ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has undertaken a statewide building boom using public construction contracts to spur private-sector job growth that since 2011 has committed billions of dollars in construction funds and tax breaks to companies.
The recipients include some of the governor’s biggest campaign contributors, generating calls among some government officials and watchdog groups to intensify oversight of state contracts, including by the comptroller’s office and the attorney general. And they warn that some changes undertaken to streamline and speed state construction projects — including increasing the use of quasi-public authorities and limiting the role of oversight agencies — have resulted in fewer checks on state contracting.
A Newsday review of campaign contributors who donated $50,000 or more between 2010 and 2015 found that more than 30 construction and development companies, subsidiaries, their executives and their relatives have contributed nearly $4 million to Cuomo’s campaigns while the companies received $1 billion in state contracts, tax breaks and other benefits. Those companies have gotten at least 76 contracts and other work with the state since 2011.
Those contributions represent at least 28 percent of all contributions of $50,000 or more to Cuomo’s campaigns from 2010 through 2015 and more than 5 percent of the record $74.7 million total amount Cuomo raised from all donations during that time period.
Read more at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/calls-for-more-scrutiny-of-new-york-state-building-contracts-1.12471875
