TrueNews: Albany Hires Nancy Reagan's Fortune Teller to Understand Its Budget

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Albany Hires Nancy Reagan's Fortune Teller to Understand Its Budget

PM Breaking News Paterson report to come today: no charges expected (NYT)
* Kaye: Paterson Admin Uncooperative * Kaye Report Lands, Rebukes Gov’s ‘Errors Of Judgment’ * Paterson’s Attorney: Gov ‘Exonerated’ * Bloomberg Wields His Wallet to Push His Agenda (NYT) * Governor won't face criminal charges for aide's domestic-violence incident (NYP) * Arizona immigration law SB 1070 has most controversial parts blocked by federal judge (DN) * Paterson report is out * The state Senate's way of saying on vacation * The State Police Internal Affairs Bureau will be conducting its own investigation of the Kaye report findings. * The governor accused the Legislature of playing the victim by floating conspiracy theories about the release of the Kaye report. (Perhaps not the best choice of words).

Albany Hires Nancy Reagan's Fortune Teller to Understand Its' Budget
Fat Lady Sings End of the Empire State?

Albany’s Two Payrolls: One Is Anybody’s Guess (NYT) * It looks likely that tonight’s extraordinary session will be a gavel-in, gavel-out experience. * All told, the session will cost more than $100,000 in per diems and travel costs for lawmakers and staff * Late Budget's Ill Effects Spreading (WXXI)

DiNapoli warns of NY kaboom time$ The latest state budget is about to explode, state Comptroller

It is clear that this years budget was pasted together with spit and gum so incumbent pols could run for reelection with a state budget. With three budget modifications last year you would think the media would get the hint that dysfunctional Albany no long passes real budget but spin documents intended to protected * An entire segment of the public workforce may be blocked from an early retirement incentive the Paterson admnistration hopes will reduce the need for layoffs, according to an internal memo * Paterson spokesman: There's no negotiations! (UPDATED 2X)

What NY Pension Scandal?
DiNapoli Foe Sees Conflict in Donation Days before announcing a shareholder lawsuit against Bank of America, state Comptroller DiNapoli accepted campaign donations from a law firm hired to help litigate the case (WSJ)

Brain Drain at the Daily News?
Throw the bums out: Do-nothing Legislature is all ready to do nothing today (DN)

True News Has Been Reporting Impossible to 'Throw the Bums Out' if the Albany's election law makes it impossible because most of the leaders do not have opponents Daily News and the Rest of the Media Just Does Not Get It (True News)

Daily News Dudes Malcolm Smith is on vacation meaning he has no opposition in the September Democratic Primary. The state's election law protected a man under federal investigation for a number of issues? Question to the Daily News is Smith one of Meeks's pals one of the Bums You Want to Throw Out? * Q Poll: Election? What Election? * Koch's Latest Hit List

Election 2010 Embattled state Sen. Pedro Espada's job is safe - for the moment (DN) * Tom Robbins details the effort by wealthy charter school advocates to bounce anti-charter senators from office (Village Voice) * Another AG hopeful, Eric Dinallo, thinks his Democratic primary opponents are being too political * City Hall News and its sister publication, The Capitol, launched a new blog focused on the fight for control of the state Senate. * Buffalo developer gaining on Lazio for governor's nod (NYP)

Facebook Joseph Mercurio Cuomo still has a 69% to 17% approval rating, and tops either Republican contender more than 2 to 1 in the, beating Rick Lazio 56% to 26%, and topping Carl Paladino 55% to 25%. Lazio now leads Paladino in a Republican primary by only 39% to 23%. Q poll.

MTA Doomsday Plan More MTA $wipes at passengers (NYP) * M.T.A. to Propose New Fare Increases (NYT) * MTA Sets Fare Rise (WSJ) * MTA's 4-year doomsday plan: Fare and toll hikes coming in January * MTA To Unveil Fare, Toll Hike Plan (NY1) * MTA sets public hearings on latest fare hikes * MTA Unveils Fare Hike On "Unlimited" MetroCards; Approves Station Agent Layoffs (NY1)

What ever happen to Bloomberg campaign promise of free crosstown bus?

Bloomberg Calls for Free Crosstown Buses - City Room Blog ...

MTA KEEP SPINNING CRAP The Jay Train: M.T.A.’s Chief Wants a Faster, Cleaner, More Convenient System (Media Enablers, Inc)

City test scores decline after state officials change exam (NYP) * State DOE Tests Reveal Student Proficiency Way Down (NY1)

Trash tax in the works?

Bronx Zoo Down
Hot weather forces Bronx Zoo to slash prices to boost crowd

Man claiming ferry crash ruined dating life awarded $500K

Huey Long Rangel
Pol defiant as Dems demand he deal (NYP) * Bloomberg hints the party's over for Rangel's 80th-b'day gala (NYP)* Rangel Hopes To Reach Ethics Deal * Rangel's reckoning: Plea deal or not, House must air all of Charlie’s dirty laundry (DN Ed) * Time's Running Out For Rangel To Settle Ethics Case (NY1) * A lot of law firms are contributing political cash to Rangel, who is using the money to pay his legal bills.

