| New York State shenanigans. They certainly are creative up in Albany! |
Scratch-master Christopher Sealey was given a $120,000 salary by Senate President Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) in February to head up a five-member team dedicated to "rebranding" the newly Democratic-controlled Senate. Most recently a graphic designer for the HIV-prevention group Housing Works, Sealey claims design of the Senate's new Facebook-inspired Web site as his big accomplishment. But his brash manner, wiseguy Twitter "tweets" and fat paycheck have quickly drawn the ire of fellow staffers.
The expense has come under greater scrutiny after revelations that Senate Democrats recently doled out huge raises to favored staffers and hired the kin of influential senators, such as the son of Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx), for plum jobs. "Unfortunately, [Sealey] is one of many brand-new hires who have come on board making an excessive six figures and haven't produced much," said one outraged Democratic Senate staffer. "He's become the face of what is wrong with the personnel polices in place."
Sealey oversees four staffers, including an "art director" and a "production director," each making about $100,000 a year. Republicans say the jobs are redundant to others that have long existed in the Senate. Sealey could not be reached.