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On this, perhaps, we disagree. I see use and abuse in member
items. Little leagues and tiny tenant groups need the tiny amounts of support they get from their electeds and cannot bear the red tape of the public contracting process. Those are useful member items.
However, when (as has been suggested about Council Member Hiram Monserrate, for example) when member items go to "charities" controlled by political associates who then campaign for the elected, we have abuse.
In between, politicians appear at community events, take credit for good works all the time. By eliminating member items, only the Mayor will have candy to give out. Do you think the Mayor's office doesn't have enough power now? Do you remember when Mayor Bloomberg's servants warned non-profits that their funds would be eliminated if they didn't support the Mayor's 2005 re-election?