US News

BLOOM IS OFF THE ROSE FOR MIKE BACKER CAREY

FORMER Gov. Hugh Carey, one of Mike Bloomberg’s prominent supporters, is upset the new mayor didn’t reappoint Carey’s son to run the city’s economic-development agency.

“The word I’d use is livid,” said one source.

Michael Carey has been serving as $162,780-a-year president of the Economic Development Corporation since May 1999 and, considering his Democratic father’s endorsement of Bloomberg, was expected to stay on in the new administration.

In fact, sources said, the younger Carey harbored hopes of becoming a deputy mayor. But all the deputy mayor slots have been filled.

And Bloomberg is allowing Dan Doctoroff, the new deputy mayor in charge of economic development, to make the call on who should run EDC – a key agency in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

“Doctoroff doesn’t have anything against [Michael] Carey,” said the source. “He just wants his own person.”

Michael Carey was offered a couple of other jobs, but turned them down, sources said.

Both Careys attended Bloomberg’s inauguration on New Year’s Day.

It isn’t clear yet who will replace the younger Carey at the agency.

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Financial crisis or not, politicians keep rewarding their own.

Former City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, who dropped out of the race for Queens borough president last year at the behest of Democratic leader Tom Manton, has been appointed deputy Queens borough president.

The job, controlled by Manton, pays $134,000, or $1,000 less than the new borough president, Helen Marshall.

Marshall said she was restructuring the office and giving Koslowitz significant new duties, including oversight of constituent services.

Over in Brooklyn, District Attorney Joe Hynes has decided to create a new position for retired Borough President Howard Golden to interface with community groups.

Golden is earning $125,000. Since he’s over 701/2, he’ll also be collecting his city pension (about $100,000), as well as Social Security.

Golden certainly brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge. But has he ever heard of the words pro bono?

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Former Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota is expected to land a job at Cablevision as a senior executive.

Lhota was spotted at City Hall this week with an ID tag issued after the World Trade Center attack. But this one didn’t say “deputy mayor,” it read simply: “Citizen.”

Guy’s got a sense of humor.