With No Evidence of Corruption in A City Full of It, Progressive CM Drumm Wants to Asked Charter School Leader Moskowitz if She is Corrupt
Where is Murrow?
Council’s education head: Ask charter network boss about corruption(NYP) The head of the City Council’s Education Committee said Tuesday he intends to call charter chief Eva Moskowitz to a hearing just in case “corruption were to exist” in the finances of her 22-school network. “We need accountability, we need transparency, and we need to know who is giving them the money and what they’re doing with that money,” Dromm said. “This is an opportunity, if corruption were to exist . . . I can’t just let it go.” Moskowitz, a former council member, has never been accused of corruption even by her harshest critics. It’s not clear if Dromm has jurisdiction over Moskowitz, who is not a city employee. Moskowitz has not received an invitation to testify, said a spokeswoman who would not comment further.
As We Mark the 60th Anniversary Edward R. Murrow Attack on Joe McCarthy With All the Corruption Going On In New York Where Are this Generation of Journalist? Edward R Murrow vs Joe McCarthy - YouTube
2014 As Mayor Limits Access Press Warms to Him
MARK SIMONE
de Blasio dramatically limits the press's access to him. The liberal media says nothing * De Blasio Talks With Press on City Hall Steps(NY1)
* De Blasio talks getting 'out of the bubble,' snaps selfie with press corps(SI Advance) * De Blasio clowns with press, takes selfie on City Hall steps
Local TV News Has Become Wires and Lights in A Box
Black & Hispanic pass rates drop in elite high school exams(NYP) More black and Hispanic students took the entrance exam to get into
the city’s elite high schools this year, but their pass rates were as
dismal as ever, officials said Tuesday. Of the 5,096 students accepted by eight specialized schools, just 5 percent were black and 7 percent were Hispanic. Nationally recognized Staten Island Tech won’t have a single black
student among its incoming class of 344 freshmen. Last year, it had
five. Even Brooklyn Tech, which Mayor de Blasio’s son, Dante, attends, will
welcome just 127 black students and 130 Hispanics among 1,844 in its
freshman class of ’14. Of 27,817 students who took the entrance test last October, 46 percent
were black or Hispanic. That’s up from 43 percent in 2012. * * Data shows that the racial
demographics for incoming students at some New York City specialized
schools remained stagnant, prompting Mayor Bill de Blasio to call for
increased diversity at schools, The New York Times writes:* De Blasio talks getting 'out of the bubble,' snaps selfie with press corps(SI Advance) * De Blasio clowns with press, takes selfie on City Hall steps
Local TV News Has Become Wires and Lights in A Box
This instrument (television) can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference.”Edward R. Murrow 1958 speech * Good Night, and Good Luck: Edward Murrow Speech
Black & Hispanic pass rates drop in elite high school exams
NY Post Repeats CrainsNY Bertha Lewis Eastside Trash $tory
We’ve all heard of crony capitalism. Turns out, the left has its own version. And Bertha Lewis is proving herself a master. The one-time head of the radical group ACORN, Lewis is a co-founder of the Working Families Party with Bill de Blasio. Now she has a new nonprofit, called the Black Institute. And it is being funded by Pledge 2 Protect, another nonprofit that is fighting the mayor over plans to locate a waste-station on the Upper East Side. That’s rich. The UES site was part of deal designed to spread the pain around instead of sticking poor and minority neighborhoods with the trash stations. So you don’t expect a former ACORN leader more comfortable with excoriating the “1 percenters” to be making common cause with them to keep a smelly station out of their neighborhood. For her part, Lewis says she’s opposed the project since 2003 (others say she’s gone back and forth), because it would also impact a nearby low-income housing project. But it’s not the first time she’s gained from her chumminess with the high and mighty. A few years ago, developer Bruce Ratner helped bail out ACORN with a $500,000 donation and $1 million loan. No surprise, Lewis provided crucial support for Ratner’s Atlantic Yards development project. We don’t begrudge Bertha Lewis the right to make a buck. But when she advocates, New Yorkers might do well to look at who’s signing her checks.
NY Pols Price Fixers On Wall Street?
Deep Throat: Follow the Lobbyists $$$
Letters from New York City and state politicians bashing nutritional supplement company Herbalife are raising questions about if the officials played a role in a hedge fund manager’s campaign to drive down the company’s stock price, the Daily News writes: They are the kinds of letters often written by elected officials. But these letters by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras and State Sen. Adriano Espaillat are raising questions whether the officials played a role in a campaign to drive down the stock price of a nutritional supplement company.* Espaillat (D-Manhattan) said there was evidence that Herbalife is "an illegal pyramid scheme." Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) and Ferreras (D-Queens) cited allegations the company is an "abusive pyramid scheme." The letters were sent at the same time that hedge funder William Ackman was organizing Hispanic officials around the country to pressure regulators to investigate the company. Local political operative Luis Miranda and two local non-profits, the Hispanic Federation and Make the Road New York, were all hired as part of the Ackman campaign to encourage local pols to look into Herbalife’s practices, the Times reported.* Gerson Borrero
Trinity Padilla is the other .@PRparadeNYC Board Member to resign after my commentary last night .@NY1noticias * After Big Bet, Hedge Fund Pulls the Levers of Power (NYT) Staking $1 Billion That Herbalife Will Fail, Then Lobbying to Bring It Down
Global Strategy Robos for Wall $treet Dollars
After paying a $2 million dollar fine as part of the pension scandal, Global Strategy Now is the Bag Man for A Wall Street hedge fund scheme. Using connections made as a political consultant and lobbyists to cash in on Wall Street
The Global Strategy Group, a longtime consultant to Mr. Ackman. Global Strategy Group, a consulting firm helping Mr. Ackman conduct the campaign, began to make such payments, including about $120,000 to the Hispanic Federation and another $10,000 to Make the Road New York. Global Strategies Group, whose CEO Jon Silvan will pay $2 million for serving unlicensed broker. Global, which did work for former Gov. Elliot Spitzer, is said to have received $1.3 million for helping facilitate pension fund investments in private equity funds managed by two firms. * Hevesi fallout widens to include Rattner, Global Strategy Group(Politico) * Quadrangle and Global Strategies settle with Cuomo(NYDN)
Queens Machine Payback Goes After Queens' Library
A preliminary New York City budget hearing turned tense when City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley pressed Queens Library President Thomas Galante on the details of a closed-door meeting for trustees last Thursday, the New York Times reports: * Presidents of the three major New York City library systems came to the preliminary budget hearing with some funding because de Blasio already baselined money to Fiscal Year 2014 levels in his preliminary budget, City & State reports: * Head of Queens Library Appeals for More Money Amid Federal Investigation(NY1)
Someone Looking to Split Black Harlem Vot
Preacher running for Congress changes view on AIDS(NYP)
The Harlem preacher running for the seat held by Rep. Charles
Rangel talked up the fantastic claim that AIDS was concocted to destroy
black people in an interview six years...
Court Rules to Protect Silver's Assembly From Serial Sexual Abuser Lopez
State Assembly not liable in Vito Lopez grope suit: judge(NYP) The state Assembly is off the hook for Vito Lopez’s groping of staffers, a Manhattan judge ruled Tuesday. Judge Joan Kenney tossed a Manhattan civil lawsuit filed by two female staffers of the deposed Brooklyn assemblyman, ruling that the legislative body could not be held liable for the politician’s behavior because it was not the women’s employer. She acknowledged allegations that the Assembly didn’t properly address the prior complaints — an action that could have prevented more incidents — but said there was no evidence that other lawmakers “aided or abetted Lopez’s discriminatory conduct.” Kenney also wrote that because the elected politicians “have no ownership interest in the Assembly itself,” the body can’t be considered an employer for the purposes of the suit. A second, parallel case is still pending in federal court by the two women against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and against Lopez. A state ethics commission found last year that Lopez had accosted at least eight staffers with an unrelenting volley of lurid come-ons since 2010. The women’s attorney, Kevin Mintzer, vowed to re-file the state suit, amending it to show the Assembly as a whole was responsible for their safety because it published a sexual harassment handbook for all members and technically paid their salaries.*Judge tosses suit vs. Assembly for Vito Lopez’ harrassment(NYDN) A judge ruled that the Assembly is not responsible for claims of sexual harassment against former Assemblyman Vito Lopez, although the legislative body did not properly address prior complaints
Albany Hush Fund Cover Up, Press Containment Timeline
Albany's Pink Wall of Silence Continues
Women Pols and Groups Remain Silent
NY's Women's Groups & Women Pols More Interested in Political Power Than Cleaning Up Sexual Abuse in Albany
Tuesday's Education War Update
Team Mayor Hits Pause
in Albany
An ally comes forward, another steps back(Capital) Assembly plans to include it in a preliminary budget plan, potentially giving the mayor some leverage to negotiate a better deal with Andrew Cuomo. After a weekend building momentum for the plan through rallies and church visits, a union that supported de Blasio's mayoral bid scrapped its plans for a radio ad urging voters to support the pre-K effort, Capital has learned. De Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, abruptly canceled a planned trip to the state capitol Tuesday to lobby lawmakers for the proposal. And the mayor himself reiterated that he would accept state funding in lieu of the permission to hike taxes, as long as the funding is sufficient. The Professional Staff Congress, a union representing CUNY faculty, confirmed it has canceled its planned ad campaign on Albany radio stations.* Cindy Adams on Eva Moskowitz: "She loves the attention. Loves every little bitch of it."(NYP, Page 6) *Surprise guest at charter operators' second meeting with city: de Blasio himself * Team de Blasio Diane Ravitch penned a Huffington Post column criticizing the “smear campaign” against Mr. de Blasio. Ms. Ravitch writes, “De Blasio did not abandon charters or evict children from charters. The attacks on him are a power play by charter operators, specifically Moskowitz, to restore the good old days of the Bloomberg administration, when her requests were never turned down.”
New Gangs of New York Vs Mayor
If Qui-Gon Jinn, “Priest” Vallon and the Princess Are Going to Win For Their Cause, They Must Expose the Corruption Done to the 2013 Elections By the Evil Advance Group PAC Empire
Mayor's Gang A war on children(NYP Ed)Mayor de Blasio now promises to help charter students whose schools he took away only a few weeks ago. But the Charter War he’s been waging isn’t ending — it’s escalating. And it’s not just de Blasio and his schools chancellor, Carmen Fariña. These kids are going up against an entire city establishment. Take Letitia James. On Saturday, the public advocate vowed to move ahead with her own offensive: a lawsuit against other co-locations. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has also signed on to this suit. And James is also threatening to ask the court to delay the charters’ admissions lottery, which would wreak havoc on tens of thousands of New York City families. * ‘Morning Joe’ Takes a Third Pass at de Blasio’s Charter Policy(Capital) This morning’s show featured a handful of young children learning as they would at their embattled Success Academy charter school: playing chess, solving multi-step fraction problems, making molecular models and, for one student, “doing some writing before she dances.” * A charter-driven space crunch, presented two ways(Capital) In co-location debate, de Blasio and Moskowitz both find alternatives ‘unconscionable’* Charter schools need affordable housing, too(NYP Ed) * While a blind eye was turned to some Bloomberg-era school policies—and negative ones were cheered—everyone from the governor to charter backers wants to stop Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plans to reform charter schools, the Daily News’s Juan Gonzalez writes: * Listen: Charter school leader Eva Moskowitz finds feud with de Blasio "bizarre" and sees herself as advocate
Did de Blasio Just Blink on Pre-K?
Tuesday Update * The Daily News writes that New York City should be within shouting distance of universal prekindergarten now that Mayor Bill de Blasio appears to be heading toward defeat on his plan to tax the rich to fund it
Monday De Blasio will drop pre-K tax plan if state gives $530M for next 5 years(NYP) While insisting he still prefers his imperilled tax plan, de Blasio made it explicit that he would accept another plan that guarantees the $530 million a year for five years he needs to fund universal pre-K and after school programs for middle school students. Josh Greenman
Did de Blasio just blink on the pre-K tax? Looks like it. (Did I just blink on my pledge never to use 'did X blink'?) * De Blasio: I'd Accept "Verifiable" Alternative To Pre-K Tax Plan (NYP) * De Blasio Shifts Tune on Pre-K Funding, Would Now Accept State Cash(NYO)
Cuomo says de Blasio's funding stream, a tax, is "not" more certain than anything else in the #nybudget * Cuomo says charters are "spurring a dialogue which we have to have." Cuomo, shorter: My plan offers more certainty than de Blasio tax.* .@NYGovCuomo says he thinks charterschools are the civil rights issue of our day
Whose Civil Rights Issue?
Gov. Cuomo Says Pre-K Tax Is Not 'Verifiable' Funding; Calls Failing Schools 'Civil Rights Issue Of Our Day'(NYDN) Whereas de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane
McCray, called universal prekindergarten the civil rights movement of
our time, Cuomo said the destinction actually belongs to the issue of
fixing failing schools. He said charters will play a big part in that.*ZIP IT, LADY! Gov. Cuomo fires back at Chirlane McCray over pre-K 'civil rights' claim(NYDN) * Cuomo Praises Charter Schools After de Blasio Bombarded With Criticism(NYO) * Assembly Budget Resolution To Include Mayor de Blasio's Prekindergarten Tax Plan(NYDN)
Mayoral Appointments
.@BilldeBlasio appts Joseph Ponte for Correction, Ana Bermudez for Probation, Elizabeth Glazer for Crim Just, Vincent Schiraldi as adviser * Bill de Blasio Appoints Host of Criminal Justice Positions(NYO) * NYC's 1st deputy mayor acknowledged Monday that BdB has been slower on
appointments than predecessors. He said it's best to get it right. Ana Bermudez, new NYC Probation commish, is native of Puerto Rico who went to @BrownUniversity & @YaleLawSch* chris smith
@chrissmithnymag
Is the Mayor's and Governors Charter Fight Splitting the City Minorities Apart?
Nobody Beats the Wiz
Whose Civil Rights Issue?
Mayoral Appointments
.
quality of criminal justice appts. more important, but is new england now rivaling brooklyn for @deblasionyc admin origins? * De Blasio Pledges 'Reform' With 4 New Criminal Justice Picks(WNYC)
Needed Park Commissioner
The Tale of Two Cities fight extends outdoors. The mayor needs to welcome spring with a new parks commissioner
Needed Park Commissioner
The Tale of Two Cities fight extends outdoors. The mayor needs to welcome spring with a new parks commissioner
Is the Mayor's and Governors Charter Fight Splitting the City Minorities Apart?
The Divider Mayor Over Race?
De Blasio pressures Cuomo through minority voters(Capital) Mayor and allies do church circuit for pre-K* After a battering, de Blasio allies begin to organize against Success(Capital)
Mayor Moves on Cop Lawsuits
De Blasio switches sides to ditch cop suit(NYP)Mayor de Blasio one-upped his vow to ditch the city’s legal challenge to a law that exposes cops to civil suits for racial profiling by announcing Monday that he would, in effect, switch sides to defeat the bid. De Blasio asked Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Anil Singh to swap out the mayor’s position from plaintiff to defendant in the case.
Mayor's Neighbors Save on Property Tax
De Blasio’s neighborhood among city’s top property tax savers(NYP)Small-home owners in Carroll Gardens and Park Slope are saving an average of $10,760 per year on their property-tax bills — the biggest benefit outside Manhattan — thanks to byzantine rules, an analysis has found.The savings are largely due to caps on tax hikes for one-, two- and three-family homes enacted decades ago.
The McGoven Primary Lesson Still Rules
40 Years Ago George McGovern Pull Out Thousands of New Voters in A Primary, A Lot of Albany Incumbents Lost - Schumer and Holtzman and Others Entered
De Blasio to sign with 911 firm he criticized(Capital)
The administration will ink a deal with a software company criticized last year for its role in the 911 dispatch system
4 Year Old Ariel Russo
Council Names A Street for Ariel But Does Not Hold A Hearing to Find Out the Cause of Her Death
Speaker and Council Parties On Developers and Lobbyists Dime
Records: 87% of funds for Mark-Vierito’s inauguration bash were raised from 3 developers, 3 unions
Pay to Party and Then Play New Council
EXCLUSIVE: City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito's inauguration party paid for by real estate developers, unions (NYDN) Records show that 87% of the $30,000 Mark-Viverito raised for her lavish Jan. 30 party came from three developers — the Witkoff Group, Marathon Development and Lighthouse Group LLC — and three unions. The unions have pushed for the living wage laws recently enacted by the City Council. Records show that 87 percent of City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s $30,000 inauguration party was raised from three developers and three unions that hired one of her campaign aides as a lobbyist. And $6,500 came from three unions — the New York Hotel & Motel Workers, Plumbers Local 1 and Hotel Workers Local 6 — that have pushed for the living wage laws recently enacted by the City Council. Mark-Viverito has pushed to expand the laws even further. The Witkoff Group and the three unions have all hired the lobbyist group Pitta, Bishop, Del Giorno and Giblin to press City Hall for various causes. The firm’s founder, Vito Pitta, was a “liaison” to Mark-Viverito’s campaign.
On Morning Joe BDB has Clearly Lost Control of the Education Narrative
Scarborough, Brzezinski Confront de Blasio: Is Charter School Campaign ‘Personal’? (VIDEO) Morning Joe played a clip of a fiery de Blasio during the campaign arguing that Moskowitz had an excess of money and political influence behind her, both of which would end when he was in office. Brzezinski pointed out that as Moskowitz’s schools were the first he went after, the policy seemed “personal,” a word the morning show hosts invoked four different times. “We approved five Success Academy schools for co-location in this round — we disagreed with three, we approved of five and by the way, we approved fourteen charter schools out of seventeen applications,” de Blasio countered. “I do think the facts matter a lot here. The bottom line is, we’ve got to fix the whole school system, so charters play a role in that. But a lot of other things have to happen. The schools on the receiving end matter too.” “What don’t you like about Eva Moskowitz?” Scarborough pressed. “That statement seemed very personal.”* De Blasio confronts charter-boosting ‘Morning Joe’ hosts(Capital)
‘Morning Joe’ Cast Grills de Blasio Over Charter Schools(NYO) “I don’t understand your positions on charters,” stated Mr. Scarborough.
“The waiting list is 50,000. And it’s not a bunch of rich kids from
Manhattan that want to get in there, it’s some of the poorest, most
disadvantaged children of colors.” Ms. Brzezinski further brought up Mr. de Blasio’s 16-year-old son, Dante, as she inquired about some charter co-locations recently canceled by the de Blasio administration. “Let me ask it this way mayor: With all due respect, your son goes
to–is it Brooklyn Tech? Has a $13 million endowment, it’s a
highly-selective school; you’re very excited, I’m sure, that he goes
there. If you found out that he wasn’t going there next year, wouldn’t
you want to know what the plan was? Do you think you played this out in a
way that might not have been effective?” she asked. Mr. de Blasio failed to persuade the skeptical hosts, however, and he
was soon pressed on his hostility towards the charter movement and
whether he had a personal beef with charter school leader Eva Moskowitz.
(Speaking on the same program, Ms. Moskowitz extensively bashed Mr. de Blasio’s charter policy last week.)“There is no hostility,” countered Mr. de Blasio.“It does look like there is …” began Mr. Scarborough.“‘Looks like’ is an important word,” Mr. de Blasio interjected with a laugh. * Lawsuits are expected to be filed—in
New York City and Albany—against New York City for the de Blasio
administration’s decision to reverse charter school co-locations, the New York Post writes: 
-
On
@Morning_Joe,@BilldeBlasio pretends he's fair and balanced about charter schools -- his record says otherwise.* Jonathan Lemire @JonLemire National TV hosts just spent 15+ minutes hammering@BilldeBlasio on fate of 3 charter schools. BDB has clearly lost control of the narrative* Steven Rattner @SteveRattner .@morningmika calls out@BilldeBlasio for denying that his attack on charter schools was personal about Eva Moskowitz* * Former Gov. George Pataki, who moved through the initial charter-school law, blasted de Blasio for his push against charter schools, calling his campaign an “outrageous abuse of political power,” the Post reports: * The Wall Street Journal writes that New York is at the center of the national education reform debate with the charter school issue, and national Democrats should declare what side they’re on, just like Gov. Andrew Cuomo did: * As@NYGovCuomo thwarts@BilldeBlasio at every turn, the mayor is rallying minority voters toback him, not Cuomo * "I'm very confident" there will be a major expansion of pre-k for "tens of thousands of families this fall". -Tony Shorris#NYCShorris
Steven Rattner
-
Question to
@BilldeBlasio on@Morning_Joe "why be so hostile to charters..." Seems like the joe just become Kool Aid.#GetYourFactsStraight
Melissa MarkViverito
Union Workers Bet On the Horses
Wednesday Update
The Daily News writes that de Blasio should protect horse-carriage industry workers as he continues to work toward cutting the industry out of the city. A PETA for people
De Blasio should protect the humans who work in the horse-carriage industry
Central Labor Council Can’t Talk Bill de Blasio Out of Banning Horse Carriages(NYO)
WILL BLAZ PONY UP? Group representing more than 1.3 million union workers send letter to Mayor de Blasio begging him to keep horse carriage jobs in tact(NYDNH)
Top union leaders part of the Central Labor Council sent a letter to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council to urge them not to do away with horse carriage rides* Liam Neeson’s horse sense(NYP Ed) * Labor Council Urges Mayor to Lay Off Horse Carriages(NY1)
Liam Neeson blasts Mayor de Blasio for skipping carriage horse stable tour: 'He should have manned up and come'(NYDN) The
'Non-Stop' actor hosted a dozen City Council members at the Clinton
Park Stables, which house 78 Central Park carriages horses — and
expressed his anger at Mayor de Blasio's absence. Neeson also ripped de
Blasio's plan to replace the carriages with electric cars.* Liam Neeson’s push to get Mayor Bill de Blasio to visit some horse stables may not have succeeded directly, but it still yielded coverage in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post and Daily News. “He should have manned up and come,” Mr. Neeson said, on the front page of the News. “I’m disappointed he’s not here.” * Tuesday De Blasio: I love Liam Neeson despite carriage horse position(NYP)
No More Tale of Two City's On the Bowery
NYC's Teacher Retention Better
Lisa Fleisher
@lisafleisher Someone should tell @BilldeBlasio that NYC teacher retention is the best it's been in years. (WSJ)
Cuomo Campaign 2014
Assembly Democrats say they will look
to block Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal to pay down debt by using
$40 million in funds raised through a special tax to help the MTA, the Daily News reports: * Cuomo is expected use a $10-million
package of TV ads to “define” Westchester County Executive and
gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino as someone who holds far-right
views on abortion, gay marriage and gun rights, the Post’s Fred Dicker
writes:Cuomo to define opponent with $10M ad campaign * The Republican-controlled Senate
Rules Committee introduced the governor’s ethics package, including
public financing of elections, but it may be a tactical move to control
legislation they oppose, the Times Union writes: *Hispanic Dems to oppose Cuomo’s budget unless ‘Dream Act’ added(NYP) * Assembly Dems seek to block Gov. Cuomo from taking MTA funds to pay debts(NYDN) * LOVETT: Doubts on Cuomo campaign finance reform, de Blasio's Albany challenge(NYDN) * Gov. Cuomo's office is targeting tenants who use the STAR exemption and live in rent-regulated housing(NYDN) * Donald Trump gets ready to cancel another campaign he never really had the guts to run in the first place: (NYDN) * Astorino 2014 Holding Campaign Kick-Off Fundraiser(YNN) * Governor Cuomo has hired Republican consultant 
Tuesday Update Deputy mayor: charter expansion could lead to ‘privatized’ school system(NYP) * Shorris heralds a housing-health mix at LICH(Capital)
Monday Tony Shorris admits at Crain's breakfast forum that
Wendell
Walters, a former assistant commissioner at the city Housing
Preservation and Development Department, will testify in federal court
that developer Stevenson Dunn paid him for contracts to build affordable
housing. Walters was the highest-ranking member of former Mayor
Bloomberg's administration to be arrested on corruption charges. He
could receive leniency for cooperating with authorities.***City Official Accused of Taking Bribes, Left in Boxes and Cups(NYT) Six developers, two of them lawyers, were also charged. One, Stevenson
Dunn, 50, a high school friend of Mr. Walters, was also charged with
racketeering conspiracy. The others were charged with bribery,
extortion, wire fraud and money laundering: Lee Hymowitz, 60, and
Michael Freeman, 64, the lawyers; and Sergio Benitez, 51, Robert
Morales, 52, and Angel Villalona, 52. All seven defendants pleaded not
guilty and were granted bail ranging from $300,000 to $500,000.
Housing Costs Rise, Goodbye Middle Class
Chase or Impossible Spin? Affordable Housing
New York State Reports Steep Rise in Housing Costs(NYP) More than three million New York households — over half the state’s renters and one-third of homeowners — cannot afford their homes, the state comptroller’s office disclosed.* Housing becoming more expensive for NYers: comptroller(NYP) * New York City continues chasing affordable housing(NYP)If your rent is too damn high, blame city government for trying to be Matthew McConaughey. Accepting his Oscar for Best Actor this month, McConaughey said one of the things he needs daily is “someone to chase” — so he chases himself, 10 years down the road. He knows he’ll never “catch” himself, of course. But at least he has someone to chase. When it comes to housing, the city is
also chasing something it will
never catch — indeed, something that will never exist: the fantasy of
affordable apartments for all who need them. And this chase only deepens
Gotham’s never-ending apartment squeeze.* Half of New York residents can’t afford the rent: study(Real Deal) Since 2000, the share of renters in the state who put more than 30
percent of their income towards housing costs has increased sharply,
from 40.5 percent to 50.6 percent, according to a report by Comptroller
Thomas DiNapoli, released earlier this week.
A new report by the Coalition for the Homeless shows that the number of people staying overnight in New York City shelters has hit a record of 53,615, with a 12 percent increase in the number of newly homeless families in the system, the Times writes: * Report: Number of Homeless in City Hits Record High (NY1)
Housing Costs Rise, Goodbye Middle Class
Chase or Impossible Spin? Affordable Housing
New York State Reports Steep Rise in Housing Costs(NYP) More than three million New York households — over half the state’s renters and one-third of homeowners — cannot afford their homes, the state comptroller’s office disclosed.* Housing becoming more expensive for NYers: comptroller(NYP) * New York City continues chasing affordable housing(NYP)If your rent is too damn high, blame city government for trying to be Matthew McConaughey. Accepting his Oscar for Best Actor this month, McConaughey said one of the things he needs daily is “someone to chase” — so he chases himself, 10 years down the road. He knows he’ll never “catch” himself, of course. But at least he has someone to chase. When it comes to housing, the city is
A new report by the Coalition for the Homeless shows that the number of people staying overnight in New York City shelters has hit a record of 53,615, with a 12 percent increase in the number of newly homeless families in the system, the Times writes: * Report: Number of Homeless in City Hits Record High (NY1)
Stop Fancy Park Eats
Chef
Driven Market, say the opponents to the proposed new eatery given the
go-ahead by Mayor Bloomberg, would ruin the public green space.
Gentrification in Progress
Giant 'Gentrification In Progress' Banner Draped Over Graffiti Mecca(Huff Post)
Felling he Heat de Blasio Hands Off the Anti-Charter Fight to James
PA to File Lawsuit
Public advocate wants to suspend charter-school lottery(NYP) Public Advocate Letitia James not only plans to sue to shut down “co-located” charter schools — her team wants a judge to suspend the admissions lottery for the 2014-15 academic year. The move would slam at least 4,500 city families slated to enter a new class — and thousands more already in charter schools — all because of James’ opposition to Mayor de Blasio’s decision to let 36 schools share space in public school buildings. Children hoping to enroll in a charter next year must sign up for the city-run lottery by April 1. The lottery-deadline delay would be a legal strategy in a lawsuit filed by charter-school opponents including James, who is the lead plaintiff. Charter-school leaders called the suit “senseless” and blasted James for “putting ideology before kids. “The destructive tactics . . . would create havoc and uncertainty for tens of thousands of New York City families from low-income communities,” New York City Charter School Center CEO James Merriman said. * The Absurd NY Tabloid Propaganda War Against de Blasio's Reasonable Charter School Policies | Alternet *Public advocate: Lawsuit to block 30 co-located charter schools will go forward(NYDN) * Mayor de Blasio Preaches Pre-K At Bronx Church * In Rent Plan for Charters, Mayor Faces a Hard Road (NYT)
All five borough presidents spent a total of $319,965 on transition and inauguration events, with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer raising the most—more than $99,000—to help pay for her $191,174 inaugural party, the Daily News writes:
Charter to File Lawsuit Against Mayor
Breaking Source: Success Charter parents to file federal civil rights complaint against @NYCSchools for charter school eviction. * De Blasio slapped with suit over charter schools(NYP) A federal civil rights lawsuit will be filed against de Blasio for
cancelling the co-location of Success Academy IV Central Harlem middle
school with a neighboring public school, a source said. Two legal complaints also will be filed with state Education
Commissioner John King to try to reverse City Hall’s decision to prevent
two new Success Academy charter elementary schools from opening at the
Murry Bergtraum HS facility in downtown Manhattan and the August Martin
HS complex in southeast Queens. * Who Is Behind the Pro-Charter Schools Group Fighting de Blasio?(WNYC) * Charter School Parents Say De Blasio’s Plan Will Violate Kids’ Civil Rights (WCBS) * .@TheRevAl: "We in this community, more than anybody, needs to be concerned about the #preK issue" (Capital) * WorkingFamiliesParty NAACP Statement on outrageous Eva Moskowitz lawsuit against Mayor de Blasio: * Mayor and allies on pre-K and, gingerly, Cuomo(Capital) * De Blasio Administration Spreads Pre-K Message to Churches
Rent Board, Rent Freeze Promise
Renters Hope for Promised Freeze as de Blasio Prepares to Fill Guidelines Board(NYT)
The McDonald's City Council Economy
City Council Fights for Higher Minimum Wages Not High Paying Jobs
New York State’s low-pay employment growth soars(NYP) New York is in a slow economic meltdown, analysts say. The city and state face a future of low-wage job growth, killer taxes and regulations — and a hostile business climate forcing firms out. One in 10 workers in New York City — 400,000 in all — are now in low-wage jobs, with 37 percent of all wage earners paid less than $15 an hour, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Eight of the 10 occupations reckoned to add the most net jobs in the Big Apple over the next 10 years have median annual wages of below $30,000, according to another analysis.* NYC Pols Take Minimum Wage Challenge | New York Daily News * Council Members Rally for Higher Minimum Wage NYC | (NYO) * Tax policies hurt hiring in New York(NYP) These hindrances include scheduled increases in the state minimum wage, new city paid sick leave rules for small businesses, high construction costs and burdensome taxes.* The Working Life: Among de Blasio’s Priorities, Minimum Wage Waits Behind Pre-K (NYT)
Charters “On Their Own”
Then Goes Into Hiding
Flip-Flop Fariña
Saturday Education Updates: New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said she regrets saying that 200 displaced Harlem charter school students were “on their own” and that she would work to find space for themChancellor Says She Regrets Remarks About a Harlem Charter School *Flip-flop Fariña now wants to help charter students(NYP) * Opponents blast de Blasio for not blocking more charter schools(NYP)
De Blasio woos parent bloggers *Pre-K Special Education Contractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charge(NYT) In a plea deal, Cheon Park, 47, agreed to pay $2.1 million in restitution to the city’s Education Department and accept a sentence of 51 to 63 months in prison.* City now will help displaced Harlem charter students(NYDN) * Parents, bloggers call for more class space(NYP) They have a collective 640,000 followers in the virtual world of Twitter. But the parent bloggers who met with Mayor de Blasio at City Hall on Friday to talk universal pre-K and expanded after-school programs had concerns centered on the real world: classroom space.* Fariña has more to fix(NYDN Ed) So, less than 24 hours after staunchly defending their stance, Fariña appeared on TV to say that she would find places for the children, which really was not saying very much. They were in a great school and they needed to stay in their great school, not be scattered. Finally, Fariña pledged to find a new home for Harlem Success 4 in a public school building.That’s a start — and only a start. Fariña and de Blasio must also right the wrong they’ve done to hundreds of kids hoping to attend two additional Success Academy schools whose space-sharing arrangements got nixed.
More On Education and the new Chancellor, Charter Schools
Does de Blasio Love NY?
* Meet ‘Oblasio’: De Blasio’s turning into Obama’s twin(Goodwin, NYP) Ending the worst week of his mayoralty — his next good week will be his first — de Blasio got poll-whacked, with his job-approval rating sinking to 39 percent. Only black New Yorkers give him even 50 percent, and he’s under a majority in each of the five boroughs, according to the Wall Street Journal/WNBC/Marist survey. His habit of lecturing and his belief that talking is the same as doing make him a twin of President Obama. Think of them as “Oblasio.”
12 Vacancies: Blame Silver and Skelos for the Special Election Law
A dozen districts left in lurch by Boyland conviction(NYP) The conviction of greedy Brooklyn payola pol William Boyland Jr. means there are now 12 districts across the state that don’t have representation in Albany — and might not all year. A spokesman for Gov. Cuomo said nothing has changed since January, when the governor told reporters “we are looking at” the possibility of calling special elections, even though they are “very expensive.” “But these special elections aren’t really elections — they’re coronations by party leaders,” Dadey said, noting that party bosses choose the candidates, who then, without the public scrutiny of a primary campaign, almost invariably win. Once “coronated,” these special-elected pols are almost inevitably re-elected, Dadey said. New York state incumbents are re-elected at an astounding 94-percent rate. Boyland himself was installed in the district covering Flatbush, Brownsville, Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights via a special election in 2003, Dadey noted. * Common Cause, Citizens Union call for Borough Presidents to follow Stringer's reforms in selecting Community Board members; Markowitz's AY purge cited(AYR)
NYT Calls NY's Special Elections Scams and Undemocratic
Three weeks ago True News point out that if the governor called a special election to fill the Weiner seat one man corrupt Queens boss Joe Crowley would pick the next congressman from the 9th district.
Today the NYT & Daily News called the party rules which go back to
boss Tweed that allow one man rule undemocratic. The NYT did not get
into why Albany does not want to change the party rules. Incumbents get
help when challengers pop up from Board of Elections which
is controlled by the county leaders. Most time those the BOE makes
sure challengers cannot make it passed what the NYT called "not great"
NY political parties ballot access rules. The NYT could have demand
that the city's DOI commissioner Rose Gill Hearn stop delaying her
investigation of the BOE former Commissioner Gonzalez's reported attempt
to fix the ballot in a special election.
The NYT also did not talk about how the same party rules give the party
leaders control who become a Supreme Court Judge in the state. Or about all the corrupt coming out of party leaders selling access to their ballot lines.
 |
| True News Wags NYT |
The NYT did say: "This scam is even worse in state races in New York. Citizens Union
reported recently that a third of the Legislature was first anointed
as candidates in these back-room, special-election deals. Mr. Cuomo
didn’t have to hand those six open seats to the bosses. State law says
that the governor can call a special election to fill open seats in the
Legislature or wait until the next election. Mr. Cuomo should have
allowed the state races to go through the normal process. He can now
start making amends to New Yorkers by pushing to change the state’s
special election laws, so the voters, not party bigwigs, get to choose
who represents them" The Daily News says: " Long term, Cuomo aides say
there's another solution: to persuade legislators to rewrite the law
under which they were, in effect, appointed to office so the governor
would be required to call for open primaries whenever possible. As if
Lopez and Crowley would sit still as their power was voted away. Right.
Sure. Dream on."
For Democracy Can the NYT & Daily News Act Like Harper's Weekly
For
the NYT Own Good They Should Put As Much Energy Into Cleaning Up NY's
Elections From Boss Run Scams as the Paper Put Into the Passage of Gay
Marrage. New York’s Especially Undemocratic Elections
Now that the governor has ordered special elections, party leaders,
not the people, will get to choose the candidates to run for a House
seat and six State Assembly seats. (NYT Ed) * Campaign against the Tweed Ring
Daily News Good to Its Friends Weiner Trump
Helping Friends News
Anthony Weiner: In first two months, Mayor de Blasio comes off as the anti-Reagan: He is right on policy, wrong on leadership(NYDN) * Probe Schneiderman . . .(NYDN Ed) Backed up by records, correspondence and affidavits, Trump paints Schneiderman and aides as hitting up Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner for campaign money and other political help — while Schneiderman probed Trump University. This is a particularly sad state of affairs in that JCOPE also has grounds to determine whether a second statewide elected official — Controller Tom DiNapoli — has committed ethical breaches of his own. (See here.) * The Observer's Embarrassing Eric Schneiderman Takedown Attempt, by the Numbers(Village Voice) * The Politics and Power of A.G. Schneiderman (NYO) Will Righteous Eric bag big prey? Or Will Reckless Eric come undone? Daily News Gives Weiner 2 Pages?
Daily News Good to Its Friends Weiner Trump
Helping Friends News
Anthony Weiner: In first two months, Mayor de Blasio comes off as the anti-Reagan: He is right on policy, wrong on leadership(NYDN) * Probe Schneiderman . . .(NYDN Ed) Backed up by records, correspondence and affidavits, Trump paints Schneiderman and aides as hitting up Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner for campaign money and other political help — while Schneiderman probed Trump University. This is a particularly sad state of affairs in that JCOPE also has grounds to determine whether a second statewide elected official — Controller Tom DiNapoli — has committed ethical breaches of his own. (See here.) * The Observer's Embarrassing Eric Schneiderman Takedown Attempt, by the Numbers(Village Voice) * The Politics and Power of A.G. Schneiderman (NYO) Will Righteous Eric bag big prey? Or Will Reckless Eric come undone? Daily News Gives Weiner 2 Pages?
Boyland in Jail
Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr. convicted for soliciting bribe (NYDN)
‘Hole kept getting deeper’ in Boyland case: juror(NYP) The jury foreman from Assemblyman William Boyland Jr.’s trial criticized Boyland’s nonchalant demeanor and called the prosecution’s case persuasive
* No more Boylands (NYDN Ed)Another Albany gets what he deserves The Daily News writes that the William
Boyland Jr. case is a cautionary tale for those who want special
elections, which allow party bosses to hand-pick candidates and would
give the state more Boylands:
New York State Assemblyman William F. Boyland, Jr. Convicted on ...The crooked career of Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. will be soon forgotten, but a comment he made to an undercover FBI agent should be remembered forever.As he took the agent, who played a businessman willing to pay bribes, on a tour of his district, Boyland described himself like a Mafia boss.“Everything you’ve seen — I’m in control of,” the Brooklyn Democrat said. “I’m the politician.”
New York State Assemblyman William F. Boyland, Jr. Convicted on ...The crooked career of Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. will be soon forgotten, but a comment he made to an undercover FBI agent should be remembered forever.As he took the agent, who played a businessman willing to pay bribes, on a tour of his district, Boyland described himself like a Mafia boss.“Everything you’ve seen — I’m in control of,” the Brooklyn Democrat said. “I’m the politician.”
Brooklyn Assemblyman Found Guilty in Corruption Trial NY1
Albany's Pols Blue Wall of Silence Enabled By the Media, Continues
Pols Speaker Silver Silent on Boyland's Conviction
A few years ago Paterson charged that were was a blue Wall of Silence similarly to the cops code of never going after corrupt cops in Albany of never going after corrupt pols. The gov made this charge on a radio show.Albany's 'Blue Wall Of Silence' What Paterson was talking about was that not one Albany pol has said a word against any of their disgraced members convicted of corruption. Come to think of it either has Paterson until after his handlers come to the conclusion that the only way for him to win was by running against the corrupt in Albany. It is interesting how the newspapers allow the Albany political gang to hide from the public and go behind closed doors and craft a bill with more holes than the Detroit bombers underwear. It is even more interesting how the papers could act this way when their own editorial boards scream out for change in Albany. Why do the papers protect the pols Blue Wall of Silence even when they have written thousands of stories about the cops wall of silence and organized crime wall of silence? True News began pointing out the political wall of silence years ago The Political Wall of Silence: Not One Pol Expresses Outrage, McLaughlin Goes to Jail
How Albany Cleans-Up Corruption
Hide the Evidence
Convicted of federal charges, William Boyland has already disappeared from the NYS Assembly website, and his name gone from his LOB office. He immediately lost his seat after his felony conviction, said a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The Assembly also removed Boyland's page from its website.
Albany's Pols Blue Wall of Silence Enabled By the Media, Continues
A few years ago Paterson charged that were was a blue Wall of Silence similarly to the cops code of never going after corrupt cops in Albany of never going after corrupt pols. The gov made this charge on a radio show.Albany's 'Blue Wall Of Silence' What Paterson was talking about was that not one Albany pol has said a word against any of their disgraced members convicted of corruption. Come to think of it either has Paterson until after his handlers come to the conclusion that the only way for him to win was by running against the corrupt in Albany. It is interesting how the newspapers allow the Albany political gang to hide from the public and go behind closed doors and craft a bill with more holes than the Detroit bombers underwear. It is even more interesting how the papers could act this way when their own editorial boards scream out for change in Albany. Why do the papers protect the pols Blue Wall of Silence even when they have written thousands of stories about the cops wall of silence and organized crime wall of silence? True News began pointing out the political wall of silence years ago The Political Wall of Silence: Not One Pol Expresses Outrage, McLaughlin Goes to Jail
How Albany Cleans-Up Corruption
Convicted of federal charges, William Boyland has already disappeared from the NYS Assembly website, and his name gone from his LOB office. He immediately lost his seat after his felony conviction, said a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The Assembly also removed Boyland's page from its website.
Letters to the Judge
Could Get
30 Years
New York Assemblyman Found Guilty of Federal Bribery Charges(WSJ) After the jury foreman read the first guilty verdict, Mr. Boyland covered his face and appeared to wipe at tears. Judge Sandra Townes ordered Mr. Boyland, 43, to jail instead of granting
bail. Shesaid his texting a government witness during the trial "shows a
terrible lack of judgment" and said she was concerned by trial evidence
showing he sometimes claimed to be in one place when he was actually
somewhere else.
The corrupt pol was convicted Thursday on all 21 counts of bribery, mail fraud and extortion in Brooklyn Federal Court. Boyland, 43, closed his eyes and held his head in his hands as the verdict was announced. * Assemblyman William Boyland Found Guilty on All Charges(NYO) * Boyland Is Convicted in Second Corruption Trial (NYT) * In a surprise,
More on Boyland's Corruption
Delusional Malcolm Smith
Legislator Up for Re-election Wants to Delay Bribery Trial
(NYT) Senator Malcolm A. Smith, who has been charged in a plot to bribe his
way onto the ballot to run for mayor of New York, says his trial would
interfere with his re-election campaign. * No delay on Smith trial - Queens Chronicle: Editorials * Judge refuses to delay Malcolm Smith's NY trial - WSJ.com
More on the Malcolm Smith Investigations
New Taxi Boss Another Insider
Meera Joshi, a
former lawyer for the agency, is to be tapped by Mayor de Blasio on
Saturday, the Daily News has learned. Joshi, who called the appointment
an 'honor,' will be the second woman to head the commission. * De Blasio, Critic of Taxi Commission, Picks Its Ex-Counsel to Lead It(NYT)Meera Joshi was nominated by Mayor Bill de Blasio despite her role in
expanding street hail service and the Taxi of Tomorrow, has often
criticized.* Bill de Blasio Names Meera Joshi to Lead TLC(NYO) * Why doesn’t the TLC fire dangerous cab drivers?(NYP Ed) "de Blasio’s transition team floated possible posts to Liu, including Taxi & Limousine cmsnr & finance commissioner"
More on NYC Taxis
More on NYC Taxis
NY1 Does Not Remember the Name of Their Frequent Guest Consultant
Is the Advance Group's Levinson Investigation into Campaign Violations Blocking the Horse Carriage Ban?
HorseCarriageGate
NY 1 did a story on the political developments on the path to banning Horse carriages but do not identify the man at the center of the scandal, Scott Levension of the Advance Group. They show a picture of Levension and say quickly there is an investigation but not mention his name and explain what he is being charged with doing. Many believe the Levinson investigation is the reason why the mayor and council speaker does not move on ban they promised during the election.
Why Does the Press Cover-Up the Levension Investigation? Is Fixing Elections and Destroying Democratic Elections Important in NYC?
Path to Banning Horse Carriages in City Seen as Product of Po litical Developments(NY1) One of last's year's biggest ads targeted Christine Quinn, then the
front-runner. Those behind it didn't like Quinn's support for horse
carriages, but there's a hitch: the ad didn't mention banning horse
carriages.* De Blasio Whipped by Horse Lobby(Daily Beast) NY1 reporter Josh Robin's did mention Levinson name in his Daily Beast article but only in one sentence. He said nothing about the possible criminal actions that Levension is being investigated for.* Parents and children get caught between charter school feud with teachers union and pro-charter forces
Parents and children of charter schools are caught between two well-funded interests. (NYDN) As of last week, the political action committees of the
United Federation of Teachers and the four major charter backers were
fairly evenly matched financially, a Daily News review found.* .* Mayor's ally being paid to fight him (CrainsNY) Instead of opposing the heavily favored Mr. de Blasio in the general
election, however, Pledge 2 Protect hired the Advance Group, a
Manhattan-based Democratic consulting firm that had just run a $1
million campaign to sink de Blasio rival Christine Quinn. Pledge 2
Protect also hired Ms. Lewis, who shares an office with the Advance
Group and whose nonprofit is a client of it.
"Mayor's Approval Rating Hits 39 %: Poll” (WSJ)
Job performance rating: 10%, excellent; 29%, good; 37% fair; 20% poor
Poll: NYers approve of the way
Mark Green
* At a forum with other big city mayors in Chicago, de Blasio focused on political philosophy in talking about the beginning of his mayoralty while others discussed more specific points of municipal maintenance, the Times reports:--The Times’ Michael Grynbaum, also in Chicago, described a lofty de Blasio, saying he “left the nuts-and-bolts details of municipal maintenance to his peers, preferring philosophical points over statistical detail as he described his experiences in the first two months of the job.”
de Blasio Makes Cuomo Appealing Centrist
Cuomo’s rift with de Blasio could benefit the governor’s bid for reelection by making him more appealing to centrist voters in the suburbs, Greg David of Crain’s writes:
Media Coverage Enables Speaker Silver in His Multi-Scandal Escape Plan
Silver like every elected official and the flacks, media barrons and prosecutors who protect them understand that only media attention to government scandals can cause enough public pressure to demand investigation. So when the U.S. Attorney Bharara made a plea 7 months ago (Sept. 18, 2013 for more investigative reporting he did not tell the entire journalism cover-up story.* Silver “the Assembly will do what is appropriate to root out corruption" A month after a jury convicted Assembly Stevenson and today a jury sent Assemblyman Boyland to jail
"The Media Reports Indictments Or Corruption Trials, Does Not Investigate to Root Out Wrong Doing In Government" - U.S. Attorney Bharara
Bharara to Journalist
Investigate Stop Copying My Press Releases
"Rather than just covering the cases that my office and
other offices are already bringing, figure out ways to break new ground and to
cover new stories," Bharara said. "Groundbreaking corruption coverage
is not just good copy, it's a path to good government." Bharara Preet Bharara hopes for more muckraking in ... - Capital Sept 18, 2013
The press has a role to play, Mr. Bharara said, noting that he is saddened by recent reports of newspaper closings and staff downsizing. "Rather than just covering the cases that my office and other offices are already bringing, figure out ways to break new ground and to cover new stories," he said. "Groundbreaking corruption\Bruno Lawyers Want An April Trial(YNN)* Robert Addolorato, the new chief of investigations for the Moreland Commission, worked as an investigator for Cuomo while he was attorney general, then started work in the Inspector General’s office in 2011, the Times Union reports:
More On Corruption Fighter US Attorney Preet Bharara
Silver Pushes Legal Moreland Cover-Up As Other Cover-Ups Fade
As the media loses interested of the Albany's Hush Fund Scandal with the resignation of Assemblyman Gabryszak and the decision of Assemblyman Kellner not to seek re-election.
