Wednesday, March 30, 2011

NYC Parking Meters is Ground Zero for Municipal Corruption

Back to the Future: Parking Meter Corruption Again Bloomberg?

'Public-private' plan to earn more cash from city parking meters has been corrupt for decades

New York City's parking meters have always been the gold mine that brings forth scandal. Back in the 1980s, the Koch administration gave a $22 million contract to a company named Citisource to supply handheld computers for parking enforcement agents. Koch's folks also doled out another contract to an outfit called Datacom to process parking tickets. Both companies, federal prosecutors later revealed, had bribed scores of city officials to land their contracts.

By the time the Parking Violations Bureau scandal was over, Stanley Friedman, Koch's close ally and head of the Bronx Democratic Party, was in jail, along with his sidekick, Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon, and a handful of others. Queens Borough President Donald Manes committed suicide before he could be indicted, and their chief prosecutor, Rudy Giuliani, became a hero.

Tammany Hall Parking Again? Tammany Hall leader Carmine De Sapio steered valuable city contracts for streetlights and parking meters to the Broadway Maintenance Corporation

Mayor Dinkins was forced to cancel the contract after the Department of Investigation revealed that Lockheed colluded with other bidders. The DOI also found several city officials improperly favored Lockheed and that a key City Hall staffer solicited a job with the company during the process. * City exec faces time rap (NYP)

On the Day Koch's Parking Scandal Makes the Papers He Calls the GOP Senate Leader A Disgrace

Redistricting: Koch goes after Skelos; "disgraced himself."

Finishing the Budget in Albany

Cuomo, Albany lawmakers poised for rare early budget Lawmakers started taking up budget bills and hoped to finish all 14 pieces of legislation by Wednesday. (DN) * Members of the state's business community -- whose lobbyists have long complained that New York's economic climate makes it impossible to compete -- finds itself in an unusual situation this year: They're cheering the tentative budget. (IJ) * The American Cancer Society is fuming over the Assembly’s proposal to cut the Tobacco Control Program funding, which finances efforts like anti-smoking ads, from $58.4 million to $41.4 million. They say that’s less than 50% of what funding was in the 2007-08 fiscal year. (CapCon) * Albany lawmakers poised to complete first early budget since 1983 * Ex-Gov. Paterson: Extender bill option my idea. Told Dicker praised him, he said: "Oh my Lord, there is a God." (DN)* Governor Cuomo to New York's Poor and Middle Class: Drop Dead (Mother Jones) * Mayor Bloomberg describes in a DN OpEd how the budget fails NYC.* Protestors will be descending on the Capitol from around the state with plans to “camp out” (or “camp in“, if you prefer) in protest of a budget they consider draconian.* The protestors will bring sleeping bags, s’mores and, of course, many, many signs. Organizers of this Wisconsin-style effort say they’re also planning the latest pizza delivery in Capitol history. (Lawmakers hope to have their work completed by then).* Former Gov. David Paterson takes credit for the all-or-nothing extender bill option that empowered his successor, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.* Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman is not happy with the budget – particulary the $170 million cut to the court system. * Mayor Bloomberg? About That Mailer… (YNN) * Diaz Sr.: Can’t Trust Governor Who Aspires To White House (YNN) * Mother Jones Compares Cuomo to Bush (NYO) * Now, Bloomberg Likes Cuomo (NYO) * Diaz Says Cuomo 'Would Do Anything to Be President' [Video] (NYO) * Are Those Campaign-Style TV Ads Helping? I Don't Know, Says Mayor Bloomberg (DN) * NY Common Cause blasts old style Albany, secret budget process, sham committee hearings, absence of public debate, * Bloomberg's Mailers: Not much feedback. * State Budget: "Regressive" is how New York magazine's Chris Smith described it * tate Budget: "Cuomo, who seemed to get his way on every aspect of the budget." * NYbudget showdown getting ugly: State police won't let pizza deliverymen bring pies into Capitol for protestors. (NYT)

A Contract to Consolidated City Contracts

A Closer Look at the City's Online Learning Contracts

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Former Bloomberg campaign adviser accused of stealing millions not keeping a low profile

His legal team, which includes former New York Attorney General Dennis Vacco, is expected to call former Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey to the stand, as well as Bloomberg confidant Patti Harris and perhaps the mayor himself.

Willowbrook scandal Still Not Solved Three Decades Later

Cuomo to Tighten Requirements for Workers in Homes for Disabled (NYT)

Deutsche Bank Fire Case May Hinge on City’s Role

Feds to suspend bus company involved in deadly New Jersey crash

If You Do the Crime Man Up and Do the Time

Disgraced former Controller Hevesi: I was 'wrong, stupid'(DN)

In a plea for leniency, former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi admitted to “wrong, stupid and improper” behavior.

