All Three Newspapers Have Blasted the Election Fix.
Albany Where A Third of the Pols Where Chosen By Political Bosses Does Nothing
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5NYP: Undemocratic Boss Lopez Picks Fidler , True News: Fidler, Kruger and Lopez Abused Member Items Funds
The parties vs. the people (NYP) No wonder Kruger-style corruption pervades New York politics: “Elected” officials owe their jobs more to the power brokers who install them than to actual voters. ating power serves no one but them. This time, notably, instead of Crowley, it’ll be Assemblyman Vito Lopez and the Brooklyn machine he runs that bless Fidler for the Dems. Lopez, recall, lords over a social-service empire, the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, that’s been the focus of recent city, state and federal investigations.* New York's Especially Undemocratic Elections - NYTimes.com
This scam (special elections) is even worse in state races in New York. Citizens Union reported recently that a third of the Legislature was first anointed as candidates in these back-room, special-election deals. * Pork Pig Fidler's Media Friends Put Lipstick On Him | Room Eight * Cuomo bowed to party bosses in setting rigged elections to fill congressional, Assembly seats(NYDN Ed) * Vito Lopez Uses Government Funds to Run His Machine (True News) * Fidler likely GOP opponent Storobin’s article, “New York Dems Divide and Conquer Conservative Immigrant Group.”.
Espada in new ethics tangle (TU) The state’s legislative ethics panel found in its final investigation that ex-state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. put his uncle on the state payroll, which could result in another criminal charge* Espada’s Family Ties(YNN) * Ethics panel finds that Pedro Espada broke law by hiring uncle(NYP)
“I am here to represent the people of my district,” repeated to reporters in Albany during his first public appearance since his arrest last week. “I am here to do my job and that’s what I’m doing.” Kruger, March 15, 2011
Liu What Me Worry Liu has told supporters that he is not worried about a federal investigation into his campaign fundraising and assures them that he will not be implicated. * As Inquiry Widens, Comptroller Is Busy Showing That All Is Calm (NYT) * “They’re dropping these all over the place' an Asian cmnty leader from Flushing said of the subpoenas"
A Bum Keeps His Pension
Kruger’s five-figure prison stay (Brooklyn Paper) Albany's Blue Wall and press enables stops Kruger Fellow Pols From Condemning His Actions True News: Pols Blue Wall of Silence Enabled By the Media
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5Bronx DA fear is that if one of the probed officers is called to testify, his credibility would be called into question, potentially dooming the case
NYPD police officers probed in the ticket-fixing scandal are being culled by the Bronx D.A.’s office, which could drop or alter cases since the cops’ credibility could be called into question if they testify.
‘Dirty-cop’ cases gumming up Bronx works (NYP) The NYPD ticket-fixing scandal has slowed the wheels of justice in The Bronx — as prosecutors move to plead out or even drop cases involving cops caught on wiretap,According to a law-enforcement source, the “prosecutors are trying to plead out the cases or dismiss the charges altogether, depending on the severity.”
B’klyn Congressman overpaying for car lease(NYP) Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn) has one of the most expensive taxpayer-financed car leases in Congress, The Post has learned.
Silver Gambles to Support His Peeps in the Catskills
Democrats may say no dice to New York casinos, Sheldon Silver warns (NYDN) Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said his Democratic caucus may not support an expansion of Vegas-style gambling, particularly within the borders of New York City * Silver, who has long backed a casino in the Catskills(NYP) *Bloomberg Would Let It Ride On NYC Casino(NYDN)* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver dropped his longtime opposition to a New York City casino.
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State Out of Grease?The News’ Bill Hammond says Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s deals on taxis, the tax code and the MTA payroll tax rollback were greased by new revenues, but it will be harder to “squeeze money out of an oversized state government” * Mastering Albany is not the same as changing it.* Mayor Bloomberg Supports Key Aspects of Cuomo’s Agenda (NYO) * Mayor Bloomberg insists he and Gov. Andrew Cuomo are like two peas in an technocratic, socially liberal, fiscally rational pod.