With the expected guilty plea of Met Council's Rapfogel with no
investigation of Silver or the pay to play elected officials who funded
Rapfogel's none-profit in exchange for campaign contributions, another
speakers scandal will soon fade from the media attention. More on the Albany Hush Fund Cover Up, Press Containment Timeline * More on Kellner and Albany's Sexual Abuse
More on Speaker Silvers Corruption
Silver Creating Moreland Legal Cover-Up
Team Sharpton's Looks 4 Harlem Takeover
The New Tammany Hall
State Senator Adriano Espaillat has tapped the National Action
Network's national field director to join his campaign as a senior
adviser, adding another high-profile weapon to his repeat bid to...* Holy war in Harlem: Pastors want Al Sharpton out - NY Daily News(2103 * Al Sharpton attacked by black clergy for putting fame before needs of Harlem(Washington Times)
Adriano Espaillat is no spring chicken either. If he beats Rangel, he'll be one of Congress' oldest freshmen.
Espaillat to challenge Rangel for Democratic nod(NYP) * New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is dropping her support for Rangel and is planning to campaign for Espaillat, the Daily News’ Juan Gonzalez writes: * Espaillat Launches Bid for Congress: ‘We’re Very Optimistic We Will Win’(NYO) * Rangel: ‘We Welcome Challengers’(YNN) QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We need a champion in Washington that will be able to bring this whole district together.” – State Sen. Adriano Espaillat announcing his challenge of longtime incumbent Rep. Charles Rangel, via Politicker.
.
The Mayor's Lobbyist
Crain’s New York Business looked at how Bertha Lewis, an early de Blasio endorser, was hired to pressure the mayor on the Upper East Side waste transfer station, noting “a person with knowledge of the hiring said Ms. Lewis’ connection with him was ‘a huge part’ of the decision. It’s an example of how those in the new mayor’s orbit can benefit from proximity to him.”* De Blasio ally paid to fight him over Upper East Side trash station plan(NYDN) The Daily News reported last fall that Lewis, the former head of ACORN, a community-organizing group, had jumped onboard the anti-garbage station campaign. She said at the time she wanted to fight the perception that only rich white people would be hurt by the project, which is near a public housing project and a recreation facility. She and the mayor have long been allies and helped to form the Working Families Party. Both supported developer Bruce Ratner’s controversial Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn.
Acorn 2.0, Inc (NY Communities for Change)
]
NYCC, Reincarnated Acorn, Rises in de Blasio’s New York(NYO)One of the country’s best known community organizing groups, it crumbled rapidly four years ago, after right-wing activists, posing as a pimp and prostitute, secretly filmed Acorn workers providing them tax advice. But it turns out that Acorn’s exile was only temporary. The very same agitators are now whispering into the open ear of the new mayor, under the name New York Communities for Change. NYCC, which is battling to raise the wages of low-income workers and eventually unionize them, increase affordable housing and beat back the charter school movement, is also entwined with the influential Working Families Party. n the early stages of the mayor’s race.* Housing Activists Rally At City Hall(NYDN) The "Real Affordability For All" launch includes leading progressive groups like Make the Road New York and New York Communities for Change, and is billing itself as the "largest affordable housing campaign in the city." The Black Institute was also paid $23,000 for polling last October by then-state Sen. Eric Adams' campaign for Brooklyn borough president. Mr. Adams faced token opposition for the seat and won handily.
Were the PACS, NYCC and WFP Working Together in the Primary in Violation of the CFB Spending Caps?
NYCC launched a valuable vote-pulling operation in minority neighborhoods where a gawky white candidate like Mr. de Blasio, even with a black wife, might not have held supreme appeal. A 501(c)(4) nonprofit that can participate in political activities without revealing its donors, NYCC has proven most potent in predominantly black areas in central Brooklyn and southeast Queens, where voter turnout is heavily Democratic and deceptively high. Where the WFP begins and NYCC ends can be difficult to discern. The two organizations are headquartered in the same Nevins Street building, one floor apart. Jonathan Westin, the successor to Mr. Kest at NYCC, who died in 2012, sits on the WFP’s executive board. And their political aims, from unionizing fast food and car wash workers to combating the power of the real estate and banking industries, are all but identical.
The New Machine, Progressives, WFP, NYCC, Lobbyist (Advance, Pitta Bishop Del Giorno, Berlin Rosen)
Machine Coup D'etat
“It seems to me these folks are like the worker ants of the Working Families Party,” said one right-leaning nonprofit executive. “They’re kind of a nonprofit community front for the party.” Lending its ballot line, organized labor troops and dogged get-out-the-vote operation, many credit the WFP will helping to spearheaded the victories of the public advocate, comptroller, council speaker and various council members last year. NYCC’s own greatest coup of 2013 may have been helping crown the speaker of the City Council, ensuring that the group would have its phone calls returned by the two most powerful elected officials in the city. NYCC played a crucial, behind-the-scenes role. Rallying around her speakership candidacy early on, NYCC dedicated a top staffer. After her victory, Ms. Mark-Viverito would hire Ms. Adams as a senior adviser. Meanwhile, Ms. Lewis hasn’t disappeared from the scene entirely. While she has no official role with NYCC, she still uses the pronoun “we” when discussing the organization and remains one of Mayor de Blasio’s closet confidantes. * The New York City Council Finance Committee “lavished praise” on de Blasio’s budget proposal at a hearing, which reflects the “progressive” values the mayor and many Council members share, Crain’s writes: * Crain's analyzes Lewis's support for opponents of waste transfer station after period of neutrality(AYO) In Mayor's ally being paid to fight him, Crain's New York Business reports on the curious situation in which Bertha Lewis, head of the Black Institute and longtime friend/supporter of Mayor Bill de Blasio, is opposing mayoral efforts--which began under Mike Bloomberg and which de Blasio supports--to build a waste transfer station on the Upper East Side.* Mayor's ally being paid to fight him (CrainsNY) Instead of opposing the heavily favored Mr. de Blasio in the general election, however, Pledge 2 Protect hired the Advance Group, a Manhattan-based Democratic consulting firm that had just run a $1 million campaign to sink de Blasio rival Christine Quinn. Pledge 2 Protect also hired Ms. Lewis, who shares an office with the Advance Group and whose nonprofit is a client of it.
Lobbyist Campaign Consultants the New Universal Soldier
SKDK for Charters Berlin Rosen for Pre-K
In 2013 Both SKDK and Berlin Rosen Worked Together to Defeat Spitzer and Elect Controller Stringer
Kerry Lyons, a SKDKnickerbocker consultant who works for Moskowitz's schools, sent reporters a snapshot of the three schools, saying the displaced students are "left homeless next year." The loss of space for the two new schools, she said, will mean 420 kids in the kindergarten and first grades lose their enrollment.* Ross Barkan
de Blasio's Sugar Fix/ Will the Council Demand Its Cut? What Role Did Berlin Rosen Play?
City Hall's Inhouse Lobbyist Political Consultant
Real Estate developers now understand if you want to get an OK for your housing plan hire Berlin Rosen
BerlinRosen's current and recent clients include Two Trees Management Negotiations between Mr. de Blasio’s team and Mr. Walentas’s firm took place over the last few days. The two men share a mutual adviser: Jonathan Rosen, one of the mayor’s top political hands and the chief executive of a public affairs firm, Berlin Rosen, that counts Mr. Walentas’s company as a client.
SPIN CITY -- Times’ Michael Powell: “A couple of weeks back, I called the mayor’s press office and asked about Mr. de Blasio’s perhaps too-optimistic cost projections for prekindergarten. Twenty minutes later, I heard from Dan Levitan of Berlin Rosen, which is the ‘it’ P.R. firm of the city’s left and a close adviser to the mayor. … I asked if Berlin Rosen had a contract to handle queries placed with the mayor’s office. He replied that he handled the ‘campaign’ for pre-K.”
Setting Up a Better Domino Plan(NYT) In a good start, Mayor Bill de Blasio closed a deal with developers that would add more affordable housing in Brooklyn.* Affordable Housing Advocates Demand More from Mayor * Politicians, unions leave ‘Domino’ deal far from done(NYP Ed) The touted “compromise” to build apartment towers, offices, stores and a park at the Domino Sugar site in Brooklyn is anything but a done deal, despite absurd claims the city has “approved” it. Far from it: The City Council, not the Planning Commission, which OK’d it Wednesday, will have the final say. And construction unions and “affordable housing” agitators are ganging up on the agreement Mayor de Blasio reached this week with developer Two Trees Management. They could easily derail it in the council, which stands even farther to the left than de Blasio.** A coalition of tenant groups, anti-poverty advocates and unions, which includes some of de Blasio’s liberal allies, is poised to begin a campaign to call for more homes for the city’s poorest residents, the Journal writes * Meanwhile, Mr. de Blasio is about to face his first major lobbying effort from the left. “Real Affordability for All,” a new coalition of tenant groups, anti-poverty advocates and unions, is set to launch a campaign today to create more affordable housing for very low-income residents, “posing an additional challenge for the administration as it develops its own housing plan,” the Wall Street Journal reports. The group “could make it more difficult for the mayor to meet his target of building or preserving 200,000 units of low-cost housing,” the paper reports.
More Sugar Fixes Needed to Pass
Monday Update The developer of the apartment project at the Domino Sugar refinery in Brooklyn is threatening to sell if the de Blasio administration keeps pushing for bigger affordable housing units than originally proposed, the Daily News reports * The Domino effect(NYP Ed) Now the city has announced a deal that will produce 700 of the units de Blasio wants. That may be good news for those who end up in these apartments. What the mayor doesn’t seem to appreciate is that building by threats and decree only makes it more expensive for people to build housing non-millionaires can afford. * de Blasio notches an early real-estate win(Capital) Mayor Affordable Housing Goals* Key members of de Blasio’s administration charged with implementing his plan to create or preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing met with advocates behind closed doors for a strategy session, Crain’s reports:
Plan to Redevelop Brooklyn Sugar Factory Hits Snag: De Blasio(NYT) A $1.5 billion proposal to redevelop Brooklyn’s Domino Sugar plant is in jeopardy as officials ask for a higher quota of affordable housing units.de Blasio administration, which wants him to add additional affordable housing units in exchange for the required zoning changes* Bill’s sugar rush(NYDN Ed) A dangerous approach to a laudable ideal.
Friday Charter Pre K, Charter War Updates
De Blasio and Dolan Announce a Push for More Pre-K Classes(NYT)Mayor Bill de Blasio gained a high-profile partner in Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan as he raced to find classroom space in New York City for 24,000 4-year-olds by the fall. * De Blasio, in Radio Interview, Defends Position on Charter Schools(NYT)* Timothy Cardinal Dolan meets with sparring Cuomo, de Blasio(NYP) * Marie Antoinette Fariña(NYP Ed)“They’re charter schools,” she says. “They’re on their own. That is part of what they do, and that’s an independent structure, and that is how they function.”*
Opening Hand: Union Contract Dance
HIGH-STAKES: Mayor de Blasio pushes for healthcare savings in exchange for pay raises with city union contract talks(NYDN) de Blasio is pushing for healthcare savings in exchange for pay raises as he negotiates with the city’s unions, which are looking for more than $7 billion in retroactive pay increases * * While critics are blasting de Blasio for reforming stop-and-frisk, pushing for a tax on the rich to fund prekindergarten and aiming to reform the charter school system, those are exactly the stances that got him elected, the Daily News’s Denis Hamill writes * Though he’s a largely unknown candidate outside of Westchester County, there is no turning back for County Executive Rob Astorino now that he has announced his run for governor, the Journal News’s Phil Reisman writes: *City laboring to find health care deals(NYDN)
The Rubber Stamp Council
The secret to de Blasio’s dance-free budget(Capital) The mayor and the city council are celebrating the end of the dreaded "budget dance"—the
if-you-must political theatrics whereby the mayor cuts programs in
early version of the budget and the restores them in the final
("adopted") budget.* Hearings Begin on Mayor's First Budget(NY1) * Council budget hearing turns into director lovefest(NYP)
Dromm Has More Problems Than Diaz, FBI
His past co-workers at the Queens Library are Under Investigation by FBI
The Gang of Four (L to R – Dinkins, Paterson, Sutton, Rangel)Â
- See more at:
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4868:charles-rangel&catid=79&Itemid=169#sthash.rEVf0oaQ.dpuf
Book'em? The FBI, federal prosecutors and the New York City Department of Investigation are working together to examine spending by Queens Library President Thomas Galante, The New York Times writes: * FBI and New York City Department of Investigation launches probe of Queens Library spending on renovations * EDITORIAL: It’s a sorry state of affairs when the Queens Public Library is the target of criminal investigation by the FBI(BTDN) *Book ’em, maybe(NYDN Ed) Law enforcement eyes the mess at the Queens Library *** New York City Council Member Asks a Senator: Stop the Emails(WSJ) Daniel Dromm Says Newsletters From Ruben Diaz Sr. Were 'Harassing' Him* * New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm's comments about charter schools cut to the heart of the progressive opposition to charters, which is that their teachers typically are non-union, Seth Barron writes in Council Watch:
True News' Bum of the Week: CM Dromm
A lesson in political shenanigans(NYDN) Charter kids come to Albany, and learn about the politicians who don't care much about their success. Politicians opposed to charter schools made a great show of outrage over the fact that thousands of charter school students traveled to Albany this week to plead for a cease-fire in the war on their future. One accusation, voiced by City Councilman Danny Dromm, who chairs that body’s education committee, is that the trip was purely political, with no educational valueI beg to differ. The kids in extraordinarily high-performing schools — who worked extra hard, learned everything put in front of them and grinded out high test scores to prove it — are getting a rich lesson in how the city actually works.
And they also have the chance to learn some splendid vocabulary words. One of them: disingenuous. If New York went back to the original vision of charters, the Department of Education would compile a list of the most promising innovations pioneered by Success Academies and other great schools — ideas like expanding the school day, week and year. Then we’d have a citywide discussion of which changes we need to make, instead of the embarrassing spectacle of children begging their government to let them learn.
Disconnect
Gov. Cuomo "Five Chess Moves" Ahead Of Mayor de Blasio(NYDN)
After meeting, Cuomo and de Blasio don’t budge(Capital)
The Daily News writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s promise at a Tuesday rally to save charter schools was a major positive and each commitment he made was a slap at de Blasio’s policies:
De Blasio, Cuomo push dueling education agendas San Francisco Chronicle
Take that, Bill(NYDN)
De Blasio to Charters: Drop Dead(Daily Beast)
Hyper-liberal de Blasio is Gov. Cuomo's best asset(NYP)
Charter schools leader Eva Moskowitz again insisted her rally yesterday was not a dig at Bill de Blasio‘s pre-K rally, telling NY1 advocates were simply “very worried with Mayor de Blasio’s campaign rhetoric and then his announcement that he was cutting $210 million from the capital budget and then saying he was going to impose rent on public charter schools. We were just feeling under siege.”The Daily News editorial board praised Gov. Andrew Cuomo for siding with the charters yesterday, writing that he “hit it out of the park on Tuesday with a full-throated promise to ‘save charter schools’ just days after Mayor de Blasio killed three of them, including throwing 210 children out of one of the state’s highest achieving programs.”
QUOTE OF DAY: “I feel fired up!”--Andrew Cuomo, at a charter school rally yesterday
Charter schools leader Eva Moskowitz again insisted her rally yesterday was not a dig at Bill de Blasio‘s pre-K rally, telling NY1 advocates were simply “very worried with Mayor de Blasio’s campaign rhetoric and then his announcement that he was cutting $210 million from the capital budget and then saying he was going to impose rent on public charter schools. We were just feeling under siege.”The Daily News editorial board praised Gov. Andrew Cuomo for siding with the charters yesterday, writing that he “hit it out of the park on Tuesday with a full-throated promise to ‘save charter schools’ just days after Mayor de Blasio killed three of them, including throwing 210 children out of one of the state’s highest achieving programs.”
QUOTE OF DAY: “I feel fired up!”--Andrew Cuomo, at a charter school rally yesterday
Cuomo touts charter schools in surprise rally appearance, clouding de Blasio's ...Chalkbeat
Over 11K charter school supporters pack Albany rally(NYP)
* The further left de Blasio leans, the more reasonable Cuomo looks to voters, which is why he is continuing to fight the mayor on universal prekindergarten funding and charter schools, the Post’s John Podhoretz
The mayor is running out of options in his pre-K duel with Gov. Cuomo. (NY Mag)
"Today, we are all Andrew Cuomo fans now"--@JoeNBC
Daily News Cuomo Schooled de BlasioOver 11K charter school supporters pack Albany rally(NYP)
* The further left de Blasio leans, the more reasonable Cuomo looks to voters, which is why he is continuing to fight the mayor on universal prekindergarten funding and charter schools, the Post’s John Podhoretz
The mayor is running out of options in his pre-K duel with Gov. Cuomo. (NY Mag)
"Today, we are all Andrew Cuomo fans now"--
Gov.
Cuomo may be friends with Mayor de Blasio but the Democrats have failed
to see eye-to-eye on education. While Mayor de Blasio pushed for his
universal pre-K tax-the-rich plan, scores of charter school families
rallied to keep their schools open.
City’s charter movement gets the Albany day it wanted(Capital) As Cuomo pledges to “save charters” and provide financial support
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Says Charter Schools Are Not The Only Ones That Need Help (NYDN)
* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said that charter schools are not the only ones that need help building schools, pointing out that many students go to class in trailers for years, the Daily News reports:
* New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray will be in Albany next week to campaign for her Mayor Bill de Blasio’s pre-K plan and dismissed the idea that the fight has been frustrating, the Associated Press reports:
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said a space “crisis” in New York City schools should be fixed before Cuomo helps secure space for charter schools.
City’s charter movement gets the Albany day it wanted(Capital) As Cuomo pledges to “save charters” and provide financial support
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Says Charter Schools Are Not The Only Ones That Need Help (NYDN)
* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said that charter schools are not the only ones that need help building schools, pointing out that many students go to class in trailers for years, the Daily News reports:
* New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray will be in Albany next week to campaign for her Mayor Bill de Blasio’s pre-K plan and dismissed the idea that the fight has been frustrating, the Associated Press reports:
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said a space “crisis” in New York City schools should be fixed before Cuomo helps secure space for charter schools.
THAT'LL TEACH YOU! Gov. Cuomo cheered while airing support for charter schools, going over Mayor de Blasio's head yet again(NYDN)
De Blasio and Builder of Charter School Empire Do Battle(NYT) Eva S. Moskowitz, who built a chain of charter schools during the Bloomberg administration, saw plans for three more canceled by Mayor Bill de Blasio. * Cuomo Vows to Defend Charter Schools, Setting Up Another Battle With de Blasio(NYT)
Cuomo and charter school advocates, and proponents of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s universal pre-K plan, including the mayor himself, held dueling press conferences in Albany, The New York Times reports:
Cuomo, de Blasio push budget priorities at simultaneous rallies(Capital)
Eva Moskowitz finds her big-time ‘friend’(Capital) Success Academy leader says all she wants from Cuomo is ‘help’ and ‘leadership’
Quick-footed IDC Leader Jeff Klein managed to attend and speak at both the pre-K AND charter school rallies today. Ditto Assemblyman Karim Camara.
Cuomo Joins Charter Advocates at Rally Critical of de Blasio(NYO)Eva Moskowitz finds her big-time ‘friend’(Capital) Success Academy leader says all she wants from Cuomo is ‘help’ and ‘leadership’
Quick-footed IDC Leader Jeff Klein managed to attend and speak at both the pre-K AND charter school rallies today. Ditto Assemblyman Karim Camara.
Bill de Blasio Takes His Pre-K Case to Albany Once Again(NYO)
Unions persuade Assembly to back de Blasio’s ‘tax-the-rich’ pre-K plan(NYP)
Mayor De Blasio Presses Prekindergarten Agenda To Crowd At Half-Filled Albany Arena(NYDN)
Fired Up Gov. Cuomo Vows To 'Save Charter Schools' At Massive Capitol Rally
Progressive Caucus Of NYS Democratic Party Calls On Senate IDC To Rejoin The Fold
Unions persuade Assembly to back de Blasio’s ‘tax-the-rich’ pre-K plan(NYP)
Mayor De Blasio Presses Prekindergarten Agenda To Crowd At Half-Filled Albany Arena(NYDN)
Fired Up Gov. Cuomo Vows To 'Save Charter Schools' At Massive Capitol Rally
Progressive Caucus Of NYS Democratic Party Calls On Senate IDC To Rejoin The Fold
Cuomo Vows to Defend Charter Schools, Setting Up Another Battle With de Blasio(NYT)
* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said that a bill delaying the implementation of Common Core standards until 2016 would move along, possibly with changes, State of Politics reports:
* State Education Commissioner John King and Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch raised concerns about the Assembly bill, arguing that provisions of the legislation violate state and federal laws, Gannett Albany writes:
Cuomo, de Blasio Discuss Pre-K, Charter Schools in Albany Meeting(NY1)
Video: Mayor de Blasio's full press conf outside Gov Cuomo's Albany office, discussing pre-K, charters
Mixed Message On Stop and Frisk
Basic Tool and Oversight
NYPD faces five years of oversight after stop-and-frisk ruling(NYP) * Street Stops Still a ‘Basic Tool,’ Bratton Says(NYT) The New York police commissioner, William J. Bratton, told a business group that the department would focus on fighting low-level crime, citing the “broken windows” theory of policing.* Bratton to ride night subways to survey problems: NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton says he'll ride late-n... *'Future' of NYPD: Keeping Tab(let)s on Crime Data(WSJ) * Police unions link contract talks to stop-frisk litigation (Capital) * Astorino insists to the Observer that he's not in this for "the silver medal" * The NYPD will soon be carrying tablet computers in the field. (WNYC)
Crime is Down, Is It Because of the Cold Weather?
Despite an early suggestion that murders were up under Mr. de Blasio, DNAinfo.com New York reports that serious crime is actually down so far this year, “with murders and robberies dropping despite the declining number of stop-and-frisks, which some former police officials have said are necessary to maintain order in the city.”
De Blasio drops suit over anti-profiling law(NYP)
More on Commission Bratton
Upton Gracie's Kitchen Servant
Former Koch chef steamed by McCray’s use of ‘servant’(NYP) A steamed former Gracie Mansion chef unloaded on First Lady Chirlane McCray Tuesday, mocking her attitude after she called him a “servant.”“Maybe Ms. de Blasio is watching too much ‘Downton Abbey,’ ” fumed Mitchel London, who once cooked for former Mayor Ed Koch. * * Though the de Blasios have yet to move into Gracie Mansion, First Lady Chirlane McCray has invited four dozen women elected officials for a dinner there Thursday night, the Daily News writes: *Lobby for Pre-K De Blasio’s wife to lobby in Albany for mayor’s pre-K plan
Education Rumble In Albany Tuesday* Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said that a bill delaying the implementation of Common Core standards until 2016 would move along, possibly with changes, State of Politics reports:
* State Education Commissioner John King and Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch raised concerns about the Assembly bill, arguing that provisions of the legislation violate state and federal laws, Gannett Albany writes:
Cuomo, de Blasio Discuss Pre-K, Charter Schools in Albany Meeting(NY1)
Video: Mayor de Blasio's full press conf outside Gov Cuomo's Albany office, discussing pre-K, charters
Mixed Message On Stop and Frisk
Basic Tool and Oversight
NYPD faces five years of oversight after stop-and-frisk ruling(NYP) * Street Stops Still a ‘Basic Tool,’ Bratton Says(NYT) The New York police commissioner, William J. Bratton, told a business group that the department would focus on fighting low-level crime, citing the “broken windows” theory of policing.* Bratton to ride night subways to survey problems: NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton says he'll ride late-n... *'Future' of NYPD: Keeping Tab(let)s on Crime Data(WSJ) * Police unions link contract talks to stop-frisk litigation (Capital) * Astorino insists to the Observer that he's not in this for "the silver medal" * The NYPD will soon be carrying tablet computers in the field. (WNYC)
Crime is Down, Is It Because of the Cold Weather?
