水果派AV

The two sat down with 水果派AV in the restaurant's dining room Wednesday.聽Mastropietro, whose personality shined as he spiraled through family tangents, wore a vibrant blue and pink flamingo shirt. He's currently 90% retired, he said. Jordan was more subdued, sitting quietly in a black T-shirt but smiling often.

Though it may not have appeared so, the two have much in common. They grew up in Auburn, and learned about the restaurant industry through hands-on experience. While Mastropietro attended the聽Culinary Institute of America and worked up and down the East Coast, Jordan has been at Michael's since he was 7.

'Never let quality suffer'

Entering Michael's Restaurant, the Italian bistro-style dining area greets patrons with dressed tables. A decorated white Christmas tree sits in the back corner next to a portrait of Frank Sinatra.

The pi猫ce de r茅sistance, a self-playing piano, sits in the middle of the room.

The restaurant evolved from casual to upscale in an unintentional way, Mastropietro said. All he wanted was to keep the atmosphere comfortable and provide first-class service and food.

"Never let quality suffer," he said.

Once, though, a bell would ring when customers walked through the door. That's because Michael's opened as a grocery store in 1922. It was run by the Mastropietro's great-uncle Michael (his grandfather's brother) and his aunt Adeline. Unable to speak English fluently, she would sketch pictures of customers on receipts so Michael knew whose tab to add them to.

The store sold essentials for the home, from dry goods and produce to toilet paper. During Prohibition, its basement was a place to buy whiskey.

After the law was repealed, the store was renovated into Michael's Restaurant. A porch was converted into the barroom a few years later.

In September 1987, Mastropietro bought the business from his cousin Frank, Michael and Adeline's son. He then began updating the look of the restaurant into what it is today.聽

Mangia!

Before running the family business, Mastropietro wore many hats in the restaurant industry. He created menus for major racing events in Watkins Glen, and pulled double-duty as manager and chef at Seneca Falls Golf Club in his early 20s. A self-proclaimed car fanatic, he once worked for聽Alfa Romeo, but his love of cuisine drove him back to the kitchen.

Mastropietro also worked under Clara Portello at Italia Rex, which preceded Lasca's Restaurant on Grant Avenue.

"She was more or less my mentor. A very knowledgeable woman," he said. "I use some of her (recipes) now, like shrimp scampi. I've never changed it."

He shared the same sentiment about his great uncle and aunt, noting that many of their recipes are still used today at Michael's. He complimented Adeline's braciola, a steak roll filled with meat, cheese and red sauce. He takes pride in the sauce, as well as the Italian salad dressing and his specialty, veal. He sources locally when he can, and previously used Indelicato's Meat Market.

One of the most asked-about dishes at the restaurant is the greens and beans, Mastropietro said.

"It's Depression food," he said, "but it took years to perfect (what I serve now)."

There's also the Duffy Pasta, an alternative take on chicken riggies served with quartered meatballs, homemade red sauce, basil, parsley and garlic. Duffy's Better Than Anyone's Best Salad is a double salad with iceberg and Romaine, red onion, Prosciutto, Asiago cheese and a special dressing. It comes with a bruschetta toast garnish.

"I had to call it that," Mastropietro said, laughing. "Otherwise no one would be talking about it."

The word "no" rarely comes out of the chef's mouth. He wants to satisfy his customers, he said, and keep them coming back. Staying flexible is crucial.

"Do more listening than talking," he said. 鈥淚f there鈥檚 something you wanted but it wasn't on the menu, we鈥檇 accommodate, if we have the ingredients for it."

Passing the apron

Now, Mastropietro is in his early 70s.

"It feels like I鈥檝e had three lifetimes here. It鈥檚 quite a haul," he said. "You don鈥檛 think about it until you think about it.鈥�

Though softer-spoken than his predecessor, Jordan said he's excited to take on the responsibility of running Michael's.

While reminiscing Mastropietro often looked over at his successor who, 30 years later, is still by his side.

"He鈥檇 present checks with a couple of pieces of candy. He鈥檇 say, 鈥楬ere鈥檚 your check. Thank you,' in his little, high voice," he said.

