At a press conference about legislative matters just now, Christine Quinn was asked if the indictment of two Kendall Stewart staffers, who allegedly pocketed taxpayer money, would affect her proposal to give the mayor’s office more authority over local funding requests.

“Obviously there is additional information everybody will get,” she said. “As we look at that, if there are more comments and questions we can answer, we will.”

Quinn is expected to meet with Council members later today behind closed doors.  read more »

The unsealed indictment from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York names Councilman Kendall Stewart's former chief of staff, Asquith Reid, and another staffer, Joycinth "Sue" Anderson.

The charges include conspiracy to commit mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy and witness tampering and center around an organization called the Donna Reid Fund, which has received $356,000 in discretionary funds from the Councilman since April 2005.  read more »