Thursday, April 25, 2013

Another Corruption Earthquake in Brooklyn . . . A Bigger Queens Brooklyn Fault Ready to Blow Soon

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Bye Bye Boyland+

Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Key Plea Deal A Hat Trick for 3 Brooklyn Pols
Kellman,Carr's attrny,said the prosecution was misguided & should've been directed at politicians who accepted bribes

Carnival Operator Will Rat Boyland and Others
Carnival Operator Pleas Guilty to Bribing Monserrate
Ex-Carnival Operator Admits Bribing Lawmaker for Permits(NYT)
The former operator, Lawrence Carr, whose company put on carnivals across New York City and along the East Coast for years, admitted in Federal District Court in Brooklyn that he had made payments to Hiram Monserrate, a former city councilman and state senator from Queens. Mr. Carr pleaded guilty to one charge of making a false statement and faces up to six months in prison under the sentencing guidelines. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21.  Several people with knowledge of Mr. Carr’s case said that when he was first taken into custody in 2011 he implicated a number of other elected officials. But Mr. Carr stopped short of cooperating with the government after his arrest, the people said; he pleaded not guilty and planned to go to trial.

Ratting Carnival Operation Will Mark the End of Boyland
Both Dilan in Trouble Also
Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr.'s arrest shines light on ...(2011)
Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr.'s arrest shines light on corruption in carnival (NYDN)industry Tilt-a-whirls and other amusement rides part of carnival corruption involving William Boyland Jr..  The FBI in August quietly accused a carnival company owner of attempting to bribe a New York official for help in operating his traveling amusement park in the city. The charges against Lawrence Carr drew little attention, but they were the opening act of an investigation into whether politicians have exploited the rides and games that set up in parking lots and parks for corrupt prizes. Last week, the feds said. The Carrs also gave to Malcolm Smith, Qns Dem County Org. among others.* Federal Prosecutors Combine Cases Allegedly Tied To "Cannibal Cop" Investigation (NY1)

Will Lopez's Two Main Supports for His City Council Run Be Arrested?
Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. did just that. Other recipients of Carr’s campaign generosity have been Brooklyn City Councilman Erik Martin Dilan ($3,750) and his father, state Sen. Martin Dilan ($7,000). Councilman Dilan later returned $1,000; neither Dilan returned calls seeking comment.






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Liu Who

The Silence in the Liu is Not Only At the Trial Why No Media Questions of Liu

Is Lee Taking the Heat for Liu?
Dramatic ‘timeout’ (NYP) Day 5 at the John Liu campaign-finance trial ended in a cliffhanger yesterday after prosecutors called a key aide to the embattled city comptroller to the witness stand. Former Liu spokeswoman Sharon Lee — was about to reveal whom she asked to contribute to his political war chest when time ran out for the day’s proceedings. After excusing the jury, Judge Richard Sullivan warned Lee about the potential consequences of whatever she next told the jury.“Any testimony you give could result in exposure to prosecution.
Do you understand?” he asked. “Yes,” Lee replied. Lee was initially set to testify under a nonprosecution agreement with the feds, but she backed out on the eve of the trial of former Liu campaign treasurer Jia “Jenny” Hou and fund-raiser Xing Wu “Oliver” Pan.* Sharon Lee, the former press secretary for New York City Comptroller John Liu, testified in federal court that she offered to reimburse donors for Liu’s mayoral run and asked “friends and family” to be straw donors to drum up fundraising, the New York Daily News reports: * Former Liu Press Secretary Testifies In Trial Against Two Former Liu Campaign Associaties(NY1)


Even the Journalist are Silent
Why Have None of the NYC Journalists Ask Liu About the Testimony At the Trial?

