It seems the bad news just keeps pouring in for Queens Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza. After her stunning admission to the Daily News that she has turned her district residence into a rental property and relocated her family to a sprawling mansion in exclusive Glen Head, Long Island, the Queens Republican Party is calling for an investigation into Assemblywoman Carrozza's legal residence, her filing of potentially contradictory legal documents, and is also citing her high absentee record as evidence that she has essentially abandoned not just her legal residence but her job as a representative of the 26th Assembly District and its' constituents.
In a just-release statement, Queens GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa very succinctly ties this problem together with the never-ending dysfunction in Albany and out of control government spending, demanding action finally on behalf of the people. According to Ragusa:
“In this time when Albany dysfunction is at an all-time high and government spending is out of control at every level of government, spurring tea parties from coast to coast, we need to be extremely diligent in demanding real reform from our elected officials. And the most basic reform we should demand is that officials truly live in the districts they are elected to represent, as required by law. There have been too many of these allegations over the years and we must now get serious about protecting the public from this type of fraud. The integrity of our entire democratic system is at risk here.”
Citing Carrozza's unbelievable record of absenteeism as proof of her failure to live up to the responsibility entrusted in her by the people of her district, GOP Executive Director Daniel Egers commented linked her failure to show up and do her job in Albany to her severing of any direct ties to her district.
“The people of Northeast Queens deserve a full time Assembly representative who actually lives in the district as required by both law and common sense,” according to Daniel Egers, Executive Director for the Queens GOP. “When one looks at the Assembly woman's extensive absentee record from votes in Albany, having missed 681 out of 1093 floor votes, a 62% absentee rate, and having missed two-thirds of her committee meetings, it makes one wonder. If she is not in the district and she is not in Albany, what is she doing on the taxpayers’ time? Authorities should investigate forthwith and the Assemblywoman should belatedly do the honest and honorable thing and tender her resignation. Perhaps she should run in Long Island.”
Calls for an investigation include the Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, the State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and the NY State Board of Ethics, while calling into question if any of these guardians of the public trust can overcome Party loyalty and investigate this case without bias. After all, Carrozza is a Democrat in good standing, unlike State Sen. Pedro Espada, who is being investigated for the same allegations in the Bronx. Espada, of course, is not well liked by his fellow Democrats for siding with the Republicans in the Senate and throwing the Senate Democratic Leadership under the proverbial bus.
This is a case, along with Carrozza's Assembly record, we will be watching closely in the days to come. The full GOP press release is below.
24-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard
Whitestone, NY 11357
Contact: Daniel Egers- 718-690-3737
For Immediate Release June 30, 2009
Says Public Needs Stricter Oversight and Reform in Albany
(Queens, NY) With the recent revelation that Assembly Member Ann Margaret Carrozza moved last year to a sprawling mansion in tony Glen Head, Long Island and has turned her district residence into a rental property, violating state residency laws for elected officials, Queens GOP officials have begun to call for an investigation by the District Attorney, Attorney General and NYS Board of Ethics to protect the residents of the 26th Assembly District from being defrauded from having a full-time Assembly Representative.
According to Party Chairman Phil Ragusa, “In this time when Albany dysfunction is at an all-time high and government spending is out of control at every level of government, spurring tea parties from coast to coast, we need to be extremely diligent in demanding real reform from our elected officials. And the most basic reform we should demand is that officials truly live in the districts they are elected to represent, as required by law. There have been too many of these allegations over the years and we must now get serious about protecting the public from this type of fraud. The integrity of our entire democratic system is at risk here.”
While courts have historically been rather flexible in their interpretation of what constitutes a primary resident when office holders own or rent multiple residences, GOP officials note that by Carrozza’s own public statements she no longer maintains a residence by legal standards.
“It is clear that the Election Law does not preclude a person from having two residences and choosing one for election purposes provided he or she has 'legitimate, significant and continuing attachments' to that residence, as per Isabella v Hotaling,” stated Queens GOP Executive Vice Chairman and election law expert Vince Tabone . "The crucial determination of whether a particular residence complies with the requirements of the Election Law is that the individual must manifest an intent, coupled with physical presence 'without any aura of sham" as per People v O'Hara.”
