Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Marty Markowitz's Three Drivers Are Totally "Necessary"


By

Jaya Saxena

Published Mar 27, 2011

Modified Mar 27, 2011


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

Jaya Saxena

Published Mar 27, 2011

Modified Mar 27, 2011


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

People tend to take a lot of liberties when describing things they deem "necessary," so here's a little primer. Food is necessary, demanding filet mignon for dinner every night is not. Shelter is necessary, $7 million dollars just to feel rich is not. The ability to get to where you want to go is necessary, but having three professional chauffeurs on rotating 16-hour shifts is definitely not.

Marty Markowitz's three drivers are paid a total of $177,372 a year, not including overtime, and apparently it's all legal. One of Markowitz's aides says it's necessary because Markowitz is "on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The drivers are with the borough president or working at Borough Hall until the borough president's day is over—often after 10 p.m., then they are required to be on call until their shift is over." However, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro is a veritable man of the people—he doesn't even have a driver. And has Marty even used that nice bike he got for Christmas?

Tagged

brooklyn

drivers

marty markowitz

necessities


Jaya Saxena

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors

Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.

By

Ryan Kost

Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET


NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal

Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."

By

Elizabeth Kim

News

NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal

Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."

By

Elizabeth Kim


NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting

By

Charles Lane

Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds

By

Samantha Max

MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens

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 .