New York's Corrupt Political Party Leaders 6666

Special Election and the Election Law

NYP Joins True News A Week Later in Asking Why Are Manhattan Democrats Being Led by A Lobbyists

Manhattan Democrats let their chief be a lobbyist, too? (NYP Ed) Are Manhattan Democrats going to sit still while their chairman works as a lobbyist — or will they dethrone Keith Wright?  Wright’s old job representing Harlem in the state Assembly presented no conflict of interest. His new one with the lobbying firm Davidoff Hutcher and Citron plainly does.  His spokeswoman insists, “It is legal” — but even if so, it’s wrong. As John Kaehny of Reinvent Albany notes, “The potential for abuse and corruption is sky-high. It’s the worst of Albany culture.”  Take it from the late Stanley Friedman, longtime Bronx Democratic leader until he was convicted on corruption charges in 1987. As he told The New York Times in 1992, “If a political leader is going to represent private industry in matters before government . . . he’s dead meat. If you control votes and you’re asking for government contracts, somebody’s going to think you’re getting two for the price of one.”  It reeks — and if Manhattan Democrats go along with it, so do they.

Not One Elected Official or District Leader in Manhattan Has Opposed Democratic Boss Wright From Being A Lobbyists 

Manhattan Used to Be the Center of the Reform Movement Which Grew Out Of the Anti-Vietnam Movement, Today Reads Like A Major Player in Newfield's Book "City for Sale" Stanley Friedman

Critics say party head joining lobbying firm ‘worst of Albany culture’ (NYP) Former Harlem Assemblyman Keith Wright has joined a high-powered lobbying firm — but he’s keeping his other job as Manhattan Democratic Party leader. While Wright insists the dual roles are legal, critics say the conflict of interest is glaring.  Wright joined Davidoff Hutcher & Citron this week, where he’ll “focus on a variety of issues at the city and state level,” the firm said in a statement.  Jeanine Johnson, Wright’s spokeswoman, argued there’s no issue with a lobbyist also wielding political power.  “It is legal,” she said.  “It’s an obvious conflict of interest. It’s unethical, and maybe illegal, for the county leader to be a lobbyist,” said John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany.  It poses a challenge if not an outright conflict of interest,” he said. “He’ll have a distinct advantage when lobbying elected officials from Manhattan.” The state public-officers law prohibits “political party chairmen” from being paid to work on “the adoption or repeal of any rule or regulation having the force and effect of law.”  Wright, who last year lost a bid to succeed longtime Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel, also is prohibited from lobbying the state Legislature for two years.  The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which enforces the law, declined to comment.


Wright's Flack Incorrectly Says He Will Have No Control Over Public Activities 

While Johnson argued that Wright no longer has “any control over any public activities,” as New York County chairman, he’s in a prime position to influence whether elected officials face primary challenges — leverage that could come in handy for a lobbyist.


The NY Post Missed the Fact That Wright Appoints BOE A Commissioner Who Has Great Power On Challengers to Elected Officials Remaining On the Ballot 

"Under the eye of Assemblyman Keith Wright, chairman of the New York County Democratic Committee, members voted unanimously to nominate Jeanine Johnson, his chief of staff and attorney—who received a drunk driving charge last year, according to the New York Post." NY Obsever

Wright won’t be the first political party chairman from New York City to earn a living as a lobbyist. Stanley Friedman, a former Bronx County Democratic leader, was a registered lobbyist for taxi- fleet owners. In 1986, Friedman paid for his double-dealing when he was convicted of corruption charges in a wide-ranging scheme to defraud the city Parking Violations Bureau. He served four years in prison and was released in 1992 before landing a job running a hotel on Staten Island.
A Look Back At the Manhattan Democratic Reform Movement

The Manhattan County Leader is Now A Lobbyists 

Keith Wright’s next act will be lobbying with Sid Davidoff’s firm   (PoliticoNY) Former state Assemblyman Keith Wright has joined Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, a prominent law and lobbying firm.  In announcing his new position, Wright, a Democrat from Harlem, said in a statement that he is “excited” and “ready for a new challenge. It is not often that you get the opportunity to work among friends and that’s what the team at DHC is.” According to a statement from the firm, Wright will focus on “a variety of issues at the City and State level” and “will

The Privatization of the Tammany Hall Machine

Today the Media Protect the Corrupt Political Bosses, Ignaoring the Unfair Advantage Data and Field Gave Candidates in 2009, or PACs in 2013  

The Bronx DA, The BP and Corruption Machine

NY Corrupt Party Queens Boss Crowley

Queens DA 

Brooklyn Democratic Boss Seddio

Brooklyn Boss Seddio A Lawyer Hired by SUNY to Closed Down A Hospital to Build Luxury Housing Working With de Blasio's Lobbyists

In disappointing turn for de Blasio, Long Island College Hospital will not include affordable housing (Politico) The land owner, Fortis Property Group, said it will not seek permission to rezone the site of Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Without a rezoning, which requires several layers of city approval, Fortis is free to build market-rate condos without any price-controlled housing for lower-income residents. (Politico)

More on Closing Long Island College Hospital

5 Million $ Lawsuit filed By A Judge Jacobson Who Was DumpedBy Boss Seddeo

Judge Jacobson's Case Update 
BrooklynDemocratic Boss Seddio

State Special Elections Are Fixed By the Democratic Bosses Instead of being open to the public to decide in a normal, competitive primary

Elect for a real election, not a phony ‘special’  (NYDN) The people of Harlem have a new (and old) councilman, with Bill Perkins being sworn in for the job Wednesday, having won the nine-candidate Valentine’s Day special election to fill a vacant seat. Perkins, an incumbent state senator who held the same Council seat until term limits kicked in, bested eight rivals, as the contenders engaged in 10 debates or forums during an intense six-week campaign.  That was democracy as intended: open and competitive. As for filling Perkins’ freshly opened seat in Albany, the folks who run things up there — where vacancies are filled through a closed, boss-dominated system — can learn a thing or two from their Big Apple cousin.  Cuomo is saying that he intends to schedule a special election to fill Perkins’ Albany post. Big mistake, governor. An Albany special election isn’t special or even a real election. Under the rigged rules — yes, here the term really applies — Democratic and Republican Party insiders each pick one candidate. Those names will appear on the May 23 ballot, but it’s a formality; in overwhelmingly Democratic districts, the Dem always wins. Meaning, the party, not the people, decide. Making the farce even more unfair, the sure winner wouldn’t be crowned until after the Senate’s 11-day Memorial Day recess. Which means by the time he or she took the oath, there’d only be 11 days left in the six-month legislative session.  Yet that fraudulently chosen incumbent would get to serve an entire additional session, straight through to the end of 2018 . Better for Cuomo to do nothing and let the Senate seat be filled through a normal competitive primary in September, then a general election in November. It’s democratic with a small “d” — and fair with a capital “F.”

Inbox: Government Watchdogs Call for JCOPE to Investigate Keith Wright's Arrangement as Party Chairman and Lobbyist

Watchdogs want probe of Democratic leader's lobbying job(NYP) Government watchdogs on Friday urged the state ethics agency to investigate whether Keith Wright is violating New York’s conflict-of-interest-law by working for a high-powered lobbying firm while continuing to serve as the Manhattan Democratic leader.  The Post first raised questions last month about Wright’s unusual dual role — becoming a lobbyist at Davidoff, Hutcher, & Citron while remaining the local party boss.  “Keith Wright can be a party chairman or a lobbyist, but he can’t have it both ways,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York.  “The opportunities to wield his political position for personal enrichment, or use his position to advance a client’s agenda present a clear conflict of interest. He’s got to make a choice.”  Wright, a former Harlem state assemblyman, lost a bid to succeed Charles Rangel in Congress last year. Dick Dadey of Citizens Union called Wright’s dual roles a “troubling conflict.”  “Chairman Wright cannot possibly fulfill his public role as the county chair of Manhattan Democrats, while also serving as a private lobbyist. Chairman Wright cannot lobby Manhattan elected city officials for support on interests he represents, while at the same time working with these same officials on political matters over which he has considerable power as county chair. He can be one of the other, but not both,” Dadey said.  The advocates cited Section 73 of the Public Officers Laws that states that political party chairpersons are prohibited from receiving compensation for lobbying before a state or city agency “where such appearance or rendition of services is in connection with the adoption or repeal of any rule regulation having the force and effect of law.”  They called for JCOPE to conduct a “thorough investigation” and provide an advisory opinion of Wright’s dual roles.

