This State Senator Hates Old People and Fire Trucks
Monroe and Woodbury residents continue to be bombarded with deceptive advertising from State Senator Skoufis and his former Door Dash Delivery Driver. Here's our latest fact check.
Pictured Above: Isaac Ekstein (left) donated $15,000 to State Senator James G. Skoufis (right) in 2022, alongside Joel Stern, who donated $10,000. Since 2021, Ekstein and Stern have served as un-elected de facto mayors of the Village of South Blooming Grove. Mr. Ekstein, as confirmed by the FBI and Orange County, is under an open FBI investigaiton for voter fraud in the November 2020 South Blooming Grove election. The last time South Blooming Grove held an election, having “missed” both the 2024 and 2025 elections. Mr. Ekstein is pictured above shaking hands with Skoufis at the staging area for the Jennings Creek Fire in late 2024. As you’re about to read, Mr. Skoufis has sent out deceptive mailers across both Monroe and Woodbury. One of those mailers attacks incumbent Woodbury Mayor Andrew Giacomazza for increasing the tax levy in the Village. What’s not mentioned is that the Village of Woodbury’s tax levy went up specifically to pay for a new, and badly needed fire truck. To fight fires exactly like the Jennings Creek Fire.
At this point, I feel like I’ve said everything that needs to be said about State Senator James G. Skoufis’s independent expenditure committee, Protect Monroe-Woodbury.
If you’re just joining us, you can start here, but see also here, here, and here.
This post in particular, for Woodbury residents, was really popular too.
So, let’s conclude our fact check …
Because, unfortunately, Mr. Skoufisand his former Door Dash Delivery Driver, William J. Alexander, aren’t going anywhere. The Primary will end on Tuesday night. But they’ll be back for the General Election. You can bet your life on that. So, as a reminder, don’t wait until Tuesday to vote. Here’s where and how you can vote:
On Tuesday, polls will be open until 9pm.
What follows is yet another information gathering attempt by The Monroe Gazette, to ask Mr. James G. Skoufis and Mr. William J. Alexander some very direct questions concerning their behavior, and the behavior of their Independent Expenditure Committee.
Below is our email to both men. Above is a photo of Mr. Skoufis at the site of the Jennings Creek Fire last year, shaking hands with one of South Blooming Grove’s un-elected mayors, Isaac Ekstein.
Mr. Ekstein is currently under investigation by the FBI involving potential voter fraud in the last election the Village held back 2020. He and co-unelected mayor, Joel Stern, have been at the center of a white-collar crime spree dating back to January of 2021.
At no point has State Senator Skoufis exercised his powers, or even bothered to speak on, the two missed South Blooming Grove elections in 2024 and 2025. Leaving thousands of residents without elected representation, the ability to speak at meetings, any information on how their tax dollars are spent, excessive fees for garbage pickups they don’t need, and sometimes, without running water. To say nothing of the failing municipal water infrastructure under investigation by the EPA. Instead, Mr. Skoufis sends a timeline to South Blooming Grove residents detailing his declining interest in their struggles. At no point has Mr. Skoufis ever visited South Blooming Grove to speak directly to the Board or its residents.
Dear Schmucks,
I've recently completed a FOIL request from the Town of Cornwall Police Department. You should know I have also placed FOIL requests in for every police department where Mr. Skoufis has, or had, an office. Wouldn't you know it, I've already found evidence that Mr. Skoufis likes to call the police on his own constituents. That tracks. I have at least one constituent telling me that Skoufis staffers were sending her links to far right websites in order to defend the State Senator's position on his pro-Trump, and fascist, mask ban.
Mr. Skoufis, you're still a registered Democrat, right?
Mrs. Emma Fuentes also apparently likes to waste the time of the Cornwall Police Department by having them do threat assessments of the office. It's only a conspiracy when anyone says anything negative about the State Senator, but it's not a conspiracy when the voices in Mrs. Fuentes's head start to talk to her. Got it.
Good call "firing" her, Mr. Skoufis. Or did she quit? It's hard to tell. And the answer seems to change based on who you ask. Would either of you like to clarify the nature of Mrs. Emma Fuentes's departure from your office?
Mr. Skoufis, you had an affair with your former Chief of Staff. Not long after putting out a press release bragging about how your office was led all by women. Did you have an affair with Mrs. Emma Fuentes as well?
What is that, two Chief of Staffs in less than four years?
