City Councilman Larry Seabrook was thrilled yesterday after a jury remained deadlocked on fraud charges against him— those charges included accusations that he got kickbacks from a contractor he recommended to work on the new Yankee Stadium, funneled hundreds of thousands to his mistress and her relatives, and altered a receipt for a $7 bagel to $177. Seabrook, a Democrat who represents the Bronx, said, “I continue to have faith and certainly have faith in God and faith in the jury system and hoping that the jury would come to the conclusion and that’s what we’ll live with, what was said. And we’ll continue to keep the faith." more ›

Bronx City Councilman Larry Seabrook was in federal court yesterday, as his corruption trial began. The first witness, who had donated tens of thousands to the Democrat, insisted the money wasn't in exchange for getting the job to make boilers for the new Yankee Stadium, "He never said give me money for the Yankee Stadium. It was never a, what do you call it? Quid pro quo." more ›

Indicted Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx), he of the $177 bagel, spent nearly $20,000 of taxpayer money to move into a new office—a month after he was indicted of massive fraud. Seabrook, who once divorced his wife without telling her, left his $3,500-a-month office on White Plains Road, which he had been using despite leasing it officially to a nonprofit he ran, to a larger office building on Boston Road this past month. more ›

The charges lobbed against Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) by federal investigators are pretty stunning, but one count stands out from the rest: The allegation that the third-term politician doctored a $7 receipt for a bagel and drink so he was reimbursed $177. Thankfully, the city's press corps has followed up to see whether a $177 bagel exists, and if so, what it tastes like. more ›

Long before getting hit with a 13-count federal indictment for charges of fraud and extortion stunning in both their scope and their audacity, Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) successfully brushed off a scandal that could have brought an end to his political career. According to the Daily News, Seabrook somehow divorced his wife without telling her. more ›

The City Councilman accused of fraud, extortion, money laundering, and doctoring a receipt so he was reimbursed $177 for a $7 bagel sandwich, pleaded not guilty yesterday. After getting hit with a litany of charges in a 65-page federal indictment [PDF], Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) was released on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond. "We have no hesitation in saying that we don't perceive that a crime was committed," said his lawyer, who claimed reimbursement checks issued to the Councilman were legitimate expenses. "That's laundering? I question that." more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) has reportedly been hit with a 13-count indictment on federal charges of money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail and wire fraud, extortion, and receiving an unlawful gratuity. Insiders told the Times that the Democrat—who represents Wakefield, Co-op City, Edenwald, Williamsbridge and Baychester—is suspected of helping a boiler company obtain city contracts. more ›

If you haven't had enough of (alleged!) Bronx corruption, here's more: The NY Times wonders where over $100,000 in rent payments to a nonprofit affiliated with City Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) has gone. The Times reports even though Seabrook and two associates "incorporated...the African-American Bronx Unity Day Parade" as a nonprofit, "It has never received I.R.S. approval to actually operate as a nonprofit. It has never filed a tax return. And, it seems, it has never run a parade. But in recent years it has netted more than $100,000 in city money by leasing space at one price from Bronx landlords and then subleasing it at a far higher price to three nonprofit groups whose rents were later reimbursed by the city." The Times also has a handy graphic that tries to account for the money. Last year, the Village Voice looked at Seabrook's history of being investigated, recalling a 1986 incident, "Apparently annoyed that a Village-based newspaper was poking around his affairs, Seabrook waved away [reporter William] Bastone and a photographer when they approached him outside his Bronx office. 'Now don't you two go and get AIDS,' he said by way of good-bye." more ›

A few years ago, City Council member Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) headed an effort to increase diversity in advertising agencies, resulting in 11 agencies agreeing to improve their minority hiring and promotion efforts (or else be subject to fine). One agency, Omnicom, also backed the creation of a diversity committee, committing millions. While it was widely praised, now the NY Times reports that Seabrook recommended his sister to head the committee, which City Council Speaker Christine Quinn didn't realize: "Ms. Quinn referred the matter this month to the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board and the Council’s Standards and Ethics Committee after learning of the relationship from a reporter." Omnicom tells the Times it realized Priscilla Jenkins, an Atlanta-based consultant, was Seabrook's sister on their own before they hired her and referred to her "extremely impressive résumé." Jenkins previously worked at Morris Brown College (where was praised) and has consulted for companies that receive money from Seabrook via the slush fund. The Times points out, "City regulations prohibit elected officials from using their positions to obtain financial gain or personal advantage for themselves or close family members." more ›

The City Council's Committee on Government Operations met this week to talk about possible changes to how much money council members make. Questions were raised about how raises were determined, leadership bonuses, and whether outside work should remain permitted. After a 25% increase in base pay in 2006, council members earn $112,500 annually. They can earn an additional $10,000 a year on average if a member holds a leadership position. In addition, members can hold... more ›

Yesterday, City Council members Robert Jackson, Larry Seabrook and John Liu introduced a resolution to formally apologize for NYC's role in slavery. According to the Empire Zone, Jackson hoped the resolution would "spur dialogue and interest among the new generation of New Yorkers who will lead us in the future" while Liu stated, "New York is the greatest city in the world, but let’s face it: The early foundation of this city was built on the backs of slaves." (The NY State Legislature is working on a formal apology, too.) more ›

Yesterday, the City Council passed a "symbolic ban" on the n-word. City Councilman Leroy Comrie introduced the resolution earlier this month, and he said, "I'm hoping this is the beginning of a move forward to a place where the use of the N-word is simply unacceptable. So many people have been quietly seething about this for a long time. It's time to bring it into the open." more ›

It took only a few days after "energy drink" Cocaine debuted at Fashion Week parties for local lawmakers to freak out. City Councilman James Sanders of Queens held a press conference and said:There are only two reasons that you would seek to use this infamous and insidious name to market your so-called energy drink. Either you are woefully ignorant of the horrors of cocaine addiction, or your god is the dollar bill, and not even human life is more sacred.”Cocaine the drink prides itself on being more caffeinated than Red Bull - but it's no match for a Starbucks coffee, as Newsday found out. And founder of the company that makes the drink, James Kirby, said, "People know the difference; I don't think people will look at our drink and say, 'Oh, I'm going to buy some real cocaine.' Cocaine is associated with energy, and we're allowed to do this." Obviously Kirby has a drink called "Heroin" in the pipeline that makes you really sedated and not much fun to be around. more ›

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