City Council Member Items Slush Fund

More Member Items None Profit Corruption

Inez Barron and John Sampson Member Items

DiNapoli: Brooklyn Contractor’s Fraud Tied To Member Item(YNN))

Funds from a $20,000 member item linked to outgoing Assemblywoman Inez Barron was used by a Brooklyn contract to purchase an iPad for her granddaughter, as well as a laptop computer for her husband, an audit released today by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office found.  Faulkner’s husband works for Barron, but the member item itself flowed from Sen. John Sampson, D-Brooklyn. * Comptroller denounces nonprofit linked to Brooklyn assemblywoman(Capital)

.

 

NYT Editorial  "Ms. Quinn inspires the most confidence that she would be the right mayor for the inevitable times when hope and idealism collide with the challenge of getting something done." 
Quinn used member items and the slush fund to keep her members in line by paying them off.  Three member of her council have gone to jail for abusing funds she gave them.  More should have. Vito Lopez's non profit got millions from Quinn's Council. Even the NYT is against member items. *  A judge rejected a request from former NYC Councilman Larry Seabrook for a new trial on his corruption conviction that included evidence that he doctored a receipt to increase the price of a $7 sandwich and Snapple to $177.
___________________________________________________________________________________
The Non Sex Scandal That the Media is Not Covering

The Media Has Covered Up Quinn's Slush Fund Scandal For Years
 
"Did I think, as a speaker, having the [reserve] money to give out through the year might give me political leverage? Of course, I did," Quinn told New York Magazine

***Quinn: SLUSH FUND HELPED ME, May 12, 2008 *** Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn, May 13, 2008 * Six-year-old federal slush-fund probe is still costing New York City taxpayers (NYP)
August 7, 2009 NY's Watergate: Several Slush Fund Cover-up
July 15, 2009The City Council Slush Fund Scandal Is Way Bigger Than Miguel Martinez
March 6, 2009 Cover Up At City Hall ContinuesJ
January 12, 2009 Inspector Clouseau Investigates NYC Political Corruption
Jan 4, 2009 Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up
November 11, 2009 The Dishonor Roll - The Shame of New York
The 29 Councilmembers who voted to extend their term in office
November 8, 2008 Massive Lobbyist Scandal at City Hall

Media Switch On Then Off - Slush Fund Story

From a period of two weeks before the indictments of two city council aides to about a month after the arrests, the newspapers hammered away almost every day at the slush fund scandal. From the beginning of April to the the end of May over 100 story and several editorials were published about the scandal and the need for reform, including over two dozen investigative reports that exposed how councilmembers used member items for family, friends and paid off lobbyists for their campaign help. Since the end of May less than a handful of stories have been written about the slush fund, none during and since the debate and vote extending the council's term limits. It is inexplicable that challengers who use the Internet and Facebook for requests for funding, have not tried to use the online community against the media blackout, and to organize against the council's term limits vote.