"(Jordan) would be dressed up in black pants with a shirt and tie and would come back to the kitchen with tips."

Jordan's 6-year-old daughter is now taking on that role, he said. He hopes to add more light daily specials to the menu, like sandwiches, and promises to continue Michael's tradition of surprises. They range from free appetizers and desserts to spontaneous multiple-course meals. During COVID-19, the restaurant included coveted items like toilet paper and hand sanitizer with takeout orders.

"You have to go above and beyond to stand out," he said.聽

As Jordan takes over, however, customers will still see Mastropietro around the restaurant, completing the last 10% of his retirement.聽

When it comes time to cook, he said, count him in. That's when he's having the most fun.

"If it doesn鈥檛 come from the heart, you鈥檙e done," he said. "When you鈥檙e heart鈥檚 in it, it鈥檚 easy."

The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital, police said. The excavator was being used in the nearby Seward House Museum's $2.8 million effort to renovate its barn and carriage house.

Traffic was momentarily blocked on South Street while the excavator was raised.

The records also show that the BID board hired a consultant to investigate the complaints against DeVito last October, weeks before she was聽elected to the county Legislature.

The complaints accuse her of creating a toxic work environment that caused two colleagues anxiety and led another to resign from the board; working as few as three to five hours a week in her office; using her position to advance her campaign for Legislature and personal interests; and聽spending BID funds at her discretion, without transparency or accountability.

The investigation corroborated many of the accusations, leading the board to place DeVito on a performance improvement plan in December. She resigned after the board's personnel committee filed a February report concluding she had not satisfactorily followed the plan. The report recommended either continuing the plan with more conditions, or terminating her.

水果派AV obtained the records of DeVito's employment as a result of a lawsuit the newspaper filed against the BID.

Word of a complaint against DeVito, reportedly discriminatory in nature, was first received by 水果派AV in the fall. Subsequent Freedom of Information Law requests were denied by the聽BID, which said the law does not apply to it because it is not a government organization. 水果派AV sued for a determination that it is one, and the聽BID conceded as much during negotiations.

In a statement emailed to 水果派AV, DeVito responded to the complaints by saying, "These opinions of a select few are exactly that."

She went on to call the complaints a "witch hunt" to attack her "squeaky clean" record because she was running for Legislature.

"This was all politically motivated to protect special interests and true conflicts of interest that were occurring that had nothing to do with me!" she said. "I was the sacrificial lamb!"

'Relationships have been abused'

DeVito was hired as executive director of the BID in 2015, coming to the organization from economic development nonprofit Cayuga Strategic Solutions.

The BID, which from downtown Auburn property owners, produces events there and works to enhance it聽aesthetically and economically. Since 2018 the organization's offices have been located at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, where its staff shares space and often works together with the staffs of the center and the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.聽

Last spring, three of those colleagues submitted complaints about DeVito to BID board President Dawn Schulz. Two, whose identities were redacted, described a pattern of bullying that dated back years.聽

Each colleague said the executive director told them she has "eyes outside the office" and "little birds that report back to her," according to the investigation report filed by GTM HR Consulting. DeVito told one of the colleagues she saw them dancing with another person at a local bar, and told the other where they went to lunch. One colleague called the remarks "creepy."聽

DeVito also made comments about the clothing worn by her colleagues, once saying a sweater one of them wore was see-through despite it not appearing to be.

Both colleagues said such remarks took a toll on their mental health.

"To be completely transparent, due to the ongoing toxic dynamic with Stephanie, I have personally suffered work-related mental anguish and anxiety for 5+ years," one said in their complaint.聽"I've been treated unfairly, bullied, talked down to, undermined and micromanaged. ... Relationships have been abused and broken with other BID staff (and) tourism office staff."

One example of that micromanagement, the colleague said, concerned the metallic hand sculpture recently unveiled outside Bambino's Pizza聽on South Street. The business owner voiced his unhappiness about the sculpture to DeVito, so she attempted to have it paused even though it had been approved by the city's Public Arts Commission and she had no such authority.

