Friday, April 23, 2010

How NYC Became the World's Banking Capital

Breaking News Zarein Ahmedzay, charged in Najibullah Zazi subway bomb terror plot, to plead guilty: report

Banking and Politics
As Old As the Republic

Banking and politics have always been joined a the hip. The proposed 50 billion bailout fund will strengthen that connection. Wall Street likes that part of the reform package, because the government grantee will make it easier for them to borrow money and make deals. Congress like it because the more control it has will no doubt lead to more senators like Dodd getting special treatment from banks like countrywide.

It is important to understand that the intimate relationship between politics and banking policy is not new, nor is its economic influence now unique. Since the nation's beginnings banking regulations have been intimately connected to politics, and the politics of banking is a high stakes game not well understood by the public. It is clearly not understood by today's New York elected officials who sat like pawns watching Obama propose changes which will result in less financial jobs and taxes for local government.

A review of New York's economic history and banking policy from 1784 to the Civil War clearly shows that banks and banking policy were central to the state's economic development (and closely entwined with politics). It also shows that strong armed politics by elected officials and Tammany Hall in the early days of American resulted in New York becoming the banking capital of the world.

In New York City, the intimate relationship between banks and politics began when the Bank of New York was chartered in 1784. Founded by Alexander Hamilton, the bank was the only one in the City until 1799. Hamilton used the bank for his political ambitions as it furthered his Federalist Party and the conservative economic polices it espoused. Merchants who disagreed with Hamilton's political point of view ran the risk of having their loans called in at election time.


The Federalist chartering of the First Bank of the United States in 1791 had a profound effect on the economy. It also increased the influence of the wealthy in the politics of the 1790's. Just as important to NY was the chartering in 1799 of the Bank of Manhattan by Aaron Burr. It was the City's second major bank and a direct rival to the Bank of New York and its Federalist policies. The bank was chartered to bring water to the City, in an effort to reduce the perils of the Yellow Fever epidemics.

The Bank of Manhattan ultimately became instrumental in the rise of Tammany Hall as a political force and was also an important factor in the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800. In fact, Jefferson's election had the effect of breaking the Federalist's control of New York's commercial, financial and political institutions. The number of banks rose from 28 in 1800 to 89 in 1811. By 1816 it was up to 250. Since the only currency other than gold and silver was bank notes, a banking charter literally meant having a license to print money. The circulation of more notes from newly chartered banks enlarged the monetary supply, creating capital for an expanding economy - all of which was important to the City's economic growth. The capital for building the Erie Canal came from New York City's banks. In fact, the largest initial purchaser of Erie Bonds was the Bank for Saving of New York institutions. The state completion of the canal in 1825 was the watershed event in New York's rise as the world's premier financial center.

Nationally, banking policy had an even more profound effect on politics and the country than it did at the state level. Hamilton's First National Bank was rechartered as the Second Bank of the U.S. in 1816 by President Madison on the grounds that it was the only hope for restoring U.S. currency after the War of 1812. Both the First and Second Banks of the U.S. were private banks, privately owned and had exclusive rights to federal deposits, and thusly functioned like the Federal Reserve - controlling the money supply and the flow of credit. The Second Bank continued to push both conservative policy and politics.

President Andrew Jackson like all traditional Jeffersonian Democrats, opposed large, centrally controlled financial institutions. Thus Jackson and his supporters charged that the Second Bank was a tool of the moneyed aristocracy and was intent on oppressing working people. Jackson's veto of the Second Bank's recharter became a major issue in the 1832 election. Support from the working classes including Tammany Hall helped lead Jackson to re-election. Jackson's veto of the recharter and the subsequent withdrawal of federal deposits had broad repercussions. One effect was to shift the financial center of the country from Philadelphia to New York, where it remains to this day. A second and more far-reaching effect was to cause the Bank of the United States to contract the nation's money supply, causing widespread economic panic and a depression.

In contrast to federal banking policy, New York's policy was much more far-sighted and intelligent. The Erie Canal was financially successful beyond its most enthusiastic bankers' wildest expectations. The $7 million borrowed to build the canal was quickly repaid and shrewdly deposited, unlocking banks with a view to furthering economic development across the state. Additionally, in 1839, New York set up the Safety Deposit Fund which all state banks were forced to join. The fund insured depositors against bank failures and fund officials had the right to review the solvency of New York's Banks. This was the forerunner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and generally of state and federal banking regulations and legislation - the subject of today's controversy. These state regulations played a prominent role in the state's rise as the nation's financial center and in the prosperity this city has enjoyed until now.

