BREAKING: French President Nicolas Sarkozy concedes defeat in presidential election.
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CityTime, Stark, 911 No Single City Employee is Sent to Jail For Corruption
‘Abu$e’ crew all get away (NYP) See no evil. Hear no evil. Read no evil. The Department of Investigation has chronicled multiple abuses committed by former Finance Commissioner Martha Stark in a scathing 111-page report that also raises questions about the behavior of several of her subordinates.
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Congressional Battle Fought in Jewish Summer Camp: Brooklyn Boss Vito Lopez vs Rep. Nydia Velazquez
Satmar war camps(NYP) Dems take sides in Jewish bro battle On one side is Brooklyn Democratic boss and Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who is going to bat for Zalman Teitelbaum. The rabbi was designated the leader of the Satmar Hasidic sect by his late father, Grand Rebbe Moses Teitelbaum.
On the other is Rep. Nydia Velazquez, a Democrat whose district was just redrawn to include Hasidic Williamsburg. She is backing Teitelbaum’s older brother, Aaron, who wants to control half the camps. Velazquez, who’s been in Congress since 1993, faces a tough primary challenge from close Lopez ally and City Councilman Erik Dilan. * Camp Granada by Allan Sherman (with lyrics)
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First Liu Was Taken Out of the Mayor's Race by an Investigation Now It Looks Like de Blasio Could Be Next
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A Private Wedding for Quinn . . . After A Focus Group?
Meet Quinn’s Jersey girl(NYP) Shy fiancée reins in candidate For the early Democratic front-runner in the mayoral race, who’s leading polls by 20 points, her long-awaited May 19 wedding to Kim Catullo could have been the perfect campaign-publicity fodder. Quinn toyed with the idea of milking the moment for maximum political value — approving the hundreds of interview requests that poured in, posing for pictures getting fitted for her wedding dress, and becoming the poster couple for gay marriage in New York. But it was in deference to her shy partner, a working-class Jersey girl turned corporate lawyer, that she chose to keep the ceremony a private, personal affair, sources said. The end result is a wedding that will reflect Catullo’s roots more than Quinn’s political future. It is in deference to her partner, “working-class Jersey Girl turned corporate lawyer” Kim Catullo, that NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn reportedly decided not to milk her marriage for all its political worth and keep it a relatively private, personal affair.
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MTA is Married to the Mob
Jimmy Roemer served more than three years in prison in $10 million fraud against the MTA, then he was hired for another MTA project (NYDN) Hired for East Side Access tunnel for the Long Island Rail Road. A decade ago, Roemer participated in a brazen conspiracy to steal $10 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s massive renovation of its headquarters in lower Manhattan. As he pleaded guilty to six counts — including fraud, obstruction of justice and tax evasion — in 2003, he explained how managing the payroll allowed him to routinely inflate workers’ hours and bill for workers who did not exist.
Back around 2000, Roemer — a treasurer in the crane operators union Local 14 and an occasional contractor — was hired as a subcontractor to help determine manpower needs for a tricky job: transforming an aging lower Manhattan office tower into the MTA’s gleaming new headquarters at 2 Broadway. Because the building was jammed next to other towers, exterior scaffolding couldn’t be used. That meant contractors had to rely on an extensive network of interior elevators to haul construction equipment and material.
Thank You Daily News Only A Strong Press Can End the Mob Involvement in MTA
NY comes up lo$er in Derby(NYP) The shutdown of Off Tracking Betting parlors and stalled plans to allow betting machines in city bars cost the state $5 million in revenue from lost wagers yesterday — and much more annually.
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4Yea Public Financing of Campaigns Will Come Right After Independent Redistricting
Public financing, vital campaign reform, has collapsed. Will anyone try to revive it?
An Idea Worth Saving(NYT Ed) * The NYT on Bloomberg’s 2013 proposed $68.7 billion spending plan that spares teachers, police and firefighters but slashes vital programs for needy children: “That is not the way to balance a budget.”
