Organized Crime Politics & FinanceCould AG Cuomo team up with Federal prosecutors to invoke the RICO Act and bring down the Pensiongate mob?
As prosecutors across the country continue to put the pieces together of the Pensiongate scandal, it is becoming increasingly apparent that pay-for-play is not just a few isolated incidents in New York, but a vast multi-state criminal conspiracy carefully orchestrated by corrupt powerbrokers. Only in this case it isn’t a don or The Five Families running the con, it’s top elected officials across the country and their politically connected cronies.
The comparison between the Pensiongate co-conspirators and the mafia isn’t far-fetched. But whereas Jimmy Hoffa opened the Teamsters’ pension fund to the mob in exchange for political influence, in this case, Hank Morris and Company allegedly used their insiders’ influence to enrich themselves and their politician friends upon state and city pension funds in New York, California, Texas, New Mexico – and likely more to come.
Despite the geographic distance between the states, there seems to have been little division among the Pensiongate perps when it came to pocketing the hard-earned money of union workers. With Attorney General Cuomo’s announcement yesterday that an associate of Hank Morris’s, Julio Ramirez, has pled guilty to securities fraud – likely in exchange for his testimony against Morris – we’re almost certain to learn more about Morris’s involvement in Pensiongate in the near future. What is clear, according to the Daily News, is that “Morris, the indicted top political aide to former state Controller [sic] Alan Hevesi, had his tentacles in public pension funds from sea to shining sea.”
Ramirez was the middleman between the company he worked for, Dan Weinstein’s Los Angeles-based Wetherly Capital, and Morris’s company Searle & Co. In exchange for securing Wetherly $50 million to invest from New York State’s $122 billion pension fund, Morris and Ramirez pocked $630,000 in fees.
But Morris got more than just a one-time fee for opening New York State’s pension coffers to Weinstein and Wetherly. According to ProPublica, Wetherly also shared fees with Morris’s company for helping a private equity firm seal three multimillion dollar deals with California funds. The funds were the California Public Employees’ Retirement System – the nation’s biggest pension fund – the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, and the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions.
ProPublica also reports that Wetherly, founded by Dan Weinstein, a prominent Democratic fundraiser in California and former union political operative there, has made $230,000 in political contributions since the firm opened in 2001. While at least $56,000 of this money went to board members of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) or “candidates for positions such as state controller or treasurer with a seat on the board”, Wetherly also made sure to give generously to the overseers of New York’s pension funds. Since 2005, Wetherly and its clients have given $50,000 in contributions to New York City Comptroller William Thompson, who sits on the boards of the five New York City pension funds, and largely controls how these funds are administered.
Since Alan Hevesi resigned at the end of 2006 as State Comptroller as part of a guilty plea involving (amazingly) a different scandal than Pensiongate, Wetherly sought to maintain strong ties to New York State’s pension fund by donating $2,500 to Hevesi’s successor, current State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. “The donation came seven months after a Wetherly client, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners of Los Angeles, won a $50 million commitment from the fund, records show. A DiNapoli spokesman said the donation has since been returned because it violated the comptroller’s personal ethics standards and that DiNapoli’s office was not aware of Wetherly’s connection to the corruption scandal “until their name showed up” in the indictment [of Hank Morris].”
The Morris-Weinstein alliance is just a single strand of the tangled web of corruption and criminality that has ensnared so many of the nation’s largest pension funds. In a statement yesterday, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo hinted at the tremendous scope of his probe, “This investigation has uncovered a matrix of corruption, which grows more expansive and interconnected by the day.”
So entwined are the cast of characters behind Pensiongate that you need one of those pyramidal charts the F.B.I. uses in movies to rank its ‘most wanted’ to keep track of all their connections. It is the sheer magnitude of Cuomo’s investigation that makes RICO a natural fit to prosecute Pensiongate. While invoking the RICO Act would mean that Cuomo would have to partner with Federal authorities and in so doing likely cede overall control of the investigation, it is appearing increasingly necessary for him to do so in order to bring so many perpetrators across so many states to justice.
