Towns Is Said to Decline to Run Again for Congress(NYT)
Brooklyn Rep. Ed Towns, who was facing a vigorous primary challenge from Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Councilman Charles Barron, will not seek re-election. Two recent high-profile setbacks also suggested that Mr. Towns might have been vulnerable. In May, Mr. Towns lost a vote for a district leader seat in the Kings County Democratic Party. And in September, his daughter, Deidra Towns, finished third in a special election for an Assembly seat representing Brooklyn.. . .
In a telephone interview late Sunday, Mr. Jeffries who is running against the congressman said Mr. Towns had not contacted him about the decision. There is an added wrinkle in the possibility of Mr. Towns anointing a new candidate in his stead, via the committee to fill vacancies. If he were to file petitions to be on the ballot by tomorrow at midnight, that would be indicative of his intentions to do just that. However, nothing in the reports emerging so far has suggested he will seek a replacement candidate * New York's Ed Towns stepping down (Politico) * Congressman Ed Towns Bows Out(NYDN) * B'klyn Democratic Rep. Ed Towns to retire after 30 years in Congress(NYP) * The Times pins Ed Towns decision not to run on his district leader race loss last year and his daughter loss for his son’s Assembly seat.* Charles Barron Largely Self-Funding Campaign(NYO) * Rangel: House Won't Be The Same Without Towns(NYDN) * MoveOn Spikes Football Over Towns Retirement(NYO) * NYC Rep. Edolphus Towns retiring after 30 years; chaired powerful oversight(Wash Post) * Brooklyn Rep. Ed Towns Will Not Seek Re-Election (NY1) * Professor Doug Muzzio said Towns wasn't acting like a candidate. [The Grio]
Has NYPD Chief Ray Kelly having a change of heart about running for NYC mayor?
GOP hopeful that Police Commissioner Kelly will run for mayor(Dicker, NYP) * Former state GOP Chairman Bill Powers plans to talk to party leaders about getting behind NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly to run for NYC mayor in 2013. * Kelly On 2013: ‘Fully Engaged’ In Current Job(YNN) …which, for the record, isn’t “no, I’m not interested.”* Political Analysts: Ray Kelly Unlikely To Run For Mayor (WCBS) * Add Ed Koch to the list of people who want Ray Kelly to run for mayor.
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5 If Kelly Runs Race and NYPD Will Be the Key Issue
NYPD race case shocker(NYDN)Top supervisors of an elite NYPD anti-gun unit allegedly handled white suspects with kid gloves while treating blacks like “animals” deserving of a bullet to the head, the Daily News has learned. Is the NYP Falling Out of Love With Quinn?
NYP blasts Speaker Quinn for supporting a “staggeringly irresponsible” banking regulation bill set to pass the Council
Quinn’s lefty lurch(NYP Ed) Well, so much for the notion that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is a fit custodian of New York City’s fiscal future. Quinn, probably the morning-line favorite to succeed Mayor Bloomberg, is poised to push through the council a staggeringly irresponsible, legally dubious banking-regulation bill of the sort that only Occupy Wall Street-types could love. * Nobody Likes The Rent Guidelines Board—Quinn, Squadron, Williams Rally, Take to Name Calling(NYO)
Assemblyman Rory Lancman is set to be endorsed by the Communications Workers of America at an event today where the NY-09 congressional candidate will also call for the adoption of the so-called “Buffet Rule,” the tax code change being promoted by the Obama administration. The CWA’s endorsement shouldn’t be too surprising. Lancman has already been endorsed by the Working Families Party, which is co-chaired by CWA political director Bob Master. But the assemblyman has received the lion’s share of labor in the three-way Democratic Party, having already been endorsed by 1199 and RWDSU, and may also get DC 37. Assemblywoman Grace Meng has the powerful Hotel Trades Council, and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley is being supported by the Firefighters Union. * Lancman Lands CWA (C&S) * Asian Candidate Running On Green Party Line In NY-6* 
