The New Rochelle Thimblerig — Part XXXI

This article is part of a series: New Rochelle Thimblerig Table of Contents

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (July 10, 2025) — After two grueling months of persistence, I finally received 1,621 pages of emails to or from Stanley Bernstein to New Rochelle officials, spanning 2020 to 2025, in response to my Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. Below are my exchanges with the City of New Rochelle which mask a deliberate effort to block my access to public records.

Since August 2024, I’ve received only a handful of the records I’ve requested, despite my relentless pursuit. I’m convinced this stonewalling is orchestrated by Corporation Counsel Dawn Warren, acting under the direction of Mayor Yadira Ramos, with support from City Manager Will Melendez and Development Commissioner Adam Salgado. They claim my requests are too voluminous or burdensome, but I know the truth: my FOIL requests are too on target. Every record I’ve obtained has hit a bull’s-eye, exposing yet another instance of corruption in New Rochelle.

I want to be clear: I don’t believe the city clerk, past or present, is behind this deceptive practice. The real culprits are Warren, Melendez, and Salgado, who seem to be following the wishes of Ramos and other Democratic city council members. My reporting has already triggered an ongoing criminal investigation by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, which they recently confirmed to me in writing. It’s also led to inquiries by the Public Service Commission and the New York State Inspector General, acting on behalf of the Workers’ Compensation Board. These investigations are complex and intertwined, but I believe they’re nearing a critical point as subpoenas have been issued including to Dawn Warren, Mayor Yadira Ramos, Will Melendez and others.

The 1,621 pages of emails I received are available for public review through a PDF link below, but I warn readers: it’s a daunting read.