I'm sure the Democratic National Committee would love to hear how Mr. Skoufis slept with one of his Chiefs of Staff, behind the back of his wife and on the dime of taxpayers, and that the other Chief of Staff seems cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. (And maybe he slept with her too.)
After all, no sane person would allow a state senator's employee — one Mrs. Fuentes is in charge of — like Mr. Anthony Jorge, have his mother, Gloria L Delgado, challenge the ballots of a woman his boss, Mr. Skoufis, sexually harassed. That would be crazy.
And let's be clear, because Mrs. Fuentes is now telling people on Facebook that Mr. Skoufis never sexually harassed Monroe Town Councilwoman Maureen Richardson. So now, not only did Mrs. Fuentes oversee Mr. Delgado actually doing what I just described — while both collecting salaries from New York State taxpayers — but Mrs. Fuentes is also participating in covering up her boss's predatory behavior.
Mr. Skoufis, would you like to comment on your predatory behavior? Or is it just another conspiracy theory?
Would you also like to explain why Protect Monroe-Woodbury refuses to provide the appropriate context for these voice mails you provided Mr. Alexander?
Don't say I never gave you the opportunity to reply.
One more thing on Mrs. Emma Fuentes: No sane person would allow another state senator's employee, Mr. William J. Alexander, whom she also supervises, act as the treasurer for an Independent Expenditure Committee operating out of the State Senator's office, and directly coordinating with the political candidates it supports. That would be illegal.
Do you, Mr. Skoufis, believe Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Fuentes are engaged in activity, out of your office, that violates New York State Election Law?
Mr. Alexander, would you like to clarify whether or not you are coordinating with Mr. David Rabbitts on his campaign?
I couldn't help but notice someone else paid Mr. Rabbitt's legal expenses to defend his ballot signature challenges, for example. That person wouldn't have happened to be you, would it?
That's three state employees (Fuentes, Delgado, Alexander), not counting the state senator himself, engaged in a campaign of harassment and gaslighting against someone the State Senator sexually harassed for a period of almost two years.
Or about the time from where Mr. Skoufis finished having his affair with the previous Chief of Staff.
Let's move on to Mr. Little Dick Energy Himself.
Mr. Skoufis, you did not support The New York For All Act. The New York Heat Act. And the New York Health Act. All bad decisions on your part. But let's talk for a second about ICE.
I am asking you to clarify something. It's not ok for protestors to wear a mask to protect themselves from Peter Thiel and Palantir Technologies. But it is ok for ICE to wear masks and terrorize our undocumented friends and neighbors here in New York State.
Is that right, Mr. Skoufis?
Because it was your legislation that promoted the thing you absolutely refused to call a mask ban, but was in fact, a mask ban.
Isn't it interesting how you made no public statements about the murder of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in Minnesota, by a man pretending to be a police officer. Would you like to explain why?
Instead, I couldn't help but notice you've taken to bullying a victim of a school shooting, David Hogg, and accusing him — without evidence — of leaking recordings of a Democratic National Committee vote.
Do you enjoy bullying stroke victims (Mrs. Maureen Richardson) and victims of gun violence (David Hogg), Mr. Skoufis?
Or is everything a conspiracy theory unless it comes out of your mouth?
Because that assassination in Minnesota, behavior egged on by the far right publications your team sends constituents, could have been prevented had police officers, and others such as ICE agents, were required to not conceal their identities.
Just so I have this right. The world according to State Senator Skoufis:
Non-Violent Protestors? Can't wear masks.
ICE, who just arrested a New York City candidate for Mayor, harassed and detained a United States Senator, and have been rounding up New Yorkers without providing due them process? They can wear masks.
I got that right, yes?
One more thing, when running for DNC Chair, you said to Newsweek you would "allow every vendor contract to expire" and end "sweetheart deals" with well-connected consultants and firms."
The Parkside Group is a multi-million dollar lobbying and PR firm. You are spending nearly $10,000 on their services for these primary elections. You've also spent nearly $5M with them since 2018.
The Parkside Group Vice President, Alexia Holden, is your former Legislative Aide. So, please clarify:
-You're against "sweetheart deals" with well-connected consultants and firms with the Democratic National Committee, but you've spent nearly $5M on this one PR and lobbying firm. How does that track?
Given your previous relationship with Mrs. Holden — whom we hope you also haven't slept with — have you ever voted in favor of legislation brought to you by The Parkside Group's Lobbying Division?
