New Rochelle Afro-Latina Mayoral Candidate Slams Media for Racist Questions About Her Taking $60,000 in Dark Money from Real Estate Developers

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 18, 2023) — Democratic Mayoral Candidate Yadira Ramos-Herbert, who has repeatedly stonewalled reporters, is seeking to portray questions about her taking $60,000 in dark money, from what later turned out to be luxury real estate developer Louis Cappelli, as an example of institutional racism.

In an interview with Edvardi Jackson published on a website called The World Telegram News, Ramos-Herbert was asked about the so-called “$60,000 Question” which he characterized as a conflict-of-interest.

“I do wonder sometimes why, as have other elected officials,” said Ramos-Herbert, “is their comfort-level in challenging a woman of colour who receives this income, and why we’re not challenging white men who receive this money.”

Ramos-Herbert is the only candidate who has taken large campaign contributions from business interests doing business before the City. In her case, from a business partner of former President Donald Trump.

Income is defined as money received during a period of time in exchange for labor or services, from the sale of goods or property, or as profit from financial investments.

The $60,000 is not “income” as characterized by Ramos-Herbert but a campaign contribution as she herself reported in campaign finance disclosure forms filed with the New York State Board of Elections.

Her answer begs the question, which other elected officials share her belief that it is racist to ask her about the Cappelli money? If she wants to establish her claim through appeals to the authority of other elected officials she needs to name them.

Questions have been raised about her taking large campaign contributions from business interests doing business before the City. The list includes this reporter, The Journal News, City & State, The Yonkers Times, NewROAR News. Even Nicole Benjamin, the League of Women Voter’s debate moderator, asked about at a debate on June 12. Benjamin is 1st Vice President of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, which has supported and financed Ramos-Herbert’s campaign.

In the WNT interview and the LWV debate, she sought to draw a parallel between her taking $60,000 from Cappelli, funneled through the Westchester County Democratic Committee to mask the original source, to her opponent accepting a $1,000 expense reimbursement several years ago from the party committee where the money was raised organically by the party and the committee did not engage in campaign finance violations, as they did with the Cappelli to Ramos-Herbert direct transfer.

The entire WNT article is a must-read interview which includes the full audio records of interviews with both candidates, Yadira Ramos-Herbert and Damon Maher, in the New Rochelle Democratic Primary.

New Rochelle Mayoral Race: Meet the Candidates

Ramos-Herbert has made a habit of lashing out in response to legitimate questions about the gap between her campaign rhetoric, largely based on support for affordable housing and transparency, and her actions. It has become her default response to avoid addressing reasonable questions from reporters, voters, and debate moderators.

Questions she has failed to address include:

When did you become aware that you were not raising enough money to make it through the primary until June 27? Was this a concern and why?
Were you aware of any outreach to developers either at the local or county level to give money directly or indirectly to your campaign before May 18 when you reported the $60,000 hit your account?
Were you aware that Louis Cappelli was giving a lot of money to the WCDC in 2022, and if so, why do you think he was doing that, and who was involved in that at the local or county level?
Were you aware that Cappelli gave $100,000 on May 11-12 at that time, or in the days that followed?
Were you made aware in advance that some of that Cappelli money was earmarked for your campaign?
When did you first learn that $60,000 was going to — or had — hit your campaign account?
Were you made aware that Cappelli had given the WCDC $100,000 the week before you revealed $60,000 from the WCDC?
Do you appreciate why some might see your taking a large sum from a developer with extensive business dealings with the City as a Conflict of Interest?
As a candidate, do you believe it is important to avoid the appearance of a Conflict of Interest?
Were you concerned with the appearance of impropriety, that the Cappelli money had strings attached?
As Mayor, if you are elected, will you recuse yourself from Council discussions and decisions involving Louis Cappelli, his various companies and his business partners such as RXR?
How did you feel when your fundraising more than doubled with one transaction?
Are you aware of any self-interested reason Cappelli would want to give $100,000 to the WCDC that had nothing to do with supporting your campaign, but rather something else happening in another municipality or at the county level?
Are you aware of any reason Cappelli was not so much interested in supporting your campaign but undermining your opponent’s campaign?
When did you first become aware that the WCDC had not filed its 32-Day Primary Election Campaign Disclosure?
Did you express to the WCDC any opinion on this upon learning they had not filed?
You said it was “inappropriate” for you to ask the WCDC where they got the $60,000 transferred to your campaign. Why would that be inappropriate? Should a candidate know who is funding their campaign? Are there any contributions you would not accept?
What was your answer to Question 25 on the Working Families Party endorsement application form regarding whether you would accept developer money?
When did you first know that Cappelli gave $100,000 to the WCDC the week before you got $60,000 from the WCDC?
Did you consider returning the $60,000 upon learning of the Cappelli connection?

These are standard journalistic questions (not “racist” questions) that would be asked of any candidate who received an unprecedented, sudden influx of large campaign contributions, especially when the source was hidden for weeks in violation of state law, and then turned out to a wealthy developer who represents the antithesis of her campaign rhetoric.

Noam Tries, Fails to Deflect Yadira’s Cappelli Problem

Yadira Melt Down at New Rochelle Dems Candidate Forum

New Rochelle Dems Candidate Forum Promises Fireworks

New Rochelle League of Women Voters to Host Candidates Forum for Democratic Primary

Westchester County Board of Elections Releases Unofficial List of Candidates for New Rochelle Offices