Last night, over 40 Mount Vernon taxpayers came out to the planning board meeting to protest against a developer seeking to put up a building in the middle of Wilson Woods Park.
The project, a hideous and poorly designed 120 Unit multi family building, was voted in favor for by Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas. Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas has a habit of voting for controversial projects and then disappearing into thin air when it hits the fan.
While on the City Council, Mayor Elect Thomas praised the project as one of the best developments on the drawing board in the City of Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon taxpayers disagree. One after the other, residents took to the podium to vent their frustration with the developer, The City Council, and the Industrial Development Agency.
Some residents even cried fouled and called for a federal investigation into the business relationship between Mayor Elect Richard Thomas and the attorney representing the developer, Mark Weingarten, of DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP. Mark Weingarten is a registered NYS registered lobbyist and also a financial donor to Mayor Elect Richard Thomas' campaign coffers.
At the center of the controversy is the zoning change approved by the Mount Vernon City Council. Mayor Elect Richard Thomas voted in favor of this zoning change. Prior to the controversial city council vote, the property in Wilson Woods Park was zoned commercial. City Council members, including Richard Thomas voted in favor of rezoning a property within Wilson Woods Park from commercial to residential. Deborah Reynolds was the only City Council member that voted in opposition to the zoning change.
On October 7, 2015 Weingarten's law firm made a $500 donation to "The Friends of Richard". Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Weingarten pledged to raise over $150K for Richard's campaign, however Weingarten never raised the funds. A political insider informed Mount Vernon Exposed that Thomas should have recused himself from any vote involving Mark Weingarten or the DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP law firm.
According to the insider, the relationship between Thomas and Weingarten goes back to when Richard used to work for Gov. David Patterson. Did Weingarten, a lobbyist, call on Richard for favors while Richard worked for the governor?
In addition to being the attorney of record representing Woods Partners, the developer seeking to construct the hideous apartments in Wilson Woods, Weingarten is also the registered lobbyist for the project.
Even though Weingarten is registered with New York State as a lobbyist, it is unclear if he disclosed his financial arrangement getting compensated as a lobbyist by Woods Partners, to Mount Vernon City Council members prior to the zoning vote change. Weingarten and his law firm are being paid $5,000 per month from Wood Partners to get the required approvals for this project. The agreement began January 7, 2015 and runs until December 31, 2015. On November 20, 2015, Wood Partners entered in an extension that will extend Weingarten's agreement from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2016.
In the reports filed with the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics, Weingarten stated that the lobbied " NYS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH; STATE AGENCIES; COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER". Weingarten makes no mention in the reports of lobbying any elected officials in Mount Vernon whatsoever.
Prior to the zoning vote change, Richard Thomas told members of the community that he was against the Wilson Woods project. What made Richard change his mind and his vote? Was he promised something in exchange for switching his vote?
One by one residents slammed the developer for spoiling the natural park setting of Wilson Woods. Dozen of trees will be destroyed and cut down in the process. Wildlife will be destroyed. Many residents said that they would like to see an upscale catering banquet facility at the
Last night, over 40 Mount Vernon taxpayers came out to the planning board meeting to protest against a developer seeking to put up a building in the middle of Wilson Woods Park.
The project, a hideous and poorly designed 120 Unit multi family building, was voted in favor for by Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas. Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas has a habit of voting for controversial projects and then disappearing into thin air when it hits the fan.
While on the City Council, Mayor Elect Thomas praised the project as one of the best developments on the drawing board in the City of Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon taxpayers disagree. One after the other, residents took to the podium to vent their frustration with the developer, The City Council, and the Industrial Development Agency.
Some residents even cried fouled and called for a federal investigation into the business relationship between Mayor Elect Richard Thomas and the attorney representing the developer, Mark Weingarten, of DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP. Mark Weingarten is a registered NYS registered lobbyist and also a financial donor to Mayor Elect Richard Thomas' campaign coffers.
At the center of the controversy is the zoning change approved by the Mount Vernon City Council. Mayor Elect Richard Thomas voted in favor of this zoning change. Prior to the controversial city council vote, the property in Wilson Woods Park was zoned commercial. City Council members, including Richard Thomas voted in favor of rezoning a property within Wilson Woods Park from commercial to residential. Deborah Reynolds was the only City Council member that voted in opposition to the zoning change.
