CSEA FOIL REQUEST REVEALS CONTINUED HIGH LEVEL TOP APPOINTMENTS BY PATERSON ADMINISTRATION DURING BUDGET CRISIS



Governor David Paterson.
photo by Ove Overmyer

 Albany, N.Y.-- A CSEA Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request shows that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has added 36 top-level management/confidential positions to the state payroll since July 1, 2010, despite a state-hiring freeze. Eighteen of the 36 positions have a base salary in excess of $100,000 per year.

"At a time when the Paterson administration is seeking to lay off rank and file state employees, there is no way this administration can justify this action," said CSEA President Danny Donohue.

"CSEA believes that necessary work is being undermined in numerous state agencies and it is essential to have qualified employees in place, but in light of the governor's layoff threat it is outrageous that the administration continues to hire top level personnel."

Ex-DEC commissioner Peter Grannis warned in a memo last month that staff reductions were having a major impact on the ability of the agency to do its job and would soon impact local environmental protection efforts. Once the memo was leaked to the media, Grannis was promptly fired.

CSEA has repeatedly pointed out that the Paterson administration's layoff attempt is counterproductive and will cost taxpayers in the long run while making the state's economic situation worse.  The administration fired back and said these hires were promotions left by the early retirement incentive that were offered earlier this year.  If that is the case, aren't these hires counterintuitive to the reason why we instituted the early retirement incentive in the first place? 

The governor argues that he has made cuts to his own staff, and that might be true. But he also has granted substantial raises to some of those who remain at the executive branch and top agency posts. And he has made some highly questionable hires — including that of a former girlfriend to an $88,000 job in the state’s Washington, D.C. office, and the $155,000 patronage appointment of former Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll to head the Environmental Facilities Corporation.

"This is the height of hypocrisy," said CSEA spokesman Stephen Madarasz about the top level appointments. "It's just an absolute affront to the people who are being put at risk and to the taxpayer. How can he come to the CSEA in any serious way and say we need to have layoffs when this is going on?"

The governor can't have it both ways and he must show some leadership here— he must do so through his actions as well as his public comments.  His legacy is at stake, and this news doesn't help him one bit.  By filing FOIL requests, CSEA is just trying to shine alittle light on the subject so taxpayers, public employees and the average New Yorker considers all the facts.

CSEA has pending FOIL requests regarding hiring at other state agencies as well.  Stay tuned right here to the Voice Reporter for up to the minute news and information about your working world.