Despite an early suggestion that murders were up under Mr. de Blasio, DNAinfo.com New York reports that serious crime is actually down so far this year, “with murders and robberies dropping despite the declining number of stop-and-frisks, which some former police officials have said are necessary to maintain order in the city.”
De Blasio drops suit over anti-profiling law(NYP)
Off to a good start (NYDN Ed) The NYPD keeps driving crime down
More on Commission Bratton
Upton Gracie's Kitchen Servant
Former Koch chef steamed by McCray’s use of ‘servant’(NYP) A steamed former Gracie Mansion chef unloaded on First Lady Chirlane McCray Tuesday, mocking her attitude after she called him a “servant.”“Maybe Ms. de Blasio is watching too much ‘Downton Abbey,’ ” fumed Mitchel London, who once cooked for former Mayor Ed Koch. * * Though the de Blasios have yet to move into Gracie Mansion, First Lady Chirlane McCray has invited four dozen women elected officials for a dinner there Thursday night, the Daily News writes: *Lobby for Pre-K De Blasio’s wife to lobby in Albany for mayor’s pre-K plan
7On line.com
Charter School Rally to Compete With Pre-K Rally in Albany
De Blasio heads to Albany for pleas and protest San Francisco Chronicle
Newsday
GOP brass: Cuomo backs charter schools evicted by de BlasioNew York Post
Battle Lines Drawn As Wild Day Of Universal Pre-K Debate In Albany LoomsCBS Local
Golden defends charter schools Brooklyn Daily Eagle
can
Because of Mayor Lindsay's Community School Boards the UFT Got Involved in NY's Political System
Lacking funds to expand pre-K program, city delays signups(NYDN)
* The New York City Council picked instant runoff voting as one of its 35 budget and legislative priorities in Albany, where Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito will join Mayor Bill de Blasio for a lobbying day today, The Wall Street Journal reports
* The Daily News writes that while some don’t agree that charter school students should be lobbying in Albany on a school day, the traditional public education system falls short of what charter schools provide in terms of education:
* The Post writes that today’s charter school lobbying at the Capitol continues a noble fight and shines a light on the fact that New York City is making second-class citizens out of the mostly minority students the schools serve:
* This is de Blasio's fourth trip to Albany since becoming mayor. Supporters of de Blasio's pre-k plan will rally in Albany as will pro-charter school activists.
*
Mixed Messages On Stop and Frisk
Basic Tool and 5 Years of Oversight
Street Stops Still a ‘Basic Tool,’ Bratton Says(NYT) The New York police commissioner, William J. Bratton, told a business
group that the department would focus on fighting low-level crime,
citing the “broken windows” theory of policing.* NYPD faces five years of oversight after stop-and-frisk ruling(NYP)Education Policy: It is All Politics Now
TWO-FRONT WAR -- Jessica Bakeman: Andrew Cuomo is preparing to chellenge Bill de Blasio on a second education-funding front: charter schools. The move comes as advocates for charters and de Blasio's tax-the-rich plan for funding pre-kindergarten will face off with simultaneous rallies in Albany today. The Post reported that Cuomo told Republican business leaders at a recent fund-raiser that he would back legislation to fund space for charters that get kicked out of New York City public buildings. Last week, de Blasio reversed three Bloomberg administration approvals for charter co-locations. Cuomo spokesman Matt Wing partially confirmed the Post report in a statement: “The governor discussed his support for charter schools but there was no specific conversation about legislation.”
Charters would be the second education area in which Cuomo big-footed de Blasio, or tried to. De Blasio said he "hopes" to meet with Cuomo when he's in town Tuesday for the pre-K rally. --Read more: http://goo.gl/tNh2M0 * Assembly is considering a delay to the Common Core standards for teacher evals and student assessments * Bill de Blasio is headed up to Albany today to pressure the state government to back his universal pre-K tax increase, but New York writes that “his more realistic allies are admitting that the chances of winning the tax hike are shrinking toward zero.” Some in Mr. de Blasio’s camp are reportedly “itching to toughen up the tactics” against Gov. Andrew Cuomo.*
NY Most Overpriced City
New York tops most overpriced city list(AMNY) A report by Forbes magazine places New York City in a tie with Honolulu for the nation's most-overpriced city, largely because of expensive housing and a higher cost of living. Experts and city leaders say the problem is only going to get worse, making the city a less enticing place to call home."From ever-soaring rent levels to higher priced foods and goods invading lower-middle income neighborhoods, many lifelong residents are being pushed out of their homes," said City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan).* The federal budget that Obama unveiled today would impose a number of tax hikes on wealthy New Yorkers.
Sex and the Assemblymen, Pols Gone Wild, Dirty Old Men
Assemblyman Jose Rivera Throws Fundraiser In The Bronx(NYDN)
Bronx Assemblyman faces challenger due to dirty vacation video(NYDN) Fernando Tirado, the former district manager of Bronx’s Community Board 7, told the Daily News he was convinced to run for the seat after viewing the video, which shows Mr. Rivera chatting up young women in the Dominican Republic. “I am running because I want to present a more positive view of the Bronx,” he told the paper. “If we can’t count on elected officials to raise the profile of the Bronx, then we don’t need them anymore.”
Assemblyman Jose Rivera ogles girls in bizarre video(NYP “Where do you live, what is your street address? What are your body measures?,” the 78-year-old Rivera asks a young woman. In another segment Rivera asks another young woman, “Do you happen to have a little sister?” Rivera had forwarded the video to journalist Gerson Borrero, who posted it on his twitter page. It was then picked up by politicker.com.
Rivera is accompanied by former Harlem Assemblyman Adam Clayton IV. Powell who is also in the video defended the video as “respectful flirting.” “It’s meant as an educational video,” he said. “A lot of young men don’t know how to flirt.”* NYC Assemblymen behaving badly in Dominican video(NYDN) A video posted and later deleted of Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera shows him ogling women during a 2005 trip to the Dominican Republic, but the lawmaker says he was joking and didn’t mean to offend anyone * The Daily News writes that Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera is a deserving recipient of the New York Knucklehead Award for his actions taped on video during a trip to the Dominican Republic and for posting the video online: * Dirty old man (NYDN) Jose Rivera makes fool of himself for all to see
DOI Investigation of Adams' Nonprofit That Doesn’t Exist
Ethics Problems
The senior adviser for strategic alliances to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams allegedly talked up the services of her private consulting firm during a meet-and-greet with business and community leaders, creating a possible ethics problem, the Post writes:
Wednesday Update
Brooklyn president probed over alleged fundraising fraud(NYP) The city’s Department of Investigation is probing Brooklyn Borough
President Eric Adams following complaints that he and his staff hit up
local business and community leaders for cash to fund pet projects with
money to be funneled through a nonprofit that doesn’t exist, sources told The Post. Brooklyn Pres sought donations to fund non-existent non-profit(NYP) Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams shocked some local business and
community leaders at a Borough Hall meet-and-greet recently, hitting
them up for cash to fund pet projects — with the money to be funneled
through a nonprofit that doesn’t even exist. “If this is how Eric is starting out, the borough is really in trouble,” said a business leader who attended Thursday’s event. The paperwork bears an official-looking insignia that includes the Seal
of the City of Brooklyn over a ribbon bearing the words “One Brooklyn.”
But the state Division of Corporations said it has no record of any such
nonprofit or any other entity named One Brooklyn. Asked about the fund-raising effort, Adams acknowledged not having
set up the nonprofit. He told The Post in an e-mail that his “office is
working closely with the Conflicts of Interest Board and other relevant
entities to ensure that public-private partnerships are pursued in the
proper manner.” But the Conflicts Board said that Adams, as of Monday, hadn’t applied for any such approval.* The New York Post reports that Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams
“shocked some local business and community leaders at a Borough Hall
meet-and-greet recently, hitting them up for cash to fund pet projects —
with the money to be funneled through a nonprofit that doesn’t even
exist.” Mr. Adams said he was in the process of setting up the
nonprofit.* That didn’t take long(NYP Ed) Politicians getting in trouble for the mixture of money and non-profits
is an old story in New York. Leave it to Eric Adams to find a way to
land himself in the hot seat for a non-profit that doesn’t even exist.* @courtneycgross reports on @BPEricAdams Questioned Over Donation Request for Non-Existent Charity
1-800-GOPREET The Pension Killer
Charmian Neary
Will de Blasio's WFP's and Progressive's New Machine Go After the IDC's Triangulation?
Savino to Koppell: Takes One To Know One(YNN) * State Sen. Diane Savino defended IDC
Leader Jeff Klein, saying that Klein’s potential primary opponent,
Oliver Koppell, was hypocritical in saying Klein has declared war on
Democrats, State of Politics writes:
Winds of War
Brooklyn state Sen. Martin Dilan wants the five senators who make up the Independent Democratic Conference to be removed from the Democratic Party, and plans to call the party chairmen from their respective counties, the Daily News’ Ken Lovett reports: * Senate GOP leader vows to fight for city’s charter schools(NYP)
Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos said he was outraged at Mayor de Blasio’s decision to cancel classroom space for three Success Academy charter schools this fall, and vowed to address the plight of charter schools in budget talk* Westchester County legislator Virginia Perez said she has had conversations with Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein, and is considering a primary run against Senate Democratic Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, The Journal News reports:
Al Sharpton Backs Mayor's Charter School Plan, Blasts Eva Moskowitz For Albany Rally(NYDN) * Richmond County Democratic Committee Executive Director Kevin Elkins said the party remains “fully behind” Sen. Diane Savino, one of the five IDC members.* Stewart-Cousins may face Westchester Legislator Perez in primary(LoHud)
Breaking: Cuomo to Back Classroom Space for Kicked Out Charter Schools
Cuomo backs funding for charter schools evicted by de Blasio(NYP) Cuomo told a group of Republican business leaders that he would back legislation to provide funds for classroom space for charter schools if they are kicked out of city buildings, The Post has learned. But Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Democrat-run state Assembly — closely aligned to de Blasio and the teachers’ union — would have to sign off on any added support to the charters. So would the Senate’s five-member Independent Democratic Caucus headed by Jeff Klein.* ov. Andrew Cuomo told Republican business leaders last month he would back legislation to provide funds for charter school classroom space if they are kicked out of NYC buildings.
de Blasio's Holding Up Albany's Budget Threat
"Apparently Bill de Blasio is persisting in what appears to be a losing campaign for his pre-kindergarten plan in Albany, rather than compromising and declaring victory, because he believes he could have one bit of leverage over Andrew Cuomo," Cap NY writes: Having allies hold up passage of the state budget.
GOP CM Mayor's A Bully
de Blasio Goes to the Bullpen
Mayor de Blasio will keep Bloomberg's Bullpen(NYDN) Despite criticizing it during his campaign, de Blasio and his aides have concluded it will be too expensive to replace the open-air style office space at City Hall known as the Bullpen
More on Mayor de Blasio
Corrupt Surrogate Court
Another Conviction from the Corrupt Surrogate Court
Stealing From the Dead Court
‘Sorry’ estate robber off to jail(NYP) A crooked Brooklyn bookkeeper convicted of stealing $2.6 million from the estates of people who died without wills expressed remorse Thursday for his crime before a judge sentenced him to 6 to 18 years in prison. A crooked Brooklyn bookkeeper convicted of stealing $2.6 million from the estates of people who died without wills expressed remorse Thursday for his crime before a judge sentenced him to six to 18 years in prison. Crooked bookkeeper Richard Paul * Manhattan DA Statement
More About Corruption in the Surrogate Court
Avella joins Albany Rebel IDC Democrats
Realignment Buzz: Avella's
IDC Move Triggered by Queens Machine Losing Speakers Race. Look for
Parkside who was paid $2 million by the senate dems and the rest of the
Queens Mob to Move Behind IDC. If there is a weak GOP governor candidate
the dems would have a shot gaining control of the senate. IDC members
are expected to be target by the dem
Update Handful of Protesters Crash Tony Avella Event(NYO)
Avella Quits Democratic Conference For IDC; Dems Say It Hurts Progressive Causes. The move could have “major implications for the battle to control New York’s Senate.
Albany politics gets even crazier - fifth Democrat joins breakaway faction of state senators * Avella’s New Title(YNN) * Queens Sen. Tony Avella Calls Protesters Ridiculous; Defends Jump To IDC(NYDN)
Polling Klein v. Koppell(YNN) Someone is polling to gauge former
New York City councilman Oliver Koppell’s support if he were to
challenge IDC Leader Jeff Klein in a primary
Sen. Ruben Diaz spending time with IDC member Diane Savino. Plot thickens?
Avella moves to I.D.C., and Democrats grimace(Capital) Democrats, who are trying to reclaim control of the Senate in this year’s elections, were quick to criticize the move: “It’s unfortunate that progressive policies continue to be stymied because of divisions created by Senators who choose to empower Republicans,” said Senate Democratic Communications Director Mike Murphy in a statement early this morning.*
More on the IDC GOP Senate Coalition
Middle School's After School 2X Expansion
Connected to Pre-K, Mayor: Reinforcement of the Progress
de Blasio will release a report detailing his $190 million plan to expand after-school programs for middle school students, with 95,000 slots provided in a total of 512 schools throughout the city, The Wall Street Journal writes: “The after-school piece is crucial because it is a substantial reinforcement of the progress that we hope to make with early-childhood education,” said mayor, who is pushing for a tax hike to fund the plan.* .
Is Councilman Dromm Interfering With Charter Parents Rights of Free Speech and to Protest Their Government?
Dromm to hold hearing on Moskowitz’s rally day(Capital) Councilman Daniel Dromm announced Saturday that he will hold an oversight hearing to investigate whether Eva Moskowitz is illegally closing her schools on Tuesday so that students can participate in a pro-charter rally in Albany. * Co-location expansions Charter school expansions to be subject of city public hearings(NYP) The DOE press release notes that “significant changes in school utilization” will be considered at the May 6 Panel for Educational Policy meeting at Murry Bergtraum HS.* Dromm to hold hearing on Moskowitz’s rally day(Capital)
More on Education and the Charter School Fight
More On de Blasio vs Cuomo
A Campaign Manager Mayor's Communications Problems
de Blasio Communications Problem Has to Do With His Campaign Manager Background, Attitude and Policies
The Campaign Manager Mayor Speaks
De Blasio: I think the Democratic process tends to yield resolution in all matters(WSJ)
City and State blames the fact that Mr. de Blasio’s press shop is filled with campaign holdovers with limited government experience. Some said Mr. de Blasio’s press team “has too many ‘true believers’ and not enough sober, experienced voices in the press office.” Staffers have to “let the Kool-Aid wear off a little bit,” said Leland Jones, a press secretary for David Dinkins. Mayoral Media Growing Pains Not Unique To De Blasio * de Blasio’s growing administration. The New York Times reported the mayor has been picking liberal activists over managers for city posts. “In Bill de Blasio’s City Hall, it seems more and more, there is only a left wing,” they wrote, noting, “The mayor, who advanced in politics by grass-roots organizing, has built a team filled with former activists — figures more accustomed to picketing administrations or taking potshots from the outside than working from within.”
In October the New York Times asked Bill de Blasio what a mayor’s resume should look like.
His response contained many words, but the nut of it was this: “It’s about ability to communicate. It’s about clarity of vision and ability to sense what’s going on on-the-ground, and listen.” * Dinkins spox Leland Jones said that@BilldeBlasio’s press team “needs to let the Kool-Aid wear off a little bit.” (City and State)
The Associated Press reports on how Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s “ambitious agenda to fight income inequality … has taken a backseat in recent weeks to a series of political stumbles that have become tabloid fodder and shaken his everyman image.” The wire argued that, “ironically, the strength behind de Blasio’s mayoral campaign”–his remarkable message discipline–”may have produced some weakness in his first two months in office.” * Bill Cunningham, a former communications director for ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg argued in the story that Mr. de Blasio’s young staff have had particular “trouble taking a story and keeping it a one-day story.” De Blasio spokesman Phil Walkzak acknowledged the bumps, but dismissed their impact: “We live in a town and a culture where things can become distractions,” he told the outlet. “But I will say I do not think these hiccups have distracted from our larger policy agenda.”
A Campaign Manager Mayor's Communications Problems
The Campaign Manager Mayor Speaks
De Blasio: I think the Democratic process tends to yield resolution in all matters(WSJ)
City and State blames the fact that Mr. de Blasio’s press shop is filled with campaign holdovers with limited government experience. Some said Mr. de Blasio’s press team “has too many ‘true believers’ and not enough sober, experienced voices in the press office.” Staffers have to “let the Kool-Aid wear off a little bit,” said Leland Jones, a press secretary for David Dinkins. Mayoral Media Growing Pains Not Unique To De Blasio * de Blasio’s growing administration. The New York Times reported the mayor has been picking liberal activists over managers for city posts. “In Bill de Blasio’s City Hall, it seems more and more, there is only a left wing,” they wrote, noting, “The mayor, who advanced in politics by grass-roots organizing, has built a team filled with former activists — figures more accustomed to picketing administrations or taking potshots from the outside than working from within.”
His response contained many words, but the nut of it was this: “It’s about ability to communicate. It’s about clarity of vision and ability to sense what’s going on on-the-ground, and listen.” * Dinkins spox Leland Jones said that
The Associated Press reports on how Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s “ambitious agenda to fight income inequality … has taken a backseat in recent weeks to a series of political stumbles that have become tabloid fodder and shaken his everyman image.” The wire argued that, “ironically, the strength behind de Blasio’s mayoral campaign”–his remarkable message discipline–”may have produced some weakness in his first two months in office.” * Bill Cunningham, a former communications director for ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg argued in the story that Mr. de Blasio’s young staff have had particular “trouble taking a story and keeping it a one-day story.” De Blasio spokesman Phil Walkzak acknowledged the bumps, but dismissed their impact: “We live in a town and a culture where things can become distractions,” he told the outlet. “But I will say I do not think these hiccups have distracted from our larger policy agenda.”
Is de Blasio's Breaking the NY Style?
Florida’s favorite New Yorker(NYP) If Bill de Blasio keeps going the way he’s going, the Sunshine State’s going to put up a statue of him. Not since Ponce de Leon discovered the place has any one man done more to guarantee future inflows of wealth and investment to Florida than our new mayor. According to IRS figures used by Travis Brown in “How Money Walks,” from 1992 to 2010, Florida saw a net inflow of $95.6 billion in wealth (as measured by adjusted growth income). The largest chunk, $18.9 billion, came from . . . guess where? New York. In a ranking of states in terms of how they treat $500,000 earners, Forbes estimated a New Yorker with that income would pay roughly $37,000 a year in state and local income taxes. Wait a minute. Turns the folks in Florida are already making that pitch. As an ad by one South Florida development association puts it, “With no state income tax, relocating to Greater Fort Lauderdale is like getting an instant raise.”
More on NYC Economy Troubles
Acting Governors
New details on how Christie, Cuomo "orchestrated from the outset" the 2011 PA toll hikes
Port Authority officials: Cuomo/Christie battle over toll hikes was all for show * A bunch of lawbreakers (NYDN Ed) Force the Port Authority board to make its proceedings public, as required by statute
More Show Business Stage Design
High-level officials in the Cuomo administration exchanged emails about using state resources to “crowd-build” turnouts at public events for Cuomo’s volunteer Citizen Preparedness Corps * The Post‘s Fred Dicker today accuses aides to Gov. Andrew Cuomo of “secretly using state resources to ‘crowd-build’ turnouts at public events for Cuomo’s new and supposedly all-volunteer Citizen Preparedness Corps, which responds to natural disasters.” According to emails obtained by the paper, officials were directed “to lean on agency employees, groups that receive state services, friends and even family to generate turnouts for the events.” “Events of these [sic] magnitude require an all hands on deck approach,’’ one reportedly read.
de Blasio's DOI Unexpectedly Going After BOE Corruption On Day One
Board to investigate duplicate voters
NYC Department Of Investigation Chief: Board Of Elections "Hostile" To Reform Recommendations (NYDN) The new head of the city Department of Investigation testIfied Friday that his staff has encountered "outright hostility" at the highest levels of the Board of Elections while trying to get the embattled agency to clean up its act. The Board has not been “anywhere near as cooperative” as necessary in responding to a 2013 DOI investigation that detailed nepotism, incompetence, inefficiency -- and even possible crimes, DOI Commissioner Mark Peters (pictured center) told a joint hearing of the City Council Government Operations and Oversight and Investigations Committees. Peters said DOI has referred several issues for possible civil prosecution, and said criminal charges are still possible. In describing "illegal" activity at the Board, Peters told the lawmakers, “I use the word deliberately. This is an ongoing investigation, so there are aspects of it I am not prepared to discuss."* Department of Investigation, Board of Elections Face Off at City Council (NY1) * Investigations chief briefs the Council on B.O.E. problems(Capital) * D.O.I. Report The report listed nepotism, violations of voter privacy, and a staff of untrained workers among B.O.E.'s most glaring systemic problems. D.O.I. released a list of 40 recommended changes to the agency, but according to Peters, the agency has been less than cooperative in implementing changes. Peters went onto say that nepotism at the agency was rampant and that in one case, a B.O.E. commissioner admitted to hiring his wife in order to obtain health benefits he was not entitled to receive on his own. According to Peters, close to 10 percent of the staff at B.O.E. is related to other employees of the board.
Political Analysis: New Guard Beginning to Evict the Old Tammany Guard From the BOE
As True News reported last December if the old machine led by Queens Boss Crowley lost the speaker's race that would be there last Hurrah in power. Well as they say elections have consequences and the newly empowered new guard has begun the process of pushing what is left of the old Tammany Hall out of their 100 year old home the Board of Elections. The new machine led by the mayor, speaker, WFP, Sharpton and election consultant lobbyists, the Advance Group, Berlin Rosen and Pitta Bishop Del Giorno as their elections victories for mayor, speaker and council races indicate have not only beaten the old machine but understand how to use and gain power.
It is a Family Affair At the BOE
Board of Elections Executive Director Michael Ryan tangled -- protractedly -- with Councilman Ritchie Torres of the Bronx about the definition of "nepotism," saying that just because members of the same family work at the same agency doesn't indicate de facto corruption. Torres countered that the agency -- which gives limited notice of job openings when it gives them at all and hires many of its full- and part-time workers through a patronage system linked to the county parties -- has an inarguably high degree of family relationships in its ranks.* Kate Taylor
DOI's Peters told councilmembers, adding that his agency had been received with "outright hostility"
BoE's Ryan re DOI: "I believe that that report does not
accurately reflect the reality when it comes to come certain of the
recommendations" * Sal Albanese
Council Has Oversight Powers Over BOE They Have Never Used to Demand Reform
SalAlbanese @SalAlbaneseNYC: @DNDailyPolitics It's hysterical listening to CM criticize BOE You would never think THEY have oversight & funding responsibility for agency
The Council Could Use Their Power to Confirm Board of Election Commissioner to Demand Reforms of That Corruption Institution. Quinn and a gang of 4 GOP councilmember used the power to confirm BOE commissioners to throw out GOP commissioner in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx. The result is that GOP party leaders patronage appoints to the BOE are being replaced by people from the councilmembers and their friends. Why is the media not demand that the next council speaker clean out the BOE and restore Democracy to New York City?* GOP Councilmen seize opportunity to appoint election commissioners in Queens, Brooklyn, overruling county party leadership (NYDN) More on the Panic Over the Council Illegal Appointed Commissioners * Ulrich campaign accuses BOE of obstruction (CrainsNY)* The City Council Is Responsible for the Corruption - True News
DOI Got to Be Kidding About the BOE
"We have made several referrals to civil authorities for violations of the law, that is ongoing," Department of Investigations commissioner Mark Peters told City Council friday. "There are aspects of this ongoing investigation that could lead us to criminal referrals, it's too early to tell at this stage."
