County lobbying efforts in question

By DAVID HULSE

	TRR photo by David Hulse George DeRosa

MONTICELLO — Albany lobbyist George DeRosa is pictured during an August 16 session of the Sullivan County Legislature’s Executive Committee, where DeRosa reported on the legislative lobbying efforts of his firm, Bolton-St. John, on behalf of Sullivan’s gambling interests.

The county initially hired the lobbying firm at $5,000 monthly, last spring, when Donald Trump began active, and subsequently determined as illegal, lobbying efforts to undermine Indian casino gambling in the Catskills.

Legislators Rodney Gaebel (RC-5) and Chris Cunningham (DC-1) questioned the lobbyist’s continued lack of reporting to County Manager Dan Briggs, three months after he had agreed to do more regular reporting.

DeRosa admitted earlier problems, said he had tried to improve his reporting efforts over the last two months and agreed to report to the committee on a monthly basis.

Cunningham said the lobbying was an unnecessary expense. “I could lose your services immediately,” he told the lobbyist.

“We’ve got 80 clients. They come and go,” DeRosa replied.