The Post reports –
It’s the Albany way.
A politician starts a nonprofit and then pumps taxpayer money into it,with the cash often landing in the pockets of friends or family at the charity.
State Sen. Shirley Huntley founded The Parent Workshop,and the state grant she steered to it led to her arrest last week.
The Queens Democrat was indicted after a probe by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, prompted by a Post exposé. She was charged with trying to cover up the alleged theft of $29,950 in state money that went to the organization. Huntley’s niece and an aide were also charged in the purported scheme to pocket the taxpayer cash.
Other state lawmakers with shady non-profits include:
Malcolm Smith
State Sen. Malcolm Smith and Rep. Gregory Meeks,each a Queens Democrat,were among those credited with founding the New Direction Local Development Corp. in 2001. Smith’s wife was on the initial board of directors.
Vivian Cook
Assemblywoman Vivian Cook,who has represented Jamaica and surrounding areas since 1991,set up the Rockaway Boulevard Local Development Corp. in 1979.
Barbara Clark
Democratic Assemblywoman Barbara Clark helped found the Community Care Development Project in 1989,two years after taking office,and steered almost $500,000 in state money to it.
Read more – http://m.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/weet_life_in_rotten_apple_ADrQqUwJK9eVuwr08X2zUN
Stayed tuned as the web of politicians and local nonprofits is unspun.
Now we’re cooking (the books that is). Go get them Mike. This is an area begging for deeper research and should certainly demand the end to “slush funds” or “discretionary funds” and other such nonsense with tax dollars.