Edited by: TJVNews.com

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez has come under scrutiny for awarding a $15,000 bonus to his former chief of staff, Maritza Ming, despite facing multiple complaints of bullying and alleged mistreatment of Jewish staffers. The hidden taxpayer-funded bonus has sparked outrage among office employees, especially as Ming has been on paid leave for six months following misconduct allegations, as was reported by the New York Post.

Maritza Ming, 51, received a substantial one-time payment of $15,000 on top of her $208,849 salary in fiscal year 2022-23, elevating her total take-home pay to $223,849. According to the report in the Post, this makes Ming one of the two highest-paid individuals in the office, surpassing her boss, Eric Gonzalez, who did not receive a bonus. The decision to grant such a sizable bonus to an employee facing serious allegations has raised eyebrows and fueled discontent within the Brooklyn DA’s office.

The bonus controversy is compounded by allegations against Ming, including claims of bullying and the misuse of office personnel and cars for personal benefit. These accusations surfaced in July 2022, prompting Gonzalez to place Ming on paid leave. As was indicated in the Post report, despite the ongoing investigations and public outcry, the bonus was still awarded, adding to the frustration of staff members who feel unheard and disregarded.

Employees within the Brooklyn DA’s office have expressed their discontent over the situation, citing ongoing insults from Ming and questioning the fairness of awarding a bonus to someone who has been absent from the office for six month,  according to the information provided in the Post report.  One staff member remarked, “The insults never stop,” highlighting the perceived injustice of the bonus given Ming’s alleged conduct.

In response to the controversy, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez has hired an external consultant to review the office’s handling of discrimination complaints. However, the district attorney has not addressed Ming’s absence or the decision to award her a bonus, the Post report said. The lack of transparency and communication from the office has further fueled frustration among staff members seeking accountability.

Brooklyn DA spokesman Oren Yaniv acknowledged the yearly bonuses given by the DA’s office, citing the need to address salary disparities and fairly compensate dedicated staff. Approximately 20 other executives within the Brooklyn DA’s office also received one-time payments ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 in fiscal year 2022-23, according to city payroll records and reported on by the Post. The bonuses, however, remain shrouded in secrecy, with DAs refusing to disclose total payouts.

Controversial Holiday Bonuses:

Last month, the Brooklyn DA’s office distributed $1,000 holiday bonuses to most staff members, with executives reportedly receiving up to $6,000.

New York City’s district attorney offices are grappling with rising crime rates and challenges in retaining staff, leading to a controversial use of bonuses as a means to address issues such as low pay, heavy workloads, and staff attrition, as was indicated in the Post report. The Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens district attorney offices have implemented bonus programs, sparking scrutiny and debates over their effectiveness and transparency.

The Bronx experienced a surge in violence in 2022, with 131 killings, including 83 by guns, and 401 people wounded by gunfire. Bronx DA Darcel Clark revealed that 1,323 individuals were arrested for gun possession during the same period. However, her office faced challenges in prosecuting these cases, with a staggering 18% increase in the dismissal rate for felony cases, reaching half of all felonies, the report in the Post said. Clark attributed the high dismissal rate to staff attrition, losing 152 lawyers in 2022 due to low pay and heavy workloads imposed by recent discovery laws.

In response to the threat of a walkout in November 2022, Clark awarded one-time payments ranging from $3,000 to $12,000 to her 1,248-employee staff. However, the Bronx DA’s bonus program has faced scrutiny, with a 2021 audit by former City Comptroller Scott Stringer revealing a lack of documentation for $199,710 in bonuses paid to 21 employees, as per the report in the Post. Auditors were unable to determine whether the bonuses were merited and properly calculated.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has also faced controversy surrounding his approach to crime. Initially criticized for a soft-on-crime stance in a memo issued on his first day in January 2022, where he discouraged staff from seeking jail time for all but the most serious crimes, Bragg later reversed himself after public backlash, as was reported by the Post. Despite the controversy, records indicate that Bragg has distributed many one-time payments ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 in his office.

Staten Island DA Michael McMahon has joined his counterparts in requesting a 25% increase in staff salaries, citing the difficulty of retaining lawyers when private firms offer significantly higher salaries. McMahon emphasized the demanding nature of the work in his office, which includes long hours, trial readiness, and trials without overtime pay, according to the Post report. Staten Island DA employees have received one-time payments ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

Queens DA Melinda Katz supports the use of modest bonuses as a cost-effective way to retain top prosecutors and support staff without incurring a recurring budget impact. The Post report indicated that the spokesperson for the Queens DA emphasized the non-recurring nature of bonuses, suggesting that they can be a strategic tool to maintain a skilled workforce.

The office is under scrutiny as reports suggest a wide range of bonuses, ranging from $1,000 to $12,000, have been awarded, with higher-paid managers and executives receiving the most substantial payouts, according to the report in the Post. The lack of transparency regarding the criteria for awarding these one-time payments has raised concerns among insiders, with critics questioning the equity of the bonus distribution process. The controversy has caught the attention of City Council members and the city comptroller’s office, who are unable to provide clarity on the bonuses.

The Post also reported that the disparity in bonus amounts between different levels of staff has fueled discontent among the rank-and-file employees, with some insiders expressing concerns about the potential impact on office morale. The lack of clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of some executives adds to the frustration, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and discontent within the office.

City Councilman Robert Holden, a member of the public safety committee, acknowledges the challenges faced by DA staff and does not oppose bonuses for those earning lower salaries. However, he expressed alarm at the apparent contradiction of DAs seeking increased funding while allocating money for bonuses, as was noted in the Post report. Holden emphasized the need to focus on increasing staff headcount, viewing it as crucial for effectively prosecuting cases and securing convictions.