NYT Reform Will Lead to More Machine Picked Judges Most elected judges in New York are picked the same way Tammany Hall elected judges 100 years ago. By the democratic machines. In Manhattan a group of political connected lawyers control the process. Chief Judge Lippman reform of not allowing lawyers to go before any judge they contribute to for two years does nothing to change the control the machines have in picking judges. In fact the judges reforms makes it hard for independent judges to beat the machines, by closing them off from lawyers contributions which are almost all of the contributions judicial candidates get. After the reforms are in place the only judicial candidate who can beat the machine will be the very rich who can self finance his or her campaign like mayor Mike. It costs 10,000's of thousands of dollars just to fight the machine to get on the ballot, before the campaign starts. The machines use they connections to get free campaign services that their challengers must pay for Bold Step for Fair Courts in New York A new rule proposed by New York’s chief judge is an important step toward ensuring the impartiality of the state’s courts. (NYT Ed) * Lippman wants law changed to allow photo I'd to be admissible at trial and expand DNA database * Lippman Makes His Case (YNN) * The State Of New York's Judiciary: Decaffeinated - True News PM News Update All the News Since the Morning Papers Who Will Fight For New York and America?
"It's great for Germany, it's another black eye for the US,"
Donald Trump
NYC The Financial Capital of the World NO LONGER Did the Marshall Plan Go To Far? True News Beat NYT to Expose the Commercial War on TV Layoffs True News, Feb. 13, 2011 Bloomberg Warm Christmas Day in Bermuda
New York City already almost $40 million over snow budget(DN) Bloomberg Ice Cold Aide throws cold water on Bloomberg message | The Empire Mayor Mike Bloomberg touted New York’s job growth as a model for the nation in a December speech. But Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Bob Steel painted a bleaker picture at Columbia University last week Nervous Time: Will Albany's Establishment Fight or Fold? Before the budget negotiations went public both the new governors Spitzer and Paterson had high poll numbers. Gov. Eliot Spitzer ha a 75 percent favorable rating in a Siena poll during his first few weeks in office The Cuomo administration’s new argument for education aid reductions: “Cut the fat, build the muscle.” * “It’s an old form of torture, putting a wet rope around your neck and slowly torturing you,” Purchase College President Thomas Schwarz said of Cuomo’s proposed funding cuts to public colleges.* Capitol Confidential says question for Silver, Skelos is simple: "Are they going to represent the people or the special interests?" (Twitter)* . @: "it's very easy to get close to the goal line. what they excel at is getting close to the goal line but not going over"(Twitter)* DiNapoli: Cuomo’s Budget Has $4B In “Placeholder Savings” “more than $4 billion in yet-to-be specified actions.” * So just whose side is he on? (TU) When Fixes are Delayed Finding a Fix for the Tappan Zee The state doesn't have enough anywhere near enough money to replace the antiquated Tappan Zee Bridge, which carries 140,000 vehicles across the Hudson River every day. (WSJ) * New York is in the midst of what the state transportation department calls a “deficient bridge wave,” and is considering letting private companies help foot the bill for improvements.* Albany’s Dept of Magical Thinking seeks to build new TZ Bridge for free. Chant “Asset Maximization” 3x & get $7B.
Everyone recognizes that bid rigging of cement or traffic light contracts are the work of organized crime. However when elected officials rig our state and city elections to ensure that every incumbent gets reelected, no one calls their deliberate strategy criminal and organized. Newspaper editorials and good government groups push for individual fixes to our crisis in local government – for example, public financing of state campaigns. But, no one says outright that our right to representative democracy has been hijacked. Local elections have become the “ins” verses the “outs” and the process has been rigged to block any of the “outs” from winning. Our local elections have become so noncompetitive, that, behind public view, most incumbents, regardless of party or reform beliefs, work together as the “ins” to keep the outs “out.”
Gov't Reform Groups Say Study Shows Legislative Crime Wave (2011-02-14) www.publicbroadcasting.net
Koch Fail At Throw the Bums Out Now the Press Covers Him Pushing for Non Partisan Redistricting How About the Donald Manus Queensboro Bridge? Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr.: Don't Rename Queensboro Bridge For Ed Koch! | NYDN ..
Press Wimps Allow Pols to Write Their Stories Instead of asking hard questions like what will happen to NYC's tax base if Wall Street is sold to the Germans or what should be done by out of control pension costs, the press allows Quinn and all other pols to sent the content of their stories. Today Quinn who is running for mayor will have the passive press deliver her message to the voters. make parking less stressful . During her annual State of the City address today, Quinn will unveil plans to reduce the number of days on which alternate-side-of-the-street parking rules are in effect on the city's cleanest streets. (WSJ) City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a potential mayoral candidate, knows one surefire way to win voters' hearts — * Parking Relief Coming To NYC ? (WCBS) * Quinn’s fiscal plan for NYC | The Empire Staten Island BP James Molinaro insists he had nothing to do with his longtime companions’ lucrative new job.
Woman Died While Waiting in Kings County Waiting Room You could die waiting in New York hospitals Patients seeking care at New York hospitals spend nearly five hours in emergency rooms -- among the worst rates in the country.(NYP)7 7 No Education Leadership Hire the Tiger Mom Two-thirds of public schools in New York City use the same type of fluorescent lights known to contain PCBs Police departments across the country are downsizing their mounted units due to budget cuts. c c
Tavern to Reopen, But In Indianapolis
Two Taverns Face Off in Trademark Dispute The owner of the Indianapolis's not-yet-opened Tavern on the Plaza restaurant is suing the bankruptcy trustee liquidating Manhattan's shuttered Tavern on the Green restaurant to defend itself from allegations of trademark infringement. (WSJ)
NYC Councilman Charles Barron’s Freedom Party held its first convention even though it missed the mark for ballot status last fall.
WTC Memorial To Have Limited Public Access The World Trade Center Memorial is on track to open for the 10th anniversary of the attacks, but access to the plaza will be restricted due to the expected high volume of visitors and surrounding construction. (NY1) * A church destroyed on September 11 is suing the Port Authority for not helping it rebuild.Were the Old Tanks Safer?
Get the Point
Getting caught
driving while using a cell phone will now mean two points on your license . The regulation takes effect tomorrow. (D&C)
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Another Real Estate Owner of A NY Paper Members of the NY delegation had mixed reactions to Obama’s budget proposal Going Shopping Weimar Republic
Two-thirds of public schools in New York City use the same type of fluorescent lights known to contain PCBs
