Sustainable Westchester Body Count

Robert Cox

15 Sep 2024 — 3 min read

Here is the body count since I first began investigating Sustainable Westchester on September 23, 2023. Below are a list of municipalities which voted not to renew their Westchester Power contracts, Councilmembers who voted against a contract with Westchester Power and links to articles about Sustainable Westchester.

Noam Bramson sustained ethics violations for repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Board of Directors; member, Committee of Electeds).

Sara Kaye sustained ethics violations for repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Board of Directors)

Yadira Ramos-Herbert committed an ethics violation for casting a vote benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Committee of Electeds). The ethics committee had agreed to sustain my allegation but after an illegal intervention by Noam Bramson, City Manager Kathleen Gill was pushed out, the ethics decision rewritten by a lawyer allied with Bramson. I have called on law enforcement to investigate which I believe they will do.

Dan Welsh committed numerous ethics violations by repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (employee). The Lewisboro Board of Ethics launched an investigation but has not announced the results.

Tom Roach committed numerous ethics violations by repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Board of Directors).

Chris Burdick committed numerous ethics violations by repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Board of Directors).

Sara Goddard committed numerous ethics violations by repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Board of Directors).

Nancy Seligson committed numerous ethics violations by repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Board of Directors).

Warren Lucas committed numerous ethics violations by repeatedly participating in discussions and casting votes benefiting Sustainable Westchester despite a prohibited interest (member, Board of Directors).

New Rochelle passed enabling legislation with the involvement of Noam Bramson and Sara Kaye rendering the legislation and all other agreements “null, void, and enforceable”.

Rye passed enabling legislation with the involvement of Sara Goddard rendering the legislation and all other agreements “null, void, and enforceable”.

Lewisboro passed enabling legislation with the involvement of Dan Welsh rendering the legislation and all other agreements “null, void, and enforceable”.

White Plains passed enabling legislation with the involvement of Tom Roach rendering the legislation and all other agreements “null, void, and enforceable”.

Bedford passed enabling legislation with the involvement of Chris Burdick rendering the legislation and all other agreements “null, void, and enforceable”.

North Salem passed enabling legislation with the involvement of Warren Lucas rendering the legislation and all other agreements “null, void, and enforceable”.

Town of Mamaroneck passed enabling legislation with the involvement of Nancy Seligson rendering the legislation and all other agreements “null, void, and enforceable”.

New York State Department of Public Services is investigating the failure of Sustainable Westchester to report Defective Contracts in New Rochelle and Rye.

NO TO WESTCHESTER POWER RENEWAL

Mount Kisco: On June 24, 2024, Mount Kisco simply did not take up an Agenda item on a new Westchester Power contract when 3 of the 5 Councilmembers said they would rather not vote on a resolution to authorize a new contract. The other 2 Councilmembers were silent but went along with the decisions (the pair could have forced a vote had they wanted to do so).

Lewisboro: On July 8, 2024, Lewisboro voted to table any discussion of a Westchester Power contract for 90 days, pushing consideration and a vote on a new contract past the deadline set by Sustainable Westchester. So, while there is no contract there was also no affirmative resolution voted down by the board either.

Somers: On September 5, 2024, Somers voted more openly, 3-1 against a new Westchester Power contract, while looking directly at Welsh.