NYP Joins True News A Week Later in Asking Why Are Manhattan Democrats Being Led by A Lobbyists

Manhattan Democrats let their chief be a lobbyist, too? (NYP Ed) Are Manhattan Democrats going to sit still while their chairman works as a lobbyist — or will they dethrone Keith Wright?  Wright’s old job representing Harlem in the state Assembly presented no conflict of interest. His new one with the lobbying firm Davidoff Hutcher and Citron plainly does.  His spokeswoman insists, “It is legal” — but even if so, it’s wrong. As John Kaehny of Reinvent Albany notes, “The potential for abuse and corruption is sky-high. It’s the worst of Albany culture.”  Take it from the late Stanley Friedman, longtime Bronx Democratic leader until he was convicted on corruption charges in 1987. As he told The New York Times in 1992, “If a political leader is going to represent private industry in matters before government . . . he’s dead meat. If you control votes and you’re asking for government contracts, somebody’s going to think you’re getting two for the price of one.”  It reeks — and if Manhattan Democrats go along with it, so do they.

Not One Elected Official or District Leader in Manhattan Has Opposed Democratic Boss Wright From Being A Lobbyists 

Manhattan Used to Be the Center of the Reform Movement Which Grew Out Of the Anti-Vietnam Movement, Today Reads Like A Major Player in Newfield's Book "City for Sale" Stanley Friedman

Critics say party head joining lobbying firm ‘worst of Albany culture’ (NYP) Former Harlem Assemblyman Keith Wright has joined a high-powered lobbying firm — but he’s keeping his other job as Manhattan Democratic Party leader. While Wright insists the dual roles are legal, critics say the conflict of interest is glaring.  Wright joined Davidoff Hutcher & Citron this week, where he’ll “focus on a variety of issues at the city and state level,” the firm said in a statement.  Jeanine Johnson, Wright’s spokeswoman, argued there’s no issue with a lobbyist also wielding political power.  “It is legal,” she said.  “It’s an obvious conflict of interest. It’s unethical, and maybe illegal, for the county leader to be a lobbyist,” said John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany.  It poses a challenge if not an outright conflict of interest,” he said. “He’ll have a distinct advantage when lobbying elected officials from Manhattan.” The state public-officers law prohibits “political party chairmen” from being paid to work on “the adoption or repeal of any rule or regulation having the force and effect of law.”  Wright, who last year lost a bid to succeed longtime Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel, also is prohibited from lobbying the state Legislature for two years.  The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which enforces the law, declined to comment.


Wright's Flack Incorrectly Says He Will Have No Control Over Public Activities 

While Johnson argued that Wright no longer has “any control over any public activities,” as New York County chairman, he’s in a prime position to influence whether elected officials face primary challenges — leverage that could come in handy for a lobbyist.


The NY Post Missed the Fact That Wright Appoints BOE A Commissioner Who Has Great Power On Challengers to Elected Officials Remaining On the Ballot 

"Under the eye of Assemblyman Keith Wright, chairman of the New York County Democratic Committee, members voted unanimously to nominate Jeanine Johnson, his chief of staff and attorney—who received a drunk driving charge last year, according to the New York Post." NY Obsever

Wright won’t be the first political party chairman from New York City to earn a living as a lobbyist. Stanley Friedman, a former Bronx County Democratic leader, was a registered lobbyist for taxi- fleet owners. In 1986, Friedman paid for his double-dealing when he was convicted of corruption charges in a wide-ranging scheme to defraud the city Parking Violations Bureau. He served four years in prison and was released in 1992 before landing a job running a hotel on Staten Island.
A Look Back At the Manhattan Democratic Reform Movement

The Manhattan County Leader is Now A Lobbyists 

Keith Wright’s next act will be lobbying with Sid Davidoff’s firm   (PoliticoNY) Former state Assemblyman Keith Wright has joined Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, a prominent law and lobbying firm.  In announcing his new position, Wright, a Democrat from Harlem, said in a statement that he is “excited” and “ready for a new challenge. It is not often that you get the opportunity to work among friends and that’s what the team at DHC is.” According to a statement from the firm, Wright will focus on “a variety of issues at the City and State level” and “will

The Privatization of the Tammany Hall Machine

Today the Media Protect the Corrupt Political Bosses, Ignaoring the Unfair Advantage Data and Field Gave Candidates in 2009, or PACs in 2013  

The Bronx DA, The BP and Corruption Machine

NY Corrupt Party Queens Boss Crowley

Queens DA 

Brooklyn Democratic Boss Seddio

Brooklyn Boss Seddio A Lawyer Hired by SUNY to Closed Down A Hospital to Build Luxury Housing Working With de Blasio's Lobbyists

