>McNerney: Wining, Dining, Chauffeuring on the Taxpayer Dime
Kathe Donovan today charged Democrat County Executive Dennis McNerney with “allowing political cronies to wine, dine and ride at taxpayers’ expense.”
According to Ms. Donovan, “The Record reports that BCIA Executive Director and McNerney ally Ed Hynes ran up an $800 monthly expense account paid for by Bergen taxpayers. And where was much of this money spent? At Bergen County watering holes frequented by other McNerney cronies.” Ms. Donovan charged that this practice has gone on for years and is consistent with other McNerney abuses.
“McNerney had the county police chauffeuring political boss Joe Ferriero until the practice was uncovered by the Record and McNerney was forced to end it.” Donovan said that McNerney “defended the practice” noting that the Record reported on November 6, 2004 that McNerney, “did not think Ferriero should have to reimburse the costs for the ride.” Donovan said she was appalled that McNerney thought it appropriate for political bosses to ride on the taxpayers’ dime to places like Atlantic City and Yankee Stadium. McNerney went on to tell the Record “Joe (Ferriero) is a season ticket holder, and in return, we went to the Stadium Club, and I bought food there with him, Rather than me paying for the ticket, I paid for the food and drinks.” Donovan added, “and the taxpayers paid for the transportation.”
Donovan compared this abuse to reckless Democrat charges that she used Port Authority helicopters for six rides when she was chair of the bi-state agency. Donovan said that the use of the helicopter came in the wake of the initial attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.
“Those rides took place over 15 years ago. It was a common practice at the time. It has never been a common practice, however, for political bosses and cronies to be chauffeured by the Bergen County Police at taxpayer expense. This and other abuses are going to stop when I’m county executive. The days of wine and roses are coming to an end.”
