Letter in Opposition to Atlantic Development.

SAMUEL L. RIVERS 30 Rockledge Avenue Mount Vernon, NY 10550 (914) 760-8136 [email protected]

Sean FitzgeraldAssistant CommissionerNYS Homes and Community Renewal25 Beaver StreetNew York, NY 10004

RE: HCR Funding Application

February 3, 2011

Dear Sir:

I write to you in opposition of Atlantic Development Group, LLC and their application to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) to secure federal and state tax credits for the proposed 60-unit senior affordable apartment house at 144 Crary Avenue in Mount Vernon. Atlantic is applying for $1,320,000 in federal 9% tax credits (LIHC) and $650,000 in New York State tax credits (SLIC) to finance a 9-story, 60-unit senior apartment building.

This property has been the subject of controversy from the very onslaught. Even though this project was approved but City of Mount Vernon officials, there have been allegations of corruption and kickbacks with various persons involved in this project, including but not limited to elected officials. I respectfully ask that you investigate these allegations before granting Atlantic Development the above mentioned tax credits.

Atlantic Development appears to have engaged in pay to play politics for quite some time and thus this is how they have amassed a great amount of wealth. In the City of Mount Vernon, Atlantic Development, led by Peter Fine has made contributions to the Mayor of Mount Vernon Clinton Young, and a lobbyist associated with Mayor Young, Kenneth Plummer of Kensworth Consulting has made contributions to members of the Mount Vernon City Council. Peter Fine has also made contributions in the tens of thousands of dollars to Governor Andrew Cuomo. [See exhibit A]

Another person associated with Mayor Young and Kenneth Plummer is a Real Estate Broker named James Dickerson who has violently assaulted individuals who are opposed this project. As a result, James Dickerson was arrested and successfully prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. James Dickerson is also the alleged bagman for Mayor Young and there is speculation that James Dickerson delivered tens of thousands of dollars in cash to Mayor Young on behalf of Peter Fine and Atlantic Development.


James Dickerson is no stranger to corruption and underhanded deal making. Mr. Dickerson was relieved of his duties as an employee of the City of Mount Vernon for a scandal involving affordable housing and HUD. Mr. Dickerson activities played a role in the City of Mount Vernon overbilling HUD $1.7 million dollars and now the City of Mount Vernon taxpayers must suffer and pay for Mr. Dickerson’s egregious acts of greed. [Please see- www.jamesdickersonre.com]

I oppose this project because it is irresponsible development and does not meet the needs of the community. [See exhibit B] This project, if allowed to move forward will have a negative impact on the City of Mount Vernon taxpayers for the next 30 years. No factual data has ever been presented to the public on job creation, expansion of the tax base, and much needed resources for our struggling school district. In fact many school officials have spoken out against the City of Mount Vernon granting a P.I.L.O.T to Atlantic Development. [See exhibit C]

Many City officials will argue that this project will bring much needed retail to the City of Mount Vernon and that Atlantic Development is doing city taxpayers a favor by remedying a blighted situation. These myths are simply untrue and baseless. While there are three buildings on the property that are going to be demolished, not one of the buildings has ever been condemned by the City of Mount Vernon. The City of Mount Vernon and City officials intentionally let these buildings fall into disrepair so that they can pave the way for Atlantic Development to start construction and therefore line their pockets with cash. The City of Mount Vernon is notorious for corruption as several City officials were indicted for public corruption just recently.

Mount Vernon can do without affordable housing as The City of Mount Vernon currently leads the County of Westchester in affordable housing. I respectfully ask that this agency directs its resources towards the 31 other municipalities in the County of Westchester that were recently accused of racism and discrimination for failing to adequately construct affordable housing for minorities. [See exhibit D] If this agency was to fund this project in light of all of the information presented herein, public trust in government would further be eroded and would go against the restoration of public trust in New York State government which is at the top of Governor Cuomo’s agenda.

I respectfully ask that before any determination is made regarding the distribution of public tax money for this non-essential housing development, that this agency thoroughly investigate all of the allegations presented herein.

Respectfully Submitted,


Samuel L. RiversCommunity Activist

cc: James E. Johnson, ESQ-Court Appointment HUD monitorcc: Westchester County Executive Robert Astorinocc: New York Governor Andrew Cuomocc: United States Department of Justicecc: United States Department of Housing and Urban Developmentcc: Press

Letter in Opposition to Atlantic Development.

Documents

Transcript of Letter in Opposition to Atlantic Development.