Moving mayoral primary since scanners can’t handle a runoff does not compute(NYDN) It's astounding. Somehow the BOE computerized everything, spent millions and made it worse.
The Board of Elections says vote may have to be rescheduled to June. Imposed on the state and the city by Congress, the machines have become more trouble than they are worth. They have delayed the reporting of unofficial results on Election Night. They have lengthened vote counting in tight races by days, if not weeks. And now, they are driving the Board of Elections to seek to reschedule the 2013 Democratic primary that will likely decide the next occupant of City Hall. More BOE Corruption (TN) * The time to get the scanners back and fix and refit them is approximately equal to the time to get the 700 pound Shoup mechanical machines back?
Other States Encourage Voter Participation
Voter Participation in the June Congressional Primaries in NY Was Tiny 14% Turn Out
While the NYC BOE Wants to Dictate When Primaries Are Held, Nobody Is Looking At New York's Anemic Voters Turn Out. Why does a voter in NY need an excuse for an absentee ballot?
In the 2009 runoff primary that gave the democratic nomination (and automatic general election win) to John Liu for comptroller he received just 2% of the votes from registered voter in the city. * New York Primaries Voter Turnout Unsurprisingly Low, Even (Huff Post)
If Nobody Votes, the Machine and Special Interest Win
NY's Falling Voter Participation * The Mayoral election in 1941 between LaGuardia and O’Dwyer, which took place one month before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor received 1,100,649 more votes than Bloomberg 68 years before mayor won his third term. The 1940 census reported the population of New York City to be 7,454,995. The most recent estimate from the City Planning Commission, as of July 1, 2009, gives the population of New York City as 8,363,710. Two decades before that Mayor John Francis Hylan(1921) Jimmy Walker(1925) both received 200,000 thousand more votes than Bloomberg in 2990* 50% drop in primary turnout since '89 * Voter Apathy Is Leaving Much of the City on the Sidelines of Democracy (NYT) 1.7% of all the registered voters voted in the city voted for Bloomberg in 2009 general. Before the paper is counted, the mayor received 548,660 out of the 4,657,516 registered voters.
New York's Decreasing Voter Turnout (True News)
NY Times Congressional Endorsements
Does the NYT Endorsement Of Meng in the Primary Carry On to the General Against Halloran?
Mr. Maloney in the 18th Orange, Putnam, parts of Dutchess and Westchester
Mr. Maffei in the 24th the Syracuse area
Ms. Slaughter in the 25th the Rochester area
Ms. Hochul in the 27th the state’s northwest corner
Campaign 2012 Republican leaders believe that state Sen. Mark Grisanti’s seat is “critically important” toward their efforts to retain control of the State Senate but Grisanti downplays getting special treatment, the Buffalo News reports * Maine Independent Senate candidate Angus King said he was “startled” to receive money from Bloomberg’s super PAC since he only met the mayor three times, New York World writes: * Staten Islanders surprised by low-key race for Congress(SI Advance) * NYC Councilman Dan Halloran released an internal poll that shows him within the margin of error against his Democratic NY-6 opponent, Assemblywoman Meng. Romney leads Obama in the district, 46-43, with 11 percent undecided.* The Staten Island Advance collected a healthy slew of bipartisan speculation about Mark Murphy‘s bid to take out Republican Rep. Michael Grimm. The publication found both sides surprised by Mr. Murphy inability to make the race more competitive, and presented various theories as to why * Levin Braces for Restler Challenge (City and State) Democratic District Leader Lincoln Restler* Michael Grimm Has Eastwood-Style Empty Chair Face-Offs at Local Debates and Forums (NYO) *
Up Close: Queens Congressional Race (Video ABC) * Grace Meng's camp says Dan Halloran's
pollsters cherry-picked from respondents who might be more favorable to him (Capital)
* A blog focused on Brooklyn’s Hasidic politics took a deep dive into the numbers from former District
