From DNA Info:Many City Council members are wary of endorsing candidates in the 2013 mayoral race until after budget season because they're afraid a vengeful Speaker Christine Quinn will cut their share of $50 million in discretionary funds, DNAinfo.com New York has learned.
The funds, which are controlled by the speaker, are dished out to members each summer to fund constituent-pleasing services, such as community centers and seniors programs. While Quinn’s office has long insisted that the money is allocated based on districts' needs, it’s no secret that members on Quinn’s good side tend to profit — while those who cross her get their budgets slashed.
And many Council members now worry that endorsing a rival in the mayor's race, where Quinn is widely perceived as the front-runner, will result in the same fate.
“I definitely think that discretionary funds will be wielded as a weapon in the fight for endorsements,” said one Democratic Council member, who, like nearly a dozen others who spoke to DNAinfo.com New York, asked for anonymity to avoid angering Quinn.
“Certainly, that is the elephant in the room,” another member said.
“It’s a legal form of blackmail," still another member said.
To avoid retribution, some Council members are weighing postponing their endorsements until July, after the budget is adopted and Quinn no longer has sway over the money.
13 comments:
Does anyone still think that democracy rules in NYC when the speaker can hold a gun to council members' heads?
Bah! Wake up! A vote for Empress Quinn is a vote to destroy your quality of life!
Business as usual.
A vote for Empress Quinn is a vote to destroy your quality of life!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
These idiots wanted to give such arbitrary power to the Speaker whoever it is. Let them live with the mess they created.
And we all thought Bloomy was bad. We ain't seen nothin' yet!
Christine's political career died the day she helped close St. Vincent's hospital.
She's a loud mouthed developer's slut!
"Weighing their positions" about the "elephant" in the room. I love it! Face it, she's already been annointed our first lesbo elephant mayor. No Third Term! No Third Term!
Giuliani is doing the same on behalf of Lhota.
she can't be a lesbo, she is married.....
End discretionary funding.
All requests for funding go before the full council.
Absolutely!
Why should Speaker Quinn have her own slush fund?
Quinn sold out to NYU, but the Village and the surrounding neighborhoods have lots of fight and very long memories....
Post a Comment