Hundreds of ex-NYC City Council staffers are about to get coal in their stockings, as the legislative body is demanding they return hundreds of thousands of dollars that was allegedly sent to them “erroneously” as part of a back-pay settlement.
The former workers were told they had until Dec. 18 to fork over funds ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars — cash that some stunned workers said they were assured was rightfully theirs and that they had already spent.
“This is a huge burden for working-class former staffers – especially since they didn’t ask to have the money given to them,” said Matthew Malloy, president of the 400-member council staff union, the Association of Legislative Employees.
The directive came from Mychele Gayle, deputy director the Council’s personnel services division, in a Nov. 18 letter that threatened the workers with legal action.
“Please be advised that failing to reply to this letter may result in the Council referring this matter to the New York City Law Department for appropriate action,” wrote Gayle.
The unionized ex staffers were surprised, especially since the Council in April 2024 agreed to provide the retroactive pay after ironing out a new contract with raises.
Some said they already spent the dough, assuming they qualified for the payments. Some were even told the checks were legitimateafter calling the office of Speaker Adrienne Adams and other Council members.
“This a gross misappropriation of funds,” said an ex-Council staffer, who already spent her nearly $900 check. “This is absolutely ridiculous, and someone’s head needs to roll.”
Another ex-Council staffer received roughly $2,000 and spent the unexpected windfall on expenses after having a baby – and now doesn’t have the financial means to pay it back, the source added.
Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), the overwhelming favorite to be elected speaker in January, told The Post Friday said she was “shocked” to learn of the heartless request and believes an investigation is warranted.
“Any letter notifying former city employees of this error should have begun with an apology — not a demand for money,” Menin said.
“Requiring former city employees who received this money nearly 18 months ago to suddenly return the money in the middle of the holiday season is unreasonable.
“If elected Speaker in January, I will immediately investigate how this occurred in the first place, implement proper controls and a remedy that doesn’t unfairly punish former staff for a mistake by the city.”
Besides current members, the city also sent out checks with retroactive pay to ex-staffers who left the union before the deal was ratified. The Council now claims anyone who left the union before the contract was awarded shouldn’t get the retroactive pay.
Reps for the City Council and Speaker Adams did not immediately return messages
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