10 Areas Where de Blasio's DOI Can Start Criminal Investigations
1. Head of Board of Elections Fired One Week Before Election (WNYC) * Sources at the Board of Elections say Gonzalez was fired over irregularities that initially appeared on the ballot of a special election in Queens for the City Council seat in the 28th district.*Election Board's "Bungle George" Gonzalez Was Mayor Bloomberg's Baby(Village Voice)* Gonzalez Firing, DOI Investigation, Could Ease Awaited Bloomberg BoE Power Play(CHN) (No Action by Bloomberg's DOI)
2. Why Did the City Spend $95 Million on Scanner That Don't Work? Bloomberg said the board’s real problem lay with the paper ballot and electronic scanner voting system it rolled out three years ago *Moving mayoral primary since scanners can’t handle a runoff does not compute(NYDN) * A Week Later, No End in Sight for Primary Vote Count(NYT) In 2010 Feds probing how Board of Elections choose flawed electronic voting(NYP) * Board Of Elections Pushes New Plan For Old Voting Machines During September Elections * Madness of the machines(NYDN Ed) * New York City Elections Are Becoming Ever More Costly(NYT)
3. The Daily News' Errol Louis reports today,
the behind-the-scenes battle between Election Systems & Software
and Dominion Voting Sytems(a/k/a Sequoia Voting) is being carried on by
highly-paid proxies, namely the city's most politically wired lobbyists.
Dominion/Sequoia's bid is being led by the estimable Stanley Schlein, who was Mayor Bloomberg's pick as chairman of the Civil Service Commission until he was found to be using the place and staff as his private law office. Not to be outdone, ES&S has its own congressional brother on its team, John "Sean" Crowley of Davidoff Malito law firm and brother of Joe Crowley, who is not only a congressman but also head of the Queens Democratic Party (a major plus, since Queens Dems have their own commissioner on the board) * The Village Voice, Tom Robbins delves into Stanley Schlein's record* Ballot Fixing involving a queens ballot by a Bronx power broker who is also the lobbyist on the losing vendor of the boards voting machines. (No Action by DOI) (No Action by Bloomberg's DOI)
4. 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. Qns. elections official under fire for soliciting money from a contractor
(NYP) * Qns. elections official under fire for soliciting money from a contractor
(NYP)(No Action by Bloomberg's DOI)
5. True News Has Confirmed From A Current Top Executive That BOE warehouse employee Phil Ragusa the nephew of the Queens GOP leader is on the payroll of ESS as A Paid Consultant. More * NYC Board Of Elections: Inquests & Invoices(NYDN) According
to True News tipster Phil Ragusa nephew has been paid over 50,000 from
ES&S last year in a two month period. That means that nephew
Ragusa was paid from the same voting machine vendor that his
grandfather's BOE commission approved after a battle of the lobbyists
for which voting machine the BOE would buy. Nephew Ragusa was paid $1800 by a
day by ES&S at the same time we was on the BOE payroll. On one 4
day pay period nephew Ragusa was paid over $9000 for 4 days work on
and hourly rate that would have taken two weeks to reach the $9000 bill. NYC Board Of Elections: Inquests & Invoices(NYDN) * From the NY Daily News: The name would naturally jump out at anyone who's interested in
Queens politics: Not only is Phil Ragusa the Queens GOP chairman, but
his nephew -- also named Phil Ragusa -- works for the Board as a
supervisor dealing with voting machines in the Queens warehouse. *Biagio Ragusa,
the brother of Queens Republican boss Phil Ragusa. He worked in a board
warehouse for 20 years before retiring recently. The job is now held by
his son, also named Phil Ragusa. (No Action by Bloomberg's DOI) 
6. A few years back, the Westchester lawyer Anthony J. Mangone,
who shared an office with Jay Savino, the Bronx Republican leader,
earned a cool $100,000 lobbying the board on behalf of a voting machine
company, Election Systems and Software. Former Bronx GOP Chairman Jay Savino pleaded guilty on corruption charges related to a failed scheme to let Democratic state Sen. Malcolm Smith run in the Republican primary for mayor. *Guilty Westchester attorney Anthony Mangone will help feds in two seperate probes * But his sentence is expected to be a fraction of that in
exchange for his cooperation in two ongoing probes in which he is
involved, sources confirmed yesterday. In addition to the
Westchester case where Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi and
former Yonkers Republican chief Zehy Jereis also charged, there is a
second into the selection of voting machines by New York City's Board of Elections. Mangone represented the winning bidder, Election Systems&Software, of Omaha, Neb. Political Parties for Sale: BallotCorruption
2009 Election Probe Emerges Again(WSJ) * Bronx GOP boss adds to list of corruption(NYDN) (No Action by Bloomberg's DOI)
7. The Feds are also investigating a Board Of Election (the cesspool of
political corruption) contract for new machines that Hank Sheinkopf was a
lobbyist for. Feds investigate switch by Board of Elections ... - New York Post * Voting Machine Smack-Down: Lobbyists Brawl(Village Voice) Also pitching hard for ES&S is the team of Hank Sheinkopf and Norman Levy. (No Action by Bloomberg's DOI) 8. Not to be outdone, ES&S has its own congressional brother on its team, John "Sean" Crowley of Davidoff Malito law firm and brother of Joe Crowley, who is not only a congressman but also head of the Queens Democratic Party * Sheinkopf took the 5th when asked questions by the NY former state Inspector General Joseph Fisch about the AEG scandal 
9. Queens GOP Chair Drops Case To Get Ousted Board Of Elections Commissioner Back To Work(NYDN) 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 Stupp, and that on Nov. 3, Ragusa signed a
certificate saying so. That information was to have been mailed to the
City Clerk and City Council on Nov. 19 -- although apparently neither
envelope ever arrived * GOP Councilmen seize opportunity to appoint election commissioners in Queens, Brooklyn, overruling county party leadership (NYDN) More on the Panic Over the Council Illegal Appointed Commissioners * Tabone steps down as Queens GOP honcho amid corruption probe ...(NYP) * Queens GOP Chair Drops Case To Get Ousted Board Of Elections Commissioner Back To Work(NYDN)BOE Head of Machines Illegally Paid by Halloran
Robert Hornak who at the same time he was working at the Board of Elections was illegally getting paid by Councilman
Dan Halloran through his consultant company Lexington Public Affairs.
It is illegal for BOE employees to run a consultant company. Hornak is Executive director of Queens County GOP. His former boss and pal in the Queens GOP party was Vincent Tabone until he quit yesterday after getting arrested the day before.** Citizens Union sticks up for two GOP commissioners(CrainsNY) * rue News Told You On July 16th that the City Council Controls the Appointment of BOE Commissioner.
City Council Eric Ulrich
checked on the rules and found the council and BOE were not following
the state law on the appointments of commissioners. * The Voting Plan for the Flooded Out Polls Has Been Delayed By Political Infighting* Ulrich campaign accuses BOE of obstruction (CrainsNY) * Queens Republicans feud over Board of Elections appointment, John Catsimatidis endorsement(Queens Chronicle) (No Action by Bloomberg's DOI)
10. Board of Elections does nothing as hundreds of Bronx votes go missing(NYDN Ed) Ignores warnings of busted ballot scanner VOTE COUNTING in the fierce congressional battle between incumbent Charlie Rangel and his insurgent challenger Adriano Espaillat Board of Elections does nothing as hundreds of Bronx votes go missing(NYDN Ed) Ignores warnings of busted ballot scanner Why were the poll watchers reassigned in the Adriano Espaillat race to help Rangel? (No Action by Bloomberg's DOI)You Can't Always Get What You Want Vinny
Trial Before the Election
The judge also decided that the trial of state Sen. Malcolm Smith, Republican City Councilman Dan Halloran, and Queens GOP leader Vincent Tabone will begin on June 2.
St. Patrick’s Day Parades
If gays want to march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, they should be able to, and that’s why New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is right choose to not attend in protest of the restriction, Maureen Dowd writes in The New York Times: * Though de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito won’t march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton will still join revelers in the annual march, the Daily News writes
Instead of marching in the official St. Patrick’s Day parade, de Blasio decided to march in the “St. Patrick’s Day Parade for All” in Queens on Sunday instead, celebrating the event’s “inclusion, diversity, unity”
Bratton Not Following Boss’s Lead on Parade(NYT) * The eyes are smiling(NYDN) The commissioner puts his best foot forward * De Blasio joined the gay-friendly St. Pat's For All Parade in Queens Sunday, saying the parade celebrates inclusion(WNBC)* Melissa MarkViverito
@MMViverito The nyccouncil had the largest contingent ever of council members marching in this year's * New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has upset some members of the Irish community by failing to appoint an Irish liaison, taking on the Central Park carriage industry and choosing the gay-friendly St. Patrick’s for All parade today over the Rockaway parade – among other things.* De Blasio marches in gay-friendly St. Patrick’s Day parade(NYP) * The Wave Newspaper
@TheWaveNews de Blasio says he rejected Rockaway parade bec it's not "inclusive" Didn't stop him marching last year!* Boycott of St. Patrick’s Day Parade Puts Mayor in Middle(NYT) Mayor Bill de Blasio’s refusal to march in the event has left him caught
between the city’s traditional Irish enclaves and the progressive
advocates emboldened by his leftward leanings.* De Blasio marches in alternative, gay-friendly St. Patrick's Day parade:(TPM) * New York mayor out of step with St Patrick's Day march over anti-gay ban(Guardin)
NYT Mayor's Appointments More Left Than Managers
Aides say [BDB] works backward in his hiring process...identifying a candidate who shares his political philosophy..De Blasio Picks More Liberal Activists Than Managers for City Posts(NYT) In Bill de Blasio’s City Hall, it seems more and more, there is only a left wing. The mayor, who advanced in politics by grass-roots organizing, has built a team filled with former activists — figures more accustomed to picketing administrations or taking potshots from the outside than working from within. His administration is heavily populated with appointees best known for the fights they have fought.* In a letter to the editor, Mr. de Blasio’s press secretary, Phil Walzak, took issue with a New York Times story that framed City Hall hires as more activist-oriented than managerial, pointing to a previous Times story that said “the mayor’s recruitment process has ‘a pronounced bent toward candidates with deep experience’ and that ‘the lengthy résumés of Mr. de Blasio’s picks have earned him praise.’” * The Nation also took issue with the same report, writing “what is definitely off-target is the notion, which the Times repeated Saturday but certainly didn’t invent, that ‘more managerial’ appointees are somehow ideologically neutral. This misconception underlay a lot of the skewed analysis of the Bloomberg administration, which was seen as apolitical.”
More Mayoral Appointments Fit His Mold of Liberal Activists
Mayor Names Immigrant Affairs, School Construction Leaders(NY1) * New HRA Commissioner a Thorn in Side of Past Mayors (City and State) One former Dinkins official who served on BdB transition was "floored" re: Banks pick considering his past battles:* Mayor Names Human Resources, Immigrant Affairs, School Construction Leaders(NY1) * Mayor De Blasio Appoints Former Rival Steven Banks To Top City Post(NYDN) * Litigant Against Social Welfare Agency Will Be Its Leader(NYT) * De Blasio picks ex-thorn to run HRA(NYP)* Diverse Cabinet Mayor Bill de Blasio has so far fulfilled his campaign promise for a diverse cabinet, but several positions are open
de Blasio Bishop A Financial Mess
Bishop Orlando Findlayter, whose arrest prompted a call from Mayor Bill
de Blasio to the police, is at the center of a controversy that has
raised questions about the pastor and the mayor’s judgment.
Preparing Teachers for the Common Core(NYT)
A state oversight panel focuses on a crucial issue in the rollout of educational standards. New York, which adopted the standards in 2010, is one of the first
states to create extensive Common Core-based curriculum materials and
training kits. The problem is that many teachers in New York have not
been given the time or the help they need to develop an understanding of
the Common Core idea or to master the skills needed to teach it. This
failure stems partly from the financial struggles of many districts.
Some were actually cutting staff and reducing services to students as
the Common Core was being rolled out; they had no money to devote to
professional development. Even if the money had been available,
professional development programs vary widely in quality from one
district to another. The Legislature would do well to follow the Regents’ recommendations. If
New York wants to install the Common Core and improve the quality of
education it will need to put its money where its mouth is.
If you want a campaign manager mayor elect a campaign manager as mayor
Bill goes ugly(NYP Ed) In cheering the mayor’s decision to take away space promised to three charter schools run by Eva Moskowitz — leaving hundreds of children without a school for next year — Bill de Blasio ally Bertha Lewis hailed it as justice: “Eva Moskowitz got away with murder for so long.”* Chirlane McCray Details How She Was Bullied(NYDN) * The Working Families Party Has Its Moment (WNYC)
de Blasio's Politically Motivated Vendetta: Moskowitz
Errol Louis
New York Magazine
@NYMag Mayor de Blasio is rescinding three charter-school plans previously approved by Bloomberg, all run by his antagonist
Barack’s lesson for Bill(NYP Ed) How ironic that on the same day Mayor de Blasio was closing doors of opportunity to hundreds of African-American kids in New York, in Washington President Obama was championing a new initiative to help young men of color claim their part of the American Dream.
The Gang of Four (L to R – Dinkins, Paterson, Sutton, Rangel)Â
- See more at:
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4868:charles-rangel&catid=79&Itemid=169#sthash.rEVf0oaQ.dpuf
Charters. How can de Blasio do this same day Obama making major effort for disadvantaged black and Latino boys 
Rupert Murdoch
-
In the East Room of the#whitehouse for
@barackobama's initiative for young men of color.
Urban League Keep the Common Core
The state can’t afford to stop the implementation of the Common Core standards because students need to be college and career ready without the need for remediation, New York Urban League President and CEO Arva Rice writes in the Daily News:
Don Lemon
The Daily News writes that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio should stay in Brooklyn for now and focus on other tasks like filling out the rest of his cabinet:*Moving pros have some advice for Mr. de Blasio, who has yet to move to Gracie Mansion nearly three months after his election: “Moving doesn’t have to be so hard.” The Daily News spoke to experts who said Mr. de Blasio should “Just call some guys and a truck” or “start thinking like the busy executive he is and leave it to the experts.” But the paper’s editorial board offered conflicting advice, arguing that the mayor should be focused on filling more than a dozen open cabinet spots instead. “Just stay in Brooklyn — at least for now,” they wrote. “So chill, Bill, and start taking care of business.”*de Blasio says He is Not Slow De Blasio Disputes That He’s Been Slow With Appointments(NYO) * NYC’s first lady hires new assistant(NYP)
The Gentrification of Crooklyn
The gentrification of Spike Lee (Lewis, NYDN) He marketed Brooklyn, cashed out and now complains. Before leaving Brooklyn, Lee did more did more than his share when it came to goosing the changes to Fort Greene he now laments. According to the Wall Street Journal, Lee bought a townhouse on Washington Park for $650,000 in 1990, around the time he was soaring to stardom, cranking out films like “Malcolm X” and “Clockers.”
In 1999, he sold the place to a couple (a banker married to an attorney) for about $1 million and moved to the Upper East Side. A decade later, the house was back on the market with a $2.75 million asking price, more than quadruple what Lee paid in 1990. And why not? Fort Greene started sizzling in the 1990s and never stopped, thanks in no small part to the area’s international reputation as a mini-bohemia, home to a colony of talented, ambitious black artists. * Blogfest meets Shillfest, as Spike Lee declares "This is to celebrate Absolut, so we're not going to get into gentrification"(AYR)* Spike Lee's Former Brooklyn Block Vandalized After Rant(WCBSTV) * Late gentrification stories
Sunset Park Gentrification Ignited by Section 8 Cuts
More on Gentrification
Trump the NY Observer Vs Schneiderman
Observer: "LESS THAN FIVE years ago, Mr. Schneiderman was an anonymous cog in the chaotic, dysfunctional New York State Senate."
The NY Observer, owned by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, published a scathing story on AG Eric Schneiderman, that focuses in part on the AG’s dealings with the Trump family. The original reporter on the story was “spooked” by a conversation with an AG spokesman. “Given his plans to attend law school someday, this reporter resigned from this assignment.” The reporter who ultimately wrote the story said he was “not discouraged or encouraged” by his employer to write anything in particular about Schneiderman. * Newspaper Denies Attorney General Profile Is Donald Trump’s Revenge (Buzzfeed) Bullshit, says the paper. “I obviously don’t see it that way,” says the writer.* Gawker has emails that suggest AG Eric Schneiderman’s case against Donald Trump was a motivating force behind the negative NY Observer profile of the AG. * A New York Observer Article Brings a Spat in Trump’s Orbit(NYT) An article on the New York attorney general portrayed him as vindictive and politically opportunistic. It also included a defense of Donald Trump. Update QUOTE OF THE DAY: “BuzzFeed and the New York Times portrayed the ask as if I walked into my local ice cream place one summer night and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got an idea — how about the kid behind the counter can be a hit man journalist.’ Gawker’s story Wednesday night said that I ‘randomly offered him the freelance assignment.’ That’s not what happened.” – New York Observer Publisher Ken Kurson in a response to criticism of a profile of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. * The New York Observer’s Ken Kurson responded to criticism of an Attorney General Eric Schneiderman profile with his email and text message interactions with a freelance writer who decided not to write the piece:
Spiderman, Hulk and Emma Frost Get A Tax Break From Cuomo
Four Marvel TV Shows to Film in New York(NYT) Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that Walt Disney and Marvel Studios would spend about $200 million shooting the live-action series in New York City. All of the shows will debut on Netflix. * TV series featuring Marvel superheroes will film in NYC(NYT)
Cuomo vs de Blasio
De Blasio, Cuomo Clash on Local Control of Minimum Wage(NY1)
* Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is expected to decide some time next week whether he will run for governor against Cuomo, NY1 reports:
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is expected to announce this coming week whether he will challenge Cuomo, but he already sounds like a candidate.
* Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is expected to decide some time next week whether he will run for governor against Cuomo, NY1 reports:
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is expected to announce this coming week whether he will challenge Cuomo, but he already sounds like a candidate.
Cuomo 2014 Attacks Astortino to Hold GOP Senate
The Gang of Four (L to R – Dinkins, Paterson, Sutton, Rangel)Â
- See more at:
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4868:charles-rangel&catid=79&Itemid=169#sthash.rEVf0oaQ.dpuf
Cuomo is advising Republicans not to
back Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino as his challenger,
perhaps to muddle the race—or, some say, to help state Senate
Republicans (NYT) According to the New York Times. One
possible explanation: That Mr. Cuomo wants to ensure his opponent is
not too far to the right on social issues, potentially alienating
moderate voters and costing Republicans control of the chamber.Mr. Cuomo has reportedly warned that, if Mr. Astorino is the nominee, he
will receive a pounding. “He’s told me that if Astorino runs, he is
going to pound the hell out of him and talk about guns and gays, and it
won’t be pretty and will hurt all of us,” one Republican senator told
the paper. But party backers aren’t buying it: “Andrew Cuomo is being a
bully,” Republican Chair Ed Cox was quoted saying. “His attempts to derail Rob Astorino’s candidacy show just how worried he must be.”* Republicans backing Cuomo, such as
Ken Langone and Mike McKeon, are “selling out cheap” in supporting a man
with “a long history of defending big government,” Charles Gasparino
writes in the Post: *In Web Video, Astorino Pitches Hydrofracking(YNN) * Roger Stone
@RogerJStoneJr NY Times has page one story on Cuomo and NY GOP race for Guv-never mentions
Even de Blasio's Move to Gracie is Late
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his family have yet to move into Gracie Mansion, and it is unclear when they will leave their Park Slope residence, the Daily News reports:
The Zero Tolerance Stop-and-Frisk Question
Zero tolerance (NYDN ED) An ACLU attack on new Newark stop-and-frisk numbers raises a crucial question for New York City Despite a court-ordered monitor of
NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy, “it’s only a matter of time” before Blasio
runs into “the anti-stop absolutism” reflected in an ACLU report on
Newark, the Daily News writes: It’s only a matter of time before de Blasio and Bratton crash into the
anti-stop absolutism of the activists whose federal suit declared the
program unconstitutional. For evidence, consider a report that the
American Civil Liberties Union has issued on stop, question and frisk in
Newark. Now, the ACLU has offered some clarification.
The Gang of Four (L to R – Dinkins, Paterson, Sutton, Rangel)Â
- See more at:
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4868:charles-rangel&catid=79&Itemid=169#sthash.rEVf0oaQ.dpuf
At 25%, Newark’s hit rate
is more than double New York’s, and that is still not good enough. When Bratton was Los Angeles police chief, the LAPD had a hit rate that,
at 30%, was only a smidgen higher than Newark’s. He and de Blasio stand
warned: No matter how they “fix” stop-and-frisk, it won’t be good
enough. That monitor will be on their case for good.* De Blasio and Bratton visit injured officer in Brooklyn(Capital)McCray Lobbying Glamour magazine editor Cindi Leive to Raise Taxes
The Gang of Four (L to R – Dinkins, Paterson, Sutton, Rangel)Â
- See more at:
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4868:charles-rangel&catid=79&Itemid=169#sthash.rEVf0oaQ.dpuf
The Gang of Four (L to R – Dinkins, Paterson, Sutton, Rangel)Â
- See more at:
http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4868:charles-rangel&catid=79&Itemid=169#sthash.rEVf0oaQ.dpuf
First Lady Chirlane McCray hosted a private lunch Wednesday to champion the mayor’s plan to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund universal pre-K. According to the Wall Street Journal, Ms. McCray asked the well-heeled crowd, which included Glamour magazine editor Cindi Leive and fashion designer Nanette Lepore, to “call their state legislators and reach out to their friends to convince lawmakers in Albany to allow the city to raise income taxes.” While New York magazine weighed in on Mr. de Blasio’s continued push for the tax, despite resistance in Albany: “But the mayor — by not trading angry words with Albany’s leaders, and by acting as if some form of pre-K is a sure thing this fall — is sticking to his strategy: that to show weakness, or hint at a willingness to compromise, would surely kill the prospects of making anything substantial happen by September,” they wrote.* Actress Cynthia Nixon launches on-line MoveOn petition for
Why Did SUNY Buy A Failed Hospital It Could Not Run?
Errol Lewis Why Did SUNY Take LICH in the First Place?
Carl McCall, chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees blames former governor Paterson for providing the funds to buy the hospital, after a comptroller report told the state not to buy the hospital. (NY1 Interview) The State University of New York bought LICH in 2009. Big mistake: “This has been very costly for us,” says H. Carl McCall, chairman of SUNY’s board of trustees and a master of understatement — for “costly” scarcely describes it. Mayor cuffed by his own crusade(Mcmanus, NYP)
Hamill: Long Island College Hospital merged to death - NY Daily News(2013) SUNY Downstate Medical Center deal with LICH absorbed $300 million in LICH red ink run up by a hospital consortium called Continuum Health Partners. Continuum is run by a ruthless powerbroker named Stanley Brezenoff whose nickname at LICH is Darth Vader. Brezenoff is a quintessential member of what muckraker Jack Newfield called The Permanent Government of New York. This professional politico was appointed by Mayor Ed Koch to run the city’s Health and Hospitals Corp., the feudal lord of a medical fiefdom within the city’s patronage-larded permanent government. While in that post, Brezenoff compiled a Rolodex listing all the shadowy players in the city, state and federal medical rackets swimming in Medicaid and Medicare dollars
When he left HHC, Brezenoff took his Rolodex with him and wound up heading Continuum, of which Beth Israel is the mothership with satellites like Roosevelt Hospital, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, LICH and St. Luke’s Hospital.Under Continuum, the once-profitable LICH ran up $300 million in debt from pure administrative malpractice. And then Brezenoff brokered the smelly SUNY Downstate merger, with state taxpayers absorbing the $300 million debt.* “Brezenoff is a poster boy for what the late great Jack Newfield called the Permanent Government,” says one doctor who has worked at LICH for 30 years and lives in the community. “He made his political bones in the Koch administration as the head of Health and Hospital Corp.”