Our congressional delegation allowed deregulation to get out of hand during their watch, turning public opinion against Wall Street. Today they sit at Cooper Union without ideas, powerless to fight a president who is riding public opinion, making changes that will hurt their state. Financial Reform or New York Deform?

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SEC'S Porn Work
As economy crumbled, financial watchdogs perused x-rated sites Shocking memo details depravity of senior SEC officials * Senior SEC staffers spent hours at work looking at porn websites (LA Times)

Espada’s Legacy May Be Soundview and Sushi * Staffers with ties to Espada subpoenaed * The state Senate gets a subpoena from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in reference to the overlap between Pedro Espada Jr.’s legislative staff and his Soundview HealthCare operation. (TU) * It is what bullies do,” a defiant Espada said of Cuomo’s probe. “We’re fighting a bully here.” * Espada Vows To Go After "Prince Of Darkness" Cuomo

Espada Is Bedeviled, By FBI, IRS, NYSAG, Sampson Undisturbed (Henry Stern, NY Civic)

What does it matter when he announces, he got it lockedCuomo bobs and weaves on kick-off question

Pay to Play Bruno The feds want ex-Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to do more than eight years behind bars.


City Council and the Slush Fund Cover-Up
Council hiding its pork from de Blasio True News says the cover-up is going on for years Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up * Member Item Slush Fund Cover Up * Controlling the News: What Happen to the Council Slush Fund Investigation?

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UFT Power, Perkins Target
Both the NYP and DN keep up the personal attacks against Perkins as part of their campaign to increase the number of charter schools and qualify for federal money. Charter-bashing Perkins says schools 'lack transparency' * Charter-bashing Perkins says schools 'lack transparency' * Schooling hypocrite politician (Peyser NYP) * The Perkins show trial (NYP Ed) * Education Reform Now responds to Perkins with ad * State Teachers’ Union * Lunacy let loose: State Sen. Bill Perkins' fixed panel finds charter schools guilty * Urges More Oversight of Charters(NYT) * Shouting degrades hearing on charter schools (DN) * Mayor: Perkins is "violently" against change

Judicial Corruption in New York
New York's judiciary is filled with cronyism and lacks reason and fairness (Victor Kovner)
Chosen in elections where few voters know the candidates,
Even Lobbyists Feel the Economic Pinch Special interest groups spent $167.8 million in 2009 lobbying lawmakers, the governor's office and state agencies -- $6.1 million, or 3.5 percent, less than in 2008.

New York Economic Melt Down LG Richard Ravitch met with the New York congressional delegation and emerged convinced there will be “no Washington bailout” for the cash-strapped state * NYC OTB Layoffs Begin

MTA's Train Wreck Budget $9 B.! M.T.A. Has Hole in Its Five-Year Plan You Could Drive a Train Through

NYT Says No Real Winners in NY1 Trial
NY1 Is Cleared in Lawsuit but Feels Spotlight’s Glare (NYT) * Brooklyn jury sides with TV station (NYP) * NY1 newswoman's harassment suit quickly rejected by jury (DN)

Crime Wave Crime spree hits subways

Law and Order Obama admonishes Wall Street for role in economic turmoil * Cops seize 150 guns in B'klyn bust * NYPD Critical Mass push cop incriminated by own sergeant * NYPD arrests 2 in car service driver's death * Undercover cop removes more than 150 guns from streets * Colombia's top drug lord indicted by Manhattan prosecutors * Teacher accused of molesting female students got slap on wrist for 2002 incident

Terrorism Suspect In Subway Terror Plot To Plead Guilty * Government Says Al Qaeda Ordered Bombing of Subways


Plan for 34th St. Puts Buses and Feet First

New Yorkers Denny Chin and Lorette Lynch were confirmed by the US Senate to federal judicial posts.

After 6 years against Atlantic Yards, Daniel Goldstein takes the money and leaves Gonzalez, DN)

Sen. Chuck Schumer is at odds with President Obama over Israel.