Nassau Inspector General Jodi Franzese is back! Seems like she never left

                                                                                  

Jodi Franzese

The last time we heard anything about Nassau's Inspector General Jodi Franzese, she was leaving to take a job as head of the Nassau District Attorney's public corruption bureau, starting June 2.

This came after the 12 member Republican majority on the county legislature declined to renew her four-year term as the legislature's independent watchdog -- much to the lamentations and protests from the Democratic minority on the 19-member body. 

Franzese had been appointed in December 2018. She had been working as a holdover after her term term expired in January.

Republicans said nothing bad about Franzese in declining to move forward on her reappointment, but they had never been really enthusiastic about the inspector general position to begin with.

Democrats had pushed and pressed for an inspector general to oversee procurement issues since 2015 following a series of scandals in the Republican-controlled government. Not until Democrat County Executive Laura Curran was elected in November 2017, did Republicans agree to create the job. Then legislators took a year to fill it.

If there was any complaint about Franzese, who is paid $165,000-a-year, has a staff of eight and an office budget of more than $1 million, it was that she was sometimes too slow in reviewing contracts and making recommendations to the legislature.

But she also had raised the hackles of Republicans when she questioned deals for Republican party favorites.

She objected to a proposal by Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman to settle a lawsuit by giving longtime Dover Gourmet concessionaire Butch Yamali a five- to ten-year lease to provide food and concession services at most county parks and beaches without seeking competitive bids.

Blakeman then issued requests for proposals. Yamali still won the contract.

In 2021, Franzese' complaints about the lack of competitive bids stopped a proposed lease extension for the Carltun in the Park restaurant in Eisenhower Park. Carltun was run by Anthony Capetola, a Republican lawyer who figured prominently in party politics.

Bids went out and a new contract was eventually awarded -- not to Capetola, but to clients of former Republican U.S. Sen. Al D'Amato's consulting firm.

So it was somewhat surprising that Franzese was hired by Republican District Attorney Anne Donnelly. But Donnelly had said she would stay out of politics and perhaps this hiring showed it.

Most political pundits wondered if there were some deal involved but the players denied it.

Then on May 30, two days before her resignation was to take effect, Franzese rescinded it.

She wrote, "I have been told, and appreciate, that my staff and I are free to
remain in office at least until the end of the year, and possibly beyond that. I remain
hopeful that, towards the end of the year, the Legislature offers a Resolution that would
provide me with a fixed term, which is an essential underpinning for the independence of
Inspectors General and compliant with professional standards."

She gave no other explanation.

Presiding Officer Rich Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) said she was welcome back as a holdover. Both Nicolello and Minority leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) are not seeking re-election this year. 

Once again there is all kinds of speculation about what happened.

Franzese responded to a last-minute email from this blogger, noting that she was back and asking what had happened.

She replied, "Thank you for reaching out.  Actually, I have not left my position as Inspector General."

She's right about that.

Here is Franzese' rescission letter to legislative leaders:

Here is Nicollelo's acceptance of her rescission: