Sunday Briefing: Appeals Court Smacks 2 DA’s, CCRB Doomed, McVey Staying Locked Up
This briefing draws from reporting at Talk of the Sound, analysis and commentary published in Words in Edgewise, and selected regional coverage for the week ending: 28 June, 2026
A Note from the Publisher
The 2nd Court of Appeals handed down a highly significant opinion in a case that no other media outlet has covered since it was filed in 2022. It is extremely rare for a District Attorney to file a lawsuit against a sitting judge — court officials told me they had never heard of such a thing — butMimi Rocah sued Matt Costa anyway. In an amazing twist, the lower court Judge who ruled in favor of Rocah is Susan Cacace who succeeded Rocah as DA. The twin-DAs got their teeth kicked in at the appellate level. The pull quote from the decision is on the question of whether Costa was entitled to to rule that witnesses in two cases could not testify because the DA submitted disciplinary records about the cops/witnesses late. The appeals court ruled Costa was “…not only authorized, but actually required…” That is harsh.
I reached out to Cacace but she declined to comment. Not surprising given that being overturned is about as embarrassing as can be for a judge.
Sam McVey is not leaving state custody any time soon. Andy Sandor retired as New Rochelle Fire Chief after 30 years.
I got a stack of more Rubicco records so cranked out a few more episodes.
I tested out using AI to try and make sense of New York State Police daily blotters and it worked pretty well. I was also interviewed for a story on a proposed NYS bill on AI use in journalism.
I explained why the New Rochelle CCRB was designed to fail and will never operate as some have hoped.
Below is this week’s structured briefing.
If You Read Nothing Else This Week
Appeals Court Sides With New Rochelle Judge in Discovery Fight With Westchester DA’s Office
Designed to Fail: New Rochelle’s Police Oversight Board Built to Never Work
Samuel McVey Found Unfit to Stand Trial, Committed to Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center
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Public Safety & First Responders
New Rochelle Fire Chief Andrew Sandor Announces Retirement After 30 Years of Service
Port Chester Man Charged With Possession, Promotion of Child Sex Abuse Material
Eight New Rochelle Police Officers Promoted in Ceremony
New Rochelle Man Arrested for Illegal Fireworks Sales
Joseph Sinatra Appointed as New Rochelle Fire Chief
Mamaroneck Police Ramp Up BUI Enforcement for July 4 Weekend
New York State Police Troop Sound Shore Roundup: June 18 — June 24
31 Tickets Issued in Westchester Pesticide Sweep, DEC Hits Rye, Scarsdale Landscapers
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Courts & Accountability
Mamaroneck Approves FY 2026-2027 Capital Plan Prioritizing Flood Mitigation
New Fee for Mamaroneck Water Customers
Brennan is Declared Larchmont Mayor Immediately After Primary Win
New York Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Disclosure Of AI-Generated News
New Rochelle Has Never Set Up a Single CCRB Member to Be Paid
New Rochelle City Court Sets $100,000 Bail in DeJesus Drug, Gun Felony Case
Larchmont Man Among 4 Who Pleaded Guilty in $1M Insider Trading Scheme
Port Chester Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing 12-Year-Old, Faces 32 Years in Prison
New Rochelle’s Louis Apicella Faces Key Pretrial Deadline in Federal NBA Poker Case
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Schools & Government
New Rochelle BGCNR Welcomes Huguenot Academy to Remington Clubhouse
New Rochelle Celebrates 128th High School Commencement
New Rochelle Shifts City Website, Email Addresses to .Gov Domain
The RV That Inspired New Rochelle’s RV Parking Ban Still Hasn’t Moved
New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Rye Beaches Closed Due to Rain
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Sound Shore Community & Culture
Pelham to Host Argentinian Folk Art and Music Event
New York Free Fishing Weekend June 27–28
New Rochelle Exhibit Explores American Revolution’s Impact
Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle Unveils New Board Leadership and Staff Appointments
Pelham Art Center Announces Smarty Arts Program for Special Needs
Lou Diamond Phillips to Headline The Picture House’s ‘Reel Conversations’ Series in Bronxville
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Words in Edgewise
This week’s commentary and analysis.
Designed to Fail: New Rochelle CCRB
Full archive available at Words in Edgewise.
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Ongoing Investigations & Major Series
These long-running investigations continue to inform coverage across the region:
New Rochelle Police Accountability: CPPB to CCRB
Flowers Park RFP & FOIL Litigation
New Rochelle Thimblerig Series
Sustainable Westchester Series
Alec McKenna – Kamal Flowers Archive
New Rochelle Board of Education Investigation
Nightmare on Stephenson Boulevard / NRPD PACT Unit PFFL Porn & Gambling Website
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In Memoriam
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Closing
Words in Edgewise is the weekly civic briefing produced by the publisher of Talk of the Sound.
Talk of the Sound exists to provide consistent, fact-based reporting on the institutions that shape daily life in the Sound Shore.
If you have information relevant to public accountability in New Rochelle or neighboring communities, you know how to reach me.
Thank you for reading — and for being part of a community that values informed civic life.
— Robert Cox
Publisher, Talk of the Sound
