Sandy Cleanup Contracts Scrutinized on Long Island
Associated Press
NEW YORK—A group of companies that got big contracts to do emergency cleanup work on Long Island after superstorm Sandy showered a key public official with campaign contributions in the months after they were hired.
In the 11 weeks following the storm, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano reaped at least $144,000 in donations from companies his administration hired to cut trees, repair infrastructure and haul debris, according to an Associated Press analysis of campaign finance and county records.
At least 23 companies that got storm contracts gave money to Mr. Mangano's campaign in the weeks following their hiring, the records indicated. Many of the companies were hired under emergency executive order and got the work without having to bid against competitors.
Most of those companies, plus at least a dozen more that got Sandy work, had also given heavily in the past to Mr. Mangano's campaign or to allied political organizations.
A spokesman for Mr. Mangano's campaign, Brian Nevin, said in an email that it didn't actively solicit contributions from cleanup companies and there was nothing illegal about the donations.
"Hundreds of business owners and residents support County Executive Mangano for his policies, which include holding the line on property taxes for three straight years," he said.
Asked whether the contributions created the appearance of impropriety, Mr. Nevin said such questions were "leading, offensive and we will not dignify them with a response."
Nevertheless, the county's handling of Sandy contracts has attracted scrutiny. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent subpoenas to seven county departments Tuesday seeking documents related to storm debris and tree removal operations.
Mr. Nevin said Mr. Mangano had instructed department administrators to cooperate with the investigation.
Bill Mahoney, of the good government group NYPIRG, said the donations were "evidence of a pay-to-play system" endemic in the state, in which companies seeking government work or favorable legislation feel that a big donation timed just right is a way to influence government.
"The overlap between donations" and benefits to the companies, he said, "is way too closely correlated."
The article didn't mention his party affiliation that seemed like a clear sign he was a Democrat !!
Oh well, let's just move along .......
Just to fill you in, there is a reason that the AP is trying to tar this guy with flimsy crap like this. He took the job from a corrupt Rat that was taxing the hell out of Long Island. Ed immediately scrapped a tax on USING energy and some others that were insane along with holding property taxes stable. That is a no no to Leftists.
AP= Commie Pinkos
Rex Reed raves: " Frank Cannon is fascinating, informative, engaging and heartbreaking stuff." — New York Observer
The article didn't mention his party affiliation that seemed like a clear sign he was a Democrat !!
Oh well, let's just move along .......
Just to fill you in, there is a reason that the AP is trying to tar this guy with flimsy crap like this. He took the job from a corrupt Rat that was taxing the hell out of Long Island. Ed immediately scrapped a tax on USING energy and some others that were insane along with holding property taxes stable. That is a no no to Leftists.
RIGHT'S RIGHT 
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Thu May 16, 2013 10:52 pm
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