Communities look for Federal Monitors for Primaries, No Confidence in Democratic Chairman Lafayette to be Fair in Voting Results

After an appearance of a local Westchester County public access television show, Reginald Lafayette, has received a backlash or disapproval over not feeling we need an independent investigator in Westchester County.

With all the effort and time fighting for social justice issues in Westchester, one must ask why their Democratic Chairman Reggie Lafayette would publicly say what many have been fighting for, is not needed. You have to ask the question just who is he working for? It's time to reevaluate our relationship with the Democratic party! Clearly the Party and the people who religiously vote Democratic is not on the same page!!! A democratic insider who is very close to Lafayette but who spoke with us anonymously, for fear of retaliation from him answers these questions.

The insider alleges that Lafayette brings in well over $200,000 a year between his self-appointed position at Democratic Elections Commissioner, his Democratic Party Chairmanship, not to mention his vehicle, gas cars and all the other perks that come from being the Democratic Don. “In my opinion he is not only a public enemy, but a violator of federal election law in election after election.” When we asked him to elaborate on his accusations he continued to say, “Allow me to give a perfect example. In 2004 Lafayette was the person responsible for Nick Spano literally stealing the 35thDistrict State Senate election from Andrea Stewart-Cousins. I tell you this because I was present at the Board of Elections, at court and everywhere else that circus performed, making it the longest disputed election outcome in state history. Andrea had beaten Nick by 355 votes. But Reggie refused to conduct the re-canvas, or certification, purposely delaying until Nick's former attorney, corrupt Appellate Division Judge Robert Spolzino showed up to issue a ruling blocking the acknowledgement of Andrea's victory. Three months later in February 2005 Nick was declared the winner by 18 votes! Andrea would win two years later because called for federal election monitors, thus compelling Nick Spano to do the same, for fear of looking badly. Then, with federal attorneys and Democratic attorneys such as Tony Castro monitoring the polls, Nick and his Mob were too fearful and restrained to attempt to steal another State Senate election. Mr. Lafayette took his marching orders from none other than Larry Schwartz. Need I say more? The answer is your question is Reginald Lafayette does not work for the public. He is not a public servant in any sense of the word. He conspires, and conducts his unlawful activities for himself and those who fatten his wallet year after year.  Given more time I could detail what he did to install Janet DiFiore in 2005, despite her actual loss to Tony Castro!”

Another Democratic Insider has alleged that Lafayette is known for “backdating and allowing double registrations”.

Two names come to mind Ms. Dorothy Guenkel is registered as a Republican Party and the Independence Party. Then there is John Cerino who obtained the signatures. The ongoing Independence Party lawsuit against County Executive Robert Astorino for trying to pull a Coup-d'etat of the Independence Party has unearthed an political criminal underworld in Westchester County. We would be foolish to think that this could not have happen without Lafayette knowledge or blessing.  It is also alleged in court papers that there was over Four Million made in shaking down politicians to use a certain printing company.  Being Election Commissioner and Party Chair is a real conflict of interest. He needs to resign from one or the other. To have over 3, 000 people change party without  Lafayette knowledge is hard to believe,as far as the money, its business as usual”.

Because of these reasons there is now talk that many voters are looking to request a federal Monitor for the upcoming primaries, especially in Mt. Vernon where there are multiple candidates running for Mayor. This is also the city that Mr. Lafayette is also the head of the Democratic City Committee.  To be head of the City Committee, County Chairman, and Commissioner of Elections of the Democratic Party has left many voters very uneased of the power that Mr. Lafayette holds in these multiple positions.  The Mt. Vernon community has question Mr. Lafayette's actions in the vote to decide who the party would support for the mayoral seat. It is said that  former Mayor Clinton Young was up 5-4 until Lafayette, voted for Ernest D. Davis (who is on probation for tax evasion) to tie it up, causing the vote to be brought to the floor, where Davis won the vote. Although state and local governments have primary responsibility for administering elections, the Federal Governments Civil Rights Division is charged with enforcing the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights laws that protect the rights of ALL citizens on Election Day.  How to Request Monitoring of an Election by the Civil Rights Division Contact the Voting Section at: Phone: 202-307-2767 Toll-free: 800-253-3931 Facsimile: 202-307-3961 Provide specific and detailed information regarding the need for a federal presence, including: Any incidents of discrimination or interference with the right to vote in connection with upcoming or recent elections; Any complaints to local or state officials about the incidents and what, if anything, was done in response; Names and contact information for victims of discrimination or other violations of federal voting rights law; Names and contact information for any persons who have first-hand knowledge of the incidents; Names and contact information, if possible, for persons alleged to have engaged in discrimination or other violations of federal voting rights law; Locations where incidents have occurred. As much lead time as possible is important in order to permit pre-election investigations and to make logistical and staffing arrangements.

