.
Feedback

Larceny Charges Dropped Against Hirsch

The filing false instrument charges lodged against Mike Hirsch and his contracting company will be dismissed when a $59,000 fine paid.

 

Two charges of larceny, one for fourth degree Grand Larceny and one for Petty Larceny, against Mike Hirsch of New City were dropped by the New York City District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday.  Hirsch, 62, plead guilty at a New York County Supreme Court hearing to one count of offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor. He said no sentence was issued in connection with the guilty plea.

Hirsch said the big news for him was that the district attorney dropped the larceny charges. Hirsch said there was “no basis for them.”

Hirsch’s attorney Mike Galina plead guilty on behalf of his construction business, MZM Corporation, to two counts of offering a false instrument for filing on the condition that the one felony count be rescinded if the company paid a $59,000 fine within one year.  The other count was a misdemeanor charge. Hirsch said his attorney’s pleas were accepted.

His arrest in September 2012 stemmed from an investigation by New York City Department of Investigations and the city's Department of Parks and Recreation involving the Dyker Beach Junior Golf Course built for the city.

After his firm worked on the golf course project, Hirsch said discrepancies were found in the payrolls, which were corrected. The following year Hirsch said complaints about his company underpaying workers were lodged with the New York City Comptrollers Office. He said he did not know who the men were but he had to prove they did not work for him.

Hirsch said he believes the complaints were fabricated.

“I’m convinced it was somebody looking to discredit me from Clarkstown,” he asserted. “I’m convinced that somebody in Clarkstown orchestrated the whole thing or some group.”

An outspoken community activist, Hirsch founded the Clarkstown Taxpayers and called for lower taxes and reducing the size of government. He resigned from the group’s Steering Committee in October.

Hirsch, who is MZM’s president and majority partner, said their workers are nonunion.  The firm’s projects are focused on the private sector.   

