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Q&A
Investigation of poll worker practices and alleged corruption
4:11:23
ยท
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Council Member Restler raises concerns about a New York Times article reporting alleged corruption in poll worker recruitment by the Bronx Republican Party. He questions the BOE about their knowledge and response to these allegations.
- The article reported poll workers were pressured to donate to the Bronx Republican Party in exchange for jobs
- BOE was contacted by investigators about one employee, Nicole Torres, over the summer
- Council Member Restler expresses concern about potential broader corruption issues in poll worker recruitment
Lincoln Restler
4:11:23
That's where the problem is.
4:11:24
I mean that's a big part of the problem.
4:11:25
I was deeply troubled by the article I read in the Times this morning reporting that poll workers were pressured by the Bronx Republican Party to donate to the party in exchange for poll worker jobs.
4:11:37
Right?
4:11:37
Give them a hundred and $50 and you get a $1,500 pay for a week of work, nine days of work.
4:11:43
I understand that the BOE was contacted by investigators over the summer about one employee in particular, It was Nicole Torres.
4:11:50
Did the BOE conduct a larger review of poll worker practices and party and alleged party corruption to determine the extent of this issue?
Michael Ryan
4:12:00
So we have an ongoing review of all of our, internal practices.
4:12:09
What we were waiting for, with respect to the one particular borough was a conclusion of, the investigation and the processes to see, you know, where this was ultimately going to land.
4:12:23
So we have our eye on it.
4:12:25
We understand that that particular matter may be coming to a conclusion.
4:12:29
When it comes to a conclusion, we hope to see, where the dust settles and, you know, specifically if there's anyone else, that's involved.
4:12:38
We hope not.
4:12:39
But it also was an issue that came to our attention last June and was first reported, in August of last year, as her when her indictment was first filed.
4:12:55
So what we have here now is, like, the tail end story that the matter seems to be coming to a conclusion.
Lincoln Restler
4:13:03
I guess look.
4:13:05
I I understand investigations have to run their course, but I don't understand why you would need to wait to make sure that we don't have a broader corruption issue with the workers that are getting these jobs.
4:13:15
You've made clear in your previous testimony before our committee that there is state statute that requires you to take referrals from the parties.
4:13:23
Yes.
4:13:24
And I think you've made an effort to increase outreach over the last five to seven years so that we are less dependent on those parties.
4:13:33
Has an external party done a review of these hiring practices by particularly the Bronx Republican organization or other or the county parties as a whole so that we can have confidence that people aren't having to pay a bribe to get a poll worker job?