From the Daily News:The agency that collects rent on city property failed to turn over millions to the city - but still managed to spend big bucks on extravagant travel.
The Economic Development Corp. paid for luxury hotels in China, London, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami and Washington, expenses from January 2008 through April show.
The records show that EDC operates under looser travel rules than city employees, who are supposed to fly coach, stay in economy hotels and limit how much they spend on food and drink.
In contrast, EDC dropped nearly $17,000 to fly two workers to China to drum up investments, charging taxpayers $600 for a meal at a Beijing restaurant.
The agency also paid for:
* A $55 bottle of wine in San Francisco.
* A $368-per-night room at the Club Quarters in London.
* A $119 lunch for four city employees.
* $48 for room service and $80 for extra legroom on a flight.
An EDC spokesman said its travel guidelines adhere to the "spirit" of city worker rules.
A spokesman for Mayor Bloomberg defended the agency, saying EDC has trimmed its travel budget to "less than $45,000" in fiscal year2010.
"We are in a worldwide competition for jobs and investment, and the notion that New York City's economic development arm should act less aggressively than those in other cities is short-sighted," spokesman Andrew Brent said.
City workers must follow an edict known as Directive 6 restricting expenses for travel. EDC officials "do not believe EDC is subject to Directive 6," spokesman David Lombino said.
The Daily News also found the EDC often didn't even follow its own less restrictive rules.
Time to reform public authorities. Now.
13 comments:
I have never before equated 'acting aggressively' by politicians with extra legroom on flights.
Trickle down foot powder.
Why this sounds mighty identical, but more tame than Foley's spending with the credit card and Marco Rubio.
Now if we can have the money back from private defense contracts making money from the taxpayers dime that would be amazing.
Instead of just talking about it Daily news and other news sites bring legal suit against the EDC to pay it back. It has been done before.
Rubio's campaign image belies history of $250 million in pork requests
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rubios-campaign-image-belies-history-of-250-million-in-pork-requests/1078548
"Why this sounds mighty identical, but more tame than Foley's spending with the credit card and Marco Rubio."
That makes no sense.
"Instead of just talking about it Daily news and other news sites bring legal suit against the EDC to pay it back. It has been done before."
Sober up and make a point.
Fire those who signed off on the expenses and clamp down on future travel.
if reforming public authorities is your cause, Brodsky should get your vote.
My impression of the EDC people, as is the impression of others towards them, is that its an organization of politically appointed yuppies that come to work late, have long lunches, and have output that leaves a lot to be desired.
This is not a team that is of the level of the one that put in the WPA projects of the 30s, that is for sure.
They don't like to work or have much contact with the community preferring to have city planning and the local elected screen for them.
And that is the problem. Being that EDC is a major player in the overdevelopment of NYC, our electeds pretty much have a hands off attitude towards them
And from what I am able to gather in the generally third rate caliber of our electeds, the yuppies in EDC, as bumbling and amateur as THEY are, snow under our electeds.
What is Chuck "follow the buck" Apelian's cut for having his nose up the EDC's ass by voting yes and approving the Flushing Commons project?
What's his cut from Wellington Chen who was TDC's vice president and former CB# 7 member and their current landlord?
Then there's C.M. Peter Koo who's very cozy with developer Michael Lee.
What's he getting (and already gotten?) from Lee in the way of (laundered from Shanghai?) campaign contributions?
H-m-m-m-...
I smell a CONFLICT OF INTEREST!
And really Peter...having a convicted rapist like Dennis P. Gallagher running your show from the wings...tsk, tsk, tsk...naughty boy!
Then there's "doofy" Dan Halloran with his nose in fellow party member Koo's crotch!
Well...goodbye Dan & Peter next election!
BRING IN THE FEDS!
the EDC is the devil. it did eminent domain on a pizzeria at the corner of 42nd & 6th Avenue. the owners, who are parents of a disabled child, put up a good long time fight. they lost to the EDC and the State of NY. what was built in it's place was a huge bank. do we need more banks when none of us has any money?
note: there were many accidents during construction and afterwards, with the wind blowing windows & construction debris from about the 50th floor into the street.
the EDC is the DEVIL.
the EDC is the devil. it did eminent domain on a pizzeria at the corner of 42nd & 6th Avenue. the owners, who are parents of a disabled child, put up a good long time fight. they lost to the EDC and the State of NY. what was built in it's place was a huge bank. do we need more banks when none of us has any money?
note: there were many accidents during construction and afterwards, with the wind blowing windows & construction debris from about the 50th floor into the street.
the EDC is the DEVIL.
Hey who runs that agency?
Like the Port Authority which is private when it's convenient to be private, and public when it's convenient to be public, all these public authorities are tax parasites.
Never mind all this....
WHY DOES THE MAN WHO PULLS THE STRINGS OF THE QUEENS DEMOCRATIC MACHINE RESIDE IN NASSAU COUNTY?
Because it's the old...."Never shit in your own yard"....practice I suppose!
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