If Mayor Ernie Davis brought crack-cocaine to the Democratic interview the Mt. Vernon Community needs to Demand Answers!!

In the online blog Mount Vernon Exposed, it was reported over the weekend, that Mayor Ernie Davis brought crack-cocaine to the Democratic interview process. 

"I just wanted to show you we need to be paying more attention to what our youth are doing," Mayor Davis told the committee according to a source who was part of that interview process.

If this is true, there are several things wrong here, 

1. Mayor Davis who is on probation was in possession on a controlled substance which is a violation of his probation and against both state and federal laws, (an average citizen who has never broke the law would have been arrested)

2. Mayor Davis travels with a member of the MVPD on his detail at all times and this individual didn't see anything wrong with this

3. Reginald Lafayette and the Democratic Committee thought in their infinite wisdom that this action made Davis the candidate that should represent the party in the upcoming election.

Come to City Council Meeting this Wednesday May 26, 2015 at 7pm and demand answers. You must call (914) 665-2351 before 2:30pm if you want to speak at the Council meeting.

Many feel Davis should step down from office and not run for re-election, if this is true at the very least, his probation officer needs to look into this to determine if he has in fact violated his probation.

Democratic Chair Lafayette Disconnected on Poverty , Fair Housing, Income Inequality and Police Oversight

click here for video

We would like every Democrat to watch this interview of the Westchester Democratic Chairman Reginald LaFayette. When many Democrats are fighting for social justice our own chairman is the invisible hand, keeping us from our goals. 

When Blacks are shot and killed and families ask for an Independent Investigator, Lafayette is against it. Is this why Mr. Lafayette has been a no show at rallies and forums on police and community relations throughout Westchester? Since the killing of Mt. Vernon Detective Christopher Ridley, Mr. Lafayette has defended the actions of Democratic District Attorney Janet Difiore buffoonery and selective prosecution of black, brown and poor people of Westchester County. 

When families rally to address the ills of poverty, Lafayette has no answer , he took no position,   he rather pass the responsibility off to elected officials that he has endorsed as Democratic Chairman to carry the burden. 

His position is far from the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Being a leader of the national Democratic Committee she showed her leadership by addressing poverty head on in a statement in the Huffington Post.

" Right now there are people in this nation who don't know how they're going to pay for tomorrow's dinner, let alone next month's rent , she said,  A raise of the federal minimum wage is one of those common-sense proposals that is both good for the economy and good for the country. Considering there has not been an increase since July 2009, workers who depend on these wages have been losing income to inflation for over four years. A raise is long overdue ." 

After  the highly publicized federal desegregation case against the county government and a federal judges ruled that Westchester was segregated, when Lafayette is asked is Westchester segregated he responds, 'No people segregate themselves.  When question about the homeless in Westchester, Lafayette does not believe its that high. When questioned on addressing the injustices in Westchester, Mr. Lafayette claims he has been around. Where has Mr. Lafayette been? What injustices has he stood up for? 

As Democrats we have witnessed the Wizard from behind the curtain and those that actually believed our Chairman believed in the same values that we have been marching, rallying and meeting for; if you believe it now, you are clearly living in his manufactured Oz!

