After Small Victory, Bloomberg Still Gives Big Bonuses

The city's richest man keeps living up to his big spending reputation — even after his poorer-than-expected performance at the polls. Despite fears that after his narrow third term victory, Mayor Bloomberg wouldn't pay out the big bonuses that his campaign staffers have come to expect, the Times reports that he's giving out "roughly the same generous checks to his staff as he did after winning office in 2001 and 2005 — 20 percent of each worker's total wages."

Bloomberg, who has given individual staffers bonuses of $100,000 in past campaigns, is expected to dole out at least $1 million in the next few weeks, if not more. So far, checks ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 have appeared in the bank accounts of many campaign staffers. The Times notes that political operative Basil Smikle got a bonus of $23,368 on top of his $116,841 salary, while field director Maura Keaney netted $31,345 on top of her salary of $156,000.

Dick Dadey, executive director of the good government group Citizens Union, said that the bonuses "are no surprise given his past practice, but this year's practice may sit worse than the ones before with so many New Yorkers struggling financially."

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By Ben Muessig in News on December 30, 2009 9:00 AM

Comments [rss]

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

I feel sorry for all those stupid volunteers who actually went door-to door canvassing for this Billionaire. Some of them were from the Union and told me they were threatened by their Union head to volunteer.

JacqueMehoff

they should pay me for each call I received during the campaign. my phone has been very quiet lately.

and this is the mayor who was against $10 per hour.

GOP

"[T]his year's practice may sit worse than the ones before with so many New Yorkers struggling financially."

Obama socialism thinking? No one can have monetary success until everyone has their fair share?

Tricksta

Not trying to defend the guy -- who I lost all respect for after his third-term power grab -- but what was he supposed to do? He promised a sweet bonus to his staffers and he came thru for them. Was he supposed to hand out checks from his personal campaign finances to every single NY'er?

Again, I don't particularly care for Bloomberg but this looks like a lose-lose situation. If he'd skimped on the bonuses everyone -- esp. those he relies on the most the most -- would be grumbling about what a scrooge he was this year.

Splicer

Bloomberg came close to losing an election against a candidate that seemed to be campaigning inside of a sealed room. All he cares about is that he won another four years -- the fact that people dislike him means nothing to the man.