The media to its credit has shed light on the fact that by turning her district residence into a rental property, essentially converting it from a residence into an investment property, Assembly Member Carrozza is likely to have violated state law and for some time.
Also noteworthy is if as reported Carrozza moved into the Glen Head home in June of 2008 and filed nominating petitions for reelection that year with an address she no longer resided at she could be found guilty of filing fraudulent instruments with the government. Whether District Attorney Brown will opt to take action on this as his Bronx counterpart has in a similar situation with a less popular State lawmaker in the Bronx remains to be seen. Obviously Carrozza now has legal problems , but she also has a political one. She has either tried to fool the voters who elected her, or alternatively, she is guilty of filing false business instruments to secure a favorable tax benefit for her Long Island home Either way, she has a lot of explaining to do.
“The people of Northeast Queens deserve a full time Assembly representative who actually lives in the district as required by both law and common sense,” according to Daniel Egers, Executive Director for the Queens GOP. “When one looks at Ms. Carrozza's extensive absentee record from votes in Albany, having missed 681 out of 1093 floor votes, a 62% absentee rate, and having missed two-thirds of her committee meetings, it makes one wonder. If she is not in the district and she is not in Albany, what is she doing on the taxpayers’ time? Authorities should investigate forthwith and Ms. Carrozza should belatedly do the honest and honorable thing and tender her resignation. Perhaps she should run in Long Island.”
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written by Daniel Peterson , June 30, 2009
I also suggest a strongly worded letter written and delivered to Hon. Sheldon Silver, the current Speaker of the New York State Assembly.
With Silver's standards for members of his chamber it would be most appropriate that he address this issue, as well as the Assembly Minority Leader.
written by Reaganite , June 30, 2009
I think a strongly worded letter is not strong enough. How about we storm her district office, or at least hold a rally. She needs to know this is not acceptable. She needs to be fired.
written by Jay Golub , June 30, 2009
Why would someone so brazenly do these things if not for the fact that she, like most Democrats in Albany, feels that she is above being responsive and responsible to her constituency?
This is the ultimate rallying cry for Republicans in NY State and City. It's time for all of us to come together to fight against these types of elected representatives.
Does Sheldon Silver know that Carrozza is officially a Nassau County resident? The fact that she answered the question from the media so easily makes me believe that this is no secret at all - it's more a known fact that Silver has agreed to allow.
If he didn't know about, now he does. Asking someone to step down from an Assembly position that she not only doesn't deserve because of residency requirement failure but because she doesn't even bother to show up to make critical votes, is not a big step for any leader of any branch.
Silver should call for her to step down and run in the district in NY She actually lives in, NOW!!! If not, Silver himself should be challenged for action and protest.
If Queens residents ever wonder why their views aren't being heard in Albany, one only needs to look at the record of Mrs. Carrozza - or the lack-there-of. It's no surprise that non-outer-borough representatives at all levels ignore our demands and needs - like with the commuter tax or with tolling all the east river bridges or the lack of support for Mayoral control of the schools or in the excessive levels of taxation being imposed by Albany.
Queens voters should protest this insensitive actions of Assemblywoman Carrozza. And when they do, leaders in Albany and NYC should respond with ACTION....
written by Jay Golub , July 06, 2009
i moved this comment to one below to fix the link...
written by Daniel Peterson , July 06, 2009
ok., that link is a bit screwy. I know I can figure it out and get it to work but it's not working the way it's set up right now.
Why would there be no special election? I
written by Jay Golub , July 06, 2009
http://www.nydailynews.com/opi...6/2009-07- 06_just_go_home_queens_assemblywoman_lives_in_bigbucks_
li_mansion_.html
The Daily News editorial pages SLAM Carrozza...
