CSCS: Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Inc.

DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, February 16th 2011

By Daniel Beekman

Publication & Publisher: DAILY NEWS

Acker/BloombergNYC
Controller John Liu urges New Yorkers to submit ideas for ways to save city dollars.

Controller John Liu had a date with the Bronx on Valentine's Day, as a small but passionate crowd begged the city's chief auditor to aim his magnifying glass at the borough.

Liu wants Bronxites to submit ideas for audits so he can uncover ways to save money and improve the efficiency of city agencies.

The crowd at the Bronx County Courthouse forum shared concerns related to school closings and technology, homeless housing, snow removal and the MTA.

"It is our job to root out waste and fraud and abuse...to put money back in the treasury so it can be better used in our schools and senior centers," said Liu.

Monica Major, who represents the Bronx on the Department of Education's policy panel, urged Liu to vet the $1 billion worth of new school technology contracts recently proposed by Mayor Bloomberg and the DOE.

"We want technology - the kids need it," she said. "But the DOE is handing out contracts left and right, and the mayor is ramming them through."

Major warned the push for gadgets such as iPads could become the next CityTime fiasco, referring to the city's scandal-scarred payroll system overhaul.

Other concerns hit even closer to home. Mashon Baines, 41, pressed Liu to audit the Department of Homeless Services, arguing the agency is overspending to keep Bronxites in homeless shelters and "cluster sites" for months on end.

Helping them find and pay for permanent housing would cost DHS less, claimed the formerly homeless mother.

Last year, Liu audited shelter providers not under contract and skewered the agency's Work Advantage rent subsidy program.

Liu vowed to take a second look at several Bronx projects, including ongoing improvements to 75 borough parks.

The Parks Department has spent about $136million of the $200million fund created to offset the construction of the mammoth Croton Water Filtration Plant in Van Cortlandt Park. Critics charge some of the money has been misspent.

Liu said he may audit the fund.

"To the extent that promises have not been kept, I believe it is our responsibility...to root out the facts," he said.

Bronxites who missed the forum can propose audits online by clicking on "Open Audit NYC" at www.comptroller.nyc.gov.

Liu will hold forums on Staten Island today at 6 p.m. at the Brighton Heights Reformed Church, and in Brooklyn tomorrow at 6p.m. at the Brooklyn Public Library on Grand Army Plaza.