Cuomo offers deal to schools Student loan probe leads to proposed code The Associated Press
ALBANY — State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has offered colleges a way to escape legal action in his investigation into college loan kickbacks if they promise to follow a set of rules governing their role in the lucrative industry, according to published reports. Cuomo sent settlement agreements to colleges around the country that he has accused of accepting kickbacks from student loan companies, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported Friday. If the colleges didn’t sign, Cuomo would serve them with subpoenas, the Chronicle reported. Colleges in New York were told to sign the agreement by Friday while colleges in other states were reportedly given a later deadline. A spokesman for Cuomo would not confirm the report. “The attorney general has had talks with colleges and lenders as the investigation has been widening,” said John Milgrim. “Any settlements, if and when they happen, will be announced when they are finalized,” Milgrin said. Newsday reported Saturday that three colleges on Long Island acknowledged getting the agreements. Long Island University, New York Institute of Technology and Dowling College officials said they received a “code of conduct agreement” from Cuomo’s office Friday. The schools deny any wrongdoing. “Literally, what we received is an agreement on a code of conduct,” NYIT spokesman Jason Selss told the newspaper. “There’s a place to acknowledge whether you acknowledge the big problem between lenders and schools in general. There’s also an area that would list charges, but NYIT’s not being charged with anything.” Robert Altholz, LIU’s vice president for finance, told Newsday university officials were reviewing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, obtained by The Chronicle, Cuomo won’t take action against colleges or their employees if they pledge to abide by the code of conduct and reimburse borrowers who took out private loans. The agreement prohibits college employees and trustees from accepting gifts from lenders, serving on paid lender-advisory boards, and entering into revenue-sharing contracts with private lenders. It also strictly limits how colleges use preferred-lender lists, requiring them to disclose how they picked each lender and notify borrowers that they may choose any lender. Six lenders and more than 60 public and private colleges have been swept up in the attorney general’s investigation into the $85 billion college loan industry. Cuomo’s investigators say they have found numerous arrangements made to benefit schools and lenders at the expense of students. In some cases, investigators said, lenders provided all-expense-paid trips for college financial aid offi - cers to exotic locations in return for directing students to the lenders. Investigators found that many colleges have established questionable “preferred lender” lists and entered into revenue sharing and other financial arrangements with those lenders. Some colleges have “exclusive” preferred lender agreements with the companies. While not illegal, Cuomo says such arrangements are deceptive and anticompetitive. On March 22, Cuomo said he would sue a California student loan provider, claiming the company is making illegal kickbacks to schools in exchange for business. He sent a notice of intent to sue Education Finance Partners Inc., based in San Francisco. The notice was the first legal action to come from Cuomo’s nationwide probe. The company said it did nothing wrong and was prepared to defend its business practices.
Cuomo invokes Martin Act AG weilds broad power in pension probe
By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau Click byline for more stories by writer. Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is invoking the Martin Act to investigate possible pension fund abuses at the state Comptrollers Office, a spokesman confirmed today.
The possibility that Cuomo would use the act, which affords him broad powers, had been rumored around the Capitol for some time. Cuomo as recently as last month would not rule out using the act in his probe of the pension fund.
The Martin Act allows the AG to subpoena witnesses and bring civil and criminal charges. It generally pertains to securities sales.
Cuomo "has invoked jurisdiction under the Martin Act to investigate certain matters relating to the New York State Common Retirement Fund," said Cuomo spokesman Jeffrey Lerner. "The Martin Act empowers the Attorney General to investigate fraud in the purchase or sale of securities and to bring civil and criminal charges where appropriate."
Cuomo has been looking at the state comptrollers office under former Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who stepped down last year after pleading guilty to fraud and admitting he used state employees as aides for his ailing wife. The comptroller is the sole trustee of the states $154 billion pension fund, and thus has tremendous power in placing investment dollars.
The investigation could focus at least in part on "pay-to-play," in which individuals who gave campaign contributions to the Comptroller received lucrative pension fund investment business. According to published reports, the AG is also looking into whether Hevesis top political adviser, Hank Morris, profited from his other role brokering pension fund investments.
The investigation could focus at least in part on "pay-to-play," in which individuals who gave campaign contributions to the Comptroller received lucrative pension fund investment business. According to published reports, the AG is also looking into whether Hevesis top political adviser, Hank Morris, profited from his other role brokering pension fund investments.
He better be checking all the 'officials' portfolios.....hey, how about Bruno's son there???
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
States investigates safety against sex predators on Net
By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press Monday, September 24, 2007
ALBANY -- The New York Attorney General has subpoenaed the social networking Web site Facebook as part of a multi-state investigation into the company's ability to protect users from sexual predators.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo set up profiles as 12- to 14-year old users and said they were quickly contacted by other users of the site. The investigators said adults contacted the phony user profiles seeking sex with comments including: "u look too hot.... can i c u online," "do you like sex?" and "call me if u want to do sex with me."