Slush Fund Coverage Day by Day, April - May Pork handouts offered to pressure council members to OK congestion plan, April 2, 2008 *** City Council investigated for slush fund, April 3, 2008 *** City Council Speaker's "Slush Fund" Investigated, April 3, 2008 *** Slush Fund Scandal May Drag Quinn To Court *** City Council invented phony charities to hide more than $17M, aides say, April 3 *** Christine Quinn Joins the Scandal Bandwagon, April 3, 2008 *** The Perils of Christine, April 4, 2008 *** NYC City Council Hiding Taxpayer Money, Created a Slush Fund, April 4, 2008 *** NYC pol caught in slush fund probe - April 5, 2008 *** City Comptroller To Audit Council Over Slush Fund - April 9, 2008 *** Discretionary funds in City Council must now be OK'd, April 11, 2008 Speaker Quinn Decides to Talk to a Lawyer, April 12, 2008 *** *** Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn, April 13, 2008 *** Unanswered Questions: City Council's Phantom Funds - April 14, 2008 *** 2 NYC Council workers indicted in slush fund probe -April 16, 2008 *** What Roll Did Chuck Meara Have In Creating The City Council Speaker's Slush Fund, April 16, 2008 *** Council member in funding flap, April, 17, 2008 *** SLUSH-FUND SHENANIGANS - April 17, 2008 *** Lobbyists’ Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed - April 17, 2008 *** AIDS Groups Have Doubts On Quinn Reforms, April 17, 2008 *** Indictments fall as Quinn eyes reforms in slush fund scandal - April 18, 2008 *** NYC pol caught in slush fund probe, April 18, 2008 *** Quinn Offers Apologies to Council, April 18, 2008 *** City Council scandal has nonprofits nervous, hampers budget talks, April 19, 2008 *** CITY HAUL POLS WANT YOU TO PAY LAW BILLS, April 19, 2008 *** DA weighs charges in City Council slush fund scandal - April 21, 2008 *** Quinn would flush ‘slush fund’ in a budget overhaul proposal - April 22, 2008 *** Daily News Editorial: All in the family - April 22, 2008 *** Brooklyn Pol Put $187G of Your Dough into Wife's Nonprofit, April 22, 2008 *** City Freezes Bronx Councilman’s Million-Dollar Non-Profit Play, April 24, 2008 *** The City Council Operates Under "Afikomen Rules", April 25, 2008 *** Councilman sent $406G to nonprofit with sister on board, April 25, 2008 *** Baez Tied to Council Slush Fund Scandal - April 30, 2008 *** Daily News Editorial: All in the family - April 22, 2008 *** Feds Probing Larry Seabrook Non-Profits in Council Slush Fund Inquiry - April 30, 2008 *** Slush pols look after their own, -April 30, 2008 ***Bloomberg downplays slush fund scandal, May 2, 2008 *** Papers Filed for Judicial Hearing on City Council Spending, May 3, 2008 *** More slush fund shadiness exposed, May 5, 2008 *** Gifford Miller: Slush-Fund Refugee, May 6, 2008 *** WHILE THE COUNCIL ROILS IN SCANDAL, THE FORMER SPEAKER STAYS MUM, HANGS WITH DEVELOPER CHUM - May 7, 2008 *** Brooklyn councilwoman Darlene Mealy's 25G for nonprofit run by sister tabled, May 11, 2008 *** Once Again, Quinn Tries to End the Funding Furor, May 12, 2008 ***Quinn: SLUSH FUND HELPED ME, May 12, 2008 *** Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn, May 13, 2008 *** More City Hall Slush, This Time From Mayor Bloomberg - May 14, 2008 *** Council slush fund quid quo pro, - May 15, 2008 *** Slush Fund Follies in New York - May 15, 2008 *** Vallone, Sr. subpoenaed in slush probe, May 19, 2008 *** Council slush funds date back to 1998 - June 1, 2008 *** Kendall Stewart - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, June 11, 2008 *** Lobbyists' Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed, June 20, 2008 *** Role of Lobbyists Examined in Council Slush Fund Scandal - June 20, 2008 *** Baez Silent Amid Sea of Controversy, July 10, 2008
THE SLUSH FUND LEGACY: (City and State) Council Speaker Christine Quinn reformed the discretionary funding process both before and after the “slush fund” scandal, but sources say she has continued to politicize funding: 

What Happen to the Council Slush Fund Investigation?(True News)

Daily News Asks Where Is City Council Slush Fund IG

This is the same City Council that voted overwhelmingly to impose an inspector general on the NYPD to monitor how the department is doing its job, which has been excellently and overwhelmingly without corruption. And this is the same City Council that refuses to abide by its announced principles and impose an inspector general on its operations, despite the thievery that plagues member-item giveaways. The difference is that DOI catches crooks after they steal while the IG, as the Council envisions it for the cops, is charged with critiquing policies to head off lapses before they occur.

 

Chris Quinn and the Slow Motion Return of the Slush Fund Scandal (Village Voice)

 

With the Slush Fund Investigation Stalled Quinn Keeps Funding None Profits and Collecting Contributions From Them 

Porky nonprofits gave Christine Quinn $127G Running for mayor is a little bit easier when you control tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer pork. (NYDN) * Private park rakes in pork (NYP)

Pork: Government Funds Councilmembers Used to Get Re-Elected

2011 City Council Slush Fund - Schedule C

What Happen to the Council Slush Fund Investigation?(True News)

 Vito Lopez's Ridegwood Bushwick Sr. Cit. Council to get at least $607,000 in member item $ from NYC Council members Crowley, Dilan, Levin. * Councilmembers Ply Vito Lopez With Pork(NYDN)

Controlling the News

Federal Investigation
The Daily News reported on June 24, 2008 that U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia asked the NYS Supreme Court to delay for 90 days a special inquiry into the city council pork spending and slush fund, for fear it would derail their case. The inquiry requested by civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel under an arcane law, would require a parade of public officials to publicly testify under a grant of immunity. It not about Siegel ongoing suit which seeks to invoke a a rarely used City Charter provision to combat Tammany Hall corrupt in the 1870s but what happen to the U.S. Attorney Investigation. We know that since then Both Garcia and Lev Dassin have left to white shoe law firms. With the new U.S. for New York's Southern District Preet Bahrara responsibilities with the terror trials we wonder if he has any time for the council investigation or if we will ever see a report if they decide not to indict the big fish.

