Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer today said that Dominique Strauss-Kahn should repay the city for the full cost of his house arrest while he awaits trial for his attempted rape of a hotel maid.
“I’m calling on Mr. Strauss-Kahn to whip out that checkbook of his and pay us for the cost of policing, traffic congestion and other ancillary services as he lives in the lap of luxury under house arrest,” Stringer said in a press release.
Strauss-Kahn was placed under house arrest after a judge deemed him to be a potential flight risk. He moved into a 6,800 square-foot townhouse after residents at his previous address, 71 Broadway, objected to the circus-like atmosphere that had come to surround their building. His wife, the wealthy heiress and TV personality Ann Sinclair, secured the $50,000 a month home for him, which, according to the Post, features a skylight, a fireplace, antique French wide-plank oak floors, an Italian limestone bath, hand-crafted Italian cabinetry, stainless steel staircases and an audio system as well as a “nanny suite” where he can house the guards who have been keeping watch over him.
“Mr. Strauss-Kahn has been running up quite a tab, including $50,000 monthly rent for a townhouse, fancy steak dinners, plus the use of a gym, a terrace and a private movie theatre,” Stringer said. “Well, here’s something else he can put on his tab – TOTAL compensation to the taxpayers of New York City as the price of living here, high on the hog, and bringing potential burdens to a residential neighborhood.”
Stringer noted that DSK could be a burden on public services, with public money going to NYPD officers who must monitor the town house, sanitation workers who must clean up after reporters there on stake-out, and increased traffic congestion.
“At a time when the City is cutting back on essential services and layoffs are imminent, we need to know what taxpayer-funded services are being dedicated to monitoring this man’s every move,” he said. “The circus may be in town, but that doesn’t mean we have to pay for it.”
