Monday, July 21, 2008

Are borough presidents necessary anymore?


One has three drivers, a speechwriter and a writer of proclamations - like the one presented to Ms. Full-Figured USA 2005.

Another has a "secretary to the assistant to the president" who makes $85,000 - on top of two other special assistants, two plain old assistants and a secretary.

And two have fleets of 11 cars.


BEEPS' BIG SIS-BOOM-BUCKS

The city's five borough presidents get tens of millions in taxpayer dollars for chauffeurs, staffs of up to about 80 and discretionary spending - all so they can meet a whirlwind schedule that includes ribbon-cuttings, graduation speeches, community meetings and honorary breakfasts, a Post investigation found.

Called "glorified cheerleaders" by critics, the presidents' roles have become questionable to the point that the Charter Revision Commission is expected to explore changing - or even abolishing - the five offices when it convenes this year, sources told The Post.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

There seems to be some inequity here with Queens getting less than all but Staten Island.

dave in milwaukee said...

For what reason could she possibly need four cars? One for each direction, perhaps?

Anonymous said...

Not only are borough presidents completely unnecessary, I would say about 99% of politicians aren't necessary either.

All politicians spend the vast majority of time trying to create the perception that they play a crutial role in our communities by getting face-time at every event possible.

All politicians try to sink their claws into the private sector and then latch on like leaches so they can get some recognition or gain some kind of controlling interest.

They think they are freakin' rock stars by being driven around in private cars, never paying for a meal and surrounding themselves with assistants who kiss their asses.

If the borough presidents never showed up to "work" again, no one would notice....or care.

And we'd all get along just fine.

Anonymous said...

Once upon a time, the Borough Presidents mattered, The 5 Borough Presidents and the Mayor sat on the "Board of Estimate" and they made the decisions about the city. However, somebody-or-other sued b/c it wasn't fair that Brooklyn got the same number of representatives that Staten Island did, it went to the Supreme Court, and the Supremes said that was unconstitutional, (i guess they forgot that each state gets two seats in the US Senate regardless of population).
Since then, Borough Presidents have been trying to find something to do.