Woodbury Man Can't Keep Dick Out of Zipper
A brief word about Local Bigot Brandon Calore and his disinformation attempt concerning a proposed debate we offered to moderate.
Howdy. This isn’t a regular post. I’m sending this out because I suspect Woodbury mayoral candidate — and current Town Councilman and local bigot — Brandon Calore will delete my Facebook comment. And it’s one I think you should take a moment to read.
At the end of the comment — and we’ll include Mr. Calore’s original post so you can see what we’re responding to — I will also share with you an email I’ve sent to the New York State Board of Elections law enforcement division. I’d like to think they’re going to take State Senator Skoufis’s Protect Monroe-Woodbury Independent Expenditure Committee seriously — especially since it’s being used to support a New York State Assemblyman’s Chief of Staff, David Rabbitts — but …
Listen. The Monroe Gazette exists explicitly because not a single person with any power in New York State government has helped the people in South Blooming Grove. (For example, is that Comptroller audit ever going to end? Or are they hoping we forget it exists?)
So I feel if I don’t publish our letter concerning Senator Skoufis’s Protect Monroe-Woodbury committee, it’s just going to be something they ignore. (Plus, if you would like to copy and paste the email to send to the New York State Board of Elections Law Enforcement Division, you could certainly use our email as a starting point to do so.)
Here’s what Mr. Calore posted. We kept everything the same except the link to his website. We have a policy not to link to anything that could be considered Nazi propoganda.
WOODBURY, NY – Councilman Brandon Calore Responds to his opponents challenge for a public debate:
"Good evening, everyone.
Recently, my opponent has challenged me to a so-called “debate,” claiming it would serve as a platform to discuss the issues that matter most to our residents. But let’s be clear: this isn’t a call for honest, productive dialogue. It’s an attempt to stage an event filled with supporters for gotcha questions, political theater, and personal attacks aimed at dismantling my character with misinformation.
Even the post announcing the debate has turned hyper-partisan, with known provocateur BJ Mendelson, someone with a track record of emotional, misleading reporting and personal smears—volunteering to moderate. This isn’t about informing the public. It’s about putting on a show.
Let me make one thing absolutely clear: I am not someone who shies away from real conversations. In fact, I’m the only candidate who has publicly laid out a clear, detailed platform on where I stand and what I intend to accomplish as mayor. That information is available to everyone at [Nope]
We need to move past the politics of distraction and division. It’s time to embrace leadership focused on unity, progress, and real results for our historic and resilient village.
If you have questions or want to know more about my vision for Woodbury, I encourage you to visit my website and use the contact form—day or night. I welcome every conversation rooted in respect and solutions.
Let’s rise together, break away from toxic politics, and lead Woodbury forward—together"
- Brandon Calore
Town Councilman
Candidate for Mayor of Woodbury
And here’s the comment I’m sure he’s going to want to delete as soon as possible. The link to Mr. Calore’s Cornwall Human Resources file — remember, he “resigned” after threatening his coworkers with conspiracies and threats of physical violence — is here.
The Monroe Gazette Replies to Local Bigot Brandon Calore
(This is the full reply. We had to cut a paragraph or two to fit it into Facebook so there’s a slight difference in the version on Mr. Calore’s Facebook Page and this one.)
Hi Mr. Calore, I see my name is in your mouth again, and since you rarely respond to emails — except that one about who's funding your campaign, which we'll return to in a moment — I wish to reply. For people with the ability to read, which apparently is not Mr. Calore, they can see that The Monroe Gazette offered to moderate a debate between yourself and the mayor IF The Photo News and other media outlets declined to do so first. We did NOT volunteer that we would host the debate just to do it. We said we would help facilitate one IF nobody else would. That's what media outlets do. And whether you like it or not, or whether your friends in the Committee to Elect Woodbury Democrats like it or not, we are one. (By the way, super interesting that they're not running a mayoral candidate and refuse to answer whether or not they're endorsing you for the November Election. But sure, your competitor this month is the "RINO" despite him running with a MAGA doofus and re-appointing another MAGA doofus to the Planning Board last month. I'm sure you've got a real good explanation for how he's the RINO. Especially given that, during Mr. Eachus's swearing in ceremony just this year, you're one of very few, Republicans pictured in attendance. That’s you standing right next to State Senator Skoufis.
Pictured Above: State Senator James G. Skoufis and Woodbury Town Councilman, Brandon Calore. Mr. Calore refuses to clarify who’s funding his campaign, insisting nobody is. But Mr. Skoufis’s Protect Monroe-Woodbury committee just sent out mailers attacking Calore’s Republican Primary opponent. It’s illegal for a candidate to coordinate with a committee such as Protect Monroe-Woodbury.