On October 7, 2015 Weingarten's law firm made a $500 donation to "The Friends of Richard". Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Weingarten pledged to raise over $150K for Richard's campaign, however Weingarten never raised the funds. A political insider informed Mount Vernon Exposed that Thomas should have recused himself from any vote involving Mark Weingarten or the DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP law firm.
According to the insider, the relationship between Thomas and Weingarten goes back to when Richard used to work for Gov. David Patterson. Did Weingarten, a lobbyist, call on Richard for favors while Richard worked for the governor?
In addition to being the attorney of record representing Woods Partners, the developer seeking to construct the hideous apartments in Wilson Woods, Weingarten is also the registered lobbyist for the project.
Even though Weingarten is registered with New York State as a lobbyist, it is unclear if he disclosed his financial arrangement getting compensated as a lobbyist by Woods Partners, to Mount Vernon City Council members prior to the zoning vote change. Weingarten and his law firm are being paid $5,000 per month from Wood Partners to get the required approvals for this project. The agreement began January 7, 2015 and runs until December 31, 2015. On November 20, 2015, Wood Partners entered in an extension that will extend Weingarten's agreement from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2016.
In the reports filed with the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics, Weingarten stated that the lobbied " NYS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH; STATE AGENCIES; COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER". Weingarten makes no mention in the reports of lobbying any elected officials in Mount Vernon whatsoever.
Prior to the zoning vote change, Richard Thomas told members of the community that he was against the Wilson Woods project. What made Richard change his mind and his vote? Was he promised something in exchange for switching his vote?
One by one residents slammed the developer for spoiling the natural park setting of Wilson Woods. Dozen of trees will be destroyed and cut down in the process. Wildlife will be destroyed. Many residents said that they would like to see an upscale catering banquet facility at the
Last night, over 40 Mount Vernon taxpayers came out to the planning board meeting to protest against a developer seeking to put up a building in the middle of Wilson Woods Park.
The project, a hideous and poorly designed 120 Unit multi family building, was voted in favor for by Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas. Mayor-Elect Richard Thomas has a habit of voting for controversial projects and then disappearing into thin air when it hits the fan.
While on the City Council, Mayor Elect Thomas praised the project as one of the best developments on the drawing board in the City of Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon taxpayers disagree. One after the other, residents took to the podium to vent their frustration with the developer, The City Council, and the Industrial Development Agency.
Some residents even cried fouled and called for a federal investigation into the business relationship between Mayor Elect Richard Thomas and the attorney representing the developer, Mark Weingarten, of DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP. Mark Weingarten is a registered NYS registered lobbyist and also a financial donor to Mayor Elect Richard Thomas' campaign coffers.
At the center of the controversy is the zoning change approved by the Mount Vernon City Council. Mayor Elect Richard Thomas voted in favor of this zoning change. Prior to the controversial city council vote, the property in Wilson Woods Park was zoned commercial. City Council members, including Richard Thomas voted in favor of rezoning a property within Wilson Woods Park from commercial to residential. Deborah Reynolds was the only City Council member that voted in opposition to the zoning change.
On October 7, 2015 Weingarten's law firm made a $500 donation to "The Friends of Richard". Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Weingarten pledged to raise over $150K for Richard's campaign, however Weingarten never raised the funds. A political insider informed Mount Vernon Exposed that Thomas should have recused himself from any vote involving Mark Weingarten or the DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP law firm.
According to the insider, the relationship between Thomas and Weingarten goes back to when Richard used to work for Gov. David Patterson. Did Weingarten, a lobbyist, call on Richard for favors while Richard worked for the governor?
In addition to being the attorney of record representing Woods Partners, the developer seeking to construct the hideous apartments in Wilson Woods, Weingarten is also the registered lobbyist for the project.
Even though Weingarten is registered with New York State as a lobbyist, it is unclear if he disclosed his financial arrangement getting compensated as a lobbyist by Woods Partners, to Mount Vernon City Council members prior to the zoning vote change. Weingarten and his law firm are being paid $5,000 per month from Wood Partners to get the required approvals for this project. The agreement began January 7, 2015 and runs until December 31, 2015. On November 20, 2015, Wood Partners entered in an extension that will extend Weingarten's agreement from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2016.