In disappointing turn for de Blasio, Long Island College Hospital will not include affordable housing (Politico) The land owner, Fortis Property Group, said it will not seek permission to rezone the site of Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Without a rezoning, which requires several layers of city approval, Fortis is free to build market-rate condos without any price-controlled housing for lower-income residents. (Politico)

More on Closing Long Island College Hospital

5 Million $ Lawsuit filed By A Judge Jacobson Who Was DumpedBy Boss Seddeo

Judge Jacobson's Case Update 
BrooklynDemocratic Boss Seddio

The Media Ignores NY's Corrupt Political Parties During the Worse Coverage of A Mayor's Race in History

NYC Party Leaders Hire Elected Officials to Work in Their Criminal Gangs Out of Media Sight . . .  If You Want to Know Why So Many of NY's Elected Officials Wind Up in Jail, Blame the Crooked Party Bosses Who Put Them in Office

BOE Scanner Vendor Paying Grandson of Queens GOP Leader Payoff for A Pay to Play Contract(True News)
Pay to Play BOE's Lemon Contract
GOP Queens Leader commissioner voted to approve $90 million to purchase ES&S scanners that do not work for runoff elections.

According to True News tipster Phil Ragusa has been paid over 50,000 from ES&S last year in a two month period. True News Has Confirmed From A Current Top Executive That BOE warehouse employee Phil Ragusa the nephew of the Queens GOP leader is on the payroll of ESS as A Paid Consultant.True News: Why Did NYC BOE Spend $90 Million on Scanners That  *  Queens GOP Leader Accountant PhilRagusa Loses ... - True News

Queens Crap: Dan Halloran, Malcolm Smith, Vince Tabone arrested

NY Crime Ridden Political Parties

NY Political Parties for Sale: BallotCorruption 2009 Election Probe Emerges Again(WSJ) Political opponents accused the Working Families Party of running Data and Field Services as a cut-rate political consultancy for its 2009 candidates, essentially giving those contenders an in-kind campaign contribution without disclosing it to the public. The party and the consultancy have said the rates weren't artificially inexpensive.* Working Families Party Documents Subpoenaed - NYTimes.com  * Bronx GOP Boss Jay Savino busted in bribery scheme • Bronx Times * Indy Party chief in jam over wife loan The wife of the chairman of the state Independence Party solicited and received a $10,000 business loan from a candidate who got the party's coveted endorsement days later. (NYP)* The New York Daily News’ Ken Lovett reportsIndependence Party goes along with GOP scheme to dodge campaign finance laws, insiders allege New York Independence Party has gotten major cash influx from state Senate GOP in arrangement questioned by political insiders.The state Senate GOP committee and REBNY in the last six months of 2012 donated a combined $464,000 to the Independence Party. Independence Party, or GOP annex? *Bloomberg's Recent Independence Party Donations* Independence Party Is Really A Cult(True News) * Ray Harding, former head of NY Liberal party, pleads guilty to taking $800K in pension fund scandal  Raymond B. Harding Pleads Guilty in Pension Fund Corruption (NYT) *Indictment Over Bloomberg Campaign Funds (NYT) *  * Vito Lopez Uses Government Funds to Run His Machine(True News) *  A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens (NYT)In 1998 Newfield reported that Frank Bolz III, chairman of the Queens Democratic Party's law committee, is the single biggest recipient of assignments from Nahman - collecting $178,050 for 47 paid guardianship appointments since 1992. Bronx Republican Leader Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has been investigating the aqueduct deal all year, as he has the simultaneous $50 million voting machine contract awarded by the city election board to a company, Election Systems & Software (ES&S), also represented by Sheinkopf and Levy. * Brooklyn Boss Seddio Pay to Play Like Kruger and Sampson(True News)

The Board of Elections is the Headquarters of the Organize Crime Party Bosses

NYPIRG listings showed that Sheinkopf had the third largest increase in compensation between 2008 and 2009, while Levy was ninth. Schlein was on the opposite side of the voting machine competition, representing the losing company that’s now suing. One source said Schlein was working with John Haggerty, the Republican consultant under indictment for stealing a million in campaign funds from Mayor Bloomberg and a recent top aide to Carl Paladino. Haggerty, who was said to have periodically appeared at the board, did not file as a lobbyist on the deal. A lobbyist working with Sheinkopf and Levy for ES&S, Anthony Mangone, was arrested by the feds on unrelated bribery charges the day after the January board decision. Jay Savino, the Bronx Republican county leader who nominated Foglia to be the party’s commissioner on the Board of Elections, shares an office suite with Mangone and has already been subpoenaed in the case, just one more way these incestuous circles swirl. Foglia says his relationship with Savino is “cordial.” More on the BOE Corruption, More  * BOE Scanner Vendor Paying Grandson of Queens GOP Leader Payoff for A Pay to Play Contract(True News) * Tabone steps down as Queens GOP honcho amid corruption probe ...(NYP)