I just thought we should clear the air on that one.
Now, Let's get to our Protect Monroe-Woodbury questions.
-The ProtectMW[dot]com website links to the following Woodbury 2023 election results.
There is no explanation provided on the ProtectMW[dot]com. It's just the Election Results.
But Woodbury residents know, upon close examination, that you are sharing this information without context to imply something deeply offensive and antisemitic.
That is "The JEWS voted for Mayor Andrew Giacomazza." Can you explain how it's appropriate for a State Senate employee, and a State Senator, to use such vile antisemitic fear mongering?
Or is it only fearmongering when literally anyone else mentions this stuff involving our Satmar brothers and sisters, that's not name James G. Skoufis?
Speaking of, some of our Satmar friends and neighbors have stated they feel bully and harassed by you, Mr. Skoufis, about voting for Mr. David Rabbitts. Would you like to address these claims?
You do know it's illegal to directly coordinate with a candidate running for office while you operate an Independent Expenditure Committee promoting that same candidate for office, right?
-I couldn't help but notice your posting on ProtectMW[dot]com, of the Cornwall Police Report, is incomplete. There is a second page missing. I have it. It states Mr. Skoufis and Mrs. Richardson were having a political argument, and that both people were shouting at each other.
Would you like to clarify why the second page of this police report was not shared with the public on your Protect MW[dot]com website? Or was your intent to imply that a police action was taken against Councilwoman Richardson, when none was? That’s what only posting the first page would suggest.
And yes, I've been in touch with the Cornwall Police Department for comment on this matter.
Just like I've been in touch with the Woodbury Police Department, involving claims from residents that you contacted them in order to gather "dirt" on behalf of Woodbury Town Councilman, Brandon Calore. Mr. Calore, a local bigot, is in a race race against Woodbury Mayor Andrew Giacomazza for the Republican ballot line. The same mayor that your Independent Expenditure Committee is sending mailers to attack.
Again, I need to ask, Mr. Skoufis, are you aware that it is illegal to directly coordinate with a candidate that your independent expenditure committee is sending out mailers on behalf of?
-Speaking of police reports, as we reported — and readers can hear the audio for themselves — Mr. Tony Cardone lied to the police. And that his and Mrs. Valerie Bitzer's Village of Monroe police report was false. After it was made, we asked the Orange County District Attorney to pursue charges against Mrs. Bitzer and Mr. Cardone for filing a phony police report against Councilwoman Richardson.
But there is their false police report on your ProtectMW[dot]com website. Despite the fact that your Chief of Staff, Emma Fuentes — the one you haven't slept with James, as far as we know — was the one who advised Mrs. Richardson to contact the Attorney General's office concerning Mr. Cardone’s behavior.
Then again, as we established, Mrs. Fuentes seems unbalanced. So I guess we can let that one slide ...
But here's our question: Can you explain why Mrs. Emma Fuentes would tell Mrs. Richardson to speak to the Attorney General about this Fake Police Report, but then you would also use that same police to smear Mrs. Richardson on your ProtectMW[dot]com website?
Yet you posted a link to The Photo-News story, without any context, saying Mrs. Richardson was barred from these events.. Do you, Mr. Skoufis and Mr. William J. Alexander, condone violence against women?
Do you condone political retaliation against women who are assaulted? Because that's what that story was about, which you again presented without any context on your ProtectMW[dot]com website.
I mean, clearly Mr. Skoufis doesn't know how to treat women. The facts speak for themselves. But again, I have to ask.
-Protect Monroe-Woodbury isn't legally allowed to coordinate with candidates. So I'm hoping one of both of you can explain Mr. Skoufis publishing an endorsement for David Rabbitts in the Photo-News this week?
-Protect Monroe-Woodbury isn't legally allowed to coordinate with candidates. So I'm also hoping you can also clarify why Mr. Skoufis was recently seen meeting with Mr. Rabbitts at a Dunkin Donuts? It wasn't about getting anything done in the State government. Because despite Mr. Rabbitts claims that he would fix the potholes on Route 17M, I'll point out that during the entirety of his time working in your office, and working in Mr. Eachus's office as the Chief of Staff, Rabbitts said or did little to anything about fixing this problem.
In fact, we’ve put in a FOIL request with the NYS Department of Transportation to verify this. Because it’s one thing to run for Town Supervisor to fix Route 17M. It’s another to literally serve as the Legislative Director of a State Senator, and then Chief of Staff for an Assemblyman, and not bother to fix it from your powerful positions in Albany.
