Nagin's aides charge over $150,000 for meals
From Sunshine Review
17 May 2008 The administration of Mayor Ray Nagin is making headlines again. This time it is over the matter of city credit card debt - some $150,000 of it.
During the six month period from September 2007 to February 2008, aides to Nagin amassed this amount mostly from travel, hotels, and meals. Among the more eye-catching restaurant bills was $3,897 at Morton's Steakhouse and $2,800 at Ray's Over the River Nightclub.[1]
Nineteen members of Nagin's administration hold credit cards on the same account. Two of them, city communications director Ceeon Quiett and executive assistant for intergovernmental affairs Kenya Smith, are responsible for $81,268 of the charges. This is more than the 17 others combined. Mayor Nagin has his own city credit card, and thus far has ignored all requests for any information pertaining to it. In comparison, the seven city council members and eight council staffers who have city credit cards spent only $25,000 in the same six month period.
Smith defends the spending as the normal cost of doing business, stating that "This is within the standards of how it's done around the country. You don't take people to eat at a greasy spoon, or say 'We're going to give you a turkey sandwich.' We're trying to build consensus to generate resources to meet the needs of the recovery."[2]
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Accountability
At the heart of the matter is a complete lack of accountability. While the administration defends all of its charges, they have not made public crucial details such as who was being entertained, who ate/drank what, and what the business purpose of the meetings were. Requests for these details have been ignored.
Robert Cerasoll, the new city inspector general, did not comment on the charges, but has said that he supports a system where employees pay their way and then seek reimbursement. Many other cities run in this manner, which Cerasoll sees as easier to oversee and control. Credit cards were originally sought because it can take months to be reimbursed. While that could be an issue for employees with low salaries, Quiett makes $131,468 a year and Smith $134,755.
Overseer of the Council's budget Committee, Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell has pushed the idea of creating a "policy manual" for expenses and credit card usage. She stated, "We need to make it clear to everyone what can and cannot be done."
Transparency in Louisiana
Information on how the money was spent should be readily available to the public. While the administration defends its choices of expensive restaurants and the like, there is no way for the taxpayers to decide for themselves with crucial details withheld. The officials must be able to demonstrate that their choices were wise, and not simply inform the public that they were.
LA officials and Credit Card Trouble
The Nagin administration does not find itself alone in city credit card trouble. Debra Johnson was arrested May 12 on counts of theft, malfeasance, and "access-device fraud." She allegedly used her city credit card to purchase thousands of dollars worth of laptops, radios, DVD players, and computer software. Her arrest came when the majority of the equipment was found in her home. Her position? Director of the Louisiana State Police Commission.
Jefferson Davis Parish DA Michael Cassidy also found himself in trouble when it surfaced that he and his staff amassed over $120,000 in credit card bills in a period of three years. He admitted to misuse of public money and has paid back $20,000 so far. Among his bills was a $910 receipt for meals, travel, and hotels in Atlanta. Supposedly there to attend a legal conference, he went to watch the 2005 Peach Bowl instead. Cassidy also charged $527 for a trip to Indiana to see LSU in the NCAA Final Four.[3]
References
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, Nagin aides rack up charges on card, May 15, 2008
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, Put disclosure on the menu, May 17, 2008
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, Give 'Em Credit, May 17, 2008
