The saga of Westchester Board of Legislator staffer Anand Singh being caught soliciting sex from who he thought was a 14-year-old girl in New Jersey and the controversy of who knew when, may be coming closer to an end.
After a state Supreme Court Judge Robert J. Prisco lifted a Temporary Restraining Order issued earlier this week that stopped the Board of Legislators from voting to remove her, Westchester Board Of Legislators (BOL) Chairwoman Catherine Borgia has resigned her leadership position, Friday.
Borgia released a statement reaffirming that she believes this was politically motivated and it is a precedent that will dangerously weaken the board.
Effective today, Friday April 28, 2023, at 3:30 pm, I resigned as Chairwoman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. It has been a great honor to serve as Chairwoman and I am very proud of the work that the Board of Legislators has been able to accomplish in partnership with staff and the County Executive’s administration. Although I believe there is significant work still to be done for the people of Westchester, after today I will be doing so as a Legislator representing District 9 and not as leader of this institution until my term ends in December 2023. As was noted by the very colleagues who sought my resignation as Chairwoman, my legislative, budgetary, and personal accomplishments during my time of service on this legislature are extraordinary and cannot be erased.
I believe the events of the past days have been politically motivated and based in institutional misogyny that is all too pervasive in the brutal, reactive, and mean-spirited political world in which we all now live.
However, the past days have also included an overwhelming amount of support, encouragement, love, and well wishes; some from surprising quarters. I cannot tell you how heartened I have been to receive it. Thank you to all of you.
The action to remove a Chairwoman of the Board of Legislators is a precedent that will dangerously weaken this institution. Every Chair of this body will be seated knowing that if nine colleagues disagree with any of the myriad decisions that the position requires, he/she/ they can also be removed at any time. I’m saddened that my colleagues chose to take the path that most endangers the work of the County.
According to the rules of the board, Vice-Chair Nancy Barr will become acting chair for a maximum of 60 days. During this 60-day period, the board will vote to install a new chair for the remainder of the 2022-2023 legislative term.
The board claims Borgia knew about the allegations in late December but allowed Singh to keep working until she fired him earlier this month when OBL Global posted the video online – breaking trust with board members and staff and putting them in danger.
“It’s really important to feel we have the trust in the leader to make good decisions,” new Acting Chairwoman Barr shared.
This is actually the end of the story. Black Westchester is told a few more heads may roll, like Chief of Staff Melanie Montalto who may be terminated Monday and there is still an investigation from DA Rocah’s office on the BOL’s handling of Singh’s allegations.
Borgia will remain on the BOL and continue her duty to the district to until her term ends December 31st.
Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story!
