NEW YORK—Is it Councilman David Weprin’s quest for justice or a political stunt ahead of the November comptroller race?
At City Hall on Sunday, Weprin announced he will introduce a resolution to abolish the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, though a report from the New York State Inspector General released a week earlier praised the Waterfront Commission for the changes they have implemented in the last year.
The Waterfront Commission is an inter-state government entity of the States of New York and New Jersey created in 1953 to tackle rampant crime at the Port of New York and New Jersey that was embodied in the 1954 film “On the Waterfront.” Since its creation, however, the Water Commission itself has come to be known for its corruption.
“It is an utterly scandalous outrage that a commission designed to protect hard working men and women on the waterfront has been allowed to operate as a corrupt enterprise with zero oversight for so many years, causing an unprecedented breach in the city’s security,” said Weprin, who is running for city comptroller.
Weprin was joined by longshoreman and women at City Hall who shared their stories of the Waterfront Commission’s corruption. Although the stories shared were from events more than a year old.
In apparent contradiction to Weprin’s move to close the Waterfront Commission, the inspector general, whose report is Weprin’s primary source, is convinced that the organization has already undergone reform.
In a recent release issued by the inspector general’s office, he said that the installation of Ronald Goldstock as head of the Waterfront Commission “sparked a reformation of the Waterfront Commission.” Goldstock served for 13 years as director of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force.
Throughout the investigation, the inspector general alerted Commissioner Goldstock and the new Executive Director Walter Arsenault of the most egregious abuses so that reforms could begin immediately.
“During that time, a number of changes took place,” according to the Inspector General’s office.
Arsenault said that the inspector general’s report was reporting on the old Waterfront Commission and that for the past 10 months there has been a new administration.
Arsenault said that the Commission has been radically restructured. The Commission’s response to the inspector general stated that “virtually no one discussed in the draft report is still employed by the commission.”
Councilman Weprin’s office did not respond to Arsenault’s statement as of press time.
“In its 55-year history, the Commission was subject to only one review—by the New York State Comptroller’s office, which the Commission steadfastly fought until a federal court ruled against the agency. Its unique structure as a bi-state creation allowed it to function virtually unchecked and immune from oversight,” said Weprin.
Anthony Furina, a pier superintendent has been working for his company for 35 years. At City Hall, he said that the Waterfront Commission has been harassing innocent workers and felt personally victimized when he was arrested a few years ago for what he calls a totally irresponsible reason.
“It’s about time that somebody could stand up against the Waterfront Commission,” said John Nicaretta, a worker who says he was personally victimized by the Commission, also a few years ago.
In addition to misusing their positions for personal gain, the former leadership of the Waterfront Commission failed to keep track of more than $600,000 in Homeland Security grant money. It used a patrol boat—paid for by a second $170,000 Homeland Security grant—to escort guests and VIPs during Fleet Week and other events.
The boat was supposed to be “capable of early detection of a waterborne attack” and used to “deploy officers … at high risk target locations such as the NYC Passenger Ship Terminal, Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne,” according to the inspector general’s office.
At City Hall on Sunday, Weprin announced he will introduce a resolution to abolish the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, though a report from the New York State Inspector General released a week earlier praised the Waterfront Commission for the changes they have implemented in the last year.
The Waterfront Commission is an inter-state government entity of the States of New York and New Jersey created in 1953 to tackle rampant crime at the Port of New York and New Jersey that was embodied in the 1954 film “On the Waterfront.” Since its creation, however, the Water Commission itself has come to be known for its corruption.
“It is an utterly scandalous outrage that a commission designed to protect hard working men and women on the waterfront has been allowed to operate as a corrupt enterprise with zero oversight for so many years, causing an unprecedented breach in the city’s security,” said Weprin, who is running for city comptroller.
Weprin was joined by longshoreman and women at City Hall who shared their stories of the Waterfront Commission’s corruption. Although the stories shared were from events more than a year old.
In apparent contradiction to Weprin’s move to close the Waterfront Commission, the inspector general, whose report is Weprin’s primary source, is convinced that the organization has already undergone reform.
In a recent release issued by the inspector general’s office, he said that the installation of Ronald Goldstock as head of the Waterfront Commission “sparked a reformation of the Waterfront Commission.” Goldstock served for 13 years as director of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force.
Throughout the investigation, the inspector general alerted Commissioner Goldstock and the new Executive Director Walter Arsenault of the most egregious abuses so that reforms could begin immediately.
“During that time, a number of changes took place,” according to the Inspector General’s office.
Arsenault said that the inspector general’s report was reporting on the old Waterfront Commission and that for the past 10 months there has been a new administration.
Arsenault said that the Commission has been radically restructured. The Commission’s response to the inspector general stated that “virtually no one discussed in the draft report is still employed by the commission.”
Councilman Weprin’s office did not respond to Arsenault’s statement as of press time.
History of Corruption
Although it remains unclear whether Weprin is aware of the changes that have taken place at the Waterfront Commission, or if he just wants even more changes, it is evident that the Waterfront Commission has had a history of corruption.“In its 55-year history, the Commission was subject to only one review—by the New York State Comptroller’s office, which the Commission steadfastly fought until a federal court ruled against the agency. Its unique structure as a bi-state creation allowed it to function virtually unchecked and immune from oversight,” said Weprin.
Anthony Furina, a pier superintendent has been working for his company for 35 years. At City Hall, he said that the Waterfront Commission has been harassing innocent workers and felt personally victimized when he was arrested a few years ago for what he calls a totally irresponsible reason.
“It’s about time that somebody could stand up against the Waterfront Commission,” said John Nicaretta, a worker who says he was personally victimized by the Commission, also a few years ago.
In addition to misusing their positions for personal gain, the former leadership of the Waterfront Commission failed to keep track of more than $600,000 in Homeland Security grant money. It used a patrol boat—paid for by a second $170,000 Homeland Security grant—to escort guests and VIPs during Fleet Week and other events.
The boat was supposed to be “capable of early detection of a waterborne attack” and used to “deploy officers … at high risk target locations such as the NYC Passenger Ship Terminal, Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne,” according to the inspector general’s office.