Smitty Chesterfield January 17, 2013 at 11:55 am
Congrats Mike
LeftYearsAgo January 17, 2013 at 01:10 pm
He was always innocent and the charges always false! Ha!
Watchdog January 17, 2013 at 01:26 pm
It would be interesting to learn how this case developed and who was responsible for initiating it to try and destroy a good mans reputation.
Brenda M January 17, 2013 at 01:52 pm
Any contractor working in the tri-state area would say that this is the price of doing business. Keep quiet and don't talk publicly about the sins of those in political power. The news about the arrests in our area of people running the garbage business is an example of what is going on here and where DAs should be properly be spending their time. People need to look at who controls public officials from behind the scenes and who they appoint to patronage positions. Then put two and two together. If you do and point it out they will strike back. There is perhaps a lot of money to be picked up with plum jobs and a sucker taxpayer base. But if someone alerts those taxpayers then they will be attacked. One wonders if the DA had nothing better to do than to file charges that would be dismissed within a matter of months as having no basis whatsoever. Good for you, Mike, you stepped up to the plate and they threw a foul pitch. Now hit the next ball out of the park. A lot of us are cheering you from the stands! Readers go to the Clarkstown Taxpayers site and read what they have accomplished.
http://www.clarkstowntaxpayers.com
Mike Hirsch January 17, 2013 at 01:53 pm
Thanks Smitty, but I'm not celebrating. Just glad that this witchhunt is over.
Chris January 17, 2013 at 02:01 pm
If Mr. Hirsch is so innocent why would he plead guilty and agree to pay 59K?
Matt Foley January 17, 2013 at 02:06 pm
Read between the lines folks...he is not "innocent". It was a plea deal with a guilty plea to one count. That's standard "let's make a deal".
Gregg January 17, 2013 at 02:25 pm
Yet Hirsch, 62, plead guilty at a New York County Supreme Court hearing to one count of offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor.
Phil Costa January 17, 2013 at 02:43 pm
Glad it's over. Good luck in the future.
Robert Ward Kurkela January 17, 2013 at 03:02 pm
I'm with you Watchdog. Obviously politically motivated. Mike, breathe a little easier!
maureen p. January 17, 2013 at 03:04 pm
very happy for you and your lovely family!
Michael N. Hull January 17, 2013 at 03:28 pm
Hi Mike:
When one speaks truth to power they get fearful the public might listen and anyone in business can see their business dry up if the word gets out that they are not part of the 'in group'. I have heard that numerous times from people in Clarkstown, rarely from anyone in Orangetown. Clarkstown is known to be the ultimate insider Town and has a history of shenanigans. When the whole of the Town board turns up for a meeting called by a Town employee, http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2012/08/09/house-of-horrors/ http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2012/08/30/house-of-horrors-story-spooks-town-board/ votes unanimously to hire the head of the Bronx GOP to do tax work, http://www.lohud.com/article/20121221/NEWS03/312210083 and votes unanimously to create a $75,000 part time position for a County Legislator http://www.lohud.com/article/20120823/OPINION/308230035/Editorial-Clarkstown-puts-political-clout-before-all-else-hiring-Frank-Sparaco you know we are in trouble. Welcome back, Mike, to the fray!
Clarkstown life January 17, 2013 at 03:44 pm
Unfortunately, he never left as promised
Clarkstown life January 17, 2013 at 04:13 pm
Exactly!!!
Mike Hirsch January 17, 2013 at 04:34 pm
Thank you Phil, and thank you to everyone else who trusted me. I appreciate it. How many of us can say that we never broke a law that did no harm (whether or not we inhaled)?
Rhea Vogel January 17, 2013 at 06:37 pm
Over and done! Congratulations. ;-)
Pat Godfrey January 18, 2013 at 04:18 am
Yes Mike thank you for taking the courageous stand you have taken You have been a leader in Clarkstown and have been a crusader for the average citizen. It is obvious that someone in Clarkstown wanted you to be quiet so they found a way to trump up some charges to do so. Keep fighting the good fight Mike.
stephany January 18, 2013 at 04:50 am
people plead guilty to things they never did every day. the DA has to save face and you don't need them on your --- so they make a deal and it goes away and you get your life back.not that strange at all. not saying this is the case, not saying it isn't, just that it happens every day.
stephany January 18, 2013 at 04:52 am
who trusts the justice system to get it right anyway-two words-Casey Anthony
Brenda M January 18, 2013 at 01:00 pm
Stephany ..... Good point ..... This is tongue in cheek but true ......
Judge: How do you plead? Me: Your Honor, the light was orange not red. I'm pleading 'Not Guilty'. Attorney whispering: The fine is only 100 bucks. Me whispering: I'm not paying it! Attorney whispering: My retainer fee will be five thousand. Me: Whaaaaaaat? Judge: You wish to plead 'Not Guilty'? Me: No. 'Guilty', Your Honor. Judge: 100 dollars and $30 court costs. Next! Attorney: Wise plea! My fee is one thousand. Me: Whaaaaaaat?
Clarkstown life January 18, 2013 at 05:22 pm
yea.....i always pay $59,000 in fines if i didnt do it

