not to work with the Veterans on a positive basis to convert the Armory into a building that would serve the needs of the public of New Rochelle, including those who served their country.

CBS 2 News: Veterans Wage War Against New Rochelle City Council Over Plans For Historic Armory

Daily Voice: Hundreds Protest Plans For New Rochelle Armory

Newsday/News12: New Rochelle Veterans Decry Plan To Replace Armory

Patch: Armory Developer Subject of March, Public Comment

Patch: March to Protest Armory Developer Choice

Patch: The Voice of New Rochelle: Small 'R' Republican

Talk of the Sound: How New Rochelle City Council Made an Unscheduled Decision

Talk of the Sound: Shame On New Rochelle Council Members

What do you think?

UPDATE: Channel 2 News will air a report on the Armory during the 5 O'clock News.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- Led by the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association, New Rochelle residents including members of various civic groups and neighborhood associations and the New Rochelle Policeman’s Benevolent Association will march Wednesday evening from the American Legion Hall to the steps of City Hall where they hold a rally in opposition of the recent decision of the New Rochelle City Council under the director of New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson to hand over control of the New Rochelle Naval Armory to a for-profit business in direct violation of the deed of transfer under which the City of New Rochelle acquired the Armory in 1997.

For those unaware, the New Rochelle City Council held an “unofficial” vote to deny the New Rochelle Veterans an opportunity to put together a development package for the New Rochelle Armory after we, along with the Save Our Armory Committee, spent 10 years working to save the building from destruction. The development rights were awarded instead to friends and donors of New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson.

We have had enough of the Mayor and his cronies mortgaging our heritage and our future for the benefit of his political career.

The good people of New Rochelle have had enough. The storm is gathering. We are going to take our City back. Join us!

The marchers will assemble at the American Legion Hall Post 8, march down North Avenue and re-assemble on the steps at City Hall where speeches will be made opposing the maneuvering of the Mayor to hand a public asset with deep emotional significance to a for-profit enterprise with political and financial ties to the Mayor.
  
WHAT:      Protest March and Rally
 
WHEN:      Wednesday, October 10, 2012   
 
WHERE:     Marchers will gather at American Legion Hall at 112 North Avenue in New Rochelle, NY at 6:00 p.m.

Marchers will step off from American Legion Hall at 6:45 p.m. and Assemble on the steps in front of New Rochelle City Hall at 515 North Avenue at 7:15 p.m.

The assembled group will enter City Hall at 7:30 p.m. to speak at City Council Meeting at Citizens to be Heard.

Contact:
Peter Parente
United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association
914-557-5556
devildogpete@aol.com

RELATED:

A Call to Arms: New Rochelle Residents Set to March on City Hall on October 10th

Who We Are: Reimagine New Rochelle Armory Presentation by Shop Architects (1 of 3)

What We Have Done: Reimagine New Rochelle Armory Presentation by Shop Architects (2 of 3)

Design and Financials for the Armory: Reimagine New Rochelle Armory Presentation by Shop Architects (3 of 3)