Manor Democratic candidates: Village board spent $150,000 over 3 years on lobbyists to call on Paulin, Biaggi
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Pelham Manor Democratic mayoral candidate Ramsey McGrory.
The current VoPM board should not be spending residents’ money to hire lobbyists to do their job.
FACTS: Over the last three years (2017-2019), the VoPM board has spent $150K to use lobbyists to do their job lobbying local representatives Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and State Sen Alessandra Biaggi (a Pelham Manor native). Disclosures also show the lobbyist continues to be paid in the fiscal year 2020-21.
None of the information below is communicated in VoPM budgets, but is public information.
FACTS: Lobbying and Consulting Fees
$24,996 in 2017 to Brown and Weinraub and $29,999 to Jackson Lewis
$49,992 in 2018 to Brown and Weinraub
$49,992 in 2019 to Brown and Weinraub
https://jcope.ny.gov/2019-
(search prior years here as well)
Search Pelham Manor, Brown and Weinraub receiving $4,166/month in 2020-21 from Pelham Manor for “Economic Development – General” JCOPE Lobbying Search (ny.gov)
Search for Pelham Manor (as public corporation), and you can see more details about what B&W discloses: JCOPE Lobbying Search (ny.gov)
- Alexandra Biaggi for Village Funding and Red Light Cameras: JCOPE Lobbying Search (ny.gov)
- State Bill Local Government JCOPE Lobbying Search (ny.gov)
- Economic Development General JCOPE Lobbying Search (ny.gov)
- Amy Paulin on A8287 (environmental discharge liability) and S6493 (Westchester traffic cameras) JCOPE Lobbying Search (ny.gov)
Adam Ilkowitz • Mar 3, 2021 at 8:29 pm
Pelham Manor’s choice to lobby Sen Biaggi is not borne from her “time and availability for her own district.” I think its important to note that a “James Gisondi” unsuccessfully tried to unseat Sen Biaggi in both the Democratic Primary and General election this past year; I am not sure if you are that person.
Sen Biaggi took office in 2019; you can see that Pelham Manor has been paying lobbyists before her time in office. The fact is that Pelham Manor has been paying approximately $50,000 per year on lobbying since at least 2013. For reference, Pelham Manor paid more for registered lobbying in 2019 then White Plains ($44,000). Neighboring municipalities that spent nothing in 2019 include New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Pelham (village and town), Larchmont, Scarsdale, Bronxville, and Eastchester.
The question we should be asking, as Pelham Manor residents, is why are we paying for a lobbyist at all?
James B Gisondi • Mar 3, 2021 at 6:51 pm
These elected officials, specifically Sen Biaggi, who lives in Pelham, should be available to her constituents and her district w/o having to hire and pay lobbyists. The cost of these lobbying fees is paid from the already high taxes residents and businesses pay. If she doesn’t have time and availability for her own district, then why have her be our representative in Albany.