Daily News Says Albany Failed the Teacher Evaluation Test
Cuomo and state lawmakers reach a deal on a short-term change to the teacher evaluation law through 2015 that would give poorly rated instructors two ratings—one under the current system, and a new "safety net" rating that excludes the Common Core test scores—and parents will see both, The Wall Street Journal reports: * The president of NYSUT—the statewide teachers union—backed Cuomo’s proposal to delay the impacts of Common Core testing on teacher evaluations, referring to the move as a “pause button,” State of Politics reports: New York is poised to become the latest state to allow medical marijuana, but with a ban on smoking as well as a “fail safe” option that allows the governor to pull the plug based on recommendations from health and law enforcement officials.* NYSUT Backs Evaluation ‘Pause Button’(YNN)* Albany OKs Common Core reprieve for low-rated teachers(NYP)* * The Daily News writes that local tests are set to be the only objective measure in the new teacher evaluation system, meaning a heavy burden will fall on de Blasio and schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña to distinguish the best from the worst:*Teacher Contract Teacher Contract Change Is Altering Schools’ Hours(NYT) Because of changes in the new teachers’ contract, a number of schools are moving up the start of the-school day, and more than a few parents are not happy about it.*Failing the evaluation test (NYDN Ed) Albany retreats from rigor in measuring teacher performance*Less School Hours Because the new New York City teachers’ contract requires that time be spent on professional development and communication with parents, some schools are moving up the start and end of their school day, The New York Times writes
Daily News UFT Advance Group Blinders Led to the Pause Button in Teacher Evaluation
If the Daily News is So Worried About Delays in Teacher Evaluations The Must Looking into the Power of the UFT to Control Elections and What They Did to Win Counicl Races In 2013
Daily News No Right to Cry
The Advance Group also faces a CFB probe into an outside-spending campaign the firm ran on behalf of the United Federation of Teachers under the name "Strategic Consultants, Inc.," and separately, NYCLASS gave donations to the anti-Quinn efforts far above state-imposed limits.United Federation of Teachers' super PAC had paid more than $370,000 to a fictitious political consulting firm "Strategic Consultants Inc.," which was actually the well-known Manhattan consulting firm the Advance Group. Advance Group puts logo on phony firm's invoice( CrainsNY)* The advance group got paid $28,000 by gay city council candidate Yetta Kurland at the same time the firm work for the City Action Coalition PAC, which on its website touts itself as supporting candidates who oppose gay marriage and abortion rights.Advance was on both side of the Kurland race. The firm also secretly worked to have been promot Johnson’s candidacy through an IE paid for by the UFT via a company called Strategic Consultants—apparently a dummy shell corporation set up to obscure the Advance Group’s double-dealing. "Questions Raised Over U.F.T. Campaign Filing" [Beth Fertig]* * UFT under fire for apparently trying to hide identity of consulting firm(NYDN)
A New York Civics Lesson: Even the Councilman Don't Vote
de Blasio Declares WFP War Against IDC-GOP Power Sharing
WFP Primary Against Savino?
MTA board member Allen Cappelli has started circulating petitions to launch a Democratic primary against Sen. Diane Savino, but says he’s not yet definitely in or out.* Mayor de Blasio mobilizes left-leaning supporters in Working Families Party to elect Democratic state Senate in November(NYDN)*
Cuomo Dances About IDC Furture * Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a Capitol Pressroom radio interview that the results of this legislative session have led him to conclude that the state Senate's current governing coalition is a “failure,” but he stopped short of saying he will campaign for Democrats across the board, Capital New York reports: * In a Q&A with The Wall Street Journal, Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, leader of the minority conference mainline Senate Democrats, discusses power-sharing in Albany:
25 MPH Mayor de Blasio's bid to lower city speed limit to 25 mph approved by state lawmakers(NYDN)PEED LIMIT REDUCTION, AFTER SOME DRAMA: It hit a political snag on Wednesday, but a bill backed by Mayor Bill de Blasio that would allow the Department of Transportation to reduce the city’s speed limit to 25 miles per hour passed the Legislature late Thursday. It had to maneuver around Staten Island Sen. Andrew Lanza, who pushed to use it as leverage for a bill that would have put stop signs around schools. In the end Senate I.D.C. Leader Jeff Klein was able to push the bill to the floor over Lanza’s objections. * Cuomo also told listeners that he was thrilled with the last-minute legislative accomplishments of the Assembly and the Senate, moments before declaring the flouted effort to pass campaign finance reform “a failure,” the Observer reports:
IDC Dem Senate Power Sharing Talks GOP Out Says the NYP
Breakaway Senate Dems to end power-sharing with GOP(NYP)
* State Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein denied there are ongoing discussions about re-unifying his group of five dissident Democrats with the Senate’s mainline conference, the Daily News reports: * Senate co-Leader Jeffrey Klein denied there are ongoing discussions about re-unifying his conference of five dissident Democrats with the Senate’s mainline Dems.* ALBANY SESSION SLIDES INTO FRIDAY: Negotiations over a series of issues—most notably medicinal marijuana—continued during what’s expected to be the final week of the state legislative session, but several key sticking points remain unresolved Governor Andrew Cuomo went on the radio to announce he wouldn’t sign a medicinal marijuana bill in its current form, then met with its legislative sponsors. They said they were optimistic leaving the meeting.* IDC member David Carlucci, who may be facing a primary challenge, is seeking campaign workers.
City Budget Agreement - Hugs and Kisses and . . .
Since NYC Grew Out of New Amsterdam the City Has Had Over 350 Budgets, Yesterday Budget Makers Think They Made History?
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and de Blasio seal a budget deal with a hug and a kiss. Via @GloriaPazmino:
NEW YORK CITY HAS A BUDGET -- Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced an on-time, $75 billion budget that includes increased funding for Rikers Island, safety initiatives at NYCHA, and free school lunch for all middle school students as part of a pilot program. The mayor however, did not concede to the council’s request for 1,000 additional cops. Capital’s Sally Goldenberg and Gloria Pazmino report: * Bill de Blasio and City Council Share the Love With Budget Deal(NYO)
-- 200 cops, not 1,000 -- The New York City Police Department will pull police officers currently working desk jobs to put them back on the beat. The move will only cost the city $6 million, instead of the projected $94.3 to pay for 1,000 cops. Despite the news, Mark Viverito still hailed it as a win: "It is a true victory for all our communities who are going to see these additional personnel in our local precincts," Mark-Viverito said.
-- Libraries take hit (sort of) -- Neither side mentioned the request for approximately $65 million to add to the budget of the city's public libraries, but when asked, de Blasio acknowledged that libraries were not given enough additional resources to provide six-day service for all branches in the city. The lack of funding means some libraries will not be able to open a sixth day and others will not be able to meet hiring needs. Libraries committee chairman Jimmy Van Bramer said the baselined library budget was a “step in the right direction.
-- Pilot lunch program for now: De Blasio cited concern over federal funding dollars as the reason for not implementing free universal school lunch. For now, the city said it will test the waters by launching a pilot program to provide free lunch for middle schoolers as soon as this september at a cost of $6.25 million.
When Brooklyn Merged With Manhattan No Hugs and Kisses
The mayor and City Council announced an agreement Thursday night on a $75 billion budget deal, the first of the de Blasio administration.
The budget was approximately $1 billion more than preliminary budget, which was set at $73.9 billion.
The City Council had asked for 1,000 new police officers, but the deal will put 200 officers who are behind desks back on the streets, with 200 civilians hired to back-fill those positions.
The Council had also asked for free lunch for all city students, but the deal includes free lunch for all middle-school students. The deal also includes cash to keep 57 New York City Housing Authority community centers open. Member items for the City Council are still in the budget, though the mayor had said during his campaign that he wanted to get rid of them.* Mayor de Blasio, City Council announced on-time $75 billion budget(NYDN)* City officials reach a deal on $75B budget(NYP)* IT'S A DEAL: Mayor de Blasio, City Council agree to $75 billion budget giving middle-schoolers free lunch, adding 200 cops * The City Council extracted almost $33 million in funding to combat violence and mental illness at Rikers Island—the largest dollar figure attached to any priority in the $75 billion budget agreement from last night, the Observer reports:
Pols Focus On Minimum Wage As Good Paying Jobs Flee the City
Green Taxis Go Go Go
NYCLASS TYPE Dirty Tricks In Rangel Race
NY1/Siena Poll: Rangel Has 13 Percentage-Point Lead Over Espaillat
Rangel has comfortable 13-point lead in congressional primary(NYP)* Rebukes Aside, Rangel Heads Into Primary With Hefty Lead, Poll Shows(NYT)* The Survivor: Adriano Espaillat Hustles to His Congressional Dream((NYO)* Rangel leading Espaillat by 13 points: poll(NYDN) *Gonzalez: Rangel, Espaillat's Democratic primary needs more interpreters working the polls(NYDN) * Roughly 9,000 registered Democrats
from the Bronx will have the opportunity to vote in two of the
most-watched Democratic primaries in the state this year—the 13th
congressional district and 34th state Senate district primaries, Gotham Gazette writes: * Tish James Endorses Charlie Rangel Over Adriano Espaillat(NYO) * Why 2014 might be different for Espaillat(Capital)
NY-13 COUNTDOWN -- 4 days to the primary:
--Poll: Rangel widens lead over Espaillat — Capital’s Azi Paybarah: Rep. Charlie Rangel’s lead over challenger Adriano Espaillat has grown, from 9 points in May to 13 points, according to an NY1/Siena College Poll of likely Democratic voters released Thursday evening. According to the poll, Rangel leads Espaillat 47 percent to 34 percent, with Rev. Michael Walrond, a first-time candidate, at 7 percent in the race for the 13th Congressional District seat.The poll shows a deep divide along racial lines. Among black voters, Rangel leads Espaillat by 70 percentage points.— The biggest shift has been among white voters, who favor Rangel 43 percent to 38 percent. In May, white voters were split nearly evenly, with 35 percent supporting Rangel and 36 percent supporting Espaillat. The poll: http://bit.ly/USrolu -- Attack the pollsters -- ‘Fact Sheet’ on Siena polling, via Espaillat’s campaign: “The credibility of the Siena Research Institute’s Polling data defies credibility … they have conveyed blatant misinformation that came nowhere near predicting actual Election Night results. Even Siena knows it. … It is clear that when it comes to Siena, you cannot take the numbers at face value.” http://bit.ly/1jCtgUK —What’s really at stake — New York mag’s Chris Smith: The winner gets to “be in the political minority, stuck in a House ruled by the right-of-center Republicans.” For pols not on the ballot, like Assemblyman Keith Wright of Harlem, there’s a chance to fill the void that a Rangel defeat will create among the old-guard black establishment. Whether Espaillat wins, his supporter—Council Speaker Mark-Viverito—gets to solidify support in her East Harlem district, where she has faced strong opposition and narrowly won re-election last year. --Choose your news — CBS: “Espaillat Appears Poised To Give Rep. Rangel Trouble In Next Week’s Primary” http://cbsloc.al/1uHXxqC Post: “Rangel has comfortable 13-point lead in congressional primary” http://bit.ly/TcfLVj Observer: “Charles Rangel Leads Adriano Espaillat by Whopping 13 Points” http://bit.ly/1nRVqiS
Tag Team Vote Splitters' NY-13 COUNTDOWN -- 4 days to the primary:
--Poll: Rangel widens lead over Espaillat — Capital’s Azi Paybarah: Rep. Charlie Rangel’s lead over challenger Adriano Espaillat has grown, from 9 points in May to 13 points, according to an NY1/Siena College Poll of likely Democratic voters released Thursday evening. According to the poll, Rangel leads Espaillat 47 percent to 34 percent, with Rev. Michael Walrond, a first-time candidate, at 7 percent in the race for the 13th Congressional District seat.The poll shows a deep divide along racial lines. Among black voters, Rangel leads Espaillat by 70 percentage points.— The biggest shift has been among white voters, who favor Rangel 43 percent to 38 percent. In May, white voters were split nearly evenly, with 35 percent supporting Rangel and 36 percent supporting Espaillat. The poll: http://bit.ly/USrolu -- Attack the pollsters -- ‘Fact Sheet’ on Siena polling, via Espaillat’s campaign: “The credibility of the Siena Research Institute’s Polling data defies credibility … they have conveyed blatant misinformation that came nowhere near predicting actual Election Night results. Even Siena knows it. … It is clear that when it comes to Siena, you cannot take the numbers at face value.” http://bit.ly/1jCtgUK —What’s really at stake — New York mag’s Chris Smith: The winner gets to “be in the political minority, stuck in a House ruled by the right-of-center Republicans.” For pols not on the ballot, like Assemblyman Keith Wright of Harlem, there’s a chance to fill the void that a Rangel defeat will create among the old-guard black establishment. Whether Espaillat wins, his supporter—Council Speaker Mark-Viverito—gets to solidify support in her East Harlem district, where she has faced strong opposition and narrowly won re-election last year. --Choose your news — CBS: “Espaillat Appears Poised To Give Rep. Rangel Trouble In Next Week’s Primary” http://cbsloc.al/1uHXxqC Post: “Rangel has comfortable 13-point lead in congressional primary” http://bit.ly/TcfLVj Observer: “Charles Rangel Leads Adriano Espaillat by Whopping 13 Points” http://bit.ly/1nRVqiS
Race for Rangel seat in an uproar: Rangel blamed for inflammatory fliers - which were sent by another candidate The race for Rep. Charles Rangel’s seat was in an uproar Wednesday over flyers that falsely warned tenants a vote for State Sen. Adriano Espaillat could lead to their eviction.Espaillat’s campaign immediately blamed the flyers — printed to look like eviction notices — on Rangel. Rangel “is up to his dirty tricks, sending out fake EVICTION NOTICES to residents of #NY13,” campaign strategist Lis Smith tweeted. “Disgusting tactic, not exactly sign of confidence.” But the campaign of a little-known candidate in the race – Yolanda Garcia – claimed it was behind the phony notices.“It’s me,” Richard Soto, the campaign manager for Garcia, told the Daily News, before hanging up the phone.* Rangel Slams Espaillat for Commuter Tax Vote in New Mailer(NYO)* * NY Magazine’s Chris Smith explores what’s at stake in the bitter primary battle for Rep. Charlie Rangel’s seat and how the political landscape could shift should state Sen. Adriano Espaillat win:
Sheinkopf The Corruption King Working for Rangel
"If Only Thompson Would Have Let Me Run the Campaign We Would Have Won"
Hank Sheinkopf Thompson Consultant
Rangel’s campaign in a statement said the poll’s results were an affirmation of his time in office representing the district. “From Norwood to Inwood to East Harlem and every community in between, there is strong, grassroots momentum for Congressman Rangel’s reelection from the voters of the 13th Congressional District,” said advisor Hank Sheinkopf. “While the Congressman is not taking anything for granted, this poll demonstrates that voters agree that we can’t afford to lose the experience, record and seniority Congressman Rangel brings to the table.”
NY-13 COUNTDOWN Harlem's Whites the Swing Vote? --5 days to the primary:
Who Will Be the Gentrification Congressman?
Whites, who hold an expected 25 percent of the vote
Courting Swing Vote in Harlem District: Whites(NYT)The jousting over white residents, who have poured into the greater Harlem area in recent years, underscores how gentrification and redistricting have altered the battle lines in a district long seen as a stronghold of black political power in New York.
Interesting to See If the New York Times Endorsement of Espaillat Pull A Lot of White Votes
Espaillat for Congress(NYT) It is time for a change in New York’s 13th Congressional District. The Times recommends Adriano Espaillat, a state senator, for the House seat
Times editorial: “Espaillat for Congress” – “After a humiliating censure by Congress four years ago for failing to pay taxes and other ethical lapses, Representative Charles Rangel has steadily lost power in Washington. After nearly 44 years in office, it is now time for him to yield to the next generation. In Tuesday’s Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District, we recommend Adriano Espaillat, a New York State senator, who will be a better representative of this district stretching from Upper Manhattan into parts of the Bronx. … It’s time for a change.”* Rep. Charles Rangel is playing out an ancient American political tale, that of the old lion who refuses to leave the bush, The New York Times’ Michael Powell writes:
Rep. Charles Rangel listed his stock investment in PepsiCo to be worth between $15,001-$50,000 in 2013, something a public health lawyer called disgusting at a time when some in Harlem suffer from diet-related disease, the Daily News writes: * Also, BDB started to walk off stage as rangel was speaking at Sugar Hill last week. Maybe an accident but still.
--Why de Blasio is staying out of the race -- AP’s Jonathan Lemire: “After Rep. Charlie Rangel’s controversial statements about Adriano Espaillat’s race, de Blasio said he subsequently heard from Rangel, who assured him he would be ‘cautious with word choice going forward.’ Instead of being cautious, though, Rangel doubled down, telling an interviewer that his comments ‘had to be said.’ That infuriated de Blasio and furthered his resolve to not support Rangel.” http://bit.ly/Ucnpjh
--“What’s at Stake in the Nasty Charlie Rangel–Adriano Espaillat Rematch,” by Chris Smith in New York Mag: “It was bound to be bitter, this rematch between Charlie Rangel and Adriano Espaillat, two years after the ancient Harlem congressman hung onto his seat by 1,086 votes. But as a brutal final weekend of campaigning looms, leading into the Democratic primary vote on Tuesday, even some of the people getting paid to fight this battle have soured on it. ‘We knew it was going to be ugly and didn’t want to be at the center of it,’ says an operative for a labor union that is marshaling troops for one of the combatants. ‘I regret incredibly taking this race,’ a strategist on the opposite side says. ‘This campaign can’t be over soon enough.’ …
--“Charlie Rangel Really Might Lose This Time,” by Josh Robin in BuzzFeed: “When he’s in charge, Charlie Rangel charms. The Harlem Democrat, longtime dean of New York City’s congressional delegation, calls order at large meetings with piercing whistles, fingers in his mouth gym teacher style. ‘Hey gang!’ Rangel, 84, pipes in an old time uptown accent — part Barry White, part Groucho Marx (‘certain’ is pronounced ‘SOI-tan’). His pompadour glistens.
“But when Rangel is threatened, out comes his scowls — and these days you can often see those thick eyebrows narrowing. He could lose the seat he’s held since John Lennon and Yoko Ono played the Apollo Theater. And it may hinge on Rangel’s own derisive remarks about an opponent’s ethnicity. ‘Just what the heck has he done besides saying he’s a Dominican?’ the 22-term congressman asked at the first televised debate June 6.” http://goo.gl/82BBvf
-- El Diario endorsed Adriano Espaillat: A win over Rep. Charlie Rangel “would consolidate the new Latino political leadership” in the city. The editorial page made no reference to the other candidates in the race, Rev. Michael Walrond or Yolanda Garcia. http://bit.ly/1nNV8ts
-- The New York Observer endorsed Espaillat: “Rangel has shown few signs that he understands the issues that his new constituents face. Mr. Espaillat, on the other hand, is a native of the Dominican Republic. …Rangel’s campaign has been a disappointment, particularly when he charged that his opponent wanted to be ‘the Jackie Robinson of the Dominicans in Congress.’” http://bit.ly/1iFqpdB
-- Flashback, May 2012: “Espaillat likes to talk about his election as ‘a Jackie Robinson moment’ for the Dominican community” http://bit.ly/1r4u75G
--Trumped -- Espaillat attacked Rangel for seeking money from Donald Trump (whose son-in-law owns the Observer): http://bit.ly/1iFHBQ5
GOTV Posters Going Up
Wednesday
Censured Rep. courted Trump to bolster Rangel Center fund(NYP) * Rangel Makes Personal Pitch For Contributions(YNN)* Rangel Camp Calls Espaillat False Eviction Notice Claim ‘Unconscionable’ * Espaillat camp slams Rangel for ‘trying to suppress Hispanic vote’(NYP)* The discord between (the Rev. Michael) Walrond and Rangel, between new Harlem and old Harlem, is punctuated by the absence of Bill Lynch Jr….who died last August.”
.
Settlement Reach for Central Park 5 in the Jogger Case
Albany Heroin Deal Close? Medical Marijuana Deal Done
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Senate Approves Medical Marijuana(YNN) Senate passed a bill 49-10 allowing the drug in non-smokeable form, Gannett Albany reports
While some medical marijuana
advocates are grateful that a program is finally coming, the program
will begin to dispense marijuana no sooner than the end of 2015, the
Times Union reports: *Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders announced a deal on a package of legislation to combat heroin abuse, which could be the last major legislation to pass this session, State of Politics writes: * New York Legislature Reaches Deal on More Laws to Fight Heroin Problem(NYT)* Deal Struck in Albany on Tackling Heroin Surge(WSJ)* * Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders struck an agreement on a medical marijuana bill that will make certain forms of the drug available to patients with a limited range of diseases, The Wall Street Journal reports * A Medical Marijuana Deal, With A Gubernatorial ‘Fail Safe’ * New York Leaders Reach Deal on Medical Marijuana(NYT) The agreement includes a major demand of the Cuomo administration: that
no smoking of the drug would be permitted, though other options would
be.*End of Session Legislature Closes Session With a Flurry of Activity(NYT) Mental Health * Cuomo and legislators reached an
agreement to set up services for residents and clients of the Office for
Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
before they close, avoiding the need for a bill to delay closures and
downsizings, the Times Union writes: * The Daily News writes that New York is moving far more carefully than other states that have legalized medical marijuana, thanks to Cuomo’s cautious leadership:WHAT THE MARIJUANA DEAL MEANS—Capital’s Jimmy Vielkind and Laura Nahmias: Andrew
Cuomo insists his support for medicinal marijuana wasn't an evolution,
but a win. “Last year, I didn't support medical marijuana because it has
never been discussed with these kind of protections, and I was totally
against setting up a system that could have unintended consequences,”
the governor said during an afternoon press conference to explain and brag about the bill. It was as close to big end-of-session announcement as he’ll get this time around.The unfinished progressive priorities Cuomo set for himself
after negotiating the state budget and in the State of the State were
mere afterthoughts in the last week, when lawmakers instead focused on
some lower-hanging fruit. Cuomo aides only began serious talks on heroin
after Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Dick Gottfried reconciled their bills,raising
the possibility a measure in which he had no hand—and therefore could
not claim credit for—might find its way to his desk. (He pulled a
similar play on heroin, which had been the subject of months of legislative hearings
and only recently rose to Cuomo's lips.) Instead, the governor laid a
series of conditions some believe were designed to actually kill the
measure.