While the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (or RICO) is best known as the government’s most powerful weapon against the mob, the law has a much wider scope and has been used in such wide-ranging prosecutions as the 1984 criminal corruption case against the Key West Police Department and the insider trading case that sent financier Michael Milken to prison. By definition, RICO applies not to a specific criminal act, but a pattern of criminal activity relating to “any enterprise affecting interstate or foreign commerce.”
Julio Ramirez’s guilty plea is an important missing link in proving just how organized the interstate criminal enterprise of the Pensiongate perps really was (and perhaps continues to be). Another long strand connecting Morris to some of the other principals in the Pensiongate scandal began with Ramirez. According to Cuomo’s office, Ramirez also introduced Morris to Saul Meyer, the founder of Dallas-based Aldus Equity, a private equity advisor to public pension funds in New York State, New York City, California, and New Mexico.
According to SEC securities fraud charges filed on April 30th by Attorney General Cuomo against Aldus Equity, Meyer’s company paid Morris $320,000 in exchange for Aldus bring picked to manage $175 million of New York State’s pension fund. As the Daily News reported, “Cuomo and the SEC said Aldus was picked after another firm wouldn't pay Morris… "Aldus was chosen by the pension plan because of Aldus' willingess to illegally line the pockets of others," said James Clarkson, acting director of the SEC's New York regional office.”
After securing the initial $175 million investment from the New York State pension fund, Aldus returned to Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s office in 2006, this time walking away with an additional $200 million, or $375 million in total. On this occasion, alleges Cuomo’s suit against Aldus, Alan Hevesi’s son, former State Senator Dan Hevesi was the beneficiary of the quid pro quo. In exchange for continued access to the New York State pension fund, Aldus recommended that a $25 million deal for Catterson Partners be approved in New Mexico, netting Dan Hevesi a $250,000 fee.
With so many rich and powerful players embroiled in this massive scandal, who then is the “boss of all bosses” among the Pensiongate family? Hank Morris? Alan Hevesi? Steven Rattner? Bill Richardson? Bill Thompson? That’s still not clear. In this case, it seems more than likely that rather than a godfather, there were several captains working in tandem on their respective turfs, similar to the arrangement the mafia brokered in 1957 at the infamous Apalachian Meeting. Regardless, as the investigation continues to unfold, we’ll have a clearer portrait of who among the alleged co-conspirators was taking orders and who was giving them.
True News Pensiongate Coverage to This Point Organized Crime Politics: Comptroller Office for Sale $$$ *** OUT OF COMPTROL, AS SCANDAL SPREADS, CITY COMPTROLLER CANDIDATES LOOK FOR BIGGER ROCK TO HIDE UNDER *** Steve Rattner the Untouchable *** Cuomo: The New Sheriff of Wall Street *** NY PensionGate Explodes in New Mexico *** The Silence of the Lions: What the Comptroller Candidates Don't Want You to Know *** The Wolf at Thompson's Door *** Will the Cuomo Pension Investigation Take on the Establishment? *** Organized Crime Politics *** Organized Crime Politics Part 1
Pensiongate HEDGE BIG ADMITS NY BRIBE ROLE A former state pension fund "placement agent" secretly pleaded guilty two months ago to kicking back fees to Hank Morris, former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi's political and guru, and is cooperating in the far-reaching probe *** California Pulled Into New York Pension Inquiry *** Julio Ramirez, a middleman with ties to Hank Morris, pleads guilty to securities fraud *** Cuomo says Morris associate pleads guilty to fraud *** US pension funds need curbs on campaign donations: NY *** The public pension bomb *** NYC asks SEC to bar pension advisers' campaign gifts
