Public Money Flows Freely At The NYC Board Of Elections

The Daily News proved this weekend what a lot of people either suspected or knew to be true, that the Board of Elections in our city is corrupt. Tim Robbins knew something was wrong over there when he tried to cast his vote but at least that could be labeled incompetence. The story of them getting the NY State Legislature to boost their incomes while pampering themselves on the city's dime is pure, unadulterated greed.

From The NY Daily News:

The city's elections commissioners won approval for a big fat pay raise last year, after swearing they needed extra cash because they're not reimbursed for board-related expenses.

One problem: It's not true.

All but one of eight sitting commissioners received thousands of dollars in reimbursements for air fare, luxury hotel accommodations and meals, a Daily News investigation has found.

The commissioners and agency employees appear to routinely get taxpayers to pick up expenses barred by city rules -- everything from a "deep tissue" massage to an $800 dinner.

As the article points out, the board commissioners held Grimaldi's pizza parties, went to conferences more than regulations allowed (paid for by you and I) and many, many more expenses that had no business being picked up by the city. And of course, the commissioners swear that they didn't write the legislation for their additional pay raises, and neither did the co-sponsors of the bill, Vito Lopez (figures) and Serph Maltese (also figures). With both sides denying writing the language, that most likely means that the commissioners and Lopez/Maltese wrote it, with the benefits going around to all involved. Just my opinion of course, but this is New York politics we're talking about.