Maragos Addresses Allegations Surrounding Sandy Spending

Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos recently addressed allegations from Democratic lawmakers that the legislature's top Republican stopped him from going before the legislature this week and that he is hiding information regarding funds spent after Hurricane Sandy. 

On Monday, the Nassau County Legislature's Democratic Caucus issued a press release stating that Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves, R-East Meadow, refused to allow Maragos to appear before the Legislature to discuss millions spent after the natural disaster. 

Maragos, however, said that was not the case.

"In order for me to speak, a request by the chairman of their committee has to be submitted to my office and it was not," he said. "If we would have gotten that, I would have come and disclosed whatever is being done."

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Last week, Maragos announced that he was reviewing several Sandy-related sub-contractors to ensure that their records, billing and invoices were in proper order. He said that one sub-contractor is currently being investigated by the county's district attorney, but he cannot distribute information on the matter publicly because it is still under investigation. 

"We will share the results once we have all of the information," he said.

Democratic lawmakers have also charged that the funds spent after Sandy were "poorly monitored."

"If it is true that all records and invoices are being submitted correctly, which I truly hope it is, then why not have an open discussion to ensure that our residents are getting the most value for their tax dollars," Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, D-Glen Cove said in an issued statement.

Alternate Deputy Presiding Officer Howard Kopel, R-Lawrence, said the Democrats' request is politics as usual.

"The demand that he go and provide information before the audit is complete doesn’t make any sense," Kopel told Patch. "There’s nothing nefarious going on. It’s just a political sideshow."

Maragos said that he has invited legislators to his office to view the claims.

"Legislators have refused to come and examine the claims, but the invitation still remains," he said. "We are not refusing to answer questions, they have access to all of this information."