*** Ex-Blackstone Pension Agent Pleads Guilty to Fraud (Update3)
Nobody Asked Me, But . . . NYP Hillary says disgraced Democratic fund-raiser Norman Hsu would "single-handedly" help her win the presidency, but does not say how he got around campaign finance regulations to pump so much money into her campaigns. Were others involved? Also left out of the NYP story are any comments by local pols awash in Hsu money - AG Andrew Cuomo: $50,100, Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau: $2,000, - Council Speaker, Christine Quinn: $4,950, State Democratic Party: $45,000, Comptroller Bill Thompson: $4,950, State Senate Democratic Campaign Committee $5,000, Councilman John Liu: $4,950, Rep. Anthony Weiner: $4,250. Is the media afraid of the backlash from Asian American Pols? "The best we can hope for from the Hsu affair is that it doesn’t lead to a witch hunt as happened in the Huang case," comptroller candidate John Liu. . . . NYP pushes Albany to go with mayoral control KEY POLS' DISTRICTS GOT MAYORAL-CONTROL BOOST and for good reason Albany bill would weaken Bloomberg's grip on schools; 5 pols on board . . . The Odd Couple or threesome NYP, the Voice Wayne Barrett and Bloomberg Bloomberg and the Teachers' Union - May 13, 2009 It's (almost) summertime, and the Mayor's campaigning is easy. So easy, he can roll over the union this time—and should. . . Is Judge Sullivan trying to get crooked ex-pol Brian McLaughlin to rat on more of his Friends, by warning him he may get hammered harder than he expected? EX-POL FACES HARDER SLAP . . . As the MTA leadership melts down Sander gets pushed out the door, and New Yorkers are hit with another fare hike. The NYT as usual, adds a happy story Is This Your Stop? Pull the Cord, Like Old Times . . . Since when is it bias for a newspaper to oppose Albany? How would you like it if the Buffalo News attacked The Albany Project for having a Conflict of Interest because one its top reporters now works for the senate democrats? The Buffalo News Bias Against The New York State Senate Majority . . . I can just smell the pay to play contributions coming on this one: Residential Real Estate Developers seek gov’t-backed loans . . . NYT news 24/7 news ticker looks a lot like twitter: NYTimes launches new Web feature . . . Who else knew? Records Show Billions Withdrawn Before Madoff Arrest, Madoff pals hit with lawsuit . . . How the hell does this guy expect to get away with this pay to play crap? True News was first to expose mayoral candidate Thompson for helping out his former employees and friends with pension dollars The Wolf at Thompson's Door , now the voice Robbins has done it for the second time in three weeks: Another Thompson Supporter Rings Up a Big Pension Fund Score *** Bill Thompson Has His Own Pension Pals . . . It is clear why Katz does not want to talk about Pensiongate Katz in the Cradle. Katz’s connections to Hevesi’s horde are far from ancient history. Her campaign spokesperson is none other than Marc Guma, Hank Morris’s former partner in the consulting company Morris, Carrick, and Guma. As partners, Morris and Guma contributed $52,972 to the New Mexico Democratic Party in February 2001. Not surprisingly, Steven Rattner’s Quadrangle Group later hired Morris as a third-party broker in New Mexico to secure a $20 million commitment to one of its private equity funds, allegedly kicking back millions to his bag man Morris according to the AG’s indictment. Guma has also been paid hundreds of thousands from the state senate democrat committee over the years, is there a connection to lack of oversight of morris and company? . . . Is this the best your consultants can do to help you? Kirsten Gillibrand insists she's not a flip-flopper.
