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Secretary Got 60% Raise For A City Temp Job
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Oct 31, 2011
Modified Oct 31, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Oct 31, 2011
Modified Oct 31, 2011
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A personal secretary to the head of the city's Business Integrity Commission received three pay raises in 7 months in a special arrangement that allowed her to work for the city but be paid by the Queens DA's office. According to the Daily News, secretary Hope Kennedy, who worked under Mike Mansfield, started out at $68K when she was hired in August of 2007. By May of 2008, Kennedy was making $115K. "I worked for the Queens DA, and the DA approved my going to BIC, and I remained on the DA's payroll," Kennedy said. Somewhere, the Premier of the Coalition to Abolish
Secretaries'
Administrative Professionals Day is stroking his beard and cackling.
The Business Integrity Commission stamps out mafia ties and illegal activity within the city's carting, fish, and produce industries. Even though Kennedy, who lives on Long Island, was working in her capacity for the city she was still technically employed by the Queens DA's office. This allowed her to avoid residency requirements. "Everybody knew where I lived. Everybody knew my address," she says. A spokesperson for the mayor said the arrangement was created because Kennedy would have been forced to forego her civil service benefits for what was a temporary gig (she left in 2008.) We can only think of one secretary who had a sweeter deal.
Tagged
Business Integrity Commission
mafia ties
mayor bloomberg
queens
residency
secretaries day
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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