Yassky (Taxi Commish) Campaigning for Comptroller Pushing Hybrid Taxis
Ruling Blocks Mayor’s Plan to Require Hybrid Taxis (NYT) * Cities Seek Clout for 'Green' Taxi Rules (WSJ)

Bloomberg’s Offshore Millions

The Video http://suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com/2010/07/mike-bloomberg-steve-rattner-move-some.html

Has Steve Ratner Naturalized the SEC?
No Action in 2 months shows the power of his friends
Prominent Democratic Bankroller Steven Rattner Faces Stiff SEC Penalties as Kickback Accusations Swirl (Opensecrets.org)

Terrorism NY Vote boosts G. Zero mosque (NYP) * Ground Zero's 'failed' judge (NYP Ed) * As Ramadan Nears, NYPD Alert for Signs of Anti-Muslim Harassment * Community Board 1 voted 24-to-11, with two abstentions, to recommend that the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission deny historic designation for the building at 45-47 Park Place, which is the site of the proposed mosque that has so many people so upset.

The New Cuomo Is From Jersey “Reform knows no party, and that’s why I’m here today,” said GOP Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano when asked why he was standing with Democratic AG Andrew Cuomo to call for a property tax cap. * A “savvy” GOP strategist explained Mangano’s motivation to Dan Janison thusly: “Because Cuomo’s going to win.” * Cuomo’s first ad of the gubernatorial campaign calls for voters to support his property tax cap proposal. (His aides refuse to say who made the spot)

And in other scandal news During a morning court hearing, State Supreme Court Judge Saliann Scarpulla said she intends to formally reject the attempt by Carl Andrews to quash a subpeona issued by the state Inspector General's Office, sources said. A written order is expected later today.

Sexy and Spys Sells Newspapers, Now Blogs
'Nice Jewish girl' Anna Fermanova busted for trying to smuggle night-vision scopes to Russia (DN)
NYP catches up with Fermanova story with an 8AM post on it online edition * 'Scope out' new Russia 'spy' hottie 'Anna 2' busted at JFK with night-vision gear (NYP)

Law and Order Foxy is out of 'order' (NYP) *Armed blobbery A 250-pound woman stuck up a Staples store on the Upper East Side * Hatred's toll: 209 anti-Semitic events in NY * New York to Pay $7 Million in Police Shooting Case (NYT) * Attacks on Latinos Prompt Added Patrols (WSJ) * Kin in alleged murder-suicide blaze sick of blame game (DN) * Spate of violence at Bronx intersection claims two lives (DN) * Teen was comatose after cop beatdown: mom (DN) * NYPD focusing on Staten Island bias attacks against Mexicans * City Pays More Than $7 Million In Sean Bell Civil Suit Settlement (NY1)

Rats overrun Manhattan park (video) (NYP)

Critic Paul Goldberger SLAMS Ground Zero Plans

Keeping Politics in the Shadows Corporations and unions can spend whatever they want on independent political ads, and now they can do so anonymously. (NYT Ed)

Media and New Tech Google Develops Facebook Rival (WSJ)

The View TV Show Welcomes Obama
Obama Trip to Test Wall Street Ties Obama heads to New York for a pair of high-dollar fund-raisers, one of which will be hosted by Anna Wintour. Obama faces a tough task given the many Wall Street executives who are put off by his rhetoric and policies. (WSJ) * Two wars, a crashed economy - and Obama's going on 'The View' (DN) * Ed Rendell: Obama On The View Like Going On Jerry Springer

Media and New Tech Leaking to Avert Disaster * Can WikiLeaks Save Journalism? (Wolff, Newser) *Apple of The Eye! CBS Officially Going Steady with Midtown West * New Front in WSJ vs. The Times — the Glossies! (Observer) * Fox News Dominates July, MSNBC Tops CNN... Top 30 Programs... * Best Leak Ever: Jon Stewart Mocks Media’s Aloof Reaction To Wikileaks Details (Mediaite) * Piers Morgan Tells Leno He “Can’t Possibly Comment On” CNN Job Speculation * The Shirley Sherrod Saga Was Cable News’ Most Important Story Last Week * Piers Morgan Likes Long Walks on the Beach With Rupert Murdoch

Joan Walsh Blasts Washington Post on Twitter for Not Crediting Salon * The Washington Post may be ignoring Salon's stories on the Arlington Cemetery mismanagement saga, but they will have a hard time ignoring Joan Walsh who launched a Twitter attack last night to air her grievances over WaPo's alleged snub

Wall Street
Consumer Confidence Falls As Corporate Profits Rise (Huff Post)

Hundreds of FBI agents may have cheated on test, DOJ probes

Candidates go for the jugular in attack ads (Wash Post)

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Other Views

On October 15, 1958, veteran broadcaster Edward R. Murrow delivered his famous "wires and lights in a box" speech (VIDEO) The Last Lion of Tammany HOW JIMMY McMANUS, MANHATTAN’S LAST GREAT TAMMANY DISTRICT LEADER, HELPED TO REVIVE HELL’S KITCHEN AND THE THEATER DISTRICT c By James S. Kaplan f On January 13, 2011, the law firm of Proskauer Rose moved into 11 Times Square, which is located on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. In moving west to the final building of the City’s Times Square redevelopment, the Proskauer firm joined such other major law firms as Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Covington & Burling, Roberts & Holland, and the advertising firm of Ogilvy & Mather. That such major professional firms, along with a number of newly constructed luxury apartment buildings on 42nd Street from ninth to eleventh avenue and trendy restaurants and off Broadway theaters would be located west of 8th Avenue in midtown would have been almost inconceivable fifty years ago. Tammany Last Stand Continued

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