So the city's Ethics Board, which has been doing a pretty bang-up job ever since Mayor Street finally announced all of his appointees, came to a decision that rules governing the political activity of city employees also apply to members of certain Boards. These people work part time and get paid a certain amount for every meeting they attend.
At the time of that decision, the Daily News pointed out that there are a few Board members, particularly on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, who stood to lose out on a lot from if forced to give up their political activity:
The individual most clearly impacted is political consultant Eleanor Dezzi, who's been a member of the Zoning Board for close to eight years while continuing to run her consulting firm, the Dezzi Group.
...
Others who could face conflicts include several organized-labor leaders whose unions have been politically active.
Sam Staten Jr., a Zoning Board member, is business manager and political director for Local 332 of the Laborers Union. He did not return a call from the Daily News.
Nor did Wayne Miller, business manager of Sprinklerfitters Local 692, who sits on the city's Board of Building Standards.
In today's Daily News, Bob Warner followed up on this story with a little "Where Are They Now" look at the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Turns out... they're right where they've always been:
Eleanor Dezzi, a local political consultant, and Samuel Staten Jr., treasurer of a political-action committee set up by the Laborers' Union, have both continued to attend and participate at Zoning Board meetings, in spite of the Ethics Board decision a month ago.
Neither Dezzi nor Staten would explain their actions. Neither returned calls from the Daily News over the last two weeks.
Granted, Warner also indicates that it's possible that both have given up the political activity that the Ethics Board found so troubling, but there's nothing out there to indicate that they have. The article also points out that the "part time" money they get for their roles on the Zoning Board can add up to some nice spending money:
The Zoning Board posts are part-time jobs, appointed by the mayor and usually paying $400 or $500 a week. The official pay is $100 per meeting, with four or five meetings usually spaced out over two days each week.
Both are coming to the end of their terms on the ZBA assuming Michael Nutter decides to go in a different direction with his appointees to the Zoning Board (and every other Board and Commission). No word yet on any decisions by the Nutter transition on any of these appointments.
Comments (6)
Why would anyone be shocked? Dezzi has been doing her thing for years and the entire family lives off taxpayer financed jobs and political gigs.
Sam is Sam. He is a union guy and he really does not seem to directly benefit from his position, unless he keeps a record of construction work and relays it to his business agents to get the job "unionized" if you feel me.
Dave Auschpitz is the smartest in the bunch, since he holds his court in Famous Deli on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. He alsways has his trusty L + I Reps, along with a select group of ass kising attorneys with him to solve problems for his developer, and well connected political friends. Go ahead, see for yourself and order the Corn Beef special while you are there.
And "NO"---- no one is given up their political activities because it is business as usual with the usual, nasty, mean spirited suspects.
Fear not! They are all gone.
As for us disgruntled and confused City workers, either keep our Commissioner Bob Solvibile, who really has made things work better around here or hire a person that is totally from outside our Department (maybe somone from the FBI) and systematically, carve out the real cancer in our department, which are the Deputies and supervisors that think this is there very own kindgom.
Please make the changes Mayor Elect Nutter. We are counting on you.
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