“Brezenoff is a poster boy for what the late great Jack Newfield called the Permanent Government”
Council Passes Sick Pay, But Ignores What Happens When the Poor Need to See A Doctor in A City Hospital
LEFT TO SUFFER: Kings County patients forced to wait 2 HOURS in emergency room to see a doctor(NYDN)Kings County Hospital ER wait times soar despite drop in patients
Council Passes Sick Pay
The New York City Council approved an expanded paid-sick leave bill but some members expressed concerns about the impact it would have on small businesses, Crain’s writes: * The NYC Council advanced two of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signature initiatives, on sick pay and taxing the rich, giving the Democrat a boost in his second month in office. * New York City Council Swiftly Passes Bill to Extend Paid Sick Days(NYT) The more emphatically liberal Council expanded the law to require businesses with five or more employees to provide up to five paid days off a year.* City Council passes sick-leave bill(NYP) * Hospital acquisitions in the age of Obamacare(Capital) The Mount Sinai Continuum deal was about scale more than brand
More About Closing NYC Hospitals
de Blasio Blames the Media, Political Class
Sally Goldenberg
@SallyGold Love Dave Evans but not right to call motorcade "tabloid fodder" when it was broken by network TV and covered by everyone.Sal Albanese
@SalAlbaneseNYC @daveevansabc7 I hope he's not implying he's an ordinary NY & not a charter member of political class @deBlasioNYC confirmed his tardiness to @daveevansabc7 partly on "six snowstorms in 7 weeks" that "deeply affected our schedule." * Bill de Blasio Insists He’s ‘Plenty Sunny’ Despite Recent ‘Bumps’(NYO)
Azi
State to Pick Up Feds Food Stamp Cuts
The state plans to cover the cost of food stamps for 300,000 households that faced reduced aid brought on by $8 billion worth of federal cuts passed in the farm bill, the Daily News reports:
Who are the Council Progressives Fooling Besides the Press and Public?
What difference does it make how the corrupt member items funds are distributed? How can the Goo Goos call for a formula for discretionary fund? All the corruption connected to the member items slush fund have nothing to do with how much money members get, but how the money is spent. Calling the equitable, needs-based formula for discretionary funds (fancy name for member items) reform is like calling those mobsters who attended the 1957 organize crime Apalachin Commission Meeting reformers, because the mob came up with a plan to split the drug, prostitution and gambling money equally among each of the familes.
Council Dumps Lulus Reform
Note to Daily News: Don't Believe Campaign Promises From Young Fresh Face Progressive Councilmembers to Eliminate Lulus or Institute Reforms
Sally Goldenberg
@SallyGold I think Ydanis argument here is about member items, not lulus. Nothing has changed w/ lulus. via @politicker * Ross Barkan
@RossBarkan @SallyGold @Politicker @azi we discussed this. ydanis explanation can be questioned but there has been a change in lulus. $ different.* Azi
@Azi
@RossBarkan what was the change? * Ross Barkan
@RossBarkan @Azi the amounts of $ they are given is different. different for committees. new leadership circle * True News
@unitedNYblogs @RossBarkan @Azi BS Were is the reform? Where are the good government groups on the fake changes in lulus?
Daily News Say bye-bye to lulus - NY Daily News (Oct 22, 2013)
Most City Council candidates have committed to end a corrupting
practice. The City Council convenes in January with a fresh crop of
members and a
two-thirds majority that has called for eliminating bonus pay for being
good little boys and girls.The newcomers who pledged to abolish the
stipends are: Corey Johnson,
Helen Rosenthal, Mark Levine and the winner of the David Garland/Ben
Kallos race in Manhattan; Alan Maisel, Robert Cornegy, Antonio Reynoso,
Carlos Menchaca, Inez Barron and Mark Treyger in Brooklyn; Costa
Constantinides, Rory Lancman, Daneek Miller and the victor of the Paul
Vallone/Dennis Saffran election in Queens; Andrew Cohen and Ritchie
Torres in the Bronx; and Steve Matteo in Staten Island.
Nobody Noticed Citizens United PACs Have Corrupted NYC Public Financing System
There have been not studies or media investigations of the effects of PACs on 2013 local elections
More Crack for Political Consultant Lobbyists
Ad Campaign Seeks to Increase Chances of Cuomo’s Campaign Finance Plan(NYT) A national group that seeks to lessen the influence of big campaign donors plans to unveil a $1 million advertising campaign aimed at promoting the governor’s plan. The advertising campaign is being financed by Public Campaign Action Fund, which plans to broadcast a television commercial in targeted areas around the state beginning Monday, and will also advertise online and on mobile devices. * N.Y.U. Hospital’s Political Fund-Raising Questioned(NYT) A major benefactor of NYU Langone Medical Center has sent emails to employees and hosted fund-raisers for Senate and House members who helped pass $60 billion in post-Hurricane Sandy disaster aid.
Subpoenas Have Been Confirmed By A 2013 Advance Group Client - There She Blows
Use tax dollars to help fund elections
Why Are Goo Goos Calling for public financing of state campaigns without calling for an investigation of the impact of Citizen United PACs on the 2013 NYC local elections public financing?
In this monopoly
consultants work with each other at the same time they are oppose them in other
races. Some consultants help other consultant’s
candidates often at the expense of their own clients. Two Consultant Lobbyists
the Advance Group and the Parkside Group were involved in every
competitive council race and even some that did not have races through
Independent Expenditure PACs they control. These IE PACS have muscled their way
in to having seats at the table along the Democratic Party bosses that will
pick the next council speaker. The big 8 along with the special
interests whose millions fund PACs, have sabotage the whole idea of local
representation and local elections. The pols are more loyal to the centralized
campaign consultants and their money backers, the new ruling class, than they
are to the voters in their districts. The
consultants work like Wall Street investors who trade in dark pools
beyond the control of regulators. In NY's dark pool campaign
consultants/lobbyists,
special interests and elected officials make deals with each other
hidden from public view. To understand the reasons for the
takeover you must also be aware that the business opportunities for consultants
don’t end on primary or election day. In an excellent investigation of the
dangers the newly elected Cuomo would face from lobbyist, Wayne Barrett wrote in the Village
Voice in 2010. that campaign consultant lobbyist "Sheinkopf one of the
worse consultant lobbyist, makes kings so he can then make deals with the kings
he’s made."
NYT's + Media's Blind Side The NYT has written several times on the national impact of Citizens United but never on the impact of that special interests big money supreme court decision on the 2013 NYC election. The press is focused on a preacher and 4-year-olds, while not reporting on how our city government was mugged by special interests Citizen United PACs and the lobbyists political consultants who do their bidding in the last election. Have these PACs made NYC government worse (if that is possible)? Have these PACs and lobbyist consultants committed crimes? stay tuned. The Line at the ‘Super PAC’ Trough(NYT) An unlimited source of cash is now a requirement for contested congressional races * Change the Rules on Secret Money(NYT Ed) * Liberal Donors Pollute Politics, Too(NYT Ed) * Campaign finance reformers take a hard line(TU)
Silver: together we can give the people a stronger voice in Albany
The Unreported Citizen United NYC 2013 Election Scandal
We have just gone though the first local election since the Citizen United ruling where two major IE groups Jobs4NT and NYClass has pumped money into almost every first time winning candidate or attacked their opponent. CrainsNY reporter Chris Bragg has done a good job showing that on of the big PAC groups headed by Advance's Scott Levinson was not following the election law and was in some elections working against the interests of his council clients.
More on the Advance Groups Corruption
CrainsNY on the Advance Groups Double Dipping
The Big 8 Lobbyists
Dark Pool Politics
Where is the Mayor's Political Opposition?
Ulrich Bought Off?
Would-be critics are all on the inside
De Blasio’s establishment(Capital) Judging by the reaction of de Blasio's fellow city officials, though, the media freak-out was taking place in a parallel universe. They had no comment on the matter, other than to defer to the mayor. Nothing to see here. This is a normal thing now: It happened when de Blasio placed a personal call to a police precinct about an arrested supporter and, earlier, when his administration bungled a storm cleanup. The media criticizes, the city's political establishment shrugs.
NYC Elected Officials in A Parallel Universe
Surrounded by political sycophants and seeing his 3-1 electoral win over Joe Lhota as a mandate … he seems to think he can do whatever he likes
Its a stark departure from the dynamic under the previous mayor, when de Blasio and his allies were relative outsiders.Melissa Mark-Viverito, who in part owes her own victory in the City Council speaker's race this year to the mayor, has yet to schedule an oversight hearing on the storm even though several of her members called for one.When Michael Bloomberg botched a snow cleanup in 2010, his critics
excoriated him—most notably Letitia James, then chairwoman of the City
Council's sanitation committee. At one point during eight oversight
hearings on the blizzard, James, who is now the public advocate, dramatically whipped out a set of steel chains to demonstrate the sanitation department's inadequate equipment. Mark-Viverito also declined comment on de Blasio's NYPD call, other than to advise reporters to "move on."* Eric Ulrich endorsement of Mark-Viverito triggers some backlash ... * Councilman Eric Ulrich named chairman of the City Council's Veterans Committee * Does the Advance Group Work for Former Acorn Leader Bertha Lewis?
Coming Media War:
Old Journalism vs Elected Officials Media
Pols are increasing creating interests group and using twitter and facebook to reach the public going around old media
-
-
Ydanis Rodriguez
Newly formed Families for Safer Streets (@NYC_safestreets) will be working to hold us in govt accountable for achieving#visionzero* Mothers of kids killed in traffic accidents rip into speedy mayor(NYP) Members of the new parents’ group Families for Safe Streets are urging de Blasio to establish a timeline for rapid implementation for his Vision Zero plan and to obey traffic laws * If Bill de Blasio thought bolting out of Friday evening’s press conference would kill the “Speedgate” story, he was wrong. The New York Post today: “Mothers of kids killed in city traffic accidents have a message for Mayor de Blasio: Slow down. Days after de Blasio flouted his own traffic-safety plan by riding shotgun in a speeding SUV that ran two stop signs, the moms … urged him to practice what he preaches.”* Seeking Details on Plan to End Traffic Fatalities(NYT) * NYPD adding 200 radar guns to combat speeding(NYP) * A New York City Council hearing on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan touched on concerns about the number of school crossing guards, stats on speed-detection guns and included testimony from parents whose children were killed in traffic, The New York Times writes:
-
NYC Elected Officials Have Done Nothing to Reduce the City's High Unemployment Rate
What about NYC? City still holds high unemployment rates(NYP) As many regions nationwide post gains in jobs and economic performance, NYC still can’t shake off its malaise and high unemployment rate — officially 8.1 percent, compared with the nation’s 6.6 percent. And the Empire State’s unemployment rate of 7.1 percent isn’t pretty either. Many see more deep-seated factors undermining New York’s so-called recovery. Rising taxes, increased regulation and red tape, tough access to credit and high business costs foremost among them. Many of New York’s high-paid jobs have been replaced by lower-paid and part-time jobs, many with scant or no benefits. And New York has failed to lure jobs on the same epic scale that other states have, studies show. In this month’s ADP Regional Employment Report of private-sector employment growth, New York state has the lowest growth rate of all 29 states tracked. New York generated 3,950 private-sector jobs in January, a monthly change of 0.05 percent. Texas, by contrast, produced 22,120, a 0.23 percent change.* * Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that IBM will bring 500 jobs to a new state-owned technology center in Buffalo while also joining a $100 million New York Genomic Medicine Center in Manhattan, the Buffalo News writes:
City Council Ignores New Yorkers Out of Work
The Forgotten Jobless
NYC's unemployed do not have the labor movement, activists, lobbyists who can put pressure on the elected officials and media who can make creating jobs a top priority. City Council weighs ban on pet stores buying from unlicensed breeders(NYP) Pet stores would be required under the bill to show customers where the pooches they’re purchasing are from and provide a medical history of the animals. And it would ban puppy mills that breed more than 50 animals a year from selling to city pet purveyors.
NY lost 42% of its manufacturing jobs 1990-2006 while FL lost only 18%. * While the city's unemployment remains higher than before Great Recession, middle-class families continue wage slide(NYDN) * The New York financial industry has replaced only one-third of the jobs it lost during the financial crisis.(Guardian) * Why New York's future is fleeing Nowhere near enough jobs for the younger generation(NYP) * ‘Wall ST.’ flees NY for tax-free Fla.
(NYP) * NYers take worst tax hit in nation(NYP) * Poll: 47 Percent Of New Yorkers Are Worse Off Financially Than They Were 4 Years Ago(WCBS) * NY ranks 49 in business tax climate * Taxes, regs hobble NY manufacturing recovery(NYP) *New York advertises its desperation
How will the city reduce unemployment that has been high since 2008? The new jobs New York City is expecting to gain are mostly low-paying and in the service industry. [David Seifman] * State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's scary report about Wall Street shedding jobs is not surprising. [Nicole Gelinas]* * McMahon: NY's still too business-unfriendly(Newsday) Over 400,000 New Yorkers are unemployed * DiNapoli: Wall Street Gets Richer, But Jobs Decline(YNN) * The New York financial industry has replaced only one-third of the jobs it lost during the financial crisis.(Guardian) *‘Wall ST.’ flees NY for tax-free Fla.
(NYP) * NYers take worst tax hit in nation(NYP) * Bloomberg warned (not for the first time) that his rich friends will leave NYC if their taxes are raised.* Financial future’s not bright(NYDN) * McMahon: NY's still too business-unfriendly(Newsday) * Why New York's future is fleeing Nowhere near enough jobs for the younger generation(NYP) * Report: NY lost 1.6 million people to other states from 2000 – 2010 (Gannett Albany) * Study Finds More New Yorkers Leaving State(NYT) * City faces middle-class exodus - Crain's New York Business * Economists Discover Source of New Yorkers' Misery (Gawker)* Albany shorting city $6B in taxes(NYP)Moynihan Intelligence and Lessons Gone From Today's Generation of Political Leaders
Pat Moynihan's Tax Lessons for the States(WSJ) * NY ranks 49 in business tax climate * NYC taxes vs. other states(Crains NY) * Papers and Editorial Board Ignore NYC Record High Unemployment* NYers take worst tax hit in nation(NYP) * Bloomberg warned (not for the first time) that his rich friends will leave NYC if their taxes are raised.* Financial future’s not bright(NYDN) * McMahon: NY's still too business-unfriendly(Newsday) * Why New York's future is fleeing Nowhere near enough jobs for the younger generation(NYP) * Report: NY lost 1.6 million people to other states from 2000 – 2010 (Gannett Albany) * Study Finds More New Yorkers Leaving State(NYT) * City faces middle-class exodus - Crain's New York Business * Economists Discover Source of New Yorkers' Misery (Gawker)* Albany shorting city $6B in taxes(NYP) The Bishop Power Base
Wall Street NY's Dying Goose of Jobs Taxes
Wall Street Shrinking
In 2008, Wall Street covered about $4.5 billion of the city’s tax payments — 12 percent of the total. Last year, it was $2.8 billion — 7 percent. The state, meanwhile, got $8.7 billion from the securities industry last year, or 14 percent of its tax dollars. That was down from $12 billion — or 20 percent — in 2008. Losing NY’s golden goose(NYP)* Lower Wall Street pay means less revenue for the state(CrainsNY) * Bye-Bye to the Big Board?(NYT Ed) Regulators must answer whether the proposed sale of the New York Stock Exchange can be regulated in a way that protects the public interest. The question that the Times is has not asked is the current generation of New York financal leaders smart enought to keep NY as the financial capital. We know the NY pols and media are clueless about how modern capitalism works. The fact that the city's is losing it financial tax base will not even be an issue in the 2013 mayor's race.* Wall Street This Week Is Basically a Bunch of Robots (NY Mag)
We All Know What Happen to Detroit When the Auto Industry Ran Out of that City . . . NYers Leaving Due to the High Costs
Erie Canal Became NY's
First Economic Engine, Wall Street and Banking Followed Later
Governor De Witt Clinton in
spite of a lack of public support, funding, untrained engineers, and
unforgiving terrain had the vision and leadership skills to build the Erie Canal in the early 1800's. The canal which opened New York’s manufacturing goods to the Midwest markets was responsible for the state overtaking Boston and Philadelphia to become the commerce and jobs capitol of America - increasing the state’s population five fold, in the decade after it was open. 2013 Mayoral Candidates Acted Like Fake Medicine Men
Big Stop and Frisk Win for the Mayor
Stop-and-frisk case going back to Manhattan judge(NYP) The de Blasio administration scored a big win in the city’s stop-and-frisk case on Friday when a federal appeals panel passed it back to a Manhattan judge — potentially fast-tracking an anticipated settlement deal between the new mayor and plaintiffs, and snubbing city police unions in the process. The new mayor had asked the panel to formerly withdraw the city’s appeal made by the Bloomberg administration late last year and move the case back to Torres in the hopes of soon reaching a settlement with the plaintiffs.* Appeals court stops NYPD unions' bid to halt de Blasio's stop-frisk deal(NYDN)
Children Removed From 2 Homeless Shelters
Mayor Bill de Blasio will announce on Friday that his administration is removing hundreds of children from two shelters that inspectors have repeatedly cited for deplorable conditions, officials said. * Mayor Announces Reforms to Two Large Homeless Shelters(NYO)
Paterson Staffer Girlfriend
de Blasio Visiting the Horses
Facing criticism for not visiting stables before banning the horse and carriage industry, Mayor de Blasio
Super Skyscrapers OK
Mayor Bill de Blasio today praised some of the biggest names in the real
estate industry and told them he has no qualms about building large in
the name of affordable housing
De Blasio: 'Height and density' key to affordable housing plans Audio: Bill de Blasio Promises REBNY He’ll Build Big(NYO) Many residents in neighborhoods across the city complain regularly about
housing developments they say are too tall or too large for their
locations. But Mr. de Blasio said he hoped that, with the promise of new
affordable units and a stamp of approval from his administration, such
super-sized projects will be swallowed more easily. * New
York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told members of the Real Estate Board of
New York that he has no problem with allowing super skyscrapers to be
built in exchange for meeting his goal of 200,000 units of affordable
housing, the Daily News writes: *de Blasio speaks to REBNY, promises "to use height and density to the maximum feasible extent"(AYR) * De Blasio wants to see more high-rise buildings(NYP) * De Blasio tries to find balance between responsible budgeting + progressive agenda (City and State) * Perhaps
in an attempt to repair his reputation among the city's real estate
power brokers, Bill de Blasio told the Real Estate Board of New York
that he doesn't want to slow the new development boom while in office.(Curbed)* The Post is “encouraged” by de
Blasio’s remarks to the Real Estate Board of New York that he plans to
build “aggressively” and vow to let builders “use height and density to
the maximum feasible extent”
Mark-Viverito Weekend Dump
Mark-Viverito lays off ten Council staffers(Capital) Speaker cleans house while on vacation
Liu 2.0?
Pot Hole Repairman de Blasio
De Blasio Adding Millions to DOT's Pothole Repair Budget * Bill de Blasio Tackles Potholes(NYO)
@StatsAndTheCity: So far this year, city's DOT has filled 113,131 potholes, more than 2012 & 2013 combined.
Waste Transfer
Tale of 2 Cities
The East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station is a hurdle in de Blasio's 'Tale of Two Cities'(Newsweek)
Stringer Finally Fights for Respect
City comptroller warns de Blasio on open labor contracts(NYP) The city’s fiscal chief lit a fire under Mayor de Blasio over the
city’s 152 open labor contracts Wednesday — calling it “critical” that
they be settled or nearly settled... * Controller says unresolved union contracts will bring chaos to de Blasio's budget(NYDN) * Stringer Sounds Alarm Over Labor Contracts(WSJ)
Brooklyn Forgetabout It
First No Marty Now A Co-Op on Top of Cheesecake Junior's
Junior’s Brooklyn Site Will Be Sold to Developer, but Restaurant Will Return(NYT)
Were In the Political Education Spin Phase
The political education of Carmen Fariña(Capital) Says she regrets “beautiful day” comment last week “I happen to be a very honest person and I obviously rue the day I ever
said, ‘beautiful,’” she said. “It comes with the territory … I
understand reporters have to do their job.” * NY1 Online: Longtime City Hall Insider Talks de Blasio Transition Longtime City Hall insider and
Lindsay administration official Sid Davidoff joined Inside City Hall to
discuss the de Blasio transition, the mayor's struggle to stay ahead of
the snow, and the fight between the mayor and governor over how to pay
for universal pre-k.
* Charter Schools On the eve of a meeting with New York
City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina advocates for charter schools are
trying to play nice with the new administration, focusing on their
shared goals of providing better education for students who are most in
need, Chalkbeat reports:
Mark-Viverito Weekend Dump
Liu 2.0?
The
former city controller has downplayed his jam-packed schedule of
political appearances, but observers say he could be planning to run for
office again.
Pot Hole Repairman de Blasio
Waste Transfer
Tale of 2 Cities
The East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station is a hurdle in de Blasio's 'Tale of Two Cities'(Newsweek)
Stringer Finally Fights for Respect
Brooklyn Forgetabout It
Junior’s Brooklyn Site Will Be Sold to Developer, but Restaurant Will Return(NYT)
Were In the Political Education Spin Phase
A Bigger Tale of 2 Cities is Healthy
It is About the City's Economy
Income
inequality is higher in thriving cities like New York and San Francisco
compared to less dynamic ones like Columbus, Ohio according to a report
by the Brookings Institute, the New York Times writes: If you want to live in a more equal community, it might mean living in a more moribund economy. But in some cases, higher income inequality might go hand in hand with
economic vibrancy, the study found. “These more equal cities — they’re
not home to the sectors driving economic growth, like technology and
finance,” said its author, Alan Berube. “These are places that are home
to sectors like transportation, logistics, warehousing.”
“Wisdom is knowing we are all On
Mayor Fights Negative Press With A Quick Roll Out of His Traffic Accidents Plan
NYPD Promises More Transparency on TrafficStat | (City and State) *De Blasio wants to cut speed limit by 5 mph citywide(NYP) * De Blasio wants to shut down meters to slow speeding cabs(NYP) * Here’s de Blasio’s plan, dubbed “Vision Zero.”* Bill de Blasio Sets Up Another Fight With Albany (NYO)* Thursday Update Speeding taxi shut-off technology may not exist (NYP)
The Daily News approves of Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero action plan—and wants Albany to get out of the way
Wednesday * De Blasio Outlines Steps to Eliminate Traffic Deaths(NYT) de Blasio’s sweeping proposals, rooted in a Swedish street safety
approach called Vision Zero, include a new focus on speeding and taxis.* IT'S LIFE OR DEATH: De Blasio's 'Vision Zero' traffic plan features a black box recording device for cabs to curb carnage(NYDN) * The Daily News writes that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio needs to follow through on every measure he can to improve traffic safety, and the state must produce legislation
that will enable him to do things like lower the speed limit * Victims’ families praise de Blasio’s plan to lower speed limit(NYP) * Bill de Blasio’s solid plan to fight traffic deaths(NYP Op-Ed) * Calmer Streets, Safer City(NYT Ed) Mayor Bill de Blasio’s focus on public safety is
sensible, and his plan to prevent traffic deaths could make a difference
to New Yorkers.* A City Safe for Walking(NYT) What steps can city officials, pedestrians and drivers take to reduce the number of accidents?* The New York Times writes that it is ridiculous that decisions about more traffic cameras and lowering the speed limit in New York City are determined in Albany and can be blocked by a Rochester lawmaker: Speaker Traders Revenge of the Crowley Machine Starts At the Queens Library
* Flashback: City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer explodes at colleagues(NYDN) Van Bramer's colleagues questioned whether Van Bramer's ties to the Queens Library would compromise his ability to hold a hearing on the library's finances
Mayor: No Weekly Radio Show Planned
De Blasio May End Weekly Call-In Radio Show(NY1) The weekly call-in radio show that Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani embraced may soon be a thing of the past, as
Mayor Bill de Blasio does not seem as interested in following them to
the airwaves, though he has not yet made an official decision about his
plans.
de Blasio Rosemary Woods Editing of the ReBNY Meet
108 Minute Gap
De Blasio Seems to Be Struggling to Fulfill Transparency Pledge (NY1)NY1 asked the mayor's aides repeatedly for his closed-door remarks and was told that they would not be released. However, by the afternoon, amid growing criticism, City Hall changed its tune. At 5 p.m., four-and-a-half hours after the meeting ended, the mayor's office sent NY1 a recording of the mayor. It is 12 minutes long. The entire meeting lasted nearly two hours.
