This too is Yonkers
by Eric W. Schoen
Whistleblower (also written as whistle-blower or whistle blower) is a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public. … Because of this, a number of laws exist to protect whistleblowers. Definition courtesy of WikiPedia.
We keep hearing that word and think that it is someone who has supernatural powers and information no one else knows. We get the impression that the person is exposing information at such a high level that he or she needs Secret Service protection 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Well friends, I am hear to tell you that you too could become a whistleblower. It can be done completely anonymously from the comfort of your home. All you need is a computer, a phone, or a piece of paper and a stamp. Before we get into the details let me tell you about my whistleblower experiences.
It happened over 30 years ago which proves whistleblowing in not a new phenomena. All the participants in the scheme are long gone from Yonkers. I knew of an agency that was getting funding for job training and using the money to pay salaries and not doing any type of credible job training.
They got the money through a quid pro quo (a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something). The agency and its supporters backed a political candidate and in return that candidate who was chairperson of the organization with the money gave the agency what you would call a no show contract. I was in a position to audit the agency receiving funds. You can’t audit an agency that does no work. In this case the minimal work the agency was doing was limited to a specific group of people and not open to the general public as it was supposed to be.
I started by calling the State Inspector General of the agency where the money was coming from. It was federal money being channeled through the state. I started at the state level but my whistleblower complaint quickly got elevated to the federal level. I wanted to remain anonymous and they agreed to it. They knew I had the goods.
We chatted on the phone several times and agreed to meet in the parking lot of the old Parkside Diner on South Broadway. The agent, investigator whatever he was called told me the color and type of his car and I gave him my car details and where to meet me in the lot. I gave him the information I had, documents that proved my claim, and we chatted in my car for about an hour.
Fortunately my car did not blow up. In retrospect the investigator should have at least brought me coffee and breakfast.
Two other quick whistleblower stories. I worked in a building where people were constantly getting sick from the recirculated air. I filed an anonymous complaint with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and they came out to test the air.
Another time I anonymously called the Yonkers Fire Department as the office I worked in had moved filing cabinets around making it unsafe to reach the exits in case of an emergency. Our wonderful Yonkers Fire Department came out (mind you within minutes after I made the call) and saw that the filing cabinets were in an unsafe position blocking exits and paths to the exits. They made the office move the filing cabinets so that they were not a fire hazard.
Yes friends, if I can be a whistleblower you can too. Most times you can remain anonymous. Visit whistleblowers.org for excellent information. That website will help you Know Your Rights.
Whistleblowing takes preparation. Deciding which law you should report under is in many ways the single most important decision affecting the outcome of a case. Give as much information as possible (i.e., names of alleged offenders, victims, witnesses, etc., and leads on any applicable data, documentation or other evidence).
Let’s start at the top. Want to file a complaint about something the President did? Or one of his Advisors or Members of his Cabinet? It all depend on the specific fraud committed. oversight.gov let’s you report waste, Disclose wrongdoing about a federal government agency, program, contract or grant. Most federal agencies have Inspector Generals that accept whistleblower complaints.
Senators or Congressman? The House and Senate Committee on Ethics (ethics.senate.gov or
ethics.house.gov) can Investigate alleged violations of the Code of Official Conduct or of any applicable rules, laws, or regulations governing the performance of official duties or the discharge of official responsibilities and Committee rules . Then if need be Report to appropriate federal or state authorities substantial evidence of a violation of any law applicable to the performance of official duties that may have been disclosed in a Committee investigation.
State officials? Office of the New York State Comptroller has a confidential, toll free hotline. Call 1-888-672-4555 weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to make your anonymous complaint. ag.ny.gov puts you in touch with the Attorney Generals office.The Attorney General serves all New Yorkers in numerous matters affecting their daily lives. Specifically, the statutory and common law powers to protect consumers and investors, charitable donors, the public health and environment, civil rights, and the rights of wage-earners and businesses across the State.
Authority also includes the activities and investigations of the State Organized Crime Task Force and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
In Westchester County, the Board of Ethics handles ethics complaints. According to the County Website, there is no phone number but they list an attorney as contact, Asst. County Attorney David Polizzi dppd@westchestergov.com .
Yonkers has an Office of the Inspector General, Brendan McGrath. Email Brendan.McGrath@yonkersny.gov , Call 914-377-6107 or Fax: 914-377-6990. They also have a link on their page on the Yonkers website where you can make an anonymous complaint.
When in doubt you can also visit FBI.gov/tips or contact the New York FBI office
26 Federal Plaza, 23rd Floor New York, NY 10278-0004 newyork.fbi.gov
(212) 384-1000 Regional corruption hotline.
Tips about criminal activity taking place in Yonkers? Text tip411 and when prompted enter YPD. The Yonkers Police Internal Affairs Division has a 24 hour a day hotline, 914-377-7331. For the Fire Department contact (914) 377-7526 Monday through Friday. Obviously for a Police or Fire or Medical Emergency DIAL 911.
Another important web address. For Internet complaints visit ic3.gov . That’s the Federal Internet Crime Bureau.
So there you have it. You, Too Can Be the next Edward Snowden.
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge
