Tracking Patronage & Corruption in New York State Politics (BETA)

Monthly archives for October, 2012

Another day, Another Indictment

Oct 24, 2012 ~ Written by admin

The New York Daily News reports today that

“Albert Baldeo, a Democratic district leader representing southeastern Queens, was slapped with four counts of conspiracy and fraud by Manhattan federal prosecutors and faces more than 20 years in the slammer.”

The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York alleges that Baldeo tried to illegally obtain matching funds by fabricating donations to his failed City Council campaign.  Here’s the plan.  Step 1:  give the money for donations to “straw” donors.  Step 2: watch the matching money roll on in.  Apparently, he obtained $6 of matching funds for every $1 of these so-called donations.

 

 

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Senator Gillibrand Weighs in on Vito Lopez Scandal

Oct 24, 2012 ~ Written by admin

New York’s Senator Gillibrand has been curiously silent on the biggest political scandal to rock New York since, well you know, since the last two or three political scandals to rock New York in the last year or so.

Anyway, Gillibrand broke her silence after her Republican challenger Wendly Long called Gillibrand a hypocrit (Gasp!) by claiming that Republicans were waging a war on women, while saying absolutely nothing about her fellow Dem Sheldon Silver’s approval of a secret deal to silence Vito Lopez’s sexual harassment accusers.

Burn!!!

Gillibrand retorted that it wasn’t hypocritical since Chuck Shumer told her not to say anything about it.  No wait.  That’s isn’t right.

Rather, Gillibrand said that Lopez should have paid the settlement himself out of all the money that he looted from the Bushwick Medical Center.

Hmm.  That doesn’t sound quite right either.

Anyway, Gillibrand stopped short of saying that anyone should resign, pending a full investigation of the matter.

Way to take a stand for women everywhere Senator Gillibrand!

With politicians like you, New York can stand proud once more.

–sigh.

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Got Caught? Just Roll Over as Fast as You Can!

Oct 24, 2012 ~ Written by admin

Not sure how I missed this one, but Richard Lipsky — the New York Lobbyist who pleaded guilty to offering Carl Kruger $200,000 in bribes — was sentenced to only 3 months in Federal prison.

THREE MONTHS!  That’s a substantial discount off of the 57-71 months that the charges carried against him.

Now, I understand that prosecutors and judges often need to give cooperators a break in order to obtain convictions against the primary target.  But three months?

Come on people. There will never make a real dent in political corruption unless and until everyone involved is seriously punished.  Doling out wrist-slaps to rat lobbyists like Lipsky is a joke.  It practically encourages lobbyists to carry on until their caught.  Why not?  At worst, they’ll have to cough up a little of their ill-gotten gains, roll over on their “friends” in the state house, and have a conviction on their records.  What’s a few months of easy time in Club Fed?

Ugh.

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JCOPE and Batra Tangle

Oct 24, 2012 ~ Written by admin

JCOPE wants Ravi Batra to return any JCOPE materials he retained before resigning, as well as any notes that he took.  Mr. Batra has politely and colorfully declined.

 

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Brooklyn Judge and Friend of Gropez Busted for DUI

Oct 24, 2012 ~ Written by admin

Brooklyn Judge Carl Landicino — and Vito Lopez’s former legal attack dog — was busted for being boozed up on the way back from a judicial boondoggle.

Sorry.  Reading to many NY Post and NY Daily News headlines.

Here’s the story.

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