Hey, here's an idea, after you're done using a laughing emoji to reply to this comment in public, while calling Mr. Skoufis and sobbing about it in private, you can clarify to Republican voters whether or not the local Democrats intend to cross-endorse you this Fall. And if so, whether or not you would accept such an endorsement. Is Mrs. Luongo going to write another nasty email to the Republican committee if they do? I bet not!
We believe, since it was your campaign's idea to call for debate in the first place — Great idea, Elias! You're a credit to that Brown Shirt, Colin Schmidt. And thanks for NOT answering that email, by the way, about who's paying you. Despite saying you would. Love the transparency of the Calore campaign — that you should actually follow through on what you say. Or is this another situation where you want to say questionable things, and then cry when people ask you about them? For example, there was that racist comment you made about Newburgh at a Woodbury Village Board meeting. Have you ever apologized for it? Or are we left to speculate on what you meant by "I don't like the drug problem." Is every Newburgh resident a drug abuser, Mr. Calore? Given that you were arrested for battery and accused of assaulting a disabled teenager in an ice cream shop, something you would later sue the mother over to cover up, I don't know if "I don't like the drug problem" is the answer you of all people want to go with. In fact, good intermuncipal cooperation is what save taxpayer's money, something Republicans love to run on. How exactly are you going to improve intermunicipal cooperation with Newburgh, Mr. Calore? And, if the Village of Kiryas Joel wanted to sue the Village of Woodbury claiming bigotry and anti-semitism in the future, as mayor, can you explain how your previous bigoted comments won't come back to haunt Village taxpayers when they then lose that lawsuit?
Now you know why we wanted to help make this debate happen. Because you don't answer any difficult questions. You troll. And then you play the victim when someone you shouldn't have provoked pushes you back. We've seen this pattern from you repeatedly as a member of the Woodbury Town Board. (By the way, neat trick having Mr. Skoufis's Protect-Monroe Woodbury claim the Mayor was responsible for the 11% tax increase YOU voted to approve as a member of the Town Board. Say, if you're working with Mr. Skoufis and his committee, wouldn't that validate the idea that you're going to be cross-endorsed by the local Democrats for this November? Isn't that something else both the County Republicans and Woodbury Republicans would be SUPER pissed about? I'd love to hear your explanation. Especially when Mr. Skoufis's independent expenditure committee turns its attention to all of them. But wait. There's more.)
And then there were the numerous threats of physical violence you dished out to your co-workers in the Town of Cornwall, which can be viewed by anyone in the public at the link below. "Let me make one thing absolutely clear: I am not someone who shies away from real conversations." Really, Mr. Calore? Because it sure sounds like you do. (Oh and, don't get any ideas. If you delete this comment, we've gone ahead and created a PDF to show we left it and that YOU removed it because you do indeed shy away from 'real conversations.')
Now, it's our job to report on news in the community. A debate where you, Mr. Calore, are asked directly about some of your comically inept claims about failing businesses, crumbling infrastructure, and Mayor Giacozomma not being Republican enough are worthy of the time and attention it deserves. Especially since you, as mentioned, refuse to answer difficult questions. Here are some more. And since you don't like to respond to press inquiries, we're just going to leave these here in the hopes that Woodbury residents will ask you them at the next Town Board meeting. Or perhaps at your next meet and greet. Maybe a single living soul will come to that next one ...
-Mr. Calore, can you clarify whether not you are now, or have ever been, a member of the Proud Boys?
-Can you clarify whether or not you have ever attended their meetings at that local bar and grill where former employees, as well as other Woodbury residents, claim they happen? You did, after all, endorse this restaurant at a Town Board meeting previously.
-Can you explain to people how, after CIOFFI got into trouble with the Village of Woodbury Building Department, you as a CIOFFI employee or contractor — please do clarify your employment status for us, since their vehicle can be seen in your driveway — suddenly announce you're going to run for mayor.
-Did you promise to get CIOFFI out of legal trouble as part of your employment, given your role as a Town Board member and campaign to be Mayor?
-Also worth asking, since CIOFFI has a relationship with South Blooming Grove, whether or not you can clarify your relationship with Joel Stern and Isaac Ekstein? What promises, if any, did you make to them? I couldn't help but notice you try to shoot down nearly thirty acres of potential future parkland recently. Did you do that on behalf of Mr. Stern and Ekstein? We know Mr. Skoufis is super tight with both, given that Mr. Stern gave Mr. Skoufis $10,000 and Mr. Ekstein gave him $15,000 in a previous campaign.
I don't buy for a second that your campaign is self-funded either. This statement you published in this post for example, definitely doesn't sound like you. And if we're right, you could be in some legal trouble involving New York State's Election Laws.
So let us explain: This week, State Senator Skoufis, who verifiably has contacted people on your behalf in order to gather "dirt" on your political opponents, has an independent expenditure committee called Protect Monroe-Woodbury. Interesting, despite the State Senator's out reach, you are not listed as a candidate it's working to support. Despite this, these mailers came out JUST IN TIME for your upcoming Republican Primary. If you and Mr. Skoufis think Woodbury voters are dumb, and your post here vouches that you do, that's fine.
But I don't believe they are, and they can tell here that — even though committees like Protect Monroe-Woodbury CANNOT LEGALLY coordinate with candidates, it sure seems you are coordinating with Mr. Skoufis. Don't worry. We've taken this up with the New York State Board of Elections Enforcement Division. We're sharing this publicly in the event Mr. Skoufis wants to ask the do nothing Attorney General to sweep this under the rug. You know, because she's done a real bang up job for the people of South Blooming Grove. Just imagine what she'll do for the people of Woodbury during an election year for the local real estate developers interested in ACE Farm if they feel they're not going to get what they want.
Since it sounds like you've rejected the idea of an actual debate and want to cry about it — once again — on Facebook, we have some additional questions we would like to close with. So here they are:
-Are you aware it's illegal to coordinate with an Independent Expenditure Committee, such as Mr. Skoufis's Protect Monroe-Woodbury?
-Has Mr. Skoufis's Protect Monroe-Woodbury offered to fund your campaign expenditures?
-Have you utilized the services or The Parkside Group, a PR and Lobbying form the State Senator has lavished nearly $5M with since 2018, and where his former legislative aide works as their VP?
-You stated nobody is funding your campaign except you and donors. But you also said you won't be filing your campaign finance paperwork until July. Are you aware that it's illegal not to report large expenditures?
-If you have no problem having real conversations with people, then why are you waiting until AFTER the primary to disclose your campaign donors and expenditures? What's the big secret?
-Can you explain the lack of transparency concerning your campaign financing given your association with CIOFFI?
Good luck on the 24th Mr. Calore. You're going to need it. It's too bad too, because we would have absolutely run a fair, right down the middle debate too. While we aim to entertain as much as inform, we take our jobs very seriously. We cannot say the same for you.
Did State Senator Skoufis Violate New York State Election Law?
We’ve covered Mr. Mitt’s relationship with Mr. Rivera before, and that Mr. Mitts refuses to provide any financial or real estate transaction data from 2023 and 2024, despite allegations that the LLCs he manages were involved in real estate transactions facilitated by State Senator Skoufis.
This was done, we’re told, order to entice Tim Mitts to run against Dorey Houle as a Conservative in last year’s 2024 State Senate election. Mr. Mitts has also boosted David Rabbitts’s candidacy, which doesn’t exactly dissuade anyone from the notion that he’s associated with Mr. Skoufis.
We wrote the New York State Board of Elections Law Enforcement Division to investigate. Here are the two emails we sent them on Friday, merged into one. If you’d like to send a letter of your own about Protect Monroe-Woodbury, the email is: Enforcement@elections.ny.gov and we suggest you copy the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying too: investigations@ethics.ny.gov
The only thing not in this email is the name of the Chief of Staff Mr. Skoufis had an affair with, which we removed from the version of the letter presented here.
The Letter
Hello,
This complaint deals with Protect Monroe-Woodbury (FIler ID # 507034, Registered 4/8/2025), which is an independent expenditure committee created by State Senator James G. Skoufis, his Director of Operations William J. Alexander, to support Assemblyman Chris Eachus's Chief of Staff, David Rabbitts, among others. While the committee has listed most of its candidates it supports, we are writing to express concerns it is also directly supporting Mr. Brandon Calore. A Woodbury Town Board member running to be the Mayor of Woodbury, whom the Senator has a known close association with.
In the case of Mr. Rabbitts, like Mr. Calore, he is also a friend and associate of Mr. Skoufis, and was asked by him to run for the role of Town Supervisor in Monroe, New York. This request followed the spurning of Mr. Skoufis's sexual advances toward Mr. Rabbitt's primary opponent for the Democratic nomination, incumbent Town Councilwoman Maureen Richardson. Mr. Skoufis previously had an affair with his now former Chief of Staff while she was employed at his office.
