BREAKING NEWS

IN SLEEPY HOLLOW 

 

THE WOMPA GRANT SCAM

MAYORAL CANDIDATE KARIN WOMPA VIOLATES THE NY MAIN STREET GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES!!

There has been much discussion about the NY Main Street Grant Program and how it has been administered in the Village of Sleepy Hollow.  The questionable approval of a Main Street Grant for a property owned by Village Attorney Janet Gandolfo was at the forefront of that discussion.

The Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation (SHDRC), of which Ms. Wompa is the President, was designated as the Local Program Administrator (LPA) of the NY Main Street Grant Program in the Village of Sleepy Hollow.  Accordingly, the SHCRC has sole authority for accepting and approving grant applications and awarding Grant funding.

The NY Main Street Grant Program Guide, which contains all of the rules and requirements for the NY Main Street Grant Program and the operation of the LPA's, can be accessed at the following link (click on the link to access):
http://www.nyshcr.org/Programs/NYMainStreet/NYMSProgramGuide.pdf   

According to the Program Guide, under Section III (A. Program Eligibility) on Page 5, for an LPA (the SHDRC) to be eligible to apply for funding from the NY Main Street Grant Program, the LPA must be "an organization incorporated under the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law that has been providing relevant service to the community for at least one year prior to application."  The Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation, the designated LPA for Sleepy Hollow, was only formed on May 26, 2006, yet, the corporation applied for NY Main Street Grant Funding in 2006.   The SHDRC was not "providing relevant service ... for at least a year" at the time it applied and thus, did not meet the requirement.  Considering this fact, how did the SHDRC receive approval to be part of the 2006 Grant Program?  Did someone at the SHDRC misrepresent the facts on the State Grant Application to make the organization eligible?  As President of the SHDRC, Karin Wompa needs to provide a full explanation to Village residents, as to how the LPA received approval for the Grant funding when it did not meet the requirements.

As mentioned above, Karin Wompa has served as the President of the Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation, the designated LPA for the NY Main Street Grant Program, throughout the entire Main Street Grant Program period.  But, as we here at Mount Pleasant Exposed have now learned, Karin Wompa could not legally hold that position.  The NY Main Street Grant Program Guidelines strictly preclude Karin Wompa from even being a member of the LPA (or the Grant Program) in any capacity.  Specific references to this topic can be found under Section III (A)(1) (Not-for-Profit LPA Boards and Activities) on Pages 5 and 6 of the Program Guide.  That section states "In urban areas, chief executive officials and members of local legislative bodies (e.g. the Village Board) are prohibited from serving on LPA boards".  This statement is very clear and means that Karin Wompa, in her position as Village Trustee, is prohibited from serving as a member of the LPA, much less its President!

Karin Wompa is also precluded from serving on the LPA by an additional rule contained in the Program Guide, under Section III (A)(1) (Not-for-Profit LPA Boards and Activities) on Page 5.  According to that section "No member of a political party's executive committee, at any level, shall serve on the board of the LPA."  Karin Wompa serves as the Secretary of the Sleepy Hollow Democratic Committee, therefore, she is ineligible to "serve on the board of the LPA". 

It is obvious, that the guidelines established by the NY Main Street Grant Program were instituted to prevent improper use of Grant funds.  The Program designers knew that if elected officials and political hacks took control of the local program, the funds would never achieve the goal of helping the "community".  Instead, the funds would be used to curry political favor and to reward cronies.  How right the designers were in their assessment.  Just look at what has happened here in Sleepy Hollow.  More than 62% of the Grant funds were awarded to five properties; coincidentally owned by "friends" of  Ms. Wompa.  Meanwhile, the business owners who were supposed to be helped by the NY Main Street Grant Program, came up empty handed. 

When questioned about the suspect grant awarded to Karin Wompa's political mentor, Janet Gandolfo, Ms. Wompa claimed that she had followed all the rules in administering that grant.  It would appear that the FACTS presented above prove Ms. Wompa's claim to be blatantly false, and the TRUTH is that Karin Wompa didn't follow any of the rules!  

Karin Wompa is prohibited by rule from serving as a member of the Board of the LPA.  The fact that she has served as its President, brings into question the legality of any of the grants awarded by the SHDRC, or any financial transactions related to the Grant Program, under her reign.  Did Karin Wompa take this LPA Board position, knowing full well that she could not legally hold it, to provide her with the ability to steer Main Street Grant funding (taxpayer dollars) to political allies, who would then support her mayoral run?  This is an extremely serious matter and Karin Wompa must explain her actions to the PEOPLE of Sleepy Hollow.  Ms. Wompa may also have to explain her actions in this matter to law enforcement, as well. 

Karin Wompa's actions are despicable.  She has violated the public trust and lost what little credibility she may have had.  The PEOPLE of Sleepy Hollow need to ask themselves a very important question - do we need a corrupt individual, such as Karin Wompa, as the next Mayor of Sleepy Hollow?  I believe the answer will be a loud and resounding NO! 

SLEEPY HOLLOW NEEDS TO VOTE OUT THE CROOKS ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH!!  IT IS TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE!!