Live Longer In New York
So didn't you know? NYC is good for you @katetaylornyt Life expectancy NYC 80.6 years, compared to 77.7 in 2000, National rate of 78.2 yrs* Bloomberg: New Yorkers' Life Expectancy At All-Time High(NY1)
Daily News Says Just let the liveries pick up street hails
Gov. Cuomo’s taxi plan is more of a mess than a solution(NYDN)
azipaybarah Azi Paybarah (Twitter) .Koch's Operations Director, Harvey Robins Comments
An Unusual Straight Talker Is Back in Good Voice and Looking at City Hall (NYT) * Michael Powell writes: “(Bloomberg) and (Cuomo) too often view talk of failure as an ice bath to be avoided. Their default position is triumphalism.”
powellnyt Michael Powell (Twitter) No spin, no baloney, bearded & profane municipal monk talks straight about our two-tiered city in my Gotham column: de Blasio Plants Two Stories Today - Poor Housing an Unenforced Idling Law
NIGHTMARE BUILDING: 245 Sullivan Place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, tops Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio's list of city's worst buildings and landlords(NYDN)* Advocates: NYC Idling Law Not Being Enforced, Children Put Children At Risk(WCBS)* Public Advocate Releases City's Worst Landlords Watchlist
Sunset Park Head Start Parents Outraged over program cuts (NYDN)
Daily News Blasts Secret Teachers Pension
The state’s Teacher Retirement System should disclose the size of its pensions since taxpayers fund them, despite a legal ruling for police officer pensions that is setting a precedent for more privacy(NYP)
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NYC School Spending Back to Court
School Spending Under Microscope (WSJ)
We are Still Paying for Last Winters Snow Storm
Snow Stuck Train
Subway blizzard snow $uit (NYP) Passengers stuck in a subway for eight hours during last year’s Christmas blizzard are suing the MTA, with an attorney taking the case pro bono to spur the MTA to prevent such problems in the future. * Comptroller: Last Year's Christmas Blizzard Cost City About $2M In Settlements(NY1) * Furious passengers who spent eight nightmarish hours “imprisoned’’ on a subway train to nowhere during the 2010 Christmas weekend blizzard are suing the MTA.
The NYC Parks Department is blaming ConEd for its inability to fulfill Bloomberg’s promise to bring an ice rink to Van Cortlandt Park.
Hospital Must Close for New Tech Campus
Roosevelt Island patient exodus Rush to empty hosp (NYP) Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to open a science campus on Roosevelt Island is dependent on a hospital there relocating 500 patients by the end of 2013.
Outrage over caged Wall Street bull(NYP)
2011 Corporate Scandals In Review: Wall Street Full Of Dreams, Schemes(NY1)
Lynn Samuels, a Brash Radio Talker, Dies at 69(NYT)
One Week to Go
Ron Paul's Long Record of Glorious Failures in Congress (The Atlantic Wire) Ron Paul has sponsored 620 bills in his career. Only one has ever become law * As Iowa Caucus Nears, G.O.P. Race Is Still Up in the Air(NYT) * Political Struggle in Congress Delayed, Not Resolved(NYT) * Gingrich Applauded Romney Health Plan(WSJ) * Keeping College Students From the Polls(NYT) * Obama flying high following payroll tax cut victory over Republicans (NYDN) * How Newt Gingrich Crashed and Burned When He Was House Speaker(The Daily Beast) * Romney & the Iowa Expectations Game - Cillizza & Blake, Washington Post * Why Romney's Electability Is a Myth - John Hawkins, Townhall * Romney Now the Near-Inevitable Nominee - Nate Silver, New York Times * Ron Paul Is a 9/11 Truther & That Disqualifies Him - Bryan Preston, PJM * Job Creation Is the Price of ObamaCare - Andrew Puzder, Bloomberg * Why a Health Care Mandate Is Necessary - Jonathan Cohn, New Republic * President Enjoys Jump in Approval Ratings - Klatell & Swanson, The Hill * WSJ Uncovers 2006 Newsletter That Shows Newt Gingrich A Romneycare Super-Fan * Obama, Truman, and the 'Do-Nothing' Congress* Gingrich: I Couldn’t Vote for Ron Paul
Gingrich Defended Individual Mandate
In Congress Its Not the 1% Its the 47% Who Are Millionaires
Wealth Gap Widens Between Lawmakers, Constituents(Huff Post)* 25 richest members of Congress(Wash Post) * Boston Globe Calls for Ban on Congressional Insider Trading
Law and Order
New dirt on pervy UWS super(NYP) * Police Seek Separate Hit-And-Run Drivers In Bronx, Brooklyn (NY1) * Off-Duty Officer's Delayed Blood-Alcohol Test Under Investigation (NY1)* Man ‘kills’ stepson(NYP) * Alcohol test for NYPD officer questioned(WABC) * Bronx Man Charged With Assault After Infant Dies(NBC)* New Blue Learn About City's Diverse Needs(NY1)
Another round of 2012 predictions Gotham Gazette
2011 in Review: Top NYC stories (NYPD)
2011 Year in Review: Biggest New York Stories (WNYC)
New York Daily News Top 100 Photos from 2011: A Year In Review(NYDN)
A Look At The Top New York Stories Of The Year(Huff Post)
Politico’s Ben Smith Explains Buzzfeed Move To A Confused Howard Kurtz
benpolitico Ben Smith (Twitter) .The Sinking Times