"Time was, city politicians at least had the good graces to be ashamed when they were caught in the suburbs. Not Carrozza. Her preening for the camera exemplified the above-the-rules contempt that has become epidemic in Albany."
"Carrozza also takes her constituents for morons."
...how long will it take for her to resign at this point?
The only problem for the GOP is that this story broke at this point in the election cycle. If she decides to stay in office, it may be helpful by 2010, but if she resigns any time soon, there will be no special election, which has tended to benefit Republicans recently.
Instead, her race could just be piggy-backed onto the 2009 general, which would tend to favor the Democratic party...
written by Cicero , July 08, 2009
http://www.queenscourier.com/a...332689.txt
from the Queens Courier newspaper
written by Octavia , July 16, 2009
'Abysmal' attendance record are latest woes for Queens Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2009/07/15/2009-07-15_posh_pols_latest_woes_her_abysmal_attendance_record.html
She should resign!
She's a disgrace! Shame on the voters of her district if they keep re-electing her.
written by MarcusTullius Cicero , July 23, 2009
http://www.yournabe.com/articl...222009.txt
written by Quickjustice , July 24, 2009
I think we can count on Assemblywoman Carrozza to cling desperately to power. That gives the GOP more than a year to kick her around.
Barring indictment or a primary loss, she'll be running in 2010.
written by Daniel Peterson , July 25, 2009
Rob Speranza was a wonderful candidate for the Republican Party in 2008. It was his first time running and everyone who got to meet him thought he'd be a great guy to send to Albany. Unfortunately, with it being his first time running, he didn't get a chance to really campaign and reach out to everyone in the district. He got a respectable result, but with 2010 around the corner, he has the chance to really drive his campaign down the throat of the Democrat.
A new story came out about Assemblywoman Ann Margaret Carrozza.
http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2009/07/23/queens/queensrilnwwf07222009.txt
Apparently, in desperation to move back to the district because someone caught her living outside she immediately floundered to move back in and how is upsetting a family of five by ordering them evicted in 30 days.
She continues to stumble.
Is she running? is she not?
I think, the bottom line will be that she won't run for re-election next year and an open seat will work to Rob's advantage.
It's quite possible that whoever loses the Democratic Primary for City council this year in CD19, will choose to run next year for Assembly. Let's hope Dan Halloran wins so both the front runners have to look for another job next year.
written by Hypocrisy Highlighter , July 25, 2009
Rob is a good man. He has done terrific things in fighting graffiti vandalism in NW Queens, as well as other civic stuff!
I hope he runs again!
written by Ms. A. Rojas , July 28, 2009
Exclusive
AG Cuomo probing Assemblywoman Carrozza over out of district mansion
BY John Lauinger
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Monday, July 27th 2009, 4:00 AM
Monaster/News New York State Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza talks to the New York Daily News Editorial Board.
Related NewsArticlesCarrozza's poor attendanceBrake on Carrozza's tax breakCarrozza represents Queens, but is living large on L.I. Gold Coast
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating whether Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza broke state law by living in a Long Island mansion instead of her Queens district.
Cuomo's office launched the probe in response to an exclusive Daily News report that revealed the Democratic lawmaker claimed in a mortgage document that the Glen Head, L.I., manse would be her "principal residence," sources said.
Carrozza took out the mortgage when she bought the mansion for $1.8 million in June 2008, some five months before she was reelected in her Bayside, Queens, district.
State law requires a legislator to live within his or her district for a year prior to the general election and to maintain a residence in the district while in office.
Cuomo's investigators - armed with statements Carrozza has made to The News - are focusing on whether she filed a false business document when she took out the $1 million mortgage, the sources said.
Carrozza, who has vowed to run for reelection next year, said she welcomes Cuomo's probe.
"I am confident he will find that at all times I have maintained my primary residence right here in Bayside," she said. That claim contradicts her mortgage pledge and statements she previously made to The News.
The mortgage papers Carrozza signed state the posh Gold Coast digs would be her "principal residence within 60 days" and "for at least one year" thereafter.
