If Cuomo Veto's the Member Items Pork Hidden by Silver and Skelos Why Does the Media Allow Council Speaker Quinn to Continue the Incumbent Practice Without A Peep?
What Ever Happen to the City Council Slush Fund Investigation? (True News)
Cuomo Cuts Member Items
Pork over a barrel: Andy(NYP) * Sen. Tony Avella on Cuomo’s member items vetoes: “There’s is a difference between governing and bullying, and I think we’ve crossed that line.”
Judge Rules For Senate GOP - 63 Seat Consdtitutional
Document Drop: Creating 63rd State Senate Seat Not Unconstitutional, Judge Says; Dems Denied(NYDN) * Court Rules For Senate GOP In 63rd Senate Seat Suit (Updated) * Order approves creation of 63rd Senate district(TU) * Lawsuit Against 63rd Senate Seat Dismissed; Democrats Vow to Appeal(NYO) * Democrats lose fight against 63rd Senate seat(Albany Watch)
4
4
4Bloomberg Leaving on A Jet Helicopter
In His Helicopter, Bloomberg Can Rule Skies, and Even Get to Albany(NYT) Bloomberg, a helicopter enthusiast, is on the waiting list to purchase the ultra exclusive AgustaWestland AW609 Tiltrotor hybrid helicopter-plane, costing somewhere between $5 million and $30 million
Campaign 2012: What About the Cities Climbing 9.6% Unemployment Rate
Quinn's Kiss to Unions Which Only Effects 400 Workers is A Campaign Spin A Message of Cooperation With the Unions
With Tweaks, Quinn’s Living-Wage Bill Aims Lower(NYT)The revised living wage bill in the City Council has been narrowed down to only impact 400 to 500 workers a year, leaving some advocates confused by Speaker Christine Quinn’s description of the measure as farthest-reaching in the country. We certainly will go to court and sue," Mayor Michael Bloomberg on living wage legislation that City Council plans to pass.*
Bloomberg Support Communist Quinn For Mayor
Mayor Bloomberg Says Living Wage Bill Reminds Him Of Communist Russia(NYO) * Bloomberg vowed to fight the living wage bill in court, adding: “The last time we really had a big managed economy was the USSR, and that didn’t work out so well.” * Christine Quinn is delicately distancing herself from Bloomberg.* Bloomberg: Living Wage Is Like Communism (NY Magazine) * Bloomberg vows to fight 'living wage' by extraordinary means, despite Quinn's support for(Capital) * Bloomberg will fight the Quinn-backed legislation in court. [David Seifman] * Bloomberg said the legislation would discourage businesses from opening here. [NY1]
Pataki Forms N.Y. Elections Super PAC(WSJ) Former Gov. George Pataki is forming a Super PAC to help protect vulnerable New York Congressional Republicans and boost his party’s chances of retaining control of the U.S. House * Mirram Group signs on to help Sen Espaillat's bid to unseat Rep Rangel(NYP) * Rangel nets 2nd Dem Club backing from 3 Parks Independent Dems. Got 4x as many votes as No. 2, Joyce Johnson. Espaillat came in 3rd. * Tom Allon’s Journey To The Holy Land(NYO) * The possible scenarios if Towns or Charlie Rangel don’t seek re-election. * Rep. Joe Crowley has little opposition -- and lots of campaign cash. (NYO) * Charlie Rangel Raises Only $67,273 (NYO) *Espaillat runs against Rangel as the young guy; Williams runs against Rangel as the competent (Capital) * Will Dilan Defeat Velazquez? El Diario La Prensa
5
5
5More Evidence of Billion Dollar 911 Fix Up Failure
THE FIRE UNION has gotten roughly 1,600 complaint reports from its members since early 2009 about bunk info provided to FDNY crews by the city’s revamped 911 system
4\
4
4 New Tech DOIT Commissioner Out
Emergency system spewing bogus information (NYDN) Correction Log Sheets dispatching wrong data * 911 SOS: Taxpayers hit with bill (NYP)
Pay to Play Yankee Stadium
Pay to Play Yankee Stadium Boilers On Deck Seabrook
Yanks hit big blasts with local political donations (NYDN) The Center for Working Families says the Yankees contributed a total of $25,600 between 2003 and 2006 to city and state lawmakers key to theStadium development. In addition, the team gave $50,000 to the Bronx Democratic County Committee between 2005 and 2010 and $18,000 to then-Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno between 2006 and 2008. Assemblyman Jose Rivera, who used to head the Bronx Democratic committee, and his children received $8,850 from the team between 2006 and 2008. In a new report released in time for Opening Day, the Center for Working Families says the Yankees contributed considerable campaign cash to city and state lawmakers key to development of the new stadium. * Yankee execs will testify against Councilman Larry Seabrook (NYP) * CWF: What Yankees gave, got when building stadium(TU)
Dicker A Reporter Close to Cuomo to Write A Book About Him
Dicker gets deal to write bio of Cuomo(NYP) .@fud31 nets 6-figure deal w/HarperCollins to pen Cuomo bio. Unlike Shnayerson, Dicker to get "cooperation" from admin. The Post’s Fred Dicker landed a six-figure deal with HarperCollins (owned by the Post) to pen Cuomo’s bio. The book is due out in mid-2013 – just as Cuomo is preparing to seek re-election. Unlike Vanity Fair writer Michael Shnayerson, who signed his own deal two months ago, Dicker will have the full cooperation of the governor and his staff. To clarify: The Cuomo admin says that while it will cooperate w/ Dicker, it did not give him permission to write the book. * Gov. Andrew Cuomo biographer’s Fred Dicker lashed out during his radio show at NYT reporters who questioned his deal to pen what he says is NOT an officially sanctioned tome about the governor.* Another Cuomo Biography Is Announced(NYT)* An online poll of possible book titles for Fred Dicker’s Cuomo bio. *Fred Dicker’s previous bouts: the scorecard (updated with video)(TU) * Fred Dicker To Write Biography Of Andrew Cuomo: The Bromance Continues (Village Voice)
Cuomo Sends Message to Senate Democrats to STFU
NYP Says Good Andrew, bad Andrew
The Post says Gov. Andrew Cuomo is suffering from a split personality, doing good deeds like vetoing pork projects, and contemplating bad ones, like restricting the public’s access to teacher evaluation data. * Sen. Kevin Parker is demanding his pork back from Cuomoanaged economy was the USSR, and that didn’t work out so well.” * Tony Avella wonders why Andrew Cuomo can find money for Black Rock but not for little league.
