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May 8, 2012
Citizens Union: City Council discretionary/capital funding should be distributed more equitably; more transparency needed not only for Council but for Borough Presidents
Atlantic Yards Report
Something's rotten in the City Council. Citizens Union on 5/1/12 released a comprehensive report on the New York City discretionary funding process that concluded that, despite past reforms, the process of allocating funds to Council members for distribution is based on political ties to Council Speaker Christine Quinn, rather than the needs of the district:
"While the city's discretionary funding process is improved in significant ways from a decade ago, it remains flawed and needs additional reform," said Dick Dadey, Executive Director of Citizens Union. "Recent reforms in the City Council have improved the vetting of organizations receiving funding and provided additional disclosure, yet the distribution process to members remains too politicized and not equitable and objective enough."
The Post reported 5/2/12, Council’s pots of gold go to power pols. The Daily News reported, 3 Brooklyn Democrats were best at stuffing coffers with pulled pork: Dominic Recchia, Erik Dilan and Lew Fidler top $10 million each in City Council discretionary funding, Citizens Union reports.
Should we be surprised that Recchia, Dilan, and Fidler, two of whom represent fairly affluent districts, have been reliable supporters of Atlantic Yards? And that Council Member Letitia James, no Quinn ally, was down on the list, ranking 48th of 51 Council Members, as The Local explained.
Posted by eric at May 8, 2012 12:20 PM