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NYT Aristocrats Tell Us Who Has the Power In NYC
The Powers of New York(NYP)
About Me Cuomo
Cuomo Plans Book on Governing(NYT) * Yet another book about Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s first term is in progress – this one written by the governor himself, with an assist from his ex-top aide, Steve Cohen.
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4True News' Top Stories of the Week
2. The Run-Ray-Run Runaround (NY Magazine)
3. New 'Boro Taxi' Unveiled at City Hall(DNAINFO)
4. Bloomberg Raising workers wages a communist plot? (NYDN)
5. Former Liu Campaign Treasurer Indicted In Straw Donor Scheme(NY1)
6. Kruger gets seven years for bribery(Brooklyn Paper)
7. Ex-Finance Commissioner Martha Stark used office to benefit gal pals: repor(NYP)
9 The Queens Courts Also Support Sex Trafficking and the Corrupt Boss Crowley's Machine
10. ‘Neutral’ Dem Andy could back GOPer Kelly(Dicker, NYP)
11. Full salaries for Albany part-timers make for gross pay (NYDN)
12. Quinn Storms Out of Living Wage Press Conference After Bloomberg Diss (DNAINFO)
14. Port Authority To Declare One World Trade Center NYC’s Tallest(WCBS)
24. Bloomberg Makes A City Scandal A Hero of the Budget (True News)
26. Meet the Most Ruthless Operative in Queens County…and he’s working for Rory Lancman (Queens Poltiics)
The city’s fire officers union went to court to demand the report be released. The court ordered the report released and the city has appealed the release of the whole report. On Friday afternoon the best time to bury as negative story the mayor released and edited version of the original report. Only 133 pages was shorter than the 216-page report. In another Bloomberg Tech Cover Up, not a single city employee has been indicted in the largest corruption case in city history, CityTime.
City report trashes 911 call response(NYP) The city’s 911 system is riddled with problems that could cost crucial seconds in dispatching emergency services — right down to the way operators answer the phones — despite a $2 billion overhaul.* Report Lists Many Flaws in Handling of 911 Calls(NYT) * Report Finds Flaws in City's 911 Responses(WSJ) * City's 911 System Still Prone To Human Errors, Final Report Finds * $2 billion Unified Call Taker system is big mess(NYDN) *Report Reveals Failures of NYC 911 System(WPIX)
Remember 3rd Term Bloomberg Because He Was A Good Manager
Mike wants more pork!(NYP) An apostle of good government, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday called for more pork and overseas junkets to break the logjams in Washington.
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4Monserrate diverted more than $100,000 in city funds to support unsuccessful 2006 election bid
Monserrate Pleads Guilty to the Misuse of City Funds(NYT) Monserrate, a former city councilman, asked the Council for discretionary funds for a nonprofit organization, and used some of the money to benefit his campaign. * Monserrate Pleads Guilty(WSJ) * Former Queens Pol Monserrate Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charges(NY1) * Pol Hiram Monserrate pleads guilty to fraud(NYDN) * Monserrate admits corruption, faces prison(CrainsNY
Queens Group Spent City's Cash, but Has No Receipts Showing
Several members of Monserrate's legislative staff have also worked for LIBRE, including City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, who was once his Council chief of staff. Ferreras was LIBRE's chairwoman for a time, when it handled a program to register 1,000 voters. A source familiar with the probe said LIBRE workers turned over registration cards at the last minute to keep his competitors in the dark.
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Pedro Espada Jury Angry Scream, Curse and Call Each Other Names
* Shaking Up the Establishment (BKLYN INK) Dan O’Connor of Brooklyn is hoping to win over fellow New Yorkers with his enthusiasm as he campaigns for Congress. “I think I have a lot of energy as a young guy,” O’Connor, 33 * Who's Behind Manny Tavarez Vs. Gustavo Rivera? El Diario La Prensa (Perez Notes) * Clyde Williams went on Inside City Hall. * Marty Golden is talking up a bill his family would profit from, but will abstain from voting on it. * The D&C laments Cuomo’s “do as I say, not as I do” attitude toward campaign finance reform.
