New York's top elected leaders are shamefully enabling rampant corruption
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Judging by his resigned acceptance of political corruption in New York, Gov. Cuomo is being swallowed by the dark side. He chalked up state Sen. Malcolm Smith’s plot to buy a spot on the mayoral election ballot to the ebb and flow of inevitable personal frailties.
“People do stupid things, frankly. People do illegal things. People in power abuse power. It’s part of the human condition,” the governor said, employing a cliche to divert attention from the seamy truth that surrounds him.
It’s the Albany condition. It’s the New York City condition. It’s the New York State condition.
The arrest Thursday of Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson in a naked bribery case, in which fellow Bronx Assemblyman Nelson Castro wore a wire after secretly taking his own criminal fall, brought to 40 the number of state or city officeholders convicted, arrested, penalized or booted for serious wrongdoing since 2003.
On tape, Stevenson declared:
“Bottom line . . . if half the people up here in Albany were ever caught for what they do . . . they . . . would probably be (in jail). So who are they bulls----ing?”
His words were a variation on the theme enunciated on tape by Queens City Councilman Dan Halloran, who was busted in the Smith case.
“That’s politics, that’s politics, it’s all about how much, not about whether or will, it’s about how much, and that’s our politicians in New York, they’re all like that, all like that,” Halloran allegedly said, adding: “You can’t get anything without the f--king money.”
New York is ruled by a criminal class whose motto is, “Where’s mine?” and whose members expect the answer in cash. They betray the public trust because they harbor cancered souls and because to be elected in New York is to plunge into a culture where power begets money begets power begets cynicism begets an outstretched hand.
Hey, if Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver can legally earn fees working with a trial lawyers firm while protecting the legislative interests of trial lawyers, why should Stevenson think twice about getting paid for doing the bidding of businessmen who run a senior citizens day care center?
Hey, if Mayor Bloomberg can legally pour $400,000 into the Independence Party, plus $650,000 into causes beloved by the party’s cultlike leaders, after they gave him their ballot line, why should Smith shy from paying off Republican Party leaders for essentially the same favor?
The respected and the rotten go hand-in-hand.
Silver has lowered the Assembly into a house worthy of a banana republic. Operating almost entirely behind closed doors, he demands dronelike fealty from his Democratic majority.
They vote with him, their paychecks get bigger and they get to deliver taxpayer-funded pork to their districts. He’ll also conceal their offenses when they run into trouble. They break ranks, their incomes fall and their districts starve. In organized crime, this would be called extortion. In Albany, it’s called the system.
State Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos has practiced the same boss rule — leading his members to sell out principles to public employee unions and other deep-pocketed interests.
It was Skelos who cut a deal with Pedro Espada in the notorious Senate coup of 2009. It was Skelos who served obediently under former Majority Leader Joe Bruno, saying nothing as Bruno enriched himself with “consulting fees” from favor seekers.
Silver and Skelos are now Cuomo’s partners in governing. After vowing to clean up Albany, the governor set aside a threat to establish a powerful anti-corruption investigating panel, caved to creation of a hogtied Joint Commission on Public Integrity — which has done virtually nothing — and retreated into the backrooms with Silver and Skelos.
Casting transparency to the wind, the governor has demonstrated that the private deal is the foundation of public business. He takes consolation in having secured on-time budgets and legislative accomplishments, but he did no one a favor by describing his working group as “the best legislative body in the nation.”
Here in the city, Council Speaker Christine Quinn enforces her authority with money — more than a half-billion doled out annually to members who stand with her. She also has withheld funding if a member has so much as issued an unauthorized press release that omitted Quinn’s name.
Public Advocate Bill De Blasio , who slams Quinn over the so-called member item system as the two vie for mayor, dipped into the slush fund while in the Council. He doled out more than $7 million. He funneled $439,000 to six groups and reaped $90,000 in campaign contributions from people associated with the organizations.
Controller John Liu presided over a campaign that used straw donors to get public funding from the Campaign Finance Board.
Currying favor with the Republican leaders allegedly bribed by Smith, billionaire Republican mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis poured more than $100,000 into the city’s GOP.
Catsimatidis also hired Queens Republican Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone as a $100,000-a-year counsel for his supermarket firm. Tabone is charged with taking $25,000 in Smith’s plot.
Announcing Stevenson’s arrest, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “The people of New York should be more than just disappointed. They should be angry. . . . When it is more likely for a New York state senator to be arrested by the authorities than to be defeated at the polls, they should be angry.”
