DEMOCRAT
Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito is expected to become the next speaker of the City Council after backing de Blasio for mayor.
While the wealthy councilwoman donned “99%” T-shirts during Occupy Wall Street protests, she’s come under fire for taking advantage of tax breaks reserved for the poor.
The daughter of a rich hospital administrator owns $1.5 million in real estate. Yet she obtained an interest-free loan under a city program designed to help low-income people buy homes.
Mark-Viverito lavishes money on supporters, giving $65,000 in the past two years to low-income advocates Community Voices Heard and helping to push $160,000 in council funds to Picture the Homeless, run by her ally Lynn Lewis, according to budget data.
Franklin Plaza, a 1,632-unit co-op, received a $1-million grant from Mark-Viverito. The board posted flyers requesting residents re-elect her.
But Army veteran Sgt. Jose Sanchez, who lives at the co-op, says he hasn’t been able to get the lawmaker to help fund a children’s boxing club. The councilwoman canceled the last three meetings scheduled with El Barrio Boxing Association, he said.
http://nypost.com/2014/01/05/speaker-hopeful-mark-viverito-called-vindictive-by-critics/