In the end, legislators came around and Cuomo was able to return to his basic getting-things-done narrative. In doing so, Cuomo has gone back to the center after a flirtation with the left flank that culminated at the Working Families Party nominating convention, when he promised to help Democrats win the State Senate -- The final marijuana bill expires after seven years,
contains a “shut-off” valve that would let Cuomo suspend the program and
does not allow marijuana in a smokable form. http://bit.ly/1l9EYuJ.
Stringer Finally Gets Around to Clarence Norman's Contract
Revenge for Norman Friends Support for Stringer Opponent Spitzer?
Vito Lopez: The Afterlife of A Pig Makes Some Top Pols Scared
Election Bringer Up Wonderful Issues That Have Been Swept Under the Rug
AG to Force Vito Lopez to Pay Up
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is preparing to take action against former Assemblyman Vito Lopez to force him to pay the $330,000 fine levied against him by the Legislative Ethics Committee, the Daily News reports: * State Pressing Lopez to Pay Ethics Fine(NYT) The office of Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said on Wednesday that it would seek payment of $330,000 from former State Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez after he failed to pay a fine from a sexual harassment scandal.* Ex-Assemblyman Vito Lopez refuses to pay $330G fine for sexually harassing female staff members(NYDN)
Judge Says Silver Failed to Prevent Vito Lopez From Sexually Harassing Female Staffers
Courts Rule Against Silver, Then He Moves Against Kellner
Saturday Update
Slippery Silver (NYDNEd)
Assembly speaker makes a mess of sexual harassment enforcement
Silver: New Harassment Policy Completed(YNN)* Silver Slaps Kellner Again(YNN) * Kellner Blasts Silver’s Latest Penalties, Denies New Allegations(YNN) * Sheldon Silver closing Micah Kellner’s district offices(NYP) * Vito Lopez accusers can go after Silver: judge(NYP) * Assemblyman Kellner Ordered to Shut Offices(WSJ)
A Manhattan federal judge ruled that a lawsuit claiming Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver failed to prevent Assemblyman Vito Lopez from sexually harassing female staffers can move forward State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver lost his bid to scuttle a lawsuit that claims he failed to prevent an assemblyman from molesting female staffers. Victoria Burhans and Chloe Rivera, who say they were sexually harassed by former state Assemblyman Vito Lopez, allege Silver “created a de facto policy or custom in which sexual harassment by senior officials . . . was tolerated or condoned” and “personally assisted Lopez” by acting “deliberately indifferent” to the Brooklyn Democrat’s pervy misconduct.The Woman of Albany Push Woman Agenda While Ignoring Silver's Sexual Abuse Hush Fund
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis makes the case for the Assembly to pass the nine noncontroversial parts of the Women’s Agenda, saying to not do so before the end of session would “fail” women, in an op-ed in City & State: * City and State Called Silver A Loser of the Week Because A federal judge ruled this week that a case could move forward to determine the Speaker's responsibility for Women Who Were Sexual Harassment by Former Assemblyman Vito Lopez
Albany's Women Pink Wall of Silence
What About Hush Fund Silver?
Dozens of women’s rights activists are also coming to the State Capitol to push for the passage of some of Gov. Cuomo’s 10-point women’s equity package. The Senate has refused to pass the entire package because one bill would strengthen the state’s abortion rights laws. But the Senate has passed individual pieces of the package, something the Assembly has so far refused to do. Assemblywomen Amy Paulin and Aileen Gunther are pushing for individual bills to be taken up by their chamber, including one to crack down on human sex trafficking that has already passed the Senate. But so far, Assembly leadership has not budged.* The Daily News writes that Assembly Democrats should allow a vote on individual pieces of the Women’s Equality Act that are being pushed, one to crack down on sex trafficking and another to help exploited young people:
Albany Hush Fund Cover Up, Press Containment Timeline
AG Keeps Secret SKD Lobbyists Cunningham Work for His Office
SKD Worked With Red Horse for Antonio Reynoso Which Received Mailing From Red Horse PAC United for the Future
AG Eric Schneiderman’s office rejected a Crain’s FOIL request seeking emails between himself and his ex-wife, Jennifer Cunningham, who is also a powerful political consultant
More Campaign Finance Bull Shit From No Shame Albany
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders said Wednesday they are no longer pursuing a broad overhaul of New York state's campaign-finance laws. * Cuomo and legislative leaders said they are no longer seeking a broad overhaul of the state’s campaign-finance laws, and who is the reason they’re no longer looking to change the system depends on whom you ask
.
To Tell the Truth About Education Tax Credits
Thursday
Our incredible shrinking New York governor(NYP)
The Post writes that a
bill to offer tax credits to those who donate to private-school
scholarship funds or public-school programs appears dead, with Gov.
Andrew Cuomo apparently too weak to push it through:
Tuesday
Schools Albany refuses to help(NYP Ed)
Either Cuomo or Cardinal Timothy Dolan is lying when it comes to an education tax credit bill that was allegedly promised but not included in the state budget, the Post’s William McGurn writes:* .
Cuomo Campaign News Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino met with top ministers from Buffalo’s black community as he tries to court minority votes, something he had success in doing while running for Westchester County executive, The Buffalo News reports: * State Democrats Knock Astorino On Property Taxes(YNN)* * The state Democratic Committee released a TV ad knocking Westchester County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino for the county’s high property taxes, but Astorino’s spokesperson said they were high because of state-mandated costs, Gannett Albany reports: * State Democratic Chairman David Paterson characterized the attacks of Astorino’s consultant Bill O’Reilly against Skelos to be an escalation of a political war between “ultraconservative” and “moderate” Republicans, and said he is “betting on the Skelos moderates because this is New York and not Alabama,” the Daily News reports: * State Democratic Party Chair David Paterson seemingly came to the defense of the same Senate Republicans that Cuomo has said he is seeking to oust from leadership.* GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino says he’ll start airing TV ads soon. “Two-thirds of the state doesn’t know who I am yet. They will learn about us soon.”* * When Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino appeared to walk back his criticism of Senate Co-Leader Dean Skelos, former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino restored his less-than-enthusiastic support for Astorino, The Buffalo News reports:
The Albany Close Game
Deals Without Reading the Bills
NYS Sen. Malcolm Smith returns to chamber days after mistrial declared (NYDN)
OEM Head Resigns
Head of city's office of emergency management will resign
next week(NYDN) Joseph Bruno, who was appointed OEM commissioner in 2004, will
step down June 27, according to a Mayor de Blasio spokesperson. * New York City Office of Emergency
Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno resigned after staying
in office during the beginning of de Blasio’s tenure at the request of mayoral
aides, The New York Times reports:* * Questions were raised at a City Council
hearing as to whether the FDNY can handle a greater role in responding to gas
leaks, as mandated by Mayor Bill de Blasio, City & State writes:
UFT Campaign Power to Weak Teacher Evalutions Again
This Election Year All Those in Albany Running for Re-Election Will Do Flyers Stating Putting Children First
Leave all kids behind(NYP Ed) Maybe one day New York will have a meaningful way to fire lousy
public-school teachers. But plainly not in time for the kids now stuck
in their classrooms.
Because the message out of Albany is no one there is ready to do any such thing. On Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo said he was “cautiously optimistic” about a deal with lawmakers to delay or relax at least some parts of the teacher-evaluation law. UFT Over $300 Million in Fed Funding A federal education official who oversees Race to the Top implementation said if New York delays using student test scores as part of teacher evaluations it risks losing up to $292 million in funding, The Wall Street Journal writes: * The DOE plans to remove the 321 trailer classrooms across the city, but doesn't know where to put the students.* Cuomo is reportedly pushing a new, two-tiered “safety net” solution to the thorny problem of how to fix teacher evaluations in light of widespread anxiety about Common Core test scores.* Numbers of after-school programs in public middle schools to shoot up next fall (NYDN)* * Cuomo said tweaking teacher evaluations to address concerns with the new Common Core standards remains a top priority in the final days of the legislative session, State of Politics reports: * State Education Commissioner John King said dropping Common Core-aligned test scores from teacher evaluations would endanger federal funding, and suggested easing or delaying consequences of the ratings for teachers, Capital New York reports
Because the message out of Albany is no one there is ready to do any such thing. On Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo said he was “cautiously optimistic” about a deal with lawmakers to delay or relax at least some parts of the teacher-evaluation law. UFT Over $300 Million in Fed Funding A federal education official who oversees Race to the Top implementation said if New York delays using student test scores as part of teacher evaluations it risks losing up to $292 million in funding, The Wall Street Journal writes: * The DOE plans to remove the 321 trailer classrooms across the city, but doesn't know where to put the students.* Cuomo is reportedly pushing a new, two-tiered “safety net” solution to the thorny problem of how to fix teacher evaluations in light of widespread anxiety about Common Core test scores.* Numbers of after-school programs in public middle schools to shoot up next fall (NYDN)* * Cuomo said tweaking teacher evaluations to address concerns with the new Common Core standards remains a top priority in the final days of the legislative session, State of Politics reports: * State Education Commissioner John King said dropping Common Core-aligned test scores from teacher evaluations would endanger federal funding, and suggested easing or delaying consequences of the ratings for teachers, Capital New York reports
School's Boss Farina Protects Gifted Programs and Common Core
Schools Chief Vows to Preserve Number of Gifted Programs and Their Exams(NYT)
Some advocates had hoped Chancellor Carmen Fariña would overhaul the gifted programs, which they see as a critical front in the effort to reduce inequality in the school system.* * Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced another layer of reform to the education system by securing funding for 40 community schools to open during the 2014-15 school year, City & State reports:
Daily News Keep Common Core Stick to core values (NYDN Ed) With unions raising a stink about the remote possibility that a tiny fraction of classroom educators might lose their jobs for failing kids, Gov. Cuomo and Albany legislators are poised to hit pause on using results on Common Core tests as one piece of teacher evaluations. That would be a big mistake.The Daily News writes that a proposal to pause the use of Common Core tests as one piece of teacher evaluations is nothing but a two-year break from true accountability, with a push to permanently decouple meaningful measures of student learning from evaluations sure to follow Teacher Evaluations Cuomo Releases Teacher Evaluation Adjustment Bill(YNN)
6 Months de Blasio Still Key Vacancies
Six months in, de Blasio deals with key vacancies Capital)
Feds Join Investigation of Hynes
Before the Feds Got Involved True News Said:
No Word On Who if Any Prosecutor Will Bring Any Criminal Charges Against the Former DA
No Word On Who if Any Prosecutor Will Bring Any Criminal Charges Against the Former DA
True News Wags the Feds?
Feds join Charles Hynes probe (NYP)
The feds have already interviewed two DA detective investigators who, sources say, chauffeured Mortimer Matz — the political consultant at the center of the Hynes probe — to and from his Upper East Side home during the years he allegedly worked as Hynes’ personal political consultant.
“Matz only worked about three days a week but on those days a detective investigator would pick him up and drop him off,” a source said.* Assistant U.S. attorneys from New York’s Eastern District are coordinating with an investigation by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman into alleged misuse of funds by former Brooklyn district attorney Charles Hynes, The New York Times writes: * Feds subpoena investigator in alleged corruption probe of ex-DA Charles Hynes(NYDN) * EXCLUSIVE: Former Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes may have to testify about alleged money laundering(NYDN) Hynes has been grilled twice already in the $150 million lawsuit filed by Jabbar Collins, a Brooklyn man who served nearly 16 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. The embattled former DA is facing a third round of questioning in light of allegations that he may have looted public funds, the Daily News has learned.* Feds join investigation into possible fraud by former Brooklyn DA Charles J. Hynes. (Pro Publica)* Joe Hynes' dubious battle:
GOP Flack Say His Party Drops Democratic Opposition . . . Only Agenda is to Stay in Power
Go Along Bottom Feeders Fight to Save IDC GOP Ruling Coalition of the State Senate
As the Ragusa Wing of the Queens GOP Fight to Stay Out of Jail the Haggerty Family Takes Over the BOE
Board of Elections appoints Bart Haggerty second-in-command of Queens outpost(NYDN)Bart Haggerty, a longtime critic of the borough's party bosses, starts as deputy clerk of the Board of Elections Queens office late this month.
Will Ragusa's Nephew Lose His Double Dipping Job With ES&S?
Will A Rent Freeze Push Out More Mom and Pop Landlords?
Could the Rent Freeze Help Corporate Landlords and Airbnb?
Cash-strapped tenants and a parade of city politicians crowded into the Rent Guidelines Board hearing on Monday to rally for the first rent freeze for stabilized apartments. Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia James and Controller Scott Stringer all testified for an unprecedented freeze. “After years of consistent rent increases, I am pleased that this board - for the first time in its 46-year history - may enact a rent freeze,” said Stringer, the city’s chief fiscal watchdog.
From the Borough of Churchs to the Borough of Condos
Developers Closing Down Black and Hispanic Churches and Nobody Notices
Will Building A Speed Trap Make NY Safer . . . What About Heavy Jail for Illegal and Bad Drivers?
How the Papers Try to Define A Speaker Controlled By Lobbyists
Mistrial CBS 2: Judge declares mistrial in St. Sen. Malcolm Smith corruption case
Harroran to Continue Case Judges Agrees
The new trial for Smith and Tabone will begin in January. The jurors had only committed to stay with the case through late June and, because of their schedules, could not commit for another month, the judge said. A Westchester County judge on Tuesday declared a mistrial in the corruption case against Democratic Queens Sen. Malcolm Smith after four jurors needed to excused as the case was expected to continue for another month.*Mistrial means Malcolm Smith gets his wish: he can run for re-elex w/o specter of conviction * Mistrial declared Tuesday in the corruption case against state Sen ... New York Daily News * Mistrial declared in Malcolm Smith bribery case New York Post * Mistrial Declared in Malcolm Smith's Federal Bribery Case Wall Street Journal* Mistrial declared in Malcolm Smith bribery case(NYP) But another co-defendant, former Councilman Dan Halloran (D-Queens), was allowed to move ahead with his trial after his lawyer, Vinoo Varghese, argued that Halloran was “teetering on bankruptcy” and could not afford another courtroom go-round. The trial – which is now expected to conclude by mid-July — would have lasted much longer if Smith and Tabone also remained on trial. “I don’t want to retry this case,” the judge said. “Retrying this case is like putting on a wet bathing suit.” The government had contended it didn’t share the recordings on the grounds they weren’t relevant to the case, but defense lawyers argued the case might not have even made it to trial if they’d had all of the recordings early on to review and prepare a better defense. “I’m still running. It’s full steam ahead,” Comrie told The Post moments after the mistrial was declared. But Smith may turn the mistrial to his political benefit, claiming he was unfairly targeted. Both Smith and Halloran face up to 45 years behind bars if convicted, while Tabone faces 25 years in prison. * Mistrial Is Declared in Malcolm Smith Corruption Trial(NYT)*Smith now gets to seek re-election, and could try to turn the mistrial to his political benefit, saying he was unfairly targeted by the feds. Former NYC Councilman Leroy Comrie says his primary challenge to Smith is “full steam ahead.”
Met Council Former CFO 4 Months for Stealing 9 Million?
How Many Poor People in NY Go to Jail for 5 Years of Robbing A 711? A Tale Two Cities
New York - Former Met Council CFO Sentenced To 4 Months For Role In Stealing $9m In Kickback Scheme * Met Council's former chief financial officer sentenced for role in massive kickback scheme (NYDN) * Elderly city Jewish charity thief sentenced to 4 months in jail(NYP) A Manhattan judge Tuesday sentenced an elderly crony of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s close pal William Rapfogel to four months in jail for helping steal $9 million from the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.* Herbert Friedman, the former chief financial officer of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, was sentenced to pay $775,000 and serve four months in jail for his role in a kickback scheme that also ensnared former CEO William Rapfogel, the Journal reports:
Medical Marijuana Moves Close
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he wouldn’t sign a medical marijuana bill if it
reached his desk, despite new changes aimed at making it more amenable
to him, which include pairing down the list of diseases eligible for
treatment, Gannett Albany reports: *
State lawmakers huddled with Cuomo to discuss the medical marijuana
measure, but while the bill’s main sponsors emerged to say they had
productive talks with the governor on the issue, a deal remained
elusive, State of Politics reports: * Talks on Medical Marijuana Bill as Time Starts to Run Out in Albany(NYT)
Trial Shows NY's Pols Operate As A Organize Crime Gangs and Act Like Idiot
Daily News Calls It Dumb and Dummer Meets Goodfellows
Bada Bing Mayor Smith
The Daily News writes that it would be a pity if the federal corruption trial of state Sen. Malcolm Smith ends in a mistrial because the proceedings have painted a telling portrait of how New York politics work
Malcolm’s moishegas (NYDN Ed) Corruption trial exposes the ugly underbelly of New York politics. It’s a world where players bond in strip clubs and exchange envelopes of cash while casually discussing schemes to buy their way into City Hall. If it were a movie pitch, it would be “Goodfellas” meets “Dumb and Dumber.” Guilty or innocent of the crimes, we can convict the men of acting as comical caricatures. Smith bragged to an undercover FBI agent, for example, about how he put fellow senators “on the payroll” by donating to their campaigns before being elected majority leader in 2008. He joked about giving his corrupt backers the run of Gracie Mansion: “You pull this off, you can have the house,” Smith said. “I’ll be a tenant.”
Asked about his relationship with a Brooklyn GOP leader, Halloran quipped: “Look, I’ve been in a strip club with him with a naked woman on his lap — how close do I need to be?” He also referred to Tabone as “a f---ing whore” whose support could be easily bought. When an FBI agent testified about handing Tabone an envelope stuffed with $20,000 in a midtown steakhouse, his lawyer claimed he was too drunk to understand that he was being bribed — having knocked back “six or seven vodka tonics without eating.”Halloran, too, tried to float a last-minute excuse, that he wasn’t thinking straight as a result of previous brain surgery to remove a benign tumor — a transparent dodge that was shot down by Judge Kenneth Karas.
Smith Judge Mistrial Up to Jurors
Vey iz mir. In English, it’s been crazy enough
WHITE PLAINS — A federal judge will leave it up to jurors to determine whether to declare a mistrial in state Sen. Macolm Smith's corruption ..
U.S. District Judge
Kenneth Karas says he’ll poll jurors to see if they’re willing to stay
longer to resolve problems with secretly recorded conversations
prosecutors recently unveiled. Smith, a lifelong Democrat state senator
from Queens, is on trial with ex-City Councilman Dan Halloran and Queens
GOP chairman Vincent Tarbone over an alleged bribery scheme to put
Smith on the Republican ballot for mayor.
Mistrial motion weighed at Malcolm Smith's corruption trial The Journal News / Lohud.com * Judge to poll jurors in Malcolm Smith's corruption trial Newsday*Jurors will determine if Malcolm Smith case ends in mistrial(NYP) * “There are a lot of odd people, Yiddish-speaking oddballs or alleged Yiddish-speaking oddballs.”* Delay in Translating Recordings May Affect Jury Availability at State Senator’s Trial(NYT)\ Jurors at the trial of Malcolm A. Smith are being polled to find out if
they can serve longer while the defense team translates 28 hours of
Yiddish conversations from federal witness Moses Stern.* Judge Won't Dismiss Indictments In Malcolm Smith Case(WSJ)
Are the People Who Brooklyn Boss Seddio Helped to Make A Speaker Planning to Dump Him?
Liz Benjamin
@CTLi
Interesting, so@WorkingFamilies backing primary challengers to non-IDC Dems, too? Trying to oust Sen. Dilan.
Are the People Who Brooklyn Boss Seddio Helped to Make A Speaker Planning to Dump Him?
Seddio Ended the Speakers Race By Turning His Back on his Fellow County Bosses and Going With the Progressives. Now the Progressives are Running Candidates All Over Brooklyn
Mutiny on the Cannolis
Hunger Games Meets Tammany Hall
Working Families Party Backs Challenger to Martin Dillan * Latrice Walker—an aide to Rep. Yvette
Clarke with ties to Public Advocate Letitia James and disgraced
ex-Assemblyman William Boylan—has entered the fray for Boyland’s former
Brooklyn seat, the Observer reports: * De Blasio has refi ties to Dem boss key to Viverito bid | (NYP) *Brooklyn Dem Boss Seddio Wields Much Power at City Hall(Jewish Voice) * How Melissa Mark-Viverito Became Speaker -- NYMagBlasio managed to peel off Frank Seddio, the Brooklyn boss, and combine him with Mark-Viverito's progressive caucus backers in the council ...* The WFP has reportedly endorsed Democratic activist Debbie Medina in her primary challenge to six-term Brooklyn Sen. Martin Dilan.
Once he Took Over for Boss Lopez in 2012, Seddio Began Reaching Out to Reforms and Progressives . . . He Even Brought the Cannolis to the Reform Clubs That He Spoke At
True News: Seddio: Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis * Brooklyn's new Democratic boss is Frank Seddio (Brooklyn Paper)
You Will Never Forget Seddio the Face of the Person Who is Your Last Hope
You Will Never Forget Seddio the Face of the Person Who is Your Last Hope
Liz Benjamin
Interesting, so
The Only Real News New Yorkers Receive From Their Local TV News Are From the Commercials
Local News Makes Millions For Their Owners As They Ignore Investigative Reporting About Government and Politics
Local News which is mainly weather, traffic, cooking and dog segments is making millions in lobbyists spending.