Daily News to BOE Stop Knocking Off Challengers 
The News chides the Board of Elections for “going overboard” in trying to knock candidates off the ballot and argues the State Court of Appeals should reverse the board’s decisions: http://nydn.us/13QAGMG

Seddio BJ On the People of Brooklyn

Seddio: Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis(True News)  The problem the reformers have with Seddio is that except for the Daily News warning the press has done very little to inform them who is the real Frank Seddio.  There is a lot to be learned by investigating how Seddio used the machine and government to make $$$ and remain in power in a community with dramatic racial change and his loss of ability to deliver the vote.Moderator Mark Fertig asked Seddio and the other candidates running if Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano should be fired because of her involvement in the Kruger scandal.  Seddio did not only answer the question but he called Fertig a very inappropriate name.It is clear from the guilty plea of Kruger and his lobbyist Lipsky that Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano was deeply involved in the Kruger corruption.  Yet astonishly she still remains as chairman of that board. 

Golden and Council Control of the BOE Led to Petition Shredding

There is evidence that since the City Council shake up Of the Board of Election’s commissioners, the Board has become more corrupt. The board is now being run by several key council members and their political pals. Led by Councilman James Oddo the 4 GOP members of the council now have more power than the GOP county leaders.  They have picked the new GOP bosses in Staten Island, the Bronx and are along with Senator Golden trying to dump the Brooklyn GOP leader. With the help of the council GOP gang of 4 Senator Golden push out GOP chairman Craig Eaton guy at the BOE and replaced him with his supporter Simon Shamoun.  Now Golden is trying to use his control of the BOE to drive out Brooklyn GOP county leader Eaton.  Since Shamoun took over at the BOE, employees put in the job by Eaton have experienced constant threats of losing their jobs.   Shamoun bullied most of the Eaton job holders to join Golden slate running against Eaton.  Getting a patronage job at the BOE has often been described as the last stop.  Meaning, that board workers have problems finding jobs. Not the Donald Trump independent type.  

___________________________________________________________________________________
NY's Political Party Crime Culture

NYC Party Leaders Hire Elected Officials to Work in Their Criminal Gangs

Organized Crime Politics
Ballot Corruption by Political Mob Bosses

The leaders of New York’s Political Mob are the City’s party leaders who exist with the Tammany Hall power control template, unchallenged and unaccountable to the voters in New York’s broken down election system. Their headquarters is the Board of Elections. Political mob bosses soldiers are campaign consultants who also operate as lobbyists and have the same relationship with the voters as Bernie Madoff had to his investors. In this war the 4th estate are enablers of the politcal mob boses covering campaigns only as horse race and simply reprinting the candidate’s press releases.  In this swamp culture the political party leaders have become the new gangs of New York. Protect by the DA who need them to get elected.  .NY Political Parties for Sale: Ballot Corruption(True News) * Tammany’s Ballot Control Again and Again (TN) * Organized Crime Politics - Episode Two: The Rigged Election System * The DN argues against a special election, which would enable major party bosses to pick the candidates. 

  
Working Families Party

Did the WFP and Others Develp A Company Field and Data Services to Scam the Campaign Finance Law?

A Liberal Party Faces Inquiries Without End (NYT) Three years ago, the Staten Island district attorney, Daniel M. Donovan Jr., submitted a secret application to state court requesting that it appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Working Families Party and that same Staten Island race.* 2009 Election Probe Emerges Again(WSJ) Political opponents accused the Working Families Party of running Data and Field Services as a cut-rate political consultancy for its 2009 candidates, essentially giving those contenders an in-kind campaign contribution without disclosing it to the public. The party and the consultancy have said the rates weren't artificially inexpensive.  * Michael Powell: “It is a backhanded tribute to the power of the left-leaning Working Families Party that it keeps being subjected to the legal equivalent of a full-body scan.”

