Feds open criminal probe of NYC road/sanitation workers over alleged slowdown

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal probe of allegations that public employees conspired to paralyze the city in last week's blizzard, sources said Tuesday.

The investigation by the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's public integrity unit comes in response to Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Queens) revelation that guilt-wracked sanitation and transportation workers confessed the alleged work slowdown to him.

If their claim is true, the feds would examine whether the wire or mail fraud statutes were violated by pocketing overtime pay during an illegal job action, sources said.

Halloran vowed Monday to keep confidential the names of the three sanit and two Department of Transportation workers who came forward.

A spokesman for Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch refused to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.

The city Department of Investigation is also looking into allegations of a work slowdown in retaliation for budget cuts and demotions of supervisors within the Sanitation Department.

Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty has said he saw no evidence of a job action.

Union officials have also decried the claims.

[Red Commissar]

Has there been statement from a union member (and I don't mean the officials)?

[Jimmie Higgins]

The investigation by the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's public integrity unit comes in response to Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Queens) revelation that guilt-wracked sanitation and transportation workers confessed the alleged work slowdown to him.Do these workers actually exist or are they "anonymous" like all the mothers of soldiers who cry if you criticize the war or the anonymous "welfare queens" who live the good life on the dole? This council member's website calls him a member of the Republican, Libertarian and Independent (a right-wing party) party and I think that probably indicates that "anonymous" workers mean "made-up" workers. His election statement also suggests that this claim of a slowdown is more likely an ideologically motivated slander:
"While I am new to the council - this is the first time I've run for elected office - I’ve been amazed to see how much waste there is in city government; A small amount of the billions of taxpayer dollars we spend actually goes towards making New Yorkers’ lives better. Council District 19 shoulders the second-largest tax burden of any district in the city. I pledge to spend that money wisely and responsibly and to make sure that our district gets the city services it needs and deserves."


Halloran vowed Monday to keep confidential the names of the three sanit and two Department of Transportation workers who came forward.Suspicious. This seems like another right-wing lie to me - no the problems with the responce to the bilizzard have nothing to do with the economic crisis and cut-backs on public services - the problem is "greedy entitled public workers with their fat pensions and overtime pay!"

[Blackscare]

Yes, I've been paying attention to this story a good bit as well, seeing as I live in that area. We just got hit with a storm that was much worse and the response -appears- to be much better, which honestly is what I'm concerned about at this point. If I hear any local news I'll report in with it ;)