The fury should extend far beyond those led away in handcuffs, to those who created the climate for the handcuffing.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/fundamentally-lousy-article-1.1308145#ixzz2Pho2AZ6U
Showing posts with label Ruben Diaz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ruben Diaz. Show all posts
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Friday, April 10, 2009
Latinos Missing from Assembly Leadership
El Diario/La Prensa Editorial
April 10, 2009
With at least one vacancy expected in the leadership of New York’s Assembly Majority, Speaker Sheldon Silver has the opportunity to address the absence of Latinos on that body.
On Wednesday, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that he is naming Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene as deputy borough president of the Bronx. With no real opposition, Diaz Jr. is considered a shoe-in for the Bronx borough presidency. His appointment of Greene, a veteran legislator, will leave a vacancy in the Assembly’s Majority Leadership, where she serves as Speaker Pro Tempore. In that position, she is second to Silver in presiding over the Assembly.
As it stands right now, there are 20 positions in the majority leadership. Not one of them is held by a Hispanic, despite the fact that there are 1.5 million eligible Latino voters and counting in New York. Clearly, Silver should take Greene’s pending departure, and others that are anticipated, to address his Latino-less leadership.
With rumors that more Assembly members may cast their lots for city races, other vacancies may arise. This means that Latino legislators must convene to ensure that Hispanics are meaningfully represented in new leadership and committee chair opportunities.
The issue of the lack of Latinos in Assembly leadership positions has already been put on Silver’s radar. And there are legislators who are in talks about pending openings. While some of them may feel more effective as heads of committees, this does not negate the need and importance of having Latino representation in the leadership conference of the Assembly.
Yes, at the helm of the Assembly, there are traditional carrots – a bigger stipend and prestige. But the important reality is that being in the Assembly’s leadership opens political access and a pipeline to larger statewide positions.
We encourage Latino legislators to be proactive in seizing—and creating—leadership opportunities and Speaker Silver to effectively respond to a growing community that deserves equitable representation.
April 10, 2009
With at least one vacancy expected in the leadership of New York’s Assembly Majority, Speaker Sheldon Silver has the opportunity to address the absence of Latinos on that body.
On Wednesday, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that he is naming Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene as deputy borough president of the Bronx. With no real opposition, Diaz Jr. is considered a shoe-in for the Bronx borough presidency. His appointment of Greene, a veteran legislator, will leave a vacancy in the Assembly’s Majority Leadership, where she serves as Speaker Pro Tempore. In that position, she is second to Silver in presiding over the Assembly.
As it stands right now, there are 20 positions in the majority leadership. Not one of them is held by a Hispanic, despite the fact that there are 1.5 million eligible Latino voters and counting in New York. Clearly, Silver should take Greene’s pending departure, and others that are anticipated, to address his Latino-less leadership.
With rumors that more Assembly members may cast their lots for city races, other vacancies may arise. This means that Latino legislators must convene to ensure that Hispanics are meaningfully represented in new leadership and committee chair opportunities.
The issue of the lack of Latinos in Assembly leadership positions has already been put on Silver’s radar. And there are legislators who are in talks about pending openings. While some of them may feel more effective as heads of committees, this does not negate the need and importance of having Latino representation in the leadership conference of the Assembly.
Yes, at the helm of the Assembly, there are traditional carrots – a bigger stipend and prestige. But the important reality is that being in the Assembly’s leadership opens political access and a pipeline to larger statewide positions.
We encourage Latino legislators to be proactive in seizing—and creating—leadership opportunities and Speaker Silver to effectively respond to a growing community that deserves equitable representation.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Diazes May Not Be Off Investigation Hook Yet
NY Daily News
Tuesday, March 24th 2009, 1:44 AM
Just as the U.S. attorney has reportedly ended his two-year-long investigation into State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Assemblyman son Ruben Jr., state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has stepped in to take a look.
Cuomo's office may be picking the bones of the fed probe to see if any state charges might apply to either or both of the Diazes.
We're told Cuomo's people have been talking to some folks connected with the nonprofit Soundview Community in Action, which the Diazes founded, then defunded after its director, Ed Padilla, accused them of turning it into their personal political fiefdom.
Two weeks ago, the Diazes' lawyers told the Bronx Boro News that Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin's office informed them its investigation had been "terminated ... with no finding of wrongdoing."
Both Dassin and Cuomo's offices had no comment. As of deadline, also no comment from the Diaz camp.
