A City Of Men, Not Of Laws

A budgeting process? Accountability and oversight? That's for the little people, not the Wise and Kind leaders of New York City. The NY Times does not seem even a bit perturbed - here is their glowing coverage of the beneficient Cyrus Vance, Manhattan's elected District Attorney:

Cyrus Vance Has $808 Million to Give Away

The Manhattan district attorney is giving grants, from criminal penalties against three international
banks, for public and private criminal justice programs in New York and around the nation.

By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.  NOV. 6, 2015

How did this come to pass? And why is it OK?

These days, the programs being announced by the Manhattan district attorney sound more like the projects of a major philanthropic foundation than those of a local prosecutor’s office.

Consider the last two months. District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. announced that he was giving grants to agencies across the country to test piles of rape kits that had been collecting dust in police storage. He pledged millions to start an international center to monitor cyberattacks and has provided seed money for a new institute at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice devoted to educating the nation’s 2,700 prosecutors.

At a time when most city and state agencies are struggling with budget constraints, Mr. Vance has secured a windfall of $808 million from criminal penalties against three international banks accused of violating United States sanctions — HSBC, Standard Chartered and BNP Paribas.

It is a princely sum, nearly 10 times the office’s annual budget. Because by law it must be spent on criminal justice projects, it has transformed Mr. Vance into a kind of Santa Claus for the law-enforcement world, with a sack filled with new programs and equipment. His power to distribute such large sums with the stroke of a pen has, however, led some good-government advocates to say it prompts questions about transparency and oversight.

"Some" good government advocates have a problem with this? Are there really any that don't?

Because New York City is a financial capital, banks caught violating United States sanctions have become a cash cow for the state and local governments. And while state and federal asset forfeiture laws have long been used to subsidize law enforcement, few if any district attorneys have ever had as much money as Mr. Vance to distribute.

The boon has handed Mr. Vance, a Democrat, a chance to play an outsize role as a policy maker and thinker at a time when the national debate has focused on rebuilding the justice system. His office has become a major source of grants for nonprofits studying how to fix flaws and inequities in the way America metes out punishment for crimes.

I'll just ask, since this reporter never does - if we were wondering why none of these bank scammers go to prison, the answer may be that the bank execs use shareholder money to secure their personal freedom, and Vance takes the money because there is no influence to be gained in disbursing locked-up criminals. A win-win, except maybe for those citizens silly enough to think the DA worked for them.

Deep in the story we get an alternative perspective:

Carol Kellermann, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, said the law giving Mr. Vance sole control over the funds should be reconsidered. Ideally, she said, the money should have been treated as revenue to the city, and its expenditure determined through the budget process.

“No one official should be making decisions about how substantial sums of revenue are distributed,” she said. “And it should be subject to audit. The comptroller should be able to look at how these funds are spent.”

The district attorney’s control of large settlements from banks has caused bitter disputes in the past. In late 2009, just before Mr. Morgenthau left office, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg accused him of hiding tens of millions of dollars from forfeitures in bank accounts the city comptroller and the mayor’s office could not scrutinize.

A few months later, John C. Liu, then the city comptroller, faulted the district attorney’s office in an audit for a “lack of transparency,” saying the office needed to register its bank accounts with the city and develop a formal policy for distributing the money.

Mr. Vance said that his office had adopted the comptroller’s recommendations and that his books were open to inspection. The money is now kept in accounts registered with the city’s Finance Department, he said.

Vance also spreads the wealth to placate others:

He has also skirted battles with Mr. de Blasio, partly by contributing about $40 million to the mayor’s efforts to help the mentally ill and reduce the population at Rikers Island, including $14 million for a supervised release program for people awaiting trial and $13.5 million in training for the police to better handle the mentally ill.

“He’s been enormously generous with his own funds,” said Elizabeth Glazer, who heads the mayor’s criminal justice office. “He sees this as a joint venture.”

Still, Mr. Vance said he intended to spend about $100 million on his own operation, including renovating the antiquated offices of his assistants at 80 Centre Street and putting resources into units created to attack money laundering and human trafficking.

There may be some benefit to assuring the independence of the DA by putting him in a separate budget process, but this seems ridiculous. New York City has a budget problem and is closing schools, but the DA gets to toss $100 million into new facilities for his group on his own say-so? Daft.

The relevant law has been modified at times:

Since 2009, six other international banks have paid about $2.4 billion to dispose of state and federal charges that they violated the sanctions, with the city and state getting about half of the money. In those cases, however, the State Legislature passed budget bills mandating that the district attorney’s office receive only a small percentage of each settlement, totaling about $45 million, officials said.

