Staff Reports
New York Attorney General Letitia James, known more for her political vendettas than her legal acumen, has once again made headlines—this time, not targeting Donald Trump but a mobile home park in Sullivan County. Following her very public victory against the former president, which many believe was more about political theater than justice, James has decided to channel her energy into the plight of residents at River Valley Estates. However, her pursuit of restitution and punitive damages seems fitting for someone with a penchant for grandstanding.
James is demanding $2.3 million in restitution along with an additional $300,000 in punitive damages from the park’s owners, based on claims that residents are subjected to abominable living conditions and illegal rent increases. Among those residents is Gemma Beneduci, who has made headlines for her complaint about unsafe drinking water that’s driven her and neighbors to shell out a small fortune for bottled water weekly. In the same breath, they lament the lack of promised amenities, like a library and swimming pools, which—let’s face it—might be what you consider having “champagne taste on a soda budget.”
Judge ruled gave all of this to Lenda Bales ~ King Point Resort
Homeless with nothing ~ Don’t move to Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/5s3RxF0GBh— Kathy (@grannysidney) October 16, 2024
While it’s hard to believe that the living conditions of a mobile home park could rival the absurdity typically found in a Saturday Night Live skit, these folks are apparently dealing with raw sewage flooding their yards. Yes, you read that right; one resident was allegedly given a stick by a park employee to poke at the sewage as if it were some sort of DIY plumbing solution. If that’s not a great example of progressive governance, what is?
If that isn’t enough absurdity, the investigation into this living nightmare was reportedly triggered back in spring 2022, with no visible results until recently. One wonders if James’ team was too busy plotting their next attack on Trump instead of addressing real issues affecting the lives of everyday New Yorkers. One could almost argue that residents of River Valley Estates are in need of an attorney general who prioritizes their problems over political aspirations.
In an ironic twist, while James tries to divert attention with her latest lawsuit, her previous crusade against Donald Trump is encountering some skepticism from the legal establishment itself. An appeals court has raised questions about her hefty civil fraud case against the former president, leaving many to wonder if she’s losing her grip on reality—or perhaps just on actual jurisprudence. Even some judges are questioning whether it’s appropriate for an attorney general to meddle in private business transactions involving “equally sophisticated partners,” but that’s a discussion for another day, perhaps over a refreshing glass of tap water—assuming yours isn’t contaminated like the good folks in Sullivan County.