Only True News Keeps This Story Alive
August 7, 2009 NY's Watergate: Several Slush Fund Cover-up
July 15, 2009The City Council Slush Fund Scandal Is Way Bigger Than Miguel Martinez
March 6, 2009 Cover Up At City Hall ContinuesJ
January 12, 2009 Inspector Clouseau Investigates NYC Political Corruption
January 4, 2009 Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up
November 11, 2009 The Dishonor Roll - The Shame of New York
The 29 Councilmembers who voted to extend their term in office
November 8, 2008 Massive Lobbyist Scandal at City Hall


Media Switch On Then Off - Slush Fund Story
From a period of two weeks before the indictments of two city council aides to about a month after the arrests, the newspapers hammered away almost every day at the slush fund scandal. From the beginning of April to the the end of May over 100 story and several editorials were published about the scandal and the need for reform, including over two dozen investigative reports that exposed how councilmembers used member items for family, friends and paid off lobbyists for their campaign help. Since the end of May less than a handful of stories have been written about the slush fund, none during and since the debate and vote extending the council's term limits. It is inexplicable that challengers who use the Internet and Facebook for requests for funding, have not tried to use the online community against the media blackout, and to organize against the council's term limits vote.


Slush Fund Coverage Day by Day, April - May Pork handouts offered to pressure council members to OK congestion plan, April 2, 2008 *** City Council investigated for slush fund, April 3, 2008 *** City Council Speaker's "Slush Fund" Investigated, April 3, 2008 *** Slush Fund Scandal May Drag Quinn To Court *** City Council invented phony charities to hide more than $17M, aides say, April 3 *** Christine Quinn Joins the Scandal Bandwagon, April 3, 2008 *** The Perils of Christine, April 4, 2008 *** NYC City Council Hiding Taxpayer Money, Created a Slush Fund, April 4, 2008 *** NYC pol caught in slush fund probe - April 5, 2008 *** City Comptroller To Audit Council Over Slush Fund - April 9, 2008 *** Discretionary funds in City Council must now be OK'd, April 11, 2008 Speaker Quinn Decides to Talk to a Lawyer, April 12, 2008 *** *** Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn, April 13, 2008 *** Unanswered Questions: City Council's Phantom Funds - April 14, 2008 *** 2 NYC Council workers indicted in slush fund probe -April 16, 2008 *** What Roll Did Chuck Meara Have In Creating The City Council Speaker's Slush Fund, April 16, 2008 *** Council member in funding flap, April, 17, 2008 *** SLUSH-FUND SHENANIGANS - April 17, 2008 *** Lobbyists’ Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed - April 17, 2008 *** AIDS Groups Have Doubts On Quinn Reforms, April 17, 2008 *** Indictments fall as Quinn eyes reforms in slush fund scandal - April 18, 2008 *** NYC pol caught in slush fund probe, April 18, 2008 *** Quinn Offers Apologies to Council, April 18, 2008 *** City Council scandal has nonprofits nervous, hampers budget talks, April 19, 2008 *** CITY HAUL POLS WANT YOU TO PAY LAW BILLS, April 19, 2008 *** DA weighs charges in City Council slush fund scandal - April 21, 2008 *** Quinn would flush ‘slush fund’ in a budget overhaul proposal - April 22, 2008 *** Daily News Editorial: All in the family - April 22, 2008 *** Brooklyn Pol Put $187G of Your Dough into Wife's Nonprofit, April 22, 2008 *** City Freezes Bronx Councilman’s Million-Dollar Non-Profit Play, April 24, 2008 *** The City Council Operates Under "Afikomen Rules", April 25, 2008 *** Councilman sent $406G to nonprofit with sister on board, April 25, 2008 *** Baez Tied to Council Slush Fund Scandal - April 30, 2008 *** Daily News Editorial: All in the family - April 22, 2008 *** Feds Probing Larry Seabrook Non-Profits in Council Slush Fund Inquiry - April 30, 2008 *** Slush pols look after their own, -April 30, 2008 ***Bloomberg downplays slush fund scandal, May 2, 2008 *** Papers Filed for Judicial Hearing on City Council Spending, May 3, 2008 *** More slush fund shadiness exposed, May 5, 2008 *** Gifford Miller: Slush-Fund Refugee, May 6, 2008 *** WHILE THE COUNCIL ROILS IN SCANDAL, THE FORMER SPEAKER STAYS MUM, HANGS WITH DEVELOPER CHUM - May 7, 2008 *** Brooklyn councilwoman Darlene Mealy's 25G for nonprofit run by sister tabled, May 11, 2008 *** Once Again, Quinn Tries to End the Funding Furor, May 12, 2008 ***Quinn: SLUSH FUND HELPED ME, May 12, 2008 *** Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn, May 13, 2008 *** More City Hall Slush, This Time From Mayor Bloomberg - May 14, 2008 *** Council slush fund quid quo pro, - May 15, 2008 *** Slush Fund Follies in New York - May 15, 2008 *** Vallone, Sr. subpoenaed in slush probe, May 19, 2008 *** Council slush funds date back to 1998 - June 1, 2008 *** Kendall Stewart - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, June 11, 2008 *** Lobbyists' Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed, June 20, 2008 *** Role of Lobbyists Examined in Council Slush Fund Scandal - June 20, 2008 *** Baez Silent Amid Sea of Controversy, July 10, 2008

Is there anyone not under investigation in New York?

