Friends in High Places: Blas’ Defense of Ponte
It looks like Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte is in need of correction himself (“Blasé on Theft,” PostOpinion, Nicole Gelinas, May 4).
His misuse of public vehicles for his own personal use is likely criminal, despite the devilmay-care attitude of Mayor de Blasio.
Or perhaps his jaunts to Maine are vital to keeping Rikers Island the peaceful, well-regulated facility it is. John R. Cleary Bayside
Ponte will pay for gas and tolls for his sojourns to Maine in a city-owned car. What about 18,500 in mileage wear and tear on a city vehicle?
The reimbursement for federal employees is about 50 cents per mile, so Ponte should pony up about $9,250 with interest. It seems only fair, as city taxpayers would otherwise foot the bill. What a sad administration we have. Vincent J. Vanasco Brooklyn
De Blasio seems to be giving Ponte a pass on an obvious dereliction of duty and a blatant theft of taxpayer money.
Being theoretically on- call 24/7 while in Maine? Really?
There’s a reason why immigrants are flocking to America. Where else can you make a fortune doing nothing? I guess the streets really are paved with gold. Louie Rey East Meadow
The wrong tone at the top is poison to the whole system. De Blasio sees nothing wrong with a pilfering correction commissioner just as he saw nothing untoward about Deputy Mayor Richard Buery pulling strings to get his kid into a good city school.
Ponte used his city-issued car for personal use, and the mayor says that’s OK, while two Department of Environmental Protection workers misused their city vehicles and lost their jobs.
Once again, de Blasio shows we have two cities: one for friends of the mayor and one for the rest of us. The rest of us pay the bills, while the mayor and his associates game the system.
This commissioner violated the law and knew it, but he’s protected by the city’s corrupt mayor. What a disgrace. Gene Lindsay Mastic
Ponte’s flagrant violation of rules is only acceptable because he’s one of de Blasio’s liberal friends.
This latest example of hypocrisy is just one more reason not to trust this mayor. Christopher Bisignano Staten Island
Unmasking this mayor’s sophistry is a must. John McMahon Manhattan