In the reports filed with the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics, Weingarten stated that the lobbied " NYS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH; STATE AGENCIES; COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER". Weingarten makes no mention in the reports of lobbying any elected officials in Mount Vernon whatsoever.
Prior to the zoning vote change, Richard Thomas told members of the community that he was against the Wilson Woods project. What made Richard change his mind and his vote? Was he promised something in exchange for switching his vote?
One by one residents slammed the developer for spoiling the natural park setting of Wilson Woods. Dozen of trees will be destroyed and cut down in the process. Wildlife will be destroyed. Many residents said that they would like to see an upscale catering banquet facility at the
DELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN
WISE & WIEDERKEHR, LLP
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Reneneeeeeta January 7, 2015 anon aera
Via E-mail: rick.dickason@woodpartners.com
‘Wood Partners
Mr. Richard Dickason
80 Hayden Avenue, Suite 110
Lexington, MA 02421
Re: Engagement of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP
‘Dear Richard:
You have requested that the firm of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise &
Wiederkehr, LLP (*DDWWW") represent Wood Pariners, and its affiliates (the "Client") in
connection with providing counseling, and state and local lobbying services, The purpose of
this letter is to state the terms and conditions of our agreement,
This will confirm that DDWWW has been retained to represent, advise and counsel
Client with regard to the Services. DDWWW shall monitor, track and advise Client, review
subject, background and pertinent materials, advise Client with respect to strategies,
schedule end participate in meetings with Client and the Client team and/or appropriate
government officals upon reasonable notice and review and comment upon draft submission
materials produced by Client, Such Services may include “lobbying activity" as defined
under New York State Law.
Client agrees to pay DDWWW as compensation for the above-described Services as
follows:
a) The sum of $5,000.00 per month for a period not to exceed twelve (12)
months from January 7, 2015 through December 31, 2015, unless
extended by both parties;
b) Client will reimburse DDWWW for certain costs and expenses, including but
not limited to, travel expenses, long distance telephone charges,
photocopying, support staff overtime (when necessitated by the demands of
the matter), computer assisted research, overnight express services,
messenger services, and postage.
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10000385001Richard Dickason
Page 2
DDWWW will bill Client on a monthly basis for Services performed and costs incurred,
Payment is due not later than thirty (30) days following the invoice date, Past due amounts will
be shown on the invoice and the firm reserves the right to charge interest on any delinquent
amount atthe rate of 10% per annum compounded monthly.
It is understood that this engagement letter in no way guarantees any specific government
action or result. Since Services contemplated by this agreement may constitute "lobbying" as
defined under New York State Law, a copy of this retainer will be filed with the New York State Joint
Commission on Public Ethics.
Client shall haye, at all times, the right to terminate DDWWW upon written notice to that
effect. DDWWW shall have the right to terminate Services to Client upon written notice to that
cffect in the event that it failed to cooperate with the Firm in any reasonable request, failed timely
to pay any fees or disbursements due to DDWWW in connection with this agreement, or if
DDWWW is required to withdraw because of ethical or legal considerations as it determines in
its sole discretion.
If the foregoing terms and conditions accurately summarize and confirm your
understanding of our agreement, please indicate your approval and acceptance by signing, dating
and returning a copy of this letter by facsimile or e-mail and returning the original in the
enclosed, stamped, self-addressed envelope. Enclosed for your records is an executed copy of this
letter. This agreement will not become effective and we will have no obligation to provide Services
until you sign and return a copy of this letter.
As always, we look forward to working with you,
Very truly yours,
Lii-
MARK P. WEINGARTEN
ce: Anup Misra — via e-mail - anup.misra@woodpariners.com
‘Mark Theriault - via e-mail - mark.theriault@woodpartners.com
Accepted this (3_ day of January, 2015.
WOOD PARTNERS
By: LEY ZO
RICHARD DICKASONDELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN
WISE & WDEDERKEHR, LLP
Mave, Weingarten Cameeiy Somat ote,
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‘WHITE PLAINS, NEW Yort 101
(914) 681-0200
FACSIMILE (714) 684-0288
‘November 20, 2015
Vie E-Malt Mail
Richard Dickason
‘Wood Partners
80 Hayden Avenue, Suite 110
‘Lexington, Massachusetts 02421
i
Re: Extension Agreement - Wood Partners
Dear Richard:
As you now, by engagement letter dated January 7, 2015 (the “Engagement
Agreement”), Wood Portners (“Wood Partners”) telained DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise
& Wiederkehr, LLP “DDWWW", to perform lobbying services on Wood Partners’ behalf,
‘This letter is intended confirm our agreement to extend the terms and conditions of the
Engagement Agreement. A capy of the Bogagement Agreement is annexed hereto, and
ineorparated herein.