The Empire State has become the Organized Political Crime State True News - How Albany Operates Like the Mob

To save money and transportation costs New York should open up jail in the basement City Hall and the Capital Building in Albany
1. The Council Slush Fund The Council's slush fund has become a seemingly bottomless well of corruption. In 2008, questions from the Manhattan U.S. attorney led to the discovery that the Council squirreled away money for groups that never existed. *** The DN says Seabrook's indictment should bring an end to the Council's "slush-fund budgeting."
Dozens of Council Members did what Seabrook did. Chief among Seabrook's opportunities for alleged thievery was the Council's so-called discretionary money, a vast pool of funds that members dole out to favored groups with virtually no effective oversight so jobs can be given to family members and friends. Let alone it value for the councilmember reelection. True News has been the only media outlet covering the council slush fund for the past year True New Council Slush Fund

Councilman Serving Time Manhattan City Councilman Miguel Martinez admits he stole tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars
a. Maria del Carmen Arroyo says her sister and nephew had left the nonprofit by the time the group was given the money. Bronx City Council member Maria Del Carmen Arroyo has a unique way to get taxpayer support for her family.
b. In her penultimate year as a member of the New York City Council, Maria Baez has found herself the subject of media scrutiny. News stories regarding poor attendance at Council meetings, enormous cell phone bills and a check to a non-existent organization, have left Baez with a tarnished public image.
c. Leroy Comrie, who represents southeast Queens, has co-sponsored $115,000 in member items for a nonprofit that lists his wife, Marcia Moxam Comrie, as an unpaid vice president.

d. Brooklyn Pol Put $187G of Your Dough into Wife's Nonprofit
e. Pork Pig Fidler’s Media Friends Put Lipstick On Him
f. From the article "Slush pols look after their own" Helen Foster
g. Millions shifted to unregistered charities with ties to Council members Sara Gonzalez

h. Brooklyn councilwoman Darlene Mealy's 25G for nonprofit run by sister tabled

i. T'S ALL ABOUT RECCHIA! THE VOTERS HAVE NO CHOICE

k. Council member Diana Reyna of Brooklyn was generous with her in-laws, starting with $75,000 for the Striking Viking Story Pirates, an acting troupe featuring her sister-in-law, Laura Hernandez.

l. Missing Sanders Campaign Filings Trigger Review

m. Two Council Aides Face Federal Charges Kendal Stewart

n. '3RD TERM' IS $LUSH HOUR MIKE'S FUND GAVE BIG BOOSTS TO COUNCIL POLS MULLING LIMITS LAW James Vacca

o. Tom White PUBLIC $ERVICE PAYS TOP COUNCIL EARNER

p. Gifford Miller: Slush-Fund Refugee

q. Ex-Speaker Hires Lawyer in Inquiry - New York Times

r. CITY TO PAY FOR COUNCIL'S LAWYERS - New York Post

s. A Letter to Garcia: (Michael) Garcia U.S. Attorney Room Eight

t. Queens Crap: Council slush fund quid quo pro

u. wcbstv.com - NYC Taxpayers Petition For Slush Fund Inquiry

v. Lobbyists' Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed - June 20 ...

w. BLOOMBERG HAS HIS OWN SLUSH FUND - New York Post

x. Phony Allocations by City Council Reported - New York Times

y. SLUSH-FUND SHENANIGANS - NY Post Editorial

z. QUINN: SLUSH FUND HELPED ME - New York Post

Reform Design to Fail Quinn and the Council enacted new regulations to ensure proper use of the money. That didn't work, now, did it? As Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said yesterday, the reforms "have effectively vetted out conflicts and companies not worthy of city funds. But as today's indictment shows, there were other ways to fly this money under the radar."