NY Healthcare Exchange
Cuomo Acts to Advance Health Law in New York(NYT) After the Republican-controlled New York Senate declined to consider a health insurance exchange, the governor issued an executive order to create it within the State Health Department. * Governor Cuomo Creates State Health Care Exchange With Executive Order(NY1)* 
Cuomo says OK to Obama health plan(NYDN)The state has already received almost $40 million worth of federal planning and setup grants to start the exchange. It has until June to apply for an even more lucrative set of second-stage grants.* Cuomo gave state agencies another month to come up with ways to monitor executive compensation to contractors. (LoHud)
A few words in the state budget will allow BlackRock, the world’s largest investment manager, to save $5 million by being taxed as a regular corporation and not a bank, the Times Union reports. It is unclear, though, what other firms could take advantage of the budget tweak
A Loser of the Week (City and State)
Michael Nussbaum – From the moment that Jeffrey Gottlieb entered the Congressional District 6 race, there was talk that he was running as a stalking horse for Grace Meng.
And those suspicions have only grown after Meng’s campaign admitted that Nussbaum, its main consultant, encouraged another Jewish candidate, Matthew Silverstein to run. Meng’s campaign insists it was all in jest, but that’s much different from what Silverstein has told people about the conversation. It’s unwanted attention for a political operative that got some unwanted attention during the 2009 elections as well. More of this weeks City and State Winners and Losers
The Queens Tribune Does The Gottlieb Controversy, But No Nussbaum
The Queens Tribune today reports on the controversy surrounding Jeffrey Gottlieb’s entry into the Congressional District 6 race, and the paper plays it pretty straight – though it does decline to mention that the paper’s associate publisher, Michael Nussbaum, was a big part of the story this week.* True News: A Takeover Of Journalism by Lobbyist and Politicians
Education
The Anxiety of Kindergarten Waiting Lists(WSJ) * Letter grades lower at schools with black, Hispanic students(NYDN) * Pol a charter ‘fool’(NYP) Critics blast bill to veto school locations * Explainer: How City Teachers Are Punished(WNYC) * G&T: More test-takers score high & qualify(Inside Schools) * Bloomberg, unsalaried mayor, on teachers: 'You take the king's shilling you become the king's(Capital)
A former NYC Parks Department employee was indicted on charges of bid-rigging and accepting bribes.
There's A Brush Fire In Central Park (Gothamist) * FDNY Extinguishes Fire At Central Park Composting Site (NY1)
Mike Bloomberg dropped his Fresh Kills waste to energy plan after protests. * City drops Fresh Kills from waste-to-energy plan (Crains NY)
A Leader of Schools Is Indicted for Fraud(NYT) * School Official Charged(WSJ) The founder and former chief executive of a troubled charter-school network in Brooklyn was indicted Thursday on charges that he repeatedly failed to pay income taxes, embezzled money from his schools and created phony records. * Brooklyn Charter School Founder Accused Of Fraud, Tax Evasion(NY1) * School CEO a ‘tax cheat’(NYP)
U.S. Judge Rejects Officer’s Lawsuit on Quotas(NYT)
Bryant Park installs electrical outlets(NYDN)
Occupy the Sidewalk
Evicted From Park, Occupy Protesters Take to Sidewalks(NYT) * Occupy Protesters Sleep On Financial District Sidewalks(NY1)
5
55
5Liu Hang In to His Job and Get Good Press
Audits Find Flaws in City’s Property Assessments(NYT) The city’s Finance Department didn’t warn homeowners about changes in its assessment methods, and it relied too much on a flawed computer system, Comptroller John C. Liu found. A pair of audits by Comptroller John Liu found that the Bloomberg administration failed to notify homeowners about changes to the way the city assessed values of their condos or co-ops, leading an unexpected spike in property taxes last year, * Assessments Had Flaws, Audit Says(WSJ) * Liu: Adjusted Property Tax Formula Cost Homeowners In 2011(NY1) * Controller finds flaws in property assessments(NYDN)
Daily New Gets Thinner
More Daily News Departures(Fishbowl) The New York Daily News is in a bit of tailspin, as three more staffers have left the paper. The New York Post reports that Anjalie Mullany, a Social Media Editor, has left for a spot with Fast Company, and Melissa Grace and Tom Zambito — both veteran reporters — are out as well. These are just the latest in a wave of departures for the paper; Richard Huff left recently, as did Bob Sapio. The exodus also comes as the Daily News faces an extortion claim by James Dolan and Cablevision.
