HEZI ARIS: Some will acknowledge he has engaged in an intentioned pace to imprint a sense of modernity and a rejuvenated perception to the fourth largest city in New York State.
The restructuring he insinuated into governance has clearly placed a burden of responsibility that will follow him toward future political adventures as he takes the helm of the City of Yonkers (CoY) for a second term come January 1, 2016. He carries an enviable 80 percent plus majority of those who voted in the November 3, 2015 General Election into his next term based on support of Yonkersites. The prospects are many for him and for CoY, yet the baggage for both is daunting.
The historical chapters and tenor of the city continues to exact ingredients that serve a bitter aftertaste comprised of internal political strife, budgetary constraints, and diminishing funding capacity as is plainly and painfully the major issue impacting an urban city setting. One would be unfair were Mayor Spano’s responsibility and concern not recognized to be his uppermost concern and resolve.
Unconfirmed rumors abound contending Mayor Spano is keen to challenge incumbent Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino for his office in two years time. CE Astorino, described in positive fashion, akin to those descriptive of Mayor Spano above, suggest CE Astorino has delivered in cutting costs, not increasing property taxes since acceding to office, challenging confrontational unions, and trimming down wasteful programs. Both Spano and Astorino have set the chessboard for play and thereby painted a “pretty picture” that is stymied by yet unannounced fiscal challenges to their respective political resumes.
Mayor Spano may hunger for higher office while Yonkersites are concern over hyperlocal concerns. Mayor Spano must resolve to resuscitate the Yonkers Police Department by depoliticizing the YPD and instead infusing the YPD with the professional integrity it had once earned to the acclaim of most familiar with the department. Mayor Spano’s Office has by him or in his name chosen to impose and insinuate a political outcome that has exacerbated turmoil since Mike Spano acceded to office. Worse still, the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association (PBA) can’t seem to reduce the political controversy it creates that undermines its president, Keith Olson, and the union membership.
The Yonkers Tribune has for over two years engaged in telling the alleged misconduct of Yonkers PBA President Keith Olson specifically in the Blue Truth series of articles.There is no doubt that Olson and others close to him are huge liabilities for Mayor Spano. Serious legal allegations of internal police misconduct, alleged internal corruption stemming from the Dario Tenor police raid and subsequent death led to the indictments and arrests of two Yonkers Police Officers.
Olson has revealed himself to be the biggest liability and threat to Mayor Spano’s political future prospects. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s continuing success in convicting the likes of Sheldon Silver, in the federal courts, and the pending conclusion likewise of Dean Skelos, is a loud shot across the bow, that signals Mayor Spano wash his hands, and avoid the simmering conundrum devised and allowed to be defined by the rogue police union leader.
Olson has revealed himself to be the biggest liability and threat to Mayor Spano’s political future prospects. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s continuing success in convicting the likes of Sheldon Silver, in the federal courts, and the pending conclusion likewise of Dean Skelos, is a loud shot across the bow, that signals Mayor Spano wash his hands, and avoid the simmering conundrum devised and allowed to be defined by the rogue police union leader.
Sources confirm that Olson is bad for the Yonkers PBA, and bad for Yonkers in how the city is perceived and the alleged liability to which he exposes the city financially. Further, Olson’s fixation in pushing and / or using the membership’s funds to make ” Acting Chief ” John Mueller the Police Commissioner is the “smoking gun” that has been made the catalyst to the disarray and divisions among the YPD.
Police morale is in the gutter; it is not Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner that created this cesspool contrary t professional police departments. It was Olson who targeted members of the Captains, Lieutenants, and Sergeants Association (CLSA) and the PBA that trampled the standards and protocol of command. Olson and some members of the PBA Board engaged in pre-meditated confrontations with other police personnel both during and after work hours.
All these alleged incidents reek of Olson’s “dirty union” hand and conduct. PBA members were quick to learn they could be “blackballed”; they would come to fear being targeted just for being friends with officers that Olson did not approve. Sources report Olson announced his re-election bid for PBA President at the PBA Christmas party held December 3rd at Zuppa’s Restaurant. Olson’s telling may have placed a kibosh on his prospects for another term in office.
Police morale is in the gutter; it is not Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner that created this cesspool contrary t professional police departments. It was Olson who targeted members of the Captains, Lieutenants, and Sergeants Association (CLSA) and the PBA that trampled the standards and protocol of command. Olson and some members of the PBA Board engaged in pre-meditated confrontations with other police personnel both during and after work hours.
All these alleged incidents reek of Olson’s “dirty union” hand and conduct. PBA members were quick to learn they could be “blackballed”; they would come to fear being targeted just for being friends with officers that Olson did not approve. Sources report Olson announced his re-election bid for PBA President at the PBA Christmas party held December 3rd at Zuppa’s Restaurant. Olson’s telling may have placed a kibosh on his prospects for another term in office.
Reports advise the Yonkers Tribune there was a recent late night police brawl during which President Keith Olson was one of the combatants. Olson, along with Yonkers PBA Trustee Joseph Galinski were involved in a brawl.
The union trustee was allegedly drunk when he attempted to verbally intimidate other Police Officers aligned with Olson. In response, the trustee became enraged and attacked another member instigating a melee by his physical response.
That union leader was allegedly ejected from the police gathering to the Main Street sidewalk. Sources advise Olson was allegedly unaware of the brawl because he was imbibing drinks in a private dining room with Acting Chief John Mueller. Eyewitnesses said that when Olson learned his union trustee was involved in a fist-fight, Olson became enraged and stormed out of the private dining room to confront one or more of the attending police officers.
The union trustee was allegedly drunk when he attempted to verbally intimidate other Police Officers aligned with Olson. In response, the trustee became enraged and attacked another member instigating a melee by his physical response.
That union leader was allegedly ejected from the police gathering to the Main Street sidewalk. Sources advise Olson was allegedly unaware of the brawl because he was imbibing drinks in a private dining room with Acting Chief John Mueller. Eyewitnesses said that when Olson learned his union trustee was involved in a fist-fight, Olson became enraged and stormed out of the private dining room to confront one or more of the attending police officers.
Those same eyewitnesses advise that Olson had allegedly walked up to the person he thought was involved and slapped him across the face as that officer began to turn his head toward Olson......
http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2015/12/the-hezitorial-tis-the-season-when-not-all-is-jolly-in-yonkers-by-hezi-aris
http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2015/12/the-hezitorial-tis-the-season-when-not-all-is-jolly-in-yonkers-by-hezi-aris
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