I can see why the DA and the Mayor like this approach, but I don't know why the good people of the great city of New York should be OK with it. And from the Times comments section, I see many are not. Of course, many commenters agree with Vance's disbursements so they agree with the law, but presumably their commitment to the fairness and logic of this approach would change in an instant if a politically disagreeable DA were in charge.

The city needs new rules. And a new watchdog.

Comments

[henry]

But it is the blue hell model of governance. Shakedown some cash, buy influence with it for getting a bigger office and corresponding increase in shakedown opportunities. Rules and accountability are for saps.

Just look at Hillary. This may be standardized through her (or JEB) with help from the Chamber of Commerce and the UN regionalism crap.

[Steve]

SNL Donald Trump - Opening Monologue - Gets Heckled ‘Trump’s a Racist!’

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2015/11/snl-donald-trump-opening-monologue-gets.html

[peter]

The ACORN model of government, or should I say Cloward-Pivens fully realized.

[peter]

Just reading between the lines of the Gail Collins op-ed piece on Hillary, it seems like the left is already discounting HRC's chances of getting elected.

[Jane]

Hey Capt' is it your birthday?

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

I think it is, Jane, although I don't *feel* any older. As somebody on Zuckerberg told me, the Browns have given me a nice present by not being on my television today.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Shocking that TM asks questions that the Pinch/Slim dimwit can't connect his paltry brain cells to formulate. How the the few remaining press people with integrity stand to be associated with these embarrassments?

[henry]

HB Captain Hate!

[Threadkiller]

Happy Birthday, CH!

[Marlene]

Happy Birthday, Captain Hate!

[clarice]

Happy Birthday, Oh Captain, our captain!

[Threadkiller]

TM, I have become violently ill digesting this story.

What a racket.

[narciso]

Happy birthday, captain

Who watches the watchers indeed.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Thanks all.

Rove News Sunday starts with Michael McFaul saying the Russian plane crash was surely an ISIS bomb planted on board and this is a very real potential problem for this country and runs counter to 404's insane characterization of the JV as a regional problem.

[Old Lurker]

HB Cap'n.

Now get back to work watching those shows so we do not have to.

[Jane]

I officially hate Donald Trump. He's a bloody traitor to republicans.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

McFaul thinks 404 will use an executive action to close Gitmo which would be highly reckless and irresponsible and hopefully the citizens will rise up against that, indicating that Congress will do nothing.

[Threadkiller]

More than you hate the Republicans that go along with the consent decree?

[Rocco]

Three Bells for you Captain

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=YouTube+the+Browns+1956&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=373158DDB300B3473B8B373158DDB300B3473B8B

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Fat RINO Bastard claims that being bumped from prime time isn't a BFD. Says donations are up because of it. Claims dwelling on polls now is a mistake. Discounts that Trump does his act better than he does.

Sends an extremely muddled message on drug addiction; pols should give this a wide berth imo.

[Jack is Back!]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CH

And on Remembrance Sunday, let us never forget. My FIL once had the privlege of representing the Anglo-Belgian Society and place a wreath at the Cenotaph.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Claims he learned in office to be against amnesty. Says 404 is a radical environmental zealot. Iran deal proves 404 is a horrible negotiator (there's another way to read this). Discounts donk gains in his state.

[mockmook]

But, Fat RINO Bastard is showing (fake) compassion -- surely that counts for something, right?

And, HB CH!

[Janet]

Happy Birthday, Captain! Lots of love to you!!

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Rove on Trump being on SNL: smart move but doesn't really do anything for him. Julie Pace: says Trump brings some negatives to rest of pack. Kim Strassell, who looks like she got another makeover, said something about Carson's scrutiny which a birthday phone call kept me from hearing. Juan said that Carson's personal story of being an exemplary person took a hit. Rove says that Jeb had a good week but still is in a deep hole.

[Beasts of England]

Happy Birthday, Captain Hate!!

[Rick Ballard]

Happy Birthday, Captain Hate!

[MarkO]

Many happy returns, Captain Hate.
You rock.

[Tonto]

A very happy birthday, Captain. Reading Michael Walsh's The Devil's Pleasure Palace, which is terrific!