Would-Be Liu Donor Testifies That Defendant Said She Would Repay(NYT)  Federal prosecutors contend the testimony bolstered the case that Jia Hou, then Comptroller John C. Liu’s campaign treasurer, had conspired to raise money through “straw donors.”* Former Liu Press Secretary Testifies In Trial Against Two Former Liu Campaign Associaties (NY1) * At Trial, Liu Aide Tells of Offering to Reimburse Campaign Donors (NYT) * Liu Aide Testifies on Donors(WSJ) * Elex board under probe(NYP) A longtime aide to Comptroller Liu testified that she had offered to reimburse donors for their contributions to his mayoral campaign – a tactic that prosecutors have said was part of an illegal fund-raising strategy used by some Liu aides. “Have you offered to reimburse donors for their contributions to his campaign?” a prosecutor asked Sharon Lee, an aide to Comptroller John Liu, in court yesterday. She replied, “Yes.” She was also “asked whether she had solicited contributions from anyone, and she replied affirmatively, citing friends and relatives.” Her lawyer said she had not personally reimbursed anyone.* . defends campaign aide after she testifies at fraud trial #2013


When Liu was also asked why he would keep someone on his campaign who said she knew it was wrong to offer the reimbursements. "My understanding is that she never made any reimbursements," he said. When told Ms. Lee testified she offered to make those reimbursements, the comptroller said, "You have my comments," and then walked away. Liu Stands By His Aide(WSJ)
* Liu Aide Says She Offered to Repay Donors (NYT)


 Bronx the Fires Are Out But the Corruption Remains
Former Assemblyman Michael Benjamin laments the persistence of political scandals in the Bronx, where his tenure in office has now been bookended by corruption cases. “Oh, no! You’re kidding, right?” I groaned when a friend called to ask if I’d heard that my successor in the New York State Assembly, Eric Stevenson, had been arrested on corruption and bribery charges. Those same feelings from 1977 came flooding back. It was personal, again. My four terms in the Assembly will now forever be bookended by corruption cases. I was first elected in a special election in 2003, following the arrest and conviction for bribery of my predecessor, Gloria Davis.

Malcolm Smith Pleas Not Guilty In A Mailer
Allegedly Corrupt State Senator Releases Awkward Mailer(TMP)
 Democratic New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly orchestrating a bribery scheme to secure himself the Republican Party line in this year's New York City mayoral election, published a rather awkward flier featuring a picture himself under a giant "NO CRIME" logo.


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Recall Elections in NY
 Bill Would Allow the Public to Throw the Bums Out of Albany
Recall Elections
Push to vote out bad pols (NYP) ALBANY — Assembly Republicans yesterday proposed changing the state Constitution to let the public vote out elected officials caught up in corruption scandals.


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Wilson-Pakula From Right to Left

 2013 Left WFP Tries to Save Wilson-Pakula
Kill Wilson-Pakula to Kill the WFP?
Katrina vanden Heuvel, a writer for The Nation, thinks Governor Andrew Cuomo has an ulterior motive in his push to end the Wilson-Pakula process. “For reasons both similar and different, the governor and the real estate/Wall Street/low-wage employer wings of the Democratic Party in New York would like to see the Working Families Party disappear,” she claims.* Whither Frank MacKay?(YNN)

  

1947 Right Creates Wilson-Pakual to Kill A Socialist
Wilson-Pakula Was Put Into Place to Stop Socialist Candidates Like Vito Marcantonio
In the 1940s, both the Republican and Democratic parties in New York became concerned that members of other political parties, especially the American Labor Party (ALP), were running candidates in their party primary elections and winning the nominations.[2] While Democrats and Republicans had won elections with the support of the ALP in the past, accusations of the party's ties to Communists and the increasing tension of the Cold War were making these alliances less desirable.[3] It has been asserted that the law was targeted specifically at Congressman Vito Marcantonio of East Harlem who won the nominations of both the Republican and Democratic parties after joining the ALP.[4] New York Mayor William O'Dwyer advocated removing the influence of the ALP from the Democratic Party.[3] After ALP candidates were successful in winning Republican nominations, Governor Thomas Dewey, who had run for district attorney with ALP support in 1937, turned against the party and sought to extricate the party from GOP primaries.[5] On March 25, 1947, Dewey signed the Wilson Pakula Act into law.[1] Its first target, Vito Marcantonio, narrowly won re-election in 1948 running only on the ALP line, but was defeated in 1950.[4]