Speaking of funding, Mr. William J. Alexander. Can you explain what happened to that $20,000 check you lost?
Because according to this Cornwall Police Report I have, you used your Mom and Dad's house to operate Mr. Skoufis's PAC to run for DNC Chair. And then you misplaced, or had stolen, a $20,000 check. Who was that $20,000 check going to?
Hey. Speaking of that $100,000 that was spent for Mr. Skoufis to run for DNC Chair, we spoke with the NYS Board of Elections. They told us that Mr. Skoufis could utilize his money to help local not-for-profits. So I couldn't help but notice .... Around the same time Museum Village said it was facing financial difficulty, Mr. Skoufis had around $4M in his campaign bank account. Mr. Skoufis, instead of helping Museum Village out, you decided to run for DNC Chair instead.
Would you like to explain to Southern Orange County residents why you couldn't spend some of that $4M to help keep Museum Village open? Legally, you were able to do so.
-We recently saw mailers go out claiming it was somehow Councilwoman Richardson's fault for the Monroe Tax Hike. But I couldn't help but notice you left out that she had provided statements sharing her concerns about the budget, and that the Monroe Town Board has a 3-2 Republican Majority.
So, her vote wouldn't have made a difference. Given the facts, Can either of you explain how Mrs. Richardson could have stopped this budget form being approved? I mean, that's what your mailer implies, right?
Do you find Missing Women funny, Mr. Skoufis? Because putting a young white woman on a milk carton has a certain connotation. Many women and children go missing right here in New York every year.
Can you point to any legislation you've passed, as a state senator, to better protect these missing women and children?
Or are missing women best used as political props when you can't sleep with them?
-Mrs. Cristina Brueck Kiesel either doesn't actually own a not-for-profit, or does and just broke NYS law. Yet she's featured on your ProtectMW[dot]com website. Given the fact that Mr. Isaac Ekstein is under an open FBI investigation. Mr. Skoufis, do you like to associate with alleged criminals?
In Mrs. Kiesel's case, her alleged not-for-profit is promoting Mr Skoufis's chosen candidates, David Rabbitts, Brandon Bernard, and Paul Phelan. This is something not-for-profits are legally forbidden to do. Assuming of course, that Mrs. Christina Kiesel's not-for-profit actually exists, and that she wasn't just pocketing money she claimed to be raising for the Village of Monroe. (Mrs. Kiesel has not replied to questions concerning her not-for-profit.)
Pictured Above: Zak Constantine, head of the Orange County Democratic Committee, State Senator Skoufis, Peggy Kazdan, Cristina Brueck Kiesel, and Bill Kazdan. We’ll have an upcoming story about the Kazdans and their gaslighting campaign against Councilwoman Maureen Richardson soon. This photo was taken in March of this year, before Mrs. Kiesel turned herself into a spectacle at a Monroe Town Board meeting.
Mr. Skoufis, did you donate any money to Mrs. Kiesel's alleged not-for-profit organization to promote Mr. Bernard, Mr. Phelan, and Mr. Rabbitts?
Did you donate any money to this alleged not-for-profit to have Mrs. Kiesel publicly attack Councilwoman Richardson at a town board meeting, in order to create content for your website?
Is it your position, and the position of Protect Monroe-Woodbury, to take the word of alleged criminals over your constituents?
On the Woodbury front, you pointed out that the Woodbury Village tax levy went up last year. But you didn't mention why. It was to pay for a fire truck that was delivered two years ahead of schedule.
You also didn't mention that there was a massive forest fire that Woodbury sent first responders to at the end of last year. Interesting because Mr. Skoufis was at the Jennings Creek Fire staging area. He even took a prom photo with Supervisor Luciani in Woodbury and posed for a photo with Isaac Ekstein.
So I have to ask, does Mr. Skoufis have a problem with fire trucks and first responders? Would you have preferred Woodbury not received this fire truck? That was certainly the position of Trustee James Freiband, who often repeats your talking points for you at Woodbury Village Board meetings.
Can you clarify how not having the fire truck would be better than your scaremongering statements about the tax levy increase?
Mr. Skoufis, what legislation can you point to, that you introduced, that would finally get our brave men and women who fight fires and serve as EMS get paid?
