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| The King is Dead |
End Of the Vito Lopez Era
Lopez Will Not Run For ReElection As Party Chair Breaking .: "I am announcing that I will not be seeking the position of party chair of the Kings County Democratic Party."
"The charges made
against me are unfair and untrue. Never did I intentionally touch or attempt to
kiss the complainants." Vito Lopez
Why You Pay the Hush Money Ass Hole?
Silver Lopez New York's Joe Paterno Sandusky
Pay to Play Sexual Abuse Cover Up
Albany's Blue Wall of Silence: No Outrage By Members
Lopez, as sketchy a pol as they come, now turns out to be a serial molester. And Silver has been an enabler — and, effectively, his paymaster. Vito Lopez needs to go. Shelly Silver needs to come clean. Now. . calls Vito Lopez a "serial molester" & NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon SIlver his "enabler" * Daily News:
Speaker Sheldon Silver’s handling of case against Vito Lopez needs full probe"A hushed up settlement with tax dollars is not in the public interest * Albany’s enforcement mechanisms — supposedly bolstered by Cuomo —
broke down badly when it came to Lopez." *
Rumors of an Albany housecleaning have been greatly exaggerated *
The Times urges Lopez to resign from
the state assembly and demands the state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics begin investigating the matter: * The Daily News calls for a full probe
of the Lopez harassment incidents and the events that led the Assembly to settle one claim: * Newsday praises state officials for getting serious about cleaning up Albany, but worries that pols will continue to violate the law or breach ethical standards: * The TU
says it’s time for Lopez to go. *
State Paid $103,000 to Settle Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Vito Lopez(NY Mag) *
Vito Lopez Sexual Harassment Claims Settled By Sheldon Silver's Authorization Of Secret Payment(Huff Post) *"this could be worse than the Michael Boxley affair"-- re: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's handling of Vito Lopez case.*
Tax $ Settled Assembly Sex Claim: Report(NBC) * “Vito Lopez is a sexual predator who should be prosecuted to the full
extent of the law with both criminal and civil charges against him,”
Lincoln Restler
said. “His corrupt reign has, fortunately, come to an end.” * Citizens Union would like JCOPE
to take a look into the settlement with Lopez’s first sexual harassment allegation. * Governor Cuomo
agreed that the ethics panel needs to do something. *
Cuomo Wants Facts In Lopez Investigation(YNN) * Gloria Allred, who represented at least one woman who settled with Lopez,
said her firm has “never requested or insisted that a legislative committee or other body not proceed with an investigation.” * (Another Bragg piece): NYC Councilman Dan Halloran is
campaigning for Congress
on a shoestring budget, and was able to travel to Israel – in style –
thanks to funding from a Brooklyn nonprofit, the World Committee.
Bloomberg Doing His Best Sargent Schultz "I know Nothing"On Lopez
., asked whether should resign, says "it's up to the albany legislature to investigate"
., asked whether assembly payment was appropriate, said "I just don't know what laws are"*
Bloomberg Declines to Opine on Vito Lopez’s Woes(NYO)
Silver Spokesman Victim Asked for Privacy
A spokesman for Silver’s office said that the only situation where a
complaint isn’t referred to the ethics committee is when a victim asks
for privacy. (WNYC)
Gloria Allred Not True
A statement Tuesday from Gloria Allred, an attorney for the
woman, said they have “never requested or instead that a legislative
committee or other body not proceed with an investigation.”
The DN editorial board says: Spill the Vito Lopez secrets
Shelly buys silence(NYP) Was Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s lightning-fast crackdown last week
on a powerful colleague charged with sexually harassing two female
interns meant to divert attention from his own misuse of public money? * Last night, in response to a FOIL request, the amount was disclosed: $103,080, paid two months ago. *
Assembly Paid $103,000 in Harassment Case(NYT) Sheldon Silver, the New York State Assembly speaker, authorized the
secret payment to settle sexual harassment claims against Assemblyman
Vito J. Lopez, according to Assembly records. Assemblyman Vito Lopez denied charges
he sexually harassed female staff members and has “no intention of
resigning,” but records showed Speaker Shelly Silver approved a $103,080
payment to settle his claim. Lawmaker Denies Sexual Charges(WSJ) *
Looks like Vito's grabby tendencies cost taxpayers $103k(NYDN) * copy of "Quick Pay Voucher" suggesting there was a $100K settlement for a prior Vito Lopez case. * The voucher said the money was used for "legal services." [
Erik Kriss] * A Silver spokesman said alleged victims can request that sexual
harassment cases not be referred to the Assembly's ethics committee. [
Jon Campbell]
Lots of Buzz about Lopez stepping down (NYO)
Gevalt. The Senate is a mess. The press should focus on this... RT Queens Sen. Shirley Huntley indicted
There is precedent for such action.
Back in 2003, Silver’s chief
counsel, Michael Boxley, plea-bargained his way out of a rape charge
leveled by a 22-year-old legislative intern — after which it came to
light that two years earlier,
another staffer had charged Boxley with sexually assaulting
her.he. The first victim subsequently sued — pocketing a $507,500 payment, plus
legal fees, with all but $20,000 of the bill being borne by the
taxpayers.