2. Seabrook Latest to Fall Councilman Charged With Money Laundering *** A free pass to thievery: Seabrook case proves Council slush funds must go *** Councilman ripped off 'hole' lotta dough: feds *** FDNY minority hiring was $moke screen *** Bagel, borrow & 'steal' for pol *** Seabrook's mistress, also possibly a shady situation *** Bronx City Council member Larry Seabrook's go-to guy was longtime powerbroker Stanley Schlein ***What Happens to Professor Seabrook? ***City Councilman Larry Seabrook Eats Bagels Made of Gold Dust and Panda Tears New York Magazine

"Apart from his guilt or innocence, an issue in the Seabrook case is: who else knew what he was doing, and where was municipal oversight over the spending of discretionary funds? To some extent, the process involves Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who allocated the money among her members. The millions were granted as a reward for Seabrook's political loyalty and reliability as a vote on the Council. Is it surprising that he should apply the same standard to the recipients of the money as were applied to him -- No questions asked? Was there the slightest review by anyone in government over the seven years the scam was operating? (Four of those years were under former Speaker Gifford Miller.) Did Comptroller Thompson ever look at how the city money was being spent?" Feds Nail Seabrook For Seven Fat Years, Monserrate Expelled (Stern NY Civic)

Seabrook Only in New Your would a City Councilman wish the problem of their fellow members stealing from council programs simply go away rather then reforming the programs they rip-off to prevent future looting of the public pay roll. "There's a feeling of "disappointment that these issues continue to pop up," said Councilman Leroy Comrie of Queens, who, like Seabrook, is a Democrat. "Hopefully, this is the last one," he said." Pols jittery over 'Dirty Larry *** Bagel-nomics: For $177, You Also Get the Kitchen Sink?*** The Biggest Losers Our question for today is, who has the most awful political culture, Illinois or New York? *** Divorce a secret: Indicted City Council member Larry Seabrook didn't tell wife about split for years *** A free pass to thievery: Seabrook case proves Council slush funds must go *** Greg Smith notes that some of Larry Seabrook's alleged wrong-doing came after Christine Quinn reformed to the way the Council gives out money.

Council Slush Fund and the Parkside Consult Group
Yesterday the New York Appellate Court ruled two to three against Normal Siegel Petition to set up a public inquiry into who was responsible for the Council Slush fund scandal. Siegel is expected to appeal. If one more judge sided with the inquiry we might have gotten some answers to who was behind the slush fund which we have not gotten to date from the federal investigation or the press. Siegel would have been able to question former Speaker Giff Miller and Speaker Quinn why the Parkside consultant/lobbying group had some many non profits funded by the city as clients. Parkside had worked closely with Miller until press reports during his campaign for mayor forced him to put some distance from Parkside. This blog story has a lot of question Siegel could have asked Miller, Parkside and the other Council Bums A Letter to Garcia: (Michael) Garcia U.S. Attorney  

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Quinn Gave Members Their Cut of the Pork Budget

Quinn Gave Members Their Cut of the Pork Budget

How did Quinn get the City Council Almost Unanimously Passes Budget in spite of the ongoing (?) federal investigation of the council slush fund. She pay off members with with Council 'Pork' Wonder if Maria del Carmen Arroyo got any funding for her family members? Ex-Bronx non-profit leader pleads guilty to bilking group of $50K Just like the Apalachin organized crime meeting in upstate NY, everyone got a piece of the action (member items) to buy piece among the families, I mean councilmembers. Only member voting against the budget Councilman Charles Barron.
The sounds of silence There were no raucous City Hall Park protests yesterday. No threats of strikes by "hard hit" public employees. Almost no one is griping -- or not very loudly, anyway -- about their fate under the city and state budgets. And their silence speaks volumes.(NYP Ed) * Council Passes Budget, but Loss of State Aid May Require Fixes (NYT) * The Wrong Way and the Right Way New York City’s budgeting process may not be perfect, but it was the height of fiscal responsibility compared to Albany. (NYT Ed) * Layoffs Slated in City Budget (WSJ) * The Post says the 6 percent increase in spending is "unconscionable." * Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez denied he had attacked a female member of his staff.

Council Grants Often Shortchange Needy New York Districts

 True News: What ever happened to the City Council Slush Fund Investigation (It has been 2 years)

Quinn Slush Funds Continue

Christine Quinn wants to be Mayor of NYC(Video)

 

City Council Three Years Delay of Lobby Reforms

After a three-year delay, the City Council will today appoint a Lobbying Commission, an advisory body tasked with making recommendations for improvements to the 2006 lobbying laws. But with few actual lobbyists among the appointees, the panel’s effectiveness is already being called into question. (City Hall News)

 

Pork: Government Funds Councilmembers Used to Get Re-Elected

2011 City Council Slush Fund - Schedule C

What Happen to the Council Slush Fund Investigation?(True News)

 Vito Lopez's Ridegwood Bushwick Sr. Cit. Council to get at least $607,000 in member item $ from NYC Council members Crowley, Dilan, Levin. * Councilmembers Ply Vito Lopez With Pork(NYDN)

 

 

Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, which was founded by Assemblyman Vito Lopez, the Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman, got a total of $687,000.  Council grants $600G in earmarks to group caught in Vito Lopez federal corruption investigation(NYDN)

 Vito Lopez Uses Government Funds to Run His Machine (True News)

State IG Ellen Biben has re-opened an AEG-related probe into former Senator-turned-lobbyist Carl Andrews. *The Council restored $541,649 in funding to NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s office and nearly $6.5 million to the offices of the five borough presidents.

