Politics on the Hudson

   Two state employees have been indicted for allegedly blowing off work to hang out, sleep, watch TV and use and sell marijuana and cocaine in a “man cave” they set up at a public parking garage, according to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office.

   Office of General Services employees Gary Pivoda, 48, of Latham and Louis Marciano, 50, of Rensselaer (both Albany suburbs) were indicted on 22 counts in connection with the “man cave” in the Albany East Parking Garage, a state facility. The indictment, unsealed today in state Supreme Court in Albany, alleges that the night maintenance employees falsified their time cards and defrauded the state. The two men have been suspended without pay since July.

   ”Instead of working, these state employees allegedly used public property and taxpayer-funded time to nap and party in a den of illicit activities,” Cuomo said in a statement. “New Yorkers expect state employees to obey the law, act in a professional manner and carry out their assigned duties. This office will not tolerate abuses of trust and will continue to root out the corruption to restore faith in government.”

   Pivoda was held on $10,000 cash or bond and Mariano was held on $5,000 cash or bond. The indictment charges them with the following felonies and misdemeanors —third-degree grand larceny; official misconduct; first-degree offering a false instrument for filing; fourth-degree criminal sale of marijuana; unlawful possession of marijuana; third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (Pivoda only); seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; 2nd-degree criminal nuisance; and 2nd-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia.

   Pivoda was held on $10,000 cash or bond and Marciano was held on $5,000 cash or bond. The next court date is October 29.

   The state Inspector General’s Office and State Police raided the “man cave” in July after an investigation. “These employees allegedly committed felonies at the workplace on state time. This is outrageous behavior for anyone, much less a public servant,” Fisch said in a statement.