Anti- Labor, Anti-Union, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will raise Money for Rob Astorino to kill Unions in New York

It has been reported that anti-labor Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will be the main attraction for a fundraiser on June 9 to raise money for Republican Rob Astorino. The presence of Scott Walker is a clear indication to New York voters that Rob Astorino is anti-labor, and anti middle class. It also indicates the first steps of possible Kotch Brothers money to flow in New York elections. Astorino has made it clear in many statements that he will follow the footsteps of Gov. Scott Walker if he becomes Governor of New York. In the past Rob Astorino made promises to Corporations to lower county workers salaries so that the business tax base could be lowered in 2010. Many county employees can't even afford to live in Westchester. As Independent Democrats, we warn Union Bosses, especially Westchester Union Bosses and law enforcement organizations that failed to do their homework and endorsed him for County Executive and giving him the platform to run for Governor this fall.  Here's a few points that Astorino believes that unions are “choking” NY’s governments: *Change state laws so unions won't have pay hikes or benefits “locked in,” even without a new contract. *Changing the Triborough Amendment, which now keeps public-employee-union contracts in effect even after they expire. *No retroactive payments: The new contract starts when it’s signed. Below is an Op-Ed by Mr. Astorino and he’s making it clear what his goals will be for labor and against any advancement of union benefits and rights. Astorino - New York Post  Will the New York State Fraternal Order of Police; Westchester County Correction Officers Benevolent Association; Yonkers Police Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants Association; Westchester County Police PBA; Westchester County District Attorney Investigators and others support him for Governor? Should these same law enforcement unions and associations continue to support him after time and time again he made it clear he was against labor rights? If they do ,they have co-signed the end of labor rights as we know it in New York State. Rob Astorino fooled us as County Executive. Middle Class New York Cannot afford him as Governor.

Astorino is turning up his Anti- Gun Safety Rhetoric with no Solution to Stop Gun Violence in our Communities

Astorino is turning up his Anti- Gun Safety Rhetoric with no Solution to Stop Gun Violence in our Communities

It’s reported that Astorino is turning up his anti- gun safety rhetoric at gun shows and rifle clubs and talking about the erosion of fundamental freedoms. His choice of a well-known opponent of the act as his running mate, Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss has shown they will be on the campaign trail throughout New York with talking points strait from the NRA and deep pocket Gun Manufacture Executives. "The SAFE Act made no one safer in New York," Astorino said at a New Yorker's Family Research Foundation event in Albany in March. "All it did was make criminals out of law-abiding citizens." It was reported that since the major provisions of the law took effect in March 2013, a total of 1,291 charges had been issued under the SAFE Act through Dec. 17, 2013 according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. Of those, 1,155 were for felony possession of an illegal firearm, which had been a misdemeanor prior to the new gun laws. We stated in an earlier statement that many pro-Astorino contributions are expected from Second Amendment supporters and firearms-industry executives, who strongly opposed to the  “Safe Act. He would be no different then many other elected officials and candidates that cower for big contributions from organizations like the NRA to the detriment of public safety in the many communities in New York What Astorino has failed to realized that analysis of data from 23 high-income countries reported that 87 percent of children under age 15 killed by guns in these nations lived in the United States. And the U.S gun homicide rate for teens and young adults 15 to 24 was 42.7 times higher than the combined gun homicide rate for that same age group in the other countries. Many cities urban cities in southern New York have felt the damage of the loss of life from the influx of illegal guns in their communities. What will Astorino tell the many mothers that lost their love ones to gun violence? Because of defiance and rhetoric of many Republicans nationally like Astorino, who have failed to pass any  comprehensive Gun Safety legislation, there has been over 100 mass shootings since Jan. 1, 2014 throughout the United States. What we are left with is a Republican Candidate wanting to repeal a law made by a Democratic and has yet to offer any legislation of substance to replace it to address the influx of illegal guns in our cities in New York. We ask Mr. Astorino, what about the fundamental freedoms of people to feel safe in their communities who are not gun enthusiast? Astorino, not a gun owner himself but he is still talking guns to garner votes and trying to find a sympathetic audience in northern New York. Fourteen months after the passage of the SAFE Act, 63 percent of registered New York state voters say they support the SAFE Act, compared to just 32 percent who oppose it, according to a Siena College poll released March 24, 2014. Pat Lynch, President of NYPD, Patrolman Benevolent Association and other law enforcement organizations in New York have publicly called for a ban of assault weapons and stiffer penalties on illegal weapons. "There is no legitimate reason for an assault weapon with their high capacity magazines to ever be in the hands of a private citizen,” said Pat Lynch, head of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. “In their own ways, the majority of law enforcement officers and members of government work to protect their constituents from danger. “I will not sit by and watch another member of New York’s Boldest or any other New Yorker become yet another fatal statistic”, said Norman Seabrook, President of New York City Correction Officers Benevolent Association. “From a law enforcement standpoint, there are general and legitimate concerns on how we are to protect our children and victims of gun violence, this bill is important”, said Darren Green, President, Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, Long Island Chapter. “There is a sense of urgency for gun safety in all of our communities, this bill sends the right message. Increasing penalties, doing away with unnecessary large magazines is responsible legislation”, said Anthony Miranda, Chairman, National Latino Officers Association of America. “Illegal guns in urban cities are now more American than Apple Pie. Universal background checks for all gun and ammunition sales, boosting the state's power to confiscate firearms from the mentally ill and increasing penalties for gun-related crime will save lives, especially law enforcement,”said Damon K. Jones, New York Representative, Blacks in Law Enforcement of America. "We need positive solutions to stop illegal guns in our communities. The law is a positive first step in keeping guns out of the hands of youth", said Charles Billups, Chairmen, Grand Council of Guardians.  The choice of County Sheriff Christopher Moss as Astorino's running mate will garner a few law enforcement organizations to support. Unfortunately, these same organizations that will stand against gun safety we will find that they was AWOL in Albany to voice their concerns about the gun legislation when it was passed.

