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September 21, 2009
Dave crony collects 'money for nothing'
NY Post
by Tom Topousis
More evidence that the Empire State Developerment Corporation is asleep at the wheel — or more aptly, driving on the wrong side of the road.
Gov. Paterson's former economic-development czar, Avi Schick, stepped down from his post at the helm of the Empire State Development Corp. in January -- but, astonishingly, continued to quietly draw his $213,000 annual salary for eight more months, The Post has learned.
Schick, who has close ties to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, managed to hang on to his full salary -- more than what the governor earns -- in return for advising Paterson on lower Manhattan issues, said ESDC spokesman Warner Johnston.
The ESDC revealed Schick's continuing compensation to The Post last week after more than a month of requests, and just days after he was removed from the payroll on Sept. 11 so that he could begin a new job with a law firm that began three days later.
..."Total waste of taxpayer money," said another official familiar with Schick's work downtown, where his most significant project was the deconstruction of the Deutsche Bank building -- a project that cost two firefighters their lives and has taken years longer than anticipated.
NoLandGrab: In no way do we mean to make light of the terrible, avoidable tragedy that occurred at the Deutsche Bank building, but that project could perhaps be considered well-managed in comparison to Schick's other big downstate project — Atlantic Yards.
Additional coverage...
Atlantic Yards Report, Post: ESDC paid Schick for eight months after resignation
Norman Oder parses the Post:
It was unclear on what specific issues Schick advised Paterson.
He could not be reached for comment, and state officials would only say that he was asked to stay on during a leadership change at ESDC over the summer.
..."People assumed he wasn't paid because no other LMDC chairman had ever received a salary," said a well-placed lower Manhattan source.
Actually, if Schick could be described as anyone's "crony," the person would be Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who appointed him.
But if Schick resigned in January, his role "over the summer"--after CEO Marisa Lago left--didn't kick in until well after his resignation.
Posted by eric at September 21, 2009 11:26 PM