Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Dan Halloran, Malcolm Smith, Vince Tabone arrested


UPDATE: Here's the complaint if you have some extra reading time.

From Eyewitness News:

Authorities say New York State Senator Malcolm Smith and New York City Councilman Dan Halloran were arrested Tuesday morning as part of an ongoing corruption case.

They will be arraigned later today in federal court in White Plains.

Also arrested were Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin and Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret.

Two others, identified as Vicent Tabone and Joseph Savine, are also facing charges in the corruption probe.


From the NY Post:

State Sen. Malcolm Smith and city Councilman Dan Halloran were arrested this morning on charges they plotted to rig this year’s mayoral election through fraud and bribes.

The pols allegedly formed an alliance built on cash payments and fraud to get Smith — one of the state’s top Democrats — placed on the GOP mayoral ballot, sources said.

FBI agents arrested them both at their Queens homes shortly after 6 a.m.

“I have no idea,” Republican Halloran, in handcuffs, told a Post reporter when asked if he knew why he was being arrested.

“I’m sure the truth will come out once I have an opportunity to find out what’s going on.”

The FBI declined to comment.

Smith was trying to buy off Republican leaders because he needed the party’s support in at least three boroughs in order to run as a GOP candidate without even changing his own party affiliation, the sources said.

“It’s incredible,” a source said of the alleged plot.

To get on the GOP ballot, Smith allegedly enlisted Halloran, a Republican, to set up meetings with party leaders and negotiate thousands of dollars in bribes. The money was masked as payments for legal and accounting services, sources said.

Halloran allegedly collected thousands in bribes for himself along the way, the sources said.

He is separately charged with taking bribes from a consultant in return for up to $80,000 in City Council discretionary funding.

The feds were already investigating Halloran when they got wind of the alleged ballot-manipulating plan in November, the sources said. Smith met with his alleged co-conspirators as recently as February.

112 comments:

Anonymous said...

now all of the others will be right behind them

Anonymous said...

Matter of time before it caught up with him. This ain't Harlem Danny boy. We don't condone nor forgive this shit. See ya!

Anonymous said...

Vito Lopez, Martin and Erik Dilan have been doing this and more and have gotten away with it....hmmmm....when will we see them bought to justice, or is that why there was a story last week that Mr. Lopez has a reoccurence of his cancer, the card he pulls everytime they are getting close to getting him. Someone must've tipped him off what was coming.

Anonymous said...

Smith looks like a thug, speaks like a thug, acts like a thug.
The epitome of yet another political thug
Throw them all in the slammer, once and for all!

Anonymous said...

what about the investigation of how the creedmor land was sold so cheap????????????? seems like everyone is corrupt

Anonymous said...

Three peas in a pod...

Anonymous said...

The curse of LYNDA METZGER strikes again!!!! Once Danny the Warlock placed this over fed former Gallagher trained seal on his staff, no amount of witchcraft was going to undo her bad karma.

Anonymous said...

Eliminate the discretionary funding money and you remove the teeth from the serpent.

Anonymous said...


Phil,

For the first time in your life, do the right thing.

RESIGN.

Anonymous said...

What is the tally of arrested Queens politicians since Mannes?

Jerry Rotondi said...

It looks like I'm stuck living in the midst of political grafters, various vipers and a few assorted thieves--
already known, or as yet undiscovered.

First my old assemblyman, Brian Mc Laughlin, gets convicted and is currently serving time in jail.

Now my councilman, Dan Halloran, is arrested.

Maybe I should move--but what territory is free from the grip of crooked politicians?

I wonder, who will be next to fall from grace?
I'm most certainly going to keep a close watch on the activities of the ambitious Vallone family!

Joining the more notorious parts of the Bronx, etc.
--northeast Queens is fast becoming a hot bed of corruption.

Anonymous said...

Yum, yum, yum....how delicious it all is!

The FBI is going to scope EVERYONE involved.

That's the way they work.

Expect more rotten fruit to drop from the crooked tree.