GTM's report determined, "It is more likely than not that the executive director did engage in mistreatment (or disrespect) of Auburn BID employees." The report noted the investigator personally witnessed DeVito make comments about a colleague dressing "sloppy" and having "issues with drugs and alcohol." She shared a story about two colleagues attending a party as well.

DeVito responded to 水果派AV, "I have never bullied anyone and as a matter of fact I am known for the opposite. I am known for the encourager, motivator, optimist and leader that makes a team shine and not herself! ... If anyone has been bullied it has been myself, however I never complained about it or looked at it in that fashion at the time as I don鈥檛 look to place blame or make accusations."聽

The amount of time DeVito spent in her office was another subject of the complaints by her colleagues.聽

One colleague estimated the executive director spent three to five hours a week there, and did not offer to help with BID events like its Memorial Day Food Truck Rodeo and Music on the Mall summer concert series. DeVito didn't even attend several of those events, the colleague added. When the colleague said this to her, she responded, "You don't need me."聽

The other colleague said DeVito was "not pulling her weight." When she attended meetings, she was distracted by her phone and left early. The executive director was just as elusive by phone, not listening to voicemails nor returning calls promptly, including ones from downtown property owners. At the time of GTM's report, it said, she had more than 99 voicemails.

DeVito, who made a salary of $58,500 a year as executive director, said she worked most of her hours outside the office, meeting with Auburn officials and property and business owners. She cited her seat on the boards of other community organizations, such as the Booker T. Washington Community Center, United Way of Cayuga County and Auburn YMCA-WEIU.

"My position was a community-driven position," she told 水果派AV. "I was (always) engaging in partnerships, representing on boards with community organizations to help grow our downtown."聽

GTM concluded that while "it cannot be corroborated that the executive director is not dedicating her resources to fulfilling the duties of her position," she was "absent."

"Staff feel as though they are taking on many of the executive director responsibilities," it said. "However, this may be attributed to the lack of communication, collaboration, oversight and leadership."

Conflicts and costs

DeVito became even less engaged in her responsibilities as executive director of the BID after she announced her candidacy for Cayuga County Legislature in December 2022, her colleagues said.

They accused her of making BID decisions for political gain as well. One colleague said DeVito tried to pause the South Street sculpture to "draw attention to herself as the 'protector/savior'" of Auburn.

In its report, GTM determined DeVito violated BID policy by not obtaining the board's permission to run for office. The consultant also corroborated that she spent three work hours on Monday, Oct. 30, at the county Democratic committee's headquarters, and that campaign meetings and photo shoots took place at her Equal Rights Heritage Center office during work hours.

Arguing that her campaign for Legislature did not create a conflict of interest, DeVito provided 水果派AV with a copy of a letter from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. It said the Hatch Act 鈥� which restricts employees of federally funded government agencies from certain political activities 鈥� does not apply to her because the BID does not receive such funding.聽

GTM looked into another potential conflict of interest between DeVito and Brian Muldrow, a fellow county legislator and former member of the BID board.

According to the investigation report, last spring the executive director attempted to donate $3,000 to聽a microloan program of Muldrow's聽Minority Professional Association. The board's diversity, equity and inclusion committee discussed and declined to approve the donation, but DeVito later asked a colleague to sign a blank check that she used to send the money anyway.

When confronted by the other committee members, the report said, DeVito and Muldrow told them the donation had been approved.

Muldrow told 水果派AV this week he doesn't remember the committee declining the donation, and said he was unaware DeVito asked for a blank check to make it.

"I would never have accepted a check that was voted down," he said. "I don't want $3,000 that bad."

The donation violated BID policy, which doesn't allow the executive director to issue checks of more than $2,500 without board permission. DeVito said she thought the limit was $3,000. As soon as Muldrow learned of the violation, he said, he offered to return the check with three months of interest. The only people who stood to gain from the money, he added, were young entrepreneurs.

The check was one of many concerns raised by the third colleague to complain about DeVito to the BID board last year,聽Cayuga County Office of Tourism Director of Marketing & Sales Claire Dunlap. She was a member of the board and its DEI committee until resigning in June after being "personally bullied and attacked" by DeVito and Muldrow, she said in her resignation email.