Pay to Play HILL THRILLED BY CAMPAIGN 'CHEAT' CLINTON'S 'FAWN' CALLS AIRED AT $$-RAISER TRIAL *** 'HEVESI' RAP ON TOP DOC *** Ex-NY health commish pleads innocence *** DN Editorial: Toxic waste dump Not since the demise of Boss Tweed has the muck in Albany flowed so thick and heavy. Yesterday's indictment of ex-Health Commissioner Antonia Novello as a taxpayer-abusing shopaholic was merely icing on the mire *** Jury hears Hillary's call to swindler Norman Hsu *** Novello charged with defrauding gov't *** Is It Time For Ethics Reform In Albany? *** IG: Fire Public Integrity Head Over Troopergate *** The New Public Integrity Commission's First Test *** Report: State Official Leaked "Choppergate" Info *** Spitzer's 'Trooopergate': The fallout never ends *** Paterson cleans house at the Commission on Public Integrity *** Teitelbaum: IG’s report permeated with ‘unjust, inaccurate aspersions’
What he said: FIRE WAR IS RAGING OVER O.T. COMMISH: UNION AXED DEAL
The Stick they use: 4 firehouses doomed; Scoppetta warns 12 are on life support
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta
Road to City Hall The run for N.Y.C. mayor looks like a one-man raceThe run for N.Y.C. mayor looks like a one-man race *** In the Mayoral-Control Fight, Bloomberg Tries Acting Like a Politician *** Poll: Cuomo Beating Paterson Among Black Voters *** Sherman Yellen, a screenwriter and playwright thinks Michael Bloomberg should just “buy the Mayoralty from the voters openly -- send out checks to where it can make a difference in everyday lives rather than enriching the advertising coffers of the TV moguls, the campaign managers, and his fellow plutocrats.” *** The good news for Gov. David Paterson in today's Q poll - to the degree there is any - is that he has finally managed to halt the free-fall of his approval rating, losing virtually with no ground with New York voters over the past month. The bad news: The governor hasn't managed to improve his standing, in spite of all his efforts to do so *** Bloomberg will be deposed May 14 in connection with a discrimination lawsuit against Bloomberg LP to explore "how hands on" he really has been at the company, an attorney said *** TNPM *** Bloomberg, Amateur Pilot, Weighs In on Pilots' Conduct *** Gingerly, Dinkins Endorses Thompson *** Mark Green's Rose Garden Strategy Works *** Marist Poll: Good News For Bloomberg
The City COP STOP-AND-FRISKS RISE *** FANS CAN $WING FOR THE SEATS
YANKS HAWK $1,500 FURNITURE, 10G SOD AND OTHER STADIUM RELICS IN BID TO 'STRIKE' GOLD *** CITY PUSH TO PLUG IN DRIVERS The city is going to survey 2,000 motorists to determine whether it can induce drivers to switch to electric cars *** WHIZZES WANDED STUY HS CHECK ON WOULD-BE CHEATS *** SCARED BAR BOSS LIED IMETTE 'COVER-UP' LINK TO PREPPY SLAY *** COURT PARADE OF BIKE ACTIVISTS *** SCHRAGER PLANS MIDTOWN HOTEL *** Renters feel foreclosure pain
From Gothamist *** City Island Bridge replacement is big bucks *** FAA Doesn't Need to Coddle New York *** Bandits targeting Brooklyn businesses *** Yanks selling old park, monitoring new... *** Budget Cuts Run Deep for the City's Seniors *** Silverstein, Port Authority committed to WTC redesign *** Cyclists Vs. Cops: City Sued Over "Parade Rules" at Critical Mass *** Budget Ad Space in Vacant Storefronts: Still Illegal *** Is This Your Stop? Pull the Cord, Like Old Times *** Police on Pace to Make Record Number of Stops in ’09 *** Killing Reminded Bar’s Manager of ‘Preppie Murder’ at His Family's Bar *** Made in N.Y.C. Specialty Lights *** Bulk sales of condos spreading *** Tenants lobby for rent reductions *** 45% of NY’ers say they don’t feel so hot *** Shrink suing city says hidden-camera claim hurt bizShrink suing city says hidden-camera claim hurt biz *** Faulty gadgets foiling city's bio-threat project *** Gonzalez: Citibank leaves Brooklyn YWCA in limbo *** City foreclosures barely rise after moratorium ends *** 8,000 got e-mails, calls and texts on aborted flyover *** Reading facts and figures: School analyzed data to tailor teaching *** TNPM *** NY1 Exclusive: LaHood Promotes Congestion Pricing, End To Airport Auction Slots *** Secretary Clinton Speaks At NYU Graduation *** Prince Harry To Make NYC Appearance *** Police Search For Gang Of Brooklyn Robbers
