NEW QUESTIONS RAISED IN SLEEPY HOLLOW GRANT SCANDAL

Upon further scrutiny, additional, very disturbing information has been uncovered in the ongoing saga of the Janet Gandolfo "Main Street Grant" Scandal.  This new evidence makes the situation look much worse for Madam Gandolfo and her merry band of scoundrels.

For those who would like to know more about the New York Main Street Grant Program, you can access the Program's Guide at the following link: http://www.nyshcr.org/Programs/NYMainStreet/NYMSProgramGuide.pdf 
Comparing the information contained in the Program Guide with the deceitful excuses offered by Janet Gandolfo, Karin Wompa and Susan Roth, in an effort to justify their actions, will allow you to dispel their fabrications and have a clearer understanding of what these individuals have really done.

According to New York State Office of Community Renewal Records, only nineteen (19) New York Main Street Grants were awarded to properties located in Sleepy Hollow.  The total amount of grant funding that was made available to applicants from Sleepy Hollow by the Program was $385,000. Of that amount, $348,000 (90.4%) was awarded; meaning that $37,000 in available funding went unused, while applications submitted by a number of Sleepy Hollow property owners were denied by the Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation (SHDRC), the Local Project  Administrator.   

While certain "cronies" of Village Attorney Gandolfo profited most from the Grant Program, it appears that those who were supposed to benefit from this program were shut out.  Consider this FACT - FOUR (4) individuals/properties received more than 62% of the total NY Main Street Grant funds awarded by the SHDRC.  $212,002.25 in Grant Funding was awarded to these four, in the amounts as shown in the table below:

Grant Number	Property Address	Grant Amount	Date of Disbursement	Owner
194306	92 Beekman Ave.	$18,502.75	4/4/11	92 Beekman LLC Manny Busto - Huddle
194732	23 Beekman Ave.	$51,747.50	8/27/12	Callas Realty Corp. Pauline Callas O’Neal
221096	49 Beekman Ave.	$57,140.00	10/15/12	Mahopac National Bank -  Sleepy Hollow Division
221097	45 Beekman Ave.	$24,612.00	10/15/12	Mahopac National Bank - Sleepy Hollow Division
222797	89-91 Cortlandt St.	$60,000.00	1/17/13	Jorge Rodriques

Two of these grants really stand out - those being the two awarded to Mahopac National Bank (Tompkins Mahopac Bank), which are highlighted in red in the table above.  These two grants are glaring examples of the shady and unethical conduct of all involved with the administration of the New York Main Street Grant Program in Sleepy Hollow.  According to the New York Main Street Grant Program Guide, all Main Street Grants are awarded by the Board of the Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation; which has sole authority and responsibility for reviewing all grant applications; approving or denying those applications; and, finally, issuing the Grant funding to the successful applicant(s). 

Now, why would the two grants issued to the Mahopac National Bank cause concern?  Well, as it turns out, the Manager of the Mahopac National Bank (Tompkins Mahopac Bank) here in Sleepy Hollow, is also a Board Member of the Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation.  That's right, Gary Solomon is a member of the Board that approved the two grants to the Bank that he manages!!  Compounding the issue even further, the two grants to Gary's Bank, amount to the largest amount of grant funding awarded ($81,752.00) to any property in Sleepy Hollow!!  The $81,752 awarded to Gary Solomon's Bank Branch amounts to 23.5% of the total of New York Main Street Grant Program funds awarded in Sleepy Hollow.  Can we say Conflict of Interest?  Can we say Corruption?   

Before going any further, it would be appropriate to identify all of the "illustrious" members of the Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation Board (this information was obtained from the SHDRC website).  The Board Members are:

Karin Wompa - President (also a Village Trustee)
Susan Roth - Executive Director
Gary Solomon - Board Member (Branch Manager of the Tompkins Mahopac Bank, Sleepy Hollow)
Sam Viera, Jr. - Board Member

How could this Board not comprehend the obvious impropriety of its action in authorizing the two grant awards to the Tompkins Mahopac Bank, which is managed by one of its own Board Members?  Why was a bank approved for two grants, when other local property owners who weren't as well-off as the bank, and could have made better use of the grant funds, saw their grant applications denied.  Mr. Solomon clearly abused his positions - as a Board Member of SHDRC and as the Bank's Manager to the detriment of the of other applicants.  Is Mr. Solomon a man you want handling your money?  Any Sleepy Hollow residents or business owners who currently bank with the Tompkins Mahopac Bank, might want to consider closing their accounts and moving their money to a more reputable bank. 

Does the Mahopac National Bank condone this type of conduct by its employees?  Were any other bank officials involved in this shady transaction?  Was this suspect grant acquisition indicative of "business as usual" for Mahopac National Bank; taking advantage of a program meant to help small businesses and residents?   If that is the case, then the Mahopac National Bank needs to be investigated as well. 

Truthful One encourages Sleepy Hollow residents and business owners to contact the home office  of Mahopac National Bank:
    Tompkins Mahopac Bank, 1441 Route 22, Brewster, NY 10509, (845) 278-1000; ask for:
    Chairman - William Spain, Jr.
    President and CEO - Gerald Klein
Report this matter - lodge a complaint - call for Gary Solomon's removal - a man like this can't be trusted and should not be in charge of a bank branch, where many Sleepy Hollow residents keep their money.  Truthful One has been informed that Mr. Solomon's name will soon be added to the original complaint submitted to the Attorney General's Office regarding the fraudulent Gandolfo grant, and that he will become a subject of that investigation, as well.
 The SHDRC Board Members identified above are the individuals who have allowed the misappropriation of taxpayers funds.  Their actions are CRIMINAL!  REMEMBER THE MONEY THAT FUNDS THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS TAXPAYER MONEY - IT IS YOUR MONEY!!  If you want to prevent officials from misusing your hard earned money in the future, you must take a stand now.  Call the Attorney General's Office and demand that these crooked officials be held accountable.  Also, call Mahopac National Bank and demand that they take appropriate action against Gary Solomon.  The only one who can prevent future abuse of public funds is YOU!  The time to stand up and act is NOW!

ALL of the SHDRC Board Members are complicit in the Gandolfo grant fraud!  Here is some good advice for those Board Members - If you want to take a few years off your eventual sentences, the time to talk is now.  The window of opportunity is limited; and that window is closing rapidly!  TRUTHFUL ONE advises Board Members to call the Attorney General's Office at (212) 416-8000 (Public Integrity Bureau) now and come clean, before the Attorney General's investigators contact them.

NOTE:  If you were denied a grant under the New York Main Street Grant Program by the Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation, you most likely have a valid discrimination claim and should consider filing a Federal lawsuit against those responsible for denying your Rights.

The Mount Pleasant Exposed Blog will continue to provide updates on this story as events unfold.  The criminal activity of Sleepy Hollow officials will no longer fly below the radar.  Stay tuned.