Craig King, Commissioner of Development for the City of New Rochelle, passed away last night after a valiant 3-year battle. Craig was one of the good guys in City Hall. He dealt with development on an individual, case-by-case basis. While our paths crossed a few times it was always respectful. Craig came from Boston and adapted quickly to New Rochelle. His opinions/decisions were always void of politics and that’s what made him one of my favorite people. There was always room for disagreement including the Yankee v Red Sox rivalry. His shoes as a person and a commissioner will be tough to fill. My condolences to his family

Anthony Galletta

Announcement on City of New Rochelle web site:

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY CHARGES FORMER DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LEADER OF YONKERS CITY COUNCIL, FORMER YONKERS REPUBLICAN PARTY CHIEF, AND ATTORNEY WITH PUBLIC CORRUPTION CRIMES

Forest City Ratner, the developer behind the Echo Bay Redevelopment Project in New Rochelle, has been implicated in a scheme to bribe former Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi. The one time Democratic Majority Leader of the Yonkers City Council turned herself into the FBI in White Plains this morning. She has been accused of receiving more than $160,000 In secret payments to change her votes on to Yonkers development projects. The Indictment also charges Zehy Jereis, the former head of the Yonkers Republican Party, and Anthony Mangone a Westchester County attorney, with conspiracy, bribery, and extortion in connection with two real estate development projects within the City of Yonkers which were pending before Annabi..

The Journal News has another one of their terrific public data projects online today. This time they have compiled a list of the top municipal earners in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. The list includes 56 communities -- primarily municipal governments but four school districts including New Rochelle.

For readers still not convinced that a lack of oversight and voter apathy has left the pigs free to feed at the public trough with abandon in New Rochelle it will likely not concern them that 30% of the Top 20 earners in the three countries are from New Rochelle -- double the next largest community on the list. Or that more than a quarter of the Top 100 earners are from New Rochelle. Oink! Oink!

Number of Top 20 Municipal Earners in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam - 2008

A New Rochelle resident was viscously assaulted and robbed earlier tonight outside his home in Sutton Manor. The man was just completing the walk from the New Rochelle train station to his home when two men who sprang from the bushes in front of his house, struck him in the head with a blunt instrument and then made off in a car parked nearby. The victim is currently at Sound Shore Hospital in serious but stable condition.

Police responded quickly to a 911 call. Neighbors reported a noticeable police presence and canine unit combing the neighborhood. The assailants were described as two young black men. The man's briefcase was stolen.

UPDATE: The Journal News and Channel 12 News have now picked up the story. The Journal News has a rather inaccurate report, describing the incident as a "home invasion".

Two suspects wearing dark clothing entered a home and struck someone inside with a metal rod. The suspects then fled in a dark-colored sedan. The victim was taken to the hospital. Police would not reveal if that person was the homeowner, what was taken or how the suspects entered the home.