Anonymous said...

Now, you FBI guys and gals,
be sure to look into the nefarious pursuits of the Democratic clubhouse.

There's a lot more fish to be caught there!

Alfredo C said...

I

Anonymous said...

It just goes to show you how desperate the GOP is.
American has lost faith in the party of the wealthy.

I'm of modest means, so I vote Democrat, and so has the rest of the country.

Want some proof? Exhibit "A", President Obama!

Anonymous said...

We told you that the last Republican to hold northeast Queens was Frank Padavan, and that Halloran was finished in the upcoming election.

We never dreamed that "doofy" Dan would cook himself to perfection before then.

There is a G-d, and he's most likely a Democrat.

Anonymous said...

So, Tabone the gavone finally got his too!

I wonder where the ongoing federal investigation will lead to next.

Alfredo C said...

I am absolutely disgusted. I hope they are innocent. However, where there is smoke, there is fire.

The FBI does not arrest a politician let alone two elected officials , unless they have something. They don't want bad publicity if the case doesn't hold.

It is time to take back our communities. Our political parties are destroyed. We either take them back or start new ones. The corruption around us is disgusting. There is validity to a write in campaign (not mine). It will weaken the parties, which at this time is desperately needed.

Time to clean house and hold those that seek to benefit themselves on our backs ACCOUNTABLE!

Who is with me? Who is willing to demand the transparency we deserve!

Take back our communities! Take back our neighborhoods! Take back our country! One step at a time! One town at a time!

Anonymous said...

An anonymous comment that was passed at a meeting about Councilman Halloran well over a year ago:

"...If he can (manage to?) stay out of trouble...".

Anonymous said...

so Smith got time to get dressed in a suit, but not Halloran?

Anonymous said...

What they are describing sounds exactly like what Mike Bloomberg did to get the republican nomination four years ago. How is it bribes in this case but "contributions" in that case?

Anonymous said...

VOTE FOR PAUL GRAZIANO FOR CITY COUNCIL...
unless you're dumb enough to trust Paul Vallone!

Anonymous said...

Does that mean that Halloran is going to lose both his house and mid life crisis Jaguar?

He's not going to seem so "sexy" to his staffers now.

Anonymous said...

I hate to admit that Mike Schenckler of the Queens Tribune was right about that weirdo pagan chieftan Halloran...but maybe I should have voted for Kevin Kim.

If Dan insists on running for a second term, I won't make the same mistake twice.

Queens Crapper said...

Austin Shafran was Malcolm Smith's spokesperson. Paul Vallone was one of Dan Halloran's best friends.

So who are you going to vote for now?

Anonymous said...

Do ya think Jimmy Meng rolled on these guys to get a lighter sentence?

Anonymous said...

"So who are you going to vote for now?"

How about you? Councilman crapper doesn't sound that bad.
Go for it!

Anonymous said...

Don't despair! There are still good people in Northeast Queens who truly care about their communities. To name just a few: Paul Graziano, Warren Schreiber, Alfredo Centola, Henry Euler, Michael Feiner and Paul DeBenedetto.

Queens Crapper said...

Sorry, not in the district. Although I probably could represent it better than some of the candidates.

Anonymous said...

HEY FBI---
If you're reading this, here's my wish list:

John Liu
Claire Shulman
Gene Kelty
Chuck Apelian
Helen Marshall
former Congressman Gary Ackerman

Crapper followers, please feel free to add your own "candidates" to the list.

NYC Teacher said...

PAUL GRAZIANO FOR CITY COUNCIL!!! The only candidate who really cares and has worked hard for the community.

The rest are all crooks or crook associates.

Anonymous said...

"Sorry, not in the district."

Hell, thats not a problem. Just bribe one on the Queens County party leaders. Everything is up for sale in Queens!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
HEY FBI---
If you're reading this, here's my wish list:

John Liu
Claire Shulman
Gene Kelty
Chuck Apelian
Helen Marshall
former Congressman Gary Ackerman

Crapper followers, please feel free to add your own "candidates" to the list.
****************************************************************

What about Toby Stavisky? Let's not forget her large "contributions" to the North Flushing Senior Center. You may want to look into her son's (Evan's) lobbying as well.

