Albany Lobbyist System
Caused by Leaders Lack of Ethics and Morals Standards
Just like gambling has nothing to do with the reason that Rick's Café was closed down, lobbyists are not the cause of the dysfunction and corruption in Albany as hinted at in Part II of the Daily News series on the corruption in Albany. They are just the result of leader who remain in office as long as they want and make money for themselves and their friends. Rick did not stop when his bar was closed because of his character. The only way to change the moral fiber of today’s elected officials is to make sure they have competitive elections and some of them lose elections. An anything goes - if we can get away with it attitude and value system has grow in the Albany swamp because they consider elective office lifetime appointments. We also need law enforcement officials who use stings and other tools to send a massage they will no longer allow pay to play. This dose not happen today for reason True News and only True News has been pointing out. *** New York’s Political Mob Wars *** Organized Crime Politics *** Organized Crime Politics Part 1 *** NY' s Leaders Have Lost the Values and Morality that Once Made it the Greatest City in the World *** NY's Non Investigations *** Inspector Clouseau Investigates *** Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up *** Lawyers and Developers Control Comptroller's Campaign *** Tweedies Honor Indicted Pol
True News Reported It First: A limitless line of lobbyists still pulling strings in Albany *** Reformers Have Their Annual Press Conference . . . Nothing Else *** New York Needs A Sun Burn *** Spin is the Cancer of Journalism
Daily News Says: The political earthquake that gave Democrats control of Albany for the first time in 70 years created chaos — and opportunity — for a vast army of lobbyists.
True News Reported It First: Pay to PlayLatest Queens Eclipses Brooklyn as City's Political Crime Capital *** 'GRAFT' JUST LIKE BAD OL' DAYS OF TAMMANY *** Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up *** It's All About Vito Lopez *** Will Dysfunctional Albany Destroy the MTA? *** Cover Up At City Hall Continues *** Appointments Strengthen Special Interests, Corrupt Politicians *** NY's Non Investigations *** NY's Non Investigations *** Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up *** A Letter to Garcia: (Michael) Garcia U.S. Attorney
Daily News Says: It’s a big-bucks business. Though numbers aren’t yet out, officials expect last year’s haul to exceed the $171 million the state’s 5,300 lobbyists pocketed in 2007. Especially well-positioned, insiders agree, are Patricia Lynch, former top aide to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), and Parkside Group’s Evan Stavisky, longtime Democratic strategist and son of state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Queens).
True News Reported It First: Lawmakers-turned-lobbyists Al D'Amato and Susan Molinari
Daily News Says: The clout of lobbyists “who were retained because of their personal relationships with one individual” is evaporating, said Joseph Strasburg of the nonprofit New York Public Interest Research Group. Frequently cited is Park Strategies, founded by Pataki’s mentor, former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato. The firm would not comment. *** DN Editorial: Make it a freebie, Fonz. Herewith an appeal to former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, New Yorker, American, pal of current Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and fat-cat lobbyist: Stop with the idea of charging the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation for your services *** D'Amato signs on for $50G WTC job
True News Reported It First: Lawyers and Developers Control Comptroller's Campaign *** Candidates Accept Funds From Laid Off Workers
Daily News Says: Tenants can't find a friend in capital State of Shame: This was the year tenant advocates were waiting for: a Democratic-controlled Senate coming in to make long-awaited changes in the state’s rent laws. Since January 2007, landlords and their lobbyists have funneled $2.5 million in campaign contributions to Democratic and Republican senators and Assembly members, the Albany watchdog group NYPIRG has found. Republicans pulled in $1.5 million and Democrats raked in more than $1 million.
True News Reported It First: New York’s Mad Hatter: Krugerspeak *** Kruger Bankrolls the Gang of 3
Daily News Says: Sen. Carl Kruger, a Brooklyn Democrat who faced a minor opponent, took in $27,700, records show. He has 40,000 rent-stabilized units in his district and has not taken a position on the issue.
The City KLEIN RAISED NONPROFIT CASH ON CITY TIME *** TEACHERS IN BID TO EXPEL UNION *** PROPERTY-TAX PROTESTS GAIN NEW 'APPEAL' *** BAM BACKS MIKE SCHOOL RULE: ED. CZAR'S MESSAGE TO ALBANY *** RAISING THE BAR Customers, local business owners and residents band together yesterday (right) to help a popular Brooklyn wine bar relocate after losing its lease *** Work drying up for film industry
From the Daily News *** WATER BILLS $OAK NYERS *** Wait to schedule breast exams can reach 4 months *** Toned-down bridge birthday for Queensboro? *** With none on schedule, it's a bad sign, say boro's studios *** Change the Parade Route? Can They Even Do That? *** Fans Savor Sneak Peek of Citi Field, Even if Mets Aren’t There *** Fans Get Sneak Peak At Citi Field Opener
Road to City Hall MIKE OPENS THIRD-TERM RACE SPACE *** Battle over Marty's $64M potato chip From the Daily News *** Mike woos S.I. GOP and sings praises of Fossella *** NYC mayor's re-election bid spans all 5 boroughs *** Errol Louis says the number of immigrant voters are growing *** And here's a shot of Bloomberg at the opening of his campaign office on Staten Island yesterday, with Vito Fossella standing behind him *** Bukharians For 'Busy Man' Bloomberg
SHELLY'S SPENDING SPREE Lord Mayor of Albany Sheldon Silver and his pliant handmaidens, David Paterson and Malcolm Smith, used the cover of weekend darkness to deliver a state budget that raises spending by at least 10 percent -- a staggering 33 times the rate of inflation.