 

 Despite facing corruption charges, Bronx Councilman Larry Seabrook is slated to receive about $362,000 in member item money from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn this year

CM Seabrook under Indicted for Stealing Member Items Hands Out More Funds This Year

Seabrook, a Bronx Democrat who has pleaded not guilty, has asked that nearly $400,000 in total be directed to 13 organizations in the fiscal year that begins Friday, records showed. The funds are a fraction of the nearly $50 million in so-called "member items"—derided by critics as "pork"—that the council plans to ...Indicted Councilman Hands Out Cash(WSJ)

 

Council Pigs are More Equal Than the Rest of Us

As thousand of city workers face layoffs, cuts in their pension and their constituents faces much less city services in the future the pigs is the council are continuing their payoff system of lulus Christine Quinn passes out lulus to Council members who don't have the guts to reject corruption (DN Ed)

Christine Quinn's Con Game: City Council speaker and her cohorts took your money and ran - Council took the pay raise recommended by a special mayoral commission but ignored the part of the report that urged lawmakers to enact reforms aimed at reducing self-dealing and favoritism. Key among the proposed reforms was a call to abolish so-called lulus - extra cash stipends doled out by the speaker to well-behaving sheep - and to rule out raises in the middle of a term.

From the Daily News Ed "we posed a question to Felder on March 15: What was up with the legislation, we asked.Ask Quinn, he answered.We queried Quinn: When would the bill be ready? Later, her aides said.Well, it's 2009, and Quinn and Felder and most of the rest are getting ready to run for reelection. It was high time to call Quinn again. The answers were very different.The speaker now believes the Council should defer to the judgment of a still-to-be-appointed Charter Revision Commission.Then again, Quinn's aides said, if any members of the Council want to push their own reform legislation, they are perfectly free to do so.Bottom line: Quinn and the Gang took the money and ran. " - Daily News.

 

Why Do Only City Council Minorities Members Get In Trouble Wit Member items?

There's no evidence Quinn actively solicited contributions from officials at pork-seeking nonprofits. Several contributors contacted by The News declined to comment or did not return calls.

Evidence 

Miguel Martinez, Ex-Councilman in New York, Gets 5 Years in Theft ... * U.S. Indicts Larry B. Seabrook, Bronx Councilman, in Fraud ... * A 2nd pol treads on thin $lush Bx. councilwoman eyed as next fed target

The blog Queens Crap calls for action on New York City's worst (and most under-reported scandal).

 

Why Do Pols and Lobbyist Steal From Member Items Funds?

Because They Can Get Away With It!

After a 4 year investigation DOI and federal investigators have yet to take action on the city council slush fund scandal.  Can you imagine what councilmembers fell they can get away with.  We are still paying for lawyers to protect them from investigators for all of them (Except recent elected) including David Weprin who is running for congress.  DOI which could not find anything wrong with the Citytime contract until the feds arrested 6 of NYC consultants has not after 4 years been able to find out who controlled the city council slush fund.  The city's DA's elected by the same county organizations as the council members have also not been able to find out which pols were looting the slush fund.  The Court of Appeals who quickly ruled on how to grade teacher has not been able to rule on Normal Siegel lawsuit to get to the bottom of who in the council controlled and benefited from the the slush fund. * DOI: Cover Up(True News) *  What Ever Happen to the City Council Slush Fund Investigation?(True News)

 Member Items No Fault Looting

Pay to Play: Weprin Is Not the Only Pol Trading Member Items for Campaign Contributions

Turner Charged That Weprin was trading public dollars for campaign dollars while in the City Council.  Turner points to a 2008 NY Sun article which says while on the council Weprin receive campaign contributions from organizations that he steer money to  Turner Whacks Weprin On 2008 New York Sun Story* The Dishonor Roll - The Shame of New York(True News)

5

5

5

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Weprin Consultant Parkside Also Made Millions Off of Member Items