Deep Throat: Follow the Money
Daily News The $103,080 does not represent the full size of the settlement"
NYT leaves out Naomi Rivera when writing about the latest Albany scandals. Has never talked about Naomi Rivera
The Bronx establishment
is going all-out to save Naomi Rivera.* The Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie is "unwavering" in his
support for Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, who is the subject of four
ongoing investigations. [
Sally Goldenberg]
John Liu is the Only Mayoral Candidate Who Has Not Demanded That Lopez Resign.
Liu is also the one responsible to find out if Lopez's Bushwick non profit paid part or the hush money. We need an independent auditor
NYT Scandal Needs Outside Investigation Outside the Legislative Cocoon.
Latest Scandals From Albany(NYT Ed) The cleanup has started in Albany, but as the Vito Lopez and Shirley Huntley cases prove, it is far from done. The Lopez case begs for a more thorough investigation by those outside
the legislative cocoon. If they have not already started, the state’s
new Joint Commission on Public Ethics as well as the local Albany
prosecutor should each be opening a file on Mr. Lopez. At least three
women have been brave enough to complain officially about being abused
by this politically powerful man. Were there others? Mr. Silver’s
confidential settlement arrangement also demands a close look. More distressing, however, was Cuomo’s seeming lack of curiosity in the
matter. *
One of Vito Lopez's accusers deactivated her social media profiles before ethics report released
Albany's Crime Culture
If Outsides Investigated Corruption For Real in Albany 90% Of the Elected Officials Would Be Sitting In Jail
“All
I know is what I’ve read in the newspapers,” said the man who so
famously tracks the fall of every sparrow in the Empire State. To his
credit, Cuomo did call for Lopez’s resignation from the Assembly."NYP * “Albany’s enforcement mechanisms — supposedly bolstered by Cuomo — broke down badly when it came to Lopez,” Bill Hammond
opined.*
Cuomo on the use
of taxpayer dollars to settle a sexual harassment claim: “Well that
happens all the time, right? You have a car accident. The state driver
was negligent, the state pays damages. So the state often pays for
damages of public officials.”*
New York Ethics: Corruption Crackdowns Rising In State(Huff Post) * Gov:
Pols wanna raise for THIS? (NYDN)
1.
Hello hipsters, bye-bye business * 2.
Costly tax breaks for real estate developers 3.
Grants for the grassroots 4.
Big money for Brooklyn
Shirley Give Our Regards to Kurger, Espada, Monserrate, Spano and Leave the Welcome Mat Out for Smith
State Sen. Huntley hauled off in 30G ‘scam’(NYP) *
State Senator From Queens Is Indicted(NYT) Shirley L. Huntley pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence,
conspiracy in the fifth degree and falsifying business records. *
Senator Faces Charges(WSJ) * And it was Team Isabel Vincent/Melissa Klein who first reported on Huntley's shennanigans last year.*
Queens Senator Arraigned On Conspiracy Charges(NY1)
New City Motto Needed “Ostende mihi pecuniam.” You probably know it better in its English form: “Show me the money.”
Considering Political Corruption and, Perhaps, a New City Motto(NYT) My colleague Sam Roberts wrote on Monday about a Latin motto woven into the Bronx borough flag. It’s from Virgil. “Ne cede malis,” it goes. “Do not yield to evil.”
Composer’s Unknown Political Oeuvre As Lin-Manuel Miranda was writing songs for the musical “In the
Heights,” he supported himself in part by creating music in local
candidates’ advertisements.
Dear the People's Judge
Noach Dear’s twilight zone(NYP Ed) Welcome to Brooklyn Civil Court, Room 706, where “justice” is dispensed
by a hack politician-turned-judge without recourse or reference to
actual law. Dear hears more than 100 cases a day involving credit-card deadbeats —
but he’s decided that 90 percent of them are faulty, so he’s been
dismissing nearly all of them and wiping out millions in credit-card
debt.
The Post whacks Judge Noach Dear for
“ignoring evidence and tossing cases” involving consumer credit card
debt and calls him “unfit to sit in a courtroom”:
Remember the Good Old Days Were Guns Were Bats At Yankee Stadium . . . Another Kid Shot
Stray Bullet Injures Boy Near Yankee Stadium(NY1) * Boy shot in the leg just blocks from Yankee Stadium (NYDN) * Police: Boy, 9, Struck By Stray Bullet In The Bronx; Suspect WCBS) *
Boy, 10, Shot in Leg Near Yankee Stadium(NBC)
Coney Island courts Hooters: Surf Avenue landlord asks beer-and-babe(NYDN)
MTA wants payback for Irene(NYP) *
M.T.A. Seeks $65 Million for Cost of Tropical Storm Irene Last Year(NYT) *
MTA: Irene cost agency $65 million(WSJ) *
MTA submits $65M insurance bill for Hurricane Irene dam(NYDN)
New York state
got a bit of good news
on the financial front yesterday when the Standard & Poor’s rating
agency upgraded the state’s bond rating outlook from “stable” to
“positive” for general obligation bonds.
