Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
What's A Few Hundred Million Dollars Wasted To Michael Bloomberg?
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 24, 2011
Modified Jun 24, 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
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 24, 2011
Modified Jun 24, 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
Despite a massive amount of evidence to the contrary Mayor Bloomberg continues to say that the ongoing CityTime disaster—which has lost the city hundreds of millions of dollars to grift in a time of great financial uncertainty—isn't as bad as it looks.
On his WOR radio show today Bloomberg said that most of the $600 million in cost increases for the automated payroll system were legitimate. Perhaps he didn't read the press release earlier this week from the U.S. Attorney subtitled "Alleged Criminal Scheme Extended Across Virtually Every Level Of CityTime Project; Contractors And Subcontractors Systematically Inflated Costs, Overbilled For Consultants’ Time, And Artificially Extended Completion Date?" (Can't wait for the Hollywood rom-com adaptation of that one.)
Okay, so Bloomberg did admit that “there was an unconscionable amount of fraud” which he says his administration is “going after” but he also insisted that the project's initial cost of $63 million was simply underestimated. The final cost of the project, after all that theft, is north of $740 million. That Bloomberg would defend an overbudget contracted-out program isn't much of a surprise though, considering his administration's penchant for them.
Tagged
citytime
mayor bloomberg
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 5:25 p.m. ET
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
Don't be surprised if you run into someone from your building in Beacon.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
News
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
Don't be surprised if you run into someone from your building in Beacon.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
By
Charles Lane
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 .