Grace Meng Gets Helping Hand from Mayoral Candidates, and a Hug from Gillibrand (C&S) Assemblywoman Grace Meng rolled out four more endorsements this afternoon, from four New York City mayoral candidates: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former City Comptroller Bill Thompson, Comptroller John Liu and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. * Meng Rolls Out Endorsements From Most 2013 Mayoral Candidates [Video](NYO) * Rory Lancman submitted submitted 4,156 petition signatures for Congress in 
The 1%'s $$$ Behind A Challenger to Rangel
When trying to oust long-serving Rep. Charlie Rangel, it never hurts to show off your rich donors. And that’s what Clyde Williams, former Clinton advisor, is doing, releasing a list of some of his top donors to City & State. So far, Williams has received contributions from the following: Clarence Avant, music mogul and former Rangel supporter; Peter Rouse, former interim chief of staff to President Barack Obama; Paul Tudor Jones II, Republican philanthropist and hedge fund manager who founded Robin Hood and is one of Forbes's 500 Richest People in the World; Andi Bernstein, Obama national finance committee member and wife of Chelsea Piers owner Tom Bernstein; Blair Effron, another former Rangel supporter who is on Obama's national finance committee; Cathy Lasry, wife to Avenue Capital's Marc Lasry; Sally Sussman, chair of Christine Quinn's finance committee; Founder & CEO of Energy Brands Darius Bikoff; and Former executive vice president of Merril Lynch Barry Friedberg. Williams has raised over $270,000 so far, and has almost $200,000 cash-on-hand for his race against Rangel. * Espaillat Raises $62,055 In Bid To Unseat Rangel(NYO) * Adam Clayton Powell is considerin* Ruben Dario Vargas Dropping Rangel Challenge * In Wake of Ed Towns’ Retirement, Charles Barron Stays Focused On Himself(NYO) * .@EspaillatNY sells his campaign to @cbRangel-district voters as a 'once-in-a-lifetime,' Obama-like opportunity *Espaillat is Neck-and-Neck with Rangel in 2012 Campaign Fundraising * Sen. Adriano Espaillat’s most prominent contributors include Senate Minority Leader John Sampson and Norman Seabrook, president of the city’s correction officers’ union – both of whom donated $1,000 to the campaign. * Espaillat is billing his campaign as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to elect the first Dominican-American to Congress.
Fundraising Winners & Losers(NYO) * A Redistricting Lawsuit’s Fate Could Be Decided Wednesday (YNN) * More On The Congressional Run Of Sylvia Kinard, Ex-Wife of Bill Thompson(NYO) * Brooklyn Electeds Contributed to Dilan’s Campaign Against Velázquez (NYO)
Winner of Kruger’s seat won’t ever make it to Albany, insiders say(Brooklyn Paper)
One of Long’s GOP primary opponents, Rep. Bob Turner, will be endorsed by Sen. Marty Golden at a gas station in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn at 2 p.m. * Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer together billed taxpayers for $449,433 in chartered aircraft fees to travel around New York for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.
Bloomberg Pollster Strokes the $$$ That Feeds Him
Bloomberg Campaign Consultant and Pollster Doug Schoen writes in the Daily News that Bloomberg’s rising poll numbers are the most underreported story in New York
Mayoral control of NYC public school system, Bloomberg signature achievement, is danger of repeal in Albany Thanks to the UFT
Charter challenge(NYP) When SUNY Chairman Carl McCall tapped Prof. Ken O’Brien to run the university panel that OKs charters, he put a member of New York’s largest teachers union in charge. * Albany bids to strip Mike’s school control(NYP)* Fight for Middle School Spots Benefits Tutoring Firms(NYT) * In Brooklyn, Students Told to ‘Notice the Anxiety’(NYDN)* Advocates bemoan the loss of daycare slots in this year’s budget.
