Letter To The Editor: Stop Wasting Tax Dollars On Legal Fees

MAMARONECK, NY — The following letter to the editor was submitted by Mamaroneck resident and Mamaroneck Taxpayer Watchdogs co-founder Kevin Duarte Chon.

Over the past several months, I have actively participated in the Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustee online meetings, driven by my deep concerns about the excessive legal spending on failed lawsuits invited by our elected officials.

What I find most alarming is how the Village of Mamaroneck has spent millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars on legal fees over the years, in many cases defending itself against developers who clearly have the rights to build on their own property. This is not us “defending ourselves” as Mayor Murphy has said on numerous occasions.

This is us wasting money for no reason.

The pandemic has caused severe financial distress for many in our area and the village authorities do not seem to care. We are seeing that they are asking local businesses to pay ten thousand dollars just to expand to street dining in the warmer weather. By comparison, Dobbs Ferry will charge their businesses fifty dollars a month after hearing feedback from the community. Now is the time to get our financial priorities straight, and to stop wasting so much money on litigation and legal fees that can be avoided, which would then allow Mamaroneck to allow services such as street dining for a reasonable price.

I am so grateful that many of my fellow residents share my concerns about wasteful spending and have joined our efforts at Mamaroneck Taxpayer Watchdogs (www.mamaronecktaxwatch.com). I encourage any and all residents who wish to join the conversation to visit our website and our Facebook page for important updates and news.

Kevin Duarte Chon

Mamaroneck Taxpayer Watchdogs co-founder