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Markowitz Admits Ethics Violation, Pays Fine, Fuhgeddsaboutit
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 7, 2011
Modified Feb 7, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 7, 2011
Modified Feb 7, 2011
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The NYC Conflicts of Interests Board has fined Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz $2,000 for accepting free legal work from a subordinate, in violation of the city’s conflict of interest law. The law explicitly prohibits officials from doing business with their underlings, even if they pay for it. In Marty's case, he ran afoul of the law in 2008, when he asked his Chief of Staff, Carlo Scissura, to recommend a law firm to handle his house purchase. Scissura recommended the law firm Carlo A. Scissura P.C., which he owns.
Scissura wasn't initially handling the transaction himself, but when the attorney working for Markowitz went on maternity leave, he stepped in to close the deal. Markowitz did not pay him until after the city launched an investigation. Markowitz admitted to the violation, although he says he wasn't aware he was doing anything wrong at the time. (Scissura has also agreed to pay a fine of $1,000.) Marty's spokesman isn't commenting, but we assume the BP is currently rehearsing a torch song apologizing to his constituents, like his bike lane ditty. May we suggest something to the tune of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the BPer"?
COIB Press Release & Dispositions (BBP)
Tagged
brooklyn borough president
ethics
marty markowitz
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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