Schools fight dominates record spending on lobbying (New York World)
Does Cuomo Have An Enemies List? Political Blogger Liz Benjamin too "Snarky"? Cuomo's secret file on her seemed to think so
Cuomo Aide Slammed Reporter In Dossier (Buzz Feed) The charge for suggesting Cuomo will run for president: “GENERALLY SNARKY.” The “meaningless” leak sets a “dangerous precedent,” responds his communications director. A top aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo assembled a 35-page dossier on the work of an Albany political reporter considered hostile to his administration, highlighting any shred of criticism in a document that reflects the intense sensitivity of a governor on the brink of taking the national stage. Ben Smith reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office kept a dossier on super-blogger Liz Benjamin in which moments of snark on her blog were pulled out and underlined. * The Daily Q: Does Cuomo reporter file make him the Nixon of Albany? (NY World) * Casey Seiler has what may be the definitive take on what he calls “L’Affaire Liz.” * How Does Press Irk Cuomo? Document Offers Clues(NYT)
Journalist Roll Model Mike Wallace Was Snarky
For 40 years, it was the sound of the stop watch and Mike's voice that signaled the start of another edition of 60 Minutes. Last night the tiffany network paid tribute to a great reporter and colleague. * Remembering My Dad - Chris Wallace, Fox News Sunday * Chris Wallace's Moving Tribute To His Father(Huff Post)
We Live in Dicker's World
After he inked a book deal, Azi Paybarah put together a quick primer on the New York Post’s Dicker. (CapNY) * “He’s remarkably popular, being mentioned for president,” Dicker said of Cuomo, whose biography he’ll write. “What a great story, and what great potential. He’s one of the most significant political figures on the American political scene today.” (NYT)* NY1 Exclusive: Governor Cuomo Lands Similar Approval Rating To His Father
Andrew Cuomo wants low-key role at Democratic National Convention
How Can the Conservative Party with 0.01% of the states registered voters has any influence in who runs for office?
Is Mike Long on a collision course with the Republican Party? (C&S) * The Conservative Party only has 150,703 out of the states 11,500,000 voters .The WFP has only 44,000 voters * Long: Democratic Control Of Senate Would Be ‘Disaster’(YNN)
A re-indictment of Bruno may be near
A federal grand jury is nearing the end of its review of kickback allegations involving former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno(TU) * Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Review-of-Bruno-case-nears-end-3484029.php#ixzz1sCMTMEDA
We Know Russia is Ratner Lobbyist Corrupt What About Brooklyn and Yonkers
Prokhorov, in the New Yorker, said he hasn't broken laws, but admits to corrupt dealings (and shrugs them off as inevitable in Russia) (Atlantic Yards Review) *Forest City Ratner Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Bribing Elected Official(newrochelletalk.com) * Ex-Yonkers City Councilwoman convicted of bribery * True News: Another Ratner Lobbyist Gets Convicted and Nobody Notices * How Bruce Ratner Wins Approval for his Projects(True News)
More Albany Reform Dreams That Will Never Happen . . . Independent Redistricting
No state capital in the country needs sweeping campaign finance reform more than Albany, the Daily News
Albany badly needs campaign finance reform, and will fight it tooth and nail (NYDN Ed) Wily capital politicians have been the undoing of many good intentions. Here is what the reform should focus on: Slashing New York’s ridiculously high contribution limits, which let candidates for statewide office take up to $60,800 from a single donor. That’s 12 times the cap for presidential hopefuls. Eliminating the gigantic soft-money loophole known as housekeeping accounts — through which parties can raise unlimited quantities of special-interest cash and keep it secret until after Election Day. Stopping pols from treating campaign kitties as personal slush funds. Using lobbyist contributions to make car payments is legalized bribery. Replacing the comically ineffective Board of Elections — which audits and investigates nothing — with a serious campaign finance cop. Only with those steps credibly accomplished could you begin to imagine trusting state lawmakers with tax dollars to finance their TV spots and lawn signs. * A call from within for change in Albany (Democrat and Chronicle) Bipartisan effort looks to change Albany's ways * Public campaign finance mailers are hitting mailboxes this week as advocates gear up for an end-of-session push.
