Council Members Downplay Indictments
David Weprin, the City Council Finance Chairman, emerged from the closed door meeting that members had with Christine Quinn yesterday to discuss the council's accounting problems and and the indictment of two staffers.
“We know what you know. From what I read here, it looks to me like it was a lone incident,” he said. He declined to discuss how the indictments may affect the budget reforms that Quinn proposed last week (and he supports).
Later, Leroy Comrie, a Quinn ally, emerged from the meeting and was asked if anybody holds Quinn responsible.
“No comment on that,” said Comrie.
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Evidently, Mr. Weprin, didn't read todays DN. Another Councilmember is under investigation. My gut feeeling is that there are more, let the investigation go foward, look into the member items monies that went into ALL Councilmembers funding of their choice of organizations, see who is on the boards of these organizations & their relationship to the Councilmember & just follow the money trail. Let's clean house now. The general public already lacks trusts in their gov't. It's up to the investigators to expose those who used (as I have always said) taxpayer monies as their own cash cow, for influence peddling etc. etc. etc.
"Ehhhum, you know, era uh um, I am just um relieved um not to see my name in this indictment." A lone incident...unbelievable. The smartest this guy can say is nothing at all- just digging himself deeper and deeper.
Interesting how these important investigations always fall on someone not so important. Kendall Stewart? Ridiculous. This was definitely the result of a behind the scenes deal- I hope that they piss Stewart and his staff off to the point where they start talking. Give em up Kendall, they are gonna throw you and your staff under the bridge anyway.
This has got to be the tip of a very large iceberg. I have a feeling Quinn somehow got Stewart to sell out his staff, thinking she could stall. She may also be trying to make a deal, where she talks/resigns and doesn't go to jail. Doubt it will happen, Spitzer couldn't swing it.
I wholly doubt that Stewart is the only member of that corrupt un-needed body who is in trouble. There are more members, there is Chris's senior staff who turned a blind eye, there's Mr. Weprin who is so CLEARLY petrified by all of this as seen in the video. There's all of Quinns loyalists (Lappin, Gioia, Gardonick, Recchia) who I'm sure were involved.
They should lock them all up and throw away the key.
I read in the City Council Fiscal Year 2008 Expense Budget, That Fidler, Recchia & Nelson gave item member monies, $105,000.00 dollars to " A. Genovesi Environemental Center".Its purpose of the funds were " to fund an environmental center for school children in an after school program." I googled this group & came up with PS 312 Bergen Beach School, Brooklyn NY, but at their website there is no mentiion of this program , anywhere. What's up with this & where did $105,000.oo go to? Does anybody out there know?
You don't have to watch New York City politics for too long to know that "after school programs" usually mean patronage to some pol's supporters. It's another way we rob of kids of a decent education.
We should get rid of member items entirely. They are what keep bad and incompetent politicans in office. Over a four-year term, every council member is given some $1.7 million to spread around their district. Who couldn't get elected with a wallet that fat?
End member items. It would be a heck of a lot more effective than term limits. And without term limits, we'd actually get to keep those good council members on the job long enough to become competent lawmakers.
I've also read the City Council Fiscal Year 2008 Expense Budget, The following Councilmembers: Recchia, Felder, Nelson, Weprin, Fidler & Gennaro gave approx. $300,000.00 dollars to the "Sephardic Community Center" Brooklyn NY. They are giving public taxpayer monies to one of the most affluent communities in NYC, to run a fastastic "Health Club." If you ever pass by Ocean Parkway & Ave. R they are expanding this community center with a new multi-million dollar building. It seems to me that these politicans are just buying their influence & votes. I can guarantee you that this community does not need this type of funding from the public trough.
Funniest part is that only 3 of the 5 are even from Brooklyn. Glad someone is finally reading the budget. Now if only they would take the time to compare it to campaign fund raising lists...
You can imagine why some councilmen appear so nervous and defensive these days...its just a matter of time.
Hey 1:19: I live in Mr. Recchia's district & according to his past contributions he gets thousands from the Sephardic Community, including monies from Joe Sitt ( Thor Equities- Coney Island Developer & soon BJ Warehouse developer in Bensonhurst)both in Recchia's disrtict. Also thousands from other family members & friends. You complete the dots...."pay to play." If you look at the Sepahrdic Community Centers website & look at the officers.. It's all there in black & white.
Please feel free to visit the Anthony Genovesi Environmental Center which is on Avenue T next to PS 312. It is a beautiful science center for kids. It is not inthe PS312 budget because it is not part of the school and serves kids throughout Region 6 in southern Brooklyn. The name is the only political thing about the center which is a terrific asset for kids' learning. The funders should be commended. Feel free to visit it. You will be suitably impressed.
Appreciative Parent
2:09: I very glad to hear that the money went to a very worthy project. If it's not in the school budget,and is not part of PS 312, who runs it, who maintains it? And what type of programs do they have there? Being a teacher in East New York some of my kids would love to see it. Do you have to make an appointment ?
It is run by the DOE. I am not sure if students from outside Region 6 can take class trips there, but you should definitely call them and ask. It is a great place with both exotic reptiles and plants for kids to see and learn from.
Quinn should go.... the trail should lead to here-- she said it herself... the buck stops with her.
Speaker Christine Quinn empowered her assistants, like Laura Popa, to hurt many good people. If you do not like Speaker Quinn, please click the link below to watch her press conference concerning the City Council indictments. It appears that one of Quinn's assistants tried to brush aside Quinn's involvement, by instructing Quinn to discuss minor legislation first, but when the reporters ask her about her corruptio,n she folds like a cheap camera. So, again, if you DO NOT like Speaker Quinn, please watch the below YOUTUBE video link to watch Speaker Quinn suffer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2eIuZ-kQW8
I certainly believe that investigations are important, but I'm starting to feel a mob mentality happening. Be careful you don't throw out the baby with the water.
The Genovesi Environmental Center is housed in a building next to PS 312. It is not part of that school. It serves all teachers and students of District 22 (Region 6 depending on the organization of the system which changes often!).
They house live organisms and have a greenhouse. They train science teachers and have classes (all grades) visit throughout the school year. They provide after school programs and facilitate Family Science nights on site or at host schools.
Educators there often go out and visit classes and groups of teachers aside from having groups visit them.
It is a legitimate entity that was faced with a harsh economic problem when mayor Bloomberg restructured school finances (because of the fact that it is separate from any one school).
The city council's funding helped to keep the facility open.
I am a science teacher in District 22. The center is an invaluable resource!