Anonymous said...

Round them all up. We probably need to reserve a wing at Rikers to house all the corrupt politicians in Queens and the City Council. Don't forget the Slush Fund Queen -- and probably our next corrupt mayor -- Chrissy Quinn.

Anonymous said...

What a fucking piece of shit. First he supports the whitehouse expansion in Whitestone now this? Who else is going down with this turd? Paul Vallone and Peter are close to him and word is, the vallones set up the entire deal. Either way the owner of the Whitehouse is stalling the work . Ask yourselves why! Because if Paul V or Dan get in, the catering hall goes up.

Vallone is looking to get out and might himself be indicted soon.

Centola isn't running so he is out. ( too bad)

Shafran is a Johnny come lately with no ties to the community and strong ties to smith.

Graziano is a stand up guy who is known in the community. Even if he is close to Avella and or being used by him, he will do the right thing.

Graziano for city council.

Anonymous said...

Am I missing something, or was there credence in the thought that Malcolm Smith would be a viable Republican candidate?

Anonymous said...

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

georgetheatheist said...

OMG. OMG.

Halloran only wanted "Mayor" Smith to appoint him DEPUTY Cop Commish.

See? Queens always aims too low.

Anonymous said...

Yikes. So much for Mr. Red White and Blue. His personal friend is having a conniption fit over at Queens-Politics.com. Paul Vallone is this crook's best friend and Austin Shafran was Malcolm's right hand man, but according to the dwarf, Paul Graziano and Tony Avella are the corrupt ones? LOL! Where was the councilman when the dumping in Whitestone was happening? Taking bribes from Dems?

Anonymous said...

This only cements the absolute and undeniable need to have Paul Graziano be our next city council member for the now disgraced 19th council.
Paul has no baggage. He has only ever worked for the community and its' interests and never for the power brokers or tweeders.
His resume and bio are completely clean and unfettered. He's squeaky clean and will restore integrity to a place that is looking really shabby right now.

Save our community and vote
GRAZIANO for CITY COUNCIL 2013

Anonymous said...

I was posting on here what a piece of shit Halloran is when he was first running for office and was not believed. I guess I told you so is going to have to be good enough

georgetheatheist said...

From paragraph 67 of the Complaint, Tabone sez:

" 'I run the Queens County Republican Party. Nobody else runs the party. I run the party.' During the conversation, TABONE frisks the UC in an apparent effort to make sure the UC was not recording their conversation. The UC was, in fact, recording the conversation."

Tabone, you are one helluva a fuck-up. You can't get anything right. Hey, Ognibene, if you're not getting your ass in gear to kick that old fart Ragusa and those senile Maltesians out now, you're more fucked-up than Tabone.

Anonymous said...

Also hauled in this morning were Noramie Jasmin, the mayor of Spring Valley in Rockland County, and her deputy mayor, Joseph Desmaret.

The Rockland pair is accused of taking bribes in return for approving the sale of village land to a private concern. In addition to cash bribes, Jasmin is accused by the feds of demanding a secret ownership stake in the company that bought the property from her community.
---------------------------------
Then why the hell wasn't Bloomberg arrested too?

If I recall, Smith and Halloran are fairly outspoken about Bloomie. My guess is he has something to do with this!

Anonymous said...

What about Ragusa?

Anonymous said...

The Feds should also investigate the dwarf.

Inside DaBone's head...at the restaurant. said...