Parkside's Evan Stavisky is The Modern Boss Tweed

In 2005 in a NYT article Dick Dadey executive director of Citizens Union expressed concern about what he called "a growing problem" of council members being lobbied by firms that serve as political consultants to many of them. "It clearly gives a lobbyist who does campaign work unfair advantage, because it gives them a level of access to the elected official that they otherwise would not have." In 2005 the Parkside was paid a total of $1.7 million by more than 40 clients last year, many of them nonprofit receiving member items from the city council.  The Parkside Group, carved out a dual role in New York politics: as lobbyist for nonprofit groups seeking city money and as a political consultant to a dozen council members, including the speaker and the Finance Committee chairman, who have a major hand in approving budget requests from those same groups. Miller who became so close to Parkside after it helped him win his speaker post asked one of Parkside partners to help him hire a chief of staff. Did Parkside Get Funds from Millers Slush Fund?  In 2004, Miller launched his ill-fated drive to become mayor right from Parkside's offices. Lobbyists' Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed (City Sun 2008)

Councilman Weprin, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said he did not see a problem with Parkside's lobbying effort  Weprin was a parkside client back then as he is now.

Neighborhood is Doing

Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up

Cover Up At City Hall Continues

A Letter to Garcia: (Michael) Garcia U.S. Attorney

Massive Lobbyist Scandal at City Hall

Media and Pols: The Real Story is What They Don't 'Say

Pay to Play Council 2nd council member in boiler-firm hot water The blacklisted Bronx boiler company that allegedly bribed indicted City Councilman Larry Seabrook also steered thousands of dollars to another council member with her own set of legal woes, records show. Bronx Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, who has been identified as a target of an ongoing Department of Investigation

Monday, August 2, 2010

What Happen to the City Council Criminal Investigation?

What Happen to the City Council Criminal Investigation?

In today's Daily News editorial 'Cleaning up the Council' the paper did not even mention the Council Slush Fund. April 20th 2008 The Daily New wrote 'DA weighs charges in City Council slush fund scandal Manhattan prosecutors are monitoring the federal investigation into the City Council slush fund scandal before deciding whether to bring their own charges, a law enforcement source said Sunday. The source spoke on the same day a Daily News editorial implored the Manhattan district attorney's office to look into charging current and former Council leaders and their aides with the offense of "offering a false instrument for filing."

True News reports last years about the council slush fund cover up Controlling the News: What Happen to the Council Slush Fund Investigation?

Full-Time Council Would Better Serve New Yorkers (Gotham Gazette, Aug 02, 2010)


Council's Puppetgate, Burning Up Education Blogs ***

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Controlling the News: What Happen to the Council Slush Fund Investigation?

Breaking News: Giuliani Is Said to Have Decided Not to Run for Governor (NYT) *** Giuliani Denies Report That He Will Not Run For Governor (NY1) *** Giuliani to run for U.S. Senate, NOT NY gov.: source

Controlling the News
What Happen to the Council Slush Fund Investigation?

The Daily News reported on June 24, 2008 that U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia asked the NYS Supreme Court to delay for 90 days a special inquiry into the city council pork spending and slush fund, for fear it would derail their case. The inquiry requested by civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel under an arcane law, would require a parade of public officials to publicly testify under a grant of immunity. It not about Siegel ongoing suit which seeks to invoke a a rarely used City Charter provision to combat Tammany Hall corrupt in the 1870s but what happen to the U.S. Attorney Investigation. We know that since then Both Garcia and Lev Dassin have left to white shoe law firms. With the new U.S. for New York's Southern District Preet Bahrara responsibilities with the terror trials we wonder if he has any time for the council investigation or if we will ever see a report if they decide not to indict the big fish.

Only True News Keeps This Story Alive
August 7, 2009 NY's Watergate: Several Slush Fund Cover-up
July 15, 2009The City Council Slush Fund Scandal Is Way Bigger Than Miguel Martinez
March 6, 2009 Cover Up At City Hall ContinuesJ
January 12, 2009 Inspector Clouseau Investigates NYC Political Corruption
January 4, 2009 Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up
November 11, 2009 The Dishonor Roll - The Shame of New York
The 29 Councilmembers who voted to extend their term in office
November 8, 2008 Massive Lobbyist Scandal at City Hall

Media Switch On Then Off - Slush Fund Story
From a period of two weeks before the indictments of two city council aides to about a month after the arrests, the newspapers hammered away almost every day at the slush fund scandal. From the beginning of April to the the end of May over 100 story and several editorials were published about the scandal and the need for reform, including over two dozen investigative reports that exposed how councilmembers used member items for family, friends and paid off lobbyists for their campaign help. Since the end of May less than a handful of stories have been written about the slush fund, none during and since the debate and vote extending the council's term limits. It is inexplicable that challengers who use the Internet and Facebook for requests for funding, have not tried to use the online community against the media blackout, and to organize against the council's term limits vote.