Albany ASSEMBLY VOTE OKS GAY NUPS *** FAVE FOR MTA CHIEF OFF TRACK
Marc Shaw's chances of taking over as MTA chief appear to be derailed *** Will LI secede from NY? *** N.Y. Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill *** Albany Moves to Enable Extended Jobless Benefits *** Push on in NY senate for rent reg bills *** Last moments before Buffalo crash revealed *** The state Court of Appeals rules that police cannot place a GPS device on vehicles without a search warrant *** The achievement gap between white and minority students is narrowing in New York *** Gov. David Paterson unveils a partnership with GE that will bring 350 jobs to the capital region *** Farmerworkers and advocates came up to Albany to advocate for legislation to give them rights equal to other New York state workers *** The Same-Sex Marriage Debate; Titone Invokes His Mother, Hikind Invokes God *** The State Assembly approved same-sex marriage legislation, again, by a vote of 89-52 *** Absent yesterday and unable to vote were Karim Camara, David Gantt, Carl Heastie, Marge Markey, Grace Meng and Marc Molinaro (who, for one, had a very good reason) *** Carl Heastie, Hakeem Jeffries, Diane Savino, Kevin Parker and Bill Perkins have all signed on to support a bill that would take away Bloomberg’s control over the Panel for Education Policy, weakening mayoral control of schools *** Cindy Adams gives an overview of Lloyd Constantine’s book about Eliot Spitzer *** Opponents to marriage are trying to get their voices heard in Albany. Opponents to marriage are trying to get their voices heard in Albany. Opponents to marriage are trying to get their voices heard in Albany *** Newsday calls on state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to audit the new MTA bailout plan *** Jacob Gershman says New York's Medicaid system is a safety net for providers, not patients *** How Will Taxi Surcharge Actually Be Collected And Enforced? *** Gowanus Canal Destined to Smell *** Paterson’s veto message for open meetings expansion
President Obama Obama's court pick to be shaped by his experience *** White House memo challenges EPA finding on warming *** A New Era Is Spoken For Obama host an evening of poetry and jazz to "celebrate the power of words." *** Obama Eyes Bank Pay Overhaul; Curb Compensation Across Finance... *** Obama summons Arab, Israeli leaders to D.C. *** Obama and Autos: What is His Exit Plan? - Kevin McDonald, Detroit News *** Souter's Replacement Must Be a Woman - Ruth Marcus, Washington Post *** Big Labor's Investment in Obama Pays Off - Michelle Malkin, New York Post *** Jimmy Carter, with Lessons From the '70s - Dana Milbank, Washington Post *** Obama's General, Obama's War - USA Today *** Obama in full-court press for IMF *** VIDEO: White House poetry slam *** Notre Dame students plan boycott *** Gibbs: Lobbying won't help *** Rangel, Pelosi at the White House
A team of congressional readers have arrived to meet with Obama on health care ***
Obama Targets Bankers' Pay *** Fed Knew of AIG Bonuses *** Obama Reconsiders Abuse Photos *** Obama seeks “empathy” in his Supreme Court appointment *** Anti-abortion advocates will protest Obama’s commencement speech Sunday *** Rep. Maurice Hinchey said it's "extremely likely" Congress will restore funding for the presidential helicopter project underway at Lockheed Martin in Owego *** RELEASING PHOTOS WOULD 'FURTHER INFLAME ANTI-AMERICAN OPINION'
National Safety board probes pilots' hiring, training *** Report: One-fourth of overseas votes go uncounted *** Tillman's parents want general's record reviewed *** Broader Mission for McChrystal General picked to lead the war in Afghanistan has succeeded at a narrow but critical assignment *** Panel Finds Pilots Broke Rules Before Fatal Crash *** Stimulus Aid Trickles Out, but States Seek Quicker Relief *** Counseling Was Ordered for Soldier in Iraq Shooting *** G.O.P. Rivals in New Jersey Tussle in First TV Debate *** The Supreme Court’s Hostility to the Voting Rights Act If there was ever a time for the Supreme Court to defer to the political branches, it is when Congress is protecting voting rights in the exact way the Constitution directs it to *** Stimulus Aid Trickles Out, but States Seek Quicker Relief *** U.S. Considers Financial Pay Rules *** Last moments before Buffalo crash revealed *** Cheerios not as heart-healthy as cereal box claims, says FDA *** Most overpriced U.S. cities *** States' Tax Collections Continue to Fall *** U.S. Median House Price Declines 14% *** Opinion: Tax Hikes Could Kill Recovery *** Goldman Takes Heat for Conflicts at Whitehall *** AIG Trustees Pledge Change *** Five Convicted in Fla. Terror Case *** Father: Army “Broke” My Son *** Del. Moves to Legalize Sports Betting