Pay to Report Local TV
Spending on advertising has fueled the increase in TV lobbying costs. Well-funded special interests funnel millions to lobbyists for public campaigns to sway lawmakers on hot-button issues (TU) Local News which is mainly weather, traffic, cooking and dog segments is making millions in lobbyists spending. Union and business interest like the pro fracking interest are also spending millions on ads to local stations. All this money is coming in as local news dumbs down.
Cuomo Has Mastered the Art of Politics Through the TV Commerical
Cuomo Has Mastered the Art of Politics Through the TV Commerical
Cuomo and his supporters spent over $10 million last year to gain public support to push through his agenda. Union and business interest like the pro fracking interest are also spending millions on ads to local stations. All this money is coming in as local news dumbs down. It is not a secret that TV and radio stations rely on the local newspaper for most of their hard news. So those "rip and read" broadcasters have offered their views much less hard news as newspaper staffs shrivel amid the draconian layoffs caused by the internet and the recession? Local TV stations stand to profit from boom in super-PAC spending (The Hill)*CSNY’s budget blitz: $3.9 million (updated)(TU) *Save NY airing tax cap ad(TU) *Budget opponents up their ads and mailers(TU) *Bloomberg Blames Negative Ads For Poor Showing In Education ...(Politico) *Save NY now airs on school money(TU) *NYC's Bloomberg Pays for TV Ads Backing Cuomo's Pension * Bloomberg Defends His Administration With TV Ad - NY1.com * Local TV News For $ale: How Special Interests Control News Content and Public Opinion * Local TV stations stand to profit from boom in super-PAC spending (The Hill)*CSNY’s budget blitz: $3.9 million (updated)(TU) *Save NY airing tax cap ad(TU) *Budget opponents up their ads and mailers(TU) *Bloomberg Blames Negative Ads For Poor Showing In Education ...(Politico) *Save NY now airs on school money(TU) *NYC's Bloomberg Pays for TV Ads Backing Cuomo's Pension * Bloomberg Defends His Administration With TV Ad - NY1.com * Local TV News For $ale: How Special Interests Control News Content and Public Opinion
A Mayoral Candidate Talking Issues That the Media Ignored
.
Local TV News Has Become Wires and Lights in A Box
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
What Has Happen to the Watchdog of Government or Politics?
An explosion of online news sources in recent years has not produced a corresponding increase in reporting, particularly quality local reporting, a federal study of the media has found.Coverage of state governments and municipalities has receded at such an alarming pace that it has left government with more power than ever to set the agenda and have assertions unchallenged, concluded the study. “In many communities, we now face a shortage of local, professional, accountability reporting,” said the study, which was ordered by the Federal Communications Commission and written by Steven Waldman, a former journalist for Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. “The independent watchdog function that the Founding Fathers envisioned for journalism — going so far as to call it crucial to a healthy democracy — is in some cases at risk at the local level.
2014 Governors Race Supports Term Limits Nobody Notices
* A Siena poll shows that Gov. Andrew Cuomo still has a large lead over Republican challenger Rob Astorino, and a majority of voters are still in favor of a coalition-led Senate:* * Cuomo outlined a series of concerns and things he wants to see amended, including barring the smoking and sharing of marijuana, before he will sign legislation legalizing medicinal marijuana, the Daily News writes: * New York Republicans are set to start running an ad attacking Cuomo for his Start-Up NY ads that claim the state is experiencing an economic turnaround, the Daily News' Ken Lovett writes:
The poll also showed a majority of voters would prefer Cuomo to not involve himself in this year's state Senate elections, which could tip the balance of power in that chamber. Fifty-nine percent of voters surveyed said they liked the Republican-heavy bipartisan coalition that currently runs the state's upper house, and 53 percent said New York should stay the course. http://bit.ly/1p6KY8C *Astorino Slams Cuomo On Assessmen(YNN) * Cuomo Knocks Astorino Aide’s ‘Prison Punk’ Comment(NYO) * In Lawsuit, Independence Party Alleges Astorino Threatened to ‘Decapitate’ Leadership(NYO)* Astorino: Advisor Shouldn’t Have Called Skelos A ‘Prison Punk’(YNN) * Astorino fundraises on WFP endorsement of Cuomo as Independence Party accuses him of fraud* Astorino Email Fundraises On Cuomo’s WFP Endorsement(YNN) * The Westchester County Independence Party filed a lawsuit alleging that Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino last year tried to hijack the party rolls by coercing dozens of his staff, associates, friends and family to switch to the party, the Observer reports: * Senate GOP Versus Top Astorino Advisor(YNN) * It’s Getting Mean(YNN) A statement released under state Democratic Party Chairman David Paterson’s name on Tuesday blasted GOP candidate for governor Rob Astorino and even brought up the 20-year-old police corruption conviction of his father.* GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino’s advisor Bill O’Reilly continues to slam the Senate Republicans for their “surrender stance.” *Astorino said it was wrong of O’Reilly to compare Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos a “prison punk.”* The Westchester County Independence Party said in a federal lawsuit that Astorino threatened to “decapitate” its leadership in a bid to win its support as he ran for re-election last year.* .
Bill Hammond
Teachout Calls for A Summer of Democracy
-
metaphor. reality. Albany. “
@JimmyVielkind: Cuomo showed the legislative leaders a cake, but apparently took it away b4 they could taste it"* To celebrate Moody’s upgrading the state’s credit rating to its highest level in 50 years, Gov. Andrew Cuomo got legislative leaders a cake. -
@Azi@JimmyVielkind That's OK- they get plenty of cake.
Azi
Roger Stone
IDC Does the John Wayne, Who is Holding Them Up and Why?
Gentrification of Brooklyn Juries
Brooklyn ‘gentrification’ is changing juries who decide cases(NYP)
Brooklyn’s courthouses are being rocked by the “Williamsburg
Effect.” The influx of well-off and educated white people to trendy
neighborhoods such as Williamsburg is rapidly “gentrifying’’ the
borough’s jury pool...When Brooklyn juries gentrify, defendants lose(NYP)
.
New Law Boxes in the Mayor On Charter School Expansion
.
New Law Boxes in the Mayor On Charter School Expansion
The Success Academy Charters Schools group’s aim to double in size by
2016 forces Mayor Bill de Blasio to choose between two troublesome
options.A new state law
passed in April gives the city just two options to meet the demands of
the Success Academy network: It can hand over free space in public or
private buildings, or give the schools money to find their own space.
The first option has frequently led to angry protests from the parents
and teachers in schools that have to share space. The latter route would
come with spiraling financial costs, as well as potential political
ones, underscoring the new law’s unspoken aim: to get the administration
of Mayor Bill de Blasio to be more collegial to the charter school
sector.* New York City has just two options to
deal with Success Academy’s plan to double in size—give the charter
school network free space or give it money to find its own space—putting
the de Blasio administration in a tight spot* Farina Discovers Education Councils Not Working New York City Department of Education
Chancellor Carmen Fariña’s office has asked for the attendance records
of the city’s 33 community education councils, some of which reportedly
haven’t been able to conduct business because of large absences, the New York Post writes:
Skepticism in Business World of Progressive de Blasio
Mayor Bill de Blasio has tried to win favor from New York City’s corporate elite since coming into office, but he still encounters deep skepticism in the business world, The Wall Street Journal writes: “Mayor Bill de Blasio has tried to forge better ties with New York City's corporate elite in his first six months in office, but he still encounters deep skepticism in the business world, from small firms to Wall Street. Mr. de Blasio campaigned as a populist but since taking office has quietly courted the city's businesses, meeting with an array of executives in hopes of calming nerves. He has unveiled plans to decrease fines on small businesses, formed a task force to focus on jobs and proposed a city budget that doesn't raise property taxes. ‘We are on a much better path of late,’ said Viacom Inc. CEO Philippe Dauman, after a ‘challenging start’ between the mayor and the city's business leaders.”
Making History for a 3rd Time New Operator Found for LICH Hospital
The new deal over the future of the LICH may be confirmed, but it is much the same one reached in past
Fortis Property Group, which plans to replace Long Island College Hospital with luxury condos and an outpatient facility that includes an emergency room and clinics, has been chosen as the new developer for the institution, the Daily News reports * SEIU 1199, the powerful union representing workers at NYC’s private hospitals, has taken on a new fight: preserving free health care for its own members.* Hospital League head: 1199 contract threat 'misleading' and 'counterproductive'(Capital) * The mayor’s mouse — hapless hospital hijinx(NYP Ed) * Bill’s bitter pil(NYP) * The Post writes that the good news is the battle over the future of Long Island College Hospital is over, but the bad news is the deal is the same one reached before activists, judges and politicians made it their mission to prop up a bankrupt, unworkable facility:*
.@billdeblasio is happy with a LICH deal that all local elected officials deride. Hmm.(Capital) .@billdeblasio, local elected officials split over
More on Closing Hospitals, HHC, LICH
Skepticism in Business World of Progressive de Blasio
Mayor Bill de Blasio has tried to win favor from New York City’s corporate elite since coming into office, but he still encounters deep skepticism in the business world, The Wall Street Journal writes: “Mayor Bill de Blasio has tried to forge better ties with New York City's corporate elite in his first six months in office, but he still encounters deep skepticism in the business world, from small firms to Wall Street. Mr. de Blasio campaigned as a populist but since taking office has quietly courted the city's businesses, meeting with an array of executives in hopes of calming nerves. He has unveiled plans to decrease fines on small businesses, formed a task force to focus on jobs and proposed a city budget that doesn't raise property taxes. ‘We are on a much better path of late,’ said Viacom Inc. CEO Philippe Dauman, after a ‘challenging start’ between the mayor and the city's business leaders.”
Making History for a 3rd Time New Operator Found for LICH Hospital
The new deal over the future of the LICH may be confirmed, but it is much the same one reached in past
Fortis Property Group, which plans to replace Long Island College Hospital with luxury condos and an outpatient facility that includes an emergency room and clinics, has been chosen as the new developer for the institution, the Daily News reports * SEIU 1199, the powerful union representing workers at NYC’s private hospitals, has taken on a new fight: preserving free health care for its own members.* Hospital League head: 1199 contract threat 'misleading' and 'counterproductive'(Capital) * The mayor’s mouse — hapless hospital hijinx(NYP Ed) * Bill’s bitter pil(NYP) * The Post writes that the good news is the battle over the future of Long Island College Hospital is over, but the bad news is the deal is the same one reached before activists, judges and politicians made it their mission to prop up a bankrupt, unworkable facility:*
.
More on Closing Hospitals, HHC, LICH
The Lhota Crime Report Shows Increase in Shootings
JOE LHOTA
Albany Fund Raising Gone Wild
NYT Hides WFP Investigation
The NYT Reports on the Ending of the WFP Investigation in 2010 But Not the Opening of It Again in 2014
No Charges Against Working Families Party - NYTimes.com(2010)
WFP's Lawyers and Political Operatives Have Worked Hard to Stop the Data and Field Investigation
Only Staten Island Prosecutors Are Willing to Cross the WFP
Since 2009 Lawyer for WFP Have Been Trying With Much Success Stopping Investigations into Data and Field
Pol stonewalls suit on WFP campaign(NYP)A City Council hopeful won’t cough up documents related to whether
the Working Families Party is scamming the campaign finance system —
because the case could involve “criminal liability,” according to
documents released yesterday. The bombshell development was revealed at a court hearing where
lawyers for the WFP and the campaign of Staten Island candidate Debi
Rose tried to get a suit against them tossed.* No Charges Against Working Families Party - NYTimes.com * Who'll dare to probe the WFP? | New York(NYP)Like its ACORN partner, the WFP has responded to allegations by announcing an investigation of itself. With all respect to former Chief Judge Judith Kaye, whom the WFP tapped to lead the internal review, no one but an outside prosecutor will be able to hold the party accountable. On the local level, the best hope rests with Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan, a Republican. Spurred by an election lawsuit filed by Randy Mastro, a top aide in the Giuliani administration, Donovan’s office has “begun a preliminary review” of Debi Rose’s WFP-boosted campaign for City Council, say sources.Rose’s lawyer refused to provide documents requested by the Mastro suit, citing his client’s Fifth Amendment right to not implicate herself in a crime. The councilwoman-elect later insisted that the Fifth wasn’t her actual grounds for refusing to cooperate with the demand for records — but failed to give another reason.Among the local prosecutors, incoming Manhattan DA Cy Vance has the most resources and largest staff. But is he willing to provoke the outrage of organized labor? A case emerging with the other Democratic DAs isn’t promising. “I need a complaint,” says Brooklyn DA Joe Hynes, who was endorsed by the WFP. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who has been silent on the WFP matter, could open a civil case against the party’s shell corporation. And, under a statute that has been used in rare circumstances, the attorney general may ask the governor for the power to criminally prosecute abuses of election law. Aspiring to be a more radical version of Boss Tweed, the WFP is an election or two away from becoming too powerful to stop. The choice facing Democrats and prosecutors is reminiscent of that line from “The Untouchables”: “Mr. Ness, everybody knows where the booze is. The problem isn’t finding it; the problem is who wants to cross Capone.”
More About WFP Data and Field
WFP, Acorn 2.0 and the New Progressive Machine
de Blasio's Park Slope Goes Nation Wide
“De Blasio, after six months in office, has managed to shift the
political polarity of the city and the state. So why stop there? The
mayor has always aspired to lead not just a city but a progressive
movement, and de Blasio’s bid to bring the 2016 Democratic National
Convention to New York is a signal of his ambitions. … [But] De Blasio
is as much realist as lefty idealist. Brooklyn is not exactly the
front-runner for the convention, and Hillary Clinton is not Andrew
Cuomo. But they share an instinctual preference for the pragmatic
political center and a coziness with big-money interests—traits that
produce a common tension with the increasingly leftish Democratic Party
base.” *The
world was a beautiful place as Bill de Blasio folded himself into the
front passenger seat of a black SUV. The late-afternoon sun was shining
on Park Slope, and a grand political breakthrough was within reach.
Sure, it had been a complicated few weeks as Governor Andrew Cuomo and
the Working Families Party, bitter codependents, tried to agree on a
deal that would give Cuomo the WFP’s ballot line this fall in exchange
for the governor’s publicly pledging to get behind a progressive policy
agenda. Now, though, thanks in part to de Blasio’s mediation, a
compromise was falling into place. He left Brooklyn for the drive north
to bless the grudging bargain at the WFP’s convention in Albany.
Is Queens Boss Crowley Dumping Parkside As His Go to Consultant?
Or is there an Merger of the Organized Crime Political Consultant Lobbyists Families, Advance and Parkside?
More About Corrupt Parkside
More About Corrupt Advance
Sunday DN and NYP Attack the Mayors on Rent and Teachers
Daily News Bangs Rent Guidelines Board for Rent Freeze
Zero tolerance for zero(NYDN Ed) Candidate Bill de Blasio’s call for freezing rents on New York’s 1 million rent-stabilized apartments is chilling reason at the city’s Rent Guidelines Board. Now stocked with Mayor de Blasio appointees, the panel is set to vote this month on how much to allow rents to rise. A freeze makes for perfect politics — and abysmal economics.* More than half a dozen City Council members will speak out Monday afternoon in favor of freezing rents for the nearly one million New Yorkers who live in rent-regulated housing, Capital New York reports:*Rent-stabilized tenants may face lowest hikes in nearly 50 years(NYP) * Tenants push for rent freeze(NYDN)* amNewYork writes that freezing rent-regulated units would establish a terrible precedent, one that could lead to poor maintenance and a deteriorated housing supply if political grandstanding dictates the ability of landlords to meet their costs instead of the market:
NYP Bangs Teacher Tenure and UFT Contract
NYC’s school racket(NYP Ed) Who said New York City’s schools are broken? Truth is, they’re working just fine — at least for the people they’re really designed to serve: their employees. A recent report by the Citizens Budget Commission makes that all too clear. Indeed, when it comes to fringe benefits, it suggests New York City’s teachers are treated better than almost everyone. Better not only than the average Joe in the private sector, but better than other teachers across the country. * Tenured teachers: They cheat, they loaf … they can’t be fired(NYP)* The Times Union writes that a California judge’s ruling to strike down a provision that allows for tenure may go too far, but it underscores the need for better teacher accountability: Religion and Pre-K The Daily News writes that the NYCLU’s objections to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s universal prekindergarten program allowing religious organizations to participate are predictable and overwrought: * The Daily News writes that the state Legislature and governor must act on a proposal backed by some New York City Catholics, schools, yeshivas, labor unions and civic groups to create a special tax break for charitable donations to education: *Common Core A Times Union/Siena Research Institute poll released over the weekend shows New Yorkers think the new Common Core standards were rushed and confusing, the Times Union writes:
* The Times chronicles 9-year-old Chrispin Alcindor’s struggles with new Common Core standards, which critics say are overly difficult but others say challenge students to become better thinkers:
In A State Were Corrupt Pols Avoid Charges For Their Crimes They Committee the Same Crimes Over and Over
Flashback the AEG Deal
Albany's Gambling Pay to Play Payoff Gov. David Paterson's advisor, , was overheard giving the governor "sensitive advice" and disparaging AG Andrew Cuomo on speakerphone on a crowded train to Washington A meeting was arranged by Harlem political consultant, who apparently spoke to the governor, on speakerphone, on a train. (Page Six)
Paterson advising casino despite past ‘bid-rigging’ scandal(NYP)\David Paterson was caught up in a casino bid-rigging scandal when he was governor, and now he’s an adviser for a gambling operator vying to open a $400 million casino north of the city, The Post has learned. The New York State Democratic Party chairman is an “unpaid” confidante to Greenetrack, which runs an “electronic bingo” gambling parlor in Eutaw, Ala. — and wants to build a casino complex on a 140-acre site near Stewart Airport. “It’s mind-boggling,” said Blair Horner, director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. “Paterson is the new Democratic Party chairman getting behind one of the bidders for a casino. Should he be doing that? No.”A state Inspector General’s Office report in 2010 faulted Paterson for poor oversight of the “tainted”selection process that led to claims of bid-rigging on behalf of Aqueduct Entertainment Group.“Gov. Paterson engaged in an ill-advised meeting with the Rev. Floyd Flake, a well-known member of AEG, within five days of its conditional selection in an effort to garner political support,” the IG report said. Paterson last year admitted that he backed the AEG bid as a favor to former Senate Democratic Majority Leader John Sampson — who has been indicted in a separate real-estate scam.
In Ocean 11 The Rat Pack Tried to Steal From A Casino, In Albany They Tried to Steal the Entire Casino
Albany’s latest stench(NYP Ed) Reports
of political rot in Albany keep a-comin’ — with revelations this week
by The Post of probes of top Democrats in a sleazy deal that, by his own
admission, even ensnared ex-Gov. David Paterson.For starters, the feds
are investigating whether state Sens. John Sampson and Malcolm Smith and
others were involved in a scheme to steer a multibillion-dollar
contract to a politically juiced firm, AEG, to run a racino at Aqueduct
Race Track.
More on the AEG Cover Up
From Rockefeller Republicans to Selling Ballot Lines
REMEMBERING ROCKEFELLER REPUBLICANS: The recent passing of state Sen. Roy Goodman is a sad reminder of the disappearance of the Rockefeller Republican, Morgan Pehme writes in City & State: http://goo.gl/ELNlkv
Smith bragged that it was OK for him to try to bribe his way into Gracie Mansion— Because it’s simply “the business of government
Saturday Update
Video shows Smith making deals in bid to become mayor(NYP) “You pull this off, you can have the house [Gracie Mansion]. I’ll be a tenant,” Smith told the agent during one of their meetings.Smith even boasted that it was acceptable for him to pay his way into Gracie Mansion because that’s “the business of government,” according to tapes of conversations he had with the undercover agent. But a late disclosure of a trove of recorded phone calls by federal prosecutors has led defense attorneys to demand a mistrial or dismissal of the indictments.
“I
am asking for a mistrial,” Smith lawyer Gerald Shargel said in court
Friday. Lawyers for Smith co-defendants Queens GOP City Councilman Dan
Halloran and former Queens GOP Vice Chair Vincent Tabone pushed even
harder, arguing Friday that the case should be dismissed. Both sides
will submit briefs on whether the case should be dismissed over the
weekend and Judge Karas will rule Monday at 10 a.m.
Judge to Consider Retrial or Dismissal in Malcolm Smith Case(NYT) Kenneth Karas indicated that he might end the current trial of a New York state senator and two others because Yiddish translators are scarce.* Decision in Malcolm Smith Trial Expected Monday Wall Street Journal * Yiddish translations could delay Malcolm Smith corruption trial The Journal News
Judge to Consider Retrial or Dismissal in Malcolm Smith Case(NYT) Kenneth Karas indicated that he might end the current trial of a New York state senator and two others because Yiddish translators are scarce.* Decision in Malcolm Smith Trial Expected Monday Wall Street Journal * Yiddish translations could delay Malcolm Smith corruption trial The Journal News
Malcolm Smith judge to decide on mistrial Monday Newsday* Newly Disclosed Tapes Could Stop Malcolm Smith Corruption Trial CBS Local * Malcolm Smith's lawyers want mistrial over Yiddish recordings The Journal News* * State Sen. Malcolm Smith’s lawyers are calling for a mistrial in his corruption case, saying prosecutors withheld more than 90 hours of secret recordings—largely in Yiddish—until this week, Gannett Albany reports:
Smith Plan to Rub Out the GOP Leaders He Bribed Once He Became Mayor
If They Gave Oscars for Corruption Tapes Smith's on FBI Video Would Be A Sure Winner
Jurors in the White Plains courtroom also were shown video footage of former Bronx GOP leader Joseph Savino being handed a cash-stuffed envelope from the undercover at a meeting at Sparks Steakhouse in Midtown last year. Savino has already pleaded guilty to accepting the payola.
