Monday, August 22, 2011

It Turner Pull an Upset in the 9th There is A Second Message

Requiem For Heavyweight Political Machines?

Everyone knows about Ed Koch's desire to send a message to Obama about his Israel policy by helping Turner pull an upset over Weprin.  What has not been focused on is what effect a Weprin loss will have on exposing the weakness of the corrupt Democratic machine political leaders of both Brooklyn Vito Lopez and Queens Joe Crowley.  Both men control tiny groups of pols and consultants who grow rich by controlling political parties and the election law.  A Turner win will give newspapers, reforms and good government groups a chance to break up the corrupt Lopez and Crowley machines.  The embarrassment will be something to see.  Why keep corrupt political machines that cannot deliver votes?  It is crazy that a Turner  GOP win could have more impact on breaking up the corrupt machine, that newspaper editorials, reformers and good government group have failed at, making the NYC's political parties more democratic.  


Can Corrupt Boss Lopez Deliver the Vote?
Boss Lopez who is under federal investigation for use of government money to run his political organization the non profit Bushwick Senior Citizens. Lopez has it all on the line by supporting Weprin and Espinal in the 54AD.  Since Lopez does not have much support or troops in the Weiner district he is counting on the home club of Carl Kruger the Thomas Jefferson Club(TJ).  The Brooklyn machines has it work cut out for themselves since the first poll taken a couple of weeks ago just as the campaign was getting started showed Turner 6% ahead in Brooklyn.



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Old Bull Meade Esposito Had A Vote For His Guys
The TJ club is held together also by government funds pumped to them by Kruger and Lew Fidler.  Lopez and the club has lost a lot of races in the past few years. Yassky for Comptroller, Kathleen Rice for AG, both surrogate court positions in Brooklyn and even his home council district.  Yet mayoral candidates keep meeting with Lopez and the TJ club in hopes of an endorsement.   Speaker Quinn keep sending member items to Lopez and the TJ Club trying to lock in their support.  
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The Political Bosses Smoke and Mirror Operations Will Be Exposed By Defeat 
A win by Turner and maybe even the clueless souls running for mayor might get it that the TJ clubs endorsement are not worth what they were in the old days when Meade Esposito and Tony Genovese. In other words a Turner win will make it clear that political machines can no longer deliver a vote. Lopez and Crowley play a smoke and mirror game.  Gaining their power from Tammany Hall election and party rules. If Lopez candidate loses in the 54AD it will be time to examine how much Williamsburg and Bushwick gentrification has cut into the Brooklyn Bosses ability to deliver his base.  
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Crowley Money Machine Fueled By 100 Year Old Unchanged Tammany Hall Rules and Laws
Crowley Lives in Virginia
Boss Joe Crowley and his mini-Me Evan Stavisky the president of the Parkside Group have even more to lose than the Brooklyn machine if Turner wins.  They have been racking in millions from the pols and Queens courts.  Like the Brooklyn machine, Crowley and Stavisky have lost a lot of races in the past few years but the media never notices.  In 2009 they lost 5 of the 6 city council candidates they supported in the primary.  The way both the borough machines prosper is in there total control of incumbent elections, judicial elections, the Board of elections and the election law which was written 100 years ago by Tammany Hall leaders.  Crowley uses the special election law to control who gets elected in Queens. State lawmakers leave in retirement in the middle or their term or go to jail also in the middle of their term.   If Crowley's pick for Weiner seat Weprin loses it will be such an embarrassment to the Democratic Party that it will put pressure on Albany to change the special election law that the NYT calls Scams and Undemocratic. Crowley will be attacked by fellow democrats in Washington who would say that the winner of a contested Democratic Primary would never lose in such a safe democratic seat.

Stavisky Organized Crime Looting of Government and Politics are Enabled By the Press and the Queens Organization
Maybe reporters that flack for the Parkside Group will begin asking if they can win the big races. More  and More Flack   Last year they were paid over $2 million by the Democratic State Senate PAC to lose control of the senate.  They were in the middle of the City Council member items slush fund corruption.  Perhaps a newspaper will print a story about how Evan Stavisky wife is the Democratic leader from Rockland County while Evan is a district leader in 26th Assembly District in Queens.



NYT is Suprised to Find Anger At Obama in the 9th District - Sitting Around the Office to Long Guys?

In the Race to Succeed Weiner, a Surprising Anger at Obama(NYT) The race has become something far more unsettling to Democrats: a referendum on the president and his party that is highlighting the surprisingly raw emotions of the electorate.  *  Weiner seat in GOP $ight Here Comes the Cash (NYP) * Firefighters endorse Dem Weprin for Weiner's seat (NYDN) * Turner Tells Weprin to Apologize to Ed Koch(NYO) *  The not-entirely dead NY Sun newspaper endorses  * NY-9: “The protest announced yesterday drew just three attendees.” [Colby Hamilton / WNYC]  * Before NY-9 Faceoff, Mayor Bloomberg Weighs In (NYDN) *Turner, Weprin have first debate in race for Weiner's seat(NYP)

 "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position." Geraldine A. Ferraro

Is The New York Times Completely out of Touch With New York City? (Brooklyn Ron)

 

Azi Paybarah (Twitter)

Comedy Central on @'s impact on NY-9: "he's starting 2 lose races in which he's not even a candidate."