Congress Tax health care to pay for health care? *** Social Security and Medicare finances worsen *** Top Democrat calls for probe of interrogations *** Alarm Sounds on Social Security *** Recession Drains Social Security and Medicare *** With Support, Congress Seizes on Credit Cards *** Reminders on Health Reform The only way to solve the fiscal problems of the big entitlement programs is to slow the relentless rise in the underlying health care costs, NYT Ed *** Soaring Costs, Not Universal Coverage, Drive Health-Care Debate *** Climate Change Bill Breakthrough Announced By Waxman, Markey *** Democrats: CIA is Out to Get Us - Manu Raju, Politico *** 'Thought Crimes' Bill Advances - Nat Hentoff, RealClearPolitics *** Congress Must Resist Obama's Agenda - San Diego Union-Tribune *** In Florida, The Senate Race is On - Tallahassee Democrat *** Republicans: Pelosi could have objected *** Murtha rival says aide threatened him *** Reid could get a free ride *** Not your mother's social secretary *** In shift, Cornyn endorses Crist *** Dems edge closer to climate bill deal *** Smokers, drinkers to carry tax burden? *** On credit card reform, where's Biden? *** Friendly fire: Labor targets McGovern *** Democrats in the Senate will relax a House emissions bill *** Lieberman, Graham Will Offer Amendment on Prisoner Photos *** Graham threatens to pull Pelosi into torture probe
GOP Analysis: Cheney attacks may not help GOP *** Liz Cheney: My Dad Is Just Like Al Gore *** Governor's Senate Bid Renews Optimism in GOP *** Republican govs plan 'Tea Party sequel'... *** Rogue Diva of Doom Just as the Republicans are trying to get kinder and gentler, Dick Cheney has popped out of his dungeon to carry on his nasty campaign of fear and loathing, Dowd, NYT *** Dick Cheney: Why So Chatty All of a Sudden? *** Palin Memoir Coming Out Next Year *** Give It Up, Newt! - Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive *** GOP to rebrand Dems as 'socialists' *** Which party is Cheney helping? *** Cheney: 'A giant conspiracy' on Iran *** Angry tech lobby courted by GOP
Wall Street Mess MORGAN, GOLDMAN NOT STRESSED BY THE PROFITS *** FORD, GM SINK ON SHARE SELLING PLANS *** BANK GETS LAST RESORT *** Tomorrow, AIG Plans to Bring It *** AIG Bonuses Known Months Before Firestorm *** Suit eyes $5B in false profits earned via Madoff scam *** Intel Fined Record $1.45 Billion in Antitrust Case *** Records Show Billions Withdrawn Before Madoff Arrest *** Trustee sues money manager in Madoff case *** NYT: 'Relatively little' stimulus spending so far... *** Return of the Trustbusters After eight years of taking the side of Big Business, the Justice Department’s antitrust division is getting back to fighting for the interests of consumers, NYT Ed *** Toyota Too Is Looking to Cut Costs *** China Asset Said to Be Sold by Bank of America *** Robin Hood Event Adjusts to Tough Times *** Retail sales drop unexpectedly in AprilRetail sales drop unexpectedly in AprilRetail sales drop unexpectedly in April *** Will GM leave Detroit? *** U.S. Considers Bank Pay Overhaul *** Charges, Weak Sales Hit Macy's *** Terms Set for Fiat to Boost Chrysler Stake *** Chrysler and the Rule of Law - Todd Zywicki, Wall Street Journal *** The Banking System Needs to Change - Martin Wolf, Financial Times *** Boomers Can No Longer Afford to Retire - Randall Forsyth, Barron's *** AIG trustee aids offshore hedge funds *** Higher taxes, weaker businesses *** Freddie Mac loses $10 billion in the first quarter of 2009 *** GM, Chrysler to cut up to 3,000 dealers... *** WATCH: Intern Sets Up Offshore Tax Haven In Panama *** If Consumers Won't Kick-Start the Economy, What Will?
