Sunday, December 5, 2010

True News Update All Weekend: State Senate back in hands of GOP

Breaking News

Judge: State Senate back in hands of GOP

Dems to Appeal

Republicans regain state Senate control after Long Island GOPer (DN) * Republicans Appear To Regain Control Of State Senate‎ - NY1 * Vote recount returns NY Senate majority to GOP‎ - Wall Street Journal New York Republicans Regain State Senate* Majority as Judge ...‎ - Bloomberg * NewsdayMartins wins 7th SD; GOP wins state Senate -UPDATED * GOP Likely To Control State Senate (Updated) * Republicans Lay Claim to New York State Senate (NYT) * Judge rules against recount in Johnson-Martins race (TU) * Recount hands Republicans control of state Senate (DN) * Probe pol quits state Senate (NYP) * With NY State Senate Likely Red, Is Marriage Equality Doomed?

My pet council member Vito has council pol on a short leash

"Steve Levin is more beholden to Vito than to his district," said a source who was once close to Levin. "The guy makes no decision without consulting Vito."

As Unemployment goes to 9.8% Bloomberg's Dream Becomes Closer? . . . At Least to Him

Bloomy's eyeing Obama's job, says Gov. Paterson (DN) * Yes, Virginia, I am mulling a prez run (NYP)

Rangel Soldiers On

Despite Censure, City College's Rangel Center Lives On (WSJ) * Give Rep. Charles Rangel a break: Harlem loyalists (DN) *Crowd cheers for censured Charlie (NYP) * Still loved: Rangel receives warm reception in Harlem (DN) * Censured Rep. Rangel Says He Still Loves Congress (CBS) * Crowd Supports Censured Rangel (Fox 5) * Rangel in deeper with new ethics charge (NYP)

When Charlie Finally Hangs Them Up Paterson Will Step Forward . . . Right Now He Gives the Leader His Honor
Paterson says he’s not interested in Rep. Charlie Rangel’s job.

The Charlie Rangel Effect Will black Democrats join with Republicans to kill the congressional ethics office that investigated the veteran lawmaker?(Mother Jones)

Cuomo gets rare fight from Wall Street car czar (AP)

In his four years as New York's attorney general, Andrew Cuomo had his way with Wall Street, muscling banks and bankers into paying fines, making reforms and eating crow for their errors during the financial crisis.Few bothered to fight back. Most figured it was smarter to take their lumps than risk a public showdown, even in instances where Cuomo appeared to lack clear authority to investigate or regulate. But finally, Cuomo has a battle on his hands — just as he is leaving office.

Copycat Journalism Most of the blogs and newspapers today just copy what is already been written. Here is an example of the Huffington Post picking up an AP story which was planted by Rattner's public relations people. Steve Rattner, Wall Street Czar, Seeks Retaliation Against 'Bully' Cuomo (Huff Post)

True News: Rattner Pension Scandal Becomes A PR War Directed At Cuomo (Timeline)

Political Football OTB Faces the

The End Again and Again

OTB gets 4-day reprieve, but odds against it (DN) * Gov. Paterson's effort to save OTB is shutting the barn door when the horse is long gone (DN) * OTB Will Stay Open Through Midnight Tuesday (DN) * The Senate Republicans offered a compromise OTB bailout bill that helps suburban betting parlors. It was ripped as a “nonstarter” by industry experts. * Senate GOP offers bill in a race to rescue OTB

Daily News Blames the GOP for Failure to Pass 911 Bill

Why not blame the NY delegation for lack of power or the fact that they fail to pass it months ago before the GOP takeover because they wanted to do it without amendments * Heroes of 9/11 hear you loud and clear, Republicans; next time they should turn and run (DN) * McCain tells 9/11 hero: I 'can't help you' with Zadroga (DN)

9/11 healthcare bill expected to come to Senate vote

Problems Ms. Black Never Faced in the Publishing world

'We screwed up' Mike 'admits' Black secrecy a mistake

Once-stellar students are now failing state exams (DN)

Parent Sues to Block Schools Chief Eric J. Snyder of Park Slope Father of two Brooklyn public school children filed a lawsuit(NYT) * Teachers union rips city for substitute deal 'mess' (DN) * Right penalty, wrong offense Jose Maldonado-Rivera has finally been removed as principal of Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering after he was found to have engaged in an "inappropriate financial relationship" with a school employee. This, more than five months after a 12-year-old Columbia student drowned on a shockingly ill-planned field trip to a Long Island beach last summer.* Schools Chancellor-to-be Cathie Black: I'm in touch with public school parents WABC Interviews Black An interview with Cathie Black * Black sent out a mass e-mail to principals that was not entirely well-received.* Outgoing Chancellor Joel Klein reflects on his tenure and says: “We know how to fix public education. The question is whether we have the political will to do it.”

