Met Council CEO William Rapfogel, right, shown with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in a June 2012 photo, was fired for alleged financial malfeasance.
NEW YORK (JTA) — William Rapfogel, the longtime head of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty in New York City, was fired for alleged financial malfeasance that is being investigated by the state.
On Monday, the Met Council said it terminated Rapfogel as its CEO and president — posts he has held since 1992. According to the social services agency, the financial irregularities were discovered in an investigation initiated by its board of directors, The New York Times reported.
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is probing the malfeasance.
“The board of directors of Met Council recently became aware of specific information regarding financial irregularities and apparent misconduct in connection with the organization’s insurance policies,” the Met Council was quoted as saying by The New York Times. “The board retained outside counsel to conduct a full investigation. Based on that investigation, which is ongoing, the board has terminated Mr. Rapfogel, effective immediately, and notified the proper authority. To date, the investigation has not revealed evidence that any current employees of Met Council engaged in any wrongdoing.”
Rapfogel in a statement through his lawyers on Monday said, “I deeply regret the mistakes I have made that led to my departure from the organization.” He also expressed a desire to “make amends.”
Rapfogel hosts an annual breakfast that draws many influential political figures, including the candidates for mayor in this year’s race.
Prior to his role at the Met Council, Rapfogel worked as an assistant New York City comptroller and as an aide to Mayor Edward Koch.
The Met Council, which provides employment services, crisis intervention, emergency food and other programs for poor Jewish households, said in a statement it would “work diligently to appoint a replacement as quickly as possible.”
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