In NY Journalism Has Crossed the Line into Politics
"You should not have a newspaper executive simultaneously serving as a consultant to a candidate being covered by the paper." Richard Parker, Harvard University's Shorenstein Center
A Queens race for state senate has giving an inside view of the unspoken but very real takeover of local journalism in New York by the lobbyist and politicians. At the center of this story is a surviver of an 80's federal investigation of corruption in queens, Michael Nussbaum. Nussbaum was indicted for taking a quarter of a million bribe in a case involving the husband of former Vice President candidate and Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. It was all part of massive scandal that U.S. Attorney Giuliani started to get him into the mayor's office, that involved Mayor Koch, the city's Parking Violations Bureau, the death of the Queens Borough President, judges, the Bronx county leader and a tangled
Sen. Shirley Huntley, a Jamaica Democrat, doled out the campaign cash to a firm called Multi-Media, run by Queens Tribune Executive Vice President and Associate Publisher Michael Nussbaum. It's an open secret in Queens that Nussbaum wears two hats: as a political consultant and a top honcho at the Queens Tribune, one of the largest weeklies in the borough founded 40 years ago by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens).He's worked for numerous campaigns in recent years and he - and the Tribune - were under fire during last fall's City Council elections.The paper ran a front-page story highlighting the local Council race between Kevin Kim and GOPer Dan Halloran under the headline: "Democratic Victor vs. Pagan Lord."Kim, a former Ackerman staffer, used Nussbaum as a paid consultant.Halloran won the race.
Multi-Media is also working for Issac Sasson who is running for state senate in a different district in queens.
News Corp. defended its $1 million contribution to the Republican Governors Association, insisting the cash won’t impact its coverage.
Did Hunt Give Haggerty His Black Bag?The Secret Campaign of Mayor Mike John F. Haggerty Jr., an enigmatic Republican political consultant now facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing money from the mayor (Obsever) * The Seneca Nation called on Bloomberg to resign * Tribe wants apology from Bloomy after 'insensitive' remarks (DN)
A Tail of Two Paterson 
Paterson Tries to Move the Mosque
To save Obama (who when out of his way to dump him) and to save the democratic party in this falls elections Gov to meet on mosque 'move' (NYP) * Bloomberg Rights -- and wrongs This is all about the First Amendment -- you have a right to say what you want and I respect [that]."This represents a sea change for Bloomberg, whose previous position was that opponents of the undertaking "should be ashamed of themselves."(NYP Ed) * Governor Seeking Talks on New Site for Muslim Center (NYT) * Our Mosque Madness President Obama’s Clintonesque casuistry is making a bad situation worse. (Dowd, NYT) * Debate Over Mosque Near Ground Zero Grows, Splinters (WSJ) *Metropolis: Mosque Questions Follow Bloomberg (WSJ) * Gov. Paterson Seeks Mosque Meeting (WSJ) * Ailing 9/11 first responders are angry with the president for weighing in on the mosque debate when the Zadroga bill is still stuck in limbo. * TPM looks at how far from Ground Zero some pols are who are weighing in on the issue. * Siena: Opposition To Building Mosque Near Ground Zero Remains Strong * Ground Zero Mosque Shock: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Calls For Investigation Into Critics Of Ground. * Pricing Violations Found at City Supermarkets (DN) * The mosque developers won’t rule out accepting financing from the Mideast – including from Saudia Arabia and Iran, according to the Park51 spokesman Oz Sultan. * Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean comes out against proposed mosque at Ground Zero * Howard Dean says move the mosque.
Jury selection begins for temple terror suspects
Paterson Skips Ethics Hearing
Gov fined $96,375 over Yanks tickets (NYP) *Former Aide Says Paterson Rejected Advice on Tickets (NYT) * Senate Leader’s Use of Aide Stirs Ethics Questions (NYT) * Lame, Dave, lame: Gov ducks his duty in ethics probe of his free Yankees tickets (DN Ed) * The governor’s former communications director, Peter Kauffmann, said he recommended that Paterson pay for the five tickets, worth $425 each, but was rebuffed.
Ron Lauder is not pleased with the commission’s efforts to let incumbent Council members run for a third term while reinstating the two-term limit going forward. * Term Limits Scorecard: Who's In and Who's Out (And David Greenfield)
Election 2010 Between Cuomo and Lazio, a Contentious History (NYT) * Via Tom Robbins: State Senate President Pedro Espada, Jr. seems to have a little problem with (paying) his tailor. * ‘WFP = OUT’ (Updated) * In NY, Political Calendar Works Against Political Candidates * Regina Calcaterra Loses Court Appeal To Remain On Ballot For State Senate
Cook Says House Going GOP
Joseph Mercurio The Cook Political Report is now raising its House forecast from a Republican net gain of between 32 and 42 seats to a gain of between 35 and 45 seats, with the odds of an outcome larger than that range greater than the odds of a lesser outcome. A turnover of 39 seats would tip majority status into Republican hands. (Facebook)
Term-Limits Plan in New York City Is Criticized (NYT)
Inside Rick Lazio's Biggest Wall Street Deal—The Chummy E-Mails
New York Economic Meltdown Diplo-rats can $tiff city on taxes: court (NYP) * India and Mongolia Win Ruling on New York Tax Suit (NYT) * Payroll Tax Stirs Revolt (WSJ) * Tax Setback for City on Diplomat Housing (WSJ) * Transit workers union mocks Jay Walder in phony postcard (DN) * Pricing Violations Found at City Supermarkets
Choke's on us No nabe safe from pollution (NYP)
Opening Legal Salvos in Stuyvesant Town Battle
Education
Fed school dunces City forced to fire top-rated principals (NYP) * Wealthy Seek Special-Ed CashFamilies in the most affluent New York City school districts, including the Upper East and Upper West sides, file more claims than other parts of the city seeking reimbursement of their children's private-school tuition. (WSJ) * Given Money, Schools Wait on Rehiring Teachers (NYT) * Gonzalez: Charter school's soccer field sparks turf war (DN) * Critics say the state Regents exams are preposterously easy.
Law and Order Ice-T beats rap (NYP) * DNA nails '00 rape suspect (NYP) * Cop's shot gal pal also charged in fight (NYP) *Heartless thief on roll A heartless thief drove off on a motorized wheelchair * NY man convicted of threatening to kill wife (WSJ) * Suspect who was shot 23 times ignited barrage: cop * Cop who cracked 1990 Happy Land fire case is retiring(DN) * On target on guns: Harlem leaders take on trigger-happy thugs in their midst (DN Ed) * Prosecutors throw brickbats at "bouquet bandit" * Cops bust counterfeit outfit and uncover 100,000 illicit goods worth $1 million NYP * 12-year-old girl nabbed dealing drugs as part of massive ring: cops Media and New Tech Dr. Laura's end game (NYP) *Dr. Laura quitting radio show on heels of N-word controversy (DN) * Google TV Is Tough SellGoogle is moving to line up TV networks' support for its new Google TV software, but many remain reluctant to partner with a service that encroaches on their turf. (WSJ) * Media Decoder: Zakaria Is Moving to Time
As Blagojevich Case Drags On, Ethics Issues Linger, Too (NYT)
Nationalize mortgage giants, bond king says There's only one way to fix the badly dilapidated housing market, and that's to fully nationalize mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.(NYP) * Top Dem Says Fannie, Freddie 'Should Be Abolished'
Slater-esque: GOP ad shows Dems sliding off Bam's plane
