ALBANY, N.Y. — A resident of New York’s capital city has an unusual economic development plan to harness what he says is one of Albany’s most abundant resources: political corruption.
For a $12.50 “bribe,” visitors to the planned Museum of Political Corruption will get a tour of the state’s long history of crooked politicians, shady deals and backroom power brokers, as well as a chance to learn about individuals who have fought corruption.
The museum is the idea of Bruce Roter, a professor at Albany’s College of Saint Rose, who is now raising money for the museum.
That leaders of the New York Senate and Assembly are now on federal trial, accused of selling their influence and lying about it, doesn’t make this a particularly ripe time, Roter said. He recalled a century-old newspaper story by muckraker Nellie Bly reporting that she was able to kill a random piece of state legislation by paying $1,250.
Roter has been working on the project for two years after talking over coffee with Kathy Sheehan, who has since become mayor of Albany.