Police visits spark anger in Pelham Manor

Residents of Pelham Manor reacted with visible frustration Monday after learning that police officers had knocked on the doors of 16 households to verify voter residency. The investigation stems from a complaint filed by Mark Cardwell, a former mayoral candidate, with the Westchester County Board of Elections.

Lisa Argento, who has lived in the village almost her entire life, said armed officers visited her home in October to ask if her daughter lived there. She described the experience as terrifying and said she was still shaken when officers returned on October 23 to question her son's residency status. Argento questioned the legal basis of the affidavit Cardwell submitted, which claimed he had personal knowledge that her son did not live at the address.

Cindy Courtien, another lifelong resident, said officers visited her home on Friday to check on her daughter. She expressed confusion over Cardwell's affidavit, which cited her daughter's social media as evidence of non-residence. Courtien stated that Cardwell did not know her family and called the process disgusting.

Cardwell confirmed in a statement that he acted alone in initiating the checks, distancing himself from a small group of Democrats who also filed complaints. A group of Democrats issued a statement Monday afternoon saying they had nothing to do with the effort.

Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey apologized to Argento and suggested the family might have legal rights to question the investigation. Trustee Maurice Owen-Michaane, who is stepping down at the end of his term, called the probe a coordinated effort by a small group of agitators. He labeled the actions voter intimidation and suppression.

Sylvia Rowe noted that every person visited by officers was either an independent, a non-affiliated voter, or a registered Republican. She highlighted that Cardwell had run on the same ticket as Trustee Deborah Winstead in the previous election. Winstead was absent from the Monday meeting. Rowe said Winstead should address the residents directly about the conduct of her former running mate.

One claim in the investigation proved accurate. Cardwell filed an affidavit on October 16 questioning the voter registration of Paolo Berti, stating he did not live at his listed address. Berti died in early September at the age of 85. His wife confirmed to police that he no longer resided there, prompting Rowe to call the visit shameful.