Shocking news: Parks Dept lacks oversight of contractors

From the Queens Tribune:

A lack of sufficient oversight of construction managers has cost the city millions of dollars and led to long-delayed projects—including several in Queens, according to an audit by the city comptroller’s office.

Comptroller Scott Stringer’s audit found that inadequate oversight by the Parks Department cost the city nearly $5 million and that approximately 40 percent of construction projects managed by private firms were completed late, resulting in delays of up to three years.

Additionally, the city paid an extra 35 percent in management fees for late projects.

Jimmy come lately

From DNA Info:

City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer is calling for an oversight hearing on the Queens Library, following news reports about the library system's president collecting a large salary while shedding more than 100 jobs over the past five years.

Van Bramer, the council's new majority leader and chairman of the committee on cultural affairs and libraries, called for the hearing following stories in the New York Daily News that said Queens Library President Thomas Galante collects a $391,594 salary and spent $140,000 last year on renovations for his offices at the Queens Central Library in Jamaica, including a "private smoking area."

The library has eliminated nearly 130 jobs over the past five years, the paper reported.

In a statement, Van Bramer — who worked for the Queens Library for 11 years before his election to the City Council — called for "an immediate oversight hearing on the Queens Library, its Central Library project and its operations."

"Stories of private outdoor patios and questionable spending deserve great scrutiny and they will get it," the councilman said.

So let me get this straight...Jimmy worked for the library for 11 years, has been chair of the library committee since he entered the council in 2009, and regularly hobnobs with these people at cultural events, but he didn't know a thing about what was going on until the Daily News story?

Quinn to hold meeting that no one can attend

(click photo for larger view)

"Go to the Council calendar linked below, and chose "This Week" from the drop-down menu. You will see that every single Council meeting and Committee hearing has been canceled -- EXCEPT for the Economic Development Committee's oversight hearing on the EDC merger, which is still on for Thursday.

http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/Calendar.aspx


Is this for real???

How will they hold the hearing, with no electricity and no elevators in
250 Broadway? Are they pulling our chain?" - anonymous

Of course it's for real. How else can Bloomberg and Quinn protect their favorite tweeding vehicle? How else can the agency's relationship with Claire Shulman escape scrutiny? What fellow tweeder on this board will speak up about any of this? None of them.