Monday, June 30, 2014

Why Is Governor Cuomo Still Paying Full Salary To The Executive Director Of The Defunct Moreland Commission?

Quid Pro Cuomo at it again:

Three months after Gov. Cuomo said he was pulling the plug on his anti-corruption commission, the panel’s lightening rod executive director is still drawing a hefty paycheck.

State payroll records show that Moreland Commission Executive Director Regina Calcaterra, who at $175,000 a year makes just $4,000 less than the governor, is still receiving about $6,700 every two weeks despite the commission's work having ended.

A Cuomo administration official said that Calcaterra "has taken some time off and is finishing up closing down the Moreland."

Exactly what is left to do is a big question considering the panel worked for just nine months and has been inactive for the past three. The commission also turned over its records to different law enforcement officials, including US Attorney Preet Bharara, who is looking into possible interference with the panel by Cuomo that was detailed in a series of stories last year by the Daily News and the specifics that led to the body's end.

"Makes you wonder what she knows," said one Albany insider of Calcaterra's continued pay.
Calcaterra drew criticism from many on the Cuomo's Moreland Commission who believed she was there not only to carry out the orders from the governor's office, but also to report back what she was hearing to top Cuomo aides.

The Cuomo administration official did not rule out the possibility that Calcaterra will stick around on the payroll in some other role. Before serving on the anti-corruption commission, Calcaterra was the executive director of the far less controversial Moreland Commission created by Cuomo to look into the performance of the utilities before, during and post Hurricane Sandy.

"Like a number of the staffers, she will potentially take a different position within state government," the official said.

Makes you wonder what she knows is right - this reeks of bribery.

Will Preet Bharara probe this?

2 comments:

  1. Depends on if Cuomo can afford Preet's price to be bought off, the way Bloomberg could..Not sure of what he'd got on hand, but if hr can, all bets are off.

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    1. Yeah, Preet selectively indicts Wall Streeters, doesn't he? And anybody with the last name "Bloomberg" gets a pass...

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