Slush Fund Coverage Day by Day, April - May Pork handouts offered to pressure council members to OK congestion plan, April 2, 2008 *** City Council investigated for slush fund, April 3, 2008 *** City Council Speaker's "Slush Fund" Investigated, April 3, 2008 *** Slush Fund Scandal May Drag Quinn To Court *** City Council invented phony charities to hide more than $17M, aides say, April 3 *** Christine Quinn Joins the Scandal Bandwagon, April 3, 2008 *** The Perils of Christine, April 4, 2008 *** NYC City Council Hiding Taxpayer Money, Created a Slush Fund, April 4, 2008 *** NYC pol caught in slush fund probe - April 5, 2008 *** City Comptroller To Audit Council Over Slush Fund - April 9, 2008 *** Discretionary funds in City Council must now be OK'd, April 11, 2008 Speaker Quinn Decides to Talk to a Lawyer, April 12, 2008 *** *** Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn, April 13, 2008 *** Unanswered Questions: City Council's Phantom Funds - April 14, 2008 *** 2 NYC Council workers indicted in slush fund probe -April 16, 2008 *** What Roll Did Chuck Meara Have In Creating The City Council Speaker's Slush Fund, April 16, 2008 *** Council member in funding flap, April, 17, 2008 *** SLUSH-FUND SHENANIGANS - April 17, 2008 *** Lobbyists’ Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed - April 17, 2008 *** AIDS Groups Have Doubts On Quinn Reforms, April 17, 2008 *** Indictments fall as Quinn eyes reforms in slush fund scandal - April 18, 2008 *** NYC pol caught in slush fund probe, April 18, 2008 *** Quinn Offers Apologies to Council, April 18, 2008 *** City Council scandal has nonprofits nervous, hampers budget talks, April 19, 2008 *** CITY HAUL POLS WANT YOU TO PAY LAW BILLS, April 19, 2008 *** DA weighs charges in City Council slush fund scandal - April 21, 2008 *** Quinn would flush ‘slush fund’ in a budget overhaul proposal - April 22, 2008 *** Daily News Editorial: All in the family - April 22, 2008 *** Brooklyn Pol Put $187G of Your Dough into Wife's Nonprofit, April 22, 2008 *** City Freezes Bronx Councilman’s Million-Dollar Non-Profit Play, April 24, 2008 *** The City Council Operates Under "Afikomen Rules", April 25, 2008 *** Councilman sent $406G to nonprofit with sister on board, April 25, 2008 *** Baez Tied to Council Slush Fund Scandal - April 30, 2008 *** Daily News Editorial: All in the family - April 22, 2008 *** Feds Probing Larry Seabrook Non-Profits in Council Slush Fund Inquiry - April 30, 2008 *** Slush pols look after their own, -April 30, 2008 ***Bloomberg downplays slush fund scandal, May 2, 2008 *** Papers Filed for Judicial Hearing on City Council Spending, May 3, 2008 *** More slush fund shadiness exposed, May 5, 2008 *** Gifford Miller: Slush-Fund Refugee, May 6, 2008 *** WHILE THE COUNCIL ROILS IN SCANDAL, THE FORMER SPEAKER STAYS MUM, HANGS WITH DEVELOPER CHUM - May 7, 2008 *** Brooklyn councilwoman Darlene Mealy's 25G for nonprofit run by sister tabled, May 11, 2008 *** Once Again, Quinn Tries to End the Funding Furor, May 12, 2008 ***Quinn: SLUSH FUND HELPED ME, May 12, 2008 *** Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn, May 13, 2008 *** More City Hall Slush, This Time From Mayor Bloomberg - May 14, 2008 *** Council slush fund quid quo pro, - May 15, 2008 *** Slush Fund Follies in New York - May 15, 2008 *** Vallone, Sr. subpoenaed in slush probe, May 19, 2008 *** Council slush funds date back to 1998 - June 1, 2008 *** Kendall Stewart - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, June 11, 2008 *** Lobbyists' Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed, June 20, 2008 *** Role of Lobbyists Examined in Council Slush Fund Scandal - June 20, 2008 *** Baez Silent Amid Sea of Controversy, July 10, 2008


Pay to Play Recchia and Filder 2-job pols keep eyes on $$ prize As far as part-time gigs go, moonlighting as a $112,500-a-year City Council member is nice work if you can get it. Ten out of 51 council members hold jobs outside of their elected office, mostly as lawyers and lecturers. Critics say that... (NYP)


Fidler Rips Off Government
Council big bets against the cityAssembly Speaker Sheldon Silver isn't the only lawmaker betting against the city in high-profile lawsuits. City Councilman Lewis Fidler gets a $60,000-plus salary from a company that helped finance the lawsuit by police gunshot victim Sean Bell.

True News wrote about other ways Filder has rip off the system Pork Pig Fidler's Media Friends Put Lipstick On Him | Room Eight