GOP Urges Suozzi to Cut Law Firm Ties

[county watchdog]

GOP Urges Suozzi to Cut Law Firm Ties


By Celeste Hadrick
Staff Writer

January 12, 2004, 7:27 PM EST

Nassau Republican legislators Monday called on Democratic County Executive Thomas Suozzi to sever all ties with a politically connected Glen Cove law firm that has collected more than $600,000 in county fees over the past two years.
Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) said his delegation's preliminary look into the financial records of the county's economic development spending had found "irregularities" in the billing from the Crowe Deegan law firm, including $4,000 it had collected from the Nassau Industrial Development Agency for work done on behalf of the Suozzi administration two months before Suozzi took office.

While the firm worked for four different economic development agencies in the county, Schmitt said he had seen only its contract with the Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs, despite repeated requests for all the legal agreements.

Schmitt said the county should move immediately to recover the money paid to Crowe Deegan because of its "tainted work product."

Crowe Deegan immediately fired back, filing a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Schmitt, saying his allegations were "absolutely false."

"Schmitt had better check his facts and maybe get better legal advice before he makes statements that are patently false and wrong," said partner Daniel P. Deegan.

The county is expected to have to pay for Schmitt's defense because he made the statements in his role as minority leader. That means a county vendor "is going to cost its employer money, Schmitt said, calling the suit "a clumsy attempt by those involved in the scandal to intimidate me."

But Deegan responded in an interview, "We didn't start it. We can't let false statements like this go unanswered. He's crossed the line."

The Republicans have been requesting information about Nassau's spending of economic development money in preparation for legislative hearings that begin Jan. 21. The hearings were scheduled after former deputy county executive Peter Sylver, who oversaw all the economic development agencies, resigned in November following disclosures that he had used an office credit card to charge more than $15,000 in questionable expenses, paid by federal grant money or IDA funds.

The Crowe Deegan law firm, which has contributed $33,000 to Suozzi, has many local Democratic ties: Deegan is the Glen Cove city attorney while former partner Robert Benrubi now works full-time in the county's housing office. Jonathan Kaiman resigned from the firm after he was elected in November as the Democratic supervisor of North Hempstead and his wife until recently worked for the county IDA.

Among its many accomplishments for Nassau, Deegan said the firm played a key role in the county's acquisition of Navy land at the former Grumman site in Bethpage.

Crowe Degan was working on that project for the IDA during the two months before Suozzi took office, Deegan said. He said the IDA's former outside counsel under former Republican County Executive Thomas Gulotta, Santemma and Deutsch, brought in his firm because the deal was "at a critical state."

Jon Santemma Monday confirmed that he called in Deegan after being told the firm would be counsel for the IDA. He said he couldn't remember who told him.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.

[Supervisor Kay Man]

By the way, I didn't know my wife worked for the IDA. I love Pete Sylver.

[In the Know]

This issue has no legs. It'll dry up in less than a week.
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[In the Know 2]

billy B

[reasman]

This issue is a joke. Where do I begin to list the firms that are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Republican party, that may have contributed a dollar or two to the County Committee when Gulotta was CE and may have gotten a contract or two? Don't make me do it, just concede this is nonsense!!!
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[Magic8Ball]

Not the point reasman! This is just one of many things that has been happening recently with the current adminstration. Suozzi is so focused on where he wants to be in two years that he is just doing enough of a good job to get god press so he can run around in 2006 saying I can do it because I've done it. The problem is he has not done anything, just a lot of fluff. His supporters will blame Peter Sylver for what happened at the IDA, but to think the TS did not know what was going on is ridiculous. TS supporters do not have a mind of their own, they are yespeople! They get the misinformation and then spit it back out, because they don't know any better. It doesn't matter if something will blow over, the problem is it shouldn't blow over. If Newsday had the guts they would print what mattered because it is the right thing to do, not because they have no choice.

[reasman]

Er...Mr. Schmitt...take a deep breath. OK?
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[Magic8Ball]

I guess you are one of those TS cult followers that I mentioned earlier. Just to let you know I am not a republican, just somebody who disappointed in my party.

