Congressman Cries Poor, but Lifestyle May Disagree
WASHINGTON — Money is so tight, Representative Gregory W. Meeks says, he does not have a savings account with more than a few thousand dollars in it. And yet Mr. Meeks, one of New York City’s most prominent Democrats, lives a life worthy of a jet-setter.
When he travels, he stays in luxury hotels like the Mondrian South Beach in Miami and the Ritz-Carlton in San Juan, P.R. He drives a Lexus, leased by the federal government, at a cost of $1,000 a month. He eats expensive meals at BLT Steak in Washington and Docks Oyster Bar in Manhattan, among other trendy spots.
And just a few years ago, he bought a $1 million house built for him in Queens by a local developer and campaign contributor.
Mr. Meeks forcefully defends his spending, saying demands on him by Democratic Party leaders to raise money have necessitated travel far outside his working-class Queens district.
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