[1] Cassidy's first controversy arose when he was elected alderman of Long Island City, Queens while holding the appointed office of excise commissioner.

"[1] Despite an annual salary of $5,000 as borough president, he leveraged his office to become very wealthy, having purchased more than half million dollars of real estate in Queens.

He owned a steam yacht and an automobile, a string of fast trotters, a stock farm in California, a house in Long Island City and a country home in Far Rockaway.

[1] Cassidy lost re-election in 1905 to reform candidate Joseph Bermel but remained active in party politics.

He was indicted by a Nassau County grand jury in 1920 on gambling charges, but died in his Far Rockaway home of apoplexy later that year.