Extra City Council Money Used For Staff Bonuses

We're running out of pigs-at-the-trough jpegs! After last week's news that the City Council is giving staffers approximately $3.9 million in "cost of living" raises, the Post has learned that a dozen council members showered their staffs with tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses at the end of the last fiscal year. According to the article, each council member gets $273,000 a year for expenses like rent and office supplies, and any unspent funds are supposed to be returned to the city. But an examination of financial records found that at least twelve council members transferred the leftover loot into their personal accounts in June, the last month of FY09. Councilman Kendall Stewart (D-Brooklyn) moved $30,000 on June 19th to give bonuses to eight to 10 staffers; he tells the Post, "Me turning back $30,000 and everybody else spending their money to give it to the staff, would that make any sense to do?" Well, if everyone else is doing it, why not? And Councilman Thomas White (D-Queens), who spread $38,000 in unused cash between five staffers, explains, "I have a very committed, dedicated staff. They work very hard."

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By John Del Signore in News on August 10, 2009 11:30 AM

Comments [rss]

books

'like enunchs talking about the karma sutra' our govt is corrupt - and every choice you have to vote for is more of the same. what can we do besides bitch and complain?

felixthecat2

Join the grassroot campaign to put Bloomberg and Quinn out

http://bloombergwatch.com/

felixthecat2

Stewart is a slumlord.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/08/07/2009-08-07_not_just_1_rat_tenants_say_accuse_councilman_of_neglecting_repairs_and_infestati.html

sowhtifithppnsitwll

At one time was the staff supposed to be voluntary, for minimum wage, because they supported the elected officials?

felixthecat2

Vote Deputy Mayor/slush fund Queen Christine Quinn who shun gay issues to gather non gay votes. She keeps her partner behind the scenes and all her literature has only her name and her ugly mug. Quinn is so homophobic. no kidding. At least the other candidate Yetta is not ashamed of her orientation and proudly has literature with her pretty partner.

sharpshoota

I'm guessing most of these are blacks and italians. All they know is how to spend money.

Bubba

Time to vote these jerk-offs out.

ides_of_march

As usual, the taxpayer has to bend over and take it up the ass.

Everyone else has to tighten their belts while the government Marie-Antoinettes live in their charmed, reality-free little bubble.

tingo

""Me turning back $30,000 and everybody else spending their money to give it to the staff, would that make any sense to do?" "

Well, that's that.

Qraymond

Honestly most Council staffers really don't make very much money. They have thankless jobs and many (but not all) have a good work ethic.

Compared to Wall Street bonuses, this is really chump-change. You guys need to relax and focus on the much bigger areas of government waste-- like the insane tax-breaks that are promised to large corporations for theoretically staying in NYC.

TrippinJoJo

"I have a very committed, dedicated staff. They work very hard."

Not hard enough buddy....

Steven

Just like the towns of Agresti and then Majestic on Weeds.

Theodore Wirth

Yeah, they "work very hard" consuming our hard-earned tax dollars. This is a perfect example of the USA state of "haves" and "have-nots." Those of us that have the connections are still working and making a nice living. The rest of us can go s--t up a rope.

Let's see $38,000/5 = bonuses of $7,600 each. I've worked for three small businesses in the last 30+ years and have never received that much in TOTAL bonuses.

Hey, why am I complaining? ONLY 240,000 jobs were lost last month. Silly me.

Tpooh2

Sinick, how completely selfish of you. I'm very disappointed in you lack of understanding. =o)

hotstepper

let's sic Serpico on their greedy asses!

nicemarmot

Why don't we just get rid of all these ridiculous little mini-governments around here? What do they do besides waste time and money?

whitecastlerock

In other words the stole money... Arrest them and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

ides_of_march

"...who spread $38,000 in unused cash between five staffers, explains..."

Explain to me why a lowly councilman need 5 staffers. The city government has become a bloated, ineffiecient Soviet-style bureaucracy.