Liu Still Punching Bloomberg
Liu Audit Criticizes City Design Oversight(WSJ) The Public Design Commission, a little-known New York City board that wields significant power over the final look of many public projects, lacks clear standards and fails to consider cost when it requests changes.
New York’s Children Shouldn’t Pay the Price(NYT Ed) Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s revised proposal for the next city budget slashes vital programs for needy children. That is no way to balance a budget. * Mayor holds firm on budget cuts to child care, fire companies (New York World)
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Brooklyn Surrogate Court Bookkeeper Indicted for Stealing from Dead People
Ex-City Bookkeeper Indicted for Stealing from Dead People: DA (NBC) Richard Paul, 34, the former Kings County Public Administrator's office bookkeeper, was charged with grand larceny and defrauding the government * City Bookkeeper Charged With Stealing $2.6 Million From Estates(NYT) An employee in the office of the Brooklyn public administrator and three others pleaded not guilty to what prosecutors said was a scheme that targeted estates without wills. * Scheme Targeted Funds of the Dead(WSJ) * Bookkeeper robbed dead of $2.6M, went on shopping sprees: DA * Surrogate's Court And Why It Should Go (True News)
Brooklyn City bookkeeper in 600G ‘scam’(NYP) A bookkeeper stole more than $600,000 in taxpayer money by creating a phony check from the Brooklyn municipal office that handles the estates of people who die without wills or next of kin, court papers allege.
The Surrogate Court is A Political Toll Booth Exacting Tribute From Widows and Orphans - Robert Kennedy
Brooklyn City bookkeeper in 600G ‘scam’(NYP) A bookkeeper stole more than $600,000 in taxpayer money by creating a phony check from the Brooklyn municipal office that handles the estates of people who die without wills or next of kin, court papers allege.Queens A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens (NYT, 11/28/11) *Were Have All the Journalist Gone After Newfield (True News, 7/14/11)) Not since the death or old school investigative report Jack Newfield in 2004 has any reporter in New York covered how the corrupt Queens Democratic Machine use the courts as there personal bank.
Bronx Bronx Surrogate Judge, Facing Discipline (NYT) Judge Holzman, the Bronx surrogate since 1988, is in the midst of a disciplinary hearing in which he is charged with allowing his staff to run amok and to take fees that were excessive and unearned from estates that it was handling. Judge Holzman could lose his job as a result of the hearing.
Staten Island Expose Corrupt Courts: Cover-Up Continues in Surrogate's Court
Brooklyn Lawyer makes millions with no details on fees - New York Daily News * Is ex-Surrogate Judge Michael Feinberg of New York a degenerate crook?
