The is no New Yorkers who has positive spin in the press more than Steve Rattner who is accused by the AG of organizing the largest rip off of pension funds in history. Rattner has special close relationships with almost every media owner in the city. Rattner message of bis innocence and his attacks on Cuomo have been on the media outlets for weeks own by his defender and employeer Bloomberg to defend himself.
Rattner Says Cuomo's Lawsuit in New York Pension Case `Close to Extortion' (Bloomberg News)
Charlie Rose Talks to Steven Rattner Quadrangle's co-founder and Obama's car czar just settled with the SEC over the pay-to-play pension fund scandal. Now, Andrew Cuomo wants a piece of him (Bloomberg, Businessweek) * Rattner Assails Cuomo Offer (N YT)
Today's WSJ acts like Rattner Has not Got his message out:
Rattner Gives 'His Side' of Story After 18 months, Steven Rattner is speaking out about what he calls "his side" of the story behind Cuomo's probe into his efforts to win business from New York state's public pension fund.(WSJ) Dueling Remarks Escalate Feud With New York Governor-Elect; Cuomo Has Been 'Trashing My Reputation'
Rattner Friends on the Newspaper editorial board have not offered one editorial even after his guilty plea of ripping off the pension funds . . . Financial Advisor to Both the Owner of the News and NYT
Quadrangle says Rattner ‘failing to take responsibility for his actions’ (WNYC)A game of softball for Rattner (TU)
Cuomo Rattner War
"We have people in jail today who would gladly return the money if they can stay out of jail. That is not justice. Rattner robbed millions from the New York tax payers." (NY)
Andrew Cuomo
Cuomo on Rattner's SEC Settlement: 'That's not justice.' [VIDEO] * Cuomo on Rattner attack: Crooks don't say, 'Yes I'm guilty'Newsday
Not only does Rattner have special media friends, his public relations team working 24/7 he also lawyered up. Steve Rattner will file a lawsuit seeking personal emails from Andrew Cuomo and his staff, in an effort to show his case is politically motivated.
Cuomo’s pay-to-play state pension fund probe was partially behind Steven Rattner’s heretofore unexplained decision to leave his post as the Obama administration’s car czar in 2009. * In Midst of Lambasting Rattner, Cuomo Pitches New Law & Order Spinoff - New York Magazine * Newly released letter fuels Cuomo-Rattner '74 P'10 P'13 row The Brown Daily Herald
Groundhog Day in Albany Again
Election of a new governor who ran on changing Albany. The probable loss of the State Senate to the republicans when the candidate who was on top of the Republican ticket was a bomb. New York has become the lowest voter participation state in the union because of voter believe that voting does not change the culture of Albany. If the special session yesterday to reduce the deficit was any indication the voters who stayed home were right.
In Special Session, Governor’s Package of Spending Cuts Meets Resistance (NYT) * Legislature ignores Gov, does nothing for budget, OTB(DN)
* The downstate gambling operation will officially shut its doors Friday.* Much ado, little done (TU) * Paterson even failed in trying to get a longtime aide appointed to the Parole Board.* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Minority (?) Leader Dean Skelos and Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson were all re-elected by their respective conferences yesterday. * The vote on Sampson was done quietly and with little warning.* Labor unions are preparing for the “irony” of seeing Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo use the campaign cash they helped him amass against them during the upcoming budget battle.* The CBS’s Elizabeth Lynam has some ideas about where Cuomo might cut Medicaid spending.* Bill Hammond is depressed by the state’s failure to get high-speed rail.* "Special sessions are for one house bills," said Speaker Silver. * Source: Senate Dem Leadership Vote ‘A Complete Ambush’ (Updated) * State Assembly is still Silver’s turf - UPDATED * They're * Senate Dems’ Bank Practices ‘Unsafe And Unsound’ * Staten Islander stepping down as secretary of state Senate (SI Live) * In Albany, what a surprise: no budget voteRochester City Newspaper (blog)
Senate Dems $2.46 M In Debt
Top Lobbyist Leaves Business to Avoid Conflicts(NYT)
More bad news for Senate Dems: debt (DN)
Wag the Control of the Senate
True News Said It First Last Weekend
7 District on Long Island Will Decide the State Senate
Today
Control of the state Senate comes down to Craig Johnson/Jack Martins.
