Hans Pennink for New York Daily News Judy Rapfogel
Here is an expanded version of the third item from my "Albany Insider" column from Monday's editions:
Nice retirement if you can get it.
Long a top earner in the state Legislature, Judy Rapfogel, the long-time top aide to disgraced former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, will continue to be highly paid--even in retirement.
Seth Wenig/AP Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Rapfogel's annual pension should exceed $126,000, according to calculations done by the Daily News.
Like most of the rest of Silver's staff, Rapfogel was given six weeks to find new employment after the former speaker was convicted on federal corruption charges last year. The state Controller's Office confirmed that Rapfogel put in for her retirement papers on Jan. 14, the same week she left the payroll.
Though Silver was no longer the powerful speaker for most of last year, Rapfogel had retained her $180,500 a year salary, which made her the third highest paid employee in the Legislature. Her annual pension, which is based on the average of her three highest salaries, is still higher than most legislative staffers will earn in a year.
Rapfogel was not caught up in the Silver scandal nor was she called to testify during his trial. She first starting working for Silver and the state in 1976.
It's been rought times for the 61-year-old Lower East Side resident. Besides watching her long-time boss and friend get convicted, her husband, William Rapfogel, is serving time for ripping off the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.
References
- ^ klovett@nydailynews.com (www.nydailynews.com)
