NY, Where Corruption is King

Posted byEd KowalskiPosted inUncategorized

Former Orange County NY Executive Edward Diana and two other officials with the Orange County Industrial Development Agency plead guilty to numerous felony charges in Goshen yesterday. The agency’s former managing director Vincent Cozzolino plead guilty to the most serious charge of corrupting government and must pay $1 Million in restitution with 5 years of probation. The I.D.A.’s former CEO Laurie Villasuso plead guilty to the same charge and must pay $175,000.00 in restitution. Diana served on the I.D.A.’s oversight board for the past six years. He plead guilty to two counts of offering a false instrument for filing and must pay $90,000.00 in restitution. Prosecutors allege Villasuso and Diana were both paid employees of Cozzolino’s consulting firm. Who paid no attention to Cozzolino’s plan to use the I.D.A. to line his pockets. Cozzolino’s consulting firm is called Galileo Technology Group. Diana served 3 terms as Orange County Executive.
Another sad example of corruption in New York. The history of the government of New York is also, in large measure, the history of the misgovernment of New York. It is an entertaining history, full of thieves, rascals, and knaves, full of bold schemes and brazen misconduct. Now and then, as if in some ancient legend, a hero emerges to fight the bad guys. In this story, the hero’s are Orange County Legislator Jimmy O’Donnell and DA Hoovler who rooted this out.
Always, below the surface, serious questions press for attention—questions that strike at the heart of our faith that “we, the people” possess the qualities that are needed to make self-government work. The story of corruption in New York is the story of the bosses who have organized and profited from that corruption, but it is more than that. It is the story of the contractors who have gotten rich from their arrangements with the bosses, but it is more than that. In the end it is the story of the people of New York ,shrugging their shoulders, selling their votes, going about their business. That’s the sad thing about this story and we’re all left the poorer for it and we get the government we deserve.

Published by Ed Kowalski

Ed Kowalski is a Pleasant Valley resident, media voice, and policy-focused professional whose work sits at the intersection of law, public policy, and community life. Ed has spent his career working in senior leadership roles across human resources, compliance, and operations, helping organizations navigate complex legal and regulatory environments. His work has focused on accountability, risk management, workforce issues, and translating policy and law into practical outcomes that affect people’s jobs, livelihoods, and communities. Ed is also a familiar voice in the Hudson Valley media landscape. He most recently served as the morning host of Hudson Valley This Morning on WKIP and is currently a frequent contributor to Hudson Valley Focus with Tom Sipos on Pamal Broadcasting. In addition, Ed is the creator of The Valley Viewpoint, a commentary and narrative platform focused on law, justice, government accountability, and the real-world impact of public policy. Across broadcast and written media, Ed’s work emphasizes transparency, access to justice, institutional integrity, and public trust. Ed is a graduate of Xavier High School, Fordham University, and Georgetown University, holding a Certificate in Business Leadership from Georgetown. His Jesuit education shaped his belief that ideas carry obligations—and that leadership requires both discipline and moral clarity. He lives in Pleasant Valley.