-Mr. William J. Alexander, you registered the organization to be called Protect Orange County, and then got slapped down by the real Protect Orange County.
You then changed the name to Protect Monroe-Woodbury. The School district just reaffirmed it is an apolitical organization that doesn't support any candidates. Did you, or Mr. Skoufis, speak with someone at the school district about the use of their name in your advertising?
Would you like to clarify if you chose the Monroe-Woodbury name to imply, or otherwise trick parents, into thinking you are speaking on behalf of the school district?
If you receive a cease and desist letter from the school district, will you change the name of your group, or like that $20,000 Skoufis for DNC check, will that somehow get lost in the mail too?
-It was revealed during an Orange County Sewer District Advisory Committee meeting that Mr. Skoufis made a call to OC Legislative Chair, Kevin Hines, at 8:30 at night during budget negotiations.
[Note to readers: You can see Mr. Hines tell this story at 1:01:49 in the above video.]
Skoufis said in the call, to Mr. Hines, to get whatever paperwork he could about OCSD1 that night to see if the sewer plant can be squeezed into the budget.
Mr. Hines and his team did so. This whole story, by the way, is in the video from an OCSD1 Advisory Meeting.
Mr. Skoufis, according to Mr. Hines, said he could get money for the sewer district. A few days later, Mr. Skoufis called Mr. Hines and said he couldn't get ANY money for the Sewer plant expansion and upgrade. So what happened?
Mr. Skoufis, are you ok with sticking Monroe residents with a potential $1,100 a year bill? Because that's what will happen if you fail to secure any grants or funding for this project.
(The cost, according to Orange County, with grants would be closer to $850 per year. So just so we're clear, ProtectMW[dot]com is running around scaremongering about tax increases, but you, Mr. Skoufis, can't seem to be bothered to put any effort into stopping a legitimate thousand dollar increase in every Monroe and Kiryas Joel resident's bill. To say nothing of potential financial impacts on surrounding communities, such as Woodbury.)
I also couldn't help but notice that, while Orange County REFUSES to make Woodbury Common — a prime beneficiary of the sewer expansion and upgrade — pay more for the infrastructure improvements, you've said NOTHING.
Is this like the Madison Square Garden situation? Because I've seen you talk a big game about stopping Amazon warehouses in Wawayanda and their potential tax breaks. But you've also taken money from Madison Square Garden to allow their annual $40M+ New York City tax break to continue.
Mr. Skoufis, can you explain why you took money from Madison Square Garden to help continue their fleecing of New York City residents? Because it sure seems like you're only out to get Amazon because they haven't given you any money.
And even then, you couldn't be bothered to actually show up and speak out about those warehouses and tax breaks. You sent an employee. I presume she’s not yet engaged in attacking your political enemies. Since at least three of your employees are currently engaged in doing so. (Let’s hope you’re not sleeping with her either.)
Can you explain, Mr. Skoufis, how you knew about the sewer plant expansion and upgrade for at least a year, and called Mr. Hines at the last minute to get you paperwork for it? Or are you too busy sleeping with your employees to actually do your job?
Oh, right. Where are my manners. I have one last question. It's about the Senior Housing in Woodbury. Of course. How rude of me. We have a lot of seniors in Woodbury who read The Monroe Gazette, and I'd hate for them to feel left out. So I need to ask:
Mr. Skoufis, your Protect Monroe-Woodbury website, again without context, explains that the Village changed its zoning to allow Senior Housing. Do you have a problem with senior citizens?
I mean, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are under direct threat from the MAGA Murder Bill currently in Congress. And I couldn't help but notice you don't support the New York Health Act. So would you clarify what your problem is with our elderly friends and neighbors? You don't support the New York Health Act, why exactly?
Don’t you want our seniors to continue to have access to high-quality medical coverage?
And your ProtectMW[dot]com website also has a problem with Senior housing — whom, like any group in America right now, are facing a housing crisis — why exactly?
Because from this email, I've gathered that Mr. Skoufis, Mr. William J. Alexander, Mrs. Fuentes, and other Skoufis employees don't think much of women, the elderly, the Jewish community, and fire trucks.
But hey. I bet you never thought anyone would connect you to Protect Monroe-Woodbury either. Yet here we are.
P.S. I'm sure there are typos in here in this email, but I don't care enough about either of you to fix them. I just legally have to ask these questions, and give you a chance to answer. Consider that obligation fulfilled, and let your attorneys know that I did so. :-)
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