I am writing in response to Howard Weitzman’s letter to the editor dated May 31, 2013 wherein he disputes the highly respected journalist Mike Barry’s commentary “Quietly Vindicated” which complimented the Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, published on May 17, 2013.
Let’s remember that Mr. Weitzman is the former Comptroller who left the County nearly bankrupt with a $250 million structural deficit. He is now a candidate for Comptroller attempting gain attention with misleading statements. He is wrong in every allegation.
The staff of Comptroller George Maragos carefully review every invoice to insure that the Nassau County taxpayer is getting value for every dollar spent. The Comptroller’s Office is NOT under any investigation, and Mr. Maragos is always ready to testify in front of the Legislator when formally requested
Mike Barry’s independent column, in addition to the Independent Legislative Office of Budget Review (OLBR), concluded that all invoices that were approved and paid by the Comptroller’s Office were supported by adequate documentation. In addition the OLBR report noted that the Controller’s Office found errors with some claims that saved the County $500,000. Comptroller Maragos has publicly invited the press and all County Legislators to visit his office to review any paid claim to see for themselves.
On several occasions our media has reported that the District Attorney and the Attorney General have only requested documents from numerous County Departments and vendors including the Comptroller’s Office in their investigations of certain vendors. The Comptroller’s Office is NOT under investigation as alleged by Mr. Weitzman.
If Mr. Weitzman is wrong every one of his allegations, how can he be trusted to oversee the County money? I hope that Mr.Weitzman raises his campaign out of the cutter and show some respect for the Nassau County voters.
Norman Gersman