Investigators said that when they told Facebook about their experiences, "many" times the concerns were ignored.
New York investigators said they lodged several complaints with Facebook about inappropriate content or communications on the Web site and Facebook took down many images within a week. But other complaints about user groups hosting "hardcore pornography" were ignored by Facebook, investigators said.
Facebook spokesman Brandee Barker said the states' concerns are being taken "very seriously."
"As our service continues to grow so does our responsibility to our users to empower them with the tools necessary to communicate efficiently and safely," Barker said. "We strive to uphold our high standards for privacy on Facebook and are constantly working on processes and technologies that will further improve safety and user control on the site.
"We are committed to working closely with all the state attorneys general to maintain a trusted environment for all Facebook users and to demonstrate the efficacy of these efforts," Barker said.
"My office is concerned that Facebook's promise of a safe Web site is not consistent with its performance in policing its site and responding to complaints," Cuomo said. "Parents have a right to know what their children will encounter on a Web site that is aggressively marketed as safe."
Attorneys general nationwide are investigating social networking Web sites including MySpace and Facebook to combat pornography and the use of the sites by sex predators to contact children, officials from Connecticut and North Carolina said Monday.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, who are leading the investigation, said they are negotiating with Facebook to better protect minors from sex predators and to remove "graphic and unacceptable" material from the site. Blumenthal said civil lawsuits against MySpace, Facebook and other sites under investigation are possible.
"The bottom line is that we have to find the best way to make sure parents have the tools they need to protect their children when they're on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace," Cooper said.
"We confronted (Facebook officials) with the pornography and other inappropriate content as well as potential access by minors to predators on paper," Blumenthal said recounting a four-hour meeting a week ago.
He publicly released a letter to Facebook over its safety claims. Those concerns are based on several "undercover tests" in recent weeks at Facebook (http://www.facebook.com), he said.
New York's subpoenas seek complaints made to the company and copies of its policies. Blumenthal said Cuomo's work "advances our common effort because it will likely produce additional information." Blumenthal said although the states don't usually announce joint investigations, they made a press statement after reporters called them following Cuomo's announcement that he issued subpoenas.
There was no immediate comment from MySpace after a telephone message was left with its press office.
Web site Facebook subpoenaed as part of states’ probe BY MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press
The New York Attorney General has subpoenaed the social networking Web site Facebook as part of a multi-state investigation into the company’s ability to protect users from sexual predators. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo set up profiles as 12- to 14-yearold users and said they were quickly contacted by other users of the site. The investigators said adults contacted the phony user profiles seeking sex with comments including: “u look too hot. . . . can i c u online,” “do you like sex?” and “call me if u want to do sex with me.” Investigators said that when they told Facebook about their experiences, “many” times the concerns were ignored. New York investigators said they lodged several complaints with Facebook about inappropriate content or communications on the Web site and Facebook took down many images within a week. But other complaints about user groups hosting “hardcore pornography” were ignored by Facebook, investigators said. Facebook spokesman Brandee Barker said the states’ concerns are being taken “very seriously.” “As our service continues to grow, so does our responsibility to our users to empower them with the tools necessary to communicate efficiently and safely,” Barker said. “We strive to uphold our high standards for privacy on Facebook and are constantly working on processes and technologies that will further improve safety and user control on the site. “We are committed to working closely with all the state attorneys general to maintain a trusted environment for all Facebook users and to demonstrate the efficacy of these efforts,” Barker said. “My office is concerned that Facebook’s promise of a safe Web site is not consistent with its performance in policing its site and responding to complaints,” Cuomo said. “Parents have a right to know what their children will encounter on a Web site that is aggressively marketed as safe.” Attorneys general nationwide are investigating social networking Web sites including MySpace and Facebook to combat pornography and the use of the sites by sex predators to contact children, officials from Connecticut and North Carolina said Monday. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, who are leading the investigation, said they are negotiating with Facebook to better protect minors from sex predators and to remove “graphic and unacceptable” material from the site. Blumenthal said civil lawsuits against MySpace, Facebook and other sites under investigation are possible. “The bottom line is that we have to find the best way to make sure parents have the tools they need to protect their children when they’re on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace,” Cooper said. “We confronted [Facebook officials] with the pornography and other inappropriate content as well as potential access by minors to predators on paper,” Blumenthal said, recounting a four-hour meeting a week ago. He publicly released a letter to Facebook over its safety claims. Those concerns are based on several “undercover tests” in recent weeks at Facebook (www.facebook. com), he said.
Ladies and Gentlemen....the next governor of NYS....Andrew Cuomo!!! Ya think?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Maybe once his father turns and decides to take the run for president that was always rumored about.