NYCHA told to pay fine for repairs it hasn’t made at the(NYDN)
Crime rose as NY Housing Authority sat on taxpayer $ for security cameras
. notes murders down in public housing but chastises DN for not reporting it because "it doesn't fit" their story line
New Code Aims to Ease Suspensions of Students(NYT)
City Revives a Lunch Program That Takes Chefs Into Schools(NYT) The city is reviving a program that
brings in professional chefs to prepare school lunches when a new school
year begins next week, but some officials worry the program may not
comply with federal standards
Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a
study finding that more natural gas is critical for improving the city’s
air quality, pressuring Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allow shale gas drilling
in the state, the Associated Press reports: http://on.wsj.com/Om5ZZx
Christie on convention speech: "This has basically got to be a 20 min version of the Gettysburg address or I’m in huge trouble"
Big speech must sway in tight race(NYP) * Keynoter Christie Is a Skilled Speaker and Tea Party Pleaser(NYT) * Christie
did not like the
Post‘s
front-page story where he reportedly dismissed Romney’s chances.
The Making of A President
![[image]](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-BW049_RABBI_C_20120827182952.jpg)
Rising Rabbi Gets Big Role at GOP Meet(WSJ) * New York Republicans
see several opportunities to be part of Mitt Romney’s administration.* Crossroads
canceled another $700,000 they had booked for the Missouri Senate Race. * Romney’s five sons are
campaign surrogates as well. * The Congressional Black Caucus
is not a fan of Artur Davis’ Republican metamorphosis.*
Dolan To Deliver Closing Prayer at DNC(YNN) *
Romney Adviser Lowers Expectations For Post-Convention Bump (Buzz Feed) * RT : Boehner: "The only way Nancy Pelosi is going to get the Speaker's gavel back is to pry it from my cold, stone hands"
*
GOP Convention: Huggability and Helium - Frank Bruni, New York Times *
Obama's Policies: Why He's in Trouble - Steve Huntley, Chicago Sun-Times *
GOP's Reform Governors Are Showing the Way - Kimberley Strassel, WSJ *
Nature's Joke on the GOP - Dana Milbank, Washington Post *
Obama's Team of Idolizers Has Drunk the Kool-Aid - Roger Cohen, NYT *
GOP's Rising Generation of Wis. Stars - Cannon & Bevan, RealClearPolitics *
A Rational Discussion of the Federal Budget - Thomas Sowell, OC Register *
Can Sandoval Pull Latinos to the GOP? - Caitlin Huey-Burns, RCP *
Romney Cribs From Willie Horton Playbook - Timothy Noah, New Republic
The Real Romney - David Brooks, New York Times *
1976's History-Making GOP Convention - Craig Shirley, Washington Times*
Election 2012: CBS News: Obama 46, Romney 45 |
RCP Electoral Map *
With Eye on Storm, G.O.P. Set to Anoint Romney * Pete King
couldn’t find any other New York congressmen at the convention. *
Jeb Bush Blames Mitt Romney's Relatability Problem on Negative Ads, Mitt Romney(NY Mag) *
Romney Wins Nomination as Convention Gears Up(NYT) In Keynote, Christie Asks Country to Face Hard Truths(NYT)
Law and Order
Teach gets a pass to avoid jail (NYDN)A Manhattan high school teacher busted for forging a note to get out of jury duty will not have to serve detention.
Cop sues over ‘sex harass’(NYP) * Cops acted like dildopes, says lawsuit(NYP) *
Suit over rap melee(NYP) *
1-800-IDIOTIC: WTC ‘drunken dialer’ arrested *
2 Courts Cite a Vague Rule in Rejecting State Laws(NYT) *
Right Unites Behind Romney(WSJ) *
How Ryan Found the Spotlight(WSJ) *
Police Seek Teen Suspect in Brownsville Murder (WSJ) *
GOP still frets about Romney's image:(Politico) *
Poll: Ahead of speech, Romney faces empathy gap(CBS) *
New lawsuit in Chris Brown-Drake melee(NYDN) * Union crook gets 5 years for $1.86M extortion plot(NYDN) * 
Ex-con got grub, dough and booze in eatery spree (NYDN) * 10G heirloom recovered in Menorah heist bust (NYDN) * NYPD: Staten Island thief is up to his old tricks(SI Advance) * In '96, Pres Clinton spent the GOP Convention playing golf in Jackson
Hole. In '04, GWBush spent the Dem Conv. out of sight at his ranch.*
Cops Arrest Brooklyn Man in $10K Menorah Theft(NBC)
Silver admits he was wrong in handling Lopez sex harassment case(NYP) * Assembly Speaker Admits Fault in Lopez Scandal(NYT) * Sheldon Silver feeling heat in wake of Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal(Newsday)* Silver: Assembly will open up sex harassment casesGlens Falls Post-Star
Fake Sheldon Silver
Norman Oder
Teach-grade system is ‘unsatisfactory’(NYP) 
‘Family’ court: TV show based on dad-kid att’ys(NYP)