[hardtimes]

You are not the only Democrat who is disappointed with the Nassau County Democratic Party. Many of us are also upset with what has been appearing in the press. Pointing out how corrupt Republicans have been in the past is NO ANSWER! We did not work so hard in the last two elections to install a bunch of corrupt politicians to take the place of the first set of corrupt politicians. On the local level on Long Island, maybe it just doesn't make any difference who has the power -- maybe they are all alike. If what has been appearing in the papers about the IDA is true (and that plasma TV monitor was TOO much, wasn't it?), Suozzi's dreams for higher office should be shattered. The same can be said for his "yes-men" and "yes-women" on the county legislature. Isn't there one independent-minded Democrat on the county legislature who will stand up and help clean house? Do any Democrats on the legislature have any moral backbone at all? Why do we have to wait for a federal investigation to get at the bottom of the slime pit? Yes, many of us Democrats are truly disappointed with what is happening.

[yeahcrowedeegan]

FACT: when suozzi took over there were over 400 contracts for outside legal counsel. FACT: there are now less than 10.

Yes Crowe Deegan has taken in a big chunk of change. But their services have benefitted the county. that piece of trash schmitt is merely a lying sack of sh... how dare he question anyone else!

let everyone take a look at the situation. as stated above the issue will have no legs, because it does not warrant legs.

all of you crying whining theiving stealing republican hacks should crawl back in your respective holes. when you have a true and better alternative please speak up.

[Math Wiz]

Where do you get that from. That is pure crap, my guess is Nassau County uses at least 200 law firms and don't forget about consultants $$$$$

[No Way]

What are u one of the dumb 215 year-olds on the payroll at Housing? There are many more than 10 contracts unless you would like to share your info.
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[TOOLEGIT]

TS gets off 2 ez, especially with Newsday, if this was another administration, it would be a daily front page story.

[counsellor]

For the genius of a fanatic hack who crowed about the 10 contracts, you really need to cut back on whatever you're using - when you lose touch with reality that badly, only bad things can happen.

Speaking as an independent mind(with my own opinions), yes the republicans dropped the ball to the point they gave it to the democrats. However, the democrats under TS seem anxious to return the favor.

There have been enough scandals that even newsday can no longer turn its nose aside at the stink entirely.
Which is a shame, as much as I'm republican minded(fiscally speaking) I would rather the democrats got the glory and made the county better than be able to say they're just as bad or worse.

Incidentally, say what you will about Tommy Gulotta, after 12 years he only had one scandal after he stopped caring which will be resulting in jailtime of an official(The BPA scandal as i'm sure we all remember, oh and I dont think a county official has been convicted YET, although union and private company execs were). Tommy Suozzi on the other hand, only 2 years into his administration has had several scandals(although to be fair, until the housing funds misappropriation came to light-they were relatively minor).

As a friend put it the other day-"the republicans werent crooks, they were boobs. The democrats on the other hand apparently seem to be the crooks they always cried the republicans were)

So stop doing those mindaltering drugs, admit Tommy S has a problem and see what u can do to help your boy if you feel that way.


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[Keystone Cop]

The reelection campaign begun January second 2004 for a November 2005 race. That's a year and a half more of message of the day, staying on message, it's the other guy stupid, blame it on Gullota, it's the minority, it's anybody but the self inflicted wound folks.

Remember the Presidential season is less than a year. How sick is this, someone read the poll numbers and were scared.

The question maybe asked, what if we have no positive messages or accomplishments ? Thats why we created DEVNYM Fertilizer Group. The partnership between the queen of mean and the ice bag boy (he should upgrade on that fat raise) is in the test stages of this years new product.

A product so secret, so sinister only Dr. Watson (not Sherlock) knows the location.

This product will change politics for ever. It even overpowers Newsday's Vietnam era Bull S@hit repellent.

The names range from SuozziSweet, TantrumTamer, Instacoverup, autoaccomploishment, factremixer II, RealEstateConsolidator, truthenhancer #9 and the big ones- lieaway and norecollections (from the Goodman collection of fragrances).

Test will begin January 21, 5th floor one west.

[Document finder]

While we have heard that the 21st will start the "hearings." Will anything come of it? Who knows...however I would ask all to file a Freedom of Information request on all expenditures of the County Executive and all his department heads. Look for any and all credit cards, reimbursements, mileage requests, etc. Remember, all it takes is for someone to start reviewing the expenditures....the information is all there for the asking, you just have to know where to look.

[It is a show trial]

200 law firms? you are a complete idiot. do a foil to either the leg or the CA's office and find out how many outside contracts there are. you are all simply a bunch of private sector unemployables who are hoping against hope that someday you'll be able to rape the county once again. get a life - all of you!

[counsellor]

hmm a foil is always a good idea, of course that assumes the government will respond to it in a timely manner. I.E. not like they chose to respond to Mr. Schmitt & Co. request for Peter Sylver's credit card bills at county expense. Where they came out with it about the time they admitted oops there was a little misunderstanding...(for those w/short memories, thats about a year after the request)

As to your comment about needing jobs sport, I would point out while this administration may or may not be smartly using outside counsel(depends on your view & the truth), those of us who handle criminal work get plenty from county executive employees already, so unless you're one of the ones who needs my services dont concern yourself. Of course, if you are, I suggest you remember to be nice, in hopes of getting a good rate, lest you need to go raid your own county credit card for a cash advance to pay.

Oh, P.S. I wouldnt want an outside counsel spot for the county, by most counts, be it under Gulotta or Suozzi, the pay is not great(unless you are solidly hooked) and is always behind to the tune of 6 months to a year.




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[It's just a matter of tim]

Lou Yveoli and his kids contract award prior to the RFP.
Kate Randolph shifted to OHIA to raise money and scheduele Tom's events (no not the OHIA Horror /road Shows).

Little events at county facilities for benfactors hosted by Doreen Banks.

Possibly spending restricted federal dollars on programs that were politically advantagious, over Pete Sylvers objections.

Allowing the DSS medicaid backlog to grow from 8,000 to 10,000 during the time he over rode headcount restrictions and added 50 examiners.

Not meeting the targeted headcount reduction of 1200.

Remember the smart government initiatives. It went into it's last printing last year and is now a collectors item.

Are you better off than you were 2 years ago. I don't think so. The 150 folks that recieved double diget raises are better off.

[Hud Sucker0]

The Real Deal

The Crowe Deegan affair is larger than you think. HUD's former Regional Director/New York Office and Cuomo lackey Charlie King is of Counsel at Crowe Deegan. I guess Charlie can't get enough of that HUD money! Too bad he left his girlfriend Jan F. behind at HUD>

[Interesting Posts HUD SUC]

HUD and Urban Renewal have left many visible scars here in Glen Cove. Yes, the Suozzis and Cuomos are tight and the scars left behind to tie back to Cuomo even before the Clinton admin.. Back in the 80's it was VERY apparent for both commercial real estate and residential... The triangle, seaman house, both parking garages.. Lots of land rec'd $ for HUD developlment but remained empty for 10+ years. The list goes on and on.. Even a historical landmark was sold. It was embedded on tons of sand - which also was sold for a HUGE profit... Not sure where that money went... Too much to write b/c they all had layers and layers of corruption.. Investigations (yes - it got that far) did not amount to much. Even a few "good friends" who could not sell their house "coincidentially" had their homes purchased by the State -- for way more than market value....

[Tells your pals]

Tell your friends about Suozzi's payroll patronage rolls - Print out this thread and show it to them. Pass around the truth. Get Suozzi out in 2005

[Meyer Suozzi advertising]

Was that advertisment for Meyer Suozzi serious? I saw an advertisment in Newsday that looked like it was some kind of joke that Meyer Suozzi is looking to hire a few good people? The other law firms on Long Island - and even Newsday unbelievably - were really laughing at it. Is it true that Meyer Suozzi is getting so many real estate development deals on Long Island (I can't imagine why that business is booming now can you - low income high rise TOM ?) that they can't find enough lawyers to keep up with all the bonus work they seems to be getting since Tom Suozzi got put in charge of Nassau County's real estate? Is that no decent person will work now for a law firm related to the Suozzi family - has the name been so tainted and is the expectation for 2005 so far in the tank for Suozzi's political future that it's like an animal who senses sickness and death - and just STAYS AWAY?

[Long Beach Lawyers]

Who hired Suozzi Meyer to represent the City of Long Beach ?

[Guest today]

to Meyer Suozzi advertising:

What advertisement?
which Newsday? Sunday's?
they don't usually place ads -

[Annikan Skywalker]

Ask Me or Lorna Doone. May the force be with you!