Leader Lincoln Restler‘s unsuccessful reelection campaign this summer, and speculated what it might
mean for Mr. Restler should he challenge Councilman Steve Levin next year. The problem is a lot of Park Slope and Fort Green may be cut during redistricting. GOP congressional hopeful Dan Halloran released an internal poll showing his race against Assemblywoman Grace Meng to be a dead heat. The survey, which only included 300 voters and a high number of undecideds, seems particularly skewed because the presidential topline numbers have Mitt Romney winning in a district John McCain notched 36% in during the 2008 election. Given its tremendous diversity and languages, this congressional district is probably one of the hardest ones in the country to poll, to be fair. For her part, Ms. Meng’s campaign released a couple details from one of their internal polls in response, but it seemed a tad biased in the other direction. * The details of the push for a publicly funded campaign finance system will change depending on who controls the state Senate after the Nov. 6 elections. * MoveOn.org member Joe Seeman launched an on-line petition calling on Cuomo to endorse Democratic Senate candidates that support creation of a publicly funded campaign finance system. * NY1 Online:
CrainsNY Reporter Leaves Out of the Story On Campaign Consultants That They Make Their Real Money As Lobbyist, Given Special Deals From the People They Elect
As pols play musical chairs, consultants become the piper (CrainsNY) Term limits, public financing spark demand and dollars for
campaign pros. Election Day is nearly at hand, but the city's political
consultants already have dollar signs in their eyes for 2013. Term-limit
turnover has spawned competitive elections next year for all three citywide
offices—mayor, comptroller, public advocate—as well as for four of the five
borough president posts, two district attorney offices and about 25 City
Council seats. Not since 2001, when pols first vacated their long-held
seats, have there been so many elections—or as big a business opportunity for
the industry that endeavors to shape them.
Another Pol With Unpaid Poster Fines $$$
Assemblyman Keith Wright's fine mess (NYDN) Harlem pol owes city 224G for illegal posters. The city hit two of Wright’s campaign committees with a combined 760 violations dating back at least six years. Wright said he’s trying to settle what he considers an “unconstitutional” debt.
Unofficial Gubernatorial Portrait?
Spitzer Makes His Return to Albany * Asked whether he could see Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the 2016 ballot, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer said he thinks Hillary Clinton should run and “can’t imagine” there would be a primary if she does. * Spitzer has been critical of Cuomo in the past, but seemed reluctant today to assess how he’s doing in office so far. “I’m learning,” the former governor told reporters.* Back in Albany, Spitzer leaves Cuomo, boosts Hillary ’16(TU) * Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, visiting Albany for the first time in four years, said that Sec. of State Hillary Clinton should run for the presidency when asked about Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2016 chances, the Albany Times Union reports * Spitzer Muses on Albany Politics, Past(WSJ) * Spitzer talks politics in appearance in Albany(WSJ) * He was in town to host a fundraiser for WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
Comptroller Keeps Up the Heat on SUNY Slush Fund
* Prosecution or Persecution? The Saga of Joe Bruno (City and State)
Push By Billionaires For Campaign Finance Reform
Pay Medicaid Recipients for Check Ups
Gov offers checks for checkups
(NYP)
Gov. Cuomo hasB a prescription to make Medicaid recipients healthier — he’ll pay them to show up for doctor’s appointments.* Cuomo to revamp ‘archaic’ appointment process(Albany Watch)NYP Says Fracking Mess Stalled and Protests Misguided
The Post worries that Cuomo and state environmental officials are stalling their review of hydrofracking and argues that natural gas drilling is necessary for job growth
Forget Boston and the Ruth, The Curse of the Cuomos lives on!
Curse of the Cuomos haunts Yanks(NYDN) HERE’S
ANOTHER way of looking at the Yankees’ playoff debacle: The Curse of
the Cuomos lives on! Two longtime Albany insiders noted the Yankees did
not reach the World Series during the 12 years Cuomo’s* Cuomo States The Obvious About The Yankees(YNN)Unemployment woes weigh on New York City’s college seniors
Hire anxiety in Class of 2013(NYP) * Is NYC construction growing? Not really, say experts. DOE Paid AWOL Staff
Schools paid AWOL staff(NYP) The city Department of Education lost track of a number of employees who
had quietly stopped reporting to work for as long as a year — but
continued to pay their hefty salaries anyway, agency documents reveal. 
The NYC CFB has completed its final audit of Bloomberg’s 2009 campaign.
NYP: Manhattan Surrogate Judge Gets Away With Illegal Campaign Contribution. . . Calls Committee on Judicial Conduct A Farce
The Post is livid that Manhattan Surrogate Judge Nora Anderson got off “scot-free” for violating campaign finance laws and was only censured for her actions
Judicial panel, heal thy self(NYP) To wit, despite being officially censured for eye-popping campaign
conduct, Manhattan Surrogate Judge Nora Anderson essentially gets off
scot-free. As a candidate for surrogate in 2008, Anderson accepted
a ton of money from her mentor and former law partner, Seth Rubenstein:
He gave the campaign $25,000 and loaned it another $225,000.
Still, Anderson’s campaign needed more cash — and Rubenstein had donated the legal maximum. So the two of them did an end-run around campaign-finance laws. He
wired a $150,000 “gift” to Anderson’s personal account — then,
declaring it her own money (which is not limited by law), she funneled
it into her campaign. A pretty obvious dodge — which is why the two were later indicted on felony charges. But
most of the counts were dismissed by a judge who agreed that they
should have been brought in Brooklyn, where the transactions took place,
instead of Manhattan. Anderson and Rubenstein were later
acquitted on the remaining, less serious counts, and Brooklyn DA Joe
Hynes never brought any charges. (No surprise there.). Enter the commission, which bought her argument (among other things)
that she’d relied on Rubenstein — her co-perpetrator — for legal advice
and that she didn’t intend to break state election law. There wasn’t a single dissent.
Corruption and the Surrogate Court(True News)
Neo-Nazi group based in Greece
Mobilizing against neo-Nazi Golden Dawn(NYDN) Queens
elected officials and liberal groups are mobilizing against a neo-Nazi
group based in Greece that is rumored to be trying to gain a toe-hold in
Astoria.
Hudson Yards developer tries to amend MTA deal(NYP)
The Making of A President 2012
Debate
Obama And Romney Think Locally at Foreign Policy Debate(NYO) * What we learned tonight: President Obama does not want to play Battleship with Mitt Romney.(NY Mag) * The final presidential debate: 4 memorable moments (VIDEO) (Wash Post) * Obama tears into Romney at last debate (Politico) * All of our fact checks from tonight's(Wash Post) * CBS debate insta-poll: 53% Obama win, 23% Romney
* Romney: Lack of White House leadership has prolonged Syrian civil war * @CBSNEWS poll of uncommitted voters: 64% say Obama wins, 36% say Romney wins* Our lead story: "Obama keeps Romney on his heels" * Complete video and transcript of the final debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney:(Wash Post) * Mitt mirrors Barack? Precisely. Probably smart tactic, pure jiu jitsui
* 10 million tweets during first debate, 7 million in 2nd debate, only 6 million during tonights debate * CNN poll of debate viewers. Who won? 48% Obama, 40% Romney* PPP Poll of voters in ten swing state: Obama won 53-42.* Efforts to Turn Talk From Foreign Policy to Domestic Issues(NYT) * Campaign Moods Shift as Contest Tightens(NYT)
Arab Unrest Rears Up as Issue in Election
* Democrats face 'fight of our lives' to win Florida(Politico)
Mitt looks like a shore thing(NYP) * FiveThirtyEight: ‘Gender Gap’ Near Historic High(538) * The Myth of Job Creation(NYT) Both President Obama and Mitt Romney have said
government does not create jobs. But the government does in fact create
jobs, millions of important jobs. * Obama holds a 5 point lead ove Romney in the latest Quinnipiac/CBSNews Poll in the battleground state of Ohio."* Romney Leads Obama 49%-47% * Romney campaign advisor gets very cocky: “We’re going to win. Seriously, 305 electoral votes.”
What Romney Should Say Tonight - Bill Keller, New York Times
Anatomy of a Failed Foreign Policy - Amir Taheri, New York Post
The Truth Behind the Benghazi Attack - Dettmer, Dickey & Lake, Newsweek
What Obama's 2nd Term Agenda Looks Like - E.J. Dionne, Washington Post
The Unreality of the Past Four Years - Dorothy Rabinowitz, Wall St. Journal
The Battle for Defiance (Ohio) - Rosalind Helderman, Washington Post
Obama's War on Coal Will Cost Him Virginia - Debra McCown, Am Spec
The Campaigns' War for Women - John Heilemann, New York Magazine
Can Obama Sustain Enthusiasm With Blacks? - Jay Cost, Weekly Standard
Beware of RomneyCare - James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
ObamaCare: Rhetoric vs. Reality - Robert Samuelson, Washington Post
High Stakes in Libya Scandal - John O'Sullivan, National Review
On Benghazi, There's Not Much There There - Kevin Drum, Mother Jones
Debate Topic Could Limit Romney's Closing Argument - Scott Conroy, RCP
If Obama Wins, Will He Be Woodrow Wilson? - Michael Barone, Examiner
Politico/Battleground: Romney 49, Obama 47 | RCP Electoral Map
Killing bin Laden Is Not a Foreign Policy - Washington Examiner
The Re-election of Obama Is a Matter of Great Urgency - The New Yorker
We Need Change Now: Elect Mitt Romney - Reno Gazette-Journal
The News’s Mike Lupica waxes on what would happen if Bloomberg were running for president alongside Obama and Romney
Former Governor George Pataki will continue his role as a surrogate for Republican Mitt Romney. According to a media advisory, Mr. Pataki “Will Attend and Provide Analysis” in Florida for the final presidential debate tonight.
Matt Taibbi: Mitt Romney 'A Salesman And Bullshit Artist Of The Highest Order'(Huff Post)
New Yorker Announces Presidential Endorsement(Huff Post)
Poll: Obama 50%-Romney 45% in Ohio
How the election will change NYC real estate(Real Deal)
Ohio Race Tightens in New Poll
O’Brien Blasts Giuliani: ‘You Like To Push Back’ As If Question I Ask Is Unfair, But ‘It’s Not. I’m A Journalist.’
Obama-Romney battle for blue-collar white women.(NY Mag)
From CNN- Navarrette: Romney gaining in FL
Obama's Foreign Policy on Trial - David Rothkopf, CNN
Can Romney Distinguish Himself From Bush? - Greg Sargent, Wash Post
Economy, Jobs, Debt: Why Romney Is Surging - Conn Carroll, DC Examiner
A Romney Win Would Be Bad for America - Steve Kornacki, Salon
Do We Believe Anymore? - Victor Davis Hanson, PJ Media
Obama's Official Sales Pitch: Interview With Axelrod - Jason Zengerle, GQ
Obama Remains Electoral College Favorite - Nate Silver, New York Times
Nate Silver's Flawed Model - Josh Jordan, National Review
Benghazi Opportunism Has Run Its Course - Alec MacGillis, New Republic
Our People Fought for 7 Hours While The WH Watched - Bing West, NRO
Think the Florida recount was bad in 2000? Just wait until November 6(The Atlantic)
In Last Debate, on Foreign Policy, Focus Is on Leadership(NYT)
Unseen, but Looming Over the Race: George Bush(NYT)
State Polls Show Edge for Obama in Electoral College(NYT)
Poll: Romney closes foreign policy gap(Politico)
CBS News poll out tonight shows tight race among likely voters: Obama 48%, Romney 46%, Undecided 3%. Margin of error + or - 3%age pts.
