Bernard Kerik isn’t the only crony Giuliani appointed to a high post that reflects poorly on Giuliani’s judgment and character.
In a 1989 campaign speech in which Mr. Giuliani, launching a fusillade at the corruption that marred then-Mayor Koch’s third term in office, declared, “On the day that I become Mayor, the old political system that is dragging the city down is out.”
Standing directly behind him as he made this claim was Ray Harding, the head of the state Liberal Party, who played a key role in electing him in 1993 and remained an adviser throughout his tenure. Two of Harding’s sons got high-ranking positions in Giuliani’s administration. One of them was later convicted of stealing more than $400,000 from the Housing Development Corporation. Virtually from the day in 1998 that Giuliani appointed him notwithstanding his lack of both a college degree and a background in housing Harding was robbing the city.
On the night of his re-election in November 1997 one of his few prominent black supporters, District Council 37 Local 372 President Charlie Hughes, was standing right behind Mr. Giuliani as he reveled on stage. Three months later, Mr. Hughes was bounced from his position for placing his local $10 million in debt, and he eventually went to prison for embezzling more than $2 million in members’ dues money.
Harding stole the city blind---be even had a storage unit to store his thievery---but by the time authroities found out, Hatding had cleaned it out.
The most outrageous incident----when Giuliani was appraised of this, his only public comment was that he "felt bad" for the Harding family.
To Turdiani, the taxpayers are meaningless---just pawns in his neverending con game to advance his disgusting political ambitions.