Your Tax Dollars At Work; NY Edition

State workers in Albany New York decided that they knew how best to spend their working hours. They built themselves a man-cave at Empire State Plaza, from which they slept on the job when they weren't busy dealing drugs:

A state janitor and his boss built a secret “man cave” at a downtown garage near the Empire State Plaza that they used to sell drugs, smoke pot and sleep during work hours, according to the state Inspector General.

Gary Pivoda, a cleaner, and Louis Marciano, an Office of General Services supervisor in charge of the East Garage cleaning crew, gave co-workers special access to their hidden party lounge outfitted with sofas, a TV and a scale for weighing marijuana.

Investigators said Pivoda and Marciano routinely arrived at work at 4 p.m., got high, then slept while other janitors cleaned Pivoda’s section of the East Garage at Madison Avenue and Eagle Street.

The Inspector General alleges that Pivoda made evening drug deliveries in his OGS truck to electricians, plumbers and other state employees.

Two garage co-workers were arrested in December for smoking pot at work. State Police dismantled the “man cave” in a late-night raid Tuesday, the IG’s office said in a statement announcing the investigation.

Both are suspended without pay from the Office of General Services.

Meanwhile, State Senator Pedro Espada had a heaping portion of pork sent his way, courtesy of his orchestrations over the past month and deposing Malcolm Smith as majority leader. His comrade in the machinations in the Senate clown circus, Hiram Monserrate, has had his chairmanship and stipend of $12,500 restored. It had been stripped following assault charges filed against him.

Also, New York City Councilman Miguel Martinez admits to stealing thousands of dollars from City taxpayers.

City Councilman Miguel Martinez Thursday admitted he'd stolen thousands of taxpayer dollars through a series of scams that began in his first days in office.

Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and revealed he'd pilfered $106,000 in Council funds through various schemes from October 2002 through spring 2008.

The Daily News first reported Martinez's self-dealing in April 2008 - triggering a city Department of Investigation probe, which led to the criminal charges.

Martinez is resigning, but this scandal is far from over. He's not alone. The slush fund scandal looks to take down his possible successor and a host of others.

Isn't politics grand?