Albany Everywhere a ripoff
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's probe of corruption in the state pension fund makes it clearer than ever that Albany is a cesspool of pay-to-play politics. . . . When Los Angeles-based money manager GKM hired Morris in 2003, for example, it was a young company with $14 million in assets and "virtually no track record," Cuomo's office says. Hank Morris worked his magic and - presto! - GKM was handling $800 million within two years. . . When Steve Rattner was angling to win Quadrangle a pension fund contract, he not only paid Morris a cool million but also helped finance "Chooch," a cheesy movie produced by the brother of a top pension fund official. Cuomo's settlement further reveals that Morris leaned on Rattner to donate to Hevesi's campaign fund, and Rattner responded by hitting up a couple of friends to contribute $25,000 each. His reward? A $150 million investment from the pension fund. Quadrangle rebuked Rattner, saying his actions were "inappropriate, wrong and unethical." . . . DiNapoli more than tripled an investment with a firm called InterMedia after a meeting in his office brokered by lobbyist and former Bronx Democratic boss Roberto Ramirez. Also apparently in the room was a partner with Global Strategies Group - a lobbying and political consulting firm well known for its high-profile clients, including Eliot Spitzer and Cuomo. (DN Ed) * Firms needed to play politics to do business with NY state pension fund under Controller Alan Hevesi * In Consulting Group, Hints of How Albany Works - Common Cause
Global Was Fined Before for Lobbying Illegally
In 2001, Global entered a parntership with Mirram Group, another consulting firm, forming "Mirram Global", a lobbying enterprise which was hired by a client to convince Cablevision, a cable television company, to carry a new sports channel created by the New York Yankees and called Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network. An investigation by the state lobbying commission found that the Yankees had illegally given free tickets to baseball games to dozens of elected officials but failed to disclose that information to the commission, and some lobbying connected with the campaign had not been registered with the state. The Yankees, YES Network and Global agreed in 2003 to pay fines amounting to $275,000, one of the largest fines in the history of the state commission. Global issued a statement calling the matter a "technical error". In 2006, at Spitzer's request, the firm shut down its lobbying operations and dissolved the partnership with Mirram, which is run by Roberto Ramirez, former Democratic Party chairman in the Bronx. As of September 2008, Ramirez' firm still operated out of Global's headquarters on Broadway.
Facebook Joseph Mercurio It is not likely to stop there Gillibrand: Global Matter ‘Fully Closed’
Comptroller DiNapoli Pay to Play Problem Hevesi accepted six luxury vacations to Israel and Italy from a California venture capitalist Elliott Broidyto gain the right to manage $250 million in state pension-fund assets.Broidy pleaded guilty to a felony charge of rewarding official misconduct -- in cases involving at least four high-level officials in the comptroller's office whom he didn't name -- and had agreed to forfeit $18 million in fees he received for managing pension-fund investments
Broidy also rewarded another official in Hevesi's office by providing a "sham" $380,000 consulting contract to a relative, Cuomo said. According to the NYP a source identified the official as former Deputy Comptroller Tom Sanzillo and said the contract went to his brother Frank Sanzillo, a lobbyist at the state Capitol.
Tom Sanzillo is Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli First Deputy ControllerFrank Sanzillo was indicted in 1987 in a payroll abuse investigatio, as part of the Manfred Ohrenstein investigation of corruption in Albany. Frank who was once considered a whiz kid worked his way up though the Brooklyn Democratic Organizaton.
Rattner Watch Ex-Obama car czar remains under a kickback cloud AP
NYT Fails Gabe Press The NYT missed a chance to demonstrate who journalism has changed over the decades in New York. Instead we get a day in the life of 86 year old Gabe Press. Including his daily trips to Dunkin Donuts and how his wife works out while he sits on the bench in Central Park. The NYT might as well interview anyone on Dancing With the Star with those type of questions. Watching the News, Not Reporting It
DN's Developer Owner Zuckerman Supports Goldman It no surprise that a man who makes his money from investment banks and development and keeps the money losing Daily News going with it says in today's editorial SEC is playing with fire by charging Goldman Sachs in subrime fiasco He could be right that the SEC actions will hurt NY and the nation's economy, but what about the damage Goldman should we just turn our back? The millions who have lost their jobs and homes to the subprime mortgage scandal would side more with the founder of the Daily News Joseph Medill Patterson who wrote on the dedication stone on the old Daily News building on 42nd Street that the paper would never favor one class over the other. Maybe if the Daily News wrote some editorials about subprime mortgages 10 years ago Zuckerman would not have to defend Goldman today
Bloomberg on the Out with the White House? Bloomberg: Make a decision on 9/11 terror trial already! * Bloomberg gives thumbs up to Tea Party movement Our mayor takes the opposite side of the former president Clinton warns of Tea Party time bomb
Pay to Play Albany Assemblywoman's Grandson Still on Staff A month after pleading guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $100,000 from a Bronx nonprofit, Richard Izquierdo Arroyo is still acting as the chief of staff to his grandmother, Assemblymember Carmen Arroyo
New York Economic Melt Down Overflowing trash cans a sign of a larger problem
From the Brooklyn Paper * Hummus Company Squashes Queens Headquarters More plant to the south * New York Offers Costly Lessons on Insurance * 'Coddle' turmoil at jails New city jails boss Dora Schriro -- required by Mayor Bloomberg to cut 5 percent from her budget -- is going soft on hard-core felons, high-ranking Correction Department officials claim * SI beep nixes own pension Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro applied for his city pension this year -- on top of his $160,000 city salary -- but then had second thoughts * For Cash-Strapped States, Sin Is Sure Lucrative
Pay to Play Meeks Feds' probe of Meeks taking sidetrack to Jamaica biz group
From the Brooklyn Paper * Hummus Company Squashes Queens Headquarters More plant to the south * New York Offers Costly Lessons on Insurance * 'Coddle' turmoil at jails New city jails boss Dora Schriro -- required by Mayor Bloomberg to cut 5 percent from her budget -- is going soft on hard-core felons, high-ranking Correction Department officials claim * SI beep nixes own pension Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro applied for his city pension this year -- on top of his $160,000 city salary -- but then had second thoughts * For Cash-Strapped States, Sin Is Sure LucrativePay to Play Meeks Feds' probe of Meeks taking sidetrack to Jamaica biz group
Election 2010 Spitzer Antagonist Advises Ex-Madam’s Campaign
How Many American Lost There Home Because of Goldman? What was Goldman's Role in the Pension Fund Corruption?Schumer and Bloomberg at odds over Wall St. reforms * If Goldman was Crooked, Wall Street's in Big Trouble (CBS)
SEC nails Sachs for 'toxic' dump * Goldman fall guy * What Goldman's Conduct Reveals * A Wall Street Invention Let the Crisis Mutate * Investor Who Made Billions Not Targeted in Suit * A Goldman Rebuttal * U.S. Charges Goldman With Subprime Fraud * Paulson Found a Partner in Goldman *Goldman Sachs warned of suit nine months ago: report * Government's Fraud Charges Also Shine Spotlight on Rating Agencies that Contributed to Financial Meltdown, Analyst Says * Goldman Case Likely To Spawn Torrent Of Lawsuits SEC Civil Suit: Company Failed To Disclose Conflicts Of Interest In Mortgage Investments * Scandal devil a hospital angel * For Goldman, a Bet’s Stakes Keep Growing * Fabrice Tourre and John Paulson lead Goldman Sachs into subprime mortgage fraud * Mass Lawsuits Coming In Goldman Case * Obama promises Wall Street regs * Hedge fund manager in Goldman Sachs case is major Democratic donor * They Saw the Goldman Fraud Suit Coming—Could Deutsche Bank Be Next? (Vanity Fair)
WFP Also Attack on Wall Street Wall Street lobbyist are not only busy in Washington trying to stop financial reforms that will cost them money, they also must spread the money around in Albany to make sure idea to increase taxes on bonuses and stock transactions. Is Paulson still giving out money to pols? WFP is milking the issues for all they're worth * Goldman suit figure touted, fundraised for ally Schumer * Lobbyists and Lawmakers Bond During Springsteen Concerts * Simon Johnson: John Paulson Should Be Held Accountable For Goldman Fraud Huffington Post (blog)
Albany Watch The Whole Ravitch Rescue State lawmakers must adopt all of Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch’s plan * Newly Signed NY Open Government Laws Draw Skeptics
OTB Won't Die NYC Off-Track Betting Rescinds Shutdown Order, Delays Layoffs * OTB Board Reaches Deal To Keep Business Open Another Year
Albany Designed Rip Offs For shamelessness, it sure is hard to beat Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, who moved this week to -- get this! -- help Medicaid fraudsters evade detection. Fraudsters' pal in Albany (NYP Ed)
Election 21010 Community organizer challenges Espada for district seat * Espada Up in Smoke? Connecting the Dots. (Boogie Downer) * More Legal Troubles Surface For Senator Espada
Kimani Brown waited in the rubber room for 1 1/2 years; he hopes for faster justice for others
Terrorism TSA to Assist NYPD with Subway Security * 'Security' insecurity Terror trials are back (NYP Ed) * The 'tip' imam walks (NYP Ed) * Gates Says U.S. Lacks Policy to Curb Iran’s Nuclear Drive
Law and Order 'I'm just sorry he's not dead' *Cop-slay alliance smashed * Two Men Found Shot, One Fatally, in the Bronx *Man Is Arrested in Shootings From a Crown Heights Rooftop *104 Are Arrested in Connection With Crips-Bloods Alliance *Bloods and Crips alliance in plot to kill cops discovered in drug and gun ring takedown * Parolee killed boy over $2 * Rockaway teen's slay sparks gang takedown * Lack of security at New York parole offices is invitation to tragedy
More T&A from NY1 Jury hears breasts were a top topic for NY1 executive Steve Paulus in sexual harassment trial
Liu says mayor wants to take over Battery Park City
Media and New Tech ZUCK! NBC Posts Big Loss On Olympics *White House all a-Twitter to 'control the message'
