Albany, NY – Governor Paterson Rescinds Raises For Staff

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    Albany, NY – Five members of the staff of Gov. David Paterson’s press office have been given raises even while thousands of other state workers are being asked not to take their raises or to take furloughs.

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    Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office says it has been given paperwork from the governor’s office to OK raises to four staffers whose titles are changing, and one staffer who is not getting a new title but is getting a raise.

    The people getting raises are:

    * Elizabeth Banner – no title change – $5000 raise – from $55,000 to $60,000
    * Anna Adams-Sarthou – $10,000 raise from $35,000 to $45,000
    * Jessica Bassett – $10,000 raise from $65,000 to $75,000
    * Melanie Hartgraves – $7,000 raise from $38,000 to $45,000
    * Margaret-Kelly McKeon – $10,000 raise from $65,000 to $75,000

    All raises submitted within last 10 days – due to take effect in next paycheck (May 26 payroll)

    **UPDATE** May 12 2010 12:00 PM from the AP
    – Gov. David Paterson is rescinding raises to some staff, saying unions were using the promotions to distract the public in a fight over furloughs of unionized state workers.

    Public employee unions had accused the Democrat of hypocrisy for promoting some of his staff even as he tries to furlough state workers to save money.

    Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook says Wednesday the governor will reverse the raises of between $5,000 and $10,000 to four press aides. They’re filling positions vacated when his communications director and press secretary resigned amid scandals over a Paterson aide accused in a domestic violence case and free World Series tickets provided to the governor by the New York Yankees.

    Hook says that even with the promotions, executive chamber salaries were down more than $300,000.


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    19 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    what a nerve. thousands of workers are told they are losing 20% of their salary. some will have to cut back on feeding their families , others wont be able to meet thir rents or mortgage payments and he gives his press staff a raise? throw the bum out. NOW!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    there should be a way to stop these raises. eveyone else on state payroll is losing money. how do these people get more when others are getting less.

    i wouldnt even want to be one of those 5, people would hate me.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    These are lower level staffers earning very modest salaries who have worked under very difficult circumstances given all the tzoros that Patterson has experienced. They deserve the raises and this has nothing to do with the one day furloughs ALL state employees will have to deal with.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    #3, the salaries listed are not so modest.
    there are thousands of others making less who are getting the 20% cuts.
    which one of the 5 are you?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    The people getting raises are:

    * Elizabeth Banner – no title change – $5000 raise – from $55,000 to $60,000

    * Anna Adams-Sarthou – $10,000 raise from $35,000 to $45,000

    * Jessica Bassett – $10,000 raise from $65,000 to $75,000

    * Melanie Hartgraves – $7,000 raise from $38,000 to $45,000

    * Margaret-Kelly McKeon – $10,000 raise from $65,000 to $75,000

    number 3 poster, 2 staffers are less than 50k.
    can the paterson staff tell me how many state employees that are being cut make less than 50k?
    if they are going to post here, then let them answer my questions.
    anyway u slice it this is an act of huge chutzpah.
    he is taking away from people and giving to his own when he says there is no money to pay the current salaries, how do you raise anyones?????
    SHAME ON YOU GOV.

    WHAT?
    WHAT?
    13 years ago

    What a nerve, this is after Albany just said they are laying off hundreds of government workers, this is crazy. The Democrats in Albany got to go “enough is enough!

    they have been doing a great job!!
    they have been doing a great job!!
    13 years ago

    They have done an amazing job lying to the people of New York State. Yes they do deserve raises, they did their job. well. we are not doing a thing to purge this slime from our government…
    when will real all realize that democrat or republican it doesn’t matter, they all work for one corporation.

    halevai
    halevai
    13 years ago

    All got raises

    in any industry
    in any industry
    13 years ago

    If they did not they would go to copyright firms. And there would be no quality press. The other workers have no copmpetition to go to.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    the governor should work for the national enquirer . he is better suited for a gossip paper then the job he is at now.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    let the governor give up his car and driver and other perks he has.
    he can take the subway along with the rest of us.
    that would save some casah too.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    that just goes to show how he cares nothing about anyone except those close to him.
    thousands of others can do without a substantial portion of their income but these 5 get more money.
    he makes me nauseous.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    my husband isn’t getting raise for few years..and we barely get by especially tuition. we still do not know how to pay for the youngest tuition. Not to mention the furloughs and they are getting raises?? secret money around???

    Allan
    Allan
    13 years ago

    On the surface these increases in salary appear to be uncalled for at this very difficult time in NYS. Would someone please explain exactly what is it that the Governor’s press office does and why so many people are needed to do it.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    This morning’s report indicates that patterson is giving raises to 5,000 non-union employees at the same time that he’s furloughing the union workers.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Glad to see my 20% is going to a good cause…. How can you say this has nothing to do with furloughs?! Jerk.

    RE:
    These are lower level staffers earning very modest salaries who have worked under very difficult circumstances given all the tzoros that Patterson has experienced. They deserve the raises and this has nothing to do with the one day furloughs ALL state employees will have to deal with.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    What a bunch of ganefs.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    all the tzoris that patterson has gone through is his own doing.
    he should stop passing the balme to others when he himself is at fault.
    how many of his close staffers resigned their positions a few weeks ago…..gee, i wonder why.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    well well well, guess who has egg on his face now?