De Blasio Seems to Be Struggling to Fulfill Transparency Pledge (NY1)NY1 asked the mayor's aides repeatedly for his closed-door remarks and was told that they would not be released. However, by the afternoon, amid growing criticism, City Hall changed its tune. At 5 p.m., four-and-a-half hours after the meeting ended, the mayor's office sent NY1 a recording of the mayor. It is 12 minutes long. The entire meeting lasted nearly two hours.
Sanitation Commish Doherty on all the snow this winter: "You lose your momentum on garbage."
Borough Hall - Brooklyn supports de Blasio's Pre-K plan!
Cuomo’s looking to stave off liberal griping about his opposition to the mayor’s pre-K plan by positioning his opposition as progressive
More on Cuomo 2014
How A Party With .03% of NY Registered Voters Elected Their Speaker
The New Republic profiled the Working Families Party’s role in Melissa Mark-Viverito‘s victory in the council speaker’s race. “It only happened because there was two years or six years of sitting at a table, working, week after week, deliberatively developing a strategy, building a level of trust that is not a normal political way of operating,” said one participant in the process.
More on the WFP
Breslin Mailer 51st State Again
Progressive Secession?
Downstate's war on Upstate:Secession movement in NY pushes for Big Apple to split from Upstate Washington Times
Bratton Speaks OK With Mayor's Call
Bratton Not Briefed On Mayor's NYPD Call
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton
reportedly was not briefed until the morning on the call placed by New
York City Mayor Bill de Blasio regarding the arrest of a Brooklyn
bishop, the New York Post reports: * New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
has stumbled during his first six weeks in office, picking two unwise
fights with Cuomo, calling the NYPD about an arrested bishop and
handling snow in such a way that Al Roker predicted he’d last one term,
the Post’s Bob McManus writes: * It was seven hours before
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton was briefed by an aide about NYC Mayor
Bill de Blasio’s call to Deputy Chief Kim Royster to inquire about
de Blasio’s pal, Bishop Orlando Findlayter.* So far, de Blasio’s Albany lobbying staff is small.
He’s relying on top administration aides, and – in a departure from the
Bloomberg days – reaching out to lawmakers himself to get his message
across.
Bratton's Missing
Besides the Mayor A Lot of People are None Avoiding Commenting On the Bishop Findlayter Scandal Buzz
on the internet is that members of the NYPD leaked the story on the
mayor's phone call. Is that an indication that some in the department
want to get even with de Blasio for is efforts to stop stop-and-frisk?
Is Bratton worried that by supporting the mayor on the call he will lose
the support of his member?* Report: Lawsuits against NYPD officers double(NYDN)Schumer's Conflict of Interest Comcast Deal
The BrotherHood
Schumer recuses himself from Comcast-Time Warner deal(Capital) Sen. Chuck Schumer will recuse himself from congressional consideration
of Comcast's acquisition of Time Warner Cable, because his brother,
Robert, was a lead attorney on the deal. "As Senator Schumer and his brother had never discussed the matter
before, the piece in American Lawyer was the first Senator Schumer
learned that his brother had worked on the deal," said Max Young, a
spokesman for Schumer, in a statement. "Now that he’s aware of his
brother’s involvement, Senator Schumer will recuse himself from
Congressional consideration of the matter to avoid any appearance of
bias." Schumer had previously praised the deal,
saying Comcast had told him they expected to increase Time Warner's
operation in New York, planned to keep New York 1, and were committed to
increasing jobs in Buffalo. “While we still need to review the details, it seems like the Time
Warner Cable acquisition will be a good deal for New York," Schumer said
in a statement on Feb. 13, shortly after the deal was announced.* REPORT: Chuck Schumer's Brother Tied To Comcast Deal He Supports(Huff Posy) * Reality check: Comcast & FB deals are not entirely in cash. Billion$
in borrowed money will eventually cost consumers & small investors.* .@FAIRmediawatch looks at how Comcast-owned MSNBC has covered the Comcast-TWC merger news.
.Cuomo's Re-Election de Blasio Free
Cuomo’s re-election strategy is to sacrifice New York City’s interests, take on Mayor de Blasio and pander to anti-tax and pro-business sentiments upstate, where he’s politically the weakest, angry Democrats from the city charge. “The governor’s polling numbers show he will win the city with a huge margin. He knows that, he’s told people that, so he doesn’t think he needs the mayor or city Democrats for political help.The anger of city Democrats is rooted in what is, in effect, a civil war pitting downstate “progressives’’ or leftist Democrats, who have strong support from public-employee unions and the union-controlled Working Families Party, against Cuomo, a small group of moderate upstate Democrats and, ironically, state Senate Republicans. * Let NYC pay for its pre-K (TU) * It’s the tale of two pre-K editorial viewpoints. In one corner, Newsday argues the “myopic” Bill de Blasio has failed to recognize statewide educational needs. “The point de Blasio has missed as he inveighs against New York’s tale of two cities is what Cuomo is calling our tale of two states,” the paper opined in an article titled “Editorial: Bill de Blasio fumbles his key issue.”* Mayor lauds Gov. Cuomo during religous services... then blasts him on pre-K stance(NYDN) * Bill de Blasio’s Old Campaign Operations Live On, in One Form or Another(NYO)
More on How de Blasio Dances With Cuomo
Senate GOP leader Dean Skelos has emerged as Cuomo’s chief political ally at the Capitol, backing the governor in his showdown with de Blasio even as all Democratic leaders, including Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, refuse to do so. The influential Democrats, who won’t speak out publicly against Cuomo for fear of retaliation by the governor and because they believe his campaign strategy can’t be stopped, predicted de Blasio would fail in his effort to take on the governor. * NY State suspends driver’s license of 7,850 tax deadbeats(NYP) A majority of those six-month suspensions coming in the New York City area
"They Don’t Know What They’re Doing"
de Blasio Learning Curve?
Democrats say de Blasio must learn how to play politics in New York capitol(NYDN) About a dozen Democrats in New York’s Assembly and Senate questioned why, tactically, Mayor de Blasio would suddenly spring the minimum wage issue at the same time he is asking the Legislature to fight for his pre-K tax plan for New York City. 'The job of public advocate is to be a paid complainer,' one Democratic insider said, referring to the mayor’s prior job. 'That’s fine, but it doesn’t move things in Albany.'After waiting for a Democratic New York City mayor, some members of the state Legislature are wishing that de Blasio would slow down with his progressive proposals and focus on one at a time, the Daily News reports: * De Blasio will be judged on more than just his response to snow or calling the NYPD about an acquaintance, and one judgment that can already be made is the mayor thinks he has more political capital than he actually does, the Daily News’s Mike Lupica writes: * About a dozen Democrats in the Assembly and Senate questioned why, tactically speaking, de Blasio would suddenly spring the minimum wage issue at the same time he is asking the Legislature to fight for his pre-K tax plan. * "Those close to BDB say he also regularly engages w/ state lawmakers personally in a way MRB never did.” * Some New Yorkers who met Mayor Bill de Blasio when he opened Gracie Mansion to the public in early January have yet to receive the photographs of their meeting, NY1 reports: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=495268678289935103#editor/target=post;postID=9220847277452584268;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname
de Blasio First Contract Settlement, UFT Demands Back Pay
More Mayoral Appointments
One of his new appointees, Emily Lloyd, is reprising her role as Department of Environmental Protection chief, which she held under former Mayor Bloomberg.* De Blasio Suggests Parks Appointment Will Represent Departure From Bloomberg(NYO) * De Blasio taps environmental chief he once held ‘accountable’(Capital) * ‘Too Perfect’ Job Offer Lures a Parks Expert Back to Work(NYT)Tupper Thomas, former chief of the Prospect Park Alliance, is coming out of retirement to lead New Yorkers for Parks. * \Citing ‘Inequality Crisis,’ Mayor Names Top Legal Adviser and Fills 2 Other Jobs(NYT) * Former Dinkins aide named de Blasio’s DEP commisioner(NYP) * .
How Can A Party Of Bottom Feeders Be the Opposition Voice?
More on the GOP Bottom Feeder Party
True News Wags WSJ On Asking Progressives Where is the Reform?
The Wall Street Journal writes that while once upon a time progressives believed in reform and education
opportunity, now their agenda is reimposing failed teachers on poor
students and punishing charter schools: .
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To the Moon But Not Common Core
A Culture Out of Gas
On September 12, 1962 President Kennedy Said America Would Go to the Moon By the End of the Century. Yet we can't find a way to teach common core until the next decade, 2022?
Left Turns Against Common Core
Common Core Curriculum Now Has Critics on the Left(NYT) The newest chorus of complaints about the common learning standards is coming from one of their earliest champions: New York State. * New York State Regents Delay Full Implementation of the Common Core Until 2022 * More Delay State education officials acknowledge there are flaws in the accuracy of new teacher job ratings, which has forced the state to push back the deadline for the release of ratings until at least mid-March, Newsday reports: * There’s a Common Core iPad app.* New York’s eighth graders were ranked behind eighth graders in multiple countries and states in a National Center on Education Statistics report on math and science scores, with one think tank concluding the state would benefit from the Common Core, the Post writes: * The Common Core standards represent a positive, and the state should focus on finding the best way to put them into practice rather than considering nixing them because of opposition from critics who don’t have a better plan, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s Michael Petrilli and Michael Brickman write in the Daily News
Al D'Amato, Inc.
A Newsday review of lobby records shows D'Amato's firm, Park Strategies, earned $5.9 million on lobbying in 2013 -- a 60 percent jump from the year before and a 150 percent increase from 2011. That likely will place Park Strategies in the top five companies when the annual state lobbying report is published in March. * The consulting firm headed by former US Sen. Alfonse D’Amato has quickly become one of the fastest rising lobbying outfits in New York, absorbing other companies and adding experienced political hands from either major political party.
Wall Street Shrinking? Moving Jobs Out
NYSE MAY SHRINK FOOTPRINT IN LOWER MANHATTAN -- So digitized ‘physical proximity is no longer necessary’ -- WSJ’s Bradley Hope and Keiko Morris: “The NYSE still employs hundreds of workers…at 11 Wall St. and …20 Broad St. …the parent company, known as ICE, is trying to decide whether to keep the office space in 20 Broad when that lease expires in 2016 … Another option ….reduce the amount of space it leases there. The NYSE has a lease for 381,000 square feet at 20 Broad … ICE has no plans to reduce the NYSE’s presence at 11 Wall St. … Today, only a fraction of stock trades are excited on the floor. The business has become so digitized that ‘physical proximity is no longer necessary,’ said John Wheeler, managing director at Jones Lang SaSalle Incoming., who oversees the firm’s Lower Manhattan operations.” http://goo.gl/OJxkwJ * The New York Stock Exchange, an institution that has long been at the heart of downtown Manhattan’s identity, is considering a reduction of its presence there as its new parent company cuts jobs and moves positions out of the city.* Boston's mayor wants to woo Wall Street firms away from De Blasio's New York. (Globe)
Rattner Still Sucking On the Government Tit
-
- "Bruce Ratner, a politically savvy fellow who has a dairy-farmer-like appreciation for the teat of public subsidy"After Decades at a Walk-Up, Tenants Fear Losing a Home(NYT)
Tom Robbins
Police Protester Moves Inside
Eric L. Adams was once known for the often incendiary curbside news
conferences he held outside One Police Plaza in Lower Manhattan. Now he
is the Brooklyn borough president.* New York’s Broken Parole System(NYT Ed) For low-risk inmates, early release into parole should be the default
and the board should have to articulate a good reason to keep them
locked up.
.
.
.
Councilman Levine wants NYC tax payers to subsidized the state?
Editorial in@timesunion: "Letting NYC pay for its own pre-k would free up $ to expand the program in rest of state.Retweeted by Melissa MarkViverito
.
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.
Councilman Levine wants NYC tax payers to subsidized the state?
Editorial in
Mark D. Levine
Reply @unitedNYblogs @MMViverito @timesunion No, if the tax is state-wide every region would carry its on weight.
Answer @MarkLevineNYC @MMViverito @timesunion You did not say make the tax statewide Sir
GOP Operative
Keep Public In the Dark About Corruption
GOP Bottom Feeders
GOP operative asks judge to delay trial until after elections(NYP) Claiming key GOP campaign strategies could be “exposed” before this year’s gubernatorial and legislative races, a Queens Republican operative wants his federal corruption trial delayed until after November’s elections. Former Queens Republican Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone —
who is
accused of pocketing $25,000 as part of a failed scheme to get state
Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) on the 2012 GOP line for mayor — has filed
papers asking White Plains federal Judge Kenneth Karas to delay a June 2
trial set for Tabone, Smith and other co-defendants until at least
December. Tabone’s request for a trial delay comes two weeks after Smith made a
similar request. He asked the trial be pushed back until at least
October, so it would not affect him running for re-election in the
Democratic primary. Smith’s Senate district is predominantly Democratic,
so a primary victory means a likely win in the general election, too. 
de Blasio Vs Charter School
Charter schools are working, but New York's mayor wants to stop them (Economist) A 2013 study by Stanford University found that the typical Illinois
charter pupil (most of them in Chicago) gained two weeks of additional
learning in reading, and a month in maths, over their counterparts in
traditional public schools. One city network of charters, Youth
Connection, is credited with reducing Chicago’s dropout rate by 7% in a
decade. Overall, however, the city’s public schools are in a sorry
state: 51,000 out of 240,000 elementary-school pupils did not meet state
reading standards in 2013. But New York’s new mayor, Bill de Blasio, a union-backed Democrat,
wants to hobble charters.
First, he intends to curb their growth. On
January 31st Carmen Fariña, his schools chancellor, announced a plan to
divert $210m earmarked for charter schools to help pay for
pre-kindergarten teaching. She also announced that, in future, every
expansion plan will be reviewed—even those that are long settled, such
as the plan of Success Academies, with the largest network in the city,
to open ten more schools in August. * Eva Moskowitz: Teachers Union Enemy No. 1(WSJ) * Charter Schools Group Launches Digital Campaign(YNN)
Rapfogel Soon to Be Sentenced
The call has gone out to friends of Willie Rapfogel to write letters describing how the indicted former Met Council leader help the community. No word yet if the elected offices who sent member items funds to the Met Council in return for cash will face legal charges or even be named.
Rapfogel Soon to Be Sentenced
The call has gone out to friends of Willie Rapfogel to write letters describing how the indicted former Met Council leader help the community. No word yet if the elected offices who sent member items funds to the Met Council in return for cash will face legal charges or even be named.
Losing Al Roker A Bad Week
de Blasio was surprised by the cold this week. His pre-k plan
is getting an icy push back from Governor Cuomo, reporters are grilling
him at length, his Schools Chancellor is being mocked for saying "it's a
beautiful day" in the middle of a sleet storm, and even weatherman Al
Roker blasted the mayor on twitter. (WNYC)
Tish James Wishes She Never Commented
Q & A With Tish James on Schools Remaining Open During the Snow Storm and the Mayor's Phone Call to the NYPD on Bishop Findlayter Arrest
Monday Update
De Blasio Downplays Pre-K Tax Plan in Albany: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio didn’t push the income tax
De Blasio’s mum on pastor he helped get out of jail(NYP)
At Church Service, Pastor Makes No Mention of de Blasio or Arrest(NYT)
De Blasio’s bishop buddy stays silent on arrest(NYP)
Bishop Whose Arrest Drew De Blasio Call Delivers Sermon(WSJ) Orlando Findlayter Didn't Address His Arrest, Calls on Congregation to Remember Immigrants * Lupica: Mayor de Blasio will be judged by more than snow days, jailed crony (NYDN) The
new mayor has to know that’s not the way it works with anybody working a
big job here. He has to know that New York City, especially when you
are trying to prove you have the chops to govern it, is in a hardball
league, and you need to wear a helmet.* At a church service that was part of
the state Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus
Weekend, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio seemingly struck a
conciliatory tone regarding pre-kindergarten, The New York Times writes:
de Blasio I Am Done Commenting On the Findlayter Matter
de Blasio declined to answer a question about the controversy around his Monday night call to the NYPD after learning of the arrest of Bishop Orlando Findlayter. Despite his clear desire to move on to other topics, it appears that press and public interest is far from sated (Full Interview) . * De Blasio avoided tax-hike proposal talk during Albany visit(NYP) * Comptroller Scott Stringer went on PIX11 and expanded on his “problematic” comments regarding Mr. de Blasio’s call to police after Bishop Orlando Findlayter‘s arrest. “It’s pretty clear that the mayor didn’t do anything inappropriate,” said Mr. Stringer. “I just commented that mayors who make those calls are going to get some blowback.”
de Blasio I Am Done Commenting On the Findlayter Matter
de Blasio declined to answer a question about the controversy around his Monday night call to the NYPD after learning of the arrest of Bishop Orlando Findlayter. Despite his clear desire to move on to other topics, it appears that press and public interest is far from sated (Full Interview) . * De Blasio avoided tax-hike proposal talk during Albany visit(NYP) * Comptroller Scott Stringer went on PIX11 and expanded on his “problematic” comments regarding Mr. de Blasio’s call to police after Bishop Orlando Findlayter‘s arrest. “It’s pretty clear that the mayor didn’t do anything inappropriate,” said Mr. Stringer. “I just commented that mayors who make those calls are going to get some blowback.”
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#Findlayter won't answer questions in wake of BdB intervention http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2014/02/rev-findlayter-wont-answer-press.html … If he does, he should be asked abt#AtlanticYards role
Norman Oder
Sunday Update
NYP Says Findayter evicted at least 10 people, one for failing to pay a measly $950, public records show, While He Owed $150,000 since 1989, public documents show.
Bishop Findlayter was a Brooklyn slumlord: ex-tenant(NYP) * Lack of checks-and-balances haunts de Blasio's scandalous jail favor for Bishop Findlayter (NYC New Analysis) * De Blasio inaugural committee member exceeded campaign contribution limits(NY World) Bill de Blasio’s campaign for mayor took in contributions exceeding legal limits from a member of his inaugural committee whose organization holds $168 million in contracts with the city. As he ran for mayor last year, de Blasio took in $2,500 in contributions from Yitzchok Leshinsky, the head of a not-for-profit called Housing Bridge that runs shelters for the Department of Homeless Services. Under New York City campaign finance rules, executives of organizations that do business with the city are barred from donating more than $400 to a mayoral candidate* In the Midst of Pre-K Battle, Cuomo and De Blasio Cross Paths at Albany Event(NY1) * Mayor de Blasio Talks Up Cuomo And Pre-K But Does Not Mention Tax in Caucus Remarks - UPDATED(NYDN) UPDATE - At a Q&A with reporters after the church apperance, de Blasio stuck by his plan for a tax on the wealthy and said he was simply being "respectful" to Cuomo by taking a softer tone at the church. A few moments later, he added: "I wanted to be respectful of the governor. I truly do respect him. And it’s well known that we have a difference on how to get this done and I didn’t think that in a church was a place to have a debate over this issue." * MUM'S THE WORD: Bailed-out bishop Orlando Findlayter goes to church, stays silent on why Mayor de Blasio helped him avoid a night in jail(NYDN)
Colin Campbell
Mayor: Thanks A Lot Carlos Danger
Pre-K tax is our business alone (NYDN OpEd) Albany has too much power over N.Y.C.
Note: Why would the Daily News let Weiner who got less than 7% of the vote for mayor and spending a couple of million in city funds, write for them? No wonder their endorsement are not important anymore (Quinn, Squadron, Against Melissa Mark-Viverito, etc.
Will de Blasio's NYU Connected Staff Influence the University Expansion Approval?
Affordable Housing Developers Connected Poised to Rake In Millions During the Mayor's Drive to Build More Housing
2. Mayor's Traffic Jam - New Yorkers' Jay Walk
De Blasio’s Vow to End Traffic Deaths Meets Reality of New York Streets(NYT)de Blasio faces challenges in altering the balance of taxis, buses,
trucks and cars amid the city’s deeply ingrained pedestrian culture. 3. Snow Attendance To Go Lower
After Storm, 100% Attendance Is Not 100% Accurate(NYT) A few schools in New York City reported perfect or near-perfect attendance rates, but a few of them were inaccurately high.
Not Only Hot Meals Eva’s lesson for Bill (NYP) By contrast, Moskowitz kept her schools open for one reason: In a city where the overwhelming number of black and Latino students are failing their proficiency tests, she believes students cannot afford to miss the precious education they get. * Mobs Soldier Says Closes the Schools Bill Mafia member Thomas Gioeli tweets complaint about de Blasio during snowstorm (NYDN) Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli tweeted “How long is reckless Bill de Blasio gonna play chicky w/the life’s of our children,” to his followers Thursday after the decision was made to keep schools open despite the snowstorm.
4. Orwellian Speaker Drop the Adversarial Role?
5. Bishop Orlando Findlayter Cancels Press Conference at House of Justice. Reporters Grumble. . .
6. The Rev. Sharpton Media Advice On Findlayter
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@TheRevAl Time for distinctions -- if a PA or Councilmember "inquires" bc bad policing, one thing. For MAYOR for pal to his NYPD, diff.
De Blasio dodges media talk after storm backlash(NYP) After taking a battering over his decision to keep schools open during a heavy snowstorm Thursday, Mayor de Blasio suddenly canceled a scheduled press conference Friday. “The city’s response to...* Bill de Blasio, under fire, keeps low profile (Newsweek)
de Blasio vs. PBA
PBA “the documents we submitted” last week “speak for themself”
Scheindlin through her lawyers on Friday also filed court papers with the appellate panel objecting to the unions’ motion to appeal her ruling. The panel on Friday also agreed to let lawyers for former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former US Attorney General Michael Mukasey submit briefs in support of the police unions’ motions.
de Blasio Hell Week
Bill de Blasio - An unhappy recap of de Blasio’s no
good, very bad week: First, Republican Senate Co-Leader Dean
Skelos rained on the mayor’s universal pre-K parade by firmly stating
his intention to block a floor vote on the mayor’s tax hike proposal to
pay for the program. Skelos’ Democratic counterpart Jeff Klein then
swelled up with courage to vigorously defend de Blasio’s proposal, only
to play the shrinking violet less than 24 hours later by walking back
his commitment to stall the budget if the tax hike did not receive a
vote. If only it ended there, but de Blasio also displayed the downside
to his micromanaging personality by reportedly personally calling to
check on the arrest of a clergy member who happened to be on his
transition team.
The mayor was pilloried for what may have been an
inappropriate phone call, with few coming to his defense, save for Rudy
Giuliani. Rule of thumb, Bill: when Rudy, who can hardly be called an
ally, is the only one patting you on the back, it might be a good idea
to think twice about “inquiring” into police arrests no matter how
“appropriate” you claim your actions were. Lastly, Mr. Mayor, when
you’ve lost Al Roker, you’re in trouble. * peaker and Public Advocate Refuse to Criticize de Blasio Over Bishop Call Controversy(NYO)Cancels Press Conference Bill de Blasio Cancels Press Conference One Day After Grilling(NYO)
Trending in the Media Now
Pre-K
Cuomo: "Answer to a tale of two cities is not to create two states" on why he doesn't support tax for NYC to create its own Pre-K
Mayor's Bad Week Gov Great One
CUNY New Chief
From Plains to CUNY, New Chief Is ‘Coming Home’(NYT)
The president of the University of Nebraska, James B. Milliken, strikes many as having a talent for making people feel listened to
UFT Why Are the Schools Open?
