Groups Question Deputy Mayor's Role at Bloomberg Foundation

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

Two good government groups have filed a complaint with a city ethics panel about a Bloomberg administration official running the mayor's philanthropy. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

REPORTER: Common Cause and NYPIRG say it violates the City Charter for Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris's to hold down her city hall job while chairing the Bloomberg Family Foundation. Susan Lerner of Common Cause says they're asking the City's Conflict of Interest Board for a closer look at Harris's foundation duties.

LERNER: There are provisions of the City Charter which require city employees to devout full time to their city jobs and that indicate that responsible officials have an obligation to put the public first.

REPORTER: A spokesman for the mayor says the Conflict of Interest Board has already granted Harris a waiver. The city's official directory says she makes more than $225,000 a year as Deputy Mayor. She'll get no salary from Bloomberg's foundation.

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