Robert Ehrlich, founder of Pirate’s Booty, declared himself the mayor of Sea Cliff, a village on Long Island, during a town hall meeting a week before the official mayoral election, where incumbent Mayor Elena Villafane was running unopposed. According to a report from Eater NY, Ehrlich’s declaration included requests for office space and the dismissal of all village staff. Officials called the police to manage the situation and confirmed that operations would continue as usual.
The situation escalated when Ehrlich, now 66, and his associates became confrontational after their claims were dismissed as invalid. This follows a history of conflict between Ehrlich and the village, stemming from a 2003 lawsuit in which he accused officials of harassment, resulting in a court order for him to pay $900,000 in legal fees. Ehrlich referred to the Citizen Empowerment Act, a lesser-known law, to support his attempt to take control, as reported in a New York Post article.
The New York Post referred to the event as an “attempted coup,” noting that Ehrlich was seen waving a large American flag on the streets. His actions have generated a mix of concern and support within the community. While some residents expressed strong support for the official leadership and praised Mayor Villafane’s administration, others, including Tim Ayres, suggested that Ehrlich’s business experience could make him a suitable leader. In a statement to News 12, Ayres acknowledged Ehrlich’s success with Pirate’s Booty, implying that the same efficiency could be applied to running a village.
Villafane detailed her bizarre encounter with Ehrlich, who insisted on his mayoral status despite lacking any legal grounds, according to a report by the New York Post. “He would not even let me touch the envelope,” Villafane said, referring to an envelope that Ehrlich claimed to contain a manifesto of his ideas. In the face of Ehrlich’s claims, most residents seem to stand with the current mayor, praising the current governance for its efficiency and effectiveness. In a statement released by the village post-confrontation, officials reminded the community that the Ehrlich’s position as mayor was unsupported by the law, and they encouraged residents to participate in the upcoming mayoral vote.
Despite the turmoil, the village continued preparations for its elections, with officials stressing the importance of a fair democratic process to determine leadership.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
