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Free ride: While schools suffer, hundreds get free city cars and fill-ups

Number 21716
Subject City Government
Source The Journal News (White Plains, N.Y.)
State N.Y.
Year 2004
Publication Date Feb. 8; April 9; May 28; July 16; Aug. 15, 16, 17; Sept. 10, 22, 24, 27; Nov. 8, 9, 29; Dec. 8
Summary In this ongoing series that exposes mismanagement, incompetence and corruption inside Yonkers City Hall, the newspaper examined the city's car-lease program for employees, questionable ethics among officials, and a handshake deal for garbage service that allowed businesses to pay their bills in cash. The investigation found the city spent more than $820,000 on 54 car leases -- far more than similarly sized cities -- including leases for SUVs and other expensive cars. Council members were awarded lucrative contracts while in office, and they had failed to file financial disclosure forms for five years as required by law. The garbage deal defied a city code and cost taxpayers $175,000 annually.
Category None
Pages 47
Keywords ethics;government leases;contracts;Freedom of Information;computer-assisted reporting;CAR;car-lease program;financial disclosure laws;trash service;city government
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