Schnirman: I think I can, I think I can

                                                                               

Nassau Comptroller Jack Schnirman
 

Like the little engine that could, thinking it could get up and over the mountain, Nassau Comptroller Jack Schnirman also appears to think he can get up and over the mounting criticism of his tenure as Long Beach's city manager and as the county's fiscal watchdog.

Schnirman, a Democrat, yesterday confirmed in a fund-raising email that he is running again for comptroller when his term is up next year.

No matter that Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas wrote a scathing critique about Schnirman's improper and excessive payments to his top staff in Long Beach while accepting a payout "much more generous" than allowed by his city contract. "The taxpayers of Long Beach deserved better," she wrote in September. (Schnirman eventually returned the extra $53,000 he was paid).

Who cares that an audit of Long Beach finances  -- by fellow Democrat and supporter State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli-- last year found the city had hidden millions of dollars in budget deficits through borrowing during Schnirman's years at the helm of the city, from Jan. 2012 through Dec. 2017.

So what if scammers snookered Schnirman's county office -- Schnirman was sworn in as Nassau's comptroller on Jan. 1, 2018 -- out of more than $700,000 last year. The bank caught the fraud and Schnirman assured taxpayers that he had clawed the money back. DiNapoli declined to investigate the incident but Nassau's inspector general is expected to report on its details.

And never mind that Long Beach has sued Schnirman for $1.5 million plus punitive damages, alleging fraud, conspiracy and breach of duty in regard to those excessive payments he doled out in the city.

But some folks were still surprised to receive this email from Schnirman's campaign team yesterday:

"It's game time! Jack's 2021 race starts now and we need your help. Can we count on you to get our campaign started with a contribution?"

The email gave the link to www.jackfornassau.com/donate.

It said, while asking for donations from $100 through $5,000, or more:

"Please contribute today -- let's move Nassau Forward together!" - Jack Schnirman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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