International Analysis: For Israel, Iranian threat has priority *** Pope Benedict XVI Calls for Palestinian Homeland *** Pakistani Commandos Target Taliban Bases *** Cargo Ships Treading Water Off Singapore, Waiting for Work *** Understanding Iran's Deterrence Game *** Megacities Threaten To Choke India *** Pakistan Raids Taliban Stronghold *** China, Hong Kong Confirm New Flu Cases *** Sri Lankan Civilians Used as 'Cannon Fodder' *** The Pope and Islam - Washington Times
Media & New Tech DESMOND'S REALLY NOT OK! PUBLISHER SLASHES STAFF TO STEM $1M/WEEK LOSSES *** AP source: Geffen bid for New York Times stake *** NYTimes launches new Web feature *** MEDIA BAILOUT BEGINS: State OKs tax cut for newspapers... *** Pay-Per-Click Web Advertisers Combat Costly Fraud ***Unofficial Software Incurs Apple’s Wrath *** Unprecedented Limitations Bring End Of An Era To Cannes Coverage *** Google may give Web surfers fewer reasons to click *** Google banned from gathering street-level images in Greece *** Microsoft Plans 3-D Camera for Xbox *** TNPM *** David Geffen Wants To Turn NYT Into A Nonprofit: Newsweek *** Craigslist Dropping "Erotic Services" From Site *** No Newspaper Is Worth Saving—in Its Current Form *** Geffen Sought Stake in NY Times *** The Not-So-Bookish Savor Twit Lit
People and Places LEFT CAN'T STAND RIGHT-THINKING BEAUTY ANTI-GAY-NUPS BEAUTY KEEPS CROWN *** Brooke Astor Had Breakfast in Bed Every Day *** Best of the Buskers in Times Square *** Producer Is Chosen to Lead Arts Endowment *** Presbyterian Church Is Newest Landmark *** TRUMP ON MISS CALIFORNIA'S GAY MARRIAGE COMMENTS: SAME AS OBAMA... *** HITWISE ONLINE NEWS RACE: YAHOO! OVER CNN; GOOGLE JUMPS OVER MSNBC... MORE... *** Eminem, Jimmy Kimmel Team Up To Treat Laid-Off Detroit Autoworkers *** Big Town, Big Picture: Port Authority Bus Terminal *** Oprah to Duke students: I love my private jet *** Pacino to Star in ‘Blink’ *** OH, FRANKIE! UNIVERSAL, Marty Scorsese Making Sinatra Film...
Blog Report Residents want to triple size of Brooklyn historic district {Brownstoner} *** City Kidnaps Coney Island {Noticing New York} *** Congressional Scuttlebutt: Israel To Challenge Gillibrand {The Albany Project} *** Elephants Slam Patterson On Gays {Urban Elephant} *** 65 Commercial Street: Still Not A Park {Brooklyn11211} *** Church Avenue Artisans Repair To Recycle {Caton Ave.com} *** AY Affordable Housing Promises: Watch ‘Em Renege {Atlantic Yards Report}*** SEC & Madoff: What They Did In The Dark {Anderson@Large}
