'Man cave' workers used racial slurs, new report says

ALBANY -- The state inspector general's continued investigation into the so-called "man cave" workers at Empire State Plaza says they used racial slurs at work and that their supervisors virtually ignored complaints about their discriminatory behavior.

In a final report released today by Inspector General Joseph Fisch, three state Office of General Services managers -- Thomas Casey, William Liston and Dennis Williams -- were named for their poor oversight of cleaning crew manager Louis Marciano, 50, of Rensselaer, and Gary Pivoda, 48, of Latham.

Additionally, Fisch found, the managers failed to address repeated complaints that Marciano discriminated against black workers and addressed them with racial slurs.

"Marciano called one janitor a 'n-----' and assigned him extra work to cover for janitor Gary Pivoda, who was sleeping and doing drugs with Marciano in the hidden party lounge during their work shifts," IG Fisch said in a press release. 

Marciano also awarded Pivoda annual "incentive" bonuses totaling $3,000, the IG found. 

OGS has agreed to implement IG Fisch's recommendations and will take administrative action against the workers and supervisors who shirked their duties.

The agency will also require more training for Plaza managers, said Fisch.

Marciano and Pivoda face sentencing Jan. 4 on felony pleas stemming from prosecution by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and a lengthy investigation by the IG's office and State Police.

Both men resigned from state service as part of their plea agreements.

To read the IG's report, click here. 

VIDEO: Marciano and Pivoda in "man cave"