"I am no longer comfortable being a part of this organization," she said.

Dunlap said they targeted her "integrity, intentions and as a person." The GTM report said that prior to her resignation, she told Muldrow at an executive board meeting that he had no business being there, as he was not a member of it. He and DeVito subsequently "attacked" Dunlap and accused her of "having conversations outside of the board" and its committees.

Asked about Dunlap's accusations, Muldrow told 水果派AV that around that time she had called him, "very aggressively," and asked him what DeVito was doing with her time and the status of various BID programs. He also recalled a disagreement between them about the merits of DEI training for downtown business owners, which she supported and he opposed.

"I said you can't just go in and train people how to behave," he said.

"There was tension galore," continued Muldrow, who would leave the BID board in December. "I just didn't want to be a part of it because it was so messy."聽

Dunlap went on to tell Muldrow he was too "event-focused," he said, something she repeated in her complaint to the board.

Instead of doing DEI work, she said, the committee was simply informed of decisions about BID events that had already been made by DeVito and Muldrow. Those events included last summer's聽Chicken Wing Festival, which聽had barely been mentioned to the committee when a press release was distributed saying it was the organizer, Dunlap said.聽

Another colleague agreed that DeVito and Muldrow operated "in a bubble of their own," causing distractions and disruptions. He communicated for her so often, the complaint continued, that it seemed like the BID had two executive directors. After DeVito聽postponed the festival from June 24 to Aug. 5, Muldrow broke the news to other board members in an email.

"The DEI board is questioning every step of this event," he said. "I think we need to balance the board with more like-minded people."

GTM concluded that the festival did not align with the goals of the DEI committee, which "lacks clear guidance and processes."

The consultant also determined the "extremely close" relationship between Muldrow and DeVito was a conflict of interest for him, but not for her. He gained personally from it, GTM continued, through the $3,000 check that he'd later return. No gain for her could be found. Still, his many business interests downtown did make that relationship "cause for future concern."

Conflicts of interest were one of the causes of DeVito's financial mismanagement of BID, her colleagues said.

They accused her of regularly聽moving budget line items "to accommodate an outside organization where there may not be aligned with the best interest of the BID or (Equal Rights Heritage Center)," as well as聽presenting inaccurate financial information to the board and running the BID unsustainably, leaving it no money for events or cost-of-living raises for staff last year.

Examples of DeVito's mismanagement in GTM's investigation report include paying interest on a loan out of the wrong account, which required significant time to fix, and suggesting the use of $1,800 from the BID's office supply budget to pay for a Juneteenth speaker. A colleague said their objections to the latter were dismissed, but the money was later taken from the events budget.聽

"Problematic" as it was that interest was paid from the wrong account, GTM said, that didn't rise to the level of misconduct or financial mismanagement. Nor did DeVito's attempt to use office supply funds to pay for the Juneteenth speaker. Such decisions can be made at the discretion of the executive director so long as they aren't unlawful or against BID policy, the consultant added.聽

Clearer misconduct took place with payroll, GTM said. BID and Equal Rights Heritage Center employees were not provided wage statements, and non-salaried employees were not paid for all the hours they worked. DeVito, who told the consultant that the organization had no compensatory time policy, was deemed responsible for these violations of state and federal labor law.

In response to the accusations of financial mismanagement, DeVito told 水果派AV she was "always fiscally responsible" and all her decisions were checked by the bookkeeper and approved by the board.

'Further action is needed'

After its investigation, GTM recommended that the BID board review its policies, create a personnel committee and place DeVito on a performance improvement plan.

"It is evident that her leadership skills are lacking," the consultant said in a Nov. 3 report. "She may spend a majority of her time engaging in outside activities (serving on boards, meeting with community members, partnering with downtown businesses), however, she lacks in the management aspect of the role. ... In addition, she is disrespectful and acts superior."

DeVito told 水果派AV she never received copies of GTM's reports from the board despite multiple requests.聽

The performance improvement plan, which DeVito did receive, addressed most of the complaints about her. She was required to obtain approval for any personnel decisions or expenditures, regardless of amount, and to work full-time at the Equal Rights Heritage Center. She was also required to provide the board details on her work as a Cayuga County legislator.