The Making of the President 2012
Campaigns Plan Maximum Push to Raise Money(NYT) * Obama sticks up for Ann Romney in working mom flap(WSJ) * Dem’s jab at Romney’s wife has O reeling(NYP) * Why 2012 Won't Be Like 2008 for Obama - William Galston, New Republic * Romney vs. Obama: The American People Lose - Caddell & Schoen, Politic * Mitt Romney's Women Problem - Michelle Goldberg, The Daily Beast * Left Takes Cheap Shot at Ann Romney - Michael Graham, Boston Herald * Newt Gingrich, FOX News Victim? - Steve Kornacki, Salon * Romney-Ryan Should Be the Ticket - Jeffrey Kuhner, Washington Times * Election 2012: FOX: Romney 46, Obama 44 | Latest Electoral College *The Mommy Wars Redux - Chicago Tribune * The GOP Tries to Woman Up - The Nation* DNC Declares An End To Phrase ‘War On Women’(TPM) *Obamas released their 2011 tax returns. Their income dropped, but they’re still quite wealthy. They earned less than $1 million and so would not be subject to the Buffett Rule.* Obamas Paid 20.5% in Income Taxes, 2011 Returns Show(NYT)* Mitt Romney made his pitch to the NRA. * Why 2008 will not be like 2012 for Team Obama. * Romney Bought Nomination w/Flood of Nasty Ads - Donna Brazile, CNN * Dems Face Payback After Limbaugh Attacks - Toby Harnden, Daily Mail * Ann Romney Is Out of Touch with Most Women - Judith Warner, Time * Democrats want voters to think Mitt Romney is hopelessly square. (Politico)
Rosen cancels 'Meet the Press' appearance, says she 'deeply' apologizes(NYP)
‘ZimDecision’ 2012: Jon Stewart Slams Trayvon Martin Media Circus
Law and Order
Gunman Killed After Drugstore Holdup in East Harlem, Police Say(NYT)*Robbery Suspect Is Killed(WSJ) * Georgia Fugitive Killed During Attempted Pharmacy Robbery; Accomplice At Large(NY1) * RAW VIDEO: Retired NYPD Lt. guns down armed robber(NYP) * Armed Suspect Shot Dead After Harlem Pharmacy Holdup(WNYC) * Retired cop fatally shoots suspect in pharmacy heist(NYDN) * Suspect Shot, Killed Following Armed Robbery At East Harlem(WCBS) * Retired police lieutenant from Staten Island kills holdup(SI advance)Daily News Says GOP Senate Should Stop Kowtowing to the NRA
New York needs a microstamping law to combat gun violence (NYDN Ed) Skelos and the Senate GOP should stop kowtowing to the NRA The Daily News calls on Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to stop “kowtowing” to the National Rifle Association and take up Bloomberg’s microstamping legislation to help prevent cop-shootings and other preventable crimes * Senate Dems Hit Back On Stand Your Ground, Microstamping(YNN)
Alleged "Well-Dressed" Serial Groper Arrested (NBC) * Accused 'Well Dressed' Groper Hosted Bible Studies, Neighbors Say (DNAINFO) * Manhattan 'grope' goon charged(NYP)
Bed-Stuy Sexual Attacker Allegedly Threatens Victim With Hammer(NY1) * Rape suspect threatened victim with hammer(WABC) * Cops Seek Rape Suspect Who Threatened With Hammer(NBC)
Accused mom killer says he remembers nothing(NYP)* Son charged with beating mother to death: ‘I love my mom (NYDN)
Driver Arrested After Toddler Is Stranded On Queens School Bus(NY1) * Mother Recounts Harrowing Experience After 2-Year-Old Daughter(WABC) * Bus driver accused of leaving toddler on bus(WABC)
Brooklyn Women Warned About Suspected Rapist(NBC)* Rockaways cops have been targeted for an attack with “Drano bombs,” the Daily News has learned. (NYDN) * Police raid nets B'klyn weapons stash, drugs (NYP)
Colombo mobster used noisy bowling alley as a hangout to keep the feds from listening in(NYP)
Cops warned of ‘Drano bomb' threa(NYDN)
