NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Dec. 18, 2025) — Service of legal papers was authorized and completed today in a lawsuit filed by journalist Robert Cox against the City of New Rochelle and City Manager Wilfredo Melendez over denied Freedom of Information Law requests related to a Flowers Park redevelopment bid.
The service notification, dated Dec. 18, 2025, at 10:52 a.m. EST, indicates authorized service on the defendants at the service address of 515 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801.
Cox is suing over alleged multiple violations of the New York Freedom of Information Law in the city’s handling of requests for the full, unredacted bid proposal submitted by The Young Companies LLC on Oct. 29, 2025, in response to the city’s Request for Master Redeveloper Proposal. The city denied the requests, citing exemptions, and provided a heavily redacted version. The petition alleges improper withholding, invalid trade-secret exemptions, lack of particularized justifications, and evidence of record tampering.
Documents served include a notice of petition, petition, and request for judicial intervention with exhibits A through O.
- Article 78 Petition Flowers Park RFP
- RJI (AMENDED) Article 78 Flowers Park
- Notice of Petition Article 78 Flowers Park
- Exhibit A – Spec 5820
- Exhibit B – Media Coverage
- Exhibit C – FOIL 10-30-2025
- Exhibit D – FOIL 10-30-2026 Confirm
- Exhibit E – Informal Request 10-30-2025
- Exhibit F – Denial of Oct 30 FOIL and Informal Request
- Exhibit G – Melendez Statement on RFP Termination
- Exhibit H – Second FOIL 11-18-2025
- Exhibit I – Email Exchange
- Exhibit J – New FOIL 11-21-2025 Return of 5820
- Exhibit L – Bob Young LLC Proposal REDACTED
- Exhibit N – Denial FOIL Appeal 12-4-2025
- Exhibit O – FOIL Appeal 12-3-2025
- ENTIRE SCANNED FILING as of 12-16-2025 (52 MB)
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FOIL Battle: Journalist Sues New Rochelle Over Flowers Park Redevelopment Bid
Flowers Park RFP – Bob Young Proposal – FOIL Litigation
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.