The Plot to Kill Governor Carey
Revealed: plot to kill NY Gov. candidate Hugh Carey on election eve 1974 Only days before the 1974 gubernatorial election, former Gov. Hugh Carey was targeted for assassination, as shown by recently released FBI files (NYP)
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Keeping the Public Uninformed While Racking In the Millions
This Is What WABC (7) Calls Informing the Public 4/16/12
2 Traffic Accidents, Local trial, A Foreign Story, Midwest Tornado. 4 Wheather reports 2 Traffic reports
5;00 Wheather 5:02 News: Hit and Run Death in Brooklyn, 5:04 News: Auto crash in L I, 5:05 News: Midwest Tornados, 5:07 News: Subway attempted bomber goes on trial., 5:07 News: Kaubul attacks, 5:09 Wheather, 5:10 Traffic, 5:11 Commercials., 5:13 Sports, 5:15 Wheather, 5:17 Traffic, 5:18 Commercials, 5:21 Entertainment News Brad & Angelina Wedding Plans, 5:22 Commercials. 5:25 Wheather, 5:26 Traffic, 5:27 Business News, 5:28-5:30 Commercials
Behind Closed Doors, Broadcasters Battle Online Disclosure of Political Ad Buys
The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote April 27on whether to require TV stations to post online public information aboutpolitical ad buys. Some form of the rule seems likely to pass, but the industry and others are lobbying the FCC to alter the nature of the final rule. (Publica)
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DOI Goes After the Bronx Surrogate Court, Why Not the Queens Surrogate Court Which is A Bank to Queens Boss Crowley
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Local TV News For $ale: How Special Interests Control News Content and Public Opinion
If you were watching local news last month when the new state budget was passing you would have seen a commercials paid for by The Committee to Save New York (business interests supporting Cuomo) called "Turn the Tide" which told the views that Governor Cuomo did a wonderful job at fixing pensions and the states economy. Spending on advertising has fueled the increase in lobbying costs. Well-funded special interests funnel millions to lobbyists for public campaigns to sway lawmakers on hot-button issues (TU) Local News which is mainly weather, traffic, cooking and dog segments is making millions in lobbyists spending.
Cuomo and his supporters spent over $10 million last year to gain public support to push through his agenda. Union and business interest like the pro fracking interest are also spending millions on ads to local stations. All this money is coming in as local news dumbs down. It is not a secret that TV and radio stations rely on the local newspaper for most of their hard news. So those "rip and read" broadcasters have offered their views much less hard news as newspaper staffs shrivel amid the draconian layoffs caused by the internet and the recession? Local TV stations stand to profit from boom in super-PAC spending (The Hill)*CSNY’s budget blitz: $3.9 million (updated)(TU) *Save NY airing tax cap ad(TU) *Budget opponents up their ads and mailers(TU) *Bloomberg Blames Negative Ads For Poor Showing In Education ...(Politico) *Save NY now airs on school money(TU) *NYC's Bloomberg Pays for TV Ads Backing Cuomo's Pension * Bloomberg Defends His Administration With TV Ad - NY1.com * Local TV News For $ale: How Special Interests Control News Content and Public Opinion
The Lobbies at the Top 2011 (NY World) Who spent what to win laws, dollars, real estate and more from New York's city and state officials
DOI Goes After the Bronx Surrogate Court, Why Not the Queens Surrogate Court Which is A Bank to Queens Boss Crowley
Lawyer, Hired by Bronx Surrogate, Wore Wire in Cleanup Effort (Weisslawny) John J. Reddy Jr., who was hired by Bronx Surrogate Lee L. Holzman to clean up a scandal in his court, wore a wire as a part of a 2009 investigation conducted by the New York City Department of Investigation, according to sources.
Queens Surrogate Court Crowley's Bank
Today's Queens Democratic machines still use the Surrogate Court (True News) * A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens (NYT)
Surrogate's Court And Why It Should Go(True News)
Crowley: We Don't Fix Tickets in Queens
Queens Democratic Leader Joe Crowley: We don’t operate that way in Queens County, in terms of trying to set people up for the purposes of diverting votes
Queens Democratic Leader Matty Troy (1973): They’ll put another Italian into the race to cut Gene's [Mastropieri's] vote and I'll find a guy named Abe Schwartz and get his name on the ballot to cut Feinblatt. Soon there'll be 14 Italians and 14 Jews running. 
The only difference is the reformers will get people to run by telling them they're doing their bit for good government and I have to get jobs for the losers I put up. Theyll put another Italian into the race to cut Gene's [Mastropieri's] vote and I'll find a guy named Abe Schwartz and get his name on the ballot to cut Feinblatt. Soon there'll be 14 Italians and 14 Jews running. The only difference is the reformers will get people to run by telling them they're doing their bit for good government and I have to get jobs for the losers I put up. (Gatemouth, Roomeight) "Crowley: No Stalking Horse In NY-6 www.capitaltonight.com
Supreme Court Could Make the Rent Go Up Damn High
NY Rent Laws Could Be Challenged in Highest Court(WNYC)
Fixup of NYC App Coming
An angry Bloomberg has ordered a do-over for the city’s free iPhone app that lets New Yorkers report problems like potholes, dirty streets etc. He tried to used it himself, and failed. * When Mike Bloomberg tried to file a complaint about a vacant lot through the city’s 311 IPhone app, he went through the roof when he realized it doesn’t work very well.
