Albany's ethics watchdog hires a Cuomo person to police Albany
Briefing: Governor Andrew Cuomo during a presentation today. Cuomo's office via flickr
6:21 pm Feb. 2, 20121
The Joint Committee on Public Ethics did not publicly disclose until today that they had voted to hire Ellen Biben, one of Governor Andrew Cuomo's aides, to be its new executive director.
No one I've seen is questioning Biben's skills; she might turn out to be fantastic, and it may turn out to be a handy thing that Cuomo is unquestionably going to be held responsible for the actions (or inaction) of the enforcement body, good or bad. The interesting thing here is the process, though, which was as untransparent as it was efficient.
The Wall Street Journal wrote that "Cuomo’s office directly reached out to legislative leaders to promote Biben’s hiring."
The Times headline is "Ethics Commission Quietly Names New Director." The story's lead uses the word "secretly" to describe the hiring process and states flatly that the move "raises questions about the commission's independence from the executive branch and its commitment to transparency."
New York Times editorial board member Eleanor Randolph said Biben now has the burden of proving her "independence from Gov. Cuomo."
Biben's hiring isn't the first time JCOPE's activity has raised skepticism from onlookers.
In December, members failed to answer questions from an Associated Press reporter about why they were ending their first public meeting by heading to private executive session, where no reporters or members of the public were allowed.
Today, a spokesperson for the committee said she was unaware of the hiring moments before it was publicly announced, according to reporter Cara Matthews.
Some links:
2012
Obama's campaign hate-tweets Trump's endorsement of Romney, without comment. [@BarackObama]
The Future
Donate by texting, thanks to Brewer. [Jill Colvin]
Viverito's director of communications has a campaign committee. [Colin Campbell]
Transit advocates know what they want from Albany. [Noah Kazis]
NYPD
More great reporting on marijuana arrests in N.Y.C., and how blacks and Latinos are disproportionately affected. [Ailsa Chang]
NY-2
There's a lot of G.O.P. establishment support for a Tea Party challenger to the DCCC Chairman, Rep. Steve Israel of Long Island. [Liz Benjamin]
NY-13
Grimm's prediction that "there's going to be a lot of apologies owed" makes Quote of the Day at Political Wire. [Taegan Goddard]
NY-19
The Wappinger Falls Mayor, one of four Democrats looking to unseat Hayworth, has $20,587 on hand. Hayworth has more than $1 million. [Brian Tumulty]
SD-27
"Unseemly" and "inappropriate" is how Common Cause/New York's Susan Lerner described Assembly Democrats welcoming of State Senate candidate Fidler on the chamber floor Monday. [Ken Lovett]
Bloomberg's Donations
The mayor said he'll give $250,000 to Planned Parenthood, which saw $700,000 in grants cut after another foundation said it doesn't fund groups under federal investigation. [Tina Moore]
Bloomberg said he'll match $1 for every new dollar Planned Parenthood raises, up to $250,000. [Michael Paulson and Kate Taylor]
Ethics
"The state ethics commission has secretly approved a top aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo as it's new executive director" which "raises questions about the commission's independence from the executive branch and its commitment to transparency." [Danny Hakim]
"She will have to prove her independence from Gov. Cuomo." [Elanaor Randolph]
"After telling the Gannett Albany Bureau that she had no information on the appointment of Ellen Biben, Theresa Schillaci, acting executive director for the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics just put out a news release announcing the new hire." [Cara Matthews]
The chair of the commission defended the timing and secrecy. [Ken Lovett]
David Grandeau, an ethics watchdog and not a Cuomo apologist, also praised the hire. [Ken Lovett]
"The governor’s office encouraged commission members to vote for Biben. In the week leading up to the vote, Cuomo’s office directly reached out to legislative leaders to promote Biben’s hiring, according to people familiar with the conversations. The commission approved her in an 11-to-3 vote and offered her the job, which she accepted." [Jacob Gershman]
The League of Women Voters is supportive of the hire. [Colby Hamilton]
Local Redistricting
Addabbo said the Rockaways shouldn't have two state senators. [Howard Koplowitz]
Gianaris "added whatever happens, he and Peralta will not run against each other." [Rebecca Henely]
Four state senators would represent Forest Hills under the proposed plan. [Lisa Colangelo]
Images
The legendary Room 9. [Inner Circle]
Breaking ground with Aubry, Peralta, Marshall and George Dixon. [Council member Julissa Ferreras]
With Cuomo. [Assemblyman Charles Lavine]
Markowitz arrives. [Stefano Giovannini]
Markowitz, like Cuomo, uses visual aides during his speeches. [Marty Markowitz]
Putting Ellen Biben in charge of overseeing the corruption in NY is like putting Al Capone in charge of Sing Sing!
It was a strategic move on Cuomo's part to secure his and Biben's teflon images but in reality, Ellen Biben and Andrew Cuomo aren't cleaning up NY, they are covering up for top officials who are using positions in public office to commit and/or cover-up crimes. But who's to say it wasn't them who began the cover-ups years ago when documents were hand delivered to the Manhattan DA's Office that proved a "so called" prominent NYC Realtor with major ties, committed more than 8 counts of perjury, lied in writing to hinder a state investigation, hired unlicensed people to lease apts, then like magic, all the incriminating testimony by the realtors own employees "disappeared." ~ Maybe that's why Cuomo refused an investigation into the offices he oversees including Ellen Bibens inspite of overwhelming evidence proving criminal activity. Everyone knows this is a huge conflict of interest, but Cuomo doesn't care...he'll do what he wants when he wants because... he - is - the - law. His "If you break the law you go to jail speech in reference to Official Corruption was a farce. If that were true, there would be a large amount of openings in the Dept. of State, Dept. of Labor, and U. S. Gov. right now. He only cared about the power the peoples votes gave him. Corruption will end, when "The People" refuse to take it anymore.