Letter: Paying to educate state leaders?
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center, with from left, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre). (March 27, 2011) Credit: AP
Is this a joke? The State Assembly is using taxpayer dollars to hire a private firm to investigate sexual harassment complaints and develop policies that, I'm guessing, will educate our elected representatives, all adults, mostly male, about how to treat other people, mostly female, in the workplace ["Pols hire sex-harassment counsel," News, Feb. 26].
This has the blessing of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan). Isn't he the same man who apologized for using taxpayer dollars to pay women who were victims of sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of one of our elected representatives? Isn't that really hush money?
The standard in these matters should be to view the conduct of these men as if they were having these interactions with your wife, daughter or mother. Get it, guys?
This seems to be the most recent topic being discussed in connection with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's highly touted efforts at ethics reform -- which are being stalled by the people who need their ethics reformed. In other words, the people who need rules to keep them honest won't approve any legislation that would keep them honest. Interesting concept.
Christopher Marzuk, Greenlawn