Thompson Concedes (Updated)
Bloom Put His Education Public Relations Mouthpiece in Place
She's in the Black (NYP) * With Deal, Bloomberg’s Pick Wins Helm of City Schools (NYT) * The Public School Bargain Will the relationship between the next schools chancellor and her chief academic officer be a true partnership? * Black Gets Approval to Head Schools(WSJ) * Bloomberg: Schools Deputy Will Follow Black's Lead * State Education Commissioner Grants Waiver For Cathie Black (DN)* The dual post method of running a public school system has had mixed success outside New York.* Cathie Black Meets The Media, Pt 2: 'That was Yesterday, Today is Today, and I am the New Chancellor' [Video] * Teachers To March On Hearst Tower, Demand To Be Named Cathie Black's Replacement* Black is putting the whole waiver controversy behind her, saying: “That was yesterday.”
Rangel Spanking Will Not Fix Corrupt Washigton One Bit
Rangel in DC for 'D-Day'(NYP) *House Censure: Humbling to Some, but Not All (NYT) * Rangel is hoping his punishment comes in writing, and not in public.* The Times does a deep dive on the past censure cases.
New York's Economic Meltdown
OTB on track to glue factory(NYP)
OTB says it will shut down Friday
New York Has Lost LaGuardia's Message
La G plane-ly worst airport (NYP) The airport named in honor of New York's most popular
High Cigarette Tax Bleeding the Budget
Butt-tax blowback How pathetically predictable: Albany raises taxes on cigarettes to such onerous levels that purchasing them legally becomes all but unaffordable. (NYP ED)
Feds eye delay for new $27.5 million street signs (DN)
More Economic Problems
Struggling city hospitals stage musical fundraisers (DN) * Department of Finance lays off more than 120, including disabled workers, as it hires new managers (DN)
When Pigs Run Basketball Teams
New York Loses Allure as Basketball Mecca(WSJ)
Construction Giant Admits Fraud Over Minority Firms Schiavone Construction Company agreed to forfeit $20 million for evading rules intended to help disadvantaged subcontractors. (NYT) * Contractor Settles Claims(WSJ) * Mobster rats out construction firm (DN)
WTC Builder Could Get More U.S. Aid(WSJ) * Bloomberg is considering using tens of millions in leftover federal stimulus cash to help WTC developer Larry Silverstein.
U.S. Seeks Tunnel Refund From N.J. (WSJ)
911 Bill Sen. Chuck Schumer pledged a vote will be held on the Zadroga bill. * There is still no agenda for the Congressional lame duck session.
Community Garden Advocates Seek Better Protections (DN)
Nydia Velazquez on the Passing of Stephen Solarz
Steve Solarz (1940-2010) and the making of Senator Schumer | Capital New York
Law and Order Police-brutality $$ started fashion line (NYP) * What embass-iles! Dutch diplo-maniacs in Village 'cop brawl' (NYP) *Embassy Man Arrested in Bar Fracas(WSJ) * Mobster caged for 'Fishy' SI murder (NYP) * 'Drag race' death crash (NYP) * Man Is Held in Larceny; Columbia Lost Millions (NYT) * Sentencing for NY gang member who wounded boy(WSJ) * Gun dealer's suit vs. Bloomberg misses mark (DN) * Men in Bed-Stuy escort pedestrians, reach out to youths (DN) * Bedford Park Catholic School Latest Victim In Robbery Spree (DN)
****PM Cops nab man suspected of Upper East Side robbery spree (NYP)
****PM Cops nab man suspected of Upper East Side robbery spree (NYP)
Terrorism Mayor assures safety of tree lighting in wake of Oregon scare * $600M in terror-proofing projects (NYP) * Cables Depict U.S. Haggling to Find Takers for Detainees (NYT)* Schumer vow for vote on 9/11 bill (DN) * WikiLeaked diplomatic cables showed that a nuclear Iran is the Arab world's worst nightmare (DN)
