Lawrence Reich, an attorney for the private law firm Ingerman Smith, worked part time for five different Long Island school districts at the same time, but claimed full time. He has been allowed a near $62 k New York State pension, and lifetime health care. Investigations are underway at the five different school districts: Baldwin, Bellmore-Merrick, Copiague, Harborfields, and East Meadow as to how Reich got away with hoodwinking the school officials, drafting compensation contracts, and without filling out any time cards. Reich's pension isn't the only issue; collectively, the five school districts paid Ingerman Smith over $2.5 million in fees. By law under Internal Revenue Service, a person cannot be paid as an independent contractor and an employee at the same job. The schools cannot have been completely unaware of Reich's behavior; his partner, attorney Daniel Greenberg wrote a thank-you letter to Harborfields school district for accommodating to the "method" of the relationship. Joseph Dragone, the deputy superintendent of Haborfields school district, wrote a letter in 2005 to Reich in response to a Newsday article about a very similar situation; Dragone asked Reich for advice on how to "correct the record of [his] 'employment'" to avoid scandal. Copiague Superintendent William Bolton argued that it is a common practice; Reich's claim echoes Bolton's. Reich says that he "followed essentially a practice that was very common among my colleagues in the industry." In total, Reich amounted to 41.82 years in the state pension system.
Long Islanders will find proximity in this article. Ingerman Smith represents about one-third of Long Island school districts. The impact is severe; if a firm could allow a lie to continue for years, earning money, the firm will be severely questioned. This article brings to light a situation that may be occuring anywhere. Service is evident; the article made the front page because people must be aware of how others cheat the system. They must also become aware of the scandal and infamy that comes with getting caught. A lot of money was involved in this scandal, which gives it prominence. After all, that money came from Long Island taxes. (Newsday, 2/15/08, p. A6).
My opinion of the best article of the week is about the front-running Presidential primary candidates throwing barbs at one another. This article's brilliant impact relies on the colorful language: terms such as "ever-elusive momentum", "Clinton camp" and "party poobahs" give just the right amount of punch to the criticality of this issue. The race is getting suffocating, as Obama and McCain's wins in Wisconsin raise doubts among the delegates, and serve as an anchor for Clinton to grasp at straws. It seems Clinton and McCain are using their own tactics to suppress Obama's looming win: the Republican calling his calls for change "eloquent but empty" and Clinton suggesting this week that Obama's words weren't even his own, while also stating for herself that the Democrats need someone who is strong enough to go up against McCain in the general election. The article was a pleasure to read through; it had a quality of human interest, as its colloquialism proved. It was intelligent, informative, and it paralleled the momentum of this year's biggest race. (Newsday, 2/20/08, p. A3).
Fidel Castro resigns as dictator and hands power over to his brother Raul. (Newsday, 2/20/08, p. A6)... Kosovo declares independence from Serbia. (Newsday, 2/18/08, p. A6)... An man kills five students in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University, and then himself. (Newsday, 2/15/08, p. A5)... Pentagon announces its attempts to shoot down a U.S. spy satellite before it hits earth's atmosphere. (Newsday, 2/15/08, p. A4)... One shot dead, three injured in front of a local bar in Long Island; police suspect gang activity. (Newsday, 2/29/08, p. A2)...
