Recommended Reading, May 11, 2025

Robert Cox

11 May 2025 — 7 min read

Having completed my driving lessons I can take the driving test for a full license. I can legally drive in any country but Ireland.

DUBLIN, IRELAND (May 11, 2025) — I have waited patiently to respond to the efforts by New Rochelle City officials to suppress my reporting — and to file a notice of copyright infringement against their lawyer. Saturday, May 10 was the 6-month anniversary of the City Council approving a recommendation by the City Manager to use taxpayer to pay for a private lawsuit. That seemed like the right moment.

In the meantime, I have been painstakingly gathering information on the New Rochelle Board of Ethics. I am now only missing a photo of the new Chairman Wil Ortiz.

I am still testing Simple Summaryes, hope you like them.

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New Rochelle Officials: Sex, Drugs and Lies

Simple Summary: Robert Cox alleges that City Manager Wilfredo Melendez and Corporation Counsel Dawn Warren are illegally targeting him to suppress his corruption reporting. On December 10, 2024, the City Council voted 5-2 to fund an investigation and litigation against Cox, based on Warren’s memo, which Cox claims violates New York State Public Officers Law by securing personal legal benefits for Warren at taxpayer expense. Cox’s reports that Westchester County DA witnesses have accused Warren and Development Commissioner Adam Salgado of drug use and a video possessed by Salgado allegedly showing Warren using cocaine. He also notes broader probes involving Salgado and reports of his hiring sex workers. Cox demanded an apology from Melendez, which was ignored, and accused the city of threatening a SLAPP lawsuit to silence him. He issued a copyright infringement notice to attorney Lalit Loomba for distributing his article, demanding $2,100. Cox stands by his reporting, citing truth as his defense.

Update to Words in Edgewise Terms of Service

Simple Summary: Words in Edgewise is operated from Ireland by Robert Cox, but the content on the site primarily focuses on reporting in the United States and is intended for a U.S.-based audience. The TOS was updated primarily to reflect EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Irish data protection laws with respect to the processing of personal data.

New Rochelle Mayor Teases App to Report City Issues During SOTC

Simple Summary: On May 8, 2025, during her second State of the City Address at New Roc City, New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos announced a forthcoming mobile app designed to allow residents to report non-emergency issues, such as potholes and graffiti, by taking photos and geolocating the concerns for quick city response. The app aims to enhance civic engagement and streamline issue resolution. Robert Cox has advocated to City officials for such technology since 2011, noted his prior collaboration with SeeClickFix.com, where he integrated their reporting widget on his website, New Rochelle’s Talk of the Sound, from 2010 to 2022. During that period, the platform received numerous reports on various issues, including potholes, noise complaints, tree problems, damaged street signs, and broken traffic lights, demonstrating the community’s need for an efficient reporting system.

GrokAI Analysis: Priorities in New Rochelle Mayor’s 2025 State of the City Address

Simple Summary: GrokAI examined New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos’s State of the City address delivered on May 8, 2025 to identify and prioritize topics based on word count, offering a quantitative measure of the mayor’s emphasis on various issues. The analysis categorized the speech into key topics, calculated the word count for each, and provided a breakdown of the results. This methodology highlights the mayor’s priorities by showing how much time and focus were dedicated to different subjects.

What Ever Happened with the New Rochelle Task Force on Reducing Violence in the Lives of Children and Youth?

Simple Summary: Dr. Jonathan Brice made a presentation at New Rochelle City Hall on May 30, 2018. The Task Force, formed in response to violent incidents involving students, including a fatal stabbing in January 2018, aimed to address youth violence through community collaboration. Chaired by Dr. Brice, a Maryland educator, the 46-member group included parents, students, educators, and city officials. It met multiple times, reviewed policies, and issued a report in May 2018 with recommendations like mental health training and an armed school resource officer.

A Letter of Appreciation to City of New Rochelle Employees

Simple Summary: Robert Cox expresses gratitude to the majority of New Rochelle’s over 600 city employees for their professional and honest service. He clarifies that his extensive reporting on corruption targets only a small group of administrators and elected officials, whom he describes as “rotten apples.” Cox emphasizes that most city workers are victims of these bad actors, not complicit in their behavior. The letter serves as a public acknowledgment of their valuable contributions to the city and a reassurance that his reporting is in their interest.

Newly Released Images Reveal Details of Fatal New Rochelle Police Shooting

Simple Summary: Newly released images provide details about the fatal police shooting of Jarrell Garris, who was shot by New Rochelle police on July 3, 2023. The images offer new insights into the events leading to Garris’s death. Cox’s reporting builds on prior articles, including witness statements and a New York Attorney General’s report, which cleared the officers involved.

New Rochelle Ethics Board Releases Applications of 8 Candidates

Simple Summary: The New Rochelle Board of Ethics released applications of eight candidates for previously open positions. On January 21, 2025, Cox submitted a FOIL request for records related to recent board changes, including resignation letters from members Charles Phipps, David Blumenthal, and Michelle Oliveros, and communications involving applicants’ resumes and forms. After months of delays, he received a response on May 6, 2025.

Who is the New Rochelle Board of Ethics?

Simple Summary: The New Rochelle Board of Ethics, tasked with ensuring ethical governance, consists of three members appointed by the City Manager with City Council approval, serving five-year terms, with one member being a city officer or employee. On January 21, 2025, Cox submitted a FOIL request for records related to recent board changes, including resignation letters from members Charles Phipps, David Blumenthal, and Michelle Oliveros, and communications involving applicants’ resumes and forms. After months of delays, he received a response on May 6, 2025. Cox’s reporting highlights ongoing transparency issues and alleged misconduct within the Board.

New Rochelle Board of Ethics 2025

Simple Summary: As the City of New Rochelle does not proactively provide information about members of the Board of Ethics beyond their name, we are collecting and displaying all available relevant information. If you see something missing tell us. We are seeking a photo of Ethics Board Chairman Wilbert Ortiz, the New Rochelle City Marshall.