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Rove says 404 is delusional on Keystone by pointing out the increased pollution which will happen because of not having a pipeline. What is Rove doing by sounding reasonable? Pace agrees with Rove that 404 only is looking at the symbolism on his idiotic legacy. Strassell agrees with a caller that the media rejecting primary candidates before a vote has been cast is idiotic. Juan thinks the MFM should select the next president. Takes shots at Trump and Carson on their ability to answer questions and shills for mailman and Dondi. Pace says for has taken Gitmo as personal. Strassell says 404 has no respect for the law. Rove says 404 should punt on Gitmo to the next president.

And that's a wrap.

[jimmyk on iPad]

'“He’s been enormously generous with his own funds,” said Elizabeth Glazer, who heads the mayor’s criminal justice office. “He sees this as a joint venture.”'

Wow, the leftist mindset in a nutshell. His own funds? Like it's his personal assets? "Generous" is not the first word that comes to mind when someone spends the citizens' money without any checks and balances.

[jimmyk on iPad]

And Hapy Birthday, CH!

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

LOL jimmyk; like one penny came out of his pocket.

[MarkO]

Now PATRIOTS Under Microscope For Winning 19 Of Last 25 Coin Flips...

Drudge.

Another chance for Goodell to do something stupid.

[Miss Marple 2]

Happy Birthday, Captain Hate!

You're my oldest friend on JOM, and thanks to you I found this place.

Enjoy your day!

[Miss Marple 2]

This looks promising:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/11/06/incoming-kentucky-gov-matt-bevin-tells-epa-to-pound-sand/

[Comanche Voter]

Ah government as a criminal enterprise, shaking down institutions for substantial sums of "revenue". And the chief thug gets to distribute the boodle.

[clarice]

Found another pic of Punahou Barry--from 1979 when his team was state champions:https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11892358_1629467677332127_8262787624130109490_o.jpg

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Thanks again all.

Miss Marple, when we were both posting at that other site, I thought you'd enjoy it here; I just thought we'd always be there. Oops.

[Jane]

Trump went on MTP and talked about every single "scandal" facing Carson and how he feels sorry about how disqualified he is for president.

[henry]

Yale President Salovey doubles down on stupid. Tosses the Sillimanite Master & wife under the bus. (Tour guide mode, the picture is Vanderbuilt Hall archway on the Old Campus. The freshman dorm I was in).

[The Infamous Ignatz]

Impossible mental exercise of the day; imagine this imbecilic WaPo TV critic blasting SNL for the love fest when they had Hillary "Walking Punch Line" Clinton on SNL the way he blasted them for having Trump on.

[Rick Ballard]

Jane,

Did you expect anything else from the YUGE talking dung pile?

[The Infamous Ignatz]

Happy Birthday Captain and thank you for the many times you've watched those talking DC bonobos on our behalf.

[Marlene]

OT... how about a Sunday morning quiz. RIP,Gunnar Hansen who died at his home in Maine. The actor played an iconic movie villian. What movie?

[hrtshpdbox]

"Rove says that Jeb had a good week.."
Based on what, I wonder. I'd like to see him have a good week, but I haven't seen anything except negatives in the news for forever.

"Takes shots at Trump and Carson on their ability to answer questions..."
I thought Carson proved the other day that he's pretty adept at answering questions, not to mention turning it around to demand answers from the "journalists".

"Trump went on MTP and talked about every single "scandal" facing Carson and how he feels sorry about how disqualified he is for president."
Here's Donald doing his thing (I know there's a way to add pics, just don't know how to do it):
http://tinyurl.com/ncsdsc5

[Miss Marple 2]

Trump is digging his own grave due to believing his own press.

A lot of people were willing to give hm a pass on stuff due to his ability to fight.

Showing everyone that he has no judgement and will participate in character assassination will cost him a lot of support, except amongst the truly desperate and/or clueless.

This is why I cautioned about attacking his supporters, as they need to be able to find somewhere else to go. It's one ting to go after McCain; it's another thing to go after a truly decent man.

[The Infamous Ignatz]

We haven't come close to dredging to the bedrock of Trump's ill tempered potential.
If he fades further it'll be a veritable Johnstown flood of childish invective and ranting tantrums.

It's quite enjoyable when he bashes the right people and seemingly inadvertently gets a policy matter right, but that should never blind us to the inescapable fact he's got at least a half dozen screws loose.

[rse]

Happy birthday ch.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

hrtshpdbox, I saw a TV ad for Jeb which impressed me in terms of directly hitting the right points to be made. It might be the best ad I've seen for any candidate lest I be accused of faint praise. Maybe too little too late, although as Strassel pointed out there has yet to be one vote cast.