Bronx GOP Mike-less
Mayor Bloomberg, who has raised the old "Ten bucks and a pint of Night Train" style of buying votes to new heights, was a no-show at Thursday's Bronx GOP fund-raiser.
The city's five GOP county leaders meet May 6 to pick a mayoral candidate, and Bloomberg is lusting for their ballot line.
It may wind up money over principle, since he could easily fill the cash-poor party's coffers. But ex-Dem Bloomie treated it like a cheatin' boyfriend, using it to get a party line, then dumping it to run independent.
Bronx Chair Jay Savino told us he's likely to support former City Council Minority Leader Tom Ognibene of Queens for mayor, pretty much a symbolic gesture.
"It's about policies and issues that the people we represent care about," said Savino.
One of the night's honorees, billionaire/mayoral wanna-be John Catsimatidis, had to bow out with a family emergency, but ex-Bronx Dem Party Boss Jose Rivera was at his table.
Meanwhile, campaign finance board filings show GOPer Anthony Ribustello, who's pushing a boulder up the hill running against Ruben Diaz Jr. for borough president, has raised $200 compared to $279,680 by Rubencito, who has spent $172,102 of it.
My name is Earl
Earl Brown, acting borough president until the April 21 election, now has - on the BP's Web site, www.bronxboropres.nyc.gov - his pix and bio posted.
Efrain boosting Ruth
Ex-State Sen. Efrain Gonzalez is hosting a fund-raiser for state Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson Friday at the Pelham/Split Rock Golf Course.
Efrain, who has been making the political rounds without a seeming care in the world, is due to go on federal trial in May, charged with pocketing funding to nonprofits.
Pedro's peeved
We're told state Sen. Pedro Espada isn't returning our calls because he's got his tail in a sling over that Wascally Wabbit nickname.
He didn't seem to mind before he became somewhat of a minor power in Albany. That thanks to the Three Amigos (Banditos) - Espada, Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr., and Brooklyn's Carl Kruger - shaking down Malcolm Smith in exchange for giving him a one-vote majority leadership.
But based on general opinion in Bronx political circles, we'll stick with the nickname - for now.
Odds on Maria
Maria Baez continues to have THE very worst unexcused attendance record in the City Council - among her many other faults.
But it looks like she has a lock on getting reelected to her west Bronx seat, since she needs only 1,500 votes to pull it off.
And with a verrrrrry crowded field of at least five challengers so far, they'll just be diluting the vote. God bless democracy.
Bill minus Adolfo
Adolfo Carrión's departure from the race for City Controller has hurt mayoral candidate Bill Thompson's quest for Latino votes, according to a piece by former Daily News Bronx bureau intern Andrew Hawkins in the current online City Hall News (www.cityhallnews.com/). The plan was for AC and Bill to link arms on the campaign trail, amigo and bro.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com
Tuesday, March 24th 2009, 1:44 AM
Just as the U.S. attorney has reportedly ended his two-year-long investigation into State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Assemblyman son Ruben Jr., state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has stepped in to take a look.
Cuomo's office may be picking the bones of the fed probe to see if any state charges might apply to either or both of the Diazes.
We're told Cuomo's people have been talking to some folks connected with the nonprofit Soundview Community in Action, which the Diazes founded, then defunded after its director, Ed Padilla, accused them of turning it into their personal political fiefdom.
Two weeks ago, the Diazes' lawyers told the Bronx Boro News that Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin's office informed them its investigation had been "terminated ... with no finding of wrongdoing."
Both Dassin and Cuomo's offices had no comment. As of deadline, also no comment from the Diaz camp.
Bronx GOP Mike-less
Mayor Bloomberg, who has raised the old "Ten bucks and a pint of Night Train" style of buying votes to new heights, was a no-show at Thursday's Bronx GOP fund-raiser.
The city's five GOP county leaders meet May 6 to pick a mayoral candidate, and Bloomberg is lusting for their ballot line.
It may wind up money over principle, since he could easily fill the cash-poor party's coffers. But ex-Dem Bloomie treated it like a cheatin' boyfriend, using it to get a party line, then dumping it to run independent.
Bronx Chair Jay Savino told us he's likely to support former City Council Minority Leader Tom Ognibene of Queens for mayor, pretty much a symbolic gesture.
"It's about policies and issues that the people we represent care about," said Savino.
One of the night's honorees, billionaire/mayoral wanna-be John Catsimatidis, had to bow out with a family emergency, but ex-Bronx Dem Party Boss Jose Rivera was at his table.
