Judge Allows Stevenson to Switch Lawyers | NY Post

Posted on December 12, 2013 by

Today, the NY Post’s Rich Calder and Carl Campanile reported that Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson finally won court approval of a new lawyer, Muhammad Ibn Bashir, Esq. Previously, Stevenson claimed poverty and was assigned a federal public defender.

The Post reported on Stevenson’s claims that a local Bronx mosque identified as Masjid al Salaam is paying for his defense. Last month, I blogged about Stevenson’s “Oldies But Goodies” legal defense fundraiser held at Concourse Village in the Bronx.

Read more — http://nypost.com/2013/12/12/judge-allows-stevenson-to-switch-lawyers/

According to Mr. Muhammad Ibn Bashir’s website, he is best known for defending ’93 WTC bombers. Bashir is the author of Raw Law, which is published by Simon & Schuster. In an interview Bashir once claimed that public defenders are overworked lawyers who push innocent defendants into accepting unfair plea deals.

In this video, Mr. Bashir dismisses public defenders as overworked lawyers who convince clients to accept plea deals. Bashir says plea deals puts many innocent black men who are unable to hire adequate counsel in jail .

Apparently on that, he and Mr Stevenson are in agreement.

Read more — http://nypost.com/2013/12/12/judge-allows-stevenson-to-switch-lawyers/

When initially arrested AM Stevenson, in news reports, claimed he was reading the Bible. Today, he appears to be flirting with Islam. In remarks at the Muslim Day Parade, Stevenson sought to identify with those claiming that the NYPD surveillance program was Muslim persecution.

In previous years, he claimed that either he or a brother were members of the Nation of Islam (which is led by Minister Louis Farrakhan). His wife is a West African Muslim from either Gambia or Guinea.

Posted in Crime, Government, Political corruption, Public Corruption, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Merry Christmas, bad guys!

Posted on December 10, 2013 by

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At a recent PAL Business Luncheon, I met George Venizelos, Associate Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s New York field office.

ADC Venizelos, a native NYer, is the top corruption fighter in Gotham. If you’re a corrupt pol, you live in dread of his 5 AM housecall.

Merry Xmas bad guys. May it be your last!

“Bad boys, bad boys. Whatcha gonna do… when George comes for YOU?”

Posted in Government, Political corruption, Public Corruption | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Merry Christmas, bad guys!

Posted on December 10, 2013 by

image

At a recent PAL Business Luncheon, I met George Venizelos, Associate Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s New York field office.

ADC Venizelos, a native NYer, is the top corruption fighter in Gotham. If you’re a corrupt pol, you live in dread of his 5 AM housecall.

Merry Xmas bad guys. May it be your last!

“Bad boys, bad boys. Whatcha gonna do… when they come for YOU?

Posted in Government, Political corruption, Public Corruption | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

City & State ‘Top Tweets’ for 12/9/2103

Posted on December 9, 2013 by

TOP TWEETS:

Brett LoGiurato @BrettLoGiurato: MSNBC (and Abby Huntsman) is interviewing Jon Huntsman and MSNBC is actually playing it up as a “FAMILY EXCLUSIVE"

Michael Benjamin @SquarePegDem: We can thank Chris Cuomo 4 setting the precedent. Can’t wait 4 Chelsea’s "exclusive" w/ HRC. @brianstelter@JonCampbellGAN @BrettLoGiurato

Sarah Kliff @sarahkliff: New York’s exchange announces its passed the 100k mark in enrollments, with 100,881 people enrolled in Jan. 1 coverage.

Fredric U. Dicker @fud31: SKD NY Unsafe Patch http://www.skdtac.com/SKD-NY-Unsafe-Patch-p/skd.416.htm#.UqYsm0UlDy0.twitter …

Michael Benjamin
www.Facebook.com/SquarePegDem

www.YouTube.com/SquarePegDem
Skype: SquarePegDem

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ice Cabrera  | NY Daily News Editorial

Posted on December 9, 2013 by

The NY Daily News Editorial Board calls on Council Speaker Chris Quinn and the rest of the City Council to ignore Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s phony concerns and approve the Kingsbridge National Ice Center project.

The editorial also urges local prosecutors to investigate allegations of improprieties involving CM Cabrera’s effort to steer community benefits agreement funds to a nonprofit he controls.

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1540387

Posted in Government, Political corruption, Public Corruption | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lew’s View: Governor Cuomo’s Report Card | WNYW-TV CH 5

Posted on December 9, 2013 by

In a hard-hitting editorial that aired on Sunday, WNYW VP Lew Leonie scored NY Gov Cuomo poorly on his “leadership by committee.”

