Here Comes the Big Guns
Why Politics Might Undo the New York Economy
What might be called the “Californiaization” of New York – the growing tendency of our political system to make promises in spending programs that it cannot pay for with tax increases or spending cuts. What’s worrisome this year isn’t economic decline but political dysfunction. Increasing the new generation of New York elected officials, Bill de Blasio, Speaker Quinn and others see their role as organizing the public (most believe for the 2013 mayoral contest) rather than make the decisions that would put the state on a sound financial footing and encourage business growth which was the way New York become the economic powerhouse they now play in. The political forces that generate deficits are just too strong: a Democratic Party in hock to public-employee unions, Republicans and Democratic addicted to lobbyists and special interest money. A mistaken belief by the mayor and others that development is the only road to growth and progress for New York. Has any leader in New York been to Paris with all it old building? Do the new leaders of New York think the city is the new AIG – spending money extravagantly on the way up, and then extending the tin cup to Washington when the bubble bursts? The year the state used federal money intended to create jobs to increase it spending. Last month Albany borrowed billions from the fund from next year when the programs is scheduled to end to plug the budget gap in this years budget. What Albany leaders want is a federal bailout, which would free them of the consequences of overspending. It’s a classic case of what economists call “moral hazard” – in that the bailouts would allow the irresponsible behavior to continue, rather than forcing a halt. Now we have pols protesting the actions of government we elected them to run. Why not the public does not hold them accountable for their actions. In reality they are protesting their own failure. De Blasio-WFP pols in alliance to organized the public to protest the actions of city government. An Uneasy Feeling Our society is in deep trouble and the fixes currently in the works are in no way adequate to the enormous challenges we’re facing * How Wall Street Lobbyists Bought Washington - Mother Jones
Quinn's MTA Red Herring
The MTA was created in part to take the heat of of pols for fare increase and service cuts. Last month Albany cut $140 million to the MTA to balance it budget. Now we have both Paterson and Speaker Quinn attacking the MTA for cutting bus passes to students. Governor, MTA don't put our children first Speaker Quinn (leaders students in protest march against the MTA) * Quinn: "I think Project S.O.S. is a terrific statement by PIX about their support for public school students. I endorse it and I welcome PIX's assistance in saving the students MetroCard." * Save Our Subways! NYers Protest MTA Cuts * Students, Politicians Protest MTA Cuts (NY1)
Paterson Since the Gov has positioned himself against the clown show in Albany his very bright handlers are very excited about his rise in public opinion. Now they are going all out with their attack on Albany in Wednesday State of the State message - he is running against corruption. Paterson to Seek Overhaul in Ethics, Term Limits and Campaign Funding - NYTimes.com * The state of the State of the State * The speech is a high-risk matter for Paterson — and we’re just talking about getting to the chamber on time. (TU) * The governor’s campaign mounts a new fund-raising plea by castigating unnamed opponents in the pockets of special interests. (DN) *** The 'Reform Albany Act,' Explained * Paterson no example Paterson Won't Unilaterally Disarm *** Paterson Gets Tough with Lawmakers over Ethics (WINS)
New York Post The papers hard hitting attacks have become sharper and more personal. UFT charter chicanery Why has the United Federation of Teachers placed itself squarely between New York taxpayers and $700 million in federal school aid? Because it hates charter schools -- and it doesn't care about taxpayers, anyway.
