City councilman calls for investigation into Richard Carranza’s new job

More On:

Richard Carranza

Carranza’s new gig: Working for company that won big contracts when he ran NYC schools

Comptroller candidate calls for investigation into DOE spending under Carranza

Richard Carranza’s new firm made millions off COVID-19 pandemic in NYC

Former city schools boss Richard Carranza lands private sector job in California

Ex-schools Chancellor Richard Carranza’s efforts to land a new job with an e-learning company that reaped millions of dollars under his reign should be investigated, a city councilman contends.

IXL Learning announced it hired Carranza’s as chief of strategy and global development on April 1 — less than three weeks after his last day in charge of NYC public schools.

Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) called on two city agencies — the Department of Investigation and the Conflicts of Interest Board —  to probe Carranza’s move.

“Considering the short timeframe in which (he) was hired, please investigate whether negotiations between then Chancellor Carranza and IXL took place while the Chancellor was still employed by New York City,” Holden wrote in letters to each agency, calling it a possible “ethics violation.”

The DOE has paid IXL $5.6 million to use its educational software since 2011, including $3.3 million in the last two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under NYC law, city employees may not take any steps to seek jobs with a company they are dealing with as part of their city job.

“To suddenly quit a $363,000-a-year job as chancellor suggests he had something to fall back on,” Holden told The Post. 

A Department of Education spokeswoman has insisted that Carranza “followed all job-hunting conflict and recusal rules while securing his job with IXL.” 

The COIB said it could not comment on Holden’s request or whether it would investigate. But officials confirmed that ex-city employees are still subject to investigation — and fines up to $25,000 per violation.

Department of Investigation spokeswoman Diane Struzzi said it referred Holden’s letter to the Special Commissioner of Investigation, which probes alleged misconduct by DOE employees and vendors.

But Holden complained that SCI has failed to address other complaints about Carranza and his top deputies.

“I have no confidence that this will be fully investigated in a timely fashion,” he said.

SCI spokeswoman Regina Gluzmanova would not comment. 

A candidate running for City Comptroller, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, has also called for investigation of DOE spending under the IXL contract, which has far exceeded a $1 million limit set in 2016. 

Share this article:

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post US officials may need 2 weeks or more to determine if Johnson & Johnson's vaccine causes rare blood clots
Next post Psychic Medium Makes A Bold Claim About Prince William At Prince Philip’s Funeral