City Council members give huge pork dollars to schools their kids attend
City Council members have lavished huge pork dollars on schools their kids attend – or where family members work.
Brooklyn lawmaker Brad Lander gave $100,000 to upgrade the library at his son’s Middle School 51.
He also handed out $200,000 to the Fifth Avenue Committee, a housing organization where he used to serve as the executive director. And he earmarked $3,500 to Brooklyn Congregations United, a religious group that includes his synagogue, Kolot Chayenu.
New details about the Council’s $49.6 million yearly pork spending emerged yesterday as part of the $66 billion budget approved last week.
Brooklyn Councilman Michael Nelson gave $250,000 to Edward R. Murrow High School, where his fianceé works.
Domenic Recchia, the Council’s finance chairman, gave $400,000 to schools with direct family ties.
He handed over $200,000 to Public School 213, where his son attends, and another $200,000 to Edward B. Shallow Intermediate School – which employs his wife as a teacher.
Councilwoman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Washington Heights) gave $60,000 to Gregorio Luperon High School, where her sister works.