"The day that citizens need the government's aid to petition the government is the day to pronounce democracy dead." NYP on de Blasio
NYP Political Indoctrination ACORN's City Hall branch The Constitution's framers held as inviolable citizens' right to petition government for a redress of grievances. So what does it say about rookie Public Advocate Bill de Blasio's opinion of himself that he thinks New Yorkers need his help to wave placards on City Hall steps? De Blasio's community "partners" the WFP are the same lefty grabbers who've been picking the city dry in the first place. De Blasio-WFP pols in alliance
Spin of the Day Rose Tourist Color Glasses We are losing visitors because of the economy (about 4% less than last year) but were not losing as much as everyone else. The media celebrates that New York as become the number one tourist destination in the nation. What they don't say is because of the reduction in visitors less tax dollars are going into the state and city budgets. Overall, tourist spending fell to $28 billion, down from $32.1 billion the year before. Apple a tour de force Tops US in visitors * NYC tourism fell less than forecast in 2009 *Mayor Sticking by Tourism Projections Despite Dropoff in 2009 *Looking at Tourist Numbers, Positively * Drop In Tourism Bittersweet For City More real estate spin Prices stayed about flat but the sale of a few more apartments in the last quarter than the flat sales market Early this years is a sign of optimism? Sales Spur Optimism in Manhattan Real Estate With all the empty apartment nearby in the new towers and a few miles away on Flatbush Avenue it is hard to see how this project can succeed without a ton of government subsidies Big Plans for Old Sugar Refinery Face Review (NYT) * Manhattan condo, co-op sales climb at end of last yearMan0hattan's beaten-down housing market stabilized at the end of 2009, but worries still loom (NYDN) * Pending-Home Sales Tumbled in November
$200 Million Least of Our Problems It is not amazing that WBCS Pablo Guzmán got this out of Morgenthau it show you how out of touch the New York press is to a great story. The most experienced prestigious prosecutor in the nations says Morgenthau: 9/11 Trial In NYC 'A Huge Mistake' and nobody notices? *Security for 9/11 trial would cost $200M a year: sources The amount is nearly triple the $75M Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, initially estimated, sources say * Obama owes New York: Feds must pay every security penny for foolish terror trial (DN Ed)
$200 Million Least of Our Problems It is not amazing that WBCS Pablo Guzmán got this out of Morgenthau it show you how out of touch the New York press is to a great story. The most experienced prestigious prosecutor in the nations says Morgenthau: 9/11 Trial In NYC 'A Huge Mistake' and nobody notices? *Security for 9/11 trial would cost $200M a year: sources The amount is nearly triple the $75M Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, initially estimated, sources say * Obama owes New York: Feds must pay every security penny for foolish terror trial (DN Ed)
Gov of La Mancha Albany $queeze & freeze Gov urged: Nix raises in fiscal crisis *Budget advice: Slash pork barrel spending, freeze pay of state government workers** Fixing what's broke *** Critics drill Gov. Paterson on water plan *** Charter School Cap May Decide Fate Of Funds * Pedro park outrage Espada's Mercedes at hydrant *A blogger observes that Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. parks wherever he wants, and has a police placard to make that happen. (BoogieDowner) ** Advocates lose six MTA board seats *** Andrew Cuomo squeezed an $11 million settlement out of H&R Block *** Cash in, and then what? Feds find problems with how state Education Department is set to track stimulus funds *** Albany seeks review of operations Facing state aid cuts, Mayor Jennings calls for greater financial efficiency *** The origin of Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr.'s police parking permit remains a mystery *** CSEA ads: We’re not the problem *** Skelos on Monserrate: 'The Vote Will Be Expulsion' *** Skelos: The Public Cares About Taxes, Not Ethics *** Silver Welcomes Paterson’s Support of Public Financing *** Paterson's ethics proposal would clip Tom DiNapoli.