After a lawsuit filed by former Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, a state Supreme Court justice ruled that the WFP-DFS arrangement was illegal and ordered the party to shut down the firm. He also ordered the WFP to pay $100,000 in legal costs to settle the case, after finding the party in contempt of court.*
Working chutzpah Party(NYP Ed) * The Working Families Party is calling for . . . cleaner government by calling for public financed campaigns.  A rich irony: Violating campaign-finance rules is precisely what the WFP itself has been repeatedly accused of doing.  Lingering Questions On The WFP (CHN) *  Behind The Working Families Field Operation: Candidates Pay Salaried WFP Employees As Independent Contractors, In Addition To Data & Field Services (CHN) * Continuing contempt of court(NYP Ed)



Other Scams to Rip Off the CFB

Irregularities Found in John Liu's Campaign Finance Reports (NYT)

Liu's Campaign Treasurer Arrested on Fraud Charges - NYTimes.com

Sheldon Leffler, Former Councilman, Is Convicted in Campaign Fraud Scheme(NYT)
Sheldon Leffler Hit With $400G Fine
Queens pol Albert Baldeo busted for using straw campaign donors ...




Pay to Play Indy Party

Indy Party chief in jam over wife loan The wife of the chairman of the state Independence Party solicited and received a $10,000 business loan from a candidate who got the party's coveted endorsement days later. (NYP) * MacKay and Co. overturned local recommendations in Western NY, favoring incumbents over challengers. * MacKay Under Fire * Frank vs. Frank, Take II *  Frank Morano wants the Board of Elections to investigate the Indy Party. The press see nothing wrong with the sale of New York's political parties to the highest bidder Bloomberg's price for independence: $400G True New has com paired to Organized Crime: Politics Ballot Lines for Sale (True News)

Not So Independent Party From Senate GOP and the Real Estate Board . . .  The Establishment Cult

According to records, the two biggest donors to the state Independence Party last year were state Senate Republicans and the Real Estate Board of New York, with those two groups making up almost 85 percent of the total donations to the party, The New York Daily News’ Ken Lovett reportsIndependence Party goes along with GOP scheme to dodge campaign finance laws, insiders allege New York Independence Party has gotten major cash influx from state Senate GOP in arrangement questioned by political insiders.The state Senate GOP committee and REBNY in the last six months of 2012 donated a combined $464,000 to the Independence Party. Independence Party, or GOP annex?* Independence Party Is Really A Cult(True News)

Pay to Play Liberal Party

Ray Harding, former head of NY Liberal party, pleads guilty to taking $800K in pension fund scandal 
Raymond B. Harding Pleads Guilty in Pension Fund Corruption (NYT)

Ex-Liberal Party boss pleads guilty in pension probe | Crain's New ...

Raymond Harding -- onetime chair of the now-defunct Liberal Party -- to collect $800,000 in illegal fees as part of a sham pension-fund transaction in return for political fixes favoring both Hevesi and his son DRAINING THE SWAMP

Conservative Party

Mike Long Conservative Party Corruption(True News)

 

Pay to Play GOP
Indictment Over Bloomberg Campaign Funds (NYT)

Missing Park Funds Lead To Probe - Queens Tribune

GOP chair Ragusa said he was aware of multiple investigations into Cooper’s actions at the park

Pay to Play Lopez Vito power! Lopez got big campaign cash from winning G’point Hospital bidder (Brooklyn Paper) More on Vito's Corruption from True NewsBoss Lopez who is under federal investigation for use of government money to run his political organization the non profit Bushwick Senior Citizens. * Albany Hush Fund Cover Up, Press Containment Timeline  * Vito Lopez Uses Government Funds to Run His Machine(True News)* Former Democratic Leader in Brooklyn Is Convicted - New York Times


 Pay to Play Crowley
 A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens (NYT)In 1998 Newfield reported that Frank Bolz III, chairman of the Queens Democratic Party's law committee, is the single biggest recipient of assignments from Nahman - collecting $178,050 for 47 paid guardianship appointments since 1992.

Bronx Republican Leader Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has been investigating the aqueduct deal all year, as he has the simultaneous $50 million voting machine contract awarded by the city election board to a company, Election Systems & Software (ES&S), also represented by Sheinkopf and Levy. NYPIRG listings showed that Sheinkopf had the third largest increase in compensation between 2008 and 2009, while Levy was ninth. Schlein was on the opposite side of the voting machine competition, representing the losing company that’s now suing. One source said Schlein was working with John Haggerty, the Republican consultant under indictment for stealing a million in campaign funds from Mayor Bloomberg and a recent top aide to Carl Paladino. Haggerty, who was said to have periodically appeared at the board, did not file as a lobbyist on the deal. A lobbyist working with Sheinkopf and Levy for ES&S, Anthony Mangone, was arrested by the feds on unrelated bribery charges the day after the January board decision. Jay Savino, the Bronx Republican county leader who nominated Foglia to be the party’s commissioner on the Board of Elections, shares an office suite with Mangone and has already been subpoenaed in the case, just one more way these incestuous circles swirl. Foglia says his relationship with Savino is “cordial.”

