"Here we go again… When prosecutors charge #politicians it should not feel like a scene from Groundhog Day—but it does."
US Atty Bharara. Next Preet movie reference: "apparently, what we've got here is a failure to communicate." Does that make Kruger into Paul Newman? - Cool Hand Luke. ‘A Failure To Communicate’ (YNN)
Video of Bharara Explaining Charges
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Says He Will Keep Indicting Elected Officials in Albany Until They Change Their Corrupt Ways. He said Albany reminded him of the Groundhog movie, in the no matter how many people he indicts they don't Change. "Albany should see this as a moment for truth and a moment for change" * US Attorney: another corruption case, "Albany just hits the snooze button…shouldn't feel like a scene from groundhog's day, & yet, it does."
Kruger’s attorney, Benjamin Brafman, said Kruger would be vindicated.
2 State Legislators Surrender in Corruption Case(NYT)
Sen. Carl Kruger's relationship with the Turano family * Prosecutors charged two lawmakers from Brooklyn in an influence-peddling scheme involving favors from Albany(WSJ) * harara: "Sen. Kruger had a very close and intimate relationship w/the entire Turano family, and that includes Michael Turano."* other lawmakers on payroll of Medisys (named in complaint) US Attorney: "not going to comment on that." * FBI official says bagman for Democratic State Senator would say things like "Carl wants to know where the money is" * ruger's alleged corrupt acts focused on beverage industry legislation, development. * Stuart Appelbaum of @RWDSU says Richard Lipsky is was terminated from anti-WalMart campaign last night * US Attorney: Assemblyman Boyland got a no-show consulting job, almost $3,000-a-month, from Medisys * US Attorney: $106,K found in lobbyist Richard Lipsky's home * FBI agents found $106,000 in cash in Richard Lipsky's house, inclu $4K "in crisp, large-denomination bills in Mr. Lipsky’s suit pocket.” * Diaz: ‘Last One Standing’ *ErinEBillups Erin Billup Ed Cox is calling on the Sen Dem Campaign Committee to return the $450,000 in contributions from Sen Carl Kruger, calling it "dirty money" (Twitter) * a list of all contributors to Friends of Carl (Kruger's campaign group) in the last... * Divesting Of Kruger’s Cash (YNN) * NYPIRG Follows The Money: Major Wrinkle In Carl Kruger's Donation Reports?(DN) Gannett Albany Silver: A Few Bad Apples * Kruger: Accuser "Is a Fucking Liar"(NYO) * Retail Workers Union Dumps Richard Lipsky (DN)* More Carl Kruger fallout: State Sen. Jose Serrano says he'll give $1K in Kruger donations to charity... * Kruger & Boyland, facing a maximum of 20 years in prison [via ailsa chang/@wnyc] * Here’s the FBI’s official press release on the Kruger-Boyland-Lipsky et al scandal.* According to an ally (and potential replacement), the always colorful Sen. Carl Kruger will “fight this tooth and nail.”
The Rats Are Nerves
Cuomo to Legislature: pass comprehensive ethics reform or your ass is grass (i.e. he'll form a Moreland commission w/subpoena power) * campaign $ from Boyland being returned by fellow Democrat. [via Celeste Katz] * Lawmakers, Cuomo, Kruger’s Attorney React To Corruption Arrests * Sampson Strips Kruger Of Finance Committee Post *Pols Pile On Carl Kruger, William Boyland, Jr. *Gustavo Rivera To Unload Carl Kruger Donations: UPDATE: Democratic Senate Campaign Committee keeping the $ | New Y.. * Sampson: ‘Serious charges,’ Krueger replaces Kruger on Finance (TU) *Kruger Removed As Finance Ranker (Updated) (YNN) * Silver Decries ‘Deplorable’ Actions Of ‘A Few Bad Apples’ (YNN) * About That Carl Kruger Cash... $886,500 to candidates and groups(DN) * US Attorney Lays Out the Case Against Kruger, Boyland and Lipsky; Thousands Found in Lipsky's Pocket: US Attorne... *Cox: Corruption Is A Democratic Problem…Oh, Wait (YNN)
The Moreland Act: Cuomo's Big Stick (True New)
Cuomo Reminds Lawmakers: Ethics Reform Or Moreland Commission (YNN)
Cuomo: Fresh Corruption Arrests Spotlight “Failings” Of Government
Cuomo Vows Personal Push to Legalize Gay Marriage (NYT) * Governor Meets With Gay Activists To Discuss Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage(NY1)
Former gay marriage “No” votes Addabbo and Huntley now undecided
Albany's Class War
Poor
Vs. Rich Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Dems must bag plan to bring back the so-called millionaire's tax (DN Ed) * Tort-bar canard(NYP Ed) * Capitol Confidential » Sixty-eight Assembly dems back tax renewal (TU)
Round II In NYSUT Ad Campaign: ‘I Believed’
“Governor Cuomo. Legislators. I listened when grown-ups said education is the most important thing. How I’d never go anywhere without a good one. I believed that. Believed I could do anything.”