Albany WHAT DEMS ARE 'UP' TO -- $132B: 10% BUDGET BOOST AMID TAX HIKES *** N.Y. State Leaders Outline Budget Deal *** Tax Hikes Focus Of Preliminary Budget Deal *** State budget busts bank, and critics howl *** Three Men In A Room Reach Budget Deal *** Taxes Galore in New State Budget *** MEET GOV'S BUREAUCRAT BONEHEADS *** DN Editorial: Dangerous deal Gov. Paterson and Democratic legislative leaders have agreed on an overhaul of drug laws that all but decriminalizes the possession and sale of narcotics in New York State. This craziness must not become law *** PA BIRD BRAINS: DATA HID JET SMASH-UP DANGER *** We’ve got a budget, which contains a number of taxes and $5.2 billion in cuts. And an income tax hike on the wealthy. The wealthy have different opinions about it *** The Middle Class STAR rebate is gone.The bottle bill has been expanded *** The Middle Class STAR rebate is gone.The bottle bill has been expanded *** There may be a deal on the horizon for the MTA? *** Assembly finance strategists say that the state could save $240 million to $350 million just by changing the day the paychecks are cut *** Tom Suozzi will consider a gubernatorial run if Paterson doesn’t run, but won’t primary him *** The Post calls on the Senate Republicans to prevent a quorum and block passage of the budget - at least long enough to "shed light on the process." *** Tax the Rich! How did the poor win the New York tax war? Welcome to the era of the moneyed underclass *** Addicted The myth of the Rockefeller-drug-laws repeal *** Bukharians For 'Busy Man' Bloomberg
ffects of Raising Taxes NY Times Editorial February 8, 1984
"Current research suggests that high state and local taxes play a significant role in harming almost every aspect of economic performance, from inducing companies to leave for greener pastures to discouraging new business startups and hindering the creation of jobs. Until the last few years, the common academic wisdom was that local taxes didn't matter much. Albany Top Earners Hold Mixed Views on Plan for Higher Taxes
President Obama OBAMA 'FIRES' GM BOSS: TOP DOG AXED IN DEAL FOR BAILOUT CASH *** TODAY'S TARGET: DETROIT: WHITE HOUSE GETS TOUGH *** Bam forces GM boss out, tells automakers to shape up *** Wagoner to Leave G.M. as Chrysler Gets Merger Deadline *** U.S. Moves to Overhaul Ailing Carmakers *** Obama READY TO WOO EUROPEANS *** White House questions viability of GM, Chrysler *** Treasury secretary: We've done a lot in 8 weeks *** GEITHNER SEES MORE RESCUES *** For the White House, not so easy being greener *** Obama racial stereotypes, falsehoods flourish *** Obama rules out US troop raids into Pakistan *** Obama: won't speed up Iraq pull out *** Gates says US can do nothing about NKorean missile *** Merkel Is Ready to Greet, and Then Resist, Obama *** PAPER: White House entourage of 500+ staff to Europe... Developing... *** New Task Seen for Fannie, Freddie *** Will Congress Sink Obama? *** Buy American and we'll back car caompany's warranties, promises Bam
Congress YOU PAID BIG SALARY HIKES TO VITO'S CREW *** THE INFLUENCE GAME: NRA clout shapes policy agenda *** Dems fear defections in PMA probe - Jeff Flake gets only 17 Dem votes for a bill calling for an ethics investigation into earmark requests *** Auto industry pols stunned by Obama 'tough love' *** In Minnesota, it's still November *** Gillibrand Robocalling for Murphy *** SEN. DODD'S CAVALCADE OF SCANDAL
America the Tarnished These days America is looking like the Bernie Madoff of economies: for many years it was held in respect, even awe, but it turns out to have been a fraud all along, Krugman, NYT
Wall Street Mess SUIT SLAMS 'PONZI' PAIR *** MARKET WON'T SOLVE IT: TIM Geithner *** STAR POWER DIMMING AT SOME STREET FIRMS *** MORE CUTS DUE AT UBS: NEWSPAPER *** THE WEEK'S WINNERS AND LOSERS *** Lupica: GM CEO gets bitter taste *** The Steady Optimist Who Oversaw G.M.’s Decline *** Banks Starting to Walk Away on Foreclosures *** The $1.3 trillion man BlackRock founder Larry Fink has become DC's go-to guy on Wall Street. Here's why. ... *** GM, Banks Lead Stock Drop *** Markets Dive on Auto News
National Smoke break gets more expensive with tax boost *** Star Lobbyist Closes Shop Amid F.B.I. Inquiry *** Detroiters Make the Case for a Lifeline *** Powell to lecture at Colgate on leadership *** Is Arkansas still land of Lincoln?
International It might be G-20, but London is all about 'The One' *** Israeli drones attacked Iranian convoys in Sudan... *** Wide Cyber Attack Linked to China *** Germany vs. the Global Stimulus *** Sam Zell Bets on Brazil
Cable News Stokes Political Fever By DAVID CARR Gorged on ratings from a historic election and still riding on leftover adrenaline, the cable networks have steadfastly remained in campaign mode - NYT
Media Melt Down MAGAZINE COMBO PLATTER: ADWEEK, OTHER NIELSEN TITLES MAY FOLD INTO ONE *** Fox News’s Mad, Apocalyptic, Tearful Rising Star *** Setbacks in Bay Area Add to Pain for The Chronicle *** Setbacks in Bay Area Add to Pain for The Chronicle *** Do-It-Yourself Magazines, Cheaply Slick *** Huffington Site Starts Project to Investigate the Economy *** European Newspapers Find Creative Ways to Thrive in the Internet Age *** MTV to Put a Bit More Music Back, in the A.M. *** Z100 morning show goes national *** TIMEWARNER TESTING HBO FEED FOR COMPUTERS... DEVELOPING... *** Strong 'Monsters' Feeds 3-D Hopes
