Martha E. Stark: Corrupt Democrat of the Day

Power Corrupts, it always has and always will, this appears to be a textbook case of a person to comfortable in the job to the point that they confused the average perks with abusing the system.

Through her lawyer, Ms. Stark said she had done nothing wrong, and in a terse resignation letter suggested she had been pushed out.

“As I serve at the pleasure of the mayor, I hereby resign,” she wrote. “It has been my great honor to serve” and “I very much appreciate the opportunity.”

As recently as several weeks ago, buffeted by questions about her conduct, she sent an e-mail message to her staff saying “rumors of my demise (have been and are) greatly exaggerated!”

“Sorry you’re stuck with me,” she continued. “I’m not going anywhere.” She said the mayor had assured her “they want me around for the long haul.”

Aides to the mayor and city investigators declined to comment on what in the review of Ms. Stark appeared to have further eroded Mr. Bloomberg’s support for the commissioner.

Ms. Stark, whose resignation is effective at the close of business on Friday, will be temporarily replaced by Michael Hyman, deputy commissioner for the Tax Audit, Policy and Enforcement Division. During his 21-year career with the finance agency, he has also served as a senior analyst, director of research, and assistant commissioner for the Office of Tax Policy.

A City Hall spokesman said that there was no timetable for naming a new commissioner. The mayor is scheduled to release his latest budget proposal on Friday, but officials said Ms. Stark’s departure would not affect the content or presentation, because decisions had already been made.

And yes the word Democrat is never mentioned in the story.