RyeCity REVIEW THE
November 6, 2020 | Vol. 8, Number 45 | www.ryecityreview.com
Gaynor held in contempt over sex abuse lawsuits
WARNING!
By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor
The Westchester County Health Department recognized the recent National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week as an opportunity to promote awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to lead. For more, see page 6.
Åsmund Gimre
County announces $1.27M in CARES Act funding for remote learning At the New Rochelle YMCA, Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced $1.27 million in CARES Act funding awarded to remote learning centers throughout Westchester. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latimer has recognized the critical need for children to have a safe place to learn and be cared for, with many school districts transitioning to online learning and parents returning to work. Westchester County was able to create a program using federal funding through the CARES Act, at no cost to county taxpayers, which allows students to continue their education at remote learning centers throughout Westchester. “As we continue to manage the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, our children, and their education, will always remain a top priority,” Latimer said. “Students need to be able to continue their schooling whether it be in person or remote, and parents need to be able to return to work to maintain essential services, and help our local economy bounce back. I want to thank our federal delegation partners for understanding the importance of programs like these, to help the County get back on its feet again.” The federal funding was awarded based on applications that were submitted, and the online learning centers are affiliated with either a school district, municipality or non-profit. The funding will last through the end of 2020, with the
hope that additional federal legislation will be enacted to continue these programs into 2021. The agencies that received a portion of the $1.27 million in CARES Act funding are as follows: • F amily Services of Westchester, Inc., White Plains • Town of Greenburgh Department of Community Resources/ TDYCC, Greenburgh • The Guidance Center of Westchester, Inc., New Rochelle • New Rochelle YMCA, New Rochelle • Hudson River Museum of Westchester, Yonkers • YMCA of Yonkers, Inc., Yonkers • YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester, White Plains • YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester (Camp Combe), Ossining, Somers, Yorktown
• Lakeland Children’s Center, Yorktown Heights • Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester, Mount Kisco • Healthy Kids Extended Day Program, Inc., Harrison, Peekskill, Yonkers • Young Men’s Christian Association of Rye, Rye YMCA, Rye • Ossining Union Free School District, Ossining • Danielle’s Helping Hands, Pelham • T own of Lewisboro Parks and Recreation Department, Lewisboro Westchester County has ensured that each program meets the required health and safety protocols, sufficient staffing ratios, and adequate connectivity for effective online learning. The programs have been tailored to meet the needs of each local community. (Submitted)
After twice announcing his refusal to appear for a deposition, Edwin Gaynor has been held in contempt of court and may be forcibly compelled to comply with a judge’s request, records show. On Oct. 20, New York State Supreme Court Associate Justice Steven M. Jaeger ruled that Gaynor, 86, was in violation of court orders after the former catholic school teacher and coach declined to speak under oath about the litany of sexual assault claims that have been made against him. “The court finds that Plaintiff has satisfied the elements necessary to establish contempt of court,” Jaeger wrote. “Gaynor has not set forth in his letters or statements any reasonable excuse for failing to appear before deposition.” Since last November, 26 accusers have come forward with allegations that Gaynor used his position as a teacher and coach at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Scarsdale—as well as at other local parishes including St. Bernard’s in White Plains and Holy Rosary in Hawthorne—to molest underage male students beginning in1959 and continuing through 1986. The lawsuits also name these schools, as well as the Archdiocese of New York, as co-defendants for their refusal to act on credible evidence of Gaynor’s misdeeds which allowed the pattern of alleged abuse to continue, unchecked, for decades. In handwritten letters sent in 2019 to the law firm Lowey Dannenberg P.C.— which represents all but one of Gaynor’s accusers—Gaynor admitted to molesting two of the accusers by name. But attempts by the court to compel a deposition of Gaynor have been unsuccessful, however.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs had initially filed a motion to depose Gaynor on March 9, but the motion was opposed by counsel for the Archdiocese, who sought relief due to the developing COVID-19 pandemic. On June 25, the court ordered that Gaynor’s rescheduled deposition take place no later than Aug. 7. Court records show that Gaynor was subpoenaed on July 2 but he advised the agent who served him with a subpoena that he did not intend to comply with the order. Counsel for the plaintiffs received another letter from Gaynor on Aug. 5 that confirmed his refusal to be deposed, citing that his age and poor health prevented him from doing so. Gaynor’s refusal to appear— either in person or remotely— prompted lawyers for the plaintiffs to petition the court for a contempt charge, as they requested that Gaynor be placed in police custody or confined until he completed his deposition. Despite ruling that Gaynor should be held in contempt, Jaeger declined to order that Gaynor be taken into custody, given the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. “The Court is not now prepared on whether to impose a fine or commit Gaynor to jail until he agrees to comply,” he wrote. “Given Gaynor’s age, and his claimed physical ailments, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Court seeks further detailed information from Plaintiff as to how to satisfy the Court Plaintiff’s request for relief.” Jaeger further ordered that counsel for both sides must consult with the Westchester County Sheriff’s office in order to ensure that Gaynor’s deposition can be safely implemented. The ruling has given a deadline of Nov. 9 for such an agreement to be reached. CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com