Dynasties Are Not Dead

Dear Nieces and Nephews

By now most of you know about Preet Bhara’s investigation into the CPV power plant and the seemingly inappropriate activity of “former” Cuomo Aid, Mr. Percoco and the CPV plant in Wawayanda.

Local advocate and State Senate Candidate, Pramilla Malik is calling for an investigation into Senator Bonacic and his son, because of the apparent conflicts in this matter. You see, Scott is associated with CPV and his Dad is a NYS Senator. Questions arise such as: What was the Senator’s role in the NYS approvals? in the permitting process required for CPV? Did Scott, who wrote the Environmental Review for CPV ask Dad for some tips? Did the Senator speak to the DEC or other officials at all for this project? Was the Senator  influenced by his son? Does the Senator profit at all from his son’s activities’ ?

From the THR article by Mr. Nani:

“…She also called on Bonacic to disclose whether he has any financial stake in his son's law firm. Bonacic's son, Scott Bonacic, is an Orange County attorney who helped prepare the draft environmental impact statement for the power plant.

John Bonacic did not respond to an emailed question about whether he would give back $9,400 his campaign has received from CPV. Scott Bonacic's law firm did not respond to reporter inquiries Friday.”

http://www.recordonline.com/news/20160923/officials-activists-want-cpv-power-plant-permits-probe

This is not the first time that Scott Bonacic was on the receiving end of something the elder Bonacic had to vote on or review. Scott was also involved with the Oneida Tribe associated with casinos in NYS. At the time, Dad was a senator and on the state gaming committee.

From the THR in 2005:

“The Wisconsin Oneidas and their casino developers, Power Plant Entertainment, are paying Malkin and Ross $10,000 per month for Scott Bonacic to lobby Sullivan County officials. Tribes need the county's approval before any casino can break ground.”

Scott Bonacic said his lobbying efforts are specific to county government and will in no way involve his father.

"Absolutely not. I do not lobby his office at all," Scott Bonacic said. "I've spent my whole life in this area, and I'd like to believe they (the tribe) approached me because of my involvement in the community."

“Sen. John Bonacic could not be reached for comment, but his chief counsel, Langdon Chapman, said the tribe's hiring of Scott Bonacic has no effect on the senator's position.” 

http://www.recordonline.com/article/20050528/SPECIAL03/60726174

Which makes Auntie wonder why the younger Bonacic has this statement proudly displayed on his law firm’s webpage:

J. Scott Bonacic has concentrated his private law practice in commercial, criminal, real estate, and municipal law. He has served as Counsel to municipalities in Orange County and has strong relations with government officials in municipalities throughout the Hudson Valley, as well as top elected officials in New York State.

http://www.hvlaw.net/attorneys.html

Does his statement mention his involvement with “Wisconsin Oneidas and Casinos”? No.  But more importantly, why is Scott Bonacic boasting about his “strong relations with top elected officials in NYS”, a group to which his Dad belongs? After proclaiming that he does not lobby Senator Bonacic’s office at all?

OK, maybe he does not go to Dad’s office, but he might have easy access to other State Senators because of his Dad. And he could always lobby Dad over the dinner table where there is no “chinese wall”.

This is, at a minimum, contradictory and at worse, conflicted. And it appears to illustrate a pattern over the years of Scott representing entities that require a vote from his Dad.

Let’s face it, Scott Bonacic is a lobbyist and his Dad is one who is lobbied. And they have not done enough to reassure the public of any measures used to prevent appearing conflicted or acting improperly..

(Sidenote: Remember, “lobbyist” is not a dirty word; The Audubon Society lobbies, the American Cancer Society lobbies as well as MADD; would you have negative thoughts about those organizations?)

These are not isolated incidents. Didn’t Skelos get himself in trouble helping his son? And what about the Senate Majority Leader before Skelos, Joe Bruno?

"Not only did the tribe hire Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's son last year to lobby Albany on its behalf, but now they've also hired Sen.John Bonacic's son to help grease government's wheels in Sullivan County".

http://www.recordonline.com/article/20050528/SPECIAL03/60726174

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/nyregion/11bruno.html?_r=1

http://www.nysun.com/new-york/fbi-albany-raid-seen-as-part-of-wider-probe/79749/
 

What a list! There seems to be a pattern here regarding familial ties and elected officials. Giving sons jobs, giving someone’s wife a job, lobbying your father, lobbyists that were  state officials and they are now lobbying current state officials and more.

And this is not just at the State level.

Remember how a former Orange County Republican Chair said to his wife: “if you want a judgeship, we’ll get you a judgeship”. And he did.

Do you know how many relatives of former County Executives have lucrative positions with the County?

And there may be a role for Mellissa Bonacic, Orange County legislator. As the “Heir Apparent”, she could take over for Dad in the NYS Senate. Dad will do his best to make sure she gets elected and the rank and file on the local republican committees will follow orders to support her, even if she may not be qualified. To do otherwise would require thought. And independent thinking is not encouraged for the committee members.

 See? Dynasties are not dead. They have just been modified, New York Style.

                                                                                                            

John and Melissa Bonacic, Scott Bonacic, Joe Bruno and Son, Dean Skelos and Son.

PS See how the cast of characters doesn’t change? Langdon Chapman was the Senator’s attorney and errand boy back then. Yes, the same Langdon Chapman in Stevie Neuhaus’s regime. After all, how many Langdon Chapmans could there be? How many do we need?