I heard the same thing!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Cuomo warns Facebook on safety claims AG: Web site could face fraud charge BY MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press
The social networking Web site Facebook has been warned that it could face a consumer fraud charge for failing to live up to claims that youngsters there are safer from sexual predators than at most sites and that it promptly responds to concerns, a spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Sunday. “We expect an immediate correction eliminating the dangers exposed by our investigation,” said the spokesman, Jeffrey Lerner. Cuomo announced last week that he had subpoenaed Facebook after he said the company did not respond to “many” complaints by investigators who were solicited for sex while posing as 12- to 14-year-olds on the site. Officials from Cuomo’s office discussed the issue by phone and fax with Facebook on Friday after they said Facebook took three days to answer calls and e-mails from state investigators. An official in Cuomo’s office said he and others are scheduled to meet with Facebook representatives this week and anticipate changes will follow immediately. “We said, ‘You have got to make accurate representations on your Web site,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because court filings haven’t yet been made. “What we told them is, ‘Correct the language describing the site and stop marketing yourself as this pristine Web site . . . parents have a misimpression. You can’t mislead people.” Lerner said Facebook’s contention of being safer than most sites was accurate when it started out as a closed site 3.5 years ago. But it’s now much larger, and the safeguards and apparently the response times for complaints aren’t what they once were, he said. There was no immediate response to e-mail and phone messages left for a Facebook representative. But a statement issued a week ago stated the company was concerned about Cuomo’s claim that sexual predators could use the site to meet with children. “We strive to uphold our high standards for privacy on Facebook and are constantly working on processes and technologies that will further improve safety and user control on the site,” Facebook spokeswoman Brandee Barker said in the statement. Lerner said Facebook has continued to promise to cooperate.
Children need to be monitored by their parents while they are on the internet. I know that they can always go to friends houses and use the internet there, but parents need to be more pro-active with their children regarding the internet. Isn't there a way that one can not access the internet unless they have a personal log in? If there isn't, there certainly should be.
Just like on HBO, they have a parental 4 digit number that you must press in to access adult themed materials. This should be an automatic function that comes with every computer. Or an option with our internet carrier. Perhaps Microsoft can develop one.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Maybe 'Planned Parenthood' could help out with this issue----"how to watch and pay attention to your kids"---(after you realize they really are your responsibility and it wasn't 'the condom's' fault or 'the pill's' fault)......after all a child is supposed to be "planned" along with the direction book----
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Hevesi in middle of comptroller probe — again Cuomo examines pension fund fees BY MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press
A well-known political operative, a disgraced career politician in New York, and the rising fortunes of two Democrats are colliding in Albany. In the balance may also be the immense power of the comptroller’s office as sole trustee of the state’s $154.4 billion public retirement fund, a duty in which Forbes magazine once said gave the comptroller control over more capital than anyone on the planet. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s dealings in which his longtime political consultant, Hank Morris, reportedly received millions of dollars in private fees from companies seeking investment by the state pension fund. Cuomo has issued subpoenas to companies and individuals who may have been involved or who knew about the so-called placement fees paid by companies to Morris, in his other role as a financial consultant to investors, in exchange for an introduction or access to the comptroller’s office under Hevesi. Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares is also investigating. Current Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, also a Democrat, said “it is apparent that former Comptroller Hevesi and others on his staff engaged in unethical, irresponsible and possibly criminal activity.” Di-Napoli made the statement in July when he announced that he fi red a former Hevesi staffer and that he found records were missing from the pension investment deputy comptroller’s desk. There have been no charges and no clear finding that a crime was committed involving the placement fees, which are common in dealings of the pension fund for local and public employees. “Alan Hevesi did absolutely nothing wrong with respect to management of the pension fund,” Hevesi lawyer Bradley D. Simon said Friday. Morris and his attorney didn’t respond to telephone calls requesting comment. Cuomo and Soares have declined comment. For the two prosecutors, though, this is more than just another case. The investigation of Hevesi, a Democrat who resigned earlier this year after being convicted of using state workers as drivers for his wife, would be another big “public integrity” case for Cuomo, a Democrat. Cuomo is already papering 2007 with national headlines for other investigations into student loan conflicts of interest and other cases. It was just five years ago that he withdrew from the Democratic primary for governor, his support plummeting after he criticized Republican Gov. George Pataki for his leadership following the Sept. 11 attacks. Soares is also building a national reputation through his investigation into steroid distribution to pro athletes. Last month, the Democrat also issued an important review of a political scandal that he said clears Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his aides of any wrongdoing. Earlier this year, Soares was part of forcing Hevesi to resign, shortly after the comptroller was re-elected despite the scandal. Last week, a Quinnipiac University poll found New Yorkers suspect there is something to the latest Hevesi investigation. The poll also found nearly 80 percent of New Yorkers questioned feel the state should limit the pension power of the comptroller who, unlike in most governments, is the sole trustee of the massive fund. “It looks bad,” said Maurice Carroll of the Quinnipiac poll about the investigation. He said the public seems to be suspicious about the appearance of a politically connected adviser getting a reported $25 million to get the attention of his longtime political friend.
I think that the dems are paving the way for 'Gov.Cuomo'. Especically since Spitzer is failing miserably. They have to start lining someone up for the next election. Cause I don't see Spitzer making it in round II.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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