NY1’s Josh Robin gets played by Hank Sheinkopf on last night Inside City Hall. Sheinkropf interviewed by Robin last night said that Weiner will be highly competitive if he runs for mayor. He has great outer borough strengths said Sheinkopf. What Robin did not identify Sheinkopf as working to elect Thompson and that Weiner entering the race would weaken de Blasio who many believe is taking votes away from Thompson. In fact the other consultant on the show last night Roger Stone said that Weiner entering the race would hurt de Blasio the most and Sheinkopf agreed. NY1 always has consultants who spin stories to help their clients.NY1 Online: Strategists Speak About Weiner's Possible Return(NY1)
Sheinkopf
NY1 Goes for the Consultant Spin Over Journalism
Robin's
report last night was straight out of the Star Wars bar scene where
double talk got rid of the guards. What the NY1 reporter did not
understand in his report last night about getting Thompson's reaction to
Smith's arrests was that he was really talking to Svengli ventriloquist
political consultant/lobbyist Hank Sheinkopf who puts words in both
men's mouth and strategy into both men's game plans. As every old
political bull knows Sheinkopf has been advising and working for Smith
for years and was the architect behind smith mayoral plan. As the great
Wayne Barrett said in 2010 Sheinkopf makes kings so he can then make deals with the kings he’s made.
So when NY1's Robin got a quote from Thompson attacking Quinn for
Smith's corruption, he was really getting Sheinkopf attacking his own
plan.
Sheinkopf
NY1 Goes for the Consultant Spin Over Journalism
Lucky Guys Gone: Left With Sheinkopf Vs Sheinkopf
Corruption in NY Has Increased As Investigative Reporting Has Left Town
Today
we are left with clueless reporters who need elected officials,
consultants and lobbyists to inform them what is going on. They are
good looking and read scripts well. The investigative mind with an
historical knowledge of what he or she was reporting is gone. The the
rough-and-tumble of big-city newsrooms and scoop-hungry reporters like
Jack Newfield, Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamell, Mike McAlary and Tom Robbins
are passed or forced out by the changing newspaper business. No better
example of how reporting has dumbed down was on view last night in a
report on NY1 by reporter Josh Robin. Robin is show over substance. His
Snarky disattached presentation without emotion is considered cool and
copied by most young reporters today. They view group acceptance over
investigative product.
Robin's
report last night was straight out of the Star Wars bar scene where
double talk got rid of the guards. What the NY1 reporter did not
understand in his report last night about getting Thompson's reaction to
Smith's arrests was that he was really talking to Svengli ventriloquist
political consultant/lobbyist Hank Sheinkopf who puts words in both
men's mouth and strategy into both men's game plans. As every old
political bull knows Sheinkopf has been advising and working for Smith
for years and was the architect behind smith mayoral plan. As the great
Wayne Barrett said in 2010 Sheinkopf makes kings so he can then make deals with the kings he’s made.
So when NY1's Robin got a quote from Thompson attacking Quinn for
Smith's corruption, he was really getting Sheinkopf attacking his own
plan.
"I am saying the people in charge of the city council should
have done something different it clearly falls on them" Bill Thompson(Robin,NY1)
_____________________________________________________________________________
GOP Civil War Expands
Catsimatidis Continues the Bloomberg Tradition of Buying the GOP Line
One possible white knight is billionaire John Catsimatidis, who is running for mayor on the GOP line and has been generous to many politicians over the years. Records show he and his firms have ponied up $311,700 to the local GOP since 2009, or less than half what Bloomberg has provided.
182G in Fat Cats donations
(NYP) That’s a lot of green apples! Billionaire supermarket magnate John
Catsimatidis has pumped more than $182,000 into the city’s county
Republican committees — and now has three of the five GOP leaders’
support in his mayoral bid. The contributions from the candidate and his Red Apple Group and United Refining companies date back to 2006, though most came in the last few years. Manhattan GOP Chairman Dan Isaacs and Kings County Republican boss Craig Eaton said there was no connection between Catsimatidis’ contributions and their support. Catsimatidis spokesman Rob Ryan also denied a link.
New Queens GOP Civil War Over Catsimatidis Endorsement
Meanwhile, Republican activists — including veteran consultant E. O’Brien Murray — called for Queens County GOP chairman Phil Ragusa to step down.
CM Golden Looking for #1
Malcolm ignites GOP war(NYP) The city Republican Party is at war with itself in the wake of the
Malcolm Smith corruption scandal, sources said yesterday. State Sen.
Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) is maneuvering to oust Craig Eaton as the
Kings County Republican chairman. In the wake of the Malcolm Smith
corruption scandal, state Sen. Martin Golden is hoping to oust Craig
Eaton as the Kings County Republican chairman, while Republican
activists are calling for the Queens GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa to step
down, the New York Post writes: Pemberton responds in an email, "I come to Florida after New Year’s Eve and return usually in April or May." Usually? Golden backs Joe Lhota for mayor, while Eaton supports John Catsimatidis.* Golden hungry for answers — but could get Eaton!(Brooklyn Paper)Sen. Marty Golden Endorsed Lhota Trying to Destroy Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton Who Backed Catsimatidis Today
_____________________________________________________________________________
Halloran Also Has A Sex Problem
Halloran Play to Pay Sex
Councilman Halloran had an affair with co-ed: sources(NYP) The Queens city councilman at the center of the Malcolm Smith
corruption scandal was a lousy husband, too — throwing away his marriage
for a co-ed staffer half his age, The Post has learned. Dan Halloran,
41 — who is charged in a bribe scheme to get state
state Sen. Smith into the mayoral race — repeatedly hooked up with
Meaghan Mapes, then 21, in her Queens home between 2010 and 2011,
sources said.She served as his deputy chief of staff during that same period, earning $30,000.* City Councilman Dan Halloran's 2009 opponent, Kevin Kim, said he's considering a rematch. [Paul H.B. Shin and Lisa Colangelo]
‘Affair’ dad hits Halloran
(NYP) Disgraced City Councilman Dan Halloran preyed upon the “naive” staffer
with whom he carried on a yearlong affair — and should rot in jail, the
woman’s father told The Post yesterday. _____________________________________________________________________________
Weiner Mud
How Hard is It to Find Dirt On Weiner?
Mayoral Candidates Desperately Searching for Some Dirt on Anthony Weiner(NY Mag)
Rival campaigns’ plan of attack for Anthony Weiner: Hit him where it hurts
(NYP) The city’s mayoral hopefuls are sharpening their knives — and Anthony
Weiner better be ready to answer the hard questions about his sexting
scandal. Sources in the camps of several campaigns said they have been
in dirt-digging overdrive ever since...* His reach exceeds his grope(NYP)* Gatemouth: "The importance of having a sense of Huma: First Muslim in Congress endorses Likudnik Weiner." * The Daily News interviewed nearly a dozen people who played key roles in the Democrat’s 2005 mayoral campaign as advisers, supporters or contributions and didn’t find much enthusiasm for his comeback attempt.*Bob McManus to Weiner: “Go ahead, Tony: Torch what little dignity you have left.”
NYP Says NY Dumb Voters Will Accept Anyone That Promises Them More Services
It's not that the public is so forgiving, it's that they just don't expect much from politicians
Three of former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s fund raisers have been charged with felonies, while a fourth was involved in an ethics controversy, meaning that Weiner would likely have to return their money if he decides to run for mayor
_____________________________________________________________________________
Quinn/Bloomberg Empty Promises
Quinn Promises Transit Services Like Bloomberg That Will Never Happen
Quinn: Let the city steer(NYP) $756M plan for mayoral ‘control’ of MTAQuinn, the City Council speaker, released a $756 million wish list for mass-transit projects yesterday, including her improbable proposal to place the next mayor at the helm of the massive agency.* Quinn's Transit Vision Expands on Bloomberg Legacy (WSJ)* Quinn Proposes City Takeover Of MTA(NY1) * One transit web site isn't too impressed with Quinn's transit plans. [Benjamin Kabak]
New MTA Head
* Joe Lhota called Cuomo’s pick to replace him as MTA chairman, Tom Prendergast, “a superb choice.”* Weekend subways a rail mess(NYP)* Interim M.T.A. Leader Picked to Be Its Chief(NYT)
Bloomberg: The state will never give up control of NYC Transit
Bloomberg raised questions about financing Quinn's proposal to take over mass transit. [Pete Donohue] "It’s an old idea that has never gained traction because it requires asking Albany to surrender control over a massive and powerful entity." [Sally Goldenberg]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Cuomo Machine
Cuomo 2014 Campaign Already Rolling
Cuomo’s Re-election Machinery Is Already at Work(NYT)With the next election for governor more than 18 months away, Gov.