In a February progress report on the plan, the personnel committee said its execution was "prolonged due to what appeared to be insubordination and a lack of sense of urgency by (DeVito)."聽

The committee reported another potential conflict of interest as well, concerning The Atrium on Genesee multipurpose development in the former KeyBank downtown. After DeVito said she was showing it to prospective tenants, the committee suggested she be investigated for possible receipt of a stipend from a third party. The project is a partnership between Muldrow and a Yonkers developer.

DeVito told 水果派AV she "never received a penny" for her work with the development.

The committee went on to note continued failures by DeVito to comply with payroll and other human resources policies. It added that the BID's employee handbook had not been reviewed in years, which was the executive director's responsibility. Overall, the committee "provided multiple opportunities to (her) for discussion that were not taken advantage of," it said.

For those reasons, the committee recommended the BID board either continue DeVito's performance improvement plan with several new conditions, or terminate her.聽

"Further action is needed to ensure the integrity of the BID and protect not only the (board) but most importantly their employees," the committee said.

DeVito resigned the following month. At the time, she told 水果派AV she wanted to pursue new opportunities "that are more aligned with my career for the future." Her resignation letter, and terms, were not available in the employment records provided by the BID. A subsequent Freedom of Information Law request seeking access to them has been filed.聽

BID Assistant Director Jesse Kline has been leading the organization since DeVito's departure.

In her statement, DeVito said she remains committed to her work as a community leader and Cayuga County legislator.

"I stand proud of who I am and the work I have done and continue to do and I can have peace knowing the truth of what has truly transpired," she continued. "I am a warrior and will always prevail!"

"It's not practical to run a one-price-point store," Seamans told 水果派AV.

The corporate dollar store chains he competes with are now "mini department stores," he said, with prices anywhere from $1.25 to more than $7. To survive, he'd have to change his business model.

The morning of the final day of Real Deals, once-filled aisles were practically barren. Shoppers of all ages were scouring the 90% discounts 鈥� but also saying goodbye.

"Don't cry," one voice said at a checkout station. "I wish you the best," said another.

Seamans has been planning to close his 11 stores for years, and customers saw it coming. Additional locations included Baldwinsville, Seneca Falls, Cortland, Lyons, North Syracuse, Fulton, Pulaski, Norwich and Watertown. In early 2023, half of them closed at a rate of one a month. Seamans paused in September for the holiday season, but resumed in February.聽

"When customers started coming in asking questions, that's when (the closing) began to set in," Real Deals manager Theresa Coff told 水果派AV. She's been with the Sennett store since 2016.聽

Coff said the locally owned chain had built such a following that customers from those other locations started to support the Sennett one after theirs closed.聽

That connection, along with higher quality products, is what makes Real Deals different from a typical dollar store, Coff said.聽

Before opening the chain's flagship location in Grant Avenue Plaza in 1997, Seamans wholesaled goods to other discount stores. Many came from store closures, liquidations and auctions.

Through auctions he met Fred Hutchins, cofounder of Real Deals, who died in 2019.

The concept of the store came to them, Seamans said, when they realized they could make a profit from buying goods in bulk. Where most retailers couldn't see profit, they saw opportunity.聽

"The criteria was," he said, "can we sell an item for $1 or cheaper? How many can we buy and sell them for? How many can we buy if we find it cheaper? The only limitation we had 鈥� is it legal?"

An Auburn native, Seamans doesn't have children to take over his stores, nor offers to buy them. Besides, he said he wouldn't encourage anyone to take them over due to the corporate competition.聽

The combination of those economic shifts, Hutchins' passing and the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately led Seamans to make the decision to close Real Deals.聽

"It's going to be rough," Coff said, "especially for the elderly who have been coming here for almost 40 years."

Customers Sharon Simmons and Patti Secaur told 水果派AV they've been shopping at Real Deals since it opened 27 years ago.

"There are a lot of things in here for the kids," said Simmons, who works at a preschool. "We did a lot of arts and crafts."

