New Rochelle Faces Default Judgment in My FOIL Lawsuit

Flowers Park RFP - Bob Young Proposal - FOIL Litigation

DUBLIN, IRELAND (January 23, 2026) — In a highly unusual move, New Rochelle City Manager Wilfredo Melendez and Corporation Counsel Dawn Warren have completely ignored my Article 78 (Index Number 77188/2025) filed in Westchester County State Supreme Court seeking Bob Young’s reply to the city’s RFP to turn Flowers Park over to a private developer. The case is before Judge George E. Fufidio Jr.

SEE: Journalist Serves Legal Papers on New Rochelle in Ongoing FOIL Lawsuit Over Flowers Park Redevelopment Bid(12/18/2025)

As a result, on Thursday I filed a Motion for Judgement, seeking a default judgment against the City of New Rochelle and Melendez after they failed to respond (or even acknowledge to the Court) my lawsuit demanding the release of an unredacted bid proposal under New York's Freedom of Information Law.

The most likely outcomes are…