Andrew M. Cuomo and the state Democrats are stepping up their effort. * In anticipation of his re-election
campaign, the state Democratic Party has begun broadcasting a series of
television commercials praising Gov. Cuomo for shepherding a gun control
measure through the State Legislature. State Democratic Party spending at least $1.5 million on ads on his behalf.* Cuomo Cleared to Bring Girlfriend When He Rides State Planes_____________________________________________________________________________
Teflon Silver?
Time for someone else as Assembly Speaker - Opinion - The Buffalo News
_____________________________________________________________________________
Wilson-Pakula
Long: We’ll Go Down Without Wilson-Pakula, But We’ll Take You With Us(YNN)
Staying Alive in the World Wild Wrestling Federation(True News)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Campaign 2013
Thompson Turns to Bratton(WSJ) New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Thompson referred reporters to former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton to help explain the six-point anticrime plan that Thompson unveiled yesterday, though Bratton has not endorsed in the rac * Thompson wants veteran cops, not rookies, to flood the zone in high crime areas. [Jonathan Lemire]
Quinn unleashes her inner Giuliani
In the Daily News, Ira Glasser, former executive director of the ACLU, writes that Christine Quinn is trying to suppress the voice of independent citizens by threatening a cable company that aired a negative ad against her
Another Freedom of the press Problem
A site mocking Community Board 1 in Astoria is back online, after the city threatened legal action against it. [Jeanmaire Evelly]
Smart Money: Some Worry About Effect Of Limitless Outside Spending On Mayor's Race(NY1)
Conservative commentator Michael Reagan is urging city Republican leaders to give Adolfo Carrion Jr. permission to run in the primary, saying it would strike a note of openness and diversity for a party that’s grappling with how to attract Hispanic voters._____________________________________________________________________________
More Political Corruption
Crooked pol wins another month of freedom... to go to the dentist(NYP)“I don’t know nothing. I don’t know nothing about that. Nothing.” .
Why Did The Contractor Offer CM Mealy $5000?
As
a result of the probe, investigators busted a Bangladeshi-born
contractor who has been a major donor to local politicians for trying to
give $5,000 in cash to Brooklyn City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy in exchange for her help in securing a contract with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Brooklyn DA candidate Kenneth Thompson has ties to shady Albany pols, opponents charge
DA
Charles Hynes, others blast former federal prosecutor for representing
state Democrats under investigation in alleged Aqueduct racino scandal(NYDN) DA
Charles Hynes, others blast former federal prosecutor for representing
state Democrats under investigation in alleged Aqueduct racino scandalVito Lopez for City Counci
Council candidate runs against Vito — who isn’t in the race yet(Brooklyn Paper
NYS pension scammer Hank Morris files papers to get parole
_____________________________________________________________________________
Klien IDC Mess
Klein Attempts Pork Earmark
Is Schneiderman Going After IDC Kline A Hit On Cuomo?
AG eyes Albany’s crafty ‘grafters’(NYP)
Today Klein Uses the Media to Fight Back Against Corruption Charges
New Effort to Reduce N.Y. Money in Politics(WSJ)State Senate Majority Coalition
Co-Leader Jeff Klein plans to propose drastically curbing campaign
contribution limits to political candidates in New York, as well as
setting up a public matching funds campaign finance system similar to
New York City's Despite Cuomo’s crackdown on new
pork-barrel spending, Klein tried to slip four payments totaling $17,500
to a Bronx nonprofit into the new state budget by disguising the
payments as a reappropriation of old funds, the New York Daily News writes * Another loophole in law(TU)* Exclu from Monday Goo Goos Wine At Pay to Play Klien
Critics stomp on stained wine pol(NYP)
Good-government groups and a fellow Democrat yesterday criticized
Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein for pushing a bill benefiting a national
wine distributor that contributed $33,000 to his campaign.* Sen. Jeff
Klein lost a key elections law case in 2004 that could have bankrupted
his campaign, but didn’t._____________________________________________________________________________
NYC Government
Now pols want to ban worker credit checks
