Democrats staged a protest Monday regarding Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano’s request for legislative approval to grant contracts to alleged politically-connected law firms.
Calling it irresponsible, county Democratic lawmakers are incensed that Mangano’s request, which comprises one-half of the total $2 million budgeted amount for outside counsel, comes at the most critical point in the county’s financial history.
Just days away from a decision by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority regarding Nassau’s finances, Yatauro said it is not proper fiscal management to spend half of the budgeted amount for the entire year on financial give-aways to Mangano’s friends.
“If you want NIFA to stay out of your business then act like the leader you should,” said Diane Yatauro, D-Glen Cove. “If you don’t want them taking you over then cut and don’t spend. It’s a $2 million budget, $1.2 is being spent today.”
The county executive said he is cleaning up the $343 million deficit created by Yatauro and her Democrat colleagues.
“Rather than play politics, legislator Yatauro should recognize that these firms were hired to protect taxpayers wallets,” said Mangano in a statement Monday. “The truth is that legislator Yatauro sat idle as the law firm of former County Executive Suozzi’s father made millions off the broken property tax assessment system. Its time to expose the truth of the past and move forward.”
“I’ve always been of the belief that process and procedure protects you. Right now, I’m questioning the process and I don’t feel very protected,” said 10th District lawmaker Judi Bosworth, D-Great Neck, who joined other Democratic legislators and civic leaders at the press conference at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive Building in Mineola to voice opposition.
According to Yatauro, some of the contracts include: $350,000 to Lewis & Fiore, LLP; $250,000 to Wilson Elser; $300,000 to Rivkin Radler; and another contract for $175,000 to Rivkin Radler. Rivkin Radler is the former law firm of County Executive Ed Mangano.
David Denenberg, D-Merrick, said the previous administration saved $29 million a year by doing in house legal work and that the county must do it again.
“With NIFA looking down our throat, a practice of giving away taxpayer money to connected law firms on a no bid sweat heart contract is bankrupting us again,” said Denenberg. “Over the last eight years we stopped it.”
County legilsaltor Wayne Wink, D-Roslyn, said Mangano is “looting” the taxpayers and asked that the contracts be halted.
“These contracts represent really the most cynical of what government is perceived as being. I think all of these things need to be put on hold,” said Wayne Wink.
Tax advocacy groups claim Nassau cannot afford to hire outside council and asked that GOP lawmakers not “rubberstamp” Mangano’s proposed contracts.
“I can’t believe that the Republican legislators would rather risk a NIFA takeover than to deny their friends this gift,” said Caudia Borecki, president of the North Merrick Community Association.