Meanwhile, campaign finance board filings show GOPer Anthony Ribustello, who's pushing a boulder up the hill running against Ruben Diaz Jr. for borough president, has raised $200 compared to $279,680 by Rubencito, who has spent $172,102 of it.
My name is Earl
Earl Brown, acting borough president until the April 21 election, now has - on the BP's Web site, www.bronxboropres.nyc.gov - his pix and bio posted.
Efrain boosting Ruth
Ex-State Sen. Efrain Gonzalez is hosting a fund-raiser for state Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson Friday at the Pelham/Split Rock Golf Course.
Efrain, who has been making the political rounds without a seeming care in the world, is due to go on federal trial in May, charged with pocketing funding to nonprofits.
Pedro's peeved
We're told state Sen. Pedro Espada isn't returning our calls because he's got his tail in a sling over that Wascally Wabbit nickname.
He didn't seem to mind before he became somewhat of a minor power in Albany. That thanks to the Three Amigos (Banditos) - Espada, Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr., and Brooklyn's Carl Kruger - shaking down Malcolm Smith in exchange for giving him a one-vote majority leadership.
But based on general opinion in Bronx political circles, we'll stick with the nickname - for now.
Odds on Maria
Maria Baez continues to have THE very worst unexcused attendance record in the City Council - among her many other faults.
But it looks like she has a lock on getting reelected to her west Bronx seat, since she needs only 1,500 votes to pull it off.
And with a verrrrrry crowded field of at least five challengers so far, they'll just be diluting the vote. God bless democracy.
Bill minus Adolfo
Adolfo Carrión's departure from the race for City Controller has hurt mayoral candidate Bill Thompson's quest for Latino votes, according to a piece by former Daily News Bronx bureau intern Andrew Hawkins in the current online City Hall News (www.cityhallnews.com/). The plan was for AC and Bill to link arms on the campaign trail, amigo and bro.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Dad and Son Diaz are Off U.S. Attorney's Hook
New York Daily News
Tuesday, March 17th 2009, 7:02 AM
While former Bronx Borough President/Obama urban policy czar Adolfo Carrion has been squirming under the investigative spotlight, the feds have reportedly dropped their two-year-long investigations into Assemblyman and BP candidate Ruben Diaz Jr. and his state senator dad, Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr.
Their lawyers tell us Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin's office told them the grand jury investigations were "terminated" with "no finding of wrongdoing."
A spokeswoman for Dassin said office policy is to neither confirm nor deny information in such matters.
As we previously reported exclusively, the feds were looking at the Diazes allegedly using workers at Soundview Community in Action for campaign work on nonprofit time and at potential voter registration fraud.
The Diazes cut SCA funding after director Ed Padilla charged them with using it as a political fiefdom. Reps. Jose Serrano, Joe Crowley, and Councilwoman Annabel Palma have kept it funded.
Ed's brother Ken Padilla is district leader in Assemblyman Peter Rivera's 76th A.D. and backed a challenger against Rubencito in his recent assembly race.
Then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer wrist-slapped Daddy Diaz in 2005, making him repay $5,000 in state and fed funds to SCA that he used to buy furniture for his district office as well as campaign loudspeakers.
El-i-ot, phone home
No, we're not talking about E.T., but Rep. Eliot Engel, who suffered the embarrassment last week of being outed on his questionable residency issue.
The state of Maryland rejected his request for a 7G tax break on his $1 million family manse there, though Engel claimed it was his official residence.
Guess that Bronx apartment on his voter registration is just his crash pad when he's working the campaign circuit.
Where's dat Wascal?
A lot of west Bronx constituents are wondering just when and where newly elected State Sen. Pedro (The Wascally Wabbit) Espada Jr. is finally going to open a district office.
His senate Web site lists his Albany phone number and a questionnaire asking for contact information - and if you're registered to vote.
News blogger Liz Benjamin recently reported Pedro is eying offices at 400 E. Fordham Road. We, however, have received no phone nibbles back from the Wabbit.
Chicken with pork
We asked the borough's three congressmen to give us the top earmarked item they inserted among the 8,500 in the new omnibus spending bill signed by President Obama, who was not all that happy with the pork-larded document.
But as of deadline, two of them basically chickened out on the pork-barrel items.
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-South Bronx) said in a statement: "All the projects that I fund are important and worthwhile. I would have trouble ranking their significance against one another because, in so many ways, they are all vital to our community."
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-North Bronx) didn't respond, and Rep. Joe Crowley (D-East Bronx) didn't give us his top money item.
One congressman's aide, whom we shall mercifully spare with anonymity, told us, "Problem is, one group sees how much another one's getting and they get pissy."
