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PensionGate SUBPOENAS HIT PENSION BIZ Attorney General Cuomo issued subpoenas to more than 100 investment firms and their agents yesterday as part of an expanding investigation of kickbacks and shakedowns involving access to the state and New York City pension funds.

NY Times Cuomo Issues Subpoenas in Pension Fund Inquiry In 2007, Mr. DiNapoli met with the chief partner of the private equity firm InterMedia Partners, Leo J. Hindery, and Roberto Ramirez, a lobbyist and former colleague of Mr. DiNapoli’s from the Assembly. The goal for the meeting was to convince the state comptroller’s office to increase its investment with InterMedia, which it later did. A spokesman for Mr. Ramirez has said he was not paid by InterMedia and appeared only as a friend of Mr. Hindery’s

As Reported in True News April 20, 2009

"Global Strategy Group, which is also part of Katz’s campaign, used to be publicly aligned with Roberto Ramirez’s Mirram Group, until that firm got into lobbying problems. Nonetheless, they still share office space and seem to maintain a special arrangement. State Controller DiNapoli met personally with the head of a private equity concern, who was accompanied by Mirram’s boss Ramirez. In that case, the pension fund upped its $15 million investment in that company to $50 million."Golden Gate Capital gave 4600 to Richardson Presidential campaign *** Pension Pulse Blog *** 100 subpoenas issued in Albany pension fund probe *** NY Pension Scandal Grows; 100 Subpoenas Sent *** SUNDAY *** Ill Wind Cartoonist’s Take on the Pension Fund Scandal *** Cuomo ratchets up investigation of influence in state pension fund *** Rattner can Save US Autos: Make Him Japan's Car Czar You can keep failing your way to the top if you're friends with or went to school with the right people *** ABC News reported that Steve Rattner, the leader of the Obama administration’s Auto Industry Task Force, threatened to ruin an investment firm’s reputation *** The Link Between New York's Pension Scandal And "Toxic Waste" In New Mexico? *** Playing the Albany Game for Big Gain: State Pension Fund Presented ...

What they say

Comptroller Candidate Liu "If I were Bill de Blasio, I wouldn’t publicize that too much."COUNCILMAN JOHN C. LIU OF QUEENS, on the Red Sox sympathies of Mr. de Blasio, a candidate for New York public advocate. In Council, It’s Mets 18, Yanks 13, and Neither 12

What they mean

Even though the both the city and state comptroller's offices are experiencing the largest corruption investigation in their history: "I still ain’t talking about the pension fund scandal."The Silence of the Lions: What the Comptroller Candidates Don't Want You to Know *** The Ever-Deepening Pension Mess says If politicians won’t clean up New York State’s pension system, the S.E.C. should do it for them, NYT Ed

Road to City Hall LIVING IN AL SHARPTON'S WORLD Only Al Sharpton could consider a $285,000 Federal Election Commission fine -- one of the heftiest such penalties ever -- a "vindication." *** NY REMOTE 'CONTROL' A SILVER WOE Speaker Silver's downtown community board has called for eliminating mayoral control of the schools *** MIKE DUE ON FED GRILL Bloomberg faces a grilling under oath over claims that his financial-news company discriminates against workers who become pregnant *** In Council, It’s Mets 18, Yanks 13, and Neither 12 (Times) *** Mayor to Be Deposed in Discrimination Suit *** Mayor Drops Off Time's 100 *** Search for pension fund kickbacks widens States join to look for abuses at public pension agencies (LA Times)

*** Sunday *** New Challenge for the Mayor: Vacancies at the Top *** GAY-WED OPPONENT RUDY SKIPS PALS' NUPS *** Mayor's gray matter is lacking From Room Eight *** Louis: Hey, Mr. Mayor. How about a debate? *** Lisberg: Thompson camp rakes Mike's 'rose garden' strategy *** GAY-WED OPPONENT RUDY SKIPS PALS' NUPS *** Rep. Anthony Weiner says he just knows he could run the city better than Mayor Bloomberg, but isn't likely running because "sometimes there are walls even your ambition and skill can't push through."*** As of April 1, Democrats have about 266,000 more enrolled voters than Republicans outside the city.