New York Democrat to campaign for Romney in Florida (Huff Post)
Romney Campaign, Media Collude in Unprecedented Politicization of Benghazi Attack(Barrett, Nation)
Mitt Romney had a veggie burger, Cajun fries and a vanilla shake for his pre-debate lunch. President Obama plans to have steak and potatoes for dinner (the same meal he ate before his aggressive performance at Hofstra). Make of this what you will.
Transcript: Third presidential debate
New Yorker Announces Presidential Endorsement(Huff Post)
Poll: Obama 50%-Romney 45% in Ohio
How the election will change NYC real estate(Real Deal)
Ohio Race Tightens in New Poll
O’Brien Blasts Giuliani: ‘You Like To Push Back’ As If Question I Ask Is Unfair, But ‘It’s Not. I’m A Journalist.’
Obama-Romney battle for blue-collar white women.(NY Mag)
From CNN- Navarrette: Romney gaining in FL
Obama's Foreign Policy on Trial - David Rothkopf, CNN
Can Romney Distinguish Himself From Bush? - Greg Sargent, Wash Post
Economy, Jobs, Debt: Why Romney Is Surging - Conn Carroll, DC Examiner
A Romney Win Would Be Bad for America - Steve Kornacki, Salon
Do We Believe Anymore? - Victor Davis Hanson, PJ Media
Obama's Official Sales Pitch: Interview With Axelrod - Jason Zengerle, GQ
Obama Remains Electoral College Favorite - Nate Silver, New York Times
Nate Silver's Flawed Model - Josh Jordan, National Review
Benghazi Opportunism Has Run Its Course - Alec MacGillis, New Republic
Our People Fought for 7 Hours While The WH Watched - Bing West, NRO
Think the Florida recount was bad in 2000? Just wait until November 6(The Atlantic)
In Last Debate, on Foreign Policy, Focus Is on Leadership(NYT)
Unseen, but Looming Over the Race: George Bush(NYT)
State Polls Show Edge for Obama in Electoral College(NYT)
Poll: Romney closes foreign policy gap(Politico)
CBS News poll out tonight shows tight race among likely voters: Obama 48%, Romney 46%, Undecided 3%. Margin of error + or - 3%age pts.
New York Democrat to campaign for Romney in Florida (Huff Post)
Romney Campaign, Media Collude in Unprecedented Politicization of Benghazi Attack(Barrett, Nation)
Mitt Romney had a veggie burger, Cajun fries and a vanilla shake for his pre-debate lunch. President Obama plans to have steak and potatoes for dinner (the same meal he ate before his aggressive performance at Hofstra). Make of this what you will.
Transcript: Third presidential debate
Assemblyman Dov Hikind heads to Florida for Romney
The NYT New CEO Problems Continue
BBC crisis deepens as new allegations emerge (Yahoo) Its new head, George Entwistle, is now under pressure to explain why the BBC dropped an investigation by its Newsnight program into Savile last year. Mark Thompson, now the New York Times Co's chief executive, was in charge of the BBC at the time.* Peter Rippon, BBC 'Newsnight' Editor, Steps Aside Over Jimmy Savile Scandal(Huff Post) * New York Times Staffers Consider Byline Strike(Huff Post) * BBC Editor Steps Aside in Abuse Scandal (NYT) On Oct. 13, Mr. Thompson said: “I was not notified or briefed about the ‘Newsnight’ investigation, nor was I involved in any way in the decision not to complete and air the investigation. I have no reason to doubt the public statement by the program’s editor, Peter Rippon, that the decision not to pursue the investigation was entirely his, and that it was made solely for journalistic reasons.” * Jimmy Savile - why BBC Panorama is investigating BBC Newsnight (BBC)
This is Weird the NYT Workers Are Asking Thompson Might be Involved in the BBC Scandal for A Raise
The people who make the NYT gather to welcome a new CEO -- & to tell him we won't accept less than fair wages.
