Yet again the stench of scandal wafts over New York. Yet again a man whose organization has received millions from taxpayers finds himself under criminal investigation. And yet again the connections reach to the top: to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
The man under investigation is William Rapfogel, who was fired last week as executive director and CEO of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. The organization relies for a good chunk of its money on government grants, much of which has been provided by Silver and his allies via member items. Oh, did we mention that Rapfogel is married to Silver’s chief of staff?
Rapfogel allegedly engaged in a money-laundering scam in which Met funds were used to buy insurance policies from Century Coverage at inflated prices. The allegation is that the excess amounts were either kicked back to Rapfogel or channeled by insurance officials into political contributions.
Met Council said only that an internal probe uncovered unspecified “financial irregularities and misconduct.” Rapfogel, who has not disputed the allegations, has apologized for “the mistakes I have made.” He also vowed to “make amends.”
Over the years, Rapfogel used his political connections to build Met Council into a social-service empire. The council has received $16.5 million in state funds and another $10 million from the City Council since 2009. Those contacts go well beyond Shelly Silver, who says he was “stunned” by the news; Met Council’s annual legislative breakfast is a must-attend for local elected officials.
But as one Albany insider yesterday told The Post: “Shelly has driven a lot of resources to that agency.” Which is why this goes beyond simple guilt by association.
Now, arranging government (i.e., taxpayer) funding for an agency run by your chief of staff’s husband would strike most people as a blatant conflict of interest. But not in Shelly Silver’s Albany. There it’s another day of business as usual.