Those board appointments
Since Adolfo left all those open community board appointments hanging fire, folks are wondering what's next.
City Council members appoint half the members, leaving the BP the rest, for each of the 12 37-member boards, with the BP's office screening for a final okay.
It's not likely Acting BP Earl Brown will want to approve any of the reappointment and new appointment applications.
A source in Rubencito's camp said he's ready to review and approve them (though maybe not all) should he win the special election, rather than wait for the winner of the general November election (wonder who?) to take office in January.
Fox update
Councilman Larry (The Fox) Seabrook is still NOT running for boro prez, if anyone cares.
Grand Old Party
The Bronx Republican Party and chairman Jay Savino are throwing a "Spring Reception" Thursday at the Marina del Rey, honoring supermarket mogul and mayoral wanna-be John Catsimatidis. Be interesting to see if the Man Who Would Be King Bloomberg stops by.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com
Tuesday, March 17th 2009, 7:02 AM
While former Bronx Borough President/Obama urban policy czar Adolfo Carrion has been squirming under the investigative spotlight, the feds have reportedly dropped their two-year-long investigations into Assemblyman and BP candidate Ruben Diaz Jr. and his state senator dad, Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr.
Their lawyers tell us Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin's office told them the grand jury investigations were "terminated" with "no finding of wrongdoing."
A spokeswoman for Dassin said office policy is to neither confirm nor deny information in such matters.
As we previously reported exclusively, the feds were looking at the Diazes allegedly using workers at Soundview Community in Action for campaign work on nonprofit time and at potential voter registration fraud.
The Diazes cut SCA funding after director Ed Padilla charged them with using it as a political fiefdom. Reps. Jose Serrano, Joe Crowley, and Councilwoman Annabel Palma have kept it funded.
Ed's brother Ken Padilla is district leader in Assemblyman Peter Rivera's 76th A.D. and backed a challenger against Rubencito in his recent assembly race.
Then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer wrist-slapped Daddy Diaz in 2005, making him repay $5,000 in state and fed funds to SCA that he used to buy furniture for his district office as well as campaign loudspeakers.
El-i-ot, phone home
No, we're not talking about E.T., but Rep. Eliot Engel, who suffered the embarrassment last week of being outed on his questionable residency issue.
The state of Maryland rejected his request for a 7G tax break on his $1 million family manse there, though Engel claimed it was his official residence.
Guess that Bronx apartment on his voter registration is just his crash pad when he's working the campaign circuit.
Where's dat Wascal?
A lot of west Bronx constituents are wondering just when and where newly elected State Sen. Pedro (The Wascally Wabbit) Espada Jr. is finally going to open a district office.
His senate Web site lists his Albany phone number and a questionnaire asking for contact information - and if you're registered to vote.
News blogger Liz Benjamin recently reported Pedro is eying offices at 400 E. Fordham Road. We, however, have received no phone nibbles back from the Wabbit.
Chicken with pork
We asked the borough's three congressmen to give us the top earmarked item they inserted among the 8,500 in the new omnibus spending bill signed by President Obama, who was not all that happy with the pork-larded document.
But as of deadline, two of them basically chickened out on the pork-barrel items.
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-South Bronx) said in a statement: "All the projects that I fund are important and worthwhile. I would have trouble ranking their significance against one another because, in so many ways, they are all vital to our community."
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-North Bronx) didn't respond, and Rep. Joe Crowley (D-East Bronx) didn't give us his top money item.
One congressman's aide, whom we shall mercifully spare with anonymity, told us, "Problem is, one group sees how much another one's getting and they get pissy."
Those board appointments
Since Adolfo left all those open community board appointments hanging fire, folks are wondering what's next.
City Council members appoint half the members, leaving the BP the rest, for each of the 12 37-member boards, with the BP's office screening for a final okay.
It's not likely Acting BP Earl Brown will want to approve any of the reappointment and new appointment applications.
A source in Rubencito's camp said he's ready to review and approve them (though maybe not all) should he win the special election, rather than wait for the winner of the general November election (wonder who?) to take office in January.
Fox update
Councilman Larry (The Fox) Seabrook is still NOT running for boro prez, if anyone cares.
Grand Old Party
The Bronx Republican Party and chairman Jay Savino are throwing a "Spring Reception" Thursday at the Marina del Rey, honoring supermarket mogul and mayoral wanna-be John Catsimatidis. Be interesting to see if the Man Who Would Be King Bloomberg stops by.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)