Most New Yorkers were left shaking their heads in disbelief last week when it was learned that a Rabbi on the city's payroll was helping Jewish inmates throw lavish parties and enjoy other special privileges. Yesterday the scandal claimed its first victim.
Peter Curcio, the Correction Department's second-highest-ranking uniformed officer and the man who signed off on a festive bar mitzvah held in December at the downtown prison facility known as the Tombs, stepped down yesterday, reported The New York Post.
The feast, throw by notorious conman Tuvia Stern for his son, was served with fine China and cutlery, including knives, and a featured a band. And in another breach of prison rules, guests were allowed to keep their cellphones.
Curcio's resignation comes after a weekend of questioning by the Department of Investigations looking into the party at the behest of mayor Bloomberg. Curcio had been considered a leading candidate to move to his department's top spot before the Post broke the story.
City jail chaplain Rabbi Leib Glanz, who helped organize the fete and is said to have supplied Jewish inmates with other special privileges, including outside food, is now coming under heavy scrutiny.
Glanz, it turns out, is the only city-chaplain rabbi not approved by the Chaplaincy Committee, as is required by a city labor contract. Rather, Glanz was appointed in 2000 to his position at the request of then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