[The Infamous Ignatz]

That groveling Yale big cheese brings back the revolting images from my youth of college prezzies tearfully apologizing or actually joining with the New Left gangsters of the late sixties and early seventies taking over the asylums.

The difference now is we have emoji gangsters who don't even have the hormonal glands to act like schoolyard thugs and instead stage crybaby-ins where they threaten to turn blue if their collegiate prep for life isn't a seven year, race appropriate Chuck E Cheese experience.

[Jack is Back!]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

[hrtshpdbox]

hrtshpdbox, I saw a TV ad..

Thanks, captain, I've gotta hunt that down. Meant to mention in my earlier post - Happy B-Day!

[Marlene]

Jack,you are correct!

[rse]

Getting alumni reports plus attending college programs for potential freshmen next fall, many of the top ten colleges or national u's are touting now that they have their % of URMs (Under Represented Minorities, which includes income) in the 40-45% range of their incoming classes now.

Basically URMs are now way overrepresented and then, unfortunately, the presence gets used as an insistence that the nature of coursework must be changed. My alma mater both acknowledges different standards and the ability to attend for free and then sends out initiatives where all students must take affirmative actions to erase any belief of intellectual inferiority.

I saw that and remembered the area admissions counselor, who had both a jd and a black studies masters from ohio state, reassuring applicants not to worry about the list of all books read in the last year as part of the application. "They were now counting everything that was within two covers."

I don't think I was supposed to be attending as a potential parent without identifying myself as an alum. Ooops.

[Mike Giles]

You should have put the junior after his name. I'm old enough to remember the Carter Regime and his father - who is dead. For a moment there I thought the dead not only voted in NYC, but actually served.

[GMax]

The city needs new rules. And a new watchdog.

But instead they have a commie mayor and a legacy entitled DA. What could possibly go wrong?

[Rick Ballard]

I sure hope every victim of crime in NYC gets a chance to read about Vance Jr.'s subsidizing programs to help police treat offending bums with greater respect and deference. It's a shame Vance Jr. (and the crooks in Albany) didn't have any money left for victims but I'm sure every victim realizes the importance of police coddling offenders.

[boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys]

"Nice bank you got there. Shame if anything were to happen to it.."

[Centralcal on iPad]

Just passing through to wish Capt. Hate the happiest of birthdays!

[Sic Semper Tyrannus.]

It's a stretch, but there is 'taxation without representation' in here. That ripped off bank money came from people all over the map, geographically and ideologically, and it is funneled through a progressive gate to progressive causes.

[Oh, sit down!]

Shedding the backpack at Yale was an evocative moment. Don't you believe in devolution?

[The Infamous Ignatz]

I'm no fan of big banks by any means, but I'll wager a large portion of that $800 mill was extorted loot rather than actual payments and fines for real wrong doing.

[Frau Klimawechsel]

Oh, kim...save me from Bill Nye, the science educator, whose new books tells how to deal with AGW deniers. If fossil fuels are taxed enough, it will make wind and solar cheaper.
As Clarice sometimes sez, "Just shoot me."

[GUS]

Happy birthday Capn'. Sorry about Wisconsin beating "our" Terps yesterday.
As for Cyrus Jr.. Doesn't it seem that picking businesses to SHAKE DOWN, then being REALLY GENEROUS with those businesses funds would be the DEFINITION of conflict of interest. Vance has a PERSONAL REASON for SHAKING DOWN the business. HE GETS TO SPEND THE LOOT.

[Miss Marple 2]

Who is going to get to spend the money from the Volkswagen fines?

[Frau Klimawechsel]

Is Vance Jr. related to Willie Sutton?

[Tempest? Fugit!]

Heh, Cap'n Haha, notice there was a tanker derailment almost immediately.

Frau, I frown on Nye. He is either very much a bad person or he's a complete fool.

Trying to keep it simple, today.

[Frau Klimawechsel]

Aye! An extra ration of rum all around to toast the Captain's birthday.

[Man Tran]

Kim,

I went to the link that someone posted yesterday and assuming the pix were really from the BNSF derailment, it wasn't a tanker train. It showed auto rack cars and mentioned one tankcar. Crude oil is generally in unit trains, not in mixed freight. Doesn't take away from the folly of pipeline being nixed, just shows again how sloppy the MSM are.

HB CH

[pagar a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

Happy Birthday, Captain Hate!

[MaryD]

Many Happy Returns, Captain!

[The imp was laughing at some other joke.]

Ah, TNX for correction, MT. It was awfully convenient.

[lyle]

HB, CH. Thanks for the many belly laughs you've provided me over the years.