Mistrial Possible in Smith Trial Because of Yiddish Recording Not Turn Over to the Defense
A federal judge said he might have to consider adjourning state Smith’s case or declaring a mistrial and impaneling a new jury after recordings of conversations in Yiddish, which is not easily translated, were presented as possible evidence
Oy Gevalt! Untranslated Yiddish Recordings Stall State Senator’s Trial(NYT)
State Senator’s Bribery Trial Held Up by Recordings in Yiddish(NYT)In an odd twist in a courtroom saga dense with allegations of political corruption, the fate of State Senator Malcolm A. Smith and two other defendants may be put on hold because, of all things, Yiddish. Since it could take weeks to translate the material — none of the lawyers or defendants speak Yiddish much beyond such Americanisms as mensch and chutzpah, and there are few court-certified Yiddish translators — the judge said he might have to consider adjourning the case or declaring a mistrial and impaneling a new jury. The judge postponed his decision until at least Friday to give prosecutors a chance to show him how the recordings might be expeditiously translated so the case could proceed with the same jury.* Judge Considers Declaring Mistrial in Malcolm Smith Case(WSJ)At Issue Are 9,000 Recorded Conversations Not Turned Over to the Defense Prosecutors argued that those conversations weren't relevant to the case against Mr. Smith and former City Councilman Daniel Halloran. They are charged with trying to bribe city Republican officials, who had to permit Mr. Smith to run on the GOP line. * Malcolm Smith corruption case judge may declare mistrial(Newsday) Prosecutors said there were only 737 calls longer than two minutes, offered to help with the translation and urged Karas to avoid a mistrial. But Shargel said early checks indicated calls that went "to the heart of the case.""We can't effectively represent our clients without having access to this information," he said.
Judge Karas on Thursday allowed jurors to hear the final set of government
recordings of meetings with the defendants, and told them to not return
until Monday. He did not tell them the trial was in jeopardy
He then called the jurors into the courtroom. They viewed grainy videotapes of the F.B.I. agent, handing over an envelope filled with $25,000 in hundred-dollar bills to Vincent Tabone, then the vice chairman of the Queens County Republican Committee, and an envelope of $15,000 to Joseph J. Savino, the Bronx Republican chairman, in an Audi S.U.V. parked outside Sparks Steak House in Midtown Manhattan. The three had been schmoozing at the restaurant on Valentine’s Day 2013, which had prompted one defense lawyer, Leo Ahern, to call the bribery event “the Valentine’s Day Massacre.”
They also saw Mr. Smith listen as the F.B.I. agent, Anil Modi, described the payments he had made in exchange for the Republican authorizations.“They got a 100,000 dollar reasons to come out and say, “Hey, here we go,' ” Mr. Modi told Mr. Smith in a meeting on March 21 in Mr. Smith’s legislative office in Albany.
“Right,
right,” Mr. Smith replied. “You gave it to them already.”“I gave them
like we discussed, half,” Mr. Modi said.“Oh I got you, I got you,” Mr.
Smith replied.“They got to come through,” Mr. Modi said. “Right, right,
right, right,” Mr. Smith replied. Mr.
Modi became more specific, telling Mr. Smith that he had given the
money in cash so one of the recipients could take a vacation, another
pay his child’s tuition at Stanford University and a third pay off a
mortgage.“And
of course then they’re all going to want positions with you and stuff,”
Mr. Modi said, alluding to earlier conversations in which the county
leaders and Mr. Halloran were asking Mr. Smith for Republican
appointments as judges and commissioners should Mr. Smith be elected
mayor. “Yeah, oh, sure, yeah,” Mr. Smith replied. Mr.
Smith even assured Mr. Modi and Mr. Stern, who was also there, that it
was unlikely the county leaders would renege on the deal.“Then you’re
looking over your shoulder all the rest of your life,” he said of the
recipients of the payments.What if the leaders tried to shake them down
for more money, Mr. Modi asked. “I’d
say, ‘absolutely not,' ” Mr. Smith replied. “I’d say, ‘I’m not giving
you a freaking dime.’ I’d say, ‘If I even give you a nickel more, you’d
have to stand on the Empire State Building, and drop every person you
endorsed, and hold Malcolm up and say he’s the best thing since sliced
bread. Matter of fact, he’s better than sliced bread.' ” Mr.
Smith even assured Mr. Modi and Mr. Stern, who was also there, that it
was unlikely the county leaders would renege on the deal. “Then you’re
looking over your shoulder all the rest of your life,” he said of the
recipients of the payments. What if the leaders tried to shake them down
for more money, Mr. Modi asked.“I’d
say, ‘absolutely not,' ” Mr. Smith replied. “I’d say, ‘I’m not giving
you a freaking dime.’ I’d say, ‘If I even give you a nickel more, you’d
have to stand on the Empire State Building, and drop every person you
endorsed, and hold Malcolm up and say he’s the best thing since sliced
bread. Matter of fact, he’s better than sliced bread.' ”
Is There An Election Law That the Advance Group Did Not Break? Start Will Mixing Campaign Funds With Citizen United PACs
The Advance Group, a leading consulting and lobbying firm, took voter information from City Council and borough president campaigns it ran last year and used it in the controversial Anybody But Quinn initiative, a move that is raising new legal questions. The consulting firm, which spearheaded the anti-Quinn group, drew information from the Voter Activation Network databases of other campaigns they managed or advised last year and gave the data to the crusade to discourage New Yorkers from supporting ex-Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s failed mayoral bid, a former operative for ABQ. Campaigns use the Voter Activation Network to access voter rolls and obtain the names, addresses, ages and party affiliations of registered voters–particularly useful for get-out-the-vote ground operations like the one ABQ ran.
The NYT Reports On the National Effect of Citizen United But Not One Word About the Effects of the Court Ruling on Local Politics
Did the Advance Group Have A Back Door into the Van Data Base?
The Van Voter Data Base is Controlled By the Democratic State Senate Committee
Several Advance Clients Are Funded by DSSC and Use the Van System . . . Did Advance Use Candidate Private Data Base Against Them? Who Controls Security for VAN?
Documents obtained by the Observer indicate
that the VAN “turf packets” that ABQ canvassers used to guide when
going door-to-door last August all had the names of three Advance Group
clients: Laurie Cumbo and Robert Waterman, each running for City
Council, and then-Councilman Robert Jackson, running for Manhattan
borough president. ABQ was registered with the city Campaign Finance Board as an
independent expenditure–meaning it should have been uncoordinated with
other election year efforts–and most of its funding came from the
anti-horse carriage group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe
Streets. The Observer reported last month NYCLASS
had parted ways with the Advance Group amid mounting bad press. The
Campaign Finance Board declined to comment on the legality of the
practice, but pointed to a press release from last month
announcing penalties for Ms. Cumbo, now a councilwoman, and Councilman
Mark Levine–penalties that resulted from the Advance Group failing to
disentangle the operation of their council campaigns from the supposedly
independent operations that NYCLASS paid the Advance Group to do on
behalf of the two candidates. The Advance Group is also reportedly facing an FBI probe–those close
to the group deny those press reports–into whether it coordinated its
ABQ operation with the successful de Blasio mayoral campaign in 2013.
The CFB Fined Two City Council Members Because the Advance Group Ran Their Campaign and They Received Funding By A PAC Controlled By Advance
Two City Council members were slapped with fines Wednesday for taking off-limits contributions from animal rights group NYCLASS, which bankrolled Mayor de Blasio's mayoral campaign for his pledge to ban horse-drawn carriages. Council members Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn) and Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) have to pay back money they were given by New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets because they shared the same political consultant — the Advance Group — as the anti-carriage group. The funds also exceeded the contribution limit of $2,750, which was included in the violation. "The penalties levied today against the Cumbo and Levine City Council campaigns represent only the first step in this proceeding," said Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn. "The Board will consider violations and penalties for the other parties to these transactions.” Both Cumbo and Levine were fined for being connected to Advance PAC NYCLASS. But were not fined to date for another PAC Advance worked for and contributed to both campaigns, United for the Future.
Is There An Election Law That the Advance Group Did Not Break? Start Will Mixing Campaign Funds With Citizen United PACs
Anybody But Quinn Used Voter Info From Other Advance
Group Campaigns: Sources
The Advance Group, a leading consulting and lobbying firm, took voter information from City Council and borough president campaigns it ran last year and used it in the controversial Anybody But Quinn initiative, a move that is raising new legal questions. The consulting firm, which spearheaded the anti-Quinn group, drew information from the Voter Activation Network databases of other campaigns they managed or advised last year and gave the data to the crusade to discourage New Yorkers from supporting ex-Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s failed mayoral bid, a former operative for ABQ. Campaigns use the Voter Activation Network to access voter rolls and obtain the names, addresses, ages and party affiliations of registered voters–particularly useful for get-out-the-vote ground operations like the one ABQ ran.
The NYT Reports On the National Effect of Citizen United But Not One Word About the Effects of the Court Ruling on Local Politics
The Koch Cycle of Endless Cash(NYT)
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
The wealthiest Americans are using their fortunes to lobby Congress against any limits on their ability to buy elections.
Did the Advance Group Have A Back Door into the Van Data Base?
The Van Voter Data Base is Controlled By the Democratic State Senate Committee
Several Advance Clients Are Funded by DSSC and Use the Van System . . . Did Advance Use Candidate Private Data Base Against Them? Who Controls Security for VAN?
The CFB Fined Two City Council Members Because the Advance Group Ran Their Campaign and They Received Funding By A PAC Controlled By Advance
Two City Council members were slapped with fines Wednesday for taking off-limits contributions from animal rights group NYCLASS, which bankrolled Mayor de Blasio's mayoral campaign for his pledge to ban horse-drawn carriages. Council members Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn) and Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) have to pay back money they were given by New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets because they shared the same political consultant — the Advance Group — as the anti-carriage group. The funds also exceeded the contribution limit of $2,750, which was included in the violation. "The penalties levied today against the Cumbo and Levine City Council campaigns represent only the first step in this proceeding," said Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn. "The Board will consider violations and penalties for the other parties to these transactions.” Both Cumbo and Levine were fined for being connected to Advance PAC NYCLASS. But were not fined to date for another PAC Advance worked for and contributed to both campaigns, United for the Future.
Thompson Consultants:Red Horse Berlin Rosen
Red Horse worked for Brooklyn DA Thompson campaign along with Berlin Rosen
Berlin Rosen also worked for NYS AG Schniderman
Both the Advance Group and Berlin Rosen worked for Comptroller Stringer and CM Mark Levine and Laurie Cumbo were fined for his connection to Advance. Both Advance and Berlin Rosen worked for Levine and the councilman received funding from United for the Future which both Advance and Berlin Rosen Worked for
8 Of Red Horse Clients Received Funding by the UFT PAC United for the Future which Red Horse Also Worked for:
Councilman James Vacca used Red Horse as a consultant and received mailing from United for the Future even though he had no race. Another Red Horse client CM Annabel Palma received funding by United for a Future.Austin Shafran another Red Horse client was funded by UF the UFT PAC that Red Horse Worked for. CM Daneek Miller another Red Horse client got mailing from UF. Red Horse client CM Antonio Reynoso also received help from UF PAC. CM Helen Rosenthal A Red Horse Client got mailing from UF PAC another Red Horse client. CM Richard Torres A Red Horse Client got mailing from UF PAC another Red Horse client. CM Paul Vallone A Red Horse Client got mailing from UF PAC another. NYS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (NYS DSCC)
Mark Guma Who Worked With Cy Vance and DA Brown Also Worked With Red Horse
Red Horse client. Red Horse worked with Mark Guma for Jessica S Lappin.
Berlin Rosen also worked for NYS AG Schniderman As A Political Consultant
In the 2013 Elections Berlin Rosen Was Interconnected with Both Red Horse and Advance
In the 3rd council district Berlin Rosen candidate Corey Johnson received mailing from United for the Future, Red Horse worked for UF. In the 19 council district Red Horse worked on Austin I Shafran campaign along with consultants Berlin Rosen and PITTA BISHOP. In the 1st congressional district Red Horse worked for Jenifer Rajkumar against Berlin Rosen candidate Margaret S Chin. In the Manhattan BP race Red Horse worked for Jessica Lappin against Berlin Rosen candidate Julie Menin. In the 6th congressional district Red Horse worked for Helen Rosenthal against Berlin Rosen candidate Marc Landis.
Advance Group and George Arzt worked for former Brooklyn DA Joe Hynes
Red Horse worked for Manhattan DA Cy Vance
Mission Control worked for Brooklyn DA Thompson and the following
Mark Guma worked for Manhattan DA Cy Vance and Queens DA Bronx and worked with Red Horse for Manhattan BP candidate Jessica S Lappin.
Mission Control worked for Thompson and the UFT, CM Dickens, Mendez, Weprin who all received mailing from the PAC United for the Future. Mission work with Advance and Arzt on Council candidate Micah Kellner campaign. At the same time Arzt was working with Hynes Red Horse was working for Hynes opponent Thompson, but both were working together to elect Melinda Katz to become Queens BP. Berlin Rosen was also work with Thompson against Arzt's candidate Hynes. Both Berlin Rosen and Arzt worked together to elect Julie Menin Manhattan BP and Comptroller Stringer. Arzt Also worked with Advance to elect Micah Keller for city council.
Why Has the CFB Not Gone After Advance's Clients Who Got Funding From the UFT's PAC United for the Future Which Advance Also Worked for?
Months ago CrainsNY reported that the Advance Group through a fake group Strategic Consultants was working for the UFT PAC United for the Future. What is also not known is another consultant that worked for many candidates in 2013 also worked for the UFT PAC, Red Horse. Both the Advance Group and Red Horse worked for Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. Both Advance and Berlin Rosen work for Mark Levine in the 7th council district. Both Advance and Berlin Rosen also worked for Ydanis A Rodriguez. Red Horse Served as a consultant to Jenifer Rajkumar by received funding by the Citizens United PAC who the Advance Group worked for. Advance work for Manhattan BP Jackson who also was funded by Advance's PAC United for the Future
Branford Worked for Bronx DA Johnson, Brooklyn DA Thompson and AG Schniderman
Branford who Worked for Both Brooklyn DA Thompson, Bronx DA Johnson and AG Schniderman. Brandford candidates CM Maisel. Cabrera, Gibson, Rose and Andrew J Cohen received mailings from United for the Future PAC controlled by both Advance and Red Horse. Advance's candidate CM Mark Levine and Laurie Cumbo were fined for his connection to Advance. Branford worked with Berlin Rosen for Daniel L Squadron for Public Advocate. Branford work with both Advance and Red Horse with Bronx BP Rubin Diaa,Jr. Branford worked with Berlan Rosen for AG Schniederman.
Hynes Shredding Room
Charles Hynes' office shredded many of their documents before Ken Thompson even took office:(NYO)
Ken Thompson became the first candidate in decades to topple a sitting district attorney in New York City. His prize, upon taking office this year, was a room of shredded documents.
On the first day of the new year, Mr. Thompson entered the 350 Jay Street headquarters of his predecessor, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. Mr. Thompson, a Democrat, walked into a large conference room and saw at least a dozen trash bags stuffed with documents accumulated from the 24 years Mr. Hynes, also a Democrat, served as district attorney, sources with direct knowledge of that morning recall,\“It was absolute chaos,” a source close to Mr. Thompson who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Observer. “There were literally bags of shredded documents everywhere. Contents unknown. Hynes and his henchman just arbitrarily shredded documents.”
Teachout Will School Cuomo In A Primary Fight
Professor plans to challenge Gov. Cuomo in Dem primary(NYP)Liberal professor Zephyr Teachout told a Manhattan Democratic club
that petitions to advance her candidacy will be circulating beginning
Friday. Teachout challenged Cuomo for the Working Families Party ballot line
last month. Cuomo beat her surprising insurgency but only after much arm
twisting by Mayor de Blasio and union leaders who bankroll the leftist
WFP. Teachout, a professor at Fordham University, said she hopes to raise
enough money to run a credible campaign against the well-funded
incumbent.” “My commitment to this campaign is I will tell the truth,” she said.
Teachout With Lieutenant Governor Tim Wu Candidate
* IS CUOMO KILLING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has succeeded in raising political cynicism to a new level by taking the Working Families Party line, Michael Benjamin writes in City & State: * While seeking the endorsement of Manhattan’s Village Independent Club, Zephyr Teachout announced that petitions to advance her candidacy for governor in the Democratic primary will begin circulating today * Candidate Teachout?(YNN) * MoveOn.org is creating a team to “Hold Governor Cuomo Accountable” to the deal he cut with the WFP.* WFP To Liberals: Vote For Cuomo * Working Families Party urging liberals to support Cuomo(NYP) *Give kids credit (NYP Ed) * Andrew Cuomo’s property-tax dodge (NYP Ed)
Support for Bratton Drops 10%
Public approval for the NYPD has dipped from 68 percent in March to 59 percent among registered voters in New York City. The drop comes amid a steady increase in the number of shootings throughout the city and the highly publicized murder of a 6-year-old in an East New York public housing building.
Promises to Turn About Trouble School That Will Not Be Closed
City plan to provide intensive support for troubled schools(NYP)
Mayor Opposes Alarms On School Doors The de Blasio administration is opposing a bill that would require alarms on school doors, a measure that is being pushed for by the grandmother of Avonte Oquendo, the autistic teen who died last year after wandering away from school, the Daily News reports:
In the 70's A Bronx Elected Official Put in A Bill to legalize Cock Fighting
End of Year Special Interest Bills
The Post writes that it’s that time of year at the state Capitol when lawmakers push through pricey bills to score points with special-interests groups before the legislative session ends:
Red Horse worked for Brooklyn DA Thompson campaign along with Berlin Rosen
Berlin Rosen also worked for NYS AG Schniderman
Both the Advance Group and Berlin Rosen worked for Comptroller Stringer and CM Mark Levine and Laurie Cumbo were fined for his connection to Advance. Both Advance and Berlin Rosen worked for Levine and the councilman received funding from United for the Future which both Advance and Berlin Rosen Worked for
8 Of Red Horse Clients Received Funding by the UFT PAC United for the Future which Red Horse Also Worked for:
Councilman James Vacca used Red Horse as a consultant and received mailing from United for the Future even though he had no race. Another Red Horse client CM Annabel Palma received funding by United for a Future.Austin Shafran another Red Horse client was funded by UF the UFT PAC that Red Horse Worked for. CM Daneek Miller another Red Horse client got mailing from UF. Red Horse client CM Antonio Reynoso also received help from UF PAC. CM Helen Rosenthal A Red Horse Client got mailing from UF PAC another Red Horse client. CM Richard Torres A Red Horse Client got mailing from UF PAC another Red Horse client. CM Paul Vallone A Red Horse Client got mailing from UF PAC another. NYS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (NYS DSCC)
Mark Guma Who Worked With Cy Vance and DA Brown Also Worked With Red Horse
Red Horse client. Red Horse worked with Mark Guma for Jessica S Lappin.
Berlin Rosen also worked for NYS AG Schniderman As A Political Consultant
In the 2013 Elections Berlin Rosen Was Interconnected with Both Red Horse and Advance
In the 3rd council district Berlin Rosen candidate Corey Johnson received mailing from United for the Future, Red Horse worked for UF. In the 19 council district Red Horse worked on Austin I Shafran campaign along with consultants Berlin Rosen and PITTA BISHOP. In the 1st congressional district Red Horse worked for Jenifer Rajkumar against Berlin Rosen candidate Margaret S Chin. In the Manhattan BP race Red Horse worked for Jessica Lappin against Berlin Rosen candidate Julie Menin. In the 6th congressional district Red Horse worked for Helen Rosenthal against Berlin Rosen candidate Marc Landis.
Advance Group and George Arzt worked for former Brooklyn DA Joe Hynes
Red Horse worked for Manhattan DA Cy Vance
Mission Control worked for Brooklyn DA Thompson and the following
Mark Guma worked for Manhattan DA Cy Vance and Queens DA Bronx and worked with Red Horse for Manhattan BP candidate Jessica S Lappin.
Mission Control worked for Thompson and the UFT, CM Dickens, Mendez, Weprin who all received mailing from the PAC United for the Future. Mission work with Advance and Arzt on Council candidate Micah Kellner campaign. At the same time Arzt was working with Hynes Red Horse was working for Hynes opponent Thompson, but both were working together to elect Melinda Katz to become Queens BP. Berlin Rosen was also work with Thompson against Arzt's candidate Hynes. Both Berlin Rosen and Arzt worked together to elect Julie Menin Manhattan BP and Comptroller Stringer. Arzt Also worked with Advance to elect Micah Keller for city council.
Why Has the CFB Not Gone After Advance's Clients Who Got Funding From the UFT's PAC United for the Future Which Advance Also Worked for?
