Barrett's Top Ten List for Hevesi
Barrett, no softy on public corruption, argues that it's not too late for Spitzer to back away from his stance on Hevesi without losing face. Spitzer "could say now that he will await the result of the ongoing grand jury probe by Albany District Attorney David Soares and be bound by it; if no criminal charges are brought, he could conclude that no further action would be necessary." -- Azi Paybarah1. Hevesi is not a recidivist abuser
2.Hevesi cannot be removed based on speculation about his intent.
3.The commission ignored indications that Hevesi intended to reimburse the state.
4.Removal is inexcusably disproportionate to Hevesi's wrongdoing.
5. The commission's findings are politically selective.
6. The two other Pataki-appointed commissioners are as ethically challenged as Shechtman [NYS Lobbying Commission member]
7. Spitzer isn't transcending personal and political ties in the war on Hevesi; he's bowing to them.
8. Singling out Hevesi on the basis of commonplace car abuse would be a hypocritical high.
9. Spitzer is allowing campaign damage control to frame critical government policy.
10. Going forward with a senate trial and replacement will be a colossal mess.
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Wayne Barrett is a complete horse's ass. This from the man who prides himself on going after abuses in government? What a joke.
Hevesi broke the law. He stole from the till and got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Never mind why he should keep his job -- he should be next to Clarence in a cell.
Maybe Barret is just disappointed he didn't break this story. Wayne, face it your old....yesterday's news today's bird cage liner....
Dissappointing Wayne; very very strange. Are you being paid to do spin and damage control.
I disagree with the previous two posts.
Barrett has spoken a lot about the hypocracy that surronds the Hevesi-hunt, particularly next to all the abuses in this area during the Giuliani administration, and NO ONE batted an eye lash over it.
Wayne Barrett has always based his investigations on his personal feelings and relationships with the subject of his reporting. He might have been a profile in courage had he made a similar list for Clarence Norman. I'm not a Norman apologist but consider the level of corruption in each case and keep in mind that Hevesi is the watchdog who now holds no credibility.
Barrett's argument amounts to - OJ got away with killing his wife, John Sweeney shouldn't be punished for slugging her.
This proves that Wayne Barrett has become irrelevant.
This proves that Wayne Barrett has become irrelevant.
what is hevesi's Girl friend katz saying ?
All the commentary about Hevesi and whether he should step down or be removed ignores one salient fact: Alan Hevesi himself has crafted his role as Comptroller -- to go after school districts and other local governments for "theft" of taxpayer property and services. Over the past four years, Hevesi has, quite rightly, used his office for that purpose. The problem now is obvious. He has no moral authority to continue to pursue those inquests; therefore, he should take it upon himself to step down.
This has nothing to do with intent and scope of wrongdoing --it merely goes to the core of the job that Hevesi himself has developed.
This piece is quite strange and disappointing, to say the least. Barrett is also seriously flawed. Barrett's top reason for keeping Hevesi as Comptroller is that "Hevesi is not a recidivist abuser." NOT A RECIDIVIST ABUSER!??? You must be kidding. I would remind Mr. Barrett, that Hevesi engaged in the very same behavior as City Comptroller using the exact same driver as in the current case and would not have paid back the city unless his scheme was discovered. He willingly paid back the city for this lapse in judgment , which is tantamount to an admission of wrongdoing. Integrity is the critical element for the NY's top fiscal watchdog and Hevesi has seriously comprimsed his credibility and his the perception of the Comptroller's office by engaging in inappropriate, and potentially illegal, activities at our expense. He claims he was concerned for his wife's safety, so he assigned a driver with no law enforcement experience to drive her to and from appointments. His removal from office in necessary to help the Comptroller's office re-establish itself as an ethical and responsible watchdog for New York State.