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from New City Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Jimmy R June 14, 2013 at 05:10 pm
The first thing little Frankie wanted to know was that since he was mayor of Suffern for the day,Read More could he get his bicycle fixed at the village Department of Public Works.
Paul Williams June 16, 2013 at 08:33 am
He also wanted to know the most effective method of spying on the other kids so he could get electedRead More Class President.
Green Farmer June 13, 2013 at 01:39 pm
Why not cut out the middle man and just send the money directly to the religious schools.
Paul Williams June 16, 2013 at 08:27 am
If they reported all their income........if every other home was not owned by a "RABBI"Read More and tax free.....if they returned all the books and learning materials they "borrowed" .......ETC ETC.....Get real Weeder.
Green Farmer June 13, 2013 at 01:42 pm
It will never happen.
M. Leybra June 16, 2013 at 07:25 pm
Shouldn't be happening in the first place & "requiring" another law to stop rippingRead More off Joe Blow taxpayer for county government elite, disgusting.
Champs pose for a picture (photo by Craig Fetterman)
Kevin Zawacki (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 11:03 am
Congratulations to the Cubs!
Scott F. June 12, 2013 at 11:35 am
The boys were awesome last night and all season long, a well deserved Championship for a great groupRead More of boys
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 13, 2013 at 11:20 am
Fantastic! Just posted the photo on New City Facebook too!
Aerial of United Water's proposed water treatment plant
Tom Nimick June 11, 2013 at 09:23 pm
Mr. Pointing says that an issues conference is unusual. The unusual step is called for because thisRead More project is highly unusual; it is unprecedented. This French-owned water company wants to implement its pet technology at our expense - it makes sense for the company because the project makes lots of money. There is information available that calls into question the "definitive" studies carried out by the water company. Of course they found that their technology was the best option - what a surprise! They have not made the case that they carried out a disinterested examination of the issues in the public interest. Yes there are still issues. Also, stop threatening us with increased costs from delay. First, it does not make sense and second, you are trying to bully us into accepting your proposal. That is one more sign that something is wrong in your proposal.
John Taggart June 13, 2013 at 08:08 am
An issues conference will be a wast of time and money. So many ' issues ' have been pulled out ofRead More thin air. The people who organized against the plant will just keep saying the same thing. No amount of info will be enough, no answer will be accepted. The issues conference will be a circus of endless questions, ideas, and demands. Haverstraw bay reclassified as drinking water will better protect it, provide an endless supply of water and finally help end the stereotype of the Hudson being polluted Recommend
mike sullivan June 11, 2013 at 08:14 pm
get a life
Tom Nimick June 11, 2013 at 09:12 pm
There were no open meetings. I attended the April meeting and Mr. Lettre was directed by the TownRead More Board to return with more precise estimates and to include options for other upgrades. I have attended every meeting of the Town Board since that time and Mr. Lettre never returned in an open meeting. Mr. Borelli indicated that Mr. Lettre had addressed his concerns directly and privately. According to the Open Meetings Law, the deliberations of the Town Board are to be open and visible to the public. Private individual meetings or communications with members of the Town Board so as to avoid open deliberations flouts the intent of the Open Meetings Law. Mr. Gromack's statement of other meetings is inaccurate and, since it was specifically in response to a question about open meetings, dishonest. Mr. Borelli, shame on you for accepting a private communication and not standing by your guidance to Mr. Lettre that he was to come back to an open meeting of the Town Board.
Watchdog June 17, 2013 at 04:27 pm
Borelli and Ho -Man are in the bag for Lettre. They are not Republicans...just political hacks forRead More Lettre. RINOS.
galledeb June 10, 2013 at 10:45 am
How can I get more information? When and where are auditions?
Maddie June 10, 2013 at 04:25 pm
You can contact Pastor Robin at rdemaggio@ramapocentral.org
Tracy Urvater June 13, 2013 at 09:25 am
What are the dates of this camp?
Cicadas emerging from their 17 year slumber.
Kevin Zawacki (Editor) June 9, 2013 at 09:32 pm
Thanks for sharing, Grace! Your thoughts on their noise?
Grace Anthony Zemsky June 10, 2013 at 09:00 am
The traffic from the nearby Palisades Parkway is more of a noise nuisance than the cicada chorus.Read More (We have triple-paned windows because of it.) There is something almost musical about the hum of the cicadas. Of course, it may bother me more if I lived in the "affected area" and heard it constantly. Upon entering this nearby neighborhood, the sound crescendos. And yet, it can't be heard a couple of streets away. The drone of locusts is more bothersome than these 17 year cicadas.
Coleen Crowe June 10, 2013 at 01:30 pm
There are swarms of them at my house in upper nyack. Take a ride down Broadway in Upper Nyack nearRead More Nyack beach and they are super loud.
Linda June 8, 2013 at 10:39 am
I missed this! Is there still a way to get a signed copy? Maybe he will do another signing?
John Murphy June 11, 2013 at 08:20 am
This is the most accurate word picture of one of the tragic corollary side effects of one ofRead More humanities ' gruesome failings , which is war. Thank you Pam Sitomer for putting your writing genius to work for a noble cause.