Democrat Assemblyman Claims to Take on LIPA While Pocketing Campaign Cash From a Trustee
“NYS Assemblyman Marc Alessi, who made bashing the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) a cause célèbre has been inconspicuously absent from the public discourse about LIPA since the Democrat party took control of the Authority,” said Suffolk County Republican Chairman John LaValle.
Apparently, Alessi’s silence is being rewarded with campaign contributions and fund raising from a LIPA Trustee. Trustee, David L. Calone of Babylon , a lawyer and the President and CEO of Jove Equity Partners LLC, a private equity and venture capital firm is hosting a $150 per person fund raiser for Alessi at the Harborfront Inn at Greenport on October 6.
“This Trustee fund raiser raises important questions about Alessi and his campaign,” LaValle said. “Is the self-proclaimed LIPA watchdog turned into the LIPA lapdog? I am concerned that while LIPA continues to seek increases from our residents and ratepayers, that Assemblyman Alessi has failed to stand up for the residents of his district,” LaValle said. “There is clearly the appearance of a conflict of interest, if not a direct conflict of interest,” he added.
“Despite Alessi’s rhetoric otherwise, LIPA has become a bloated public authority whose spending and salaries have not been reigned in,” LaValle said, “Dan Losquadro is campaigning for tougher financial disclosure requirements for elected state officials. We need representatives in the Assembly who will create a more transparent and responsive government. This latest mishap by Alessi clearly shows he is not as interested in the needs of his constituents as he is in the desires of the special interests. If the people want their government back, they will need to elect individuals who are committed to serving them.”
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