Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
After Small Victory, Bloomberg Still Gives Big Bonuses
By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 30, 2009
Modified Dec 30, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 30, 2009
Modified Dec 30, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The city's richest man keeps living up to his big spending reputation — even after his poorer-than-expected performance at the polls. Despite fears that after his narrow third term victory, Mayor Bloomberg wouldn't pay out the big bonuses that his campaign staffers have come to expect, the Times reports that he's giving out "roughly the same generous checks to his staff as he did after winning office in 2001 and 2005 — 20 percent of each worker's total wages."
Bloomberg, who has given individual staffers bonuses of $100,000 in past campaigns, is expected to dole out at least $1 million in the next few weeks, if not more. So far, checks ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 have appeared in the bank accounts of many campaign staffers. The Times notes that political operative Basil Smikle got a bonus of $23,368 on top of his $116,841 salary, while field director Maura Keaney netted $31,345 on top of her salary of $156,000.
Dick Dadey, executive director of the good government group Citizens Union, said that the bonuses "are no surprise given his past practice, but this year's practice may sit worse than the ones before with so many New Yorkers struggling financially."
Tagged
bonus
campaign bonus
election
mayor bloomberg
salary
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .