Ethics, New York Style

'Brunogate' SUNY big out
The New York Post by Fredric U. Dicker  -  June 4, 2011

ALBANY, NY -- The State University honcho who allegedly gave a "no-show" job to the daughter of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has resigned his $276,000-a-year job.  In a closed-door meeting, SUNY's trustees yesterday accepted Senior Vice Chancellor John O'Connor's resignation, effective no later than June 15.  This comes just days after state Inspector General Ellen Biben announced an investigation into the circumstances under which O'Connor approved the hiring, years ago, of Susan Bruno as a $70,000-a-year worker at SUNY's Research Foundation.  Last month, the state Public Integrity Commission accused O'Connor of breaking state law by giving Bruno, who left her position in 2009, a "no-show" job. The commission said evidence suggested she did little if any work and spent most working hours at home.  Biben has directed SUNY to halt its own probe of O'Connor, the foundation, which administers more than $1 billion in annual outside funding, and O'Connor's paid ties to the American Ditchley Foundation.