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The Mayoral Debate Crime

50 Debates And the Nobody Has Gained In the Polls

Dems duke it out over cops (NYP) Democrats battling for Mayor Bloomberg’s job squared off last night, sparring over stop-and-frisk and a City Council bill that would make it easier to sue the Police Department for racial profiling. * None of the dopey dwarves will ever stand tall(Peyser)Call them Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Happy and Doc. Bashful was not present. And where was Sleazy? Anthony Weiner, tragically, was not invited.  Standing as tall as a giraffe among pygmies, Grumpy de Blasio has got to be the scariest far-lefty running. Except, maybe, for Dopey Comptroller John Liu. And Sneezy Council Speaker Christine Quinn.  Sadly, the city’s best and brightest Democrats are sitting out this race. This is the best we’ve got.* Stepping In for Mayoral Candidates, Surrogates Are Left Out of a Debate(NYT) * Democratic Mayoral Candidates Debate Public Safety Issues(NY1) * NY1 Online: Democratic Candidates For Mayor Square Off In NY1 Debate


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Campaign 2013
Can You Imagine What Is Going On As Media and Opposing Campaigns Look for More Woman and Pictures

Weiner re-members: More pix out there(NYP)
* Headline of the Day: “The phallible Anthony Weiner.”* Former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s whirlwind mea culpa media tour included interviews with at least six local TV stations.* Weiner took some shots at the Democratic mayoral frontrunner, Speaker Quinn, and her campaign responded in kind.


NYT's Quinn No Fault Hospital Closing
The Ad Campaign: Quinn, Development Interests and the Closing of a Hospital(NYT) An attack ad asserting that Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, allowed St. Vincent’s Hospital to close packs a punch, but its claims are not fully supported by evidence.* New Attack Ad Alleges Quinn Didn't Do Enough To Stop Village Hospital Closing(NY1)


Looks Like the Developers of LICH Were Not Contributing to Queens Campaign
Full City Council passes resolution to in . Speaker Quinn throws her support behind hospital.

Quinn Folds to Pressure Again, NYPD IG and now Racial Profiling Law Suits
"Quinn has never allowed a bill to come for a full vote w/o her support in her 7 years as speaker"
Quinn to Allow Vote on a Profiling Bill(NYT) Christine C. Quinn, who opposes the bill to open the courts to claims of racial profiling by the police, had not allowed a full vote on the legislation without her support in her seven years as the City Council speaker.Quinn said she would not support a proposed bill to open state courts to claims of racial profiling by the Police Department, but will allow it to come to a vote as part of the larger Community Safety Act.



No Journalist Ever Asks the Mayoral Candidates How Will the Extra Cops Be Paid For
Quinn Seeks to Increase Police Force(WSJ)

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn on Wednesday proposed adding 1,600 police officers over the next three years.

NYT Has Cooled to Quinn
NYT Says Quinn Has A Contradictory Position on Stop and Frisk
Public Safety and the Mayor’s Race(NYT Ed)A debate of six Democratic candidates running for mayor of New York City showed divisions on how much safety should be preserved and by whom.After Mr. Salgado, the one with the next-most-troubling argument, wearing the front-runner’s Velcro, was Speaker Christine Quinn, who espoused positions both dissonant and contradictory. She stoutly defended Commissioner Raymond Kelly of the New York Police Department, while supporting the creation of an inspector general with broad powers to rein in abuses at the department. Ms. Quinn’s rivals had fun with the contradictions.

Tisch for Thompson
Regents Chancellor to Back Thompson(WSJ)
New York Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, who helps set education policy statewide, plans to serve as chairwoman of former Comptroller William Thompson's mayoral campaign.: Meryl Tisch, Regents' chair/Jewish community power broker, to chair his campaign 
* "Weiner's motivation is his own rehabilitation, .. to which he's willing to .. devote $1.5M in public matching funds" (City and State) * Thompson Chooses Education Heavyweight to Help Him Run for Mayor(NYT)


A Republican Fund-Raiser, Held Amid a Smoky Haze(NYT)


Bike Pac
New PAC to Back Pedestrians, Bikes(WSJ)
A group of activists who favor the city's recent investments in bike lanes, pedestrian-only street plazas and other urban elements that don't cater to cars have a plan for ensuring the movement continues: a political-action committee.




hopeful John Catsimatidis Drops 100K Mailers On GOP Voters 

Critics Question Christine Quinn's Embargoed Campaign SchedulesCritics Question Christine Quinn's Embargoed Campaign Schedules via via

Bloomberg's about to leave office without having slept a SINGLE night in historic mayoral residence Gracie Mansion, says it's a shame his successor will likely live there
 







The Queens Democratic Party is Looking at Three Candidates, Very Closely, for Borough President | The Barkan Report:


Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes endorsed by third African- American pol, bolstering his minority support  (NYDN)
the supporters in the back have their faces covered with the posters.



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BOE Corruption

True News Does Not Need 10 Cents to Find the Corruption At BOE
The New York City Department of Investigation will get approximately $824,000 to employ six investigators to probe alleged fraud and waste at the New York City Board of Elections. City setting aside $800K to investigate the Board of Elections(Capital) *  Unit Aims to Improve City’s Elections Board(NYT) The Department of Investigation announced its intentions to create a unit to investigate fraud, waste, and corruption problems, with subpoena power, at the New York City Board of Elections, with the unit operational by September *  The Daily News outlines the challenges that lie ahead for Department of Investigation Commissioner Gill Hearn in establishing a unit to investigate fraud, waste, and corruption at the New York City Board of Elections: 

The DN Just Does Not Get What is Going On At the BOE
First: the DOI Should Not Be Managing the BOE It Finding Corruption
Second: The reason there was over staffing in the 2011 off year election was that most of the voters in that very small turnout election were election workers.
Wasteland, N.Y.C.(NYDN)
Talk about shooting ducks: The Department of Investigation has established a six-person team to search out fraud, waste and corruption at the city Board of Elections.

6. Areas of Corruption Inside BOE the DOI Should Investigate
1. Robert Hornak the director of machines for the Board of Election testified in sworn statements to the court that  the Queens leadership executive committee members met and voted Nov. 1 to reappoint Commissioner Stupp.
2. The Feds are also investigating a Board Of Election (the cesspool of political corruption) ES&S contract for new machines that Sheinkopf was a lobbyist for. Feds investigate switch by Board of Elections ... - New York Post 
3. The NYC Board of Elections suspended an employee who’s also a top Queens GOP official, Stephen Graves, after he was caught on tape soliciting a “finder’s fee” from a voting machine contractor in exchange for recommending a particular lobbyist. 
4.  Were BOE Commissioners legally holding Office?
5. Why were the poll watchers reassigned in the Adriano Espaillat race to help Rangel?
6. WNYC Radio and Others Reported the Last Executive Director Gonzalez Was Fired 26 Months Ago Attempted Ballot Fixing   
7. Ulrich campaign accuses BOE of obstruction (CrainsNY)
8. Look at who owns the properties the BOE leases
9. Voting Machine Smack-Down: Lobbyists Brawl(Village Voice)
10. True News  Phil Ragusa nephew has been paid over 50,000 from ES&S last year in a two month period after Ragusa commissioner on the BOE voted for the ES&S contract.     

BOE History of Corruption and Incompetence Timeline (True News)

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Unequal Justice



Shocking The Bastard Assemblyman Walks
Assemblyman Makes Plea Deal on Marijuana Possession

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E-Hail

State Supreme Court Justice Carol Huff dismissed a lawsuit yesterday aimed at preventing taxi riders in New York City from hailing yellow cabs using smartphone apps and ruled that a pilot program testing the apps can proceed
It’s Big ‘App’le for cabs: Judge OKs e-hails(NYP) E-Hail freedom(NYP) Wanna cab without having to stick your arm out?


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MTA

MTA will consider restoring bus and subway service(NYDN)
Underground Wi-Fi Service Expanding To 30 More Subway S (WCBS)
Cell Service Comes To 30 More Subway Stations Today (NY1)

Today's Best Dumb Reporter Question
2m
Reporters' #1 follow-up question about today's subway cell and WiFi announcement:
When will you wire above-ground stations?
 
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NY Economy

Bankruptcy
The Capitol Pressroom’s Susan Arbetter writes about the Emmy awards and discusses the threat of bankruptcy in New York with Richard Ravitch

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Cuomo SkyFall

A Wall Street Journal/NBC New York/Marist College poll finds that Gov. Cuomo is seen as an increasingly partisan figure, with only 46 percent of state Republicans viewing him favorably, down from 60 percent in March, The Wall Street Journal reports:Cuomo Seen as Increasingly Partisan(WSJ) Gov. Andrew Cuomo is seen as an increasingly partisan figure, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC New York/Marist College poll, with declining favorability ratings among Republicans.* Mayor Stephanie Miner said she is “hopeful” that Cuomo’s planned task force on municipal finance will help distressed cities, but she questioned whether it can solve city problems if no local officials serve on the panel. Cuomo is seen as an increasingly partisan figure, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC New York/Marist College poll released Wednesday, with declining favorability ratings among Republicans after his recent focus on abortion rights and gun control.
 

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Fracking

Opponents of hydrofracking drew attention to the fact that a consulting firm hired by the state in 2011 to assess the economic impacts of hydrofracking was listed as member of the state’s major oil and gas association.As a result, the consultant, Ecology and Environment, Inc., severed ties with the association.
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Subway Gas


 Subway Stink?

Gases to Be Dispersed Across City (Exhale: It’s a Test)







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Boston Terror

Add caption
The Video Cameras in Boston Saved Lives In NYC
NBC News: Officials say the Boston bombers were planning to come to NYC and detonate the balance of their explosives in Times Square. * Police commissioner: Bomber brothers had six explosive devices in their carjacked SUV - 5 pipe bombs and 1 pressure cooker bomb

TIMES SQUARE WAS THE NEXT TARGET: Bloomberg reveals surviving Boston bomber said they were plotting an attack on NYC with their remaining explosives(NYDN)

 Watch It: Mayor's Remarks On Boston Bombing Suspects' NYC Plot (NY1) *  Boston Marathon 'bombers' planned to set off remaining explosives in New York(NYP) *  Watch It: Mayor's Remarks On Boston Bombing Suspects' NYC Plot (NY1) *  Boston Bombing Suspects Talked of Times Square as Next Target, New York Officials Say(NYT) * Cuomo not briefed about Tsarnaevs' alleged NYC plan(Fox 5)
 
Boston bombers used kid's toy-car remote control to detonate explosives(NYP) * Boston Bombing Suspect Silent After Miranda Warning * Kelly: Boston Bombing Suspects Wanted To "Party" Afterwards In NYC(NY1) * Father of two Boston bombing suspects says he's returning to U.S., mother unsure(AP) * Commissioner Kelly: Boston Bombing Suspects Planned To ‘Party’(WCBS) * Both the CIA and the FBI Put Tamerlan Tsarnaev on Terrorist Watch Lists(NY Mag) * Boston bombers' father returning to US; mother claims terror attack was fake, says blood was 'paint'(NYP) * No gun found with Tsarnaev in boat(NYP) * Cabbie Was Shocked by Weight of Tsarnaev Brother’s Backpack(NY Mag) * Mayor: NYC Was Next On Boston Bombing Suspects' Radar(NY1)


