NY intersection of Politicians and special interests leads to corruption

NY Post ^ | March 3rd, 2006 | NY Post Editorial Board

[flushing_kenny]

March 3, 2006 -- Brian McLaughlin, head of the Central Labor Council and a Queens assemblyman, is in big trouble. FBI agents swooped down on CLC offices yesterday, carting off documents by the boxload in what they confirmed was an ongoing probe of McLaughlin (and who knows how many others). The investigation reportedly targets bid-rigging involving at least $162 million in city contracts for street-lighting projects over just the past two years.

The news sent shock waves through both political and labor circles.

But it really shouldn't surprise anyone.

The CLC, an umbrella group for nearly 400 public- and private-sector unions in the city, is in many senses ground zero for the local labor movement - which supposedly exists to further the interests of its members, but which in recent years has done much better by its leaders.

And often at the expense of the law.

Gotham labor unions have a sordid record of every type of corruption imaginable: In just the past decade or so, they've faced charges of everything from inflating membership numbers to misuse and theft of union funds to mob links, racketeering and featherbedding.

... (This is good, more punches follow)

[flushing_kenny]

Some people in NY know the situation stinks. The NY Post is the only major paper that always talks about it. Unfortunately, Ive shaken hands with a few people named in this article. Im also a registered Democrat (I vote Republican, including for Bush, when they show up on the ballot). Ive carried petitions, put up posters, ripped down posters, stolen stanchions (lawn signs), helped to throw people off ballots (only Democrats), pumped flesh, and passed out fliers for these people. McLaughlin always has the Painter's union guys at his poll sites (he votes at St Andrew's on Northern and 160). Its ugly folks. And most people in this city are not embarassed at taking what is not due and living off the sweat of others.