[Lemme see...How'm I gonna soich dis here guy?...I gotta do somethin' so it looks like I know what I'm doin'...How do they do it in da movies?...I can look tru his hair like I'm lookin' fer lice...dat's it!...But dis is a fancy restaurant not some stoopit grade school...Sheet...I don' even know what a fuckin' hidden wire looks like...Dammit, I shoulda brung my wife's curling iron...I coulda run it up and down his legs like they do at the airport...But datta be no good 'cause we're sittin' down and I'd hafta crawl down unda da tablecloth and da made-her-d is over dere watchin'...Oh man, I forgots I gotta soich his jools too to make it look real pro-like...Man, I'm not doin' dat, expecially since its Valentine's Day and everyone'll tink I'm some kinda quiff...Not the bigshot head of the Queens Repooblikkens....OK, I'll jes' grab him by da shoulders and run my hands down ta his elbows...A coupla jabs in his chest too wont hoit...Den we're done and I can up da ante ta 25 G's.]

Anonymous said...

Wait, so no one's asking why Smith was their best shot at a GOP nomination? This city is really going to crap. The guy is a hood rat.
Dan has so much discretionary $ that he's literally giving it all away. Imagine what we could do with some of that for our Parks.

Anonymous said...

Wish we had enough votes to write in Al C.

Anonymous said...

Here it is folks. Al Is a republican. Al should primary Halloran. Give us a choice!

Joe Moretti said...

Here is the scorecard for the corrupted/scandal plague Jamaica elected officials:

1. Former Senator Shirley Huntley
2. Congressman Gregory Meeks
3. Assemblymember Vivian Cook
4. Assemblymember William Scarborough
5. Councilman Ruben Wills
6. Senator Malcolm A. Smith

No wonder Jamaica is in the condition it is with such poor leadership. And I use the term leadership in the most loose of terms, kind of like a 91 year old prostitute's vagina.

Anonymous said...

Why was Dan's office calling Bayside residents -- that wanted nothing to do with him -- to come and decide how the money was going to be spent. The calls became annoying. I guess no one wanted to go.

Last meeting was at Maggi Moos. Really!

He knew how the money was really going to be spent.

Anonymous said...

If the scheme worked -- Halloran would have wanted to be police commissioner. He would never have settled for deputy commissioner.

Remember Kerik?

Perhaps, Joe Tacopina will represent Halloran?

Anonymous said...

The democrats have controlled the republican party for years.

When McLaughlin got busted the republicans had a chance to take an open asembly seat. Instead Maltese and Padavan got together with the dems and cut a deal to save their own seats by running DEMOCRAT Morshed Alam on the republican ticket.
Alam got slaughtered by Rory Lancman and Maltese and Padavan got re-elected because the dems ran cupcakes against them.

Republicans in Queens need to dump their leadership and get new blood. Ragusa should go back to balancing ledgers. He is a loser.

Anonymous said...

This guy Graziano is also a POS. The City council needs another democrat like Bowne Park needed another bocce court.

We need political diversification in the council. A republican or conservative is a must.

Anonymous said...

Why is he a POS?

Alfredo C said...

Love this the most

Anonymous said...

An Avella lackey and toady.

Alfredo C said...

Have to love how there was never any money to re do Little Bay fields. I live how Dan had us meet him there with a parks department official and his chief of staff Chrissy. I live how he then back peddled and said there was no money. I love how he let the parks dept official " suggest" reaching out to local landscapers. I love how there was no money for the CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY!

Yet:

"I might even be able to get you more." HALLORAN then suggested that he could call in favors from other council
members to increase the size of the discretionary fund allocation. HALLORAN concluded: "You tell me how you want me to do it, that's what we'll do." HALLORAN then told the CW to get him a tax identification number, name and address of a corporation, and an application for discretionary funding "so that there's no questions, it raises no flags, and everybody's got it the way it's gotta be. You do it the right way, not a problem, then you will definitely have my, my member item." HALLORAN, the UC, and the CW then raised their glasses and the CW said, "Pleasure doing business with you."

Innocent till proven guilty I agree. But THEY HAVE TRANSCRIPTS! Jesus ! DISGUSTING!

Anonymous said...

What makes him "an Avella lackey and toady?" Neither of them have been implicated in any corruption.