Secaur added, "We got bread (and other food items) out here after prices started going up. They also had vegetable plants, like bean and pepper plants."聽

While the store is closed, Seamans is planning more sales soon. His warehouse at 21 Allen St. in Auburn is still filled. At 8 a.m. Saturday, June 29, an estate tool sale will be held there. Vintage brands like Red Devil will be sold along with more contemporary ones like DeWalt, and antiques, collectibles, toolboxes, ladders, cords and other items will be available for purchase.聽

On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3, a Real Deals warehouse sale will take place at the facility to get rid of backstock.聽

Seamans said he will miss his customers, staff and the vendors he's worked with for decades 鈥� all the relationships he built while providing an affordable shopping experience across the region.聽

Now, he's looking forward to traveling and other adventures without the stress of thinking about his stores.聽

"Sorry we had to go," he said, "but I'm old."

Sheehan was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said. They responded to the scene at about 7:14 p.m. and were assisted there by the Jordan Fire Department and ambulance.

The accident remains under investigation, state police said.

He arrived early, walking up the steps to the North Street church. As he entered, he was impressed by its beauty 鈥� the stained-glass windows, the pillars and even the indentations in the kneelers, which showed that many people had prayed before him.聽

"Little did I know at that time, 42 years later," Brown said in his homily at Mass Sunday evening, "I would be standing at this pulpit presiding at this very Mass."聽

The Mass was the last held at Holy Family, Auburn's oldest Roman Catholic church that is closing after 163 years. Its abrupt closure follows an engineer's assessment that revealed "multiple significant concerns," the Rev. Stephen Karani wrote in a letter to parishioners.聽

There is damage to the church's roof and stone veneer 鈥� caution tape was used to cordon off an area outside where some of the veneer has already fallen off the building 鈥� and several loose windows. Inside, water damage was found on the walls of the church and in the staircase leading to the choir loft.聽

The other buildings on the Holy Family campus aren't in good shape. The rectory has loose slate falling from its roof and significant water damage. Black mold was found in several rooms, according to Karani. Inside the former Holy Family School, there is water damage and moss growing in classrooms.聽

The announcement that the church would close has been met with sadness and some anger. A group of parishioners will meet Monday to discuss next steps 鈥� a last-ditch effort to keep the church open. But any attempt to extend the life of the church, which opened in 1861, will face challenges.聽

Before the closure decision, there was a meeting with the Most Rev. Salvatore Matano, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, and diocesan staff. At that meeting, the building assessment and parish's finances were reviewed.聽

After the meeting with the diocesan leadership, Holy Family's pastoral council and parish finance council met to review the report. Karani wrote in his letter that a majority of those who attended the meeting agreed with the assessment's findings.聽

"Please be assured that this necessary decision was reached only after careful consideration of the facts at hand, and in the primary interest of everyone's safety, as well as with the excessive and prohibitive cost of making repairs, currently estimated at $2.5 million," Karani said. He added that it was a "difficult decision."聽

But prior to the closure, there would be two Masses 鈥� at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. Both services were well attended. There were some tears and a lot of memories.聽

At the 5 p.m. Mass, Brown provided an overview of Holy Family's history. Beginning in 1816, missionaries would travel by horse and buggy to celebrate Mass 鈥� there were only one or two masses a year at that time. Over the next few decades, the number of masses grew. Holy Family Church was founded in 1834. The church was built on North Street in 1861.聽

"For 163 years, countless generations of faithful men, women and children have entered into this church and really been led to a sense of the divine 鈥� the presence of God," Brown said. "There is something about this church, its inner beauty, that leads one to sense the transcendent."聽

Lt. Michael Merkley told 水果派AV the department determined that Gauthier gained access to an ATM at the laundromat at 125 Osborne St. on five occasions, taking over $6,000.

The charges stem from those thefts, Merkley said. But Gauthier also took money from two other ATMs in the city, the lieutenant continued, taking a total of more than $17,000 from the three.

The investigation is still ongoing, Merkley said, and charges from the thefts at the other two ATMs could be forthcoming.聽

Merkley said the Auburn-based company Stanton Automatics reached out to the police department on June 13, saying money had been missing from three of its ATMs.