 
The latest Boston Magazine cover features a collection of Boston Marathon runners' shoes
Hero victim is a gift himself (NYP) This bombing victim is “Boston strong — and he won’t let losing his legs get in the way of supporting others injured in the marathon terror attack * Boston Bombing Suspect Silent After Miranda Warning(WCBS)

NYPD Commissioner Calls for More Surveillance Cameras - WNYC


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Education

Free College Options Still Exist, for Those Willing to Build Ships, Milk Cows or Salute(NYT)
Cooper Union: Free No More(WSJ)
Selective City High Schools Forced To Accept Some Students Who Bypass Admissions Process (NY1)

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Sandy


Cost of Storm-Debris Removal in City Is at Least Twice the U.S. Average(NYP)
Officials said they were happy with the Army Corps of Engineers’ performance in removing the rubble from Hurricane Sandy, but private contractors might have been less expensive.( The Army Corps of Engineers said that the cleanup of New York after Hurricane Sandy has cost taxpayers twice as much as the national post-disaster average, at $177 million so far for the nearly one million cubic yards of debris already cleared, the Times reports: * Congress Members Praise City For Reimbursing Sandy Victims Who Paid For Repairs Out Of Pocket(NY1) * NY1 Online: Examining Credit Help For Hurricane Sandy Victims (NY1)
Damaged Coastal Neighborhoods Worry About Tourist Season (NYT)
After Rough Year, Con Ed Chiefs Get Extra Bonuses for ‘Exemplary’ Work(NYT)
 
New York Coastal Communities Worry if Tourists Will Come(NYT)

In Coney Island, Brooklyn, the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant at Stillwell and Surf Avenues remains closed. Many restaurants and other businesses still closed since Hurricane Sandy, in places like Sheepshead Bay, Red Hook and the Rockaways, are concerned about the coming season.
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Recycling

City Expands Recycling Program to Include Hard Plastics(NYT)
New York City announced the biggest expansion of its recycling program in 25 years, which would include household objects like shampoo bottles and hangers.* Recycling Expansion Expected To Keep 50,000 Tons Of Waste Out Of Landfills Per Year(NY1) * City recycling program now includes more plastic(NYDN) * NYC now recycling almost all plastic(MetroNY)


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 Rebuilding

Changes Coming for Three Bridges With Low Profiles(NYT) The Goethals Bridge, the Bayonne Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing lack the charm of some other area bridges, but they have their supporters, and are to get $2.8 billion in construction work.* Agency Travels Private Finance Route for Bridge(WSJ) * Port Authority Approves Changes To Bridges Connecting SI And NJ(NY1)

A New Vision for Pershing Square, 27 Years in the Making(NYT)

 

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Fleet Week Sunk

Budget cuts sink Fleet Week(NYDN)
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Real Estate


Trinity Church Split on How to Manage $2 Billion Legacy of a Queen(NYT)The Trinity Church in Manhattan, which traces its holdings to a gift from Queen Anne of England in 1705, has been racked by infighting in recent years over its mission.



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Health Care

More than 10 percent of NYC's adults have been diagnosed with diabetes(NYP)










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Media
Jon Stewart Trashes Fox News For Throwing Out The Constitution: The Law Is ‘No Match For Freedom Math’
The New York Times paywall has hit a growth wall
James Bennet, Atlantic Editor, Pushes Back Against New York Times Courting Rumors * New York Times Looking to Games, E-Commerce, and Conferences to Save Journalism (NY Mag)

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Washington

Barbara Bush says she does not want Jeb Bush to run. He's the most qualified she says but adds there are other families in America.
Barbara Bush on Son Jeb’s Potential Presidential Run: ‘We’ve Had Enough Bushes’(NY Mag)
Will Bush Ever Get Historians on His Side? - Jill Lawrence, National Jrnl
The Bush Character, Four Years Later - Karl Rove, Wall Street Journal
White House Holds Airline Travel Hostage - Debra Saunders, SF Chronicle
GOP Will Clobber ObamaCare Until They Hug It - Ezra Klein, Bloomberg
Iraq & ObamaCare: Of Millstones & Presidents - Ben Domenech, Transom
Canada's Oil Minister, Unmuzzled - Joe Nocera, New York Times
Ryan Now a Key Player in Immigration Reform - Caitlin Huey-Burns, RCP
Boston's Lesson: Political Correctness Kills - Jay Sekulow, FOX News
No Room for Radicals in America's Mosques - Webb & Korb, New York Times
Treat Chicago Gangs as Terrorists - LZ Granderson, CNN
"Dependency" Isn't the Problem With Welfare State - Yuval Levin, NRO
Sanford, Weiner & the Limits of Political Redemption - Scott Conroy, RCP

US leaders gather at dedication of George W. Bush Center(NYP)
How Big Cities Make Media Liberal - Garance Franke-Ruta, The Atlantic
Liberals' Epistemic Closure on Guns - Conn Carroll, Washington Examiner
Why Psychiatry Has No Credibility - Gary Greenberg, The New Yorker
Obama's Future as a Past President - Alexis Simendinger, RealClearPolitics
Obama administration: Syria has used chemical weapons(NYP)George W. Bush Is Smarter Than You - Keith Hennessey
An awkward ritual for Obama at George W. Bush Presidential Library dedication (NYT)
White House Is Playing Games With Air Traffic Control - Chicago Tribune
Senate Must Pass Bill to Collect Tax on Internet Sales - Tampa Bay Times
Obstructing the Keystone Pipeline - Washington Examiner
Keep Up Effort to Set Pot DUI Limit in Colorado - Denver Post
WATCH LIVE VIDEO: Obama, former presidents gathering for dedication of Bush library (WP)
JUST IN: Defense Sec. Hagel: U.S. intel confirms “to some degree of varying confidence” that Syria has used chemical weapons … developing
Hagel says White House has told Congress that Assad regime likely used sarin gas (WP)
'Red line' crossed on Syria, senators say:(Politico)
As President Obama appeared at the Bush library dedication, the Federal Register posted a list of presidential gifts that could end up in Obama’s future library.
Eugene Robinson: Bush’s legacy keeps getting worse - The Washington Post
More on the Senate's bill to eliminate furloughs to air traffic controllers(Politico)
“: BREAKING: Senate passes bill to end flight controller furloughs - AP”
A Day for a Former President to Bask in the Texas Sun(NYT)

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Wall Street

Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever(Rolling Stone)

The Illuminati were amateurs. The second huge financial scandal of the year reveals the real international conspiracy: There's no price the big banks can't fix



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Law and Order

 Federal Reserve unveils new $100 bill with anti-counterfeit security features(NYP)

City Council loosens NYPD grip on crime data(NY World)
New York set to get neighborhood-level maps of incidents reported to police

Brooklyn HS instructor charged with rape, admits to having sex with student, 15(NYP)
* Female special ed teacher arrested for having sex with student,(NYDN)

From Terrorizing Streets to Making Them Safer(NYT)
A documentary that teenagers helped produce follows Dedric Hammond of Harlem, a former prisoner who tries to prevent conflicts from ending in gunfire.


Child who could be just 10 years old wanted in Central Park mugging attempt(NYP)

Woman Asks for Directions, Gets Molested, Robbed(NBC)
Man Assaulted, Robbed by 2 Women in Midtown(NBC)
 Two men wanted for sexually abusing and robbing Chinatown tourist(NYP)