2010 Election Even in G.O.P., Lazio’s Bid for Governor Is Hard Sell *El Diario says Steve Levy's bid for governor is "frightening."*Steve Levy sounds up for just about anything. (PolitickerNY)* Starting a real New York conversation by Charlie King Discouraging debate, discussion and candidate participation is exactly the wrong approach to take when times are this challenging 2013 Thompson Plans His Political Comeback For 2013
Inside City Hall Charters 'better' at readin' & 'rithmetic *** Drug flier OK: Mike * Public Officials Attack City’s Heroin Pamphlet** Autopsy for Au Bon Pain worker who died after EMTs balked *** Vance Sworn In As New Manhattan DA *** Two-term City Councilman Simcha Felder, who successfully pushed for setting a five-minute grace period for parking tickets and oversaw last year's contentious hearings about extending term limits, is resigning from his seat and taking a new job in city government, according to a knowledgeable source *Liu's Leaders* Liu's Appointees* EX-Nets star Williams likely to be charged with DUI in crash*** City Board of Elections commissioners are scheduled today to choose between Dominion Voting and Election Systems & Software to win a $40 million contract for new voting machines *** Deluge of pests enrages 2 Brooklyn neighborhoods: City confirms they're tops in mice, roaches *** Bloomberg: Newark terror scare should comfort air travellers (Updated)
Pay to Play Voting Machines Machines 'elected' *** Vote-machine lobbyist was in 'rig' trouble
Dumbing Down New York Girl, 5, left on icy bus *5-year-old left on icy bus -- as matron, driver sit in diner ** E-Mail Hoax Raises Hopes of a Day Off *** Brooklyn teacher sells kids book about Satan
More City News New mouse house for Times Square *'Disneyfication' Finds a New Base in Times Sq.** Census Push Kicks Off In Times Square *Neighborhood not sweet on Domino condo project** Brooklyn Gets New Transit Pavilion
Law and Order 'Phony-detective rapist' nabbed after 2nd attack *** Gem honcho a deadbeat *** Man Accused of Second Rape on Same Manhattan Rooftop *** WATCH: Vegas Gunman Upset Over Social Security Lawsuit *** Slam dunk on guns: No star treatment for pistol-packing NBA hotshot Gilbert Arenas (DNED) *** Blacks Lose Their Majority in Harlem
*** Mentally disturbed man accused of killing 9-year-old boy feared he would go ballistic, sister says *** New York Murder Rate Hits All-Time Low (Huff Post) *** Prosecutors: Boy Slain in Harlem Stabbed 10 Times
Terrorism Behind Afghan Bombing, an Agent With Many Loyalties *** In Yemen, U.S. Faces Leader Who Puts Family First *** Chaos and Inquiry Follow Security Breach at Newark Airport
*** Getting hip to JFK danger ***Guard in Newark snafu facing the ax *** We're on jihad: US 'plotters' Five young Washington-area men captured in Pakistan claimed yesterday that they were holy warriors, not terrorists *** Brit PM rips Muslim march *** 9/11 fiend loses fed appeal *Court Upholds Conviction in 9/11 Case**Man cave is now a jail cell ***New Air Security Checks From 14 Nations to U.S. Draw Criticism ***Yemen Says It Killed Militants as Three More Embassies Shut *** Double agent posed as Qaeda defector, took 7 CIA lives ***Tarmac and feather them: All those responsible for the Newark TSA snafu must pay (DN Ed) *** Why We Read Abdulmutallab His Miranda Rights - Michael Kinsley, NYT *** Catching Terrorists: Profiling is Not the Answer - The Guardian *** Appeals Court Upholds Conviction Of 9/11 Conspirator ***Jordanian Bomber of CIA Base Deceived Family (NYT) *** Yemeni officials, fearing backlash, play down partnership with US *** Britain to set up airport body scanners this month Reuters *** Cuba Doesn't Belong on New Screening List (Robinson Wash Post) *** Child Porn Fears Block Under 18s From Full Body Scanners *** CIA bomber a trusted informant (wASH POST) *** Security doubled at Newark airport two days after breach *** Cut the Political Correctness on Terror - Tunku Varadarajan, Daily Beast *** Beware Anti-Muslim Hysteria - Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive *** Why Americans Back Harsh Interrogations - Tom Maguire, JustOneMinute *** Torture-Loving Conservative Elites - Matthew Yglesias, Think Progress *** Taking Terrorism Seriously - Roger Pilon, Cato @ Liberty *** Yemen's Ambassador Blames "Al Qaeda Central" *** Security Cameras Not Working During Newark Airport Security Breach
White House Obama Says Failed Attack Could Have Been Disrupted *** Grim Obama says terror attack 'dots' not connected *** Bombing suspect provided 'actionable intelligence,' White House says CNN ***