Judge Alice Schlesinger should butt out of city hospitals' non-medical layoffs (DN Ed)

New York's Economic Meltdown

Budget-Cutting Colleges Bid Some Languages Adieu (NYT)* Freelance Musicians Hear Mournful Coda as the Jobs Dry Up (NYT) * 100G/yr. pensions at FDNY (NYP)

Trustee Sues HSBC Over Cash Sent to Madoff (NYT)

Pension Fund Blackmail Extortion

'Extort' rap in pension messThe feds filed new charges in Albany yesterday against a Boston-based investor who they say targeted the state comptroller's office's top lawyer in a sex-related extortion plot for $35 million in pension-fund business. (NYP)

New York City Cracks Down on Tickets Left Unpaid (NYT)

NY Vs NJ: Board War

'Zee' bridge rebuild sparks border war (NYP) * Christie To NY: 'Stop Screwing With Us' Over Tunnel Tab * Dems' tunnel vision Chris Christie says he’ll fight what looks like political payback (NYP Ed)

Sunday's Wood

Phone 'six'! Another area code 929

Port Authority's Windfall The October death of a planned rail tunnel under the Hudson River has left the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with something rare: a pot of uncommitted money for infrastructure projects. (WSJ) * Port Authority to Cut 200 Jobs in 2011 (Fox 5)

Owner of Famed Writer's Den Elaine's Dies(WSJ) * Kaufman was big-hearted gal, inspired loyalty (DN) * Elaine Kaufman, Owner of Elaine’s, Dies at 81 (NYT) * Average Joes Welcomed Alongside Celebs At Elaine’s (CBS)

In East Harlem, frisks lead to most arrests, summonses (DN) Law and Order Former Yeshiva Principal Sought on Abuse Charges (NYT) * Detective Faces Charges of False Drug Arrests (NYT) * Father, Sons Face Sex-Abuse Claims(WSJ) * Gang torture suspect says he was home during attacks (DN) * 14-year-old 'El Ponchis' admits to 4 cartel-backed murders (DN) * Tip of Rikers guard's thumb bit off by inmate * Rabbi suspected of sexually abusing relatives: police (DN) * Police: Brooklyn Rabbi, Sons Sexually Abused Family Members For 15 Years (DN) * Correction Officer Loses Thumb In Rikers Scuffle (NY1) * Girl fights off Qns. thugs (NYP) * LI 'phony cop-robber' was framed by beau: DA (NYP) * Ice-pick fiend hits StuyTown (NYP) * Suspects sought in attempted abduction of girl (WABC) ***Sunday Teen shot dead (NYP) * Beef leads to college-bound Bronx teen shot dead (DN) * Livery driver's struggle with gunman (Video)

Disclose This

The press should treat big tech companies like Big Pharma (Columbia Journalism Review)

“60 Minutes”: Does Mark Zuckerberg Want to “Own” the Internet? (Plus New Profiles on Facebook!)

SNL Imagines What Would Happen If WikiLeaks And TMZ Joined Forces

The Big American Leak There is a sobering message somewhere between the lines of those WikiLeaks cables: America is leaking power. (Friedman, NYT) * WikiLeaks hacker-in-chief Julian Assange is getting a taste of his own cyber-medicine (DN Ed) * Learning From WikiLeaks (Newsweek) * WikiLeaks Ready to Release Giant 'Insurance' File if Shut Down (Fox News)

What Good Is Wall Street? For years, the most profitable industry in America has been one that doesn’t design, build, or sell a single tangible thing. (New Yorker) * G.E. Goes With What It Knows: Making Stuff (NYT)

Senate GOP blocks Dems' bid to end tax cuts for rich (DN) * A payroll-tax holiday could be just what the sputtering U.S. economy needs (DN)

Mounting State Debts Stoke Fears of a Looming Crisis (NYT)

Smart Republicans, Stupid Democrats

If Democrats are the big spenders, why do Republican states get the money? (Slate)

Potential presidential candidates ramp up their PACs (The Fix, Wash Post)

An illustration of a computer monitor. iStockphoto.com

Why No One's Happy With The FCC's Net Neutrality (NPR)

