Accusations fly as Manchester alderman, city resident file complaints against each other
Sep. 19—A Manchester resident is asking the state's Civil Rights Unit and the Hillsborough County Attorney to investigate possible violations of her civil rights by a city alderman after that same alderman filed a criminal slander complaint against her for social media posts calling her a thief.
A classic case of she said/she said city politics stems from a 2023 investigation by the City Solicitor's Office into resident Rosanna McMahon's claim that Ward 6 Alderman Crissy Kantor entered the Beech Street homeless shelter "without authorization" and took a binder containing names and bed numbers of shelter guests in violation of the City Charter.
McMahon emailed former Mayor Joyce Craig and members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in the fall with her allegations against Kantor, asking them to refer the matter to the city's Conduct Board.
In her email, McMahon called Kantor's alleged actions "deeply concerning," claiming that they not only violated the trust of individuals seeking assistance at the shelter but also disregarded the "fundamental rights of privacy" guaranteed under the state constitution.
An investigation by the City Solicitor's Office and human resources security manager determined "there is no evidence upon which a reasonable person could conclude that Alderwoman Kantor disclosed to a third party the confidential information provided by Maxim (the company that staffed the shelter at the time).
"Absent evidence of such a disclosure, we find no violation" of the City Charter.
In the written narrative of a complaint filed with Manchester Police on Aug. 30, Kantor says she became aware of a post on Facebook by McMahon claiming Kantor "went into the Beech Street shelter and stole personal information logs of guests from the attendant."
Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur, an attorney, is representing Kantor in the matter. He said Kantor filed the criminal slander complaint against McMahon for publicly posting on social media that his client is a thief.
"If hate has a face that face is Rosanna McMahon," Levasseur said in a statement. "McMahon publicly accused Ms. Kantor of stealing binders from the 39 Beech Street homeless shelter. Ms. Kantor was cleared by the city solicitor of that allegation. Ms. Kantor is a Manchester businesswoman for over 37 years; a mother and grandmother who takes her solid reputation in her community, seriously."
Levasseur said Kantor is standing up for those who want to run for public office but are afraid to "because of people like McMahon."
"Ms. Kantor believes in accountability and personal responsibility and is holding McMahon personally responsible for her criminal slander," Levasseur said. "She hopes justice will prevail."
In her complaint, Kantor says when her name is searched online, stories about McMahon's accusations against her come up with her picture.
"I was constantly harassed, questioned and maligned online while these false allegations were being investigated,'" Kantor said. "I have never stolen anything in my life, and to have someone falsely lie that I had stolen and walked out of a homeless shelter with a binder hurt me deeply.
"I believe McMahon's false allegations about me rise to the level that an arrest and prosecution can and must be made.
"McMahon knew she was making false charges against me, but did so anyway."
An internal city investigation later found that Alderman Kantor had indeed obtained the information, although privacy laws should have prevented her from doing so.
In response to Kantor's complaint, McMahon emailed the state's Civil Rights Unit and the County Attorney's Office on Thursday after being contacted by police Lt. Thomas Dubois, asking if she would come to the station to answer questions.
"I informed him that I was comfortable answering questions over the phone, and the conversation proceeded with him interrogating me regarding a complaint I had filed with the Manchester City Solicitor in October 2023," McMahon writes. "During the call, I was asked where I had obtained my information, a question I did not feel it was appropriate to answer.
"I now believe that I am being personally targeted by Aldermen Levasseur and Kantor in retaliation for my complaint, and that they are attempting to weaponize the Manchester Police Department against me, despite the fact that I have committed no crime."
McMahon goes on to argue that "directing the police to investigate citizens in retaliation for complaints could violate several civil rights" under both state and federal law.
"I am formally requesting an independent investigation into the conduct of Aldermen Levasseur and Kantor, as well as any police officers involved, including Chief Aldenberg and Lt. Dubois, for their potential involvement in this retaliatory action," McMahon writes. "The use of the police to intimidate and harass individuals for lawful complaints against public officials is a serious breach of trust and a violation of civil rights."
Asked about McMahon's allegations, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said the department doesn't comment on open investigations.
