Money is no object for city council

COUNCIL IS OFF TO THE RAISES
By SALLY GOLDENBERG, NY Post

Despite the city's dire fiscal situation, the City Council doled out 90 staff raises this year, with one aide getting a $20,000 increase even though his title did not change, The Post has found.

A review of council salaries from fiscal years 2008 and 2009 show 64 staffers got double-digit increases in pay. Kenneth Mitchell got a bump from $95,976 to $115,976 when he worked as chief of staff and general counsel to Councilman Michael McMahon (D-SI) Mitchell did not return calls

Carmen Aquino, who works for Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo (D-Bronx), now earns $55,000, up from $40,000 last year. Arroyo said she cut back on office expenses to afford five staff raises.

Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) gave one aide a 57.5 percent increase, despite not promoting her, records show. Nayo Simmons' salary jumped from $41,260 to $65,000. Barron declined to comment.