| Good government groups, and other idealists like the progressives who read and write TAP, had hopes that a change in the balance of power in Albany might allow some reform to slip into the most dysfunctional government in the US. Beyond hoping, actually, many of us worked really hard to flip the Senate, with this motivation.
Of course, the Gang of Four (Three) Musketeers ascending to power that they extorted rather than deserved was depressing. But, we continue to look for signs of reform from some of the others in Albany.
Talk of Paterson continuing to promote dynastic rule by appointing Carolyn Kennedy Schlesinger Senator, ascending to power that she inherited rather than deserved was depressing... Bush, Clinton, Cuomo, Spitzer, Paterson... makes you think that Brian Keeler's real problem may have been "who's your daaaadddy?". It sure does help to be an heir; not being a part of the ruling nobility makes it mighty hard.
But, sometimes a self-made pol gets a foothold in the Albany scene, and, when they do, they are as rooted and permanent in the pantheon of the Albany Court as any born-to-it noble.
Who is the latest self-made (self-stole?) hack that Democratic electeds are looking to for help among the Court Hacks of the Capital District? Joe Bruno. Believe me, I wish I were kidding, but I am not. Full story on the flip. |
I learned about this from an article by James Odato in the Times Union, Bruno Works Political Function:
Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and his boss, Kay Stafford, made the rounds at a New York City fundraiser for Thomas DiNapoli last Thursday in New York City.
The retired Republican leader graced the Democratic appointee's first foray into raising cash for election to the comptroller's post. The glad-handing by Bruno came even as the GOP begins to target DiNapoli's job as one of the only statewide offices it can potentially capture.
DiNapoli raised about $500,000 by getting $500 a head, or $5,000 for those who stayed for dinner. Until now, he had eschewed fundraising to concentrate on organizing and operating the office he assumed 15 months ago; he has imposed limits on taking money from entities with active contracts or open bids with his agency.
Bruno and Stafford head CMA Consulting in Latham. It has many contracts with state agencies that had to be approved by the comptroller's office. Further, the comptroller approves millions of dollars in contracts with the software provider Oracle every year, and CMA often gets consulting contracts as an Oracle specialist.
For instance, this year alone, DiNapoli's office approved more than $60 million in Oracle contracts, including $25 million with the Office of General Services and $32 million with the Office for Technology. Both were approved in late June, just a few days before Bruno announced he was quitting the Senate. A month later, Bruno announced he was CMA's new CEO, with Stafford ascending to president and chair.
Excuse the long quote, but, it is important to understand how this works. Now, DiNapoli is not actually breaking his own "limits" on fundraising, because, you see, Bruno and his girlfriend-and-next-door-neighbor Stafford did not actually pay to attend the fundraiser. Oh, no. They were Exalted Guests of DiNapoli:
Bruno and Stafford were not charged for their attendance, as they came as invited guests because DiNapoli heard they were going to be in town, said Dennis Tompkins, DiNapioli's spokesman.
Now, I happen to have an "inside source" in a project to harmonize and modernize database management systems within the NYS Executive Branch-- it is mostly a techie thing that is very much needed, as many "legacy systems" born of political patronage in the awarding of software/database management consulting contracts have led to very antique, out-moded and expensive systems in the various departments. But, guess what? When it came time to consider who would be the consultants on the project (most of the work would actually be done by consultants, not the state-payroll managers and techies directing the project).... my "contact" had to remind the techie folks that there were rules about procurement that prohibited considering only one company to do the work (as they had suggested)....
Do you really need the hint? Of course, the one company under consideration was able to provide daily software consultation in the Albany area, which, given the over-specialization in government of the Albany economy, is not surprising. Yep, you guessed it. CMA Consulting, the Stafford-Bruno lobbying/consulting firm, was almost given the contract without competitive bidding. Likely enough, they will get it after it is bid, anyway. Then, just as only Diebold understands how some of our voting systems operate, only Joe Bruno's firm will understand how NYS Executive Branch databases work. Nice.
Now, those of you with long memories for Albany political trivia will remember that this is actually how Joe Bruno became a rich man and ascended to power in Albany the first time. The technology of that day, which he monopolized government contracts for, was telephone systems.
I've said it before and I will say it again: when you elect and appoint connected hacks and celebrity nobles instead of the most qualified person for the job, you set yourself up for court intrigue and power-plays instead of functional government and public good. Somebody remind me what DiNapoli's qualifications for being appointed to the position of Comptroller were, other than his Assembly connections? Oh, right... that was the result of court intrigue and power plays, eh? |
