Paterson pay raises

[classicman]

Gov. Paterson has granted stunning pay raises of up to 29 percent to several key aides — even as he slaps furloughs on 100,000 state workers, and his lieutenant governor threatens layoffs. The shocking move by the lame-duck governor involves five members of his embattled press office, whose two top-ranking members abruptly resigned earlier this year amid what they privately called misleading statements made by the governor.

The double-digit pay hikes, granted within the past 10 days, were first disclosed by Albany TV station CBS6 late yesterday -- just hours after public employee unions went to federal court seeking a temporary restraining order against Paterson's unprecedented move to force half the state workforce off the payroll one day a week for the next nine weeks.

"It's a slap in the face to state employees who have had their raise delayed and are threatened with the loss of another 20 percent pay per week through the furloughs," said Public Employees Federation spokeswoman Darcy Wells.

"Whatever happened to shared sacrifice?"

Paterson's staff raises also come in the wake of his April 1 decision to begin holding back pay hikes for all unionized state workers and his announcement that non-unionized workers would receive no pay hike at all.

The furlough plan, designed to save $250 million, is part of the governor's overall proposal to close a looming $9.2 billion deficit for the current fiscal year -- a problem making the new raises even more difficult to fathom.

Among those receiving hikes are press officer Jessica Bassett, whose pay jumped to $75,000 annually from $65,000 (15 percent), Margaret-Kelly McKeon, executive assistant, up to $75,000 from $65,000 (15 percent), Elizabeth Banner, confidential secretary, to $60,000 from $55,000 (9 percent), press officer Anna Adams-Sarthou, to $45,000 from $35,000 (29 percent) and press assistant Melanie Hartgraves, to $45,000 from $38,000 (18 percent).

Paterson's $150,000-a-year communications director, Morgan Hook, called the raises "promotions" and said they were justified because "these people had added responsibilities and they have added work because we have fewer people doing the same job."

The new raises were blasted by furious spokesmen for the state's leading public employee unions.

"This is another example of the governor saying one thing and doing another," said Civil Service Employees Association spokesman Stephen Madarasz. "All it does is just enrage our members further. The bigger picture here is it's just another example of Paterson's total lack of credibility."

Link
I cannot imagine the arrogance of some.

[glatt]

Vote the bum out.

lame-duck governor

Oh, never mind...

[classicman]

lol - I was right there too.
It still amazes me that he could in any way justify this when at the same time asking so many others to to take a cut. I know its only about $42,000 a year, but still.

[Spexxvet]

You'd think he'd see the folly in giving people raises like that.

[classicman]

I know there is a point there somewhere. After reading your post and link several times, I still don't get it.

[squirell nutkin]

Paterson's legally blind. See the folly, get it? SEE.

Oh and WELCOME to NEW YORK!

This is par for the course in NY. When I was at SUNY one of the teachers was made interim dean until a proper dean could be found. His first act was to nearly double his salary and keep it at that after he was no longer dean while requiring him to teach one class per semester. (at 95k)