Alfredo C said...

Graziano is not an Avella toady or anything of the sort. This much I know as fact. Paul is his own person. Do they get along? Sure. But to imply tony is pulling the strings is off base. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

The Feds are closing in on cronyism in Queens. They found a way to get access to the dirty politicians and their cronies by disguising themselves as developers. That alone says alot. Who knows how far they'll go and where will they stop next? Queens Courts? DOB? Astoria? CB1?

Anonymous said...

The Vallones are next, mainly because Halloran is going to roll over on them in return for leniency.

Anonymous said...

Some forget how Avella was involved in the dumping of waste at the College Point athletic fields.

Some forget his association with Charles Barron.

Others don't forget.

Anonymous said...

Too funny. Adam doesn't give up, does he?

Anonymous said...

How did this become about Avella? Is this Adam's latest attempt to change the subject? Avella was never charged in the dumping, while several others were. I couldn't care less if he supported a stupid sign in Brooklyn. And how does Graziano fit into either topic? He doesn't.

Alfredo C said...

This is about us as a community being Screwed yet again. It's about corrupt politicians
It's about us needing to clean house.
It's about who to vote for.

Anonymous said...

The video QC posted here is amazing if you knew some of the players. Seeing Vince Tabone, a family man and a churchgoer, in handcuffs would be surprising unless you knew him, and his nature. He was always trying to stretch the rules -- yet, in this case, he finally broke the law - he became too drunk with power and got too greedy for his own good. His law license will be revoked, his job with John Cats is gone as I write this post, and his life will be forever changed.

I feel for his long suffering wife and beautiful children - who have been forced to watch their father being escorted to jail in handcuffs.

Anonymous said...

Dennis Ring represented Councilman Halloran today.

I guess he can't afford Mr. Tacopina.

Anonymous said...

The highlight for me, out of today's events was this to finally surface:

"In a particular twist of irony, Halloran also requested Smith use his power to appoint him Deputy Police Commissioner, being that he served on the NYPD and all. The current Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne was quick to clarify in a statement that Halloran was only "a police cadet, the equivalent of a college intern," for three months in 1990, before he resigned."

I knew he was never a cop, lying POS.

Anonymous said...

Ok FBI. Do your thing. And don't disappoint us.

Anonymous said...

i heard Candidate Halloran's stump speeches and liked what i heard,in 2009.

sadly he spoke with forked tongue.i hoped he was sincere.

he betrayed the conservative/tea party patriots. the SCHMUCK......

btw: T Avella, according to the media, returned the donations given to him by convicted corrupt lobbyist ,Richard Lipsky. Lipsky was sited in the BKLYN. DEM. SEN.Carl Kruger corruption ,bribery probe,which imprisoned Kruger.

Flash: Kathy Boudin, former Weather Underground terrorist convicted of the NYS Brinks Armored car guards murders ,in the 1970;s is now a Adjunct Professor at Columbia U. school of Sociology.served 20 years behind bars.

our city/ state is in a sad state of affairs......

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, another "Great White Hope" of the gop goes down in flames.

Figured it out yet? These people don't give a damn about us.

They've sold out our interests to real estate, big business and any cruds that came across the threshold with cash-in-hand - while waving a few flags to dupe the faithful.

Anonymous said...

Smith deserves what he gets! What a THUG.

Anonymous said...

Hey FBI: dont forget to investigate the Community Boards throughout Queens. You may find some more pieces to this shameful puzzle.

Anonymous said...

Malcolm... How will you ever get out of this one?
How dare you do this to your constituents!

Anonymous said...

By Odin's beard! Corruption in Queens! The hand of Loki is strong among the allies of Crowley and Ragusa.

Anonymous said...

Met Tabone a few years ago.
Haven't felt clean since.
Feel sorry for his kids.
Too bad daddy is a thug.

Anonymous said...