Former Yonkers GOP boss Zehy Jereis has admitted paying employees off the books to avoid payroll taxes.

 Highest Paid Lobbyist

The NYC clerk released the annual list of the highest-paid lobbyists and highest-paying clients in the Big Apple.
The top ten lobbyists by compensation were:
Kasirer Consulting ($6,059,486), James F. Capalino & Associates ($3,317,406), Constantinople & Vallone Consulting ($2,507,500), Bolton-St. Johns ($ 2,390,266), Greenberg Traurig ($2,334,294), Manatt, Phelps & Phillips ($2,067,481) Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson ($1,971,509), Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel ($1,889,915), Parkside Group ($1,729,036), and Davidoff Hutcher & Citron ($1,629,390).

The Last Person to Try to Reform New York's Political Machine was Senator Kennedy in the 60's

Goo Goos: Reforms Have Their Press Conferences . . . And Nothing Happens

NY Political Parties for Sale: Ballot Corruption by Political Mob Bosses

The leaders of New York’s Political Mob are the City’s party leaders who exist with the Tammany Hall power control template, unchallenged and unaccountable to the voters in New York’s broken down election system. Their soldiers are campaign consultants who also operate as lobbyists and are as accountable to the voters as Bernie Madoff was to his investors. In this war the 4th estate has limited itself to covering only the horse race and simply reprinting the candidate’s press releases. The press coverage of politics is amazingly similar to the SEC reviews of Madoff’s records over the years. New York’s Political Mob Wars

Pay to Play Indy Party
Indy Party chief in jam over wife loan The wife of the chairman of the state Independence Party solicited and received a $10,000 business loan from a candidate who got the party's coveted endorsement days later. (NYP) * MacKay and Co. overturned local recommendations in Western NY, favoring incumbents over challengers. * MacKay Under Fire * Frank vs. Frank, Take II

Pay to Play Liberal Party
Ray Harding, former head of NY Liberal party, pleads guilty to taking $800K in pension fund scandal

Pay to Play GOP
Indictment Over Bloomberg Campaign Funds (NYT)

Working Families Party
Working Families Party Documents Subpoenaed - NYTimes.com * All In The Family Part 1 * Cuomo declines Working Families ballot line - Crain's New York ...

Ballot Corruption
True News has been reporting that ballot lines are for sale for two years while the good government groups have hidden from the issues. Organized Crime Politics Ballot Lines for Sale (TN) * Tammany’s Ballot Control Again and Again (TN) * Organized Crime Politics - Episode Two: The Rigged Election System

Pay to Play Lopez Vito power! Lopez got big campaign cash from winning G’point Hospital bidder (Brooklyn Paper) More on Vito's Corruption from True News

Pay to Play Crowley Queens Crap: Rep. Crowley under investigation *
Another New York Party Leader Under Investigation
Congressman and Queens Democratic Leader Joe Crowley

Qns. Rep. Crowley faces Wall St. donation probe (NYP)

Is Haggerty the E. Howard Hunt of the Bloomberg Operation? Frank Morano wants the Board of Elections to investigate the Indy Party.

City Program for Homeless Is Criticized The city comptroller, John C. Liu, says a program that delivers subsidies for housing suffers from lax oversight. (NYT)


Dems and GOP Run the Corrupt Board of Elections

The Daily News Says Big Change at BOE
A Vote For Big Changes At The NYC Board Of Elections?

True News Says Some Old Bull Shit
Throw The Bums Out: Board of Elections Bozos Have to Go!

