Bloomberg Aides' Questionable Funding To Community Groups

According to the NY Times, "For years, aides to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg routed hundreds of thousands of dollars in city money to at least two politically connected nonprofit groups in violation of government contracting rules, according to records and interviews." See, the mayor's office can only direct money (and in this instance, it was "$1.1 million to Agudath Israel of America Community Services and more than $400,000 to Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services" between 2002 and 2006) when it's requested by a city council member or borough president—but the city council member, who is indicated as the one who requested the funding in documents, says he never asked for the money! City Councilman Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) told the Times, "I did not ask for it," while a mayoral spokesman said, "We have no reason to think that the funding analysis contains any errors. And we disagree with the councilman’s recollection." Yet, the Times adds, "The mayor’s office said it had no documentation showing that Mr. Felder had made the requests." And an Agudeth executive said it also went to the mayor's office for help. Last year, the City Council slush fund mess prompted the mayor's office to open up about its own slush fund.