The New Rochelle Thimblerig — Part XXXIII

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

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (July 13, 2025) — Stanley Bernstein, the Entitled Prince of Young Israel of New Rochelle (YINR), emailed New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson at Bramson’s personal optonline email account on December 6, 2021, to secretly propose an anonymous “Secret Santa” initiative funded by untraceable cash payments to New Rochelle officials, laundered through Bramson, a scheme inspired by a Lake Placid program where police distribute cash to drivers during traffic stops, according to email correspondence I obtained through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request.

December 6 is the feast day of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop from Myra (modern-day Turkey), known for his kindness and gift-giving, especially to the poor. December 6, became linked to gift-giving in parts of Europe and inspired the mythological character of Santa Claus.

“I just read this great article in the Lake Placid News about a Secret Santa who gave the local police some money to give out to people who seem to need it—after first stopping them for traffic violations,” Bernstein wrote. “Seems like a really sweet idea that could engender goodwill and maybe some good PR for New Rochelle.”