Brooklyn Whole Foods Gentrification Whole Foods is coming? Time to buy(Salon) Forget Starbucks: It's the gourmet grocer that lands just before neighborhoods really explode
How Gentrification and Others Set Up John O'Hara
How Elbridge Gerry set me up (Irish Echo) * John O'Hara (Brooklyn politician) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia * More About John O'Hara
Long Island 'hooker' accused of selling sex out of hot-dog truck -- again(NYP) * Hot-dog ho’ kin lets her steam in jail(NYP)
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4The Making of A President 2012
Job Numbers Become Instant Campaign Fodder(NYT) * Better unemployment rate riding on dubious data(NYP) * Mayor Offers Few Details on Romney's New York Visit(NYT) * It's Time to Retire the Phrase, 'This Is the Most Important Election ...'(The Atlantic) * Obama's Recovery Challenge - Robert Reich, SalonTo Recover, America Needs a New President - Peter Wehner, Commentary * The Race to Define Mitt Romney Is On - Mark Barabak, Los Angeles Times *
Let Romney Be Romney - William Kristol, The Weekly Standard * What Would Obama Do in a Second Term? - Ezra Klein, Washington Post * Generialissimo Obama - Matthew Continetti, Washington Free Beacon * Obama's Wonderful Town - Gail Collins, New York Times * 4 Years of Obama Undoes 8 Years of Reagan - Tommy De Seno, Ricochet * Note to The New York Times: If Voters Do Not Know the “Real” Obama By Now, They Never Will(Purdum, Vanity Fair) * How the Central Bank Will Affect the Election(The Atlantic) * In First Official Campaign Rally, President Obama Makes Case For Re-election * Obama’s reelection campaign officially starts at Ohio State: Transcript (Wash Post)
* The gloves come off as Obama launches reelection campaign against Romney (The Hill) * At kickoff rally, Obama seizes on Romney missteps(Wash Post) *** Sunday Obama Formally Kicks Off Campaign in Ohio and Virginia * 9 Swing States, Critical to Fall Contest, Are a Mixed Lot(NYT) * Obama launches campaign, but real opponent may be economy(Wash Post) * Campaigns Fight for Swing States (Daily Beast) *VP Joe Biden Comes Out In Favor Of Gay Marriage, Name-Drops Will & Grace * Analysis: In Obama's NY Visit, Watch Cuomo, Clinton (NBC) * Gingrich Concedes Tea Party Does Not Have As Much Political Power As It Did In 2010
* The gloves come off as Obama launches reelection campaign against Romney (The Hill) * At kickoff rally, Obama seizes on Romney missteps(Wash Post) *** Sunday Obama Formally Kicks Off Campaign in Ohio and Virginia * 9 Swing States, Critical to Fall Contest, Are a Mixed Lot(NYT) * Obama launches campaign, but real opponent may be economy(Wash Post) * Campaigns Fight for Swing States (Daily Beast) *VP Joe Biden Comes Out In Favor Of Gay Marriage, Name-Drops Will & Grace * Analysis: In Obama's NY Visit, Watch Cuomo, Clinton (NBC) * Gingrich Concedes Tea Party Does Not Have As Much Political Power As It Did In 2010
Seat of Power ‘The Passage of Power,’ Robert Caro’s New L.B.J. Book * How Caro spends his Sundays.
Bill Maher: If First Black President Only Has One Term, People Would See It As A ‘Failure’
‘Fox & Friends’ Indulges In Some Good, Old-Fashioned White House Bashing On SNL
New rules on political ads: how to mine them (Columbia Journalism Review) Finding gold may require a group effort A gold mine of data will soon be available to help make our political system more transparent, thanks to the Federal Communication Commission. But this gold will be useless unless it’s extracted, shaped, and polished.
Dial M for Murdoch(The Nation) British investigations reveal the shocking extent of his shady tactics. Can we really believe he hasn’t used the same methods here? * Rupert Murdoch Scandal Follows Classic Media Baron Downfall Script(Huff Post) * Succession Failure (NY Mag) The real cost of the Murdoch phone-hacking scandal.
