Christine Quinn, Domenic Recchia Exploit Hurricane Sandy Response

Under the city budget approved last summer by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Domenic Recchia was allocated in excess of $1.5 million in so-called member items for more than 150 community organizations of his choosing. Mr. Recchia received so much money, because Mr. Recchia helps Speaker Quinn score political points with his community. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Mr. Recchia is escorting Speaker Quinn through his city council district to help fluff up her visibility among Coney Island voters, even though Speaker Quinn is not held accountable for the lack of adequate emergency healthcare management planning. Since the time that she has become speaker of City Council, nine hospitals have closed in New York City, including Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway, Queens. No word yet on when Coney Island Hospital will re-open.