On Block in Harlem, Neighbors’ Push for Restoration Will End in Demolition(NYT)
Fire in Catskills Ravages Site of Old Brown’s Hotel(NYT) A condo complex that was once the well-known Brown’s Hotel in the Catskills was all-but obliterated by fire this weekend.
'Good Morning America' Beat 'Today' Last Week: Report(Huff Post)
The Building of Ebbits Field
Soon on Display in Brooklyn: 'Holy Grails' of Baseball(WSJ) A century-long odyssey will come to an end this week when the original 1912 blueprints for Ebbets Field, the iconic home of the beloved, bedeviling Brooklyn Dodgers, will be displayed in public for the first time in decades.
The Making of the President 2012
Republican Lawmakers and Romney Face a Delicate Tango(NYT) * Mitt Romney is already offering top donors access to a special “Presidential Inaugural retreat,” planned on the assumption that he will be elected president this November. * The Obama team is very reluctant to talk about the economy. * The GOP's War Against Obama - John Heilemann, New York Magazine * A Few States Could Decide 2012 Battle - Mark Barabak, Los Angeles Times * History Won't Help Pick Romney's Running Mate - Albert Hunt, Bloomberg * How Race May Affect This Year's Election - Juan Williams, The Hill * Rex Smith looks at Hilary Rosen’s verbal gaffe, and the high-stakes nature of presidential campaigns. (TU) * Romney Talks of Ending Some Tax Breaks for Wealthy(NYT) * Breaking: CNN survey has Obama at 52%, Romney at 43%. Obama leads among women 55% to 39%. Gender super duper gap! * Mitt Romney to President Obama (via “World News” anchor Diane Sawyer): “Start packing.” * Female voters are helping Obama maintain his lead over Mitt Romney. (The Hill) * A look at the nine swing states of 2012. * Mitt Romney is selling access to a special inaugural retreat nine months before any inauguration could occur. * Aides Play Down Romney Remarks on Tax Changes(NYT) * $800 Million Target for Romney and G.O.P. Committee(NYT) * Ex-Teacher at Bronx Private School Accused of Sexual Misconduct(NYT)
Firefighter Rich Nappi Dies, 8 Others Hurt Battling Warehouse Blaze In Bushwick (WCBS)
Mom shot dead by lover who then kills himself, 2-year-old son finds bodies(NYDN)
Law and Order
Man, 57, struck and killed by suspected drunken driver in Harlem(NYP) * B’klyn hit-run bike teen dies (NYP) * Umbrella kills case(NYP) * Thieves spree on id’s(NYP) * Violence Erupts After Anarchist Book Fair(WSJ) * ‘Anarchy’ at Starbucks(NYP) * Police Injured During Arrests After Anarchy Book Fair(NBC)* NYPD: Three Arrests Connected to Anarchist Events (WNYC) * Union big's pal has mob ties(NYDN)* Police Search For Hit-And-Run Driver After Death Of 13-Year-Old(WCBS)* Queens murder-suicide(NYP) * Cops: drunk driver kills pedestrian(Fox 5) * Off Duty Cop Arrested For Assaulting His Girlfriend(Huff Post) * Ex-Mets clubhouse manager Samuels sentenced to five years probation(NYP) * Juries Seated In Trial Of Pair Accused Of Starving Young Brooklyn Girl(NY1)
* Jury indicts teen son in mom slay case (NYP) * Prosecutors Argue Abuse From Mother, Grandmother Led To Brooklyn Girl Starving To Death(NY1)
Four Protesters Arrested in Sleep-Out Near Stock Exchange(NYT) * Occupy’s sleepovers were ruled illegal. *Occupy Protesters Arrested for Camping Out on Wall Street (DNAINFO) * Protesters Arrested in Sleep-Out and Demonstration Near Stock Exchange(NYT)
* Jury indicts teen son in mom slay case (NYP) * Prosecutors Argue Abuse From Mother, Grandmother Led To Brooklyn Girl Starving To Death(NY1)
Teens' Fight In Bronx Results In Shooting Death(NY1)
