Hacks alive and well in court system
by Howie Carr
DNN Staff - EXCLUSIVE!
Monday, Mar. 1, 2010
A quiet tragedy is unfolding in the hackerama.
Steve Anzalone Jr. seemed destined for the Probation Department, which already employs his father, his sister and two cousins, not to mention his uncle and a cousin who are on the Trial Court payroll as court officers.
After the usual nationwide search, Anzalone got his dream job in probation. But then, catastrophe: Trial Court Chief Justice Robert Mulligan noticed the six Anzalone relatives.
So young Anzalone was nixed for the probation gig he’d been promised. What does he do?
He bravely sues to claim his hack legacy.
According to Mulligan, in the words of his brief to the Supreme Judicial Court, “Enough is enough.”
Not nearly enough, argues Anzalone’s lawyer. The Anzalones currently make up a mere fraction of the Probation Department! In the context of the entire payroll, the lawyer contends in court papers, hack jobs for “six (.0008571%) or indeed, seven (.001%) individuals who are related by blood or marriage hardly constitutes evidence of nepotism.”
That landmark case will be heard in the spring by the hacks of the SJC.
Meanwhile, though, the hackling needed a job (which is very different than work) and obviously the Dreaded Private Sector was an absolute no-go.
This is where Joe DeNucci steps up. As you might recall, the good auditor was featured in these pages earlier this week, staunchly defending himself for employing his own 77-year-old cousin Buster as a “fraud examiner.”
Follow the bouncing ball.
Steve’s dad is Steve Sr., and he is “first assistant chief probation officer.” Three, count ’em, three diminutives, good for $82,078.90 a year.
In 2007, the old man suddenly begins to take an interest in Joe DeNucci’s political career - chipping in $200 in June.
In April 2008, Steve Jr. is denied his probation job.
On May 2, 2008, he is hired by Joe DeNucci. In what capacity? Why, as a fraud examiner, for a $40,056.10-a-year sinecure.
On June 20, 2008, Steve Sr. and Kathleen of the same address, presumably Jr.’s mom, each max out to the DeNucci campaign - $500 apiece.
Coincidence? Why, June is when Joe used to hold his annual Auditors Club fundraiser. By 2009, Boy Anzalone was settled in, and Dad was the only one who maxed out to the auditor, $500 last June 5.
Through a spokesman, DeNucci said he knows Anzalone only through BC football - which is almost as good an entree into probation as being named Delahunt. (Hi Kirsten, how’s that $65,039-a-year job treating you?)
Steve Jr. was asked, through DeNucci’s office, if he wanted to say anything. Hardly, he said in effect, by not calling back.
Jack Sullivan, a former Herald reporter who now works for CommonWealth magazine, has been covering the probation department’s transformation into a welfare program for shiftless hacks. I’ll have Sullivan on my radio show tomorrow night at 6:08 to discuss the probation hackerama, of which this is the merest tip of the iceberg. As always, all tips gratefully accepted.
He ain't heavy, he's my cousin: State Auditor Joe DeNucci
recently hired his 77-year-old cousin for 40 grand a year
as a Fraud Investigator while state faces job cuts.
(DNN Staff photo)
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