Too many cooks spoil the broth? Tell Mayor Bloomberg

When Mayor Bloomberg came into office there was just one executive cook at Gracie Mansion (pictured below), the official residence of the Mayor of New York City.

Today there are three chefs to make the VIP feasts - costing taxpayers a whopping $245,000 this year.

And despite the big spending cuts the mayor has ordered across every city agency -- too many cooks won't be spoiling the broth at the city-owned mansion.

According to figures revealed by the New York Daily News, his longest-serving man in the kitchen, Feliberto Estevez, picks up $97,000.

His pastry chef Jerry Montanez who was hired in 2007 is paid $68,000 while Jose Velazquez is on $80,000 after getting a $10,000 pay rise last July.

Last autumn, there were cutbacks in the police, fire and schools and there are more job losses to come across the board.

Although the 69-year-old billionaire Bloomberg prefers to live at his upper East Side townhouse, he does a lot of entertaining at Gracie Mansion.

More here.