Why are we paying this guy?
Adding to the long list of his other ignominious feats, indicted City Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) managed to collect a $112,500 salary last year without introducing a single piece of legislation, according to records on the Councilpedia Web site. Of course, he had a few other things on his mind.
Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of Seabrook’s federal indictment on 13 counts of fraud, extortion and other charges.
One of those is the now infamous $177 he allegedly claimed as reimbursement for a bagel and soda that cost $7.
Councilpedia records, which were compiled by Citizens Union using some of the council’s data, show Seabrook was the prime sponsor of seven bills since his 2002 election.
Only one was signed into law, a measure granting health benefits to the families of city environmental workers who die on the job.
On his council Web site, Seabrook boasts that he’s the first African-American to hold office in the state Assembly, state Senate and the council. He was first elected to public office in 1984.
Seabrook did not return phone calls yesterday for comment.
Two other veteran council members also didn’t propose any legislation in 2010, Darlene Mealy (D-Brooklyn) and Joel Rivera (D-Bronx), although they’ve been in office for years and couldn’t claim, as a couple of freshman legislators did, to be learning the ropes.
Mealy, who narrowly edged out three opponents to win a second term in the September 2009 Democratic primary, is one of the council’s least influential members.
But Rivera serves as the majority leader, had previously chaired the Health Committee and now heads Rules and Privileges, another key committee.
He issued a statement saying his energy has been focused on the city budget and “how it impacts my district, the Bronx community and our city.”