Ossining Election: Setting the Record Straight

Dear ,
 
As you know, I am running for the newly created position of Ossining Town Justice. Last week, during an interview with The Ossining-Croton Patch,  and then again during a speech before the Briarcliff Manor Chamber of Commerce, my opponent, Michael Tawil, stated, in substance, that the largest part of the consolidated Town Court's case load will be civil and not criminal in nature. This statement is incorrect. Mr. Tawil, who by his own admission is a civil litigator with only limited criminal experience, should have known this. This is especially true since Mr. Tawil has often stated that he was one of the legislators responsible for the court consolidation. The present Ossining Town Court already has a substantial criminal/traffic case load. (Traffic matters are not civil matters, but rather proceed according to the Criminal Procedure Law and the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Like criminal cases, they are brought in the name of the People of the State of New York and result in potential criminal penalties and fines, not civil settlements.) The caseload which is being transferred from the soon to be dissolved Ossining Village Court to the consolidated Town Court is comprised of approximately 80% criminal and traffic matters.  Mr. Tawil’s characterization of the consolidated Town Court’s caseload was disingenuous or uninformed at best.  My extensive experience as a former prosecutor, a private practice attorney handling civil and criminal matters and as a trial attorney with over 150 criminal trials to my credit is exactly the reason that I would serve the people of Ossining and Briarcliff Manor so well as a Town Justice.
 
I thought you might also want to know that since our interview, I have received the endorsement of the Village of Ossining Police Benevolent Association (PBA).
 
Very truly yours,
 
John Mangialardi