"Political patronage" refers to the practice of those in positions of power or authority granting favors, positions, or rewards to others in order to gain their loyalty or support. It involves exchanging benefits or advantages, often in the form of appointments or jobs, for political reasons rather than merit or qualifications.
Full definition
Good government and public policy advocates have taken withering looks at the water authority and other public utilities that have become frequent stops
for political patronage appointees.
It raises questions about other examples of
political patronage in the community, and how journalists cover these stories.
The purpose has been to put his own loyal men into all the government positions, consolidate his own power, reward his supporters like any good
political patronage system would.
But the administration should also be taking a good hard look at eliminating unnecessary
political patronage jobs of their own making along with holdover appointments of the Pataki and Spitzer administrations.
Though Mangano's tapping him for the Nassau hospital after he lost his last election was criticized
as political patronage, Muscarella said Ciotti was more than qualified to lead a team of attorneys, thanks to his background as an accountant and lawyer.
(WBEN) Inspired by a «Golden Parachute» deal for the current Erie County Water Authority Executive Director who is likely to lose his job soon because of a change in
political patronage power, Assemblywoman Monica Wallace is calling for a limit on these types of severance packages at authorities...
«My message to everyone is you got to get this done by June 30 and that the results of not getting it done by June 30 is that we start back down the road of a system that failed our children,» added de Blasio, referring to the old Board of Education system that was plagued
by political patronage and other problems.
TRENTON, NJ — Education Commissioner Saul A. Cooperman of New Jersey last week began proceedings to take control of the Jersey City public schools, describing the urban district as «bleak» and rife
with political patronage, cronyism, and fiscal misdealings.
Its system of appointments based
on political patronage has long been a source of criticism and its mismanagement of election operations has frustrated voters and been the subject of City
It is not about
political patronage at the moment; we are talking about saving the country from the precipice and the only thing that can happen is bring the right persons on board.»
«New Yorkers are fed up with these abuses and we can not allow consulting contracts to become the
new political patronage of our time,» Stringer said Wednesday.
To be sure, every rule has some higher public purpose — for example, protecting schools
from political patronage or ensuring that teachers are treated equitably.
In contrast to Jackson's and Van Buren's
political patronage via banking privilege, the line of control now runs the other way around, from banking to politics.
President Buhari has disappointed Nigerians by resorting to
rewarding political patronage when he picked the Yobe state born politician Alhaji Mustapha Masihaja to succeed the Kaduna state born Director General Mr. Mohammed Sani - Sidi.
Syracuse, NY — Any semblance of peace between Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney and the leadership of her own political party has vaporized amid battles
over political patronage and a grand jury investigation into allegations of election law violations.
Americans
trace political patronage to the Andrew Jackson era, when it was famously declared «to the victor belong the spoils.»
The payment issue has been a nagging yet sensitive one for SUNY Poly and the governor's office, which have become embroiled in an investigation by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara into
potential political patronage involving Cuomo's economic development projects across upstate.
On Tuesday, three taxpayer advocates from Clarkstown — blogger Michael N. Hull, Thomas G. Nimick, and failed 2011 GOP supervisor candidate Ralph Sabatini — served the Town of Clarkstown, the town board and Supervisor Alex Gromack with a lawsuit asking for return of taxpayer monies allegedly squandered through
wasteful political patronage appointments in the Town Attorneys Office.
He would also make major reforms to the county's Board of Elections, which is currently run by a Democrat and Republican commissioner, each with their own staff of
largely political patronage employees.
LIPA's overhead power lines can't all be buried, but surely Albany can bury LIPA's legacy of
political patronage once and for all.
A takeover by the mayor would provide a way to maintain a link to the electorate while allowing the state to
replace political patronage appointees with a more independent board.
Any budget that approves retaining over fifty
political patronage jobs and funding slots for forty more political pals at the expense of over a hundred hard - working experienced professionals should not be tolerated by the people of Westchester.
(WBEN) Inspired by a «Golden Parachute» deal for the current Erie County Water Authority Executive Director who is likely to lose his job soon because of a change in
political patronage power, Assemblywoman Monica Wallace is calling for a limit on these types of severance packages at authorities across New York State.
But the city's dire fiscal straits may end up doing more to put a damper
on political patronage than decades of government - reform rhetoric.
One has to wonder exactly when the Town Board will understand that layoffs of people occupying «make - no - work» and «no - show» jobs and
political patronage positions, as we shall mention below, may be needed to restore fiscal sanity and save the taxpayers further financial pain?
See this New York Times article which describes Jersey City's schools as «crippled
by political patronage and nepotism, weak administration and management, fiscal irregularities, indifference to school repair and tolerance of poor educational achievement by its students.»
This model contrasts with the classic 19th century - style American political machine, which was locally based: each thrived when it could deliver government services and
political patronage in exchange for votes in a given city or neighborhood.
Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer has reached out to town political leaders for resumes to fill jobs at the new video lottery casino in Islandia, prompting concern that the gambling hall will become a source
of political patronage.
He returned home without employment, and despite his 2 decades of absence from NYC, his convicted felon father landed
him a political patronage job representing David Dinkins adviser Bill Deblasio to Brookyln, Staten Island and Queens.
ECWA in the past several months has made more headlines due to its reputation as
a political patronage pit than for its actual service to customers.