Gibbs: U.S. Won't Tranfer More Gitmo Detainees To Yemen *** This Year’s Housing Crisis To prevent further declines in the housing market, the White House should focus on job creation and loan modifications that reduce a mortgage’s principal balance (NY Ed) *** Pakistan Fears Influx Of Militants Caused By U.S. Surge In Afghanistan *** Obama To Announce Airline Security Boost President To Address Public After Meeting Senior Security Officials For Briefing On Watch List, Screening Reviews *** A Third Party Crasher Is Reported *** Third Uninvited Guest at State Dinner *** Cohen: Obama is a leader with no cause *** Does Obama Get the Terror War? - William Murchison, Dallas Morning News *** Time for Accountability at the White House - Sally Quinn, Washington Pos *** Obama Must Do What It Takes to Fix Economy - John Judis, New Republic *** First It Was Delusion. Now It is Denial - Charles Hurt, New York Post *** First It Was Delusion. Now It is Denial - Charles Hurt, New York Post *** America Is Losing the Free World - Gideon Rachman, Financial Times *** President Obama hopes to get some things straight with his national security team today. (Politico) *** The U.S. is reluctant to release Yemeni detainees from Gitmo because it believes Yemen has almost no ability to monitor them. (NPR) *** U.S. Reopens Yemen Embassy *** Obama's Office Gets Extreme Makeover *** White House calls for regulators to increase wireless Internet access in U.S. - washingtonpost.com *** Pitfalls await US in fight with al Qaeda in Yemen *** Audit Criticizes Justice Dept’s Threat-Response Program - Washington Post*** Intel Agencies Reported on Threat of Bombs Under Clothing - Newsweek*** White House marshals resources to complete health reform Reuters *** After a Rotten Decade, Obama's Remarkable Year *** Obama's C-Span Problem - Tom Bevan, RealClearPolitics
Congress Staff Quits After Ala. Congressman Switches to G.O.P. *** Rangel: Health Care Conference Will Be 'Small' *** Dems to Craft ObamaCare Behind Closed Doors? - Andrew Malcolm, LAT *** Hiding Health Bills Behind Closed Doors - Washington Times *** Make 2010 Another Historic Year for Health Care - Des Moines Register *** C-SPAN Challenges Congress to Open Health Care Talks to TV Coverage *** GOP Likely to Pick up 21 Seats *** Democrats Considering Health Care-Immigration Deal To Overcome Key Sticking Point *** Democrats begin work to finalize health bill Houston Chronicle *** Watergate Babies Dominating Health Care Endgame *** Byron Dorgan To Retire, Not Seek Re-Election *** US House Leaders Back Off Public Health Insurance Option
Gibbs: U.S. Won't Tranfer More Gitmo Detainees To Yemen *** This Year’s Housing Crisis To prevent further declines in the housing market, the White House should focus on job creation and loan modifications that reduce a mortgage’s principal balance (NY Ed) *** Pakistan Fears Influx Of Militants Caused By U.S. Surge In Afghanistan *** Obama To Announce Airline Security Boost President To Address Public After Meeting Senior Security Officials For Briefing On Watch List, Screening Reviews *** A Third Party Crasher Is Reported *** Third Uninvited Guest at State Dinner *** Cohen: Obama is a leader with no cause *** Does Obama Get the Terror War? - William Murchison, Dallas Morning News *** Time for Accountability at the White House - Sally Quinn, Washington Pos *** Obama Must Do What It Takes to Fix Economy - John Judis, New Republic *** First It Was Delusion. Now It is Denial - Charles Hurt, New York Post *** First It Was Delusion. Now It is Denial - Charles Hurt, New York Post *** America Is Losing the Free World - Gideon Rachman, Financial Times *** President Obama hopes to get some things straight with his national security team today. (Politico) *** The U.S. is reluctant to release Yemeni detainees from Gitmo because it believes Yemen has almost no ability to monitor them. (NPR) *** U.S. Reopens Yemen Embassy *** Obama's Office Gets Extreme Makeover *** White House calls for regulators to increase wireless Internet access in U.S. - washingtonpost.com *** Pitfalls await US in fight with al Qaeda in Yemen *** Audit Criticizes Justice Dept’s Threat-Response Program - Washington Post*** Intel Agencies Reported on Threat of Bombs Under Clothing - Newsweek*** White House marshals resources to complete health reform Reuters *** After a Rotten Decade, Obama's Remarkable Year *** Obama's C-Span Problem - Tom Bevan, RealClearPolitics