Months ago CrainsNY reported that the Advance Group through a fake group Strategic Consultants was working for the UFT PAC United for the Future. What is also not known is another consultant that worked for many candidates in 2013 also worked for the UFT PAC, Red Horse. Both the Advance Group and Red Horse worked for Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. Both Advance and Berlin Rosen work for Mark Levine in the 7th council district. Both Advance and Berlin Rosen also worked for Ydanis A Rodriguez. Red Horse Served as a consultant to Jenifer Rajkumar by received funding by the Citizens United PAC who the Advance Group worked for. Advance work for Manhattan BP Jackson who also was funded by Advance's PAC United for the Future
Branford Worked for Bronx DA Johnson, Brooklyn DA Thompson and AG Schniderman
Branford who Worked for Both Brooklyn DA Thompson, Bronx DA Johnson and AG Schniderman. Brandford candidates CM Maisel. Cabrera, Gibson, Rose and Andrew J Cohen received mailings from United for the Future PAC controlled by both Advance and Red Horse. Advance's candidate CM Mark Levine and Laurie Cumbo were fined for his connection to Advance. Branford worked with Berlin Rosen for Daniel L Squadron for Public Advocate. Branford work with both Advance and Red Horse with Bronx BP Rubin Diaa,Jr. Branford worked with Berlan Rosen for AG Schniederman.
Hynes Shredding Room
Ken Thompson became the first candidate in decades to topple a sitting district attorney in New York City. His prize, upon taking office this year, was a room of shredded documents.
On the first day of the new year, Mr. Thompson entered the 350 Jay Street headquarters of his predecessor, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. Mr. Thompson, a Democrat, walked into a large conference room and saw at least a dozen trash bags stuffed with documents accumulated from the 24 years Mr. Hynes, also a Democrat, served as district attorney, sources with direct knowledge of that morning recall,\“It was absolute chaos,” a source close to Mr. Thompson who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Observer. “There were literally bags of shredded documents everywhere. Contents unknown. Hynes and his henchman just arbitrarily shredded documents.”
Teachout Will School Cuomo In A Primary Fight
* IS CUOMO KILLING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has succeeded in raising political cynicism to a new level by taking the Working Families Party line, Michael Benjamin writes in City & State: * While seeking the endorsement of Manhattan’s Village Independent Club, Zephyr Teachout announced that petitions to advance her candidacy for governor in the Democratic primary will begin circulating today * Candidate Teachout?(YNN) * MoveOn.org is creating a team to “Hold Governor Cuomo Accountable” to the deal he cut with the WFP.* WFP To Liberals: Vote For Cuomo * Working Families Party urging liberals to support Cuomo(NYP) *Give kids credit (NYP Ed) * Andrew Cuomo’s property-tax dodge (NYP Ed)
Support for Bratton Drops 10%
Public approval for the NYPD has dipped from 68 percent in March to 59 percent among registered voters in New York City. The drop comes amid a steady increase in the number of shootings throughout the city and the highly publicized murder of a 6-year-old in an East New York public housing building.
Promises to Turn About Trouble School That Will Not Be Closed
City plan to provide intensive support for troubled schools(NYP)
Mayor Opposes Alarms On School Doors The de Blasio administration is opposing a bill that would require alarms on school doors, a measure that is being pushed for by the grandmother of Avonte Oquendo, the autistic teen who died last year after wandering away from school, the Daily News reports:
In the 70's A Bronx Elected Official Put in A Bill to legalize Cock Fighting
End of Year Special Interest Bills
The Post writes that it’s that time of year at the state Capitol when lawmakers push through pricey bills to score points with special-interests groups before the legislative session ends:
Beneath a bitter primary battle is Representative Charles B. Rangel’s
effort to maintain his weakening grip on power, while the Rev. Al
Sharpton seeks to consolidate his.
Monday
Mark-Viverito
found sign-waving backers of Rangel at the rally, with only one man
carrying campaign signs for Espaillat. Rangel and Espaillat are among
four candidates in a primary race scheduled for June 24.
Sunday
Rangel supporters say Mark-Viverito ‘called the cops’ on rally(NYP)The fierce Congressional race between Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel and challenger Adriano Espaillat heated up even more on Saturday when police showed up at two rival rallies in Harlem.
Rangel’s supporters claim that Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, a vocal supporter of Espaillat, called out the NYPD to break up their peaceful demonstration, with one caught on a video fuming, “she called the cops on her own community.’’
Saturday
No Wonder Why Rangel Missed Bronx Debate
On the morning of his 84th birthday, Rangel describes the spinal infection that left him wheelchair-bound two years ago.(NYDN)
Rangel resentment at Bronx Debate
Friday * Yolanda Garcia—who has raised little money, doesn’t speak English and doesn’t live in the congressional district she is trying to represent, yet received 5 percent in the latest poll of Democratic voters—could tip the outcome of the 13th congressional district primary race, the Daily News writes: * Despite Rep. Charles Rangel’s dismissal of state Sen. Adriano Espaillat’s legislative record and accusations that Espaillat is running only on the basis of his ethnic background, Espaillat is defending his record, calling himself “above average” for a minority conference senator, the Times reports:
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer donates $5,000 to Adriano Espaillat's congressional campaign, which employs his girlfriend Lis Smith (NYDN)* candidate may tip Democratic primary race between Rep. Charles Rangel and Sen. Adriano Espaillat (NYDN) Yolanda
Garcia, 64, has raised almost no money and has no website, office or
paid staff. She has not taken part in the debates. Yet she's received 5%
in the latest poll of Democratic voters, and it could be enough to tip
the race in Rangel's favor. Some people are suspicious of how she
managed to get 1,250 signatures to get on the ballot.* Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his
father gave $10,200 to state Sen. Adriano Espaillat's campaign against
Rep. Charlie Rangel, even though Espaillat spoke out against Spitzer’s
candidacy for city comptroller, Capital New York reports: m * Charles Rangel mailer trashes Adriano Espaillat as a Republican puppet(NYD) …Spitzer’s father also contributed to Espaillat’s campaign, even though the senator was critical of the former governor when he ran for NYC comptroller in 2013.In the home stretch of the NY-13 primary, Rep. Charlie Rangel has raised and spent more than his main rival, Espaillat. * Rangel Campaigns in Bronx, Skips Debate (NY1)
Will Garcia Split the Latino Vote and Help Rangel Win? Will Walrond Split the Black Vote and Help Espaillat Win?
EXCLUSIVE: Unknown candidate may tip Democratic primary race between Rep. Charles Rangel and Sen. Adriano Espaillat(NYDN)m Yolanda Garcia, 64, has raised almost no money and has no website, office or paid staff. She has not taken part in the debates. Yet she's received 5% in the latest poll of Democratic voters, and it could be enough to tip the race in Rangel's favor. Some people are suspicious of how she managed to get 1,250 signatures to get on the ballot. How this political neophyte with no resources met the stringent requirements to get on the ballot — she needed 1,250 signatures of registered Democrats living in the district — has raised questions whether Rangel operatives somehow are behind her candidacy.
Garcia campaign manager Richard Soto, who has represented other unknowns in marquee races, said 50 unpaid volunteers gathered her signatures.But one petitioner, Lendell Richardson, 45, of Brooklyn, told the Daily News he was paid — he would not say how much — and was recruited by veteran
Wednesday
Rangel’s Top Rival Stirs Up Deportation Debate(NYT) Allies of Rep. Charles Rangel and state Sen. Adriano Espaillat traded barbs over whether Rangel had expressed support for deporting immigrants, which the congressman’s team denied while Espaillat’s camp defended the claims* Rangel Legal Battle Will Continue After Bitter Democratic Primary(NYO)
Rep. Charlie Rangel’s legal fight against a House censure will continue two days after the primary, when congressional attorneys will mount a defense against his lawsuit.
Tuesday
* Mayor Bill de Blasio said he won’t endorse any candidate in the 13th congressional district Democratic primary race, The Wall Street Journal reports:
More About the Rangel Race
WFP Promises Will Not Happen This Year
Why Did Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins Take the Heat off the IDC Members Who Face Primaries. Keeping the Attack Going on the failure to Pass the Women's Agenda and Public Financing Would Hurt the IDC Candidates?
State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a
mainline Democrat, said it is unlikely that measures like the public
financing of political campaigns and the 10-point women’s agenda will be
approved in her chamber this session, State of Politics reports: *Reshaping the Courts Cuomo could reshape court - Times Union via @TimesUnion He'll want compliant Senate leadership.* Only eight days remain in the scheduled 2014 legislative session, and there’s a long list of things yet to be addressed by state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But given the recent political happenings, will anything get done?* Cuomo Say IDC Will Go Dem Next Year Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he expects the
Independent Democratic Conference to rejoin mainstream Democrats but
not until next year, and Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
agreed, the Daily News reports: *de Blasio Why WFP Went for Cuomo New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
said it would have been "unconscionable" to not back Cuomo for the
Working Families Party line, saying it was an opportunity to change the
dynamics in the state, Salon reports: * Gov. Cuomo says NY Senate Democratic reunification would be for next year - UPDATED(NYDN)* CASHED OUT: Despite a
commitment from Gov. Andrew Cuomo to push for full public campaign
financing of elections, action is unlikely in the State Senate before
the end of the session, City & State reports: * Cuomo said “don’t expect anything new”
as the legislative session winds down in Albany, where heroin, a teacher
evaluation moratorium and medical marijuana are still on the agenda, Crain’s reports: * State Sen. Diane Savino said her
medical marijuana bill has moved to the Senate Finance Committee,
improving its chances of coming to the floor for a vote, but Cuomo said
he still has concerns, Gannett Albany reports: * Albany’s end-of-session panderfest(NYO) * De Blasio Enlists Hasidic Leaders To Pressure Carlucci (Updated)
Rangel’s Top Rival Stirs Up Deportation Debate(NYT) Allies of Rep. Charles Rangel and state Sen. Adriano Espaillat traded barbs over whether Rangel had expressed support for deporting immigrants, which the congressman’s team denied while Espaillat’s camp defended the claims* Rangel Legal Battle Will Continue After Bitter Democratic Primary(NYO)
Rep. Charlie Rangel’s legal fight against a House censure will continue two days after the primary, when congressional attorneys will mount a defense against his lawsuit.
Tuesday
* Mayor Bill de Blasio said he won’t endorse any candidate in the 13th congressional district Democratic primary race, The Wall Street Journal reports:
More About the Rangel Race
WFP Promises Will Not Happen This Year
Why Did Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins Take the Heat off the IDC Members Who Face Primaries. Keeping the Attack Going on the failure to Pass the Women's Agenda and Public Financing Would Hurt the IDC Candidates?
Thursday: FBI Tape Show Smith Agreeing to Pay to Play for the GOP Ballot Line
Tape at Senator’s Trial Shows Discussion of Payments(NYT) The three men sat around a coffee table in a gold-wallpapered suite of the Essex House on Central Park South and talked about an improbable plot: enticing New York City’s five Republican county leaders to help State Senator Malcolm A. Smith, a Democrat, run for mayor as a Republican. A Federal Bureau of Investigation posing as a businessman, the other a Rockland County developer, Moses Stern, trying to avoid a lengthy prison sentence, informed him that they had gotten commitments from the five leaders to sign letters authorizing him to run.
In exchange, the men had promised envelopes of cash to three of the county leaders — a total “in the range of say 200 grand,” said the F.B.I. agent, Anil Modi. Half of the cash would be paid upfront and half when the leaders delivered the authorizations, known as Wilson-Pakula letters.
At
one point, Mr. Modi, leaning forward animatedly, told a laid-back Mr.
Smith how he would pay off the county leaders.“We’re
going to do it in a way that there’s no ties to me,” he said. “We’re
going to go play golf somewhere and your golf bag will be a little
heavier when you leave the course.”“Mm, hmm,” Mr. Smith said. Not
surprisingly, his companions wondered why he was so tight-lipped. “When I
get pensive, that’s when I’m even more excited,” was his enigmatic
explanation.Mr. Smith did make a suggestion about how to sequence the
payments. “I
wouldn’t give them more than like 10, just to start out,” he said. Mr.
Smith also was heard advising the men that any money they doled out
must be reported as campaign donations, unless the county leaders agreed
to accept the money in the form of legal retainers or accountant’s
fees. “Then that’s your business,” Mr. Smith said.
The strategy of disguising illicit payments is heard throughout the recorded conversations, with Joseph Savino, a former Bronx County leader who has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes, proposing: “It could also be an insurance thing,” in which Mr. Modi and Mr. Stern would buy insurance from an agency run by Mr. Savino’s family. If he takes the stand, Mr. Smith is likely to be asked why he agreed to help the two men obtain a $500,000 allocation from state transportation funds to improve a road that would enable them to build a community center intended for Spring Valley’s Hasidic and Haitian communities, a project that was a ruse in Mr. Smith’s seduction by Mr. Modi and Mr. Stern.* Former councilman wanted to secure City Hall posts for Republicans: tapes(NYP)
The court day seemed more damaging to the other two defendants. In an earlier meeting at Essex House, Daniel J. Halloran III, at the time a Republican city councilman from Queens, whom prosecutors portray as the plot’s go-between, was heard telling Mr. Modi and Mr. Stern that he had negotiated prices with three county leaders, including “25 now and 25 for Vince once the delivery occurs.” He was referring to Vincent Tabone, then the vice chairman of the Queens Republicans and now the third defendant. Mr. Halloran also told the two men that in return for the Wilson-Pakula letters, Mr. Smith would have to guarantee that if elected mayor he would name Republicans to half of his judgeship and half of his commissioner appointments.
“I’m not looking for the whole loaf, we’re looking for half,” Mr. Halloran said,— and that Smith would make him his deputy. Halloran could be heard telling a wired-up undercover agent and Moses Stern, a crooked developer-turned-federal-witness, that Republicans should get at least half of the city’s high-paying commissioner posts and half the nonpaying, but influential, seats on city boards. “The first dep and a guarantee on the agency heads being split in the party,” says Halloran. “If he goes to City Hall and … cuts the baby in half so to speak, he plays Solomon, everything, everything works out.” The now ex-councilman says the Republican Party learned the hard way a decade earlier when it gave Mike Bloomberg its line for mayor, adding Bloomberg wound up making “certain promises he didn’t keep” while only honoring “the financial part of the agreement.” Halloran did not elaborate on what the “financial part” meant. He also demanded Raj convince Smith that half of his potential judicial appointments should he become mayor be Republican and that the party have heavy influence in branches of City Hall that could make “things happen” for politically friendly developers — such as the Board of Standards and Appeals and the Buildings Department.* In Dan Halloran's New York, Republicans Rule(WSJ) Former Councilman Wanted GOPers In Top Positions In Exchange For Helping Malcolm Smith. On a tape played Wednesday during their bribery trial, Mr. Halloran, a Republican, said he wanted Mr. Smith to name him as the first deputy mayor so the GOP "would have control over half of the appointments." But in another secretly recorded meeting at the same hotel two days later, Mr. Smith, 57, was skeptical that Mr. Halloran negotiated the approvals. "Dan is, you know, you just got to watch Dan…he's all, you know, fluff and stuff," Mr. Smith was recorded saying. At the meeting, the undercover agent and a cooperating witness named Moses Stern told Mr. Smith they believed it would cost about $200,000 to secure the committees' approval. Mr. Smith's response was highlighted during his lawyer's opening statement, when he said the state senator didn't receive, give or order up bribes. "The question becomes, I'm telling you, there is a legal and legitimate way" to run on the GOP line, Mr. Smith said, also advising the men to get business retainers from the GOP officials. Prosecutors argue those were attempts to disguise bribes.
de Blasio: Anything You Want Princess Moskowitz
The More de Blasio Attacks Charter Moskowitz the More He Empowers His Opponent in the 2017 Election
The Daily News writes that based on Eva Moskowitz’s record of achievement, she should easily receive the state’s approval for 14 new charter schools, and a law will force the city to either provide public school building space or funding to pay rent on leased space:
A Poll of Two Cities: de Blasio Black and White
De Blasio’s job approval rating is up to 51-28 percent, but the gap between approval by black and white voters persists, a new Q poll found.*De Blasio’s Approval Rating Improves, Poll Finds(NYT) *Mayor earns 51% approval rating, 66% disapprove of horse ban promise: poll * BILL'S UP: Mayor de Blasio earns 51% approval rating, while 66% disapprove his horse ban promise, poll finds(NYDN) * Poll: De Blasio Approval Rating at 51 %(WSJ) New York City voters approve of Mayor Bill de Blasio's job performance, 51% to 28%, but there's a growing gap between black and white voters' opinion of the new mayor, a poll released Wednesday showed. De Blasio’s rising approval rating includes what Capital’s Dana Rubinstein characterized as a “pronounced racial divide” among the mayor’s supporters. White voters support the mayor 41-42 percent; black voters support him 66-14 percent; Hispanics likewise are overwhelmingly in de Blasio’s corner, 56-17 percent. -- How it played -- Times: “De Blasio’s Approval Rating Improves, Poll Finds” http://goo.gl/VBJgLM -- DNAinfo: “De Blasio Sees a Bump in Poll Numbers Thanks to Black Voters” http://goo.gl/KzLluA -- CBS New York: “Mayor De Blasio’s Approval Rating Improves In New Quinnipiac Poll” http://goo.gl/oi0ENs -- Staten Island Advance: “Mayor Bill de Blasio's approval rating edges up, with gap between white and black voters growing” http://goo.gl/kds0mp -- New York Observer: “New Poll Shows Widening Racial Gap in Bill de Blasio’s Support” http://goo.gl/sdLu52
* Bill de Blasio more popular than ferrets(NY Mag)
NY NJ Economic War Destroys Both
New York and New Jersey are battling for businesses with millions in tax credits:
IDC's Klein Hangs On With Triangulation
Sen. Jeffrey Klein supports City Council's wish to reduce speed limit to 25 mph(NYDN)
Following the New York City Council’s passage of a home rule message in support of lowering the speed limit on city streets, state Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein said he would introduce an amended bill that would lower the speed limit to 25 mph on streets with two lanes or less, * Savino said the breakaway Democrats that make up the Senate IDC will remain separate from the mainline Democrats, but she did not commit to remaining linked to the Republicans, the Daily News report: * The Working Families Party endorsed former New York City Comptroller John Liu in his bid to unseat state Sen. Tony Avella, a member of the Independent Democratic Conference, the Observer reports: * In the race for retiring Assemblywoman Joan Millman’s seat, the Working Families Party is also backing activist Pete Sikora over Jo Anne Simon, Millman’s longtime ally, the Observer notes
IDC GOP Senate Coalition
Court: Special Prosecutor of WFP 2009 Election Probe May Go On
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York's Court of Appeals has ruled that a special prosecutor may continue his investigation into whether the Working Families Party violated election law in a 2009 New York City Council race on Staten Island.In a ruling issued Tuesday, the court declines to overturn Roger Bennet Adler's appointment as special prosecutor. District Attorney Dan Donovan had recused himself from the investigation for reasons that have never been made public.An attorney for the Working Families Party had argued that there was no demonstrated reason for Donovan to disqualify himself and Adler's appointment should be rejected.Two party officials were subpoenaed last year in the case. Expect this Investigation to move fast because the Statute of Limitations up may be up in September. Expect the WFP Lawyers to Stall Like They Have Been Doing. * Special prosecutor to probe Working Families Party The Saratogian The party, which has emerged as a leading liberal voice in New York politics, had asked the court to overturn the appointment of Roger Bennet Adler as special prosecutor. The statute of limitations "is five years from the last overt act," Adler said. "I believe there has been conduct that goes much deeper than some people think."
During oral arguments this spring, some top court judges questioned whether it will soon be too late to prosecute anyone for actions in 2009. Court Upholds Special Prosecutor In WFP Probe Read the Ruling * NY Court of Appeals upholds appointment of special prosecutor in WFP probe - UPDATED(NYDN) * Court rules prosecutor can investigate Working Families Party(NYP)* Court of Appeals: DA Donovan correct in recusing himself from Working Families ... SILive.com
Update: WFP’s state director Bill Lipton released a statement.
“While the Court’s reliance on papers filed under seal and hidden from us and the public to uphold the special prosecutor’s appointment is disappointing, we know that we have done nothing wrong. We are confident that will be the conclusion of any fair and unbiased inquiry, just as that has previously been the conclusion of the United States Attorneys Office and the Campaign Finance Board.
How the Data and Field Scam Worked
The way the scheme works, according the suit according to a lawsuit filed agianst CM Rose, is that the WFP gets involved in local races, backing its favored candidates, who in turn hire DFS for vital campaign services, such as phone banking, polling and get-out-the-vote efforts. But under the plan, the WFP-endorsed candidates pay only “a nominal sum, well below fair market value,” for those services — giving those candidates a major, unfair advantage over their opponents, whose spending is limited by law.
What the WFP's Data and Field Case is About
Wednesday: Smith Trial Tapes Proves Elected Officials Do Not Give A Shit About the People They Represent
Ballot Line For Sale, Party Leaders for Sale, Pols for Sale
On Trial’s Tapes, Talk of New York Politics, Secret Cash and Strip Clubs(NYT) It is, the testimony indicates, a world where trust between men is
enhanced by visits to strip clubs, where cash for favors is passed
“under the table,” where candidates are supported by party leaders
because of whom they promise to appoint as judges and commissioners. In hours of recorded conversations
involving Mr. Smith, of Queens, and another defendant, former City
Councilman Daniel J. Halloran III of Queens, as well as several
Republican county leaders, there is no talk of the city’s economy, the
plight of the poor or the host of other issues that, in theory, should
influence an endorsement. At one point in January 2013, an undercover
agent with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and a Rockland County developer, who was
cooperating with federal authorities to spare himself a long prison
sentence, were on their way to a meeting with Vincent Tabone, the Queens
Republican vice chairman and now the third defendant at the trial in
United States District Court here. They needed his authorization and
that of two other county leaders so Mr. Smith, a Democrat, could run for
mayor on the Republican line. They were wary about how far they could
go to entice Mr. Tabone because they had never met him. “We
were told this guy was for sale and willing to take a bribe under the
table, but we were nervous about how open we could be with him,” Anil
Modi, the F.B.I. agent, testified on Tuesday. According
to the recordings played in court, they called Mr. Smith, at various
times the majority leader and minority leader of the State Senate, to
seek his guidance. “Do
I have the authority to do whatever it is to cut a deal or whatever
needs to be done on your behalf?” Moses Stern, the developer, asked.“You
do what you think is necessary,” Mr. Smith replied. “O.K. I mean it’s
all the way, whatever it takes, correct?” Mr. Stern asked. “I’m on,
we’re on a team together,” Mr. Smith replied. On
the witness stand, Mr. Modi said to a question posed by Douglas B.