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NY AG pressured by Obama admin HUD sec (& Blmberg admin vet) Donovan to drop oppo to mortgage fraud settlmt. Says no. 

Attorney General of N.Y. Is Said to Face Pressure on Bank Foreclosure Deal Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York is under pressure from the Obama administration to drop opposition to a state settlement with banks over foreclosure practices. (NYT)



 

 

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 Pay to Play Monserrate Carnival Dunk Tank 

Carnival's honcho bribed Hiram: feds An amusement company has been charged with participating in a pay-to-play game by bribing disgraced former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate for help in getting permits to run carnivals (NYP) * FL man accused of bribing (already indicted) ex-Sen. Monserrate to get carnival permits; wrote checks to nonprofit.

 

 

 

 

Allegations of Test-tampering Has Tripled Since Bloomberg To Over BOE

City Reports Increase in Allegations of Cheating by Educators(NYT) * Annual allegations of test-tampering and grade-changing by educators have more than tripled since Mayor Bloomberg over the NYC school system.

 

 

 

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Dangerous 'hoods Crime stats on rise in 9 precincts

 

 

 


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The Bronx Is Growing and Staying Poor

Making Census Of It: Bronx Population Grows, Yet Poverty Remains(NY1)

 

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Times Union Wants Cuomo to Force the State Board of Elections to Enforce the Election Law

The Times-Union blasts the state Board of Election for its lax enforcement system, and calls on Cuomo and the Legislature to pass campaign finance reform (TU)

 

 

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State Democratic Leader Jay Jacobs Days Numbered

Dicker also says that the long-rumored ouster of New York Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is now not going to happen

On December 6th True News Said

NYS Democratic Leader Jay Jacobs Will Have To Go

Because of the lost of the state senate and almost all the races on Long Island his home base 


 

 


State GOP chair Ed Cox seems to be cruising to another two-year term, despite months of grumbling  about his stewardship of the state party, the Times-Union reports: 







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Top Rudy Aid Tell NYP's Dicker Perry Giuliani 2013

GOP big pushes Giuliani for vice prez(NYP) Former state Republican chair Bill Powers is pitching Rudy Giuliani as Texas Gov. Rick Perry's running mate, telling Fred Dicker that such a move could put such states as Pennsylvania and Ohio in play for the GOP,





Is Pataki Trying to Push Rudy Out of the Presidential Race?

Two New Yorkers Running Not Happening

The news that former Gov. George Pataki is close to launching a bid for president in 2012 provoked a skeptical reaction for some state Republicans, who think his Medicaid spending and generosity to unions will play against him (NYDN) * "Federal debt runup was rivaled only by what we did in NY under Pataki," said GOP Assemblyman Kirwan * Pataki Considers 2012 Run For President(NY1)


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Cuomo Masters the Unions
Labor: Cuomo’s CSEA contract “go[es] far beyond anything Bloomberg ever achieved with city unions.” [Michael Goodwin / NY Post]






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Daily News Agrees With Cuomo and Paterson administration DiNapoli is "Chip Balls"
The Daily News mocks State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's audit of the Port Authority's overtime as akin to "firing pop guns at charging grizzly bears," arguing such costs have little to do with the agency's cash crunch * The DN slams state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for focusing on “small-bore auditing” when he should be going for bigger targets.


Last Week the NYP said state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is regularly referred to in the Cuomo administration as "CB" - short for "chipmunk balls" - for not standing stronger with the governor:




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Espinal Running for Assembly on the Government Payroll
Earlier this week, we wrote about how Assembly candidate Rafael Espinal was spending far less than his rival candidates because his campaign was mostly staffed by governmental employees for Councilman Erik Martin Dilan and staffers for State Sen. Martin Dilan. One aspect we failed to point out is that Espinal, who serves as chief of staff for Councilman Dilan, himself continues to get paid a full Council salary while campaigning for office. Espinal did not take a leave of absence while running for Assembly, according to city payroll records.

