Pricey Rug For The Governor's Mansion Causes Controversy In New York

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Nov 20th 2008 at 6:04PM

Government watchers are up in arms in New York about a $21,000 antique Turkish rug from Stark Carpet which was shipped to the Governor's Mansion in Albany, New York this summer. This news was recently revealed after stern warnings from Governor David Paterson to state agencies to cut spending as budget deficits in the state have soared to $2 billion this year alone. The Office of General Services says the purchase was part of routine maintenance on the historic mansion. But some are angry, feeling that it shows government waste. The AP also says that the Texas House of Representatives ordered about $140,000 in items for its lounge, including antique chandeliers and big screen televisions.

Gallery: Tales of Excess

Tags: government, governors mansion, GovernorsMansion, new york, NewYork

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

just me Nov 21st 2008 10:43AM

that is not a lot of money for a rug from Stark. Okay, it's a lot of money, but rugs are expensive items, and I would suspect that it is quite large as well. why all the fuss?

mike Nov 23rd 2008 6:31AM

This fuss is like the fuss over AIG still holding events for customers & staff at luxury resorts. We are holding a microscope to otherwise ordinary events because of the financial crisis. Things like this are the ordinary course of business, but they are now being judged through the lens of "ordinary joes" who shop at Walmart, and condemned under that standard. In AIGs case, the fact is that big corporations spend a lot of money to make a lot of money, but now they have ten million overseers watching every nickel they spend, the same will be true with the automakers. When they were making money, no one cared how they spent it. Whether capitalist companies can survive with these limitations and scrutiny is questionable, because the customers like to be wined and dined, and will go with another company that treats them better, all things being equal price-wise.

jeff Nov 23rd 2008 6:23AM

Our government buildings remind me of what the Russian czars had.

Ken Nov 23rd 2008 5:58PM

All of the fuss is over the fact that the governor just told all of his departments that they had to cut spending, and suddenly they can run out and spend 21,000 on a luxury item. That's like telling you, the public to make do with less so the rich can have more.

Terri Nov 23rd 2008 6:42AM

Brad said...
WOW!!! Jessica Simpson posing nude here:

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This is the most ridiculous recurring spam. In regards to the above article, the Turkish rug is worth the $21,000, Jessica Simpsons skanky rug, ZERO.

Tanya Nov 23rd 2008 6:40AM

Saddam over in Iraq lived in gold while his people were poor. Irony?

julia Nov 23rd 2008 12:31PM

stupid comment. saddam was not asking his people for billions to bail out companies that got into trouble . also education was free, everybody had to read by age of 5, no taxes, healthcare free, need i go on? bush, the oil hungry b-----d,destroyed the whole country like he destroyed ours. keep iraq out of this.we let the morons who make laws in this country get away with this. we need regulation to stop this waste from happening. this rug could have waited.

Tanya Nov 23rd 2008 6:54AM

The big fuss is we have spent two years screaming about CHANGE.. we elect CHANGE yet nothing CHANGES. Although you are correct in saying, "hey, it's normal" .. well, are the people the only ones to change? Shouldn't they lead by example? At least until the economic matters are not headline news?

angel Nov 23rd 2008 1:07PM

HEY, DON'T BE SUCH A DIPSTICK! CHANGE HASN'T EVEN TAKEN OFFICE YET. STILL HAVE ALMOST TWO MONTHS BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. SO, UNTIL THEN, YOU SHOULDN'T BE TALKING SMACK! GOD, THIS COUNTRY IS SO OVERRUN BY PURE UNADULTERATED IGNORANCE!!!!!! BY THE WAY, I THINK THE RUG COULD HAVE WAITED TOO. A RUG WOULD NOT EXACTLY BE ON THE TOP OF MY TOTEMPOLE OF PRIORITIES WHEN PEOPLE GO HUNGRY, OR ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS.

Matt Nov 23rd 2008 7:03AM

David Paterson, our governor, is (literally) legally BLIND!!! This is absolutley crazy...

George Nov 23rd 2008 7:21AM

Who's Jessica Simpson? Any relation to Homer Simpson?

chris Nov 23rd 2008 7:49AM

I live in Syracuse, NY and this definitely ticks me off! #1 like someone previously mentioned, the Governor's blind how can he see the difference between a $21,000 rug and one at a fraction of that price. #2 He keeps going on about having to slash the budget 12 billion dollars then spends this kind of money on something ridiculous. #3 It's Turkish! HElp our economy MR. Patterson and spend that ridiculous $21,000 on a rug that was made in the USA and buy iy from a local business HERE in the state of NY!

Diane Nov 23rd 2008 8:01AM

The people in elected office need to be reminded that they work for us,,,and need our permission to spend our money. The obama's just ordered a hand made bed for their White House bedroom. Guess who gets to cover that expense? It is time to revolt.

Deede Nov 23rd 2008 9:04AM

Diane,

You really need to check you facts and stop getting all your information from Rush and Hannity. The White House has in storage over 40,000 pieces of furniture. The Obama's were asked if they would like a queen size bed or one of the ANTIQUE BEDS in storage. They chose a handmade antique bed that our country already owned. Whoever told you that silly lie needs to Google his facts. The Obama's have approximately $150,000 to spend updating their family quarters. They can also use donated funds to update their family quarters.

The rest of the White House is taken care of by a committee. I do not think the Obama's have the same style as the Bush's. I'm sure the Obama girls would like rooms that look like children's rooms and not like museum's. That is their right. It will be their home on Jan. 20, 2009.

cjp Nov 23rd 2008 2:51PM

This is just the beginning....."Spread The Wealth"....spread it right to "This Ones'" Whitehouse doorstep!!!!

Be Afraid, be very afraid!!!!

Simzee Nov 23rd 2008 8:11AM

Why should'nt our Government live high on the hog. No one will do anything about it but whine.

Warehol Nov 23rd 2008 8:18AM

Maybe he couldn't see the price tag!

Cass Nov 23rd 2008 8:55AM

In response to Mike's comment about business as usual. There are those of us who have been complaining about the spending habits of huge corporations all along. After working for ML for 10 yrs I'm well aware that the business world has been calling for a "market correction" for years. If the CEOs were worth all the bonuses they "earned", they would have had the sense to SAVE enough money to get them through lean times. The fact is, they squandered it and they are STILL squandering it, even after receiving bailout money, which btw is NOT making it to the housing market as the funds were approved to do. And the ten million overseers watching their every move??? That would be the TAXPAYERS, whose hard earned money is FUNDING their bailout. Look...this is me...shedding a tear over their hard luck. Boo Freakin' hoo...

WE THE PEOPLE Nov 23rd 2008 8:56AM

Why is NY spending $4 million dollars on new signs to rename the Triboro bridge to one of the Kennedy's????? While stating they have to cut jobs, eliminate cost of living salary increases, reduce spending on programs that really help We The People.