Bloom, an assistant United States attorney, that the two men were
referring to bribes Mr.
Halloran said later in the conversation that while Philip Ragusa, the
Queens Republican chairman, was “not an under-the-table guy,” his deputy
“Tabone is.”
NYC's GOP Leaders Love Strip Clubs
Mr. Halloran recommended persuading Mr. Savino by taking him “to the steak house Sparks in Manhattan,
then you take him to a strip club afterward.” Mr. Halloran and Mr.
Savino had already been to strip clubs together, according to the
recordings. Mr. Halloran told the two informers he had also been to a
strip club in Tampa, Fla., with Craig Eaton, the Republican leader of
Brooklyn, who is not charged in the case.* Daniel Halloran claims informant who caught state Sen. Malcolm Smith targeted former Presidential candidate(NYDN) The
former City Councilman, who's on trial with Smith for an alleged
bribery scheme, says Rockland County businessman Moses Stern went after
Republican politicians like Mike Huckabee and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of
South Carolina.* Recording: Ex-Councilman Halloran Discussed Malcolm Smith’s Alleged Bribery Scheme With Fed(WCBS) * Daniel Halloran claims informant who caught state Sen. Malcolm Smith targeted former Presidential candidate(NYDN) The
former City Councilman, who's on trial with Smith for an alleged
bribery scheme, says Rockland County businessman Moses Stern went after
Republican politicians like Mike Huckabee and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of
South Carolina.
More about the Smith Trial
More about the Smith Trial
.Nexus
2009 WFP Election . . . Data and Field . . . Wolfe . . . Connecting to 2013 Spending Limits
Investigator wants to speak with Mayor de Blasio aide Emma Wolfe in Working Families Party probe(NYDN) Roger
Bennett Adler sent a letter in September to Emma Wolfe, de Blasio’s
director of intergovernmental affairs, asking for a sitdown, according
to sources. The investigation is examining whether the party’s
now-dismantled for-profit arm, Data & Field Services, gave
cut-rate prices to Working Families candidates, giving them an unfair
advantage in elections. The investigation is examining whether the
party’s now-dismantled for-profit arm, Data & Field Services,
gave cut-rate prices to Working Families candidates, giving them an
unfair advantage in elections.The accusations center on whether Rose
received improper support from
the WFP’s for-profit campaign arm, Data and Field Services.“Good. May
justice be done,” said lawyer Randy Mastro, who sued the WFP on behalf
of Staten Island voters in a civil case.
A special prosecutor investigating the Working Families Party’s relationship with get-out-the-vote corporation Data & Field Services wants to interview Emma Wolfe, an aide to Mayor Bill de Blasio, The Wall Street Journal reports: Since 2012, the prosecutor, Roger Bennett Adler, has been investigating the Working Families Party's relationship with Data & Field Services, a corporation formed by the left-leaning party to provide its candidates with get-out-the-vote staffing and expertise. Investigators are looking at whether the for-profit firm charged significantly lower fees than is typical for such service, potentially providing an unfair advantage to favored candidates.
Group Honors Wolfe As Top Progressive? Interesting Timing
New Kings Democrats
More About WFP Data and Field
WFP, Acorn 2.0 and the New Progressive Machine
It is Time to Blame the Press for Enable NY's Corrupt Epidemic
The Media Continues to Ignore the U.S. Attorney Plea for Responsible Investigate Journalism . . . Ask Baldwin
Media Ignores U.S. Attorney Plea to Investigate Corruption to Improve Govt
Bharara: No Investigative Reporting Equals More Corruption
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
The Tenants of NYC Should Thank the Parkside Group For Being So Incompetent and Control of the Council
Panicked landlords are trying to do the impossible — convince New Yorkers that the rent is too damn low. With the Rent Guidelines Board mulling the first freeze in city history, the Rent Stabilization Association — which represents 25,000 landlords — has launched a six-figure ad campaign called, “A rent freeze hurts everyone.” The ad blitz began over the weekend and comes just as the guidelines board is preparing to meet Thursday for the first of five public hearings to discuss a freeze.
Tenants Thinking of A Parade to Thank the Parkside Group for Low Rents
Lobbyists Groups Parkside Spent $7.5 Million of Real Estate Developers Money and Failed to Elected A Council Speaker. . . Making Their Queens Boss Crowley Their Benefactor A Lose. The political action committee run by the Parkside Group, backed by the city’s strongest landlord organization, the Real Estate Board of New York, has doled out $7 Million for City Council candidates. The City Charter states. Parkside Jobs4NY gave gifts in the form of cash to the following council members: Chin, Levine, Dickens, King, Cabera, Gibson, Vallone, Prentzas, Lancman, Cumbo, Torres, Espinal, Maisel, Treyger, Mattero, Cohen (16 Members)
The Corrupt Parkside Group
Mayor Feels the Pain of His UFT Union Pals - Defends Tenure
T De Blasio defends teacher tenure * New York City Parents Pushing Hard For End To Teacher Tenure (WCBS)* CA teacher-tenure overturn will likely spur NY bid to do same: lawyer(NYP) * Hope for New York kids from California ruling(NYP Ed) A lawyer says the same kind of evidence used in California to strike down teacher-protection statutes could be used to bring an end to New York’s tenure laws* The Post writes that when elected officials call entrance exams to New York City’s specialized high schools biased against black and Latino students, they’re really saying they don’t believe students can pass the tests:
Mayor Does Not Feels the Pain of His Cops Sweet Penions
Too rich for our blood (NYDN Ed)De Blasio rightly opposes a pension sweetener for cops * The Daily News writes that though he has proven to be friendly with New York City’s public employee unions, Mayor Bill de Blasio is right to push back against
current calls for pension reforms for NYPD officers:
Mayor Feels the Pain of His Taxi Owners Pals
Court approves Taxi of Tomorrow, mayor still doesn’t (Capital) Mayor objects to idea of single taxi
Green Taxis Legal by Appeals Court
Appeals Court Rules Bloomberg Plan for ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ Is Legal (NYT)
The court reversed a lower-court ruling, resuscitating a program passed
under the Bloomberg administration for a nearly uniform taxi fleet of
Nissan NV200s Appeals court revives New York’s ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’(WSJ) * Mayor Criticizes Cab Plan After a Court’s Reversal(NYT)
Taxi Industry Gets $ to Pay for Handicap Cabs + Tip to Pocket From Mayor They Backed
Taxi fares getting $.30 hike to fund city’s handicap cab goal(NYP) All
taxi passengers will begin paying a 30-cent surcharge next year to make
half of the city’s cabs wheelchair accessible by 2020, according to new
rules approved by the Taxi... The surcharge will start next January,
and will be added on to yellow and green taxi trips, as well as livery
car rides. Flashback the WHY The News says de Blasio's 30-cent surcharge on cab fares is a huge gift to a prosperous industry. The Daily News writes that the proposed 30-cent surcharge for taxi trips would create roughly $53 million per year in revenue—a huge amount of money to give to a prosperous industry: Flashback De Blasio Reaps Big Donations From Taxi Industry(NYT) * De Blasio, a taxi-industry ally, will start by ditching Yassky(Capital* Analysis: Cab industry donors going strong for de Blasio(Newsday)
Taxi Lobbyists Bolton St. Johns, Inc., Connelly McLaughlin; Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP; Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Inc., Connective Strategi* Taxi Smartphone Hails Increase(WSJ) * Go green, Bill (NYDN Ed) De Blasio must move forward on citywide taxi service The Taxi & Limousine Commission has injected needless delay into expanding the wildly popular green taxi service for the boroughs and upper Manhattan.
More About de Blasio and the Taxi Industry
Taxi fares getting $.30 hike to fund city’s handicap cab goal(NYP) All
taxi passengers will begin paying a 30-cent surcharge next year to make
half of the city’s cabs wheelchair accessible by 2020, according to new
rules approved by the Taxi... The surcharge will start next January,
and will be added on to yellow and green taxi trips, as well as livery
car rides. Flashback the WHY The News says de Blasio's 30-cent surcharge on cab fares is a huge gift to a prosperous industry. The Daily News writes that the proposed 30-cent surcharge for taxi trips would create roughly $53 million per year in revenue—a huge amount of money to give to a prosperous industry: Flashback De Blasio Reaps Big Donations From Taxi Industry(NYT) * De Blasio, a taxi-industry ally, will start by ditching Yassky(Capital* Analysis: Cab industry donors going strong for de Blasio(Newsday)Taxi Lobbyists Bolton St. Johns, Inc., Connelly McLaughlin; Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP; Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Inc., Connective Strategi* Taxi Smartphone Hails Increase(WSJ) * Go green, Bill (NYDN Ed) De Blasio must move forward on citywide taxi service The Taxi & Limousine Commission has injected needless delay into expanding the wildly popular green taxi service for the boroughs and upper Manhattan.
More About de Blasio and the Taxi Industry
Quinn Blasio Working Behind the Scenes to Keep LICH Alive
Behind the scenes, mayor’s people work to save LICH deal
Maggie Haberman
Without Getting Rid of Members Items the Council Belongs to the Corrupt Tribes of NYC, Not the Progressive Culture
After the Friedman Corruption 1980's We Got Public Financing, But We Still Got Pols Stealing the Green
What Does Former Bronx Democratic Party boss Stanley Friedman 1986 Citisource Crook, Have In Common With 2014 Pay to Run GOP Smith both had the Same Lawyer Shargel?
Tom Robbins
Bribery demands for a new era: Donald Manes, 1985: "Where's mine?" Daniel Halloran, 2013: "I can take green."
http://nyti.ms/1oQ5bgV“Before, I had to show money coming in to help my campaign. Now, I don’t have to.” Later that same day, Halloran (R-Queens) sent the agent — whose real name wasn’t provided to jurors — an e-mail containing a commitment letter pre-dated four days and promising $40,000 to $80,000 for consulting work on a Queens YMCA.Mr. Modi’s testimony painted an unflattering portrait of Mr. Halloran as a councilman eager to use his so-called member-item discretionary account to pay back large contributors like Mr. Stern and Mr. Modi. In this case, the quid pro quo was a no-show management consulting contract worth up to $80,000 for the renovation of a senior center in his northern Queens district run by a nonprofit called Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Civic Association.* City Council Leadership Digs in Heels on Member Items(NYO)de Blasio still wants to ban member items in the City Council, but the fellow Democrats who lead the body are ready for a fight. Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, the Democratic majority leader, said last night that Mr. de Blasio would ultimately fail outlaw the discretionary funding granted to individual members.“Look, the council and I agree to disagree. We have a different perspective on this,” Mr. de Blasio said in May. “I do think it’s time to end member items. I think that’s the smart path going forward. But I also respect that the council has its own prerogatives and I respect them as a legislative body and we have to work in partnership. So we’ll continue to work on that issue.”
How de Blasio Became the Activists
“MISSION CRITICAL”: DE BLASIO ON HIS AGENDA -- Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel: De Blasio talked about his coming of age as an activist, during the Reagan years, when the federal government recused itself from dealing with—or even paying attention to—the pressing problems plaguing American consciences. During the 1980s, de Blasio said, “people were like, wait a minute, we’re adrift, what do we do? And so you had the nuclear-free zones in localities, you had the sister cities with Central America, you had the sanctuary movement, you had all sorts of things where localities…picked up the mantle and started creating their own counterprogramming.” Read the full transcript of de Blasio’s interview with the Nation, MSNBC and Salon here
Albany Admires the Crooks That Got Away
Bruno's back: Ex-Sen Maj Leader Joe Bruno making unexpected
return to Senate after acquittal amid cheers, hugs
That Den of Thieves admires a guy who
gets 20K a month as a bribe and gets away with it. Sickening.
Pressure Mounting On Bratton to Stop the Rise in Shooting
For a Much Safer New York, Bratton Redefines Role(NYT) Six months into his second tour as New York City police commissioner,
William J. Bratton describes his strategy for keeping the city safe and
for improving relations between police and the public. * The de Blasio administration has
proposed increasing the number of NYPD officers on the streets while
keeping the department’s employment numbers steady, though the City
Council is continuing to call for an increase in the department’s head
count, The Wall Street Journal reports: * Mayor Bill de Blasio has yet to name a
chair for the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, and since
February a three-member executive committee has been voting on decisions
usually made by the chair, the Daily News reports: * No one's watching over the city’s NYPD watchdogs:
Six months into his administration, Mayor de Blasio has yet to name the
city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board’s new chairman, and critics are
wondering if Hizzoner will ever fill the important post. “What’s going
on?” Chris Dunn, associate legal director for the New York Civil
Liberties Union asked CCRB members last week. “The mayor has spoken
often and loudly about his interest in police oversight. You are the
city’s police oversight agency. It’s June . . . there’s no new chair.”
More About NYPD & Commissioner Bratton
Daily News Pushing Stop and Frisk . . . Would There Be More Pressure On the Mayor to Do Something If the Rise in Shooting Were City Wide and Not Just Concentrated in Minority Neighborhoods
Thursday
Tuesday
Monday
A Quinnipiac New York City poll found approval for the NYPD dipped to 59 percent today, approval for Commissioner Bill Bratton stayed the same at 57 percent and 59 percent want police to patrol the hallways of public housing:
Thursday
Cops should beef up public housing patrols: poll(NYP)
Wednesday
City adds long-delayed cameras to Brooklyn housing project where six-year-old boy was killed(NYDN) * Mayor Visits Housing Development Where Kids Were Stabbed (NY1)* NYC Will Finally Finish Installing Public Housing Security Cameras, Two Years and Two Horrific Stabbings Later(Village Voice)
Silence the shooting spike(NYDN) Bratton must stop the rising gunplay shooting incidents rose from 448 to 507 in the same span, up 13%. In some precincts — like the 47 in the north Bronx — they have nearly doubled. Bratton says this is but a blip, one his NYPD will reverse by zeroing in on kids known to run with gangs. It must. Experts say the pullback in the use of stop, question and frisk by the NYPD, which began in the final year of the Bloomberg administration, can’t be ignored as a reason for the shootings hike. While officers retrieve firearms in only a tiny fraction of these stops, former Commissioner Ray Kelly relied on the practice as a deterrent — discouraging untold numbers of young guns from packing heat on city streets.Bratton’s crew crackdown is a fine idea — provided his officers can turn early successes into a reliable system of law enforcement. The numbers will tell if that’s so. Meanwhile, the NYPD must rely on time-tested strategies to reduce gunfire — including stop-and-frisk
Pressure Mounting On Bratton to Stop the Rise in Shooting
More About NYPD & Commissioner Bratton
Daily News Pushing Stop and Frisk . . . Would There Be More Pressure On the Mayor to Do Something If the Rise in Shooting Were City Wide and Not Just Concentrated in Minority Neighborhoods
Public allowed to sue NYPD cops over stop-and-frisk profiling, state judge rules (NYDN)A Manhattan judge tossed a Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association challenge to a law that makes it
easier for people who think they were racially profiled before a stop
and frisk to sue individual officers
Tuesday
Monday
NYCHA Safety Depends on More than Cops or Cameras(City Limits)
FridayA Quinnipiac New York City poll found approval for the NYPD dipped to 59 percent today, approval for Commissioner Bill Bratton stayed the same at 57 percent and 59 percent want police to patrol the hallways of public housing:
Thursday
Cops should beef up public housing patrols: poll(NYP)
Wednesday
City adds long-delayed cameras to Brooklyn housing project where six-year-old boy was killed(NYDN) * Mayor Visits Housing Development Where Kids Were Stabbed (NY1)* NYC Will Finally Finish Installing Public Housing Security Cameras, Two Years and Two Horrific Stabbings Later(Village Voice)
Silence the shooting spike(NYDN) Bratton must stop the rising gunplay shooting incidents rose from 448 to 507 in the same span, up 13%. In some precincts — like the 47 in the north Bronx — they have nearly doubled. Bratton says this is but a blip, one his NYPD will reverse by zeroing in on kids known to run with gangs. It must. Experts say the pullback in the use of stop, question and frisk by the NYPD, which began in the final year of the Bloomberg administration, can’t be ignored as a reason for the shootings hike. While officers retrieve firearms in only a tiny fraction of these stops, former Commissioner Ray Kelly relied on the practice as a deterrent — discouraging untold numbers of young guns from packing heat on city streets.Bratton’s crew crackdown is a fine idea — provided his officers can turn early successes into a reliable system of law enforcement. The numbers will tell if that’s so. Meanwhile, the NYPD must rely on time-tested strategies to reduce gunfire — including stop-and-frisk
AG Schneiderman Subpoenas Brooklyn DA Hynes Aides . . . Lobbyists Worlds Collide
The
AG Has Not Publicly Said He is Investigating the Advance Group, Berlin
Rosen, Arzt and Brandford, Now He May Be Forced To Now
State Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman reportedly subpoenaed consultant Mortimer Matz and Jerry
Schmetterer as he looks into possible criminal charges against former
Brooklyn district attorney Charles Hynes
Sources: The Defense of Hynes Public Relations Man, Matz is Already Out. Matz Was Not Running the Campaign.
Daily News "Still, sources close to Hynes say the majority of Matz’s emails were sent out on his own time in early morning hours. Matz defenders contend he was an integral part of the press office who routinely attended press conferences.. "
Lobbyists World Collide In the Middle of the Hynes Investigation
That means that the Advance Group, Gorge Arzt and Brandford will be used by the defense of Matz as the consultants that were running the Hynes campaign in the primary. That brings several conflicts for the AG Investigation of Hynes. They both used the same consultant, Brandord Communications. How can the AG investigate Hynes and not investigate Advance Group which is already being investigated by the FBI and CFB?
Sources: The Defense of Hynes Public Relations Man, Matz is Already Out. Matz Was Not Running the Campaign.
Daily News "Still, sources close to Hynes say the majority of Matz’s emails were sent out on his own time in early morning hours. Matz defenders contend he was an integral part of the press office who routinely attended press conferences.. "
Lobbyists World Collide In the Middle of the Hynes Investigation
That means that the Advance Group, Gorge Arzt and Brandford will be used by the defense of Matz as the consultants that were running the Hynes campaign in the primary. That brings several conflicts for the AG Investigation of Hynes. They both used the same consultant, Brandord Communications. How can the AG investigate Hynes and not investigate Advance Group which is already being investigated by the FBI and CFB?
Monday Update
AG Eric Schneiderman subpoenas Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes aides, says source(NYDN)The AG is looking into possible criminal charges, according to a source, who has revealed that the supoenas are for Mortimer Matz and Jerry SchmettererHynes could face theft charges for the misappropriation of public funds. Schmetterer also declined to discuss the case and Matz was not immediately available.In a 2010 interview with the New York Times, the veteran political guru said, “In 2013, I expect to be working on Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes’ re-election campaign. Still, sources close to Hynes say the majority of Matz’s emails were sent out on his own time in early morning hours. Matz defenders contend he was an integral part of the press office who routinely attended press conferences. Another incriminating aspect of the report concerned Barry Kamins — the top jurist in Brooklyn until his promotion to a statewide job late last year — who offered near-daily advice to Hynes about the campaign and related issues, emails showed. Meanwhile, Hynes has vacationed Florida, Aruba and Jamaica since his flopped bid for a seventh term, according to friend of the former lawman. He was in Hamptons when the DOI report was released last Monday, the pal said.
Capping off a week that started with stunning revelations the AG looks into Charges Against Hynes
Sunday Update
The departures include a veteran homicide prosecutor who bolted mid-trial and district attorneys with close ties to former DA Charles Hynes — whose legacy continues to be tarnished with new claims he misused public funds. Thompson was elected last November, and there have been ongoing shakeups and dismissals in recent months. The list of departures, sources said, includes a veteran homicide prosecutor who recently bolted mid-trial and district attorneys seen as close to former DA Charles Hynes. Along with their old boss, they were found to have possibly violated laws by funneling money seized from criminals to old-time political consultant Mortimer Matz, for a total of $1.1 million between 2003 and 2013.Matz was never enrolled as an official DA employee and was not on the payroll, according to sources.* A former Brooklyn prosecutor who raised questions a year ago about a troubled asset forfeiture fund interviewed by the state Attorney General's Office(NYDN) Barbara Burke told investigators on Wednesday that money seized from drug raids and Medicaid fraud cases was improperly used for campaign expenses, according to a source.
More On DA Hynes
More on the Advance Group
More on Horse-Carriage Politics
CrainsNY on the Advance Groups Double Dipping
Special Prosecutor? The AG, Bronx DA And Hynes Had the Same Political Consultant
Political Consultants Lobbyists Work for Prosecutors and Pols So Who is Watching Over Them?
