New York City As The Afghanistan Of Public Projects

SAIC, who not only overcharged New York City for the botched CityTime project but overcharged exponentially for the botched project, will be required to pay $500 million in paybacks and fines:

A major government contractor agreed on Wednesday to pay a record $500 million to avoid federal prosecution for its role in the scandal-tarred CityTime project, an effort at modernizing New York’s payroll system. The project was plagued by widespread fraud and weak oversight and became a lingering embarrassment for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration.

. . .

Mr. Bloomberg hailed the deal as “a major victory for taxpayers,” but the scandal remained a potential taint on the legacy of a mayor who prides himself on managerial efficiency and the power of the private sector to reform government operations.

The CityTime project, with its promise of millions of dollars in cost savings thanks to newfangled technology like biometric readers, epitomized Mr. Bloomberg’s technocratic approach to governing. City Hall officials say the payroll system, which was put in place despite the fraud, has improved a timekeeping operation once dependent on pen and paper. But the kickbacks and the ballooning costs raised doubts about the administration’s ability to police its many outside contracts.

And now the company faces a shareholder lawsuit.

As A Famous Online Essay Once Said, “Beauty And Evil Are Never Far Apart In Keats’s Poetry,” Which Is To Say, Have You Ever Seen $60,000 Worth Of Sushi?

It’s like Baudelaire, Keats or maybe GG Allin; there’s something almost beautiful in the utter sinfulness:

A “greedy” Senate leader and his son raided a Bronx health clinic of more than $500,000 — blowing $60,000 just on sushi and lobster dinners, and spending “thousands and thousands of dollars” on spa treatments, luxury cars and political campaigns, a federal prosecutor charged yesterday.

Brooklyn As Agricultural Hall Exhibit At The State Fair

The Portland State Fair:

“It’s pretty obvious that what everyone is doing is better than what exists,” said [a condiment purveyor], whose company dubs itself the “leaders of condimovement.” “People are tired of what’s out there. The system is corrupt and the ingredients that are being used in condiments make them kind of like vegetable junk food — there’s a much more pure way to do it.”

. . .

It might sound Spartan, but the $6 [“horseradish sandwich” at a new Prospect Heights restaurant] — which features just horseradish, sourdough bread, butter and onion — is perfect as is, according to its maker.

“The sandwich needs not a single more thing — no one has really asked for anything else added to it,” said [the restaurant’s chef and co-owner]. “I very much enjoy creating something for nothing.”

(The eatery will serve topped with bacon for an additional $2).

. . .

“People intuit condiments as the basis of choice in food and control over their diets,” [a food historian] said. “People have a yearning to control their food destiny.”

Because In The End, It’s Not Really The Higher-Ups Who Put This Guy In The Psych Ward, It’s The People Even Higher Up Who Created This Absurd Culture

Which is why Ray Kelly should go and why Michael Bloomberg should stay way the fuck away from the West Wing, except for lunch. I guess. The Times’ Jim Dwyer picks up on the Voice stories about the horrific harassment of a police officer who questioned the stat-obsessed NYPD:

To date, neither Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg nor Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly have publicly discussed why Officer Schoolcraft was thrown into a psychiatric ward.

I Personally Like The Idea Of Soda Pop In Every Water Fountain

A poll is out indicating that New Yorkers are supportive of the NYPD’s program that collects intelligence on area Muslims: “A majority of city voters believe the New York Police Department has acted appropriately in anti-terrorism efforts that have focused on Muslims, according to a new poll.”

But people think a lot of things, and just because someone thinks something — or even a majority of them think something — doesn’t necessarily make those things good ideas. For example, at one time a large number of people thought it was OK to torture terrorists if they had information about a ticking time bomb (45 percent), or even use a nuclear weapon against a terrorist camp (34 percent). No really!

Then there’s consistent public support for an amendment to make flag burning illegal.

And people still seem to have an issue with gay people adopting children.

You can go on and on finding polls that uncover all manner of ideas. Basically, we think a lot of things; that doesn’t always mean we’re right. Especially when it comes to what we think it’s OK to let the cops do.