#51...the Halloran office calls to Dist. 19 residents were to alert them to the fact that they could choose their local projects and vote this week 4/1-4/6 , to spend $1-10 million of city $$$$$.it is labeled "PBNYC",Participatory Budgeting In N.Y.
Eight other Council Districts are included in this plan since 2012.
a additional mailing was sent by PBNYC last weekend,with local sites to vote at.

hopefully the FIX was not in. my neighborhood has been attempting to renew the disintegrated and flooding median curbs from F.L.Blvd. to Clearview Expy on 42 Avenue for 35 years.

i voted Mon.at his office????? the public school (over 16)teens really out numbered the individual homeowners there. i question wether public schools should have been included in this budgeting of public $$$$$. they already get $22 Billion ++++ in taxpayer $$$/per year.

Anonymous said...

Can't believe that fat heathen tried to pass himself off as a cop...what a POS...how much more money has he picked up along his way?
Hope they investigate this bank accounts.

Anonymous said...

Tabone is another low-life. Tries to pass himself off as a lawyer. What a little wanabe.

Anonymous said...

Next up on the Queens Most Wanted...John Liu

Anonymous said...

Picture if you willl.Tabone and Halloran in the same cell...who will be the husband and who will be the wife?...betting Tabone.

Anonymous said...

Halloran keeps showing his true colors
He is a dead beat loser that thinks he is above the law
But he has finally hit the end of road maybe his chief of staff Chrissy will still stand behind him and smuggle some cupcakes for his fat ass in jail!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Connect all of the dots and include Helen Marshal's office.

Anonymous said...

Adam is just trying to be a player but as usual, no one wants him on their team. He isn't the issue..he'll never have the opportunity.

Anonymous said...

Adam, shut up you effen retarded dwarf.

Anonymous said...

Vince Tabone finally got what he deserved after years of corrupt behavior, is there anyone who likes this piece of crap?

Anonymous said...

one wonders who CW(cooperating witness) is ,who pleaded guilty to a federal charge on March 11 and agreed to wire-up for leniency ?

also which senior facility in Queens was Halloran referring to in the tape recordings?

Anonymous said...

also which senior facility in Queens was Halloran referring to in the tape recordings?
===============================================================

Toby Stavisky's? Wouldn't surprise me!

Anonymous said...

What is with the John Liu comments? The man has been under FBI watch for years already....don't you think they would have arrested him if they had something? I mean these guys only took a few months. I mean if you paid attention to how he actually operates, he did not like to play with these dirty queens boys. While he is often accursed of sell out to developers, look St his contributions. Only reason the over development wasn't discouragesd by him is because he feels immigrants deserve places to live, and not cut up row houses.

Anonymous said...

Will Halloran be allowed to dye his hair in prison?

Anonymous said...

Could it be Claire Schulman?

Anonymous said...

Yes, he wanted immigrants to live safely. It had nothing to do with the scads of money from developers donted to his campaign and that he is related to Tommy Huang.

Anonymous said...

I love the video
of Dan being escorted from his home by FBI agents.
Oh what a beautiful morning!

Anonymous said...

The only "toady" we can see here is Adam Lombardi... Vallone's obedient dwarf...sitting on his toad stool, and busily keystroking incognito comments.

YOUR BOSS DON PAULO VALLONE IS GOING DOWN!

If not in the current FBI investigation...in the upcoming primary!

VOTE FOR GRAZIANO...
the only clean candidate out there!

Anonymous said...

Adam has been up all night doing damage control for La Famiglia di Vallone.

Somebody pass him another "Jolt" cola to get his little prick hard and straight again.

Jerry Rotondi said...

Take it or leave it--I stand on my own record
of 30 years of unpaid service to my community.

My vote follows
my campaign donation to Paul Graziano.

I can vouch for his record of community service, since we've worked together on many issues--including the preservation of the historic RKO Keith's Flushing Theater.

In a nutshell--he's honest and capable.

I cannot trust the other candidates who are running
to properly represent the district.

Anonymous said...

Hey- you guys forgot about Liu, the egg rolls and chop suey!

Anonymous said...