Why Donate to True News Keep Real News Alive. Put simply, True News -- and the truth – cannot do more and could even end without financial help from the people who want to hold the government accountable for their actions. As you know True News, without any support, has fought to keep the real NYC’s investigative and analysis reporting era of great journalism alive. True News is a living memorial to publisher John Peter Zenger who was jailed in 1733 by the King for reporting to New Yorkers what was going on in their city. It is also in the tradition of the Ben Bradlee generation that believes that all reporters would not be doing their job if they did not follow the story until they got to the truth. Today’s reporters copy press releases from elected officials and lobbyists hired by the special interests who want to control the message. The lost circulation of newspapers has created a generation of young reporters who not only rely on elected officials and lobbyists for stories, but don’t even Google to find the historical context or, more importantly, the truth behind the stories they write. In this era of sell-out journalism, the public has become disconnected, powerless and trapped by a permanent government that has turned against them. The media blames an apathetic public for not voting even after democratic consultants act like an Orwellian 'Big Bother' threatening them to vote or be looked into. True News reports that the reason for the decreasing turn-out is the public no longer feel their votes matter. If you value hard hitting Investigative Journalism, don't let True News go the way of the Passenger Pigeon. The Newfield, Barrett, Kempton, Hammel of yesteryear are no more. Local TV news limits itself to good looking women and men reading about breaking fires and crimes, with few exceptions. What's left that isn't tabloid is a wasteland of superficial news, driven by political and corporate PR machines, sowing the fertile seeds of corruption public and private hand in glove. Despite the soft news we see, standard bearers play a significant albeit vestigial role. Newspapers constantly pick up stories from True News (without crediting us of course) avoiding the costs to investigate themselves. Without True News, the New York Press and this blog's over one and half million readers will be utterly lost in the wilderness. Only True News is explaining: How Blacks, the Poor and the Middle Class are Being Pushed out of Brooklyn Because of Albany's Tax Breaks for Luxury Developers and Apartments Gives Details How Lobbyists and Developers Run A Secret Shadow Government that Also Controls Elections With Big Money and Their Control Over the Media Investigates How Political Party Bosses Have Been Replaced By Lobbyists' Privatization of the Tammany Hall Machine Reports How the WFP and the Elected Officials Who Are Supported By Them Have Abused and Aggressively Broken Campaign Finance Laws. True news is not funded by special interests like the other news blogs. True News has been self-funded all these years. True News does not make nice with sitting politicians, developers, lobbyists to fund it or to provide its young clueless reporters with story ideas. True News wants nothing more than to scratch out a modest living in its aim to investigate, connect the dots, and get to the truth of every newsworthy story. To carry on in this mission, True News needs funding from people like you -- People Who Want Better Journalism in order to learn what is really going on in their government and fight the corrupt politicians. It's been written about True News Those of you who have an involvement in the dangerous game of politics, it may be of interest to know who’s telling the truth these days, and, whether the articles we read are real or imagined disinformation, emanating directly out of a governmental PR department. No genuine journalist would ever rely on such a source for the truth. As publisher of the SoHo Journal, through personal experience, take it from me that it is possible to become a political target for simply writing about the truth. And the mainstream media and writers eat their own for sales— as well as take orders from their masters— corporate, financial and political masters. Always pay attention to the agenda. Read between the lines. That is the basis of real reporting and political comprehension. Not the rehashing of a press release. OWS had a handle on this reality as well. Pay attention to the current daily blog written by Gary Tilzer. His True News is one of the few remaining sources for political investigative reporting. His fearless reporting of the truth in political circles is worth noting. Contributors names are confidential

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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"I don't care a straw for your newspaper articles, my constituents don't know how to read, but they can't help seeing them damned pictures." Boss Tweed

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny." Thomas Jefferson

The Internet is a large-scale version of the "Committees of Correspondence" that led to the first American Revolution

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. ” -Thomas Jefferson

“Nearly all the newspaper accounts published at the time were manufactured by journalists at a distance, and were not only inaccurate in their facts but intentionally misleading.”
- George Orwell (Homage to Catalonia)

Gene Kelley in “Inherit the Wind” described the job of a newsman: “Comfort the afflicted; and afflict the comfortable.”

In the beginning of the last century, Lincoln Steffens and Jacob Riis were the muck rakers. Steffens tried to rouse the public to take action against the misdeeds of government and corporate leaders. Jacob Riis, a Danish immigrant, was the pioneer of photo journalism. He took his camera into the miserable tenement slums of the city. Depicting the plight of the poor, he wrote a book called “How the Other Half Lives.”

"Through the years of the 20th century even the most mercenary of newspaper owners were, above all, conscious of their duty to inform the public and they backed their reporters to the hilt. It was not just a matter of right or wrong---but common sense. The ethics of good journalism in this era, alas, seems to have been forgotten." Gabe Pressman

"A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues." Theodore Roosevelt

As a 19th-century Manhattan politician once observed, “no man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.”

"Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock." — Ben Hecht

Kempton once said, "There's no excuse for kicking somebody unless he's up." Murray Kempton used to kick people who were up all the time, and though he was half their weight and underpaid it was beautiful to watch. Quite beautiful.

Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations. - George Orwell

There is no final reliance but upon us; Democracy rests finally upon us. - Walt Whitman