The people who make the NYT gather to welcome a new CEO -- & to tell him we won't accept less than fair wages.
Clark Kent Unemployed
Another sign of print’s slow demise: Clark Kent quit The Daily Planet.
New NYPD the Out of Towners
Cop-out? NYPD hiring out-of-towners at twice the rate of locals(NYDN) Department recruiters administer police exams at colleges in New Jersey and upstate New York, and nearly 7% of recruits who pass are hired. Just 3% of New Yorkers who pass are hired.
Despite Wide Agreement That Fare Increases Hurt the Poor and Middle Class No Real Political Opposition to the Increases Are Evident
B'klyn woman seeks transit glory in fare-hike stunt
(NYP) Here’s one way to get your money’s worth before the MTA’s fare hike.
A Brooklyn woman will attempt to break the Guinness record for the
fastest trip through the entire city subway system tomorrow, part of a
protest against the 2013 fare increases.
It's about time MTA makes more than a token move(NYDN) No
tokens? No kidding. The “No Tokens” display on turnstile screens — a
mildly irritating symbol of bureaucratic inertia — is finally about to
completely disappear, the MTA says.
Bloomberg: The Lord of the Neighborhoods
There are some who think Bloomberg is a master urban planner
WHAT THE CLUCK! Yuppie newcomers clash with Brooklyn
natives over urban chicken coops
Chickens Threaten to Divide Brooklyn Community(NYT) The decision by a community garden in Park Slope, Brooklyn, to build a chicken coop has angered some residents who say the club has ignored their concerns.
Photo Exhibit Celebrates Transit System's Former Beauty Queens(NY1)
Borrero Thanks the Daily News For Cams at Amsterdam Houses
SLOW-MO: NYCHA finally gets crime cams (NYDN) Fifteen
cameras have been installed at the crime-plagued Amsterdam Houses. The
News reported in July that NYCHA was sitting on $42 million for cameras
in high-crime projects.* NYCHA Installs Security Cameras In Upper West Side Housing Complex (NY1)
T/H TO YOUR EXCELLENT REPORTING MR. SMITH! NYCHA finally gets crime cams
Gerson Borrero
Law and Order
At a Bodega in Brooklyn, Candy and Contraband(NYT)The owner of Ralph’s, a Fort Greene grocery store known as a community anchor for nearby residents, has been arrested on charges of selling illegal drugs.
B'klyn prosecutors drop charges against man in synagogue beatdown video * Charges Dropped Against Man Seen Beaten by Police in Video(NYT)
Suspect In Alleged Plot Against Local Synagogues Does Not Accept Plea Deal(NY1)
FBI wants Big Apple's help in catching 10 most wanted criminals(AMNY)
Cops: We have massage fiend(NYDN)
Kerik celeb ‘pen’ pals(NYP) A-listers visit Kerik in clink
'Rape Cops' look to have records cleared and misdemeanor convictions dismissed(NYP)
Man Is Charged in Queens Rape(NYT) * Police Probe Woman's Death(WSJ) * NY man gets watch back 53 years after theft(WSJ) * Bouncer slain at club(NYDN) *
Peacemaker killed in fight(NYDN) * Man charged in Queens massage parlor rape(WABC) * NY man gets watch back 53 years after theft(Fox 5) * Man Stabbed to Death Outside Bronx Building(NBC) * Arrest made in fatal Bronx stabbing(Bx12) * Brooklyn bouncer killed outside club in gunfight: Reports(AMNY) * Former NYPD Officer Sentenced For Selling Stolen Police Guns(Huff Post) * Charges Dropped Against Man Seen Beaten by Police in Video(NYT)