Albany's Class War
Poor
Redesigning Medicaid: "About 8,400 patients receiving home-care services could be booted from the Medicaid rolls for failing to fully disclose family income, under a crackdown by Gov. Cuomo." [Carl Campanile] A legal aid advocacy group says New York is facing a “tsunami” of home foreclosures.* Living in the hustle and bustle of midtown Manhattan comes at a cost, & it looks like it’s only going to get higher * Mayor Bloomberg called on city agencies to cut another $600 million in anticipation of state aid cuts.
Vs. Rich Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Dems must bag plan to bring back the so-called millionaire's tax (DN Ed) * Tort-bar canard(NYP Ed) * Capitol Confidential » Sixty-eight Assembly dems back tax renewal (TU)
Shocking Taxi Refuse to Go to Outer Boroughs
A taxi to the outer boroughs? Good luck Nope. That's what eight out of 10 cabbies told me Wednesday when I tried to hail a taxi to the outer boroughs from midtown. (DN)
Bloomy: City council can take snow plans & shovel 'em! (DN) * Bloomberg Admin Rejects Council Recommendations on Blizzard Response (WNYC)
Officer Snow and Rain Keeps Crime Down
Did a Snowy Winter Prevent Murders? Homicides in New York City plummeted 22% during the first two months of 2011, but it might not have been all the snow that kept crime down. (WSJ)
Subway Crew Suspended(WSJ)
College kids 'catch' cabs Hacks refuse borough fares in sting
Pilot Program To Put Immobilizing Boots On Cars Of Parking Ticket Scofflaws http://bit.ly/eAQyok
St. Vincent's Hospital will rise again: St. Vincent's Hospital announced Thursday that it has forged a partners...
REAKING: Emergency facility to open at former St. Vincent's site (CrainsNY) * North Shore-LIJ Unveils Plans For Future Of St. Vincent's Site (NY1)
Mets' dream price tag is $1.3B: sources Madoff's Ultimate Victim; his daughter-in-law suffers the most tragic fate of all (NYP)
New York Transportation Chief Defends Bike Lanes (NYT)
NYT Rose Color Forecast
New York City Fared Better in Recession Than Thought (NYT)
Brooklyn, Bronx foreclosures surge as citywide rates hold steady (DN) Nearly 1,350 city homeowners received some form of foreclosure notice in February, up 1.3% from January. Brooklyn saw notices rise 13.4% from January and 26.7% from last year to 627. Neighborhoods feeling the pinch include Flatbush, Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York. The Bronx also saw a big jump, with foreclosure notices reaching 216, a 16.1% increase compared with January and a 24.9% jump compared with last year. Baychester and Williamsbridge were two of the worst-hit neighborhoods in the borough.
Teen Faces Assault Charge Following Acid Attack (NY1)
Teen Faces Assault Charge Following Acid Attack (NY1)
Law and Order Sept. 11 pain put FDNY dad on a dark path to death * Standing Guard, and Protecting the Premises (NYT) * Couple's bodies found in car trunk in Brooklyn (DN) * Charge in the Death of a Hamster (NYT) * Scofflaws face boot under city clamp down (DN) * Police Arrest Suspected Bay Ridge Rapist (WPIX) *20 to life in Bx. bar slay (NYP) * 2 Bodies Found in Trunk of Car in Brooklyn (NYT) * New York Times Texas Rape Story Draws Fire(Huff Post) * Brutal knife attack inside beauty salon leaves one woman dead (NYP)
Terrorism King gets support from The Post’s editorial page, columnist Michael Goodwin and the executive director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism. * Michael Daly thinksA USA Today/Gallup poll found 52 percent of Americans support what King is doing. King’s hearings may aid radicals by fueling their message that the US is the enemy. * WATCH: Former Park51 Imam Condemns Islam Hearings
New York City's Ten Worst Tenants: Village Voice (Village Voice)
NPR: Shake-up could have impact on local stations. [Post-Standard]
Wisconsin Senate Limits Bargaining by Public Workers (NYT)
Lawyers Make First Pitches Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam used a "corrupt network" of consultants, company insiders and associates to obtain inside information, generating tens of millions of dollars in illicit profits, a U.S. prosecutor said. (WSJ) * Prosecutor: NYC hedge fund relied on inside tips(WSJ) * Galleon case shows some leaks (NYP)
AOL confirms layoffs of 900 workers; Huffington Post unaffected
Naked cowboy loses legal claim to be sole naked Times Square performer