Astorino Uses First Black County Legislator as another Cover for his Separatist Agenda for New York

It is reported that Pearl Quarles, first African-American to serve on Westchester County Legislature, is featured in an ad, criticizing Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic Party calling accountability to Rob Astorino's stance on a federal housing lawsuit. "Shame on you Andrew Cuomo. Accusing Rob Astorino of discrimination is unforgivable," Quarles says in Astorino's video. "You obviously don't know what racism is, so don't disrespect those of us who do."   For the Astorino Campaign to use Ms. Quarles  to defend his separatist stance is another insult to the Civil Rights movement, Black and White voters that understand the collataral damage of segregation. Maybe Ms. Quarles does understand racism and so did the Federal Judge that ruled over the case in 2009.   In 2009 a Federal Judge ruled that the county had indeed“utterly failed” to meet its obligations and had misrepresented its desegregation efforts when it applied for more than $50 million in grants.    Westchester has dozens of communities where the black and Hispanic populations are negligible. Instead of working to change that, the county left it up to local officials to decide where affordable housing would be built while turning a blind eye to the exclusionary practices white communities use to keep out minorities and the poor — imposing minimum lot sizes, thwarting high-density development and shifting vacant land to other uses.

Mr. Astorino and his allies have been pleading powerlessness, saying state laws granting home rule to local municipalities prevent them from doing anything meaningful to integrate Westchester. But as part of the agreement, the county admitted that it had the authority under state and federal law to challenge zoning rules and compel municipalities to integrate. Mr. Astorino and Westchester have a moral and a legal obligation to live up to the settlement. There is no excuse.

The former director of the Westchester County Solid Waste Commission has sued County Executive Rob Astorino, accusing him of "political cronyism."

The former director of the Westchester County Solid Waste Commission has sued County Executive Rob Astorino, accusing him of "political cronyism."


From The Journal News' James O'Rourke:
In the lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court, Bruce Berger -- who was appointed to the position by the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 2000 after nomination by Astorino's Democratic predecessor -- claims he was let go last month by Astorino's Republican administration based solely on political motivations.Berger, who also names Westchester County as a defendant in the suit, seeks unspecified damages and reinstatement as executive director of Solid Waste Licensing.In court documents, Berger claims Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett told him on April 10 "that he was being terminated from his position and that he was going to be replaced by a judge from Astorino's political party who had been defeated for re-election the prior November."

Astorino, of course, is the Republican candidate for governor. He'll challenge Gov. Andrew Cuomo this November.

Berger has been outspoken against Astorino since he was let go last month. His son confronted Astorino after a speech last month to New York University's Republican club.

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