Rep. Yvette Clarke still likes to travel — even if it’s just between Washington and Brooklyn.
Our Alison Gendar reports:
The third-term congresswoman ranked first among New York City-area representatives this year for travel spending between the Capitol and her Brooklyn district.
Clarke and her staff spent $45,745 though the end of September on local travel, the latest congressional tallies showed.
“Our office’s number one priority is to serve our constituents,” said Clarke Press Secretary Judith Kargbo, noting that the office’s third-quarter bill for $11,188 was less than the prior period’s $19,327.
There was no change in policy, she said — the past quarter’s trips just happened to be fewer.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that our case workers and legislative staff are fully prepared to solve problems in the 11th Congressional District of New York. We are extremely committed to keeping our staff actively engaged with the communities we represent,” Kargbo said.
While Clarke spent the most, she was hardly alone in using a chunk of her office’s budget on travel:
, who is facing possibly two Democratic primary challengers next year, ranked second among NYC-area congress members. He spent $34,633 shuttling between Washington and the 10th CD.
Towns’ office also spent the most of the local New York pols on interoffice travel between July and September, running up a tab of $13,071.
Rep. Steve Israel (D-L.I.), Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Queens) and Rep. Tim Bishop (D-L.I.) rounded out the top five local travelers, spending $33,629, $26,573 and $23,374 respectively so far this year.
Meeks used some of his travel budget to pay the $1,289-a-month lease for a Lexus.
Bishop’s spokesman Oliver Longwell said the travel made sense: “Congressman Bishop works seven days a week and lives in Southampton, so he comes home when Congress adjourns to bewith his family, and attend church and community events.”