Cuomo's probers are examining whether Carrozza, 42, was able to obtain a more favorable interest rate with that assertion, the sources said.
When The News confronted Carrozza about her residency on June 25, she said she's lived in the manse with her hubby and two kids since February.
"My primary residence is in Bayside - and we're temporarily renting that out," she said, referring to a Bayside home she owns.
The family had outgrown the Bayside pad, she explained, and had a deal for bigger Bayside digs. They moved to the mansion out of necessity, she said, when the deal fell apart after they had an agreement with their tenants.
"Hopefully, we will sell this house and be back in Bayside within a couple of months," she said, referring to the mansion.
Carrozza also owns a Bayside co-op, noting in the June interview that her mother lives there.
She told Daily News editors on July 14 she has been living in the 205th St. co-op since early July. She said she spent months fixing up the place - adding a headboard to her bed and repairing closet shelves.
"I did a few little odds and ends," she said, refusing to say how many nights a week she would stay there. Cuomo's investigators last week began interviewing her 205th St. neighbors to find out how much time she spends there, the sources said.
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written by F.S. , July 30, 2009
Why is Ann-Margaret Carrozza being targeted?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Why has Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza received such criticism in the press during the past weeks, with no less than two news stories, two letters, an editorial, and two pictures just in the last three issues of the TimesLedger, and I suspect more will come? What could she possibly have done to merit such extremely negative attention?
Is she one of the elected officials who recently pled guilty to a crime and resigned or has just entered jail? Has she been indicted for an act of violence, like slashing someone’s face? Was she forced to resign after a sex scandal and using state police as spies? Did she arrogantly conspire with other officials to change local term limits to benefit themselves or threaten to arrest” the state Senate for defying her will, like a Third World despoti Is she accused of “incompetence” or being part of the “Albany Circus”? No, no, no, to all of the above? Carrozza’s alleged offense seems to be she had briefly moved to Nassau County but has now returned to Bayside. What’s going on here?
Having read all the coverage Ann and her family have gotten in the press, I am not convinced Carrozza is guilty of anything other than some poor judgment. In the 13 years since she was first elected as our local Assembly representative, I have always found Ann responsive to our local concerns - so much so that the East Bayside Homeowners Association Inc. awarded her with one of our Community Service Awards several years ago. She and her staff have been prompt to respond to my E.B.H.A. calls/letters regarding state-jurisdiction concerns or occasional meeting requests. While I am a Republican and she is a Democrat, I have nonetheless voted for her several times, due to her work for us.
Neither Ann nor anyone else has asked me to write this letter, and indeed I am not a close personal friend of hers. I remain impressed, however, by what I see as her warmth and sincerity as per the Easter plant left on my porch a few years ago signed “Ann,” and her attendance at the jam-packed fund-raiser for the Hilsdorf family at Sacred Heart Church, four months ago, where I introduced Ann (and Senator Frank Padavan and Council candidate Dan Halloran) to the family members.
Where is the perspective of those who are denouncing Anni Is her residence really more important that the bizarre antics and disgraceful crimes associated with some of the Senate officials in Albany? What is going on here?
Frank Skala
East Bayside Homeowners Association
Bayside
written by Jay Golub , July 31, 2009
"Carrozza’s alleged offense seems to be she had briefly moved to Nassau County but has now returned to Bayside. What’s going on here?"
That's what's wrong. she moved out of the district she represents. If you don't have a problem with that F.S, then why don't we see if there are any smart people living in North Dakota who want to represent us.
By your standard, we don't need residency requirements any longer...
"Where is the perspective of those who are denouncing Anni Is her residence really more important that the bizarre antics and disgraceful crimes associated with some of the Senate officials in Albany?"
So you are saying she's a moron, but she's not the worst moron in Albany so she should be free from criticism for moving outside of her district because she couldn't find anywhere inside the district that was good enough for her to live in?
That makes no sense, F.H. If you want to vote for her, but I don't think that we should allow representatives to discard the law just because others are breaking more laws....
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