‘Wood Partners and DDWWW acknowledge that the terms and conditions sot forth in the
Engngement Agreement are hereby extended from January 1, 2016 through and including
December 31, 2016, unless terminated earlier by agreement of the parties. All other provisions
of the Engagement Agreement between the patties shall remain in force and effect,
|
|
‘DelBello Donnellan Weingarten
Wise & Wiederkehr, LLPDELBELLO DONNELLAN WEINGARTEN
Wisk & WIEDERKEDR, LLP
Se aaa commmzons aria et
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soeniooaray January 7,2013, SHomnetormnin, cra oe
Perret
‘Mr. Richard Dickeson
80 Hayden Avene, Suite 110
Lexington, MA 02421
Re:
Dew Richard:
You have requested that the fim of DelBello Domnellan Woingarten Wise & i
Wiederiehr, LLP CDDWWW") repeesent Wood Partners, end its afilisice (Ihe "Client") in
‘soumection with providing counseling, and state and loce! lobbying services. The purpose of |
‘this letter is to state the terms end conditions of our agreement,
i
This will coufinm that DDWWW has been retained to repzesant, advise sd counsel ‘
(Cent with regard to the Services. DDWWW shall moniter, track and ailvise Client, review :
subject, background and pertinent material, advise Client with respect to strategies, 1
schedule and participate in meetings with Client tnd the Clleat team and/or appropriate
‘Soverument officials upon reasonable notice and review end comment upon draft submission,
rateriels produced by Clfent. Such Services may include "obbying activity" as defined :
‘uuler New York State Law,
Client agrees to pay DDWWW as compensation for the above-described Services as
follows:
8) The sum of $5,000.00 por mont for a period sot to exceed twelve (12)
months from Januaty 7, 2015 through December 31, 2015, unless
«extenced by both panies;
+). Client will xeiniburse DDWWW fr ceriin costs and cxpenses, incfudin but !
not limited to, travel expenses, long distance telephone charges,
photocopying, support staf? overtime (whien necessitated by the demands of t
the matisr), computer assisted research, overnight express services, |Richard Dickason
Page
DDWWW will bill Client on a monthly basis for Services performed snd costs incued,
Payment is du aot later dhan tity (30) days following the invoice date, Past due mounts wil
be shiovm on the invoive and the frm reserves the right to charge interest on auy delinquent
amount af the rate of 10% per anaum compounded manthly.
tis understood that this ongngement Teter in n0 way guacantees any specific govetnment
action or result. Sineo Scrvices contemplated by this agreement may constitute "lobbying" as
defined uncer New York State Laws, a copy ofthis retainer wil be fled with the New Vouk Stet Joint
‘Commission on Publio Bthics.
Citent shal heve, at ell times, the sight to terminate DDWWW upon written notice to that
cffeet. DDWWW shall have the zight wo teminete Services to Client upon written notice to that
‘fet in the event that it filed to cooporate withthe Finn in eny reasonable requst, filed tinely
to pay say fees or disbursements due to DDWWW in connaotion with this agreement, or if
DDWWW is required to withdraw beesuse of ethical or legal considerations as it determines in
its sole discretion,
If the foregoing terms and conditions accurately summarize and confirm your
undectending of our egreement, please indents your aproval anil acceptance by signing, dating
and roturniag @ copy of this latter by facsimile or e-mail and retuming the original in the
enclosed, stamped, selfaddressed envelope, Enclosed for your records isan exeouted copy ofthis
letter. This agreement will not become effective and we will have no obligation to provide Services
‘uni you sign end retura & copy of tis letter,
As always, we look forward to working with you.
‘Very truly yours,
vif
MARK P, WEINGARTEN
Aamp Misra ~via oxal - munis @woadpertners.com
Mack Theriault — via e-mail ~tark.therian!t@woodpartners.com
Accepted this (3_ day of January, 2015,
‘WOOP PARTNERS:
wy LEAL.
RICHARD DICKASON