Aside from minor venality, embarrassing behavior, and the theft of relatively small sums of money, has the alleged and proven corruption of individual members affected the operation and priorities of New York State, its local governments, and/or the legislature in a significant way?
I bring this up because you keep repeating that Silver and Bruno are "personally honest" over and over again. Well, according to Robert Caro in he Power Broker, Robert Moses was "personally honest" too -- and he had private eyes document the misdeeds of members of the state legislature, with the results placed in secret files. No one bucked Moses for a long time. And no one bucks the leaders in the state legislature on behalf of their constituents.
Thanks, Henry, and of course, it is so true unfortunately. Many of those cited are names that are familiar to me. I suppose it is not enough to assert that most politicians are not in the ''same boat.''
A final question, unrelated to the above or to your article: didn't you find it interesting that the New York Times put its primary endorsements in that same Sunday paper in the City or Westchester sections (I saw it in both)? How many people even look at those sections? Perhaps only those of us who actualy do vote in primaries, so maybe I've answered my own question.
Good editorial. Old news in NYS. Politicians are not only greedy they are also corrupt---but will be reelected. Its depressing to see the breakdown in civic duty increasing over time and there seems to be no way to stop it. Is this what the founding fathers expected from our unique system of laws? I don't think so. A.M.
There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with a system that allows the "employees" to decide when they should get raises, and how much more money they deserve for doing the same job. Elected bodies should not be able to decide how much they will be paid. They work for "the people" do they not? At least, that's how the popular mythology goes. Why shouldn't their raises be a matter for the voting public? Oh wait -- then they might have to actually answer for what they do, or fail to do, in order to justify their salaries. They'd be pretty much the same as any other working stiff. Can't have that, can we?
I guess we're just not quite tired enough of being suckered, lied to, hoodwinked, and robbed by the various levels of our government. It's unfortunate that we are so socialized to our own political processes, so cowed and trusting and ovine, so very CIVILIZED -- that we don't march through Albany to the Capitol and herd the entire legislature out the door, tarred and feathered, as they should be, with jeers, lobbed tomatoes, and vigorous kicks to their hindquarters. From the top down, we have the government we deserve -- stupid, greedy, arrogant.
I was born a New Yorker, but I don't plan to die one. This is one of the big reasons why. D.Z.
These kind of articles make me feel that "crime pays" It is a shame that we have to put up with all those who think that life owes them something. I worked hard for thirty-three years in city government. No one gave me anything. It is time that those who are crooks and unethical are forced out of office. J.
before the current speaker, if a member got into trouble, he or she was called into a meeting and advised by the leadership that they needed to resign, for the good of the institution and the rest of the membership. under this leadership, however, there is no concern for the good of the institution and there is no shame. unfortunately, it works in the leaderships favor to have yet another idiot who owes them a favor by NOT making it uncomfortable for them to stay. It's downright demoralizing.
Are the miscreants all black or Hispanic? If so, is that significant? If so, what is the significance? How should society deal with such a situation? R.H.
The focus of the problem was hinted in the article. As long as elected officials are self governing (voting themselves pay raises or ethical reforms) corruption will run rampant. And this applies to all elected officials. The fact that most of the indicted polticians named in the article were from the Bronx and Brooklyn means that they were dumb enough to get caught. The same corruption runs to the other boroughs. The pols there are just smart enough not to get caught.
The Post features a new book written by former Senator, Seymour Lachman. www.nypost.com/postopinion/books/filthy_politics_postopbooks_eric_lane.htm Pataki will be gone after this year. Silver has a General Election opponent this year which could knock him out. Only Bruno survived getting an opponent. IF we can put two new officials out of three for the three men in a room, there is hope to knock out the third come 2008.
My Name is Henry Stern, President of New York Civic. Please feel free to comment on our articles, and give us your feedback. What you have to say is important to us.
Is it just coincidence that every wrongdoer is from New York City and every self-enricher either from the Bronx or Brooklyn?
ReplyDeleteThe Albany DA (was Clyne, now Soars) has jurisdiction in a lot of these cases. Clyne prosecuted Roger Green.
ReplyDeleteAside from minor venality, embarrassing behavior, and the theft of relatively small sums of money, has the alleged and proven corruption of individual members affected the operation and priorities of New York State, its local governments, and/or the legislature in a significant way?
ReplyDeleteI bring this up because you keep repeating that Silver and Bruno are "personally honest" over and over again. Well, according to Robert Caro in he Power Broker, Robert Moses was "personally honest" too -- and he had private eyes document the misdeeds of members of the state legislature, with the results placed in secret files. No one bucked Moses for a long time. And no one bucks the leaders in the state legislature on behalf of their constituents.
Hmmmm.
One can only hope that this long nightmare will end with the election of Eliot.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Henry, and of course, it is so true unfortunately. Many of those cited are names that are familiar to me. I suppose it is not enough to assert that most politicians are not in the ''same boat.''
ReplyDeleteRegards,
M.
Why do their fellow law"makers" put up with these behaviors?
ReplyDeleteAre there any Codes of Ethics? Is there any internal body in either house of the Legislature meant to enforce them?
Why is the public so blasé about these behaviors?
A final question, unrelated to the above or to your article: didn't you find it interesting that the New York Times put its primary endorsements in that same Sunday paper in the City or Westchester sections (I saw it in both)? How many people even look at those sections? Perhaps only those of us who actualy do vote in primaries, so maybe I've answered my own question.
Regards.
Z
Good efforts Henry.
ReplyDeleteJ.M.
Quite a story and very sad
ReplyDeleteW.L.
Good editorial. Old news in NYS. Politicians are not only greedy they are
ReplyDeletealso corrupt---but will be reelected. Its depressing to see the breakdown
in civic duty increasing over time and there seems to be no way to stop it.
Is this what the founding fathers expected from our unique system of laws?
I don't think so.
A.M.
Hi - Why don't decent people run against these lawbreakers? Why do constituents keep re-electing them?
ReplyDeleteM.S.
There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with a system that allows the "employees" to decide when they should get raises, and how much more money they deserve for doing the same job. Elected bodies should not be able to decide how much they will be paid. They work for "the people" do they not? At least, that's how the popular mythology goes. Why shouldn't their raises be a matter for the voting public? Oh wait -- then they might have to actually answer for what they do, or fail to do, in order to justify their salaries. They'd be pretty much the same as any other working stiff. Can't have that, can we?
ReplyDeleteI guess we're just not quite tired enough of being suckered, lied to, hoodwinked, and robbed by the various levels of our government. It's unfortunate that we are so socialized to our own political processes, so cowed and trusting and ovine, so very CIVILIZED -- that we don't march through Albany to the Capitol and herd the entire legislature out the door, tarred and feathered, as they should be, with jeers, lobbed tomatoes, and vigorous kicks to their hindquarters. From the top down, we have the government we deserve -- stupid, greedy, arrogant.
I was born a New Yorker, but I don't plan to die one. This is one of the big reasons why.
D.Z.
Henry,
ReplyDeleteThese kind of articles make me feel that "crime pays" It is a shame that we have to put up with all those who think that life owes them something. I worked hard for thirty-three years in city government. No one gave me anything. It is time that those who are crooks and unethical are forced out of office.
J.
Please let us know what you get the answers! It is outrageous that this exists and continues.
ReplyDeleteS
before the current speaker, if a member got into trouble, he or she was called into a meeting and advised by the leadership that they needed to resign, for the good of the institution and the rest of the membership. under this leadership, however, there is no concern for the good of the institution and there is no shame. unfortunately, it works in the leaderships favor to have yet another idiot who owes them a favor by NOT making it uncomfortable for them to stay. It's downright demoralizing.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWherer was Spizer on this? It was obvious for years.
ReplyDeleteD.
Are the miscreants all black or Hispanic? If so, is that significant? If so, what is the significance? How should society deal with such a situation?
ReplyDeleteR.H.
The focus of the problem was hinted in the article. As long as elected officials are self governing (voting themselves pay raises or ethical reforms) corruption will run rampant.
ReplyDeleteAnd this applies to all elected officials.
The fact that most of the indicted polticians named in the article were from the Bronx and Brooklyn means that they were dumb enough to get caught.
The same corruption runs to the other boroughs.
The pols there are just smart enough not to get caught.
Again, this is unfortunately all true.
ReplyDeleteR.B.
Isn't Gonzalez just small fish compared to the rest of them?
ReplyDeleteEvery week this stuff keeps getting better and better. You can't make up this stuff.
ReplyDeleteR.J.
The Post features a new book written by former Senator, Seymour Lachman. www.nypost.com/postopinion/books/filthy_politics_postopbooks_eric_lane.htm
ReplyDeletePataki will be gone after this year. Silver has a General Election opponent this year which could knock him out. Only Bruno survived getting an opponent. IF we can put two new officials out of three for the three men in a room, there is hope to knock out the third come 2008.