Howard Weitzman’s NIFA appointment stalls
Howard Weitzman speaks with Newsday at his home in North Hills on June 1, 2015. Credit: Jessica Rotkiewicz
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s nomination of former Democratic Nassau Comptroller Howard Weitzman to serve on the Nassau Interim Finance Authority board appears to have stalled without explanation.
In May, Heastie submitted Weitzman’s name to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to fill a vacancy on NIFA, a state monitoring board that controls the county’s finances. Three months later, Weitzman’s appointment remains in limbo.
Weitzman, who served two terms as comptroller, said he spoke with officials in the state’s Appointment Office three weeks ago and was told he would hear back “when they have more information.”
Spokesmen for Cuomo and Heastie did not respond to requests for comment.
County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican, sent a letter to Cuomo in May objecting to Weitzman’s selection, arguing that “NIFA is not the place for partisan candidates to best serve the public.”
Weitzman said he has no intention of running for office again and would serve on the board objectively.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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