There's some people here that should be in jail!
How could so many with such responsibility behave so recklessly?
I can understand the sleaziness of real estate and "hedge fund" investors, jewelry merchants and union figures in the behind-the-scenes cesspool of New York. But the casual attitude that high-level police officials showed here in the face of corruption is, if not surprising, disturbing. So, too, is the ease these suspicious people had in attracting Mayor de Blasio's attention with their money. I suspect the mayor got a pass for political reasons. Frankly, I've never believed a word he's said.
The prosecutors have so little to show for their work. They had wiretaps, witnesses, documents. But they couldn't win convictions. The mayor skates. Of course we have to assume he isn't guilty of anything. But, despite all of the smoke, the results are embarrassing for prosecutors who don't usually try cases that they can't win. I'd fire them all and start with a new team.
This is an incredible story. As convoluted and complex as NYC's back alleys. Where is Frank Serpico when we need him? What stands out is how the channels of power work and how anything relating to the public interest is at best a side thought even by what many would consider progressive politicians. They need contributions and what will they do in return for it? Is access illegal? not by definition. But.....
'Who do you know?' has new meaning after reading this. Makes you marvel at how the city runs in reality - as daily reported by the NYT - is so different from the back room wheeler and dealers who actually run the show. 'course, thank god that the old grey lady is still available esp when it is able to put articles like this out.
Having said all this, while absolutely stunning in these power players' strategies - this is all small fry stuff. nickels and dimes really - a trip, a watch, a lavish dinner - even a Vegas hooker. You could almost justify their point of view by saying these small gifts are just tokens of their love for each other. Ho Ho. On the face of it it's a far cry from mob related scheming - which may have more integrity in a perverse sort of way - 'one hand washes the other but don't steal from us or you're dead meat.'
So the sewers of power have never been so fragrant. If those in power are so susceptible to self-interest its amazing the city survives. Thing is, the pie is so big and so rich that the juggernaut plows on no matter what. I guess....
3
I work like a dog, three jobs. But I stay honest, I stay within the law, and I don’t cheat people or the government. Why is that so difficult for some people?
8
There it is again: “mogul,” the Times’ favorite slur-word for extremely wealthy Jews,
I generally have a soft spot in my heart for the current crop of casino moguls, movie magnates, and hedge fund operators, Harvey Weinstein and Steve Wynn being among the current exceptions.
I know it's something I'm supposed to be very ashamed of and never admit to strangers, but -- G-d help me -- I just can't help myself.
I admire the fact that they generally started out with nothing and built themselves up with little or no outside help;
that they grew up in difficult times, often experienced discrimination and prejudice and weren't discouraged by it;
that they were of the generation that usually served in the military;
that they displayed determination and grit when many of the rest of us would have thrown in the towel;
that as young men they were always ready to take on just about any job in order to make a buck;
that they are rough-and-tumble guys not very much concerned with social niceties, but just the kind of guys you'd like on your side if you ever got into a serious fight;
that as kids they usually did well in school, but in later life pursued careers as "doers" as opposed to becoming " thinkers about being doers."
That as they grew wealthy, they gave significant amounts of money to charity without making much hoopla about it and mostly stayed with their wives.
Most important of all, they stand with Israel.
So I generally like them and wish them good luck.
1
Rechnitz and Reichberg don't appear to be "of the generation that usually served in the military". Whether they support Israel or not, doesn't give them a pass to spread their corruption through the streets of NYC. Actually, it debases the notion of someone's support for Israel. (Give him a break, he supports Israel.) Give ME a break.
1
A crook is a crook no matter what they do. Being ashamed is how someone should feel if those are the types of people they admire.
1
The sad part of this story is that this corruption exists in most all American cities and states. I ask readers to cite a clean city or state government. Whether it's New York, Chicago, LA, Baltimore, DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, New Orleans, St. Louis, and so on. There is an unholy alliance usually between the municipal unions and in most cases the Democrat party to steal all the money they can from public funds. It's no wonder that the public is fed up with this corruption.
5
How is it even legal for Chief Banks and Mr. Seabrook to take expensive trips at the expense of anyone but themselves. I would've thought (incorrectly) that police officials would be barred from such practices.
13
Always nice to learn that being observant and criminal do not get in each other’s way. What exactly is the point of religion if it has no effect on behavior.
13
Maybe this is precisely the effect it has had on their behavior.
4
In much the same way that the swirl of investigations around Trump have already revealed the workings of crony capitalism nationally (even if they fail ultimately fail to produce evidence of impeachable offenses), these New York scandals have exposed an economy of insider dealings across the political spectrum (even if the Mayor never gets charged with a crime). De Blassio and Trump may both escape justice, but we have gotten yet another reminder of how rigged the system is. The need for more regulatory oversight, transparency, accountability and just plain fairness could not be more obvious.
9
uhhh, since when does a vehicle carrying 2,000 bottles of cognac qualify as a "two-bit" bootlegging operation?
3, 5 or maybe 10 or 50 bottles... but 2,000?
18
This is how much business gets done-I do something nice for you, later I ask for a favor in return. This becomes problematic when government officials and politicians are courted to use their posts to favor a friend or donor. This quid pro quo is considered corruption in most European countries, but laws written on behalf of corporate donors have made it tougher to convict politicians on corruption charges in the U. S.
23
Some (by no means all) in the Orthodox community in Brooklyn have been getting away with pretty shading real estate machinations, zoning exemptions (drive around midwood...), etc. Why does this community get away with this stuff?
31
Chutzpah, and Poltical clout! And they are a forever embarrassment to the overwhelming majority of American Jews who helped make Brooklyn so great! (And don't live there anymore!)
6
The Orthodox community votes as a block and turns out everyone in their group to campaign and vote for the chosen candidates (usually Democrats)
And the orthodox in minivans with police sirens zipping through traffic is an abomination that has to stop. Who is being bought to allow this nonsense to continue? If no one is being bought, whose arms are being twisted and by whom to make the real police look the other way?
6