Retried New York Lawmaker Gets $140K Insurance Post

A former assemblyman from Queens has been hired to a newly created $140,000-a-year state job — in spite of the governor’s own orders putting a freeze on hiring.

The Daily News reports that retired Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette has been named deputy superintendent for community affairs at the state Insurance Department. The 78-year-old Democrat served 32 years in the Assembly before retiring this summer.

Gov. David Paterson has said state agencies can only hire for “absolutely essential” openings.

Insurance Department spokesman Andy Mais says Lafayette’s appointment was approved “through the budget freeze waiver process.” It’s unclear why the new post is needed.

Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield says the hire “was a preexisting commitment.”