Somebody call a cop
The New York Post - EDITORIAL -June 21, 2010
News -- first reported by The Post -- that state Senate Democratic leader John Sampson tipped off a politically wired firm to its rivals' bids to run slots at Aqueduct isn't enough to convict him of anything. Yet. Nor does a second new report -- that Sampson pressed groups dependent on state funding not to testify against a license for his sister's health-care agency -- make him guilty, per se, of a crime. But New Yorkers should be plenty worried, nonetheless: Sampson, after all, plays a key role in dispensing some $135 billion in taxpayer funds. And law-enforcement agents need to get to the bottom of both reports. The firm Sampson tipped off, Aqueduct Entertainment Group, is already mired in scandal, as The Post noted months ago. In January, Gov. Paterson chose AEG to run slot machines at Aqueduct, but the deal soon fell through -- though not through lack of effort by Sampson. He admits he gave the firm's lobbyist documents describing its competitors' bids. AEG then revised its own bid -- and won the contest. "AEG did alter its bid after the deadline for submissions," state Deputy Inspector General Philip Foglia said in an affidavit. "AEG was in possession of information concerning the details of the submissions of other bidders and the evaluation process that was not available to these other bidders," Foglia added. Sampson claims the documents were public, but the IG's office disagrees -- and two of AEG's competitors told The Post they hadn't seen them. Meanwhile, Crain's Health Pulse reported that Sampson "intevened to supress negative testimony" about an agency called Shining Star Home Care -- which is seeking a license and in which his sister, Yvette Henriquez, holds a 20 percent stake. It said Sampson called groups that rely on state funds, pressing them not testify against Shining Star's application. Again, at this point, allegations against Sampson are just . . . allegations. But if they're true, he has no business in the state Senate -- period. And while the state inspector general -- and federal investigators -- are already probing the AEG deal, it's clear that Sampson needs to be a central focus.
The New York Post - EDITORIAL -June 21, 2010
News -- first reported by The Post -- that state Senate Democratic leader John Sampson tipped off a politically wired firm to its rivals' bids to run slots at Aqueduct isn't enough to convict him of anything. Yet. Nor does a second new report -- that Sampson pressed groups dependent on state funding not to testify against a license for his sister's health-care agency -- make him guilty, per se, of a crime. But New Yorkers should be plenty worried, nonetheless: Sampson, after all, plays a key role in dispensing some $135 billion in taxpayer funds. And law-enforcement agents need to get to the bottom of both reports. The firm Sampson tipped off, Aqueduct Entertainment Group, is already mired in scandal, as The Post noted months ago. In January, Gov. Paterson chose AEG to run slot machines at Aqueduct, but the deal soon fell through -- though not through lack of effort by Sampson. He admits he gave the firm's lobbyist documents describing its competitors' bids. AEG then revised its own bid -- and won the contest. "AEG did alter its bid after the deadline for submissions," state Deputy Inspector General Philip Foglia said in an affidavit. "AEG was in possession of information concerning the details of the submissions of other bidders and the evaluation process that was not available to these other bidders," Foglia added. Sampson claims the documents were public, but the IG's office disagrees -- and two of AEG's competitors told The Post they hadn't seen them. Meanwhile, Crain's Health Pulse reported that Sampson "intevened to supress negative testimony" about an agency called Shining Star Home Care -- which is seeking a license and in which his sister, Yvette Henriquez, holds a 20 percent stake. It said Sampson called groups that rely on state funds, pressing them not testify against Shining Star's application. Again, at this point, allegations against Sampson are just . . . allegations. But if they're true, he has no business in the state Senate -- period. And while the state inspector general -- and federal investigators -- are already probing the AEG deal, it's clear that Sampson needs to be a central focus.
Oh my God! Looks like Sampson is just like the rest of the state bums. Maybe he had those corruption hearings so he could hold stuff over peoples' heads to get what he wants. And boy, did he get a lot. Shame on you, John Sampson.
ReplyDeleteHis being supported by the Working Families Party should have been the first tip off that something was wrong. Then after all those hearing, nothing was done.
ReplyDeleteSampson and friends are told what to do and who to harm and who to help!
ReplyDeleteWe need Federal Hearings with lots of handcuffs, then they will get the picture, see if the Senators are told of crimes and they say nothing they get handcuffed and pay large fines or jail, whichever is more appropriate..........
SEE WE CAN PAY OFF THE DEFICIT!
Then after all those hearing, nothing was done.
ReplyDeletesure it was, he was accepted into the payola clubs, that is how it works, get something on the friend or foe and you get more money, depending on which club you belong to!
We were all very disappointed when Senator John Sampson did absolutely nothing to punish the racist, arbitrary, and discriminatory Inquisition-like Departmental Disciplinary Committee, First Department in Manhattan and the NYCLA Fee Dispute Program.
ReplyDeleteHe was given a chance to make some real changes, but he decided to sell everyone out when he took that high-powered, high-remunerated job at that Big Law Firm.
He let us all down, including the heroic Christine Anderson who took on the entire DDC complaining about how the DDC routinely sweeps under the rug complaints against Jewish and White Attorneys and Attorneys from Big Law Firms, while nailing to the cross those minority solo practitioner Attorneys who own small boutique law firms, just so the DDC san say that they do, in fact, punish SOME Attorneys when people complain.
The DDC and NYCLA Fee Dispute Committee will not, of course, release either the racial data of the Attorneys or sizes of the law firms they are persecuting, however.
Gee, I wonder why.
But I guess Senator John Sampson chose to make a deal with the Devil instead.
I guess "white makes right" in this Country.