So As We Were Saying... George Gonzalez Is The New NYC Board Of Elections Chief: Updated

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

NY Political Parties for Sale: Ballot Corruption

NY Political Parties for Sale: Ballot Corruption by Political Mob Bosses

The leaders of New York’s Political Mob are the City’s party leaders who exist with the Tammany Hall power control template, unchallenged and unaccountable to the voters in New York’s broken down election system. Their soldiers are campaign consultants who also operate as lobbyists and are as accountable to the voters as Bernie Madoff was to his investors. In this war the 4th estate has limited itself to covering only the horse race and simply reprinting the candidate’s press releases. The press coverage of politics is amazingly similar to the SEC reviews of Madoff’s records over the years. New York’s Political Mob Wars

Pay to Play Indy Party
Indy Party chief in jam over wife loan The wife of the chairman of the state Independence Party solicited and received a $10,000 business loan from a candidate who got the party's coveted endorsement days later. (NYP) * MacKay and Co. overturned local recommendations in Western NY, favoring incumbents over challengers. * MacKay Under Fire * Frank vs. Frank, Take II

Pay to Play Liberal Party
Ray Harding, former head of NY Liberal party, pleads guilty to taking $800K in pension fund scandal
Pay to Play GOP
Indictment Over Bloomberg Campaign Funds (NYT)

Ballot Corruption
True News has been reporting that ballot lines are for sale for two years while the good government groups have hidden from the issues. Organized Crime Politics Ballot Lines for Sale (TN) * Tammany’s Ballot Control Again and Again (TN) * Organized Crime Politics - Episode Two: The Rigged Election System

The Political Party Puppet Show

Opposing Campaigns, With One Unlikely Link (NYT) Roger J. Stone Jr., a Republican political consultant, is working with one candidate for New York governor behind the scenes while advising another. * Is Roger Stone Double Dipping?

Paladino Hires Haggerty * John Haggerty Indicted Over Bloomberg Campaign Funds - NYTimes.com
Bloomberg's Recent Independence Party Donations

NY Political Parties for Sale: Ballot Corruption (True News)

Legal Ads Help Keep the Political Machines in Power

WFP: Return to Tammany Hall Power

Buying NYC Political Parties The press see nothing wrong with the sale of New York's political parties to the highest bidder Bloomberg's price for independence: $400G True New has com paired to Organized Crime: Politics Ballot Lines for Sale (True News) * Tammany’s Ballot Control Again and Again (True News)

 

 

Working chutzpah Party(NYP Ed)

The Working Families Party is calling for . . . cleaner government by calling for public financed campaigns.  A rich irony: Violating campaign-finance rules is precisely what the WFP itself has been repeatedly accused of doing.  Lingering Questions On The WFP (CHN)

Mike Long Conservative Party Corruption

Bronx Republican Leader

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has been investigating the aqueduct deal all year, as he has the simultaneous $50 million voting machine contract awarded by the city election board to a company, Election Systems & Software (ES&S), also represented by Sheinkopf and Levy. NYPIRG listings showed that Sheinkopf had the third largest increase in compensation between 2008 and 2009, while Levy was ninth.
Schlein was on the opposite side of the voting machine competition, representing the losing company that’s now suing. One source said Schlein was working with John Haggerty, the Republican consultant under indictment for stealing a million in campaign funds from Mayor Bloomberg and a recent top aide to Carl Paladino. Haggerty, who was said to have periodically appeared at the board, did not file as a lobbyist on the deal.
A lobbyist working with Sheinkopf and Levy for ES&S, Anthony Mangone, was arrested by the feds on unrelated bribery charges the day after the January board decision. Jay Savino, the Bronx Republican county leader who nominated Foglia to be the party’s commissioner on the Board of Elections, shares an office suite with Mangone and has already been subpoenaed in the case, just one more way these incestuous circles swirl. Foglia says his relationship with Savino is “cordial.”


Mike's funny-money mess Manhattan DA Cy Vance has convened a grand jury to investigate a Bloomberg campaign consultant's disposition of $750,000 -- money he received after the mayor donated $1.2 million to the state Independence Party.

More Brooklynites left the party affiliation line on their latest Board of Elections enrollment forms blank than the 112,000 who described themselves as Republicans. Of all the members of Congress, the State Legislature and City Council who represent the borough — about 50 in all — only one, a state senator, is a Republican. Brooklyn’s G.O.P. Is Old Enough, but Quite a Few Members Shy of Grand

Organized Crime Politics Ballot Lines for Sale (True News)

Even A Dead Party Has Power in NYC
The fight over who the big dog with the mayor is, doesn't quite qualify as a civil war, for that you need troops. There are no elected Republican officials in Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens and only one in Brooklyn. This year the Republicans lost their only congressmember in the city when it was discovered he had two families. There is no GOP vote to deliver in the city. It is all about controlling the ballot line.

Raymond Harding -- onetime chair of the now-defunct Liberal Party -- to collect $800,000 in illegal fees as part of a sham pension-fund transaction in return for political fixes favoring both Hevesi and his son DRAINING THE SWAMP