AG Schniderman Berlin Rosen, SKD KnickerBocker,BRANFORD COMMUNICATIONS
Brooklyn DA Hynes THE ADVANCE GROUP, MILLENIAL STRATEGIES, GEORGE ARZT COMMUNICATIONS, DOUGLAS E SCHOEN, BRANFORD COMMUNICATIONS
Manhattan DA Vance Mark Guma Communications, GLOBAL STRATEGY GROUP, RED HORSE STRATEGIES, STU LOESER & CO
Brooklyn DA Thompson Red Horse, Berlin Rosen, BROOKLYN STRATEGIES, TIME FOR CHANGE CONSULTING
Queens DA ARNIE KRISS, MARK GUMA,
Bronx DA BRANFORD COMMUNICATIONS, STANLEY SCHLEIN, ESQ
Comptroller Stringer BERLIN ROSEN, BRANFORD COMMUNICATIONS, GEORGE ARZT, SKDKNICKERBOCKER, THE ADVANCE GROUP
PA Tish James Red Horse, HUDSON TG, Pitta Bishop Del Giorno, Mirram Group, HUDSON TG
Mayor de Blasio Berger, Henry T, Berlin Rosen, The Advance Group
Bronx BP Diaz, Jr. (no race) Branford Communications, Red Horse, Advance Group
Queens BP Katz Red Horse, George Arzt Communications, Multi-Media
Brooklyn BP Adams (no race) Red Horse, PITTA BISHOP
More on The Big 8 Lobbyists
More on Dark Money Pools Politics
Independent News' Future
True News Battles News by Spin By Providing Background to Stories In the News
True News Respects New Yorkers By Giving them Unfiltered News and None Lobbyists Supported News. True News Prints All Sides of An Issue and Offers Its Reader An Historical Background on the News Topic, So The Readers Are Not Manipulative By the Spins of Flacks, Pols or Even Newspapers Tracking Lobbyists Who Supported online Journalism
Taxi A state appeals court reversed a lower-court’s decision and declared to be legal the Bloomberg administration Taxi of Tomorrow plan for a nearly uniform fleet of yellow taxis in New York City
Crime Why Does It Take the Murder of a 7 Year Old for the City's Pols to Move on Increasing Crime in Public Housing and Making Sure Every Building Have Cameras?
NYFD The city fire commissioner’s new right-hand man is a gal — for the first time in FDNY history
MTA A new report shows that the MTA’s post-9/11 security program has been pushed back until late 2017 because of Superstorm Sandy, which caused salt water damage to security cameras and fiber optic cable(NYP)
Charter Schools The Success Academy charter school network, which clashed with Mayor Bill de Blasio over using public school space to start the year, wants to open 14 more schools over the next two years(NYT)
Teacher Tenure The Post writes that a California judge’s ruling to strike down tenure laws has aftershocks felt in New York, where last year just 31 percent of third- to eighth-graders tested proficient, but 91.5 percent of teachers were rated effective or highly effective:
Elite HS Undermining the elite high schools
NYPD De Blasio refuses to back increased disability pensions for cops: source T
Stuy Town Lenders Enlisted in Effort to Preserve Stuyvesant Town for the Middle Class(NYT)
Housing City officials push for providing lawyers for tenants facing eviction(NYDN)
Rents Landlords, tenants in crossfire as rent freeze battle looms(NYDN)
Real Estate Capital Real Estate: Walentases’ salty language for de Blasio (Capital)
SANDY UPDATE To Save the Shore, Putting Hope in the Sand(NYT)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING Albany Expands Effort to Cap Regulated Rents for Older Tenants (NYT) * Landlords launching ad blitz to stop rent freeze(NYDN)
TALE OF TWO CITY'S POVERTY As City’s Elderly Population Swells, Concerns Rise Over Lack of Access to Retirement Plans
GAS EXPLOSION UPDATE Regulator Wants to Know How Con Ed Is Handling an Increase in Reports of Gas Leaks(NYT)
1. Sandy HUD May Make NYC Compete for Sandy Aid
2. Gambling A proposed casino development is in Tuxedo — only 41 miles away from NYC
3. Gov Race Republican Rob Astorino rips Gov. Cuomo over attack ads
6. NYC Poverty NYC poverty rate hit 21.4% in 2012: study(NYDN)
8. Rangel Race The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union plans to endorse state Sen. Adriano Espaillat in his bid to defeat Rangel
9. Voucher Scandal State Sen. Phil Boyle, who is behind a bill to build a dorm for legislators in Albany, racked up $127,481 worth of lodging and food per diems during his six-year tenure in the Assembly
11. Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito Taking Her Time in Appointing Chief of Staff
12. Speed Cameras This City is just all too clever...Let's put speed cameras everywhere, then lower the speed limit to a ridiculous
13. Transparency New York officials are using private email to stay out of the public record.
14. Rapfogel Scandal Calculation behind charity? Despite scandal, Developer Bruce Ratner sticks with the Met Council
15 BOE Corruption City Councilman Ben Kallos rips Board of Elections for dodging blame after probe revealed problems
16. Citi Bike Majority of Citi Bike users are men: study
17. Port Authority Port Authority head orders internal corruption probe after suit
How NYC is Losing Its Middle Class Law meant to lower NY auto insurance made it surge: study
Closing LICH Hospital Competing bidders for Long Island College Hospital have one more day to reach an agreement for providing healthcare on the site before its owners close the hospital down on Thursday, May 22, The Real Deal reports
SUNY UPDATE SUNY Downstate says LICH to Maintain Current Level of Services as Negotiations Continue
Rangel leads Espaillat by 9 Points (41-32%) in 13th CD Primary acc to our new poll(NY1)
Gambling and Lobbyists
Moreland Update Michael Koenig, a former federal prosecutor, is expected to represent the Moreland Commission in its dealings with Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office and would function primarily as a replacement to the panel’s inside counsel
Sanitation .
Pre-K EXCLUSIVE: Mayor de Blasio gives pep talk to school staffers for pre-K enrollment boost(NYDN)
Grimm Campaign Rep. Michael Grimm’s campaign manager quit after indictment stopped donations: source
Rise In Shooting in Poor Neighborhoods
the ironically named DEB
Community Safety Act has already resulted in a major spike in shootings
in poor neighborhoods. Heck of a job, Bill
Gov Campaign Update
Documents show that Chemung County Sheriff and Republican lieutenant governor candidate Chris Moss withheld records from a county investigation into workplace harassment and violence complaints against him earlier this year, the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin writes:
Comptroller Stringer Prohibits Pension Placement Agents
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer is set to announce that the boards of trustees of all five city pension funds have passed a resolution prohibiting placement agents from helping arrange investments by the funds, * City bans broker fees on pension funds(NYP)
NYT: Pols Who Rose to Power On Morality and Reform Must Be Held to A Highter Standard
A political figure like Bill de Blasio, who rose to power by the hand of moral authority and with a reform agenda, is going to be judged more harshly than someone who seems more transactional, The New York Times’ Gina Bellafante writes:
State Closes Down 11 Hospitals Serving the Poor Shocking Health Disparities
A new collaboration between the NYU School of Medicine and the City University of New York will address cardiovascular disease disparities in some of New York City's most ethnically diverse communities. The schools announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will fund the new public-private partnership, called the NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center, which is set to launch Sept. 30. [Crain’s Health Pulse
] NYT: Legislative Corruption - Who is Responsivle for It?
Published: April 27, 1860 From the Buffalo Express
The NEW-YORK Times, in an article specially intended
for the consideration of the members of the last Legislature, as well
as for all its readers, inveighs with great severity against the
corruption which it alleges pervaded and controlled it, and warns the
people against the ultimate consequences of such corruption. The TIMES
may have been incited to unusual vigor in its denunciations, by the fact
that the legislature passed sundry bills affecting the City of
New-York, the contents of which are not acceptable to that, paper. The
merit of the article is not diminished by this, and we think the TIMES
deserves great credit, and it certainly has heretofore earned reputation
for its watchfulness of the City interests, and for its pointed;
forcible und fearless exposition for all schemes for public plunder, and
just rebuke of all men who have attempted to live and grow rich at the
expense of the tax-payers. It is today, with its kindred journals, held
in greater dread by all such men than its courts of justice, and all the
machinery of the law. It is doubtless the fact that property owners are
better protected by the vigilance and fearless outspokenness of the
leading New-York papers, than by all the cumbrous and ineffective
paraphernalia of law, which is supposed to protect the rights of its
citizens. This is lamentable, but it is true. The great fountain-head of all the streams of
corruption that flowed in on the Legislature is the City of New-York;
and it is entirely proper that the City should have the benefit of such
advice and rebuke as the TIMES or any other paper may have to bestow.
This fact, however, does not shield the Legislature if it has been
corrupt, and words are not forcible enough to express the indignation
which should be visited on the offending members. Not one word shall we
offer in their behalf, and can only say if there is ground for charges
which are made against certain of them, they should be forthwith
indicted and tried for the offence. It is indeed no pleasant prospect to
contemplate, which at this stand-point opens before us. The people are
at, the mercy of corporations and rich and bad men, and the day has come
when the voice of the people has no influence in shaping legislation,
nor can constituencies rely on the integrity of representatives. The
City of New-York, which paid no attention to the complaints of the means
and appliances brought to bear on the Legislature by the railroads,
but, with its usual selfishness, promoted all their schemes, has found
out that the corruption which could aid the railroad could also be
brought to aid the mercenary and selfish schemes of the speculators from
the City. The blade has two edges, and it is quite as likely to cut the
manipulator as the object at which it is aimed; and while the City
groans under the infliction which its own citizens have brought on it,
we say it is a matter which concerns the City alone; let the City bear
it -- suffering of this kind may end in its ultimate benefit. While the country cordially concurs with the City of
New-York in its opinion, that the corruption and bribery will sooner or
later end in the ruin of the State, it has no more of pity for the
agony which the City suffers under the inflictions of selfish and
corrupt speculators, whose names are to be found in their annual
directory.
.
.
Hispanic workers have unemployment rates of around 12 percent in NY, about twice the 6.3 percent unemployment rate for whites
NYP Attacks de Blasio Welfare Reforms, But Leaves Out Govt Checks to Developers Like Bruce Ratner
Lindsay’s third term(NYP) How sad that policies that do nothing to help the neediest and most vulnerable members of society are called “progressive,” even as they march us back to the kind of decisions of the 1960s and ’70s that helped devastate so many inner cities. It’s as if John Lindsay is back in Gracie Mansion.In this, New York was helped along by the historic 1996 welfare-reform bill, which, as E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center reminds us, “transformed an open-ended entitlement program into a system based on work incentives.” And at a huge savings to taxpayers: According to the city’s Independent Budget Office, the cost of public-assistance grants plunged to $1.4 billion this year from $4.4 billion (in 2014 dollars) in 1995. By almost any measure, this is a huge achievement.
Atlantic Yards Reports Asks Who Decided That Ratner $$$ OK and Wal-Mart $$$ are No Good? And Why?
A big check (not even a donation) from Ratner is fine, according to Lewis. A big check from Wal-Mart is toxic(AYR)Once upon a time, in 2005, the Forest City Ratner "publication," the Brooklyn Standard, promoted a rather meager gesture, the developer's decision to deposit--not give--$1 million in the black-owned Carver Federal Savings Bank, calling it "investing in the community." Beaming along with Bruce Ratner and a giant oversized check was Bertha Lewis, then of ACORN, along with two other Community Benefits Agreement signatories, the Rev. Herbert Daughtry and James Caldwell. Forest City not only supported the CBA signatories but bailed out national ACORN at Lewis's behest, before it declared bankruptcy.
Ratner Flashback State agency says Bruce Ratner used federal program to finance Atlantic Yards project, Nets arena(NYDN 2010) * Bruce Ratner re-invests in Cuomo, DiNapoli; Forest City gives to Democratic slush fund(AYR) * You're Helping Bruce Ratner Pay His Mortgage -- NYMag * True News (The Bund): How Bruce Ratner Wins Approval ... * Joe Lhota slams Bill de Blasio over being quiet on affordable housing in Atlantic Yards(NYSDN, 2013) * Queens Crap: Because "progressives" love Bruce Ratner * Bertha Lewis, Bruce Ratner make Times "Evening Hours" party page
What About the Govt Funded Gentrification Ratner Created?
Does Giving Govt $ Ratner Create Homelessness? Push Out Business Creating Unemployment . . . People on Welfare?
Brooklyn Tenants Protest, Demand More Protections To End Displacement
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The severe housing crunch in New York City is causing rent to skyrocket, but on Saturday protesters took to the streets in Brooklyn in an attempt to push back.
Hundreds of tenants joined forces with the Crown Heights Tenant Union to call for strengthened tenant protections in order to end displacement and what they call systematic rent overcharges, CBS 2 reported.
“Salaries have not gone up. Prices for everything else have gone up and we need our rents to remain the same. We have no problem with gentrification because we love the beautification of the neighborhood, but we also have the right to remain in our apartments,” one woman said. The tenant union is calling on BCB Capital Management, Pinnacle Realty and others to comply with their demands through a legally binding agreement.* Pressured to Move, Low-Income Tenants Resist Buyout The Brooklyn Bureau* Expensive Affordable Housing Riveting piece by
.
Council Speaker Calls Walmart's Charity $$$ Dangerous
Friday UpdateDe Blasio mum on Walmart-City Council dispute(NYP) * The gift of Walmart(NYPED)
Thursday Update
Local nonprofits that have received charitable donations from Walmart are denying calls from the New York City Council to return the funds to protest the retailer’s policies, the Post reports:
.
A Tale of Two Council Ethical Outrages
Nobody In the Council Has Ever Commented On the Conviction of Their Own Member For Misusing Member Items, Which They Approve
City Council members rip Walmart’s charity of ‘dangerous dollars’(NYP)More than half the members of the City Council have fired off a letter to Walmart demanding that it stop making millions in charitable contributions to local groups here. Twenty-six of the 51 members of the Council charged in the letter that the world’s biggest retailer’s support of local causes is a cynical ploy to enter the market here.
Sal Albanese
One Day Being Bullied, The Next Day Ignoring That Same Bully
Was It All Scripted to Fool Party Activists and the Public, By Who Besides Cuomo?
Cuomo jeopardized his new New York (democratandchronicle.com) Cuomo, whose first-term success is directly attributable to his centrist appeal, picked a fine time to choose sides. With just two weeks left in this year’s legislative session, the Democratic chief executive’s arm-twisted realignment with the liberal Working Families Party could prove costly for New Yorkers, particularly upstaters. All of this is happening because an ordinarily politically astute Cuomo allowed himself to be pushed around by a small downstate-based party that threatened to run its own gubernatorial candidate if he didn’t toe their liberal line. Cuomo obviously wanted to keep a third-party candidate out of the race at any cost so he could shoot for a plausible landslide victory in November that could help his possible presidential bid. Amazingly, Cuomo acted as if nothing had changed during a visit to Rochester last week. He sounded as centrist as ever. “We had gridlock before Washington had gridlock. Albany had it first, and we’ve totally flipped that.” Whether Cuomo admits it or not, the state may well be flipping back to the old New York. What a shame. * Column on Cuomo and the Indep and WFP lines: You say "transactional politics" like it's a bad thing: (TU)
Examining the Cuomo-WFP pact Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to make good on a slew of promises he made for the recent endorsement of the Working Families Party. Greg David examines the business implications of the governor’s new pact. [Greg David on New York]* HENDRIK HERTZBERG in The New Yorker, “Cuomo, the WFP, and Seven Days in May”: “Cuomo is the kind of politician who governs canoe-style. He paddles left, then he paddles right, then left again, then right again—and, in Cuomo’s case, right again. … Liberals are delighted with his strong leadership on marriage equality, criminal justice, and gun control. But his economic and fiscal policies are another story. On those, he paddles starboard. He cut the inheritance tax and a bank tax. He cut an existing surtax on millionaires and blocked New York City from imposing a new one. He allowed New York State’s minimum wage to rise gradually, to nine dollars an hour, but foiled Mayor de Blasio’s attempt to raise the city’s higher.
If You Think Ken Langone And His Rich GOP Friends Would Support Cuomo If He Would Allow the Senate to Be Take Over by the Democrats, We Have A Bridge to Sell You
“He balanced his budget exclusively via cuts in spending. On top of all that, he reduced his own proposal for extensive public financing of campaigns to a teeny, tiny pilot program—accepting, meanwhile, a contribution from David H. Koch, of the brothers. … Cuomo and the W.F.P. have reached a truce, but it’s more like a ceasefire than a ratified treaty. The W.F.P. has already delivered on its end of the bargain. It remains to be seen whether Cuomo will deliver on his.”* Cuomo caves to the Tea Party of the left(NYDN Ed) The floodgates open for a radical agenda. You’d think that after watching the Tea Party divide and weaken Republicans, Gov. Cuomo would know to steer clear of hard-line ideologues on his end of the spectrum. Worse, a governor who rightly says New York has no future as the America’s highest-taxed state was helping to elevate a third party that believes just the opposite.With both houses of the Legislature in the hands of Democrats — a large percentage of them cross-endorsed by the WFP — the floodgates would open for the party’s high-tax, business-hostile agenda.* Home Depot's Langone Defends Republicans for Cuomo ... * GOP power broker backs Cuomo's re-election campaign ... * Republicans for Cuomo sell out cheap | New York Post * Cuomo: Senate Dems Reunify, But Wait Until Next Year(YNN)
Why Did Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins Take the Heat off the IDC Members Who Face Primaries. Keeping the Attack Going on the failure to Pass the Women's Agenda and Public Financing Would Hurt the IDC Candidates?
WFP Leader Canter Has A Strange Way of Putting On Pressure on Cuomo to Keep to His Deal
Canter Love Filled the Convention Room WFP’s Dan Cantor on the party’s contentious convention: “It was a room filled with strong feelings, with solidarity, with love.”
Who is Keeping the IDC Alive and Why?
MTA board member Allen Cappelli is considering a Democratic primary challenge to state Sen. Diane Savino, saying he’s concerned that the IDC, through the majority coalition, is preventing other women and people of color from serving in leadership roles, the Staten Island Advance writes:
Monday Update
LOVETT: Democrat Jeffrey Klein may lose some union support(NYDN)
NYS Sen. David Carlucci urging fellow breakaway Dems to abandon GOP for Democrats: sources(NYDN)* Bronx Senate Race at Center of Cuomo's Pledge for Democratic Majority(NY1)The unions
representing the city’s teachers and the hotel and motel workers may cut
support if Klein and his breakaway Democrats don't re-align with
mainstream Dems. Meanwhile, a group of prominent progressive Democrats that includes
former city Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum are set to hold a fundraiser
for Koppell on June 19 at the Manhattan home of Manhattan attorney Craig
Kaplan and his philanthropist wife, Anne Hess.
NYP: Today’s Spending Ends Up Becoming the Rationale for Tomorrow’s Tax Hike
Backdoor tax hike(NYPEd)Bill de Blasio lost his frontal assault for a tax hike. But if his new budget is any clue, he is now building pressure for a tax increase through the back door. It all has to do with a boring acronym called “PEG.”PEG stands for “Program to Eliminate the Gap.” It’s the term bureaucrats use for pushing city agencies to find budget trims. Mayors have included PEGs in their spending plans for years. Not Mayor de Blasio.On Wednesday, city Comptroller Scott Stringer called the lack of a PEG “a potential problem.” He’s absolutely right. De Blasio says the budget challenges he faces are “unprecedented.” The back raises he gave the teachers union — paid with future dollars — won’t make it easier. His budget reflects multibillion-dollar out-year gaps.* Teachers' budget scrutinized Two months after Bill de Blasio and the United Federation of Teachers reached what the mayor called a "historic" contract agreement, some budget watchers are more concerned than ever that the deal's purported $3.4 billion in health care savings will not come to fruition. [The Insider]
Albany Red Light for de Blasio's Vision Zero
De Blasio’s Vision Zero plan is hitting a roadblock in Albany, where state lawmakers are running out of time to address his push to lower the city’s speed limit to 25 miles per hour, the Post reports:
What the Mayor Never Meet With Lobbyists Berlin Rosen Who Responded to NYT's Powell Question to the Mayor's Office?
Lobbyists who backed de Blasio for mayor have access(NYP)Mayor de Blasio personally met with six registered lobbyists in his first three months in office — half of whom were his supporters in last year’s mayoral race, The Post has learned. Records provided by the Mayor’s Office show that de Blasio huddled with Vincent Pitta — who was representing Long Island College Hospital and health-care workers in Local 1199 of SEIU — the same day he declared the rescue of the struggling hospital as “truly historic.” A series of subsequent setbacks for the hospital have risked making the Feb. 22 celebration Hizzoner’s “Mission Accomplished” moment.Pitta had given $400 to de Blasio’s mayoral campaign, and his firm — Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin — was a paid adviser for Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s election campaign. The mayor strongly backed Mark-Viverito’s campaign to become council speaker. De Blasio also met with the Real Estate Board’s Steve Spinola in mid-February, at a session with other board members that was on the mayor’s public schedule but was closed to the media.It was at that meeting that de Blasio expressed a willingness to build taller buildings in exchange for more affordable housing units. Other registered lobbyists on the mayor’s list included teachers-union chief Michael Mulgrew, who was in the middle of contract talks; Bob Master and Chris Shelton of the Communications Workers of America; and Tony Marx of the New York Public Library, which was mulling a major renovation of its 42nd Street main location.*Flashback Lobbyists Lined Up To Help Host Million-Dollar Bill de Blasio/Hillary Clinton Fundraiser
How Come Berlin Rosen Is Not Registered As A NYC Lobbyist?
Berlin Rosen Operates In the Dark Pools of Power and NYC Lobbyist
NYT 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. He advised that I should study the mayor’s proposals carefully if I presumed to take “a skeptical look” at prekindergarten. 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. Lobbyists Search for Berlin Rosen * When Campaign Aides Are Lobbyists, Questions Mount - City Limits(City Limits) * 8 Lobbyists Consultants and Citizen United * True News (The Bund): Dark Pools * City Hall's new 'in' crowd of lobbyists (CrainsNY) Lobbyists behind the campaigns of ascendant power brokers are now poised to cash in.* The Perma-Campaign: For Bill de Blasio, the Race Never Ends(NYO)
Twitter / BerlinRosen: Congratulations to whole team ...
Apr 24, 2014 - Congratulations to whole team @TwoTreesNY on the approval of Domino Sugar Refinery. Amazing project for NYC. Proud to be a part of it. Two Trees Cedes to de Blasio’s Demands, Agrees to Build More Affordable Housing at Domino Site
Secret Budget Negotiations, are Lobbyist the Reason for the Closed Doors?