After Mr. Skoufis's advances were rejected, Mr. Rabbitts began to inform the Town of Monroe Democratic Committee of his desire to run for Town Supervisor — the position Mrs. Richardson wanted to run for — and that Mr. Skoufis would cut off all state funding to the Town of Monroe if Mrs. Richardson were to be elected Supervisor. This is not an idle threat. In August of 2024, State Senator Skoufis threatened to, and did briefly, obstruct the expenditure of a state grant by refusing to speak to the Mayor of Woodbury, Andrew Giacomazza, and insisting that he only speak to Village Trustee and Deputy Mayor, Vic Ferreli, who was seeking re-election that November. At the time, Mr. Skoufis was attempting to force an unwanted merger between the Town and Village of Woodbury, and sent messages to Mr. Ferreli, among other elected officials, to pressure him into going along with his plan.
We share this with you because, as you know, it is against the law for a candidate, David Rabbitts or Brandon Calore, to directly coordinate with a committee such as Protect Monroe-Woodbury (see: E.L. 14-107,); however, the evidence is clear that such coordination is happening and ongoing. Particularly between State Senator Skoufis and Mr. Chris Eachus's Chief of Staff, David Rabbitts. For example, after his advances toward Maureen Richardson were rejected, Mr. Skoufis directly provided voice mail messages left by Councilwoman Richardson — wherein she asked Mr. Skoufis to leave her alone — to Mr. Rabbitts and placed on the ProtectMW.com website, in order to embarrass and harm Mrs. Richardson.
In addition, Protect Monroe-Woodbury has taken the following actions:
-Sent out mailers to Woodbury residents attacking Woodbury Mayor Andrew Giacomazza
-creation of a website ProtectMW [dot] com
-Run Facebook advertising, publishing voice mail messages left by Councilwoman Richardson to the State Senator, after the Senator and his team began to attack and harass her for rejecting his advances.
-Between 2018 and 2024, State Senator James G. Skoufis has paid nearly $5M in campaign expenditures to The Parkside Group, a PR AND Lobbying firm registered with New York State. The Vice President of the Parkside Group, Mrs. Alexia Holden, is Mr. Skoufis's former Legislative Aide.
Please see here The Parkside Group's NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying page.
Through the phone number used on an attack ad targeting Monroe Town Councilwoman Maureen Richardson, we were able to confirm and connect the phone number provided in the advertisement to Jorge Perez, the Digital Director of the Parkside Group.
The Parkside Group is not listed anywhere on State Senator Skoufis's Independent Expense Committee filings, nor are their services in setting up and running these ads on his behalf against Mrs. Richardson. We can only confirm the amount spent on the Facebook ad, not the consulting services, which likely far exceed the amount required for disclosure, which Mr. Skoufis has failed to provide.
We also have grave concerns involving the nature of Mr. Skoufis's relationship with The Parkside Group, given his large expenditures on their services, and the nature of their lobbying on behalf of large corporations and organizations.
We are asking the Enforcement Division of the Elections Board to explore the lack of disclosure concerning the alleged utilization of The Parkside Group's services — as well as any applicable laws concerning the relationship here between the State Senator related to the involvement of the Parkside Group in the Monroe and Woodbury June 2025 Primaries involving Mr. Calore’s opponent, Andrew Giacomazza and Mr. Rabbitts opponent, Maureen Richardson. For example, Mr. Skoufis’s Protect Monroe-Woodbury sent mailers this week to attack Mayor Giacozomma during his Republican Primary with Mr. Skoufis’s associate, Brandon Calore. The Senator has also reached out to parties in Woodbuy last month in an attempt to gather dirt on behalf of Mr. Calore.
We are also asking that the Ethics Committee (copied) investigate the nature of the relationship between The Parkside Group and Mr. Skoufis as it relates to their lobbying division, as well as the utilization of that lobbying group's PR division to attack a woman who rejected his sexual advances.
As of this writing, no expenditures have been publicly identified by Protect Monroe-Woodbury as part of its campaign finance reporting. There are also discrepancies concerning Mr. Rabbitts campaign finances, including who paid for the attorney to represent him when his ballot nominations were challenged. In the case of Mr. Calore, he told The Monroe Gazette he would only provide his campaign financials in July. Before voters would have a chance to examine them.
Given that this situation involves a State Senator and Chief of Staff of a State Assemblyman, we ask that this situation be treated with the seriousness it deserves.
We are also requesting your agency investigate these claims and inform us of the final agency determination once completed. Thank you.
We’ll catch you all Tuesday. And before you go, don’t forget to check out the latest episode of the podcast.
P.S. Does anyone else find it weird that Mr. Skoufis wanted to ban masks and make them illegal to be worn during protests, but has no problem with ICE Officers wearing masks in order to harass your fellow New Yorkers?