A Brooklyn lawmaker is under fire after blurting out on social media that she uses her district office to make side cash through an online teaching gig.
State Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus (D-Brooklyn) posted photos three weeks ago of the hit CBS drama “Blue Bloods” filming outside her Bay Ridge office, and then told the world, “I picked a perfect day to teach online.”
“I stayed at my desk all day and worked through all of the buzz on our block but right outside my window was a sea of spectators, fans and crew members,” Frontus said in a second tweet hours later, featuring a photo of series star Donnie Wahlberg giving a thumbs up to spectators along Third Avenue.
Under the state’s public officer law, pols are prohibited from using state “resources,” like office space or computers, for private business or other compensated nongovernmental purposes. Violators could face fines and, in rare cases, lose their posts.
“This reeks of an abuse of taxpayer money,” said one state lawmaker. “You don’t do private work in your legislative office.”
Frontus, who is an adjunct professor at both the Columbia University School of Social Work and the NYU Silver School of Social Work, laughed when contacted by The Post about using her office for teaching. She insisted she did nothing wrong because the course took place after 6:30 pm – or after regular business hours.
The law doesn’t address any time elements.
Frontus refused to comment about whether she used an office computer to teach the course or brought her own, then hung up.
It’s unclear what taxpayers pay in rent for the office, but sources said comparable rents in the neighborhood run about $3,000 a month – and that doesn’t include office equipment and other expenses.
The state Legislative Ethics Commission declined comment when asked if Frontus violated any law.
Since being elected to office three years ago, Frontus has had her share of drama.
In 2019, The Post reported she once tried to secure $100,000 in state funds for a think tank that didn’t exist.
Frontus also has a long history of not working well with other local elected officials and burning through office staffers.
Additional reporting by Bernadette Hogan