By Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
BATTERY PARK CITY — Former Battery Park City Authority President Jim Cavanaugh has a new job with a state lobbying firm.
Cavanaugh, who was accused earlier this month of wasting more than $300,000 on lavish parties and lunches at the Battery Park City Authority, is now an executive staff member at Empire Strategic Planning, the firm announced Monday.
The governmental affairs lobbying group was founded in 2007 by former Republican State Senator and Senior Assistant Majority Leader Nicholas Spano. Cavanaugh previously worked for Spano as communications director early in Spano’s Senate career.
"With new leadership in Albany on both sides of the political aisle, this is a good time for the firm to expand our expertise and our staffing," Spano said in a statement.
"This is a particularly critical time for those seeking to navigate state and local governments, and we intend to be in a strong position to provide assistance to those who need it."
Earlier this month, the State Inspector General released a report accusing Cavanaugh of mismanaging money and playing favorites at the Battery Park City Authority, where he served as president for five years. Cavanaugh had already stepped down from the Authority the month before, taking advantage of the state’s retirement incentive.
Cavanaugh called the Inspector General’s report “nonsense” when it was first released.
Spano did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. He told the Daily News he knew about the Inspector General’s report and had no reservations about Cavanaugh.
