WHAT IS SARA GONZALEZ HIDING?
A reader sent us a link to a published attack on City Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez -- who is allegedly one of a number of local politicians embroiled in that whole City Council scandal involving millions of dollars in "misdirected" funds.
For some reason, Councilwoman Gonzalez is refusing to account for some $269,000 that were allocated to one of her local "nonprofit" groups.
Calls to the City Council (requesting the information) have been rebuffed.
So much for transparency and good government!
Of course, if the allegations prove true, Councilwoman Gonzalez is in deep sh*t.
posted by El Grito
Thu, 05/08/2008 - 10:34am
Earlier this week, while Council Member Sara Gonzalez was out on a Sunset Park pier with Council Speaker Christine “Oink, Oink” Quinn announcing new ferry service that most Sunset Park residents will never use, (Sara’s gift for voting in favor of congestion pricing) the Daily News was reporting about her refusal to name the recipients of some $269,000 of our hard earned tax dollars that she’s funneled through a local nonprofit.
If she can’t name these groups and offer why they received this money, she should resign immediately.
These last few weeks, Gonzalez, Speaker Quinn and many of their colleagues in the pig pen that is the New York City Council, have fully demonstrated their contempt for their constituents by stashing precious funds with phantom groups and then using these funds to reward friends and cronies who do their bidding.
At a time when there are so many good, legitimate, effective and innovative groups, schools and programs in our neighborhoods that could really put this money to good use, Gonzalez and many of her colleagues are doling this money out as if it were coming out of their own purses or wallets.
It’s shameful, outrageous and despicable. I applaud Civil Rights lawyer, and hopefully our next Public Advocate, Norman Siegel for filing a lawsuit against the New York City Council on behalf of the residents of this city who are outraged by this scandal.
If Sara Gonzalez won’t show us the list (the same way she’s refused to answer a recent Freedom of Information Act request), she needs to leave office now!
To view the original post, please use this link: El Grito Says, "Gonzalez Must Go!"
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.nyrealestatelawblog.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2110
Comments
I think I will run for City Council next year when my local member gets term limited out. When I run, the City matches every dollar I collect at a 4 to 1 ratio. Win or lose, if I raise 125K, I will receive an additonal 500K from the City to run a campaign, spread a lot of money around my neighborhood, make lots of new friends and potential clients.
If the people in my district smoke enough meth on election day and I happen to win, the next 4 years are like dying and going to heaven. I am respected in my community. I get a salary of $112.5K a year -- more if I become head of a committee. I receive money to operate two staffed offices. I get a placard allowing me to park anywhere in the City. I get to hang around City Hall every day. I get my picture taken with Mayor Bloomberg and don't have to pay $5K. I can go to a social or cultural event every night and eat and drink for free.
My IQ would have to be somewhere between a rock and an amoeba to risk all this and get involved with a scam so transparent and idiotic as earmarking $$$ for nonexistent groups, parking the money for a while to escape scrutiny, then channeling it to organizations that employ my relatives and friends.
Posted by: Gines Pasamonte | May 8, 2008 7:59 PM
Gines:
You've got my support! BUT, before you run, you need to do a little homework.
Matching funds for NYC residents is now at a 6 to 1 ratio!
The maximum eliigble for matching is $175 (yielding the candidate up to $1075 per NYC contributor).
For more information, visit the NYC Campaign Finance Board: http://www.nyccfb.info/
Posted by: Lucas A. Ferrara | May 8, 2008 11:03 PM
I wouldn't want to be LBJ, Christine Quinn or Sara Gonzalez.
Posted by: Ralphie | May 9, 2008 9:13 AM
Thank you Lucas. I was wrong on the max for a City Council race though -- it is $161,000.00 --- still plenty to spend.
Posted by: Gines Pasamonte | May 9, 2008 9:52 AM
Agreed.
So, when are you going to announce?
Posted by: Lucas A. Ferrara | May 9, 2008 10:01 AM
I know what she's doing with the money, I saw her yesterday SHOPPING FOR SHOES!!!!
Posted by: Ola! | May 9, 2008 1:13 PM
Shades of Imelda:
http://shoeblogs.com/2007/05/23/the-shoe-shrine/
Posted by: Gines Pasamonte | May 9, 2008 1:44 PM
I'm might be blind but I can tell when someone is trying to pick pocket me. From the looks of it, it has been done several times.
Thanks for keeping the taxpayers notified!
We love your articles and blog.
Keep informing the public on these important issues!
Posted by: Ray Charles | May 9, 2008 1:50 PM
Thanks for joining us, Ray.
Apparently, you've no longer got Georgia on your mind.
By the way, may I ask who "we" be?
Posted by: Lucas A. Ferrara | May 9, 2008 2:21 PM
The Raelettes?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raelettes
Posted by: Otis Redding | May 9, 2008 2:57 PM
One Hurt Deserves Another!
Posted by: The Raelettes | May 10, 2008 9:02 PM
Estoy enamorado de mis zapatos!
Posted by: SaraG | May 11, 2008 8:54 PM
Non olvidade su grammatica nina; usted es "enamorada" de sus zapatos.
Posted by: Cide Hamete Benengeli | May 14, 2008 10:14 AM
Scatta!
Posted by: SaraG | May 14, 2008 7:52 PM
Poveretta. Forse hai bisogno di un fumetto di metha? Peccato, ma la strega incazzata ha fregato il laboratorio di mio amico in carcere e doppiato i prezzi. Tuttavia, se aspetti un paio di settimane, penso che stan peparando una grande vendita di Manolo Blahnik in combinazione con il nuovo film di Sarah Jessica Parker: "Sesso nella Citta." Un paio nuovo ti fa sentir' meglia.
Posted by: Cide Hamete Benengeli | May 14, 2008 9:13 PM
Hey [DELETED] you are in America, speak English or go back to where you [DELETED] came from!
Posted by: ALesbo | May 14, 2008 9:21 PM
Hey Lesbo,
Ol' Cide's just telling her to go home, smoke some meth and watch Sex and the City reruns. Or something to that effect.
Posted by: Gines Pasamonte | May 14, 2008 9:55 PM
Ginesy!
Where have you been lover?
Where the [DELETED] did you get that Cides guy? He sounds like something kids die from.
Posted by: ALesbo | May 14, 2008 10:12 PM
Why is Sara Gonzalez not responding to foil and other requests from the community?
Something smells funny.
Could it be the shoes?
Posted by: Rachel | May 15, 2008 6:20 PM
You think?
I can smell them from Staten Island!
Posted by: Tomas | May 16, 2008 12:33 AM