Leonie gave Cuomo an “A” for his hands-on response to to the recent fatal Metro North train accident.

Leonie was less favorable when it came to action on resolving outstanding Hurricane Sandy issues, Albany corruption, and “fracking” for natural gas.

See the entire editorial here >>

Posted in Government, Public Corruption, Public Policy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Brooklyn agency fits description of mystery nonprofit in Moreland probe | New York Post

Posted on December 8, 2013 by

http://nypost.com/2013/12/08/brooklyn-agency-fits-description-of-mystery-nonprofit/

If the agency identified by the NY Post is indeed the agency described in the Moreland Commission’s preliminary report and has fraudulently expended legislative member-items, prosecution may result.

But I don’t see proof that state legislators are corrupt or benefited from any alleged corruption.

And I certainly don’t see how campaign finance reform is the answer.

What’s your thinking on this?

Posted in Government, Political corruption, Public Corruption | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Kingsbridge still caught up in council drama – The Insider Blog | Crain’s New York Business

Posted on December 6, 2013 by

In the Bronx, the corruption beat goes go — particularly in the scandal-plagued West Bronx.

This week, the Crain’s Inside blog reported on the strange and twisty road that Councilman Rev. Fernando Cabrera is traveling regarding his on & off support for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (a development plan for the long vacant Kingsbridge Armory).

The Insider reports, “Behind the scenes, however, Mr. Cabrera’s stance has been less clear. He was widely thought to be a major proponent of a competing plan to develop a retail marketplace, fitness center and movie house at the armory and has privately voiced concerns over the ice center. Last month, accusations were made (in the NY Times) that in exchange for his support Mr. Cabrera asked KNIC’s developers to donate $100,000 a year for the next 99 years to his former charity, Community Action Unlimited.”

Read more here:
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20131205/BLOGS04/131209937

Why can’t some people, like Rev. Cabrera, play it straight? Government isn’t the lottery or a honey pot for political ne’er-do-wells.

Let’s see how this plays out in the City Council in the coming days. I don’t see how lame-duck Council Speaker Christine Quinn permits rejection of the KNIC project (possibly based on Cabrera’s failed extortion) to be a final stain on her speakership.

If you have a corruption tale or question, please share it with me. Write me at ask@corruptioncrusher.com.

Posted in Economic Development, Government, Political corruption, Public Corruption, Public Policy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

De Blasio speech repeats pre-k plan but offers few new details | GothamSchools.com

Posted on November 26, 2013 by

Patrick Wall quotes me in his GothamSchools piece assessing NYC Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s first major speech regarding his signature education policy and proposed tax hike on the wealthy to fund it.

‘Cuomo “doesn’t want to go into an election year as a Democrat who raised taxes,” said Michael Benjamin, a political consultant and former Democratic assemblyman. He said insiders have suggested that Cuomo may try to find a different revenue stream for the plan before November’s state elections, after which he might reconsider a tax bump.’

More: http://gothamschools.org/2013/11/25/de-blasio-speech-repeats-pre-k-plan-but-offers-few-new-details/

Posted in Education, Government | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Indicted Bx Assemblyman Fundraises Despite Having Federal Public Defender

Posted on November 25, 2013 by

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A deputized “Corruption Crusher” sent this to me at ask@corruptioncrusher.com recently. On November 21, the federally indicted Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson held a “legal defense” fundraiser despite having been appointed a taxpayer-funded public defender.

It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to hold a legal defense fundraiser weeks after being rebuked by your trial judge for trying to ditch the public defender you requested. The NY Post had reported that after pleading for a public defender, Stevenson left the federal courthouse in a Mercedes Benz SUV.

According to news accounts, the judge said Mr Stevenson wanted new assigned counsel because he disagreed with counsel’s advice that he accept a federal plea deal (which is every defendant’s right).

The Stevenson fundraiser was bill as an “Oldies But Goodies Night in the Bronx.” I wonder if the DJ played Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang?” That, plus “A Change Gonna Come” are my favorite Sam Cooke songs. Both seem appropriate soundtrack selections for Assemblyman Stevenson.

What oldies would you add to Stevenson’s soundtrack?

Check out @nickpowellbkny’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/nickpowellbkny/status/405022228213166080

Posted in Government, Political corruption, Public Corruption | Tagged , , | 4 Comments