(NYP) The city’s business and labor leaders are at odds again, this time
over the City Council’s latest effort to meddle in the privat. Under the bill, any company found in violation would be forced to hire the applicant, pay a fine of up to $50,000 and be on the hook for compensatory damages. “I think the City Council does not understand the cumulative cost, particularly to small business, of their many efforts to make their mark,” said Kathy Wylde, president of the business group Partnership for New York City.Councilman Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn), who sponsored the bill, called it “a simple issue of fairness.”Lander said medical crises and divorce are just two examples why prospective or current employees might get into heavy debt.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Marty Special Interests Party
Luxe Marty-party funder$torm
(NYP)
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz threw himself a lavish
going-away party last night — a celeb-studded bash accompanying his
two-months-late State of the Borough Address and paid for with funds
from the term-limited official’s Brooklyn...The price tag: $150,000 to $200,000, sources said.“It’s money that could have gone to [Hurricane] Sandy relief or another worthy cause rather than this fiasco,” said one source.* Comedy is King at Brooklyn BP Markowitz's Final Annual Speech * Brooklyn BP Gives Final "State Of The Borough" Address(NY1) * Marty's last stand-up! Markowitz goes comedic at final state of the boro (Brooklyn Paper) * "How much Markowitz used his powers to improve people's lives, as
opposed to putting smiles on their faces, immortalizing himself, and
going to bat for some favored developers, will remain in question." [Norman Oder]*
While the Many New Yorkers Go Broke
-
Many New Yorkers Stuck in Low-Wage Work: Study
New York City may be recovering from the recession with strong gains
in number of jobs available, but a new study shows that more New Yorkers
are getting stuck in low-wage occupations that offer little chance of
upward mobility.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Fleet Week Sunk
Officials are grappling with what to do in the wake of the federal sequestration that led to broad cuts in military and domestic spending. * Fleet Week Funds Dry Up(WSJ) * Reduced funds cut festivities for NYC's Fleet Week(WSJ)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Education
Longtime CUNY Chancellor to Step Down After Pushing Higher Standards(NYT)
Soaring Charges by a Contractor With Special Education(NYT)The lavish spending and questionable performance of a company that
provided therapy to young children underscores problems in a segment of
New York’s special education program.
Cheon H. Park founded the Bilingual SEIT company in Queens. Its billings
to the city and state soared to over $17 million in the 2011-12 school
year.
Crown Heights Parents, Teachers Upset About Proposed School Closure, Co-Location(NY1)
More Than 2,300 Children Waitlisted for Kindergarten
Legal papers filed by Mayor Bloomberg’s corporation counsel contradict a key claim made by Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott during the city’s school bus strike, the Daily News’ Juan Gonzalez reports: http://nydn.us/10Q2CisCrown Heights Parents, Teachers Upset About Proposed School Closure, Co-Location(NY1)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Bike Tour
Bike Tour Wins Lawsuit Over City Fees(NYT) * Bike Group Wins Reprieve From NYPD Fees (WSJ)
_____________________________________________________________________________
NYS Government
Electric Charging Stations
Cuomo announced that New York will install more than 360 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state as part of the Charge NY initiative, aiming to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of electric cars, The Journal News reports: http://lohud.us/XvTf8R
Indian Point Backup
In the Times-Union, Gavin Donohue, president and CEO of the Independent Power Producers of New York Inc., details the state’s backup power plan in case the Indian Point nuclear power plant is no longer running in 2016: http://bit.ly/1133pxN
Fracking
Opponents Call For Two-Year Moratorium On Fracking(NY1)
Adult Day Care Waste
Assembly Corruption Case Sheds Light On Lack Of Regulation In Adult Day Care
Guns
.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Hasidic Sect Hopes to Buy Huge Armory in Brooklyn(NYT)The Satmar view the vacant National Guard building in Williamsburg as a possible solution to a space crunch in its schools and synagogues and a bitter schism.