Congress Staff Quits After Ala. Congressman Switches to G.O.P. *** Rangel: Health Care Conference Will Be 'Small' *** Dems to Craft ObamaCare Behind Closed Doors? - Andrew Malcolm, LAT *** Hiding Health Bills Behind Closed Doors - Washington Times *** Make 2010 Another Historic Year for Health Care - Des Moines Register *** C-SPAN Challenges Congress to Open Health Care Talks to TV Coverage *** GOP Likely to Pick up 21 Seats *** Democrats Considering Health Care-Immigration Deal To Overcome Key Sticking Point *** Democrats begin work to finalize health bill Houston Chronicle *** Watergate Babies Dominating Health Care Endgame *** Byron Dorgan To Retire, Not Seek Re-Election *** US House Leaders Back Off Public Health Insurance Option
Political Parties The Tea Party Teens The tea party movement is now more popular than either major party, and it may become a major force in American politics (Brooks NYT) *** Swing states may be on the move (LA Times) *** A Clunker of a Year - George Will, Newsweek *** The Tea Party Teens - David Brooks, New York Times *** For Liberalism, It's Hangover Time - Jonah Goldberg, USA Today *** Dems Should Stay Cool About 2010 - Froma Harrop, Providence Journal *** A Texas Tea Party activist catches heat for carrying *** GOP chief: Republicans 'screwed up' after Reagan a sign that uses the N-word but fails to spell it properly. (Washington Independent)
Wall Street BofA gagged *Ford sales surge 33 percent** How Visa, Using Card Fees, Dominates a Market *** Health Spending Rises in 2008, but at Slower Rate *** Kraft Offers More Cash in Cadbury Bid *** Divergent Views on Signs of Life in the Economy *** Tax Enforcers Intensify Focus on Multinationals *** Charlie Gasparino: Why A Business Writer Wishes Wall Street Wasn't Such A Big Story *** Judge rejects leniency for UBS whistleblower *** What U.S. Needs to Remain No. 1 Economy - Mort Kondracke, Roll Call *** The Card Game - How Visa, Using Fees Behind Its Debit Card, Dominates a Market - Series - NYTimes.com *** Gerald Levin is Sorry for Losing Shareholders' Billions *** California Lawyer Refuses To Pay BofA Credit Card, Threatens To Sue *** Buffett votes against Kraft bidCNNMoney.com *** Bankruptcies Rose in 2009 *** Drop in Home Sales Triggers Fear *** Ford Is Only U.S. Automaker to See December Sales Rise *** The Great Recession's Aftermath - Robert Samuelson, Newsweek
International In Transit: India Tightens Tourist Visa Rules *** Hate Begets Hate The U.S. and others should make clear to Uganda that if it passes a law imposing the death sentence for homosexual behavior, it will be shunned globally (NYT Ed) **Dubai opens world's tallest skyscraper * Dubai Opens a Tower to Beat All *** Burj Dubai: The New Pinnacle of Vanity - Stephen Bayley, Daily Telegraph ***Iceland Keeps U.K. in the Cold *** Zuma Weds Third First Lady *** Report: Ahmadinejad's Web Site Hacked *** Behind the headlines: The Palestinian refusal to negotiate peace *** 1,000 people homeless on Solomons after tsunami
Environment NY considers list of 85 chemicals to avoid buying *** C.I.A. Is Sharing Data With Climate Scientists *** Copenhagen's Dodged Bullet - Pete Du Pont, Wall Street Journal *** "We believe that it is too risky - that it is wrong - to subject not just the water supply of New York City, but of surrounding areas and the entire state, to something this risky," Representative Jerry Nadler told a rally at City Hall
Media and New Tech Google unwraps 'Nexus' phone *** Cablevision to cut Newsday's pay, vacations *** Jobs sets new 'iDay' *** Google Moves to Keep Its Lead as Web Goes Mobile *** LISTEN: Morgan Freeman Replaces Walter Cronkite On "CBS Evening News" Voiceover *** The Washington Post: R.I.P. *** Comcast Launches "TV Everywhere": Say Goodbye to Free Online Television *** Rush Limbaugh returning to the airwaves a week after hospital scare *** New Specs on Apple iSlate *** ESPN to Launch 3-D Network *** Blagojevich Joins Celebrity Apprentice *** Discovery, Imax, Sony To Form 3D TV Channel *** There's speculation Bloomberg will buy the Financial Times *** Kathy Griffin BANNED From CNN *** The Lincoln Fountain on Film (New Yorker) *** Online Journalism Makes Money, Mostly in Print *CBS Heads Into The New Year #1 In Primetime, Late Night and Daytime (in viewers)** The Apple Tablet Won’t Save David Carr*** Nexus One REVIEW (VIDEO, PHOTOS, UPDATE): The "Best Android Phone To Date" *** Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Leads ABC To Ratings Win" TV Ratings: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Leads ABC To Ratings Win *** Google's Sexy Nexus One Pushes Android to New Limits Wired News *** First Look: Ellen DeGeneres As 'American Idol' Judge
