Robert Cox

Words in Edgewise News Roundup - December 21, 2025

DUBLIN, IRELAND (December 21, 2025) — Happy Christmas from Grafton Street in the heart of the city centre. Pretty well mobbed today on the last big shopping day. I had hoped to have two important stories up in time for the newsletter but they are not quite ready so I may

Why I Published Details From a Public Court Filing in the Pelham ERPO Case Involving a 16-Year Old Student

DUBLIN, IRELAND (December 17, 2025) — When the Pelham Public Schools superintendent filed an emergency application for a temporary extreme risk protection order (ERPO) against a 16-year-old student charged with armed robbery, the documents entered the public record in Westchester County Supreme Court. As a journalist, I chose to report on

Words in Edgewise News Roundup - December 14, 2025

DUBLIN, IRELAND (December 14, 2025) — I decided to rename the newsletter. I was going to hold off until the New Year but what the heck. I got a bit backed up with the Article 78 so did not work on the newsletter on Sunday per usual so forgive the delay

As New Rochelle Financial Woes Persist, Yadira & Co. Post Bid for On-Call Balloon Decoration Services

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (December 11, 2025) — The city of New Rochelle has posted a bid for on-call balloon decoration services, specification number 5832, with bids due by 3 p.m. on January 7, 2026. Seriously — on-call balloons!

Final Demand – Bid 5820 / The Young Companies Proposal (FOIL Requests of Oct. 30, Nov. 13, and Nov. 21, 2025)

This “last chance” email was sent to New Rochelle Deputy Counsel Jeffrey Briem with copies to City Manager Will Melendez, City Clerk Kim Jones, Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert and all six council members.

SMOKING GUN: New Rochelle City Manager’s Shifting Story on Flowers Park Bid Collapses Under Developer’s Own “Return Everything” Letter

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (December 5, 2025) — A November 20, 2025 letter from the attorney representing the sole bidder on New Rochelle’s withdrawn Flowers Park redevelopment project directly contradicts City Manager Will Melendez’s latest claim that the city never surrendered the original proposal. The letter, obtained through a

Administrative Appeal of Denial of FOIL Request for Records Related to Bid Number 5820 – Request for Master Redeveloper Proposal Submitted by The Young Companies LLC

Dear City Manager Melendez This letter constitutes my administrative appeal, pursuant to Public Officers Law (POL) § 89(4)(a), of the City of New Rochelle’s denial of my Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request dated October 30, 2025, and subsequent renewed and expanded requests dated November 13, 2025, and

New Rochelle

New Rochelle City Manager Has New Story on Returned Flowers Park RFP Response

CITY SURRENDERS PUBLIC RECORDS TO DEVELOPER: New Rochelle Hands Over Flowers Park Bid, Lets Bob Young and His Lawyers Decide What the Public Gets to See

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (December 1, 2025) — Despite bleating on endlessly about transparency and public engagement, Yadira & Co. are by far the least transparent group to run City Hall in anyone’s memory. What has just happened with the Flowers Park RFP Response is a despicable, deceitful act by City

Pelham Manor Candidate’s Mystery Email About Rob Rubicco Story Raises Questions

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (November 30, 2025) — I received a rather odd, unsolicited email last week from a person I do not know: Ryan J. Kurtz, a Democratic candidate for Pelham Manor trustee who is currently trailing by two votes in a race headed for a recount Tuesday, complaining about my