_____________________________________________________________________________
MoMA Tear-Down
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sandy
Damaged by Hurricane Sandy, Verizon’s Jazz-Age Frescoes Glow Again(NYT)* Officially, There’s Now No Chance of Hurricane Sandy Returning(NYT)
Thinking caps on for Staten Island's post-Sandy woes(NBC)
Gov't Program Will Allow Some Sandy Victims To Put Off Mortgage Payments During Repairs http://bit.ly/ZfekF3
_____________________________________________________________________________
Media
Comedian Jonathan Winters dead at 87(NYP)Lived to make us laugh(NYP)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Washington
The Rugged Road for Gun Control(NYT Ed)
Giffords to launch push for gun law compromise(NBC)
Marco Rubio Now Fully in Favor of His Immigration Bill(NY Mag)
Congress's Notorious B.I.G. Agenda - Jonathan Alter, Bloomberg
Obama's Doomed Bloomberg Presidency - Matthew Continetti, Free Beacon
A New Budget for a New Party - Ronald Brownstein, National Journal
More Taxing and Spending From Obama - Charles Krauthammer, Wash Post
Iron Lady Is Dead But Thatcherism Lives On - Gary Younge, The Guardian
The Infantile Illusions of Socialism - Kyle Smith, Forbes
Lust for Gold - Paul Krugman, New York Times
Terry McAuliffe's Solyndra - Kimberley Strassel, Wall Street Journal
The Moronic Conspiracy to Nail Mitch McConnell - David Weigel, Slate
Hillary 2016, Obama 2014 - Brent Budowsky, The Hill
Minority Voters and Rand Paul's Third Way - Seth Mandel, Commentary
Jay-Z, Rand Paul, and the Black Democrat Mystery - Jon Chait, NY Mag
How Dems Will Kill Trust in Immigration Reform - Byron York, Examiner
McConnell More Dangerous Than Kim Jong Un - David Rothkopf, Philly Inq
The NYT's Version of the Anthony Weiner Affair - Ace, Ace of Spades
In Iowa, Santorum to Push Back on GOP Shifts - Scott Conroy, RCP
Next Great US Cities Aren't What You Think - Joel Kotkin, New Geography
Newtown mom responds to NRA claim on background checks(CBS)
The Rugged Road for Gun Control - New York Times
Who Bugged the Senator? - Washington Times
Can We Afford Another Housing Boom? - Wall Street Journal
Venezuela's Chance to Move Forward - Miami Herald
President Obama has turned over his weekly address to the mother of a 6-year-old boy killed in the Newtown, Connecticut, shooting.
Significant advances in treating mental illness have a good shot at making it into the final gun safety bill being debated in D.C.
Obama’s Tax Return Shows His Books Aren’t Selling Like They Used To(NY Mag)
The News Media's Gosnell Blackout - Mollie Hemingway, Patheos
Why Gosnell's Trial Is a Front-Page Story - Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic
There is No Gosnell Trial Coverup - Irin Carmon, Salon
Can You Imagine the Coverage If It Were Dogs? - Erick Erickson, RedState
Ky. Dems Still Playing McConnell's Game - Howard Fineman, Huff Post
How Newtown Families Saved Gun Control - Dana Milbank, Wash Post
Gun Debate Highlights Voter Distrust of Government - Scott Rasmussen
How Pat Toomey Became the Face of the Blue State GOP - Alex Roarty, NJ
Is Easy Money Creating a New Wave of Bubbles? - Neil Irwin, Wash Post
Why Newspapers Need to Hire More Christians - Matt Lewis, The Week
The Second Coming of Facebook - Jessi Hempel, Fortune
Video Highlights: Carville | O'Reilly | Stewart | Carney | More Videos
_____________________________________________________________________________
Law and Order
With Police in Schools, More Children in Court System(NYT)
Poll: Majority Of NYers Support Additional NYPD Oversight(NY1)
Crook mugs cheesemonger, cuffs him to forklift and steals his car(NYP)
‘Drug kingpin’ on way to NY(NYP)
Vid alibi bid in slayings
(NYP) The Staten Island man accused of killing three Brooklyn shopkeepers
shouted in court yesterday that subway-surveillance video will prove his
innocence. 
‘Hate’ rap in mezuzah burnings(NYP) * Hate-Crime Charges in Brooklyn Fires(NYT) * Man Faces Hate Crime Charges In Brooklyn Burning Spree(NY1) * Man accused of torching mezuzahs in * Man Faces Hate Crime Charges In Brooklyn Burning Spree(NY1)
Video of Brooklyn woman’s fatal shooting is played at trial of two men charged in rooftop gunplay(NYP)
Bronx man freed after 38 years in prison as judge tosses child-murder conviction(NYP) * Blaming Defense, Judge Frees Man Convicted in ’75 Murder(NYT) * New York City judge vacates conviction in 1975 child de (WABC) Man Shot To Death In Bronx Courtyard(NY1)
Manhattan coke ring out of business after photos and videos of kingpins partying surface online(NYP)
Former Newark mayor robbed on city street(Fox 5)
Woman Fights Robber in Upper West Side Elevator(NBC)
Video of Brooklyn woman’s fatal shooting is played at trial (NYP)
Jurors Deadlocked in Murder Trial(NYT)
Bronx baby’s death now considered a homicide(NYDN)
Unwanted subway kiss leads to assault on Upper East Sid …(WABC)