The business filed a report on Tuesday, and Gauthier was arrested at 9:15 that night.

The front of one car was severely damaged, and the other was flipped upside down.聽

New York State Police told 水果派AV the accident was caused by one of the cars running a red light and T-boning the other as it tried to turn left.聽

State police said the injuries were a few lacerations and broken fingers.

Traffic was routed down the parkway for a few hours after the accident,聽Aurelius Volunteer Fire Department Public Information Officer Dave Perkins told 水果派AV.

The allegations include Mannion cursing and yelling at staff. After screaming at one employee, the aide became ill. On a separate occasion, the staffers say he screamed at a young female aide for nearly an hour.聽

The aides wrote that Mannion would use certain phrases, such as "I am the senator," while berating staff.聽

Other accusations include retaliating against a staffer for reporting that a coworker sexually harassed a constituent. The aides say that while the case was handled appropriately, Mannion told other employees that he did not trust the staffer who filed the report.聽

Mannion engaged in sexist behavior as well, according to the ex-staffers. He reportedly told a senior aide that his office could not hire attractive women because it might make his wife, Jen, jealous.聽

Jen Mannion is also accused of inappropriate conduct in the letter. The staffers say she was "involved in work situations in ways that made us uncomfortable," including late-night text messages to an aide. She is also accused of making a transphobic remark about a local news reporter and asked a staffer, who the aides say identifies as LGBTQ+, whether they wear "assless chaps."聽

John Mannion, the aides say, "was aware of and defended" his wife's behavior.聽

"Unfortunately, the person that you may see presented in public is not the person who we saw behind closed doors," the former staffers wrote. "For a former teacher and labor leader to treat his employees with such disrespect should be especially alarming."

At the final televised debate before the Democratic primary election, Mannion was asked about the allegations Tuesday. He responded, "That is not who I am, it's not what I stand for 鈥� what was represented there 鈥� and it's not what my record reflects."聽

Sarah Klee Hood, who is also vying for the Democratic nomination in the 22nd Congressional District, said the allegations are "very serious" and must be investigated.

In a statement Wednesday, Mannion questioned the timing of the accusations. He called it "a false political attack and it is the type of dirty politics that I reject."聽

"Let me be clear: As a teacher, a union president and a NYS senator, I have been in the public eye for a long time and never in my life or career have I been associated with anything like this," he said.

"No complaints have ever been filed with (human resources), with me, with my chief of staff, with the secretary of the senate, with the attorney general or any other of the multiple avenues and protections provided by the NYS Senate to aggrieved employees. This is not in my character and it is not how I conduct business."聽

The state Senate has initiated an investigation. Mannion said he will cooperate with the inquiry.聽

水果派AV was contacted by the group of former Mannion aides, who agreed to speak with a reporter on the condition of anonymity because they fear retribution.

In separate interviews, they detailed their interactions with Mannion. The allegations are consistent with what was shared in the letter released Monday.聽

The Auburn Enlarged City School District said in a聽聽on its Facebook page Monday that Auburn Junior High School will have half-days on Thursday and Friday because the building does not have air conditioning. Auburn High School Regents exams have been moved to air-conditioned classrooms, and Auburn elementary students will be rotated in and out of them on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.聽

Parents will be notified if there are any changes to moving-up ceremonies, the district said, as well as elementary and junior high school schedules.聽

The district recommended that students bring a water bottle and dress for the heat before leaving for school in the morning.聽

The Jordan-Elbridge Central School District also said in a news release on its website that starting Tuesday, students in universal prekindergarten through eighth grade will have half-days for the rest of the week. Students at Jordan-Elbridge Dynamic Intermediate School and the middle school will be dismissed by 11:15 a.m. each day, and elementary students will be dismissed at noon.

Jordan-Elbridge High School Regents exams and finals will continue as scheduled since all exam rooms have air-conditioning, the district said.

Trips for the district's fifth and eighth grade classes to Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester have been canceled and parents will be refunded.聽

A review by 水果派AV of all Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES school districts' websites and social media channels found no other announcements of changes due to the heat wave.聽