Paul Rivera, a special adviser to Democratic New York Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, will receive a $50,000 raise despite layoffs in his state party. According to the New York Daily News:
Paul Rivera’s incredible $50,000 bump—a 62.5% increase in his pay—comes after the Senate Democrats laid off more than 300 staffers during the past 17 months, sources said.
The raise will be retroactive to Feb. 16, but the real kicker is that Sampson, a Brooklyn Democrat, allowed Rivera to keep a special designation so he won’t have to work the 35-hour weeks required of most Senate staffers.
Instead, he can clock in for as little as 25 hours a week in his state job, freeing up time for campaign work, the sources added.
Insiders are not pleased with Rivera’s raise:
"John Sampson’s Democrats talk a lot about standing up for the middle class, but how do they justify giving an aide to the minority leader . . . a $50,000 raise for part-time work?" one Senate aide groused.
"Pretty hard to explain that to the guy who just lost his job and is struggling to pay the bills."