There was not way in hell Malcolm Smith was going to get the nomination. This plot is too loopy. I think Christine Quinn wanted to destroy Halloran. Also: what is the difference between Bloomberg's buying people and this? Please explain.

Alfredo C said...

Lets make it 100

Anonymous said...

Wed. NY Post revealed the the CW is one "MORRIS STERN".

and that the $80,000. in nyc discretionary funds was never actually acquired by Halloran.?????

who can one trust ?

Gary the Agnostic said...

Has this thread set a record for the number of comments here?

Anonymous said...

No...I believe that years ago the record on Queens Crap was set at about 189 comments. I forget what the topic was now.

Jack360 said...

I think the difference between what Mr. Bloomberg did and these individuals charged with fraud have done is the fact that Bloomberg donated funds to the parties for the purpose of housekeeping, rent for a campaign headquarters, get out to vote stuff, and other campaign related operations. This was done after he secured their support. Those things are legitimate. Of course, the conversations during which time support is being discussed was not recorded, in bloomberg's case. In this case, we see a clear pay - to- play scenario unfold in which there is a negotiation for bribe money in exchange for an endorsement to take place in the future - which is not legitimate. It really is not a stark difference if you think about it but, in this situation, their conversations were captured on wiretap recordings and the acts of money being transferred constituted acts sufficient to charge Smith, Halloran and co. with bribery and wire fraud under federal law.

Anonymous said...

No...I believe that years ago the record on Queens Crap was set at about 189 comments. I forget what the topic was now.
------------------------------------

Bet it was a Gallagher thread!

Anonymous said...

Last I heard Quinn and Comrie would decide discretionary funding for Halloran's district. I hope that the $1 million allocated toward the top five Participatory Budget items that voters in the 19th CC District select will be honored for allocation as CM Halloran set aside this money from his remaining discretionary funds.

Anything less than honoring that commitment would be a grave injustice to the constituents in the district and to those who volunteered their hours of time from start to finish to embrace this opportunity to allow the public be an active part of the local government decision making.

Anonymous said...

This guy Graziano is also a POS. The City council needs another democrat like Bowne Park needed another bocce court.

We need political diversification in the council. A republican or conservative is a must.


------

Hey loser - your statement makes no sense. Considering that Halloran was the one that got the extra bocce court at Bowne Park - and he's the Republican/Conservative that did it - don't you think that you should give someone clean, like Graziano, a chance?

If you know anything about Graziano, he's the one who helped protect our neighborhood by rezoning it to stop the McMansions and made it the Broadway-Flushing National Historic District.

There are crooks on both sides of the political aisle...maybe it's time to elect someone who isn't connected with either of the Queens County machines - Republican or Democrat.

My vote is for Paul Graziano. He's proven himself over and over again as the only one who actually cares about our neighborhood!

- a North Flushing resident

Anonymous said...

Weak try on the POS accusation, Mr. Adam Lombardi.

You need to get yourself a life away from your computer and resign as the behind the scenes micro-man blogster for the Vallone cult.

While your at it a real job would help your psychological recovery...or do I mean suck-ological?

Anonymous said...

Desperate strokes from desperate folks.

Trying to jack up Paul Vallone as an honest representative for northeast Queens is like me jacking off and thinking it was a real woman I was making love to.

Times are changing in our depressed economy.
It's getting very hard for political operatives to sling their usual BS on behalf of their shady candidates.

The voters are wising up fast and know how to spot a phony from the genuine article.

Valloney-baloney isn't selling at the deli the way it used to.

Anonymous said...

...hey Liu-lover. You really believe he had no kowledge of the money flow around him?

Wake-up

Anonymous said...

Adam supporting Vallone? well...he is only standing up for a family he loves...Adam, stand-up!...Adam?...Adam?...oh, uh, you are standing...sorry...

Anonymous said...

I am sure the Liu-lover is getting all the appreciation he deserves..."IN-LIU" of a little something under the table...that would be John's style.