Three days after an allegation was made that the friend of Assemblyman Mike Spano’s nephew, who was campaigning on behalf of Assemblyman Spano, stole a clipboard of petition signatures collected by Mike Ramondelli campaign worker Joseph Dalli, an arrest is made. In spite of the killings, thefts, and other concerns that lay before the Yonkers Police Department’s feet in light of their eviscerated manpower, inferences of political insinuation by the mayor using police resources is becoming evident.
Let us connect the dots. The investigator of the allegations is Lt. John Mueller. His parents Ann and Mike Mueller are 6th Ward Republican District Leaders. It was they who nominated Mike Ramondelli to represent the 93rd Assembly District. Mr & Mrs Mueller are often found in Mr Ramondelli’s campaign literature. The political proximity of Lt Mueller’s parent’s personal hand in nominating Mr Ramondelli, coupled with the seriousness of the allegations against a campaign worker of the opposing candidate should have caused Lt Mueller to reflect whether his conducting the investigation would be appropriate. For perception sake alone, Lt. Mueller should have considered handing the assignment to someone else. there are no such concerns in Yonkers. One has to wonder why such conduct is permitted. Where are the self-professed ethicists?
Some history buffs will recollect the days of old when then Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, peeved at the Yonkers City Republican Committee (YCRC), called their meeting illegal and had the YPD stop the conduct of their meeting. The YCRC sought remedy in the courts and won.
John Fleming, whose very title and responsibility is unknown to Mayor Amicone, or so Mayor Amicone divulged at a deposition, was instrumental in bringing Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett to Yonkers. Unbeknown to Commissioner Hartnett, the tactics employed by the YPD with regard to the arrest of Julio Sofia for Grand Larceny does not make sense. Where is the proof? Are there photos, movies, eye witnesses?
When this reporter called to ask Mr Ramondelli about the incident on the day the Yonkers tribune was notice by email communication of the alleged incident, he advised 200 signatures were collected. The press release had stipulated 250 signatures. When the charge of Grand Larceny was imposed against Mr Sofia how were the disparate numbers rationalized. Logically, if the number was 200, as Mr Ramondelli said, how could his staff writer issue a press notice mentioning 250 signatures. How do the YPD substantiate 275 signatures as part of their charge against Mr Sofia? Simple issue. Who is making up the tale as they go along? .While few will recollect the brown shirts of Nazi German, there are enough survivors to this day that recollect the political strong arm tactics of a leader who created a police state to bring about his agenda.
Have no fear Yonkers, no one but those that have spoken against the “vision” of Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone need be concerned. Sleep well those who believe hatred of the Spanos is sufficient to create these deflective ploys to detract Yonkersites attention from meetings that go unnoticed to the public without a peep from the complicit Inspector General Dan Schorr. If he doesn’t have the cajones to investigate Democracy being trashed in broad daylight, perhapsWestchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore can show him how it is done.