6 City Numbers Game: First Crime Stats and Education Testing, Now Dropout Rate

High School Graduation Rate in the City Is Lower Than Reported (NYT) * Dropout Rate Higher Than Reported(WSJ)

Amid Layoffs, City to Spend More on School Technology (NYT) * Former PTA Treasurer at Brooklyn School Is Indicted in Theft of $100,000 (NYT) * More homeless kids put schools to test (DN) * Charter may push out special-needs kids (DN) * City gives autistic fifth-graders at PS 4 mainstream entree to Paulo Intermediate School (SI Advance) * Alarming stat. As many as 65,000 city students are homeless -- up 7 % from last year.(DN)* Some Rabbinical Students to Get State Tuition Aid )NYT) * 3,100 kindergartners waitlisted at local schools; up by 1,000 from last year (DN)

Wolfson: Distract the Public from Budget Cuts

Promoting Bicycle Lanes as if They Were on the Ballot(NYT)

Bloomberg’s “savviest political strategist,” Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, was tapped to lead a stepped-up PR blitz in favor of bike lanes.

5 Power Head Loses Power

Pressure mounts for embattled NYPA CEO Richie Kessel

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How Must Staff Do the DA's Devote to Their Political Corruption Unit? . . . Do They Have One?

Cruise Control As Johnson, Brown and Donovan cruise to re-election, not even clear successors emerge

(DN) * NYC Snow Plow Hits Car Again, On The Same Street! [VIDEO]

Weiner roasted as Capitol scofflaw king

Trump vs. Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Taxis Threatened Over Disabilities Part of New York's taxi fleet is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, an Upper East Side assemblyman claimed in a letter sent Tuesday to the Department of Justice. If federal lawyers agree, the city's ambitious plan to pick a single vehicle as the city's only approved taxi could be in danger. (WSJ) * Taxis Spar on Van(WSJ)

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Has the Kruger Corruption Scandal Dried Up Ratner's Money

Ratner Sells Shopping-Center StakeForest City Ratner has sold a 49% stake in 15 shopping centers scattered throughout the metropolitan area in a deal that values the retail portfolio at $852 million. (WSJ)

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A Plan to End the WTC Mosque War

Planners of Mosque Considering New Project A new interfaith cultural center on the site (NYT) * Former World Trade Center mosque imam plans new facility (DN) * Early NYC Islamic center backers have new vision (WABC)

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The Gambler From Kingsbridge to 2013, Ruben Diaz, Jr. doubles down on his future(CHN)

Obama In Manhattan

Hours before Obama's scheduled arrival at a $30,800-a-plate fundraiser, neighborhood residents still gathered early in hopes of catching a glimpse of the president. (WNYC) * The fund-raiser at the new and wildly popular Red Rooster restaurant was expected to raise about $1.5 million for the DNCNYT) * President Visits New York City For Dedication Ceremony, Fundraiser (NY1)

Jon Stewart Was NOT Impressed With President Obama’s Libya Speech

Mad Hatter Chuck Has One To Many News Press Events

Knucklehead Chuck Caught telling Dems how to smear Tea Party

Snake Trap

Mice try in search for cobra (NYP) * Missing Snake Takes Twitter by Storm (WNBC)

Close the LMDC now Will no one rid New York of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp...

Law and Order City ghouls shock grieving family at wake (NYP) * After 9 Bank Holdups and Much Publicity, a Suspect Is Caught (NYT) * Police Say Woman Picked Many Pockets in Chinatown (NYT) * 'Holiday Bandit' Arrested(NYT) * 'Holiday Bandit' Arrested After Alleged Bank Heist (WSJ) * Father mourns as waiter shot in mugging dies (DN) * Man charged with arson for smearing flaming feces on door (DN) * Kleptomaniac ' Robin Hood ' faces jail (DN) * Facebook Sued by Murder Victim’s Family Over Photo (NYT) * Pimping suspect pleads guilty in NYC Taylor case (WABC) * So-Called "Holiday Bandit" Arrested In Queens

Gay man brutally beaten by 'cowards' at McDonald's; cops investigating as hate crime (DN) * West Village Attack Probed As Possible Hate Crime (NY1) * City Welfare Worker Accused Of Sexually Abusing Teen (NY1) * Thugs hunted in bodega robberies (DN) * Insurer Ordered to Pay in Murder(WSJ) * Possible human remains found near NY search site(WSJ) * Authorities find remains on L.I. beach that could be work of serial killer of prostitutes (DN) * It's 'granny' larceny in Chinatown (NYP) * 'Perv' priest sues victim (NYP) * Murdered son was robbed: dad (NYP) * Rape-cop raps get pared down (NYP) * Bx. 'beatdown' cops on trial(NYP) * The Race(!) to the Budget Deadline (NYT) * Cops arrest 16 people in $8M marijuana ring(NYP)

CNN Soars, MSNBC Stumbles: See The Top 30 Cable News Shows

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Who Would Have Thought American Robots Rescue Japan

U.S. sending robots to Japan to help prevent total meltdown at plant (DN) * Where are the robots at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant? * Trace Levels of Radiation Found in New York (WNBC) *President Of Company Behind Japan Nuclear Power Plant Hospitalized

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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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