Secret Budget Negotiations, are Lobbyist the Reason for the Closed Doors?
Disputes Over City Budget Not Yet Spilling Into Public View(NY1)
CM Dromm Threatens Charities Not to Take Walmart $$$
Ask not what your City Council can do for you. Ask what it might do to you.Furious over Walmart’s attempt to open a store in Gotham — and the Walton family foundation’s support for charter schools — a majority of council members signed a decree calling on the retail giant to stop donating to New York charities.
The council also urged these charities (which include City Harvest, Coalition Against Hunger, One Hundred Black Men) to return the checks.This “suggestion” came with a thinly veiled threat from Queens Councilman Danny Dromm that “other people are watching who [you’re] taking money from.” In between, the council also found time to ask Albany to pass a law restoring the job protections
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Hynes Calls Reporters Stenographers in His Emails to A Judge
Former DA Hynes in his emails wasclosely attuned to how he’s portrayed in the press, using a variety of disparaging adjectives to describe journalists. One is called “irrelevant,” another “sloppy” while others are dismissed as “stenographers.”
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Marking the Violent Murders in Brooklyn
GHOSTS COME ALIVE: Sidewalk monuments to mark deaths caused by violence in Brooklyn neighborhood(NYDN)
Former DA Hynes in his emails wasclosely attuned to how he’s portrayed in the press, using a variety of disparaging adjectives to describe journalists. One is called “irrelevant,” another “sloppy” while others are dismissed as “stenographers.”
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Marking the Violent Murders in Brooklyn
GHOSTS COME ALIVE: Sidewalk monuments to mark deaths caused by violence in Brooklyn neighborhood(NYDN)
Marking Brooklyn Democratic Convention HQ
Norman Oder
The optics here could be convenient: Hank Sheinkopf says a Big Apple convention would be a way “to marry Clinton centrists and de Blasio progressives.” Another Dem said the choice would fit with an unstated Hillary campaign message: “It’s the 90s all over again.” The last time NYC hosted a convention was 1992, when Bill Clinton was nominated.The local benefits could be limited. David Dinkins lost re-election a year after the DNC came to town, starting a 20-year Republican run at City Hall. And several key party members said they’re skeptical of de Blasio’s decision to make it specifically a Brooklyn bid. One Dem consultant who likes the proposal asked: “Is Brooklyn's brand of Democrats a winning brand for the national party?”
The real challenge could be logistics. Some Democrats who say Brooklyn provides a great backdrop for a new, more diverse and tech-savvy Democratic Party think most conventioneers would eat, sleep and shop in Manhattan. Also, not forgotten: The Barclays Center was supposed to foster thousands of units of affordable housing which haven’t materialized yet.* The Post writes that Mayor Bill de Blasio has good reason to want the 2016 Democratic National Convention to be in Brooklyn, and the incentives that come with the convention have the potential to bring benefits to all New Yorkers:
NYC These Are Your Political Leaders
The Three Stooges On Trial Pie Fight
First Halloran Said He Was Nuts, Smith Said He Was Tricked, Now Tabone Says He Was Drunk. Is This A Court Room or A 5th Grade Classroom?
Drunk political schemer thought Smith bribe was payment for legal consultation(NYP) A Queens Republican operative accused of pocketing $25,000 as part of a failed scheme to help state Sen. Malcolm Smith rig last year’s mayoral race was so boozed up when he took the cash that he thought he was being paid for legal consulting services, a lawyer claimed Thursday. Ahern, a lawyer for ex-Queens GOP Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone, accused the government of entrapment.
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A Special Message Delivered By NYC's Pols to New Yorkers
Diane Savino: The Marginalized Smith Wanted to Be the Big Man Again
State Sen. Diane Savino testified at state Sen. Malcolm Smith’s trial that Smith felt marginalized, a feeling that went back to 2009 when he lost his job as majority leader during the Senate coup
Witness Says Senator Was ‘Marginalized’(NYT)
A
colleague of Malcolm A. Smith, the New York state senator on trial for
bribery charges, said Mr. Smith believed he was the victim of a
“coup.”That
powerless feeling, the colleague, State Senator Diane J. Savino
testified on Thursday, went back to 2009 when Mr. Smith had just lost
his job as majority leader in what she described as “a coup.” Two
Democrats had joined with the Republicans to create a bipartisan
majority that was intended to rule the chamber. Eventually the remaining
Democrats decided they did not want Mr. Smith as their leader. “They
had marginalized him,” Ms. Savino said, using the word a second time as
Mr. Smith, betraying no emotion, looked on from the defense table.“He
thought he had an opportunity because the Republican Party did not
have a candidate and there were several — five or six — candidates for
the Democrats,” she testified. The plan to circumvent a crowded
Democratic field, she said, seemed “kind of goofy,” but “he was serious
about it.”Mr. Smith, 57, is on trial in the United States District Court
here on
charges of bribing the city’s Republican county leaders to give him what
is known as a Wilson-Pakula letter that would authorize him to run as a Republican.
The AG is Connected to the Ballot Sale Trial
AG Schneiderman Vouched for Moses Stern, A Shady Real Estate Developer
Update
Defense lawyers attack Monsey informant at pols' trial(LoHud)
Why the Case is Tried in Westchester
One of the mysteries of the case has been why it is being tried in Westchester, when all three defendants do their political work in Queens. The answer, it has emerged, is that the case had its genesis in Rockland County, where Moses Stern, also known as Mark Stern, lived and was facing charges of defrauding Citigroup of $126 million. Rockland, along with Westchester and six other counties, is in the jurisdiction of the Southern District of New York.
Why the Case is Tried in Westchester
One of the mysteries of the case has been why it is being tried in Westchester, when all three defendants do their political work in Queens. The answer, it has emerged, is that the case had its genesis in Rockland County, where Moses Stern, also known as Mark Stern, lived and was facing charges of defrauding Citigroup of $126 million. Rockland, along with Westchester and six other counties, is in the jurisdiction of the Southern District of New York.
He also kept dirt on
politicians — in case of a "rainy day," a former associate said.Stern,
in fact, was introduced to Smith during the undercover sting by a
rabbi who dropped Schneiderman's name when vouching for Stern's pull in
the fundraising community, a law enforcement source said. The rabbi,
according to the source, described Stern as a "macher" who raised a lot
of money for Schneiderman and could, perhaps, do the same for Smith. As DNAinfo.com New York first reported,
Schneiderman received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign
contributions from Esther and Joseph Markowitz, who live in upstate
Monsey. While the couple has not been charged with any wrongdoing, their cash
has been linked to an alleged plot hatched by City Councilman Daniel
Halloran to funnel illegal cash into his campaign coffers using straw
donors, which was revealed as part of a larger bribery investigation
Tuesday.The couple is also close to Moses (Mark) Stern, the key government witness who prosecutors say helped broker the bribery plot to get Smith, a Democratic state senator, on the Republican ballot for mayor.NY's Svengali Sheinkopf: The Corrupt Liar Still Running Politics and Fooling the Press
From Team Astorino
Statement from Governor Cuomo Spokesman
Hank Sheinkopf on Andrew Cuomo
April 12, 2002
Andrew Cuomo is "willing to say anything, do anything -- including distorting the facts -- to win election.'' (link) Cuomo-McCall Contest Quickly Turns Nasty(2002 NYT) More Dems adviser urging Cuomo to forget Working Families Party(NYP)
A Long History Of Sheinkopf Corruption Means Nothing To Power Brokers and Press
Even the Corrupt Independence Party is Flacking to Clean Itself Up
“The core premise of the Independence Party is that elected officials
should be free to legislate and use common sense in governing, and
shouldn’t be tied to a highly partisan social platform that fails to
represent their electorate,” MacKay wrote. “They should be free to make
policy and legislative decisions based on sound reasoning and input from
their constituents, not heavy-handed political party bosses or special
interest groups.”* "Legislative Corruption--Who is Responsible for it?" 1860 (!) flashback from Buffalo Express
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Bloomberg Spent Millions to Buy IP and GOP Ballot Lines
The Times’ Michael Powell writes that Mayor Michael Bloomberg deserves some of the blame for engendering a
culture of corruption in New York City: Mr. Powell wrote. “[W]hen he decided that his professed love of term
limits was silliness and that he would like the Republican Party
nomination, he spread cash the way a farmer spreads manure in spring.” Indy Party chief in jam over wife loan
The wife of the chairman of the state Independence Party solicited
and received a $10,000 business loan from a candidate who got the
party's coveted endorsement days later. (NYP)
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Wilson-Pakula Keeps the Cult Party Alive
“Something has to be done about Wilson-Pakula and cross-endorsements. You have mayoral candidates that are talking about this outwardly, about what they have to do to get on the ballot. That whole electoral process stinks and has for a long time. I think there’s an opportunity to reform that,” he said. “In an ideal world,” he said, “you’d have no cross endorsements.”* Cuomo says so long to Wilson-Pakula - Legislative Gazette
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Why Did It Take The Death of A 7 Year Old for the NYT to Demand Cameras in Public Housing?
The New York Times writes that there is no excuse for the absence of security cameras at hundreds of public housing buildings across New York City:* Stabbing Case Highlights Flawed System to Screen Inmates Before Release(NYT) * Stabbing Case Highlights Flawed System to Screen Inmates Before Release(NYT) * Hundreds Gather to Remember 6-Year-Old Victim of Brooklyn Stabbing(NYT)
NYT Opposes Vertical Patrols Since 2010
Seniors and Children Public Housing Crime Victims Would Be Better Off If The NYT Would Have Called for More Cameras When They Did Their Editorial Against Vertical Patrols in 2012 or in 2010 When the Paper Sued the NYPD Over Using Housing Rules to perform hundreds of thousands of unnecessary stop and frisks
Crime Out of Mind at the New York Times(Manhattan Institute) The paper’s latest vendetta against the NYPD overlooks the rampant lawlessness in public-housing projects. Such disproportionate crime is out of sight, out of mind, however, in the Times’s latest installment of its anti-New York Police Department vendetta.
NYT Put the People in Public Housing in Danger By Demanding Changes In Policing and Ignoring the Safety of the Tenants
A front-page article on September 26 triumphantly reported that the Bronx District Attorney was no longer prosecuting trespass arrests in Bronx housing projects unless the arresting officer personally confirmed the validity of the charge. Prosecutors adopted this policy, wrote reporter Joseph Goldstein, after “discovering that many people arrested on charges of criminal trespass at housing projects were innocent, even though police officers had provided written statements to the contrary.”Losing Faith in Stop-and-Frisk(NYT)* The threats over NYPD’s horizon(NYP) Less than six months ago, the city’s cop critics were demanding that we end police tactics such as stop, question and frisk as well as NYPD attempts to keep criminals out of housing projects.Today, the same people are screaming about the rise in shootings and gang violence in the projects and certain precincts.The NYPD's Dangerous Public Housing Patrol - Business Insider * Judge, NY Times Slam NYPD Over Trespassing BS (Gothamist) Yesterday, the NYPD was sued by the NY Times for repeatedly delaying or denying their requests for information. But the analysis of the data which they do have can give you some idea why the NYPD might not want to let all that information fly free, especially in regards to stop and frisks: today, a Judge, and implicitly the paper, criticize the NYPD of unfairly manipulating Housing Authority rules in order to perform hundreds of thousands of unnecessary stop and frisks not in the spirit of the laws.
More On Crime in Public Housing
Did the Mayor Use LICH Hospital As An Election Tool? Many In Cobble Hill Think So
There are signs that de Blasio is willing to fight for ordinary New Yorkers, but many in Cobble Hill think he is setting aside the fact that he protested the proposed closure of Long Island College Hospital last year, Liza Featherstone writes in amNewYork:
Big Nonprofit Hospitals Who Use Their Political Power to Close Hospitals for the Poor, Do Not Help the City's Uninsured
A Tale of Two Hospitals System
Meanwhile, it paid Executive Vice Chairman Herbert Pardes $5.58 million and CEO Steven Corwin $3.58 million that year. The hospitals “would rather put the money into their salaries,” said Anthony Feliciano, director of the advocacy group Commission on the Public’s Health System.* NYC’s top nonprofit hospitals enjoy the tax-free perks of charitable organizations and receive millions of dollars in state aid — yet spend less than 2 percent on the poor in the form of free care.*
DEB political grandstanding in
campaign over LICH & subsequent abandonment when elected is an
example of why citizens are cynical about pols
Political Parties In NY Are For Sale to the Hidest Bidder
Smith (right) is facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted of bribery conspiracy, wire fraud and extortion. Malcolm Smith once had his sights set on Gracie Mansion. Now a jury will be asked to send him to the Big House.The Democratic state senator from Queens — who is seeking re-election despite his legal woes — heads to trial Monday in White Plains Federal Court on charges he tried to buy a spot on the 2013 mayoral ballot as a Republican by paying off the city's GOP bosses. Mr. Halloran is also charged with promising a “cooperating witness” and an undercover federal agent that he would use $20,000 from his councilman’s discretionary account to finance consulting work for them on a senior center in Queens and for a no-show job. And he would call in favors from other council members to increase the size of the discretionary allocation.* State Sen. Malcolm Smith to head to trial(NYDN) * Sen. Malcolm Smith Corruption Trial Begins(WCBS) *Judge brushes off insanity plea from ‘corrupt’ ex-councilman(NYP)
Remembering D-Day With Their Brothers in Arms(NYT) * Memories From Normandy(NYT Ed) * Homage to heroes(NYDN)
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Feds Say Smith Followed In the Long NYC Tradition of Trying to Buy A Ballot Line
Malcolm Smith attempted $200K bribery in failed GOP mayoral bid(NYP) Unsatisfied with the power he’s amassed in Albany, Democratic state Sen. Malcolm Smith last year tried pulling off a $200,000 bribery scheme to get on the Republican ballot for New York City mayor – with then-Queens Councilman Dan Halloran “setting the whole thing up,” a federal prosecutor told jurors Wednesday. “Malcolm Smith wanted something more; he wanted to be mayor” and figured his best shot would be to cross party lines and “run as a Republican."Bloom said Smith – one of the state’s top Democrats – made the failed bid to secure the Republican mayoral primary line by bribing Halloran, Tabone and then-Bronx Republican Chairman Joseph “Jay” Savino. Smith, the prosecutor said, turned to crooked Rockland County developer Moses Stern and an undercover agent for money and help pulling off the scheme.
The Pre-K Half
The Daily News writes that New York City should make all data for every prekindergarten provider instantly accessible to ensure that all programs deliver safe, high-quality prekindergarten:* Day after NYDN reveals health code violations at NYC pre-K, city hits 2 w/ 21 more * De Blasio hailed a new mixed-use development in Harlem that will house a universal pre-K program and contribute 124 units to the administration’s affordable housing goal, City & State reports:Less Than Half of New York City’s Applicants for Pre-K Get Their Top-Choice School(NYT)
* 4 out of 10 parents shut out from public school pre-K: officials(NYDN) * Pre-K Spots Go to 62% of Applicants in First Round(WSJ) * REJECTION LETTERS -- “Thousands of Kids Rejected as Pre-K Demand Exceeds Supply of Seats,” by DNAinfo’s Amy Zimmer: “The Department of Education received 41,178 applications for about 26,000 full- and half-day seats for the fall of 2014, leaving more than 15,000 kids without a spot … “In Queens' District 24, which includes Flushing, 70 percent of students were turned away. More than 60 percent of applicants in The Bronx's District 11, which covers the northeast Bronx along the Westchester border, received rejection letters, as did more than 60 percent of applicants in Brooklyn's District 20, which spans Bay Ridge, Borough Park and part of Sunset Park, DOE data showed.” http://goo.gl/LzudzS* 38% of New York City pre-k applicants did not get an offer for a school placement. (WNYC) * City confident in meeting pre-K demand with non-school spots(Capital)
None Profit Picks Up Speakers Tab
Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito didn't pay for the trip to Chicago. But she scored $ for her campaign.Some are questioning a trip to Chicago last year that New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito took during which she attended a fundraiser that raised money for her re-election campaign, though her trip was paid for by a nonprofit organization, The Wall Street Journal reports:
The Selling of Political Party Ballot Lines Is More Than the Smith Trial
Rangel Race Promises of Jobs
What They Will Get In Reality is More Gentrification and More Low Paying Jobs
In Race for Rangel’s Seat, Top Rivals Promise Job Growth in Struggling Areas(NYT)
Representative Charles B. Rangel and State Senator Adriano Espaillat
courted voters in the Bronx and Harlem with promises of job growth.
* Rep. Charles Rangel and challengers will face off in the Bronx after all* Rep. Charles Rangel and Democratic primary challenger state Sen. Adriano Espaillat both courted voters by promising to bring jobs to Harlem and the Bronx, though the theme of whether Rangel’s longevity is an asset or weakness never quite faded, the New York Times writes:
* Rep. Charles Rangel and challengers will face off in the Bronx after all* Rep. Charles Rangel and Democratic primary challenger state Sen. Adriano Espaillat both courted voters by promising to bring jobs to Harlem and the Bronx, though the theme of whether Rangel’s longevity is an asset or weakness never quite faded, the New York Times writes:
Schumer Repeats His Grad Speech Again and Again and Again
CHUCK’S “DUMPED” SPEECH makes Wall Street Journal A1 as A-Hed -- “Senator’s Pomp Makes for Odd Circumstances: Senator Drops by Graduations to Tell Same ‘Loser’ Story,” by Mike Vilensky and Sara Germano: “As colleges around the country go through the graduation ritual of speeches, handshakes and cheers, school officials in New York have been dealing with another ritual: the often unadvertised arrival of Mr. Schumer. Politicians at all levels of government often speak at commencement, but few have embraced the role as ardently as New York's senior senator. So far this commencement season, Mr. Schumer, a Democrat elected in 1998, has made remarks at at least eight colleges or universities in the state. … “Schumer often recites a variation on the same story, in which he turned down a scholarship to travel abroad after graduating from Harvard to spend time with his then-girlfriend, who subsequently dumped him. ‘There I was: no scholarship, no trip around the world, no girl. I said to myself, “What a loser you are,”’ he said in his remarks this year at Binghamton. He told the same story at Hofstra University and Stony Brook University this year. And at St. Francis College in 2010, Saint Rose in 2010 and Binghamton in 2012. ‘It's like the ''Twas the Night before Christmas” of commencement speeches,’ said Karla Schuster, a spokeswoman for Hofstra and former reporter who said she has heard the speech m
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Labor, WFP and Progressives Using the Pressure of A Primary to Change Klein
An Offer He Can't or Can Refuse?
Labor groups, including Local 1199 SEIU, are in talks with state Sen. Jeff Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference about the IDC breaking its alliance with Senate Republicans, with whom they’ve formed a majority coalition, the New York Post reports:
* WFP backs Koppell over Klein, but unions split - The Insider ...
* Republicans in the
High Court to Rule on Big Gulp Ban
Much more than soda is at stake in New York’s battle over sugary drinks.* SODA BAN HITS STATE'S TOP COURT: Judge hears arguments on New York City's push to ban large sodas(NYDN)
New York City's push to ban big sodas reaches state's highest court(NYDN) * Soda-Ban Fate Weighed(WSJ)Tuesday: More WFP Cuomo Fallout
If the Left Had a Tea Party (Politico)
The Working Families Party made a deal with Cuomo to give him its backing for governor, which was billed as a historic step forward by Mayor Bill de Blasio—then came the day after, The New York Times’ Michael Powell writes:* The Post writes that those wondering why Albany is so corrupt should look no further than the Working Families Party’s decision to endorse Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the three key players behind it Astorino to make Cuomo’s dependence on de Blasio to get WFP line a central campaign theme * The Working Families Party’s grudging endorsement of Cuomo may be intriguing for insiders and pundits, but others should find the deliberations silly at best and dishonest at worst, Anthony Weiner writes in the Daily News:
Cuomo Pushes Back From WFP Video
“But even with Cuomo and the unions on their side, the Democrats are by no means a safe bet to run the table and win back a sufficient number of seats to compel the renegade Independent Democratic Conference to return to the fold. Yes, they would have a 32-member majority, but at least two members—Simcha Felder and Ruben Diaz Sr.—could be counted on to vote “no” on public campaign financing and the full Women’s Equality Act, which contains an abortion rights plank.”--TAKEAWAYS from Politico’s Maggie Haberman: “Cuomo, described as obsessed with his margin of victory in what should be a fairly easy reelection battle … pushed himself into facing boiling-over anger among liberal activists over his centrist governing … where Occupy Wall Street was born so he could secure their line. … de Blasio, who's got strong ties to the party and helped broker a deal, … could claim a king-making role after months of beatdowns from Cuomo. The WFP, which needs 50,000 votes to maintain status on the ballot in future races, has billed this as a massive victory, getting Cuomo on tape promising to a range of policy points, including allowing localities to set their own minimum wage rates.”* Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Virginia Perez, a Westchester County legislator, won’t wage a primary run against Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.* Stewart-Cousins says Gov. Andrew Cuomo reassured her of his dedication to ending the current IDC-GOP leadership, and she “did not feel that I had to press him.” *
IDC Leader Jeff Klein recently picked up the endorsement from the Pelham Democratic Committee in his primary battle against former NYC Councilman Oliver Koppell. Tenants PAC is backing former NYC Comptroller John Liu’s bid to unseat Sen. Tony Avella in a Democratic primary.* Sen. Tim Libous thinks Cuomo will come to realize that returning to Democrat control of the Senate isn’t a good idea.* The Buffalo News writes that despite pledges made to the Working Families Party to win support, including one to help Senate Democrats assume power, Gov. Andrew Cuomo should remember that New