Teachers’ Union and Elected Officials Blast de Blasio’s School Day Call(NYO) * Parents blast mayor's decision to keep NYC schools open, worry about road conditions for school buses (NBC) *City schools see dismal 45% attendance during snowstorm; De Blasio defends ...(NYDN)
* For Mayor, Keeping Schools Open Brings Another Headache(NYT) * Student’s Facebook page mocks NYC schools chief, goes viral(NYP) * IS IT REALLY A ‘BEAUTIFUL DAY’? New schools chancellor scowls for cameras after city gets a foot of snow, leading to record low school attendance
Farina Does Mr.Rogers Beautiful Day
De Blasio defends decision to leave schools open. ‘It's absolutely a beautiful day out there,’ schools chancellor .*Clueless schools chancellor defends opening classrooms: ‘It’s a beautiful day out’(NYP)
* Public Advocate Letitia James: "Re-Evaluation" Needed Of When NYC Schools Close After Storms(NYDN) * Fariña defends open schools, says it’s a ‘beautiful day’(Capital) * De Blasio must get used to tough questions on snowy schooldays, pal's(NYDN) * Carmen Fariña and Al Roker do damage control over insensitive snowstorm comments(NYDN)
The Hometown Paper (Daily News) Won't Even Take A Stand On School Closing
Do They Ever Wonder Why Voters Don't Follow Their Endorsements of Quinn, Squadron or Reforming the BOE?
The Daily News writes that it won’t second guess the decision to keep New York City schools open Thursday, though late-arriving or absent students shouldn’t receive demerits and schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña should choose her words more carefully next time:
My Cousin Farina How Many Fingers?
School Attendance
Preliminary data shows NYC Public School attendance for Thursday, February 13, 2014 is 44.65%.” Parents, not the Mayor, made final call on#sbowday.
de Blasio Throws Al Roker Under the Bus
Weatherman Bill
Bill de Blasio Has Lost Al Roker(NRO) “Why are schools all around NYC closed?” Mr. Roker asked, calling the snow policy “ridiculous.” “It’s going to take some kid or kids getting hurt before this goofball policy gets changed.” Retweeted by Lisa L. Colangelo
Al Roker
@alroker How dare @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools throw NWS under the school bus. Forecast was on time and on the money * So now my daughter's NYC public school is being let out early. @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools Is it worth putting kids' safety at risk? * I knew this am @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools would close schools. Talk about a bad prediction. Long range DiBlasio forecast: 1 term* 'Is
there no one there with any common sense?' Al Roker slams de Blasio for
not closing schools as storm drops up to a foot of snow; Mayor hits
back with icy response(NYDN) * Al Roker hits Bill de Blasio on NWS remarks (Politico) Update @AlRoker says he regrets one of his tweets about NYC Mayor @BilldeBlasio * Al Roker's Sorry For 1 Tweet, But Not For Blasting De Blasio(NPR) * Who came out on top in the battle between @alroker and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio?
de Blasio Losing His MoJo After 6 Weeks?
* .@BilldeBlasio "appeared stiff and nervous as he answered repeated questions about the issue” * "Mr. de Blasio, who is normally relaxed and often makes jokes in news conferences, appeared stiff and nervous." (NYDN)* Al Roker blasts Mayor de Blasio on Twitter for not cancelling school.(NYDN) * School bus crashes into car in Brooklyn, injures more than a dozen(NYDN) * Al Roker calls Bill de Blasio a one-term mayor for not closing NYC schools today(Newsweek) * New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, a close ally of de Blasio, said closing city schools
would have been “warranted,” Capital New York writes: * De Blasio defends phone call to NYPD about jailed supporter (SI Advance)
* For Mayor, Keeping Schools Open Brings Another Headache(NYT) * Student’s Facebook page mocks NYC schools chief, goes viral(NYP) * IS IT REALLY A ‘BEAUTIFUL DAY’? New schools chancellor scowls for cameras after city gets a foot of snow, leading to record low school attendance
Farina Does Mr.Rogers Beautiful Day
* Public Advocate Letitia James: "Re-Evaluation" Needed Of When NYC Schools Close After Storms(NYDN) * Fariña defends open schools, says it’s a ‘beautiful day’(Capital) * De Blasio must get used to tough questions on snowy schooldays, pal's(NYDN) * Carmen Fariña and Al Roker do damage control over insensitive snowstorm comments(NYDN)
The Hometown Paper (Daily News) Won't Even Take A Stand On School Closing
The Daily News writes that it won’t second guess the decision to keep New York City schools open Thursday, though late-arriving or absent students shouldn’t receive demerits and schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña should choose her words more carefully next time:
My Cousin Farina How Many Fingers?
Preliminary data shows NYC Public School attendance for Thursday, February 13, 2014 is 44.65%.” Parents, not the Mayor, made final call on
de Blasio Throws Al Roker Under the Bus
Bill de Blasio Has Lost Al Roker(NRO) “Why are schools all around NYC closed?” Mr. Roker asked, calling the snow policy “ridiculous.” “It’s going to take some kid or kids getting hurt before this goofball policy gets changed.” Retweeted by Lisa L. Colangelo
Al Roker
de Blasio Losing His MoJo After 6 Weeks?
* .Sick Pay and Small Business
Small businesses: Paid-sick-leave law hurts(NYP)
Budget Dance to End With Council But Continue With Union Negotiations
Mayor de Blasio proposes $74B budget without pay hikes(NYDN) * Council Members Hail Promised End to “Budget Dance” (City and State) * De Blasio’s budget plan relies less on smoke and mirrors, and he delivered an address that would be expected
from a freshly elected executive, Newsday’s Dan Janison writes * Mayor de Blasio proposes $74B — without pay hikes(NYDN) * Greenman: De Blasio avoiding big bills in budget(NYDN) * De Blasio sets aside $52.5M for NYCHA * For once, de Blasio paints a conservative picture(Capital) Mayor conveys need while reserving cash * Bill de Bloomy * Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, just about.(NYDN Ed) Rhetoric aside, that could have been Mayor Bloomberg who laid out the
city’s finances on Wednesday rather than Mayor de Blasio. This is meant
as a compliment to Hizzoner the Progressive.* A First Stab at a Prudent City Budget(NYT Ed)Although
months of negotiations lie ahead before a final budget, Mr. de Blasio
pointedly rejected what he called the annual “Kabuki” ritual between the
mayor and City Council over proposed cuts that always loom but never
happen. And he reminded his listeners that he had inherited the
unresolved contracts from his predecessor. So
he did. But they are his contracts now. His early budget plan puts him
in a good position heading into challenging negotiations with the
unions, whose cooperation he will need to make the budget work, for
real.
de Blasio 180 On Rainy-day-fund
Mayor’s budget has a $1 billion rainy day fund(NYP) Six years after attacking Mike Bloomberg for socking away $4.5 billion in a rainy-day fund, Mayor de Blasio did the same thing — setting aside an extra $1 billion as he released. De Blasio’s first budget also contained $600 million in a general reserve fund — double the amount in Bloomberg’s last budget — with $465 million to cover increased union-contract costs. On Wednesday, de Blasio claimed he couldn’t recall the specifics of his criticisms back then, and insisted times have changed. * Union Raises De Blasio Squirrels Away Money Ahead of Contract Negotiations(NYO)
More Money for PA and BPs
De Blasio also gave his old Public Advocate’s Office a nice parting gift — an extra $700,000 in the 2015 fiscal year, which starts July 1. Borough presidents are also poised to get more cash, with de Blasio’s home borough of Brooklyn set to rake in the most — $2 million in new funds.* Nearly Doubles Budget for His Old Office:(Politico)
NYCHA More Money for Repairs
The New York City Housing Authority will be relieved of $52.5 million owed to the NYPD for the rest of the 2014 fiscal year, with the city providing the department with funds to make up the difference, The Wall Street Journal writes:
Big Unknowns
— federal budget, state budget and labor contracts — and associated things like the [Superstorm] Sandy costs,” said the mayor.
A new day at CAU
From Capital New York:Mayor Bill de Blasio is clearing out the city's Community Affairs Unit, replacing nearly every existing staffer with his longtime loyalists. De Blasio's team notified C.A.U. workers they have to depart their jobs by today, according to a source briefed on the situation. Some had previously left on their own, the source said. An administration spokeswoman confirmed the staffing changes and said one employer from the previous administration, David Schmid, has stayed on. Among the new staffers are several former de Blasio campaign aides, including one who made news for tweeting her skepticism of the police, and staff who worked for him when he was public advocate. Several have close ties to his labor allies. For example C.A.U., now under the direction of Marco Carrion, the former political director of the Central Labor Council, will employ Harold Miller, who was a field director on the mayor's campaign last year. Miller also served as a field director for New York Communities for Change, an offshoot of the disbanded ACORN organization. NYCC endorsed de Blasio early in the Democratic primary last year. Has anyone ever actually been assisted by the Community Affairs Unit? (The name was changed during the Bloomberg administration to better reflect the fact that these people don't do shit except make excuses for why they won't help you.)
Cuomo Trumps
Donald Trump says he’ll be setting up a formal
Donald Trump Responds to Unflattering Profile in the Most Donald Trump Way Possible (NY Mag) * Furious over a snarky Buzzfeed article about his political aspirations, Donald Trump took a page out of his TV show, “The Apprentice,” and canned Sam Nunberg – the adviser who had urged him to do the interview.
Sam Nunberg, the Donald Trump aide who was fired following a critical BuzzFeed profile about his boss, liked the article in question before he started badmouthing it.
Nunberg has disinvited the article’s author, McKay Coppins, from attending Shabbos dinner at his mother’s house. * Donald Trump needs to leave the governor’s race because his antics distract from a better candidate like Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor writes in the Post:
Donald J. Trump
Internal polling shows that I would swamp @RobAstorino in a NY Republican primary 77% to 23%. But won’t run if party is not unified. * Donald Trump decides to run..with angry response to BuzzFeed story (Wash Post) * Westchester County Executive Rob
Astorino laughed off claims by Donald Trump that Trump had an internal
poll showing Republicans would prefer him to be the party’s nominee for
governor, the Daily News reports: * The Westchester County Democratic Committee is wondering where in the world County Executive Rob Astorino is. The Democrats launched a website, whereisrob.com,
questioning the time he has spent outside of Westchester County and the
state since his re-election and the start of his new term. When asked
about the web site on Wednesday, Astorino quickly shifted the topic to
the current governor’s whereabouts. “I’m waiting for the dropdown box on
that website to show where Cuomo has gone for his $50,000-a-plate
Hollywood fundraiser or Somos in Puerto Rico or $25,000 breakfast in
D.C.,” he said. “I’m waiting for that drop box, too. Or maybe it’s under
hypocritical drop box, I’m not sure. But I’m not concerned about that
nonsense.” The single-page website features a video blasting Astorino
for his travel, statistics about where he has gone and a spot to put in a
zip code and email address to submit a “get back to work Rob” form. It
is paid for by the Westchester County Democratic Committee. “These are
the same Democrats … that were just thrown out of the leadership of the
county board by their own Democrats, so that should speak volumes,”
Astorino added.
Trump Throws A Bone
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Special Elections and June Primaries
NYS Senate Dems To Push For June Primaries But Senate GOP and Independent Dems Oppose It
Gov. Cuomo Doesn't Have 'Any Plans as of Now' to Call Special Elections(NYO)
Board of Elections Seeks to Move Federal Primaries to June, Reducing Voters' Trips to the Polls
Cuomo
said that the state Legislature may look to reform the controversial
Common Core standards, but added that while he is monitoring the issue
it is not something he can control, Gannett Albany writes: *
The state Board of Elections agreed to propose the final Tuesday in
June as the date for federal, state, and local primary elections to
U.S. District Court Judge Gary Sharpe, who oversees the state’s
compliance with absentee ballot laws, the Times Union writes:
Federal Judge Approves June Primary Date(YNN)
As expected, U.S. District Court Judge Gary Sharpe on Thursday
designated the fourth Tuesday in June as the date to hold Congressional
primaries in New York.* * State Senate Democrats introduced a
bill moving state primaries from September to June to coincide with
federal primaries for Congress, saying it would save the state at least
$50 million and increase turnout, the Times Union writes: . * Nine spots in the state legislature
are set to be vacant when the legislative session begins Wednesday, and
there isn’t an indication if special elections will be called to fill
the seats, Gannett Albany reports: * The Times Union writes that moving state and local primaries to June
would save money, encourage better turnout and be an all-around win for
democracy. Special Elections
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I would advise him that we should. The problem is that by law we would miss the budget enactment and once the budget is enacted there isn’t a lot that would be considered between now and the end of the year.” – Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's decision of when to call special elections for vacant legislative seats, via State of Politics. * Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver called for special elections for vacant seats in the Legislature but added that the budget timeline should play a factor in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s timing on calling elections, State of Politics writes: http://bit.ly/1cX5npI
The Bronx is News Starved
The Bronx the Most News Deprived Borough Only 10.7% of the Voters Followed the 3 Papers Endorsements of Quinn
The Bronx's Newspapers Disconnect
In the borough of New York which received the most newspaper coverage 22.5% of the voters supported Quinn. Quinn received 15.6% citywide. Only 17.5% of the Bronx Democrats Voted. Citywide Turnout was 24%
Why Big Newspapers Skip the Bronx(City Limits) For Metro, there's a simple explanation: Fewer Bronxites have full-time jobs, the Bronx is the borough with the highest unemployment 12.2% wrote Wilf Maunoir, Metro's director of marketing, in an email. “Metro is 100 percent advertising funded,” he said. “As any advertising business, the demographic matters.” As a result, Metro distributes about 3,000 copies of its paper in the Bronx out of about 300,000 citywide. New York Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy would not say how many papers it sells in the Bronx, but suggested that stores there might not stock the paper “if there is no reader demand.” “This is a problem with advertiser funded media,” said Jim Naureckas, the editor of Extra!, which is published by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), a progressive media watchdog group. “It puts a skew in your media system towards people with more money and away from people with less money.” The median household income in the Bronx is about $35,000, compared to about $51,000 for all five boroughs, according to census data. The poor, meanwhile, are tuning out: people who make less than $30,000 a year read, watch, and listen to the news about 30 percent less than people who make at least $75,000, according to the Pew Research Center
More on NY's Journalism Disconnect
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Taxi
21 cabbies in tragic crashes, only 1 charged(NYP) A cabdriver who fatally struck a 9-year-old boy on the Upper West Side Friday was one of at least 21 hacks who have killed or injured pedestrians or cyclists in the city over the past five years — and only one appears to have been charged criminally.
More on NYC Taxis
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MTA
* In the Post, the Manhattan Institute’s Nicole Gelinas writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is overstepping his authority by directing the MTA to give Staten Island residents toll relief, and scolds the agency for failing to act independently:
Threats, porn, distracted driving: LIRR’s staff off the rails(NYP) Sexting while taking tickets on the Long Island Rail Road, threatening to “knock out” a fellow worker and using a video-game player while driving a train were just a few of the infractions committed by nearly 900 of the railroad’s workers in the last five years.* Feds Begin Process of Installing Cameras on Trains After Push From Schumer(NY1) * The Federal Railroad Administration will require cameras on trains to detect risky behavior that could lead to a crash like the one that killed four people in December on the Metro-North line, the Daily News reports:
For Drivers on Some City Bus Routes, Requesting the $2.50 Fare Can Be Dangerous(NYT) Unlike subway drivers who are shielded from passengers’ emotions by a thick metal door, many bus drivers are fully exposed to the moods of the fickle, and sometimes violent, New York City commuter.
More on the MTA
Last Hurrah
The Progressives , Unions and Working Families Party won the speakers position with Mark-Viverito. It may be all over for the Democratic party bosses. The city's GOP bosses died long ago kept alive by Bloomberg dollars and what every they can extort from the elected officials to get through the BOE toll gate The party bosses have like their partners at the city papers become disconnected from the city's voters.* Rise of the New Machines: Mayor and Labor Supplant County Organizations(NYO)
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Moreland, JCOPE Updates
The Moreland Commission has referred its findings about a Brooklyn charity with ties to New York politicians to U.S. Eastern District Attorney Loretta Lynch and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for potential prosecution
Lawyers For Moreland And Legislature Debate Over Briefs(YNN)
2 probes against ‘charity’(NYP) Cuomo’s commission to combat public corruption referred its investigative findings about Relief Resources Inc. — a Borough Park-based storefront charity that took in nearly $3 million in legislative grants but did not seem to provide many services — to US Eastern District Attorney Loretta Lynch and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for potential prosecution, sources close to the commission said. The group has received legislative grants from two heads of the state Senate — $250,000 from ex-GOP Majority Leader Joe Bruno and $300,000 from former Democratic leader Malcolm Smith, as well as backing from Brooklyn lawmakers Martin Golden and Simcha Felder. Bruno was convicted of fraud in 2009, but the case was overturned on appeal. Smith was indicted earlier this year for allegedly trying to bribe his way onto the Republican line for mayor.* One of the TU’s top stories of 2013: Public corruption scandals.*Albany Pro: Another JCOPE resignation(Capital) * Assemblyman Tony Jordan has dropped a challenge against a Moreland Commission subpoena requesting documents related to his law firm, making the firm the first to drop its subpoena challenge, Capital New York reports: * A move for transparency before JCOPE shuts its doors (Capital) * The state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics, long criticized by good-government groups for its closed-door sessions, is agreeing to open up a little bit.* Former A.I.G. executive Maurice “Hank” Greenberg has filed another ethics complaint with JCOPE against Schneiderman, this time accusing the AG’s top spokesmen of prejudicial public statements.* DavidGrandeau&Asoc @DaveGrandeau
Lovett announces appointment to JCOPE He is married to an Assembly staffer and is from New Jersey
Discord within JCOPE spilled into a public session in which some commissioners complained about recent secret meetings they felt violated state law and the board’s pledge for transparency.* A JCOPE commissioner called the body’s handling of exemptions to rules that require donor disclosures by nonprofit groups that engage in lobbying “an embarrassment.”
More on the Moreland Commission2 probes against ‘charity’(NYP) Cuomo’s commission to combat public corruption referred its investigative findings about Relief Resources Inc. — a Borough Park-based storefront charity that took in nearly $3 million in legislative grants but did not seem to provide many services — to US Eastern District Attorney Loretta Lynch and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for potential prosecution, sources close to the commission said. The group has received legislative grants from two heads of the state Senate — $250,000 from ex-GOP Majority Leader Joe Bruno and $300,000 from former Democratic leader Malcolm Smith, as well as backing from Brooklyn lawmakers Martin Golden and Simcha Felder. Bruno was convicted of fraud in 2009, but the case was overturned on appeal. Smith was indicted earlier this year for allegedly trying to bribe his way onto the Republican line for mayor.* One of the TU’s top stories of 2013: Public corruption scandals.*Albany Pro: Another JCOPE resignation(Capital) * Assemblyman Tony Jordan has dropped a challenge against a Moreland Commission subpoena requesting documents related to his law firm, making the firm the first to drop its subpoena challenge, Capital New York reports: * A move for transparency before JCOPE shuts its doors (Capital) * The state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics, long criticized by good-government groups for its closed-door sessions, is agreeing to open up a little bit.* Former A.I.G. executive Maurice “Hank” Greenberg has filed another ethics complaint with JCOPE against Schneiderman, this time accusing the AG’s top spokesmen of prejudicial public statements.* DavidGrandeau&Asoc
Discord within JCOPE spilled into a public session in which some commissioners complained about recent secret meetings they felt violated state law and the board’s pledge for transparency.* A JCOPE commissioner called the body’s handling of exemptions to rules that require donor disclosures by nonprofit groups that engage in lobbying “an embarrassment.”
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Environment
Electric company FirstEnergy agreed to work toward reducing carbon emissions after shareholders, including the New York State Pension Fund, pressured the company to do so, The New York Times writes:
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Gambling
Att New Yorkers: Casino Revenues Well Below What Was Promised To Voters http://bit.ly/1cqEvlr
* The state Senate approved Hobart and William and Smith Colleges President Mark Gaeran as the new chairman of the state Gaming Commission, the Times Union reports: http://goo.gl/CYrbkp
More on Gambling and lobbyists
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Fracking
More on Fracking
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Media
Week in Playback: Sochi games ends, Arizona veto, Twitter typos
Don Singleton, Reporter Whose Articles Delved Into Corruption, Dies at 77(NYT)Mr. Singleton, who worked for The Daily News in New York for four
decades, wrote about gamblers and tax evaders as well as corruption in
the Fire Department and its unions.
Via@DylanByers: The right loses its hero at CBS:(Politico)
Via
Recent News On the Media
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Washington
Scarborough: Dem's Defeat in Florida Sets Up ‘Historic’ 2010-like Midterm Rout (VIDEO) http://bit.ly/1fTpLfm
Political Moments of the Week (NBC)
Robert Gates: "I do not believe that Crimea will slip out of Russia's hand"(Politico)
Sunday Shows in 90 seconds(Politico)
Week in Review: Arizona veto, Washington lets loose(Politico)
Last 30 Days in Washington Coverage
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Law and Order
Brothers plead guilty in Orthodox Jewish divorce scandal: Two brothers from Brooklyn admitted in federal court...(WABC)
* De Blasio touted a reduction in crime during the early part of his tenure, with homicides down 21 percent from the same time period a year before and overall crime down 2 percent, the Daily News reports:
Listen up jaywalkers! The warning period is over, NYPD says(WPIX)
Investment banker, 48, shot dead in Queens: cops(NYDN)
Commissioner Bratton ordering massive shakeup of 100 NYPD supervisors. (DNAINFO)
Mayor touts the continued decline of crime stats: homicides down 21%, shootings down 14% from same time last year.
Checking Noise Complaint, Officers Stumble Upon a Heroin Mill(NYT)
Landscape contractor defrauds city for tree planting: workers(NYP)
Ground Zero mosque developer bills his own nonprofit for rent(NYP)
Charges dropped in ‘cantor extortion’ case(NYP)
Bloods gang member charged with shooting at ‘snitch’ cousin(NYP)
Plaintiff in Police Lawsuit Is Ordered to Pay New York City’s Legal Fees(NYT)
A young man who sued two officers and New York City claiming police
brutality was ordered to pay the city’s legal fees for making “obviously
fictitious allegations,” a judge wrote.
Judge Dismisses Charges Against Whistle-Blower in Sexual Abuse Case(NYT)
Samuel Kellner had been accused of trying to extort money from the
family of Baruch Lebovits, an accused molester, and bribing a young man
to testify falsely.
* Former candidate Kristin Davis, known
as the “Manhattan Madam” for allegedly providing hookers to former Gov.
Eliot Spitzer, could spend up to five years behind bars in a plea deal
on drug dealing charges, the Post reports: VIDEO: Man out cold with broken jaw in latest NYC 'knockout game' attack...
Terrorism
At Trial of Bin Laden Relative, Witness Describes Meeting 9/11 Mastermind (NYT)Convicted Terrorist Continues Testimony in Trial of Alleged bin Laden Spokesman (NY1)
Jury Selection Begins at Trial of Bin Laden’s Son-in-Law(NYT)
Effort to Delay Terror Trial of a Bin Laden Relative Fails(NYT)
NY Jury Selection Starts For Bin Laden Son-In-Law (NPR)
The trial of Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law begins(NYP)
Witness Says Defendant Spoke to Qaeda Trainees(NYT)
Shoe-Bomb Plot Revisited at Trial of Bin Laden Relative(NYT)
The terrorism trial of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith will not be delayed despite a
claim by his lawyers that authorities may have mixed him up with a
detainee at Guantánamo Bay with a similar name.
Kick the Independence Party off the ballot - Editorial - Newsday http://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial-kick-the-independence-party-off-the-ballot-1.7308221 …
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