Chinese dissident going to NYU(NYP) * In age of Twitter, China’s censors lose control of Chen Guangcheng story(Wash Post)
Law and Order
Brutal system of teen beatings continues at Rikers Island’s RNDC prison(NYP)
DA drops grope raps(NYP) * Grope charges Bible study leader expected to be dismiss(NYDN)
Lawyer dares NYPD: Catch me red-handed(NYP)
Officers chase, shoot Bronx 'gunman' who fired at them: police(NYP) * Off-duty cops wound Bronx shooter(NYDN) * Police involved shooting in the Bronx(WABC)
Late Night Attack In Flatiron District Caught On Tape(NY1) * Suspects wanted in Chelsea assault(WCBS)
Law and Order
Rikers Fight Club Alleged(WSJ) * Bus driver assaulted in East Harlem(WABC) * Brooklyn drifter charged with sexually harassing schoolgirls(NYDN) * Convictions for 20 Protesters Who Blocked a Police Doorway(NYT) * Teenager killed, three men wounded during shootout inside Staten Island housing project(NYP) * 1 dead, 3 wounded in Staten Island shooting(WABC) * Accused fare-jumper caught with concealed weapon (WABC) * 1 Dead, 3 hurt in shootout on S.I.(Fox 5) * Update: Police have made arrest in stabbing homicide of M/28 last night in #Astoria. Arrested: Wahid Elawame, M/35 Queens. *Police: 3 men involved in 2 Radio Shack robberies(News12) * Brooklyn Bike Patrol Ushers Subwaygoers Home Safely (Brooklyn Ink) * Ex-con shot dead, 3 wounded inside Staten Island housing project(NYP) * Home invasion and robbery in Greenwich Village(WABC) * Parolee killed in early-morning shooting on Staten Isla(SI Advance) * Grand larcenies spike in Queens(NYDN) * Police Investigate Deadly Shooting At S.I. Housing Complex(NY1) * Police Officer Convicted Of Sexual Assault To Be Sentenced(NY1)
*Undercover Officers Under Strain, With No Clear Way Off the Beat (NYT)
*Undercover Officers Under Strain, With No Clear Way Off the Beat (NYT)
NY1 Exclusive: Video May Back Claims Bronx Teen's Arrest Was Unfounded
Suspect sought in subway robbery(WCBS)
Holocaust survivor claims he was beaten by cops in Queens(NYP)
Schoolmates’ anguish at Bx. crash funeral(NYP) * Hundreds Mourn 7 Family Members Who Died in a Bronx Car Crash(NYT) * Final Farewell For Bronx River Parkway Crash Victims(NY1)
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Tears flow at funeral Mass for 7 crash victims(NYDN)* Family of LIE Crash Victim Seek Answers(NBC)
Tears flow at funeral Mass for 7 crash victims(NYDN)* Family of LIE Crash Victim Seek Answers(NBC) 
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Families outraged at tribunal’s farce(NYP) * 
Final insult of Qaeda clowns(NYP)
* Militant Tied to U.S.S. Cole Bombing Said to Be Killed(NYT)*
9/11 victim’s family outraged by terrorist’s thumbs up(NYDN) 
Suspected 9/11 plotters refuse to speak as they appear before judge(NYP) * 9/11 Defendants Disrupt Start of Arraignment(AP) * Chaotic Scene at Hearing in 9/11 Case at Guantánamo(NYT) * As Alleged 9/11 Plotters Face Judge, Those Who Lost Loved (WCBS) * Follow LIVE tweets of the Gitmo Arraignment from NY1's Washington Bureau Reporter @ErinEBillups! * 9/11 Judge: "Why Is This So Hard?"(Mother Jones) * 9/11 Hearing Gets Off To Rocky Start(Slate)
Case against 9/11 'plotters' could take years, lawyers for both sides say(NYP) *For 9/11 victims' families, hearing another ordeal(AP) *At Gitmo arraignment, 9/11 ‘mastermind’ refuses to speak(WashPost) *Chaotic Scene at Hearing in 9/11 Case at Guantánamo(NYT) * Via Video Feed, Families Watch 9/11 Case and Seethe(NYT) * Accused 9/11 mastermind KSM refuses to speak, whines tribunal not legit(NYP) * As Alleged 9/11 Plotters Face Judge, Those Who Lost Loved (WCBS) * Chaos at 9/11 trial: Alleged terror mastermind won't talk, co-hort bursts into prayer(NYDN)
* Alleged 9/11 Mastermind Refuses to Answer Judge(NBC) * Families of 9/11 victims watch Guantanamo arraignment in BK(News12) * Inside the Guantanamo courtroom (CBS)