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Broke MTA Wastes Money On Uniforms While Workers Want More $$$

The TWU’s contract with the MTA runs out Jan. 15

MTA blowing cash on fashion statement The cash-strapped agency is shelling out more than $106,000 on uniforms for station repairmen, although they have done just fine for years wearing their own clothes (NYP) * TWU won't rule out bus and subway strike (NYDN) * Train Line Far From Arrival Has a Color to Be Noticed(NYT) * Report: MTA projects behind schedule, over budget(ABC)

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The Cuomo administration is pursuing a case against an OPWDD whistleblower, even as it works to overhaul the agency 

N.Y. Still Pursues Case Against Whistle-Blower An employee who has criticized the management of the state’s disabilities office sees an attempt at retribution. (NYT)









Yetta Kurland The DA is Investigating If St. Vincent's Administrators Purposefully Ran the Hospital Into the Ground  . . .    Why Have Our Elected Officials Not Held Hearing?
You may have read the article (link) in the NY Post yesterday announcing that the District Attorney’s Office is investigating the closing of St. Vincent’s and whether those in charge purposefully ran the hospital into the ground.   I applaud the courageous efforts of the District Attorney to shed much needed sunshine on a story that has been swept under the rug, I hope this begins the process of getting answers to questions the community has been asking since the hospital wrongfully closed over a year and a half ago.  It is a testament to the incredible hard work of so many community members who continue to stand up and speak truth to power in the face of real estate interests, even when our elected officials have been unable to do so.

The Power of the Rudin Family $$$
Campaign Contributions Over New Yorkers Health

But here is another opportunity for our elected leaders.  Certainly the Rudin Family wields great political power. But sometimes, the necessity to speak the truth and serve justice is more important than political safety.  Will our Assemblymember who chairs the Health Committee hold a hearing to investigate the facts?  Will our State Senator who recently headed the Senate’s health committee call for an investigation?  Will our Congressmember who worked hard to secure millions of dollars for St. Vincent’s Hospital call for an investigation?   Will our Attorney General, whose job it is to protect the public and public assets like St. Vincent’s, hold an investigation?  Will our Governor, who has proven himself a leader, and who understands that if this can happen in the West Village in Manhattan it can and will happen anywhere in New York State, investigate? Yetta Kurland, Coalition for a New Village Hospital





Queens Plaza is pretty damn loud (WSJ)

 

 

 



The Democrat and Chronicle says Cuomo isn’t living up to his campaign pledge to “fight” for redistricting reform, insists he should call the Legislature back to Albany for a vote.

 

 

Chock full of 'knots' One in four New York newlyweds is gay. Since same-sex marriage went into effect July 24, roughly 1,400 gay couples have tied the knot citywide,..(NYP)




 

 

NJ No Money for a Tunnel But $$$ for A Private Amusement Mall?

Mall Seeks Public Aid The new developers of a massive New Jersey amusement and retail project say they are looking for tax breaks and other public assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The partially-constructed project now stands stalled. (WSJ)

 

 

 

Time-Lapse Video of the 9/11 MemorialSet to Open in 2 Weeks (NBC)




With the city's red-light cameras bringing in $52 million in fines last year, the pressure is on in Albany to add some 40 more

Red-light cameras around NYC bring in $52 million from naughty city drivers(NYDN)

* Red Lights Cameras: “I think we should have them on every corner,” Bloomberg. said. [Rich Lamb / CBS]

 




It’s a grave error Coffin squeeze ruined wife’s plot in Cypress Hills Cemetery : hubby(NYP)



















Breaking

law enforcement source said "Every time [#DSK accuser] was confronted with her lies, she would blame someone else" 

DA filing to reveal new 'bombshells' about DSK accuser's credibility(NYP) * Strauss-Kahn Case Is Said to Be Set for Dismissal(NYT) * Housekeeper’s Lawyer Says He Will Seek a Special Prosecutor(NYT) * Strauss-Kahn Case May Be Dropped(WSJ) * AP source: NY DA likely to drop Strauss-Kahn case * Dominique Strauss-Kahn may not be guilty of sexual assault, but he is guilty of being a creep (NYDN) * Perkins to Cy Vance: DSK Dismissal Would Be A Travesty(NYO) * DSK motion says rips in her stockings may just have been "defects."(NBC)



DA is targeting me for rape because jury acquitted those other two cops, officer says(NYDN)


Young Bronx Woman Dies In Crossfire Sunday(WCBS








NJ hubby got $2M share of apt. building before wife's murder(NYP) * Victim's Relatives Tried to Intervene(WSJ) * Husband accused of orchestrating wife's death abused her: kin (NYDN)




More Clashes After Rebels Sweep Tripoli(NYT) * Two Qaddafi Sons Have Been Detained(NYT)








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 More Local TV News: Where is the Journalism?

Local TV Newscasts Expanding(NYT)

 True News Dumbing Down Local TV News

 

 

 

 

 

Letterman jokes about al Qaeda in first show since threat(NYP) * Media Decoder: Letterman Responds to Threats(NYT)

 

 

Is the NYT  Looking to Compete With Murdoch For Education Business 

JUST ANNOUNCED: SchoolBook -- a project of and covering NYC schools. Data+News+Community.  

 

 

Goldman CEO Lawyers Up (Reuters) * Goldman Chief Gets a Defense Lawyer (NYT)

Books: One-time Paterson aide Judy Smith writing about communication industry. [Page Six / NY Post]

 

 

 

 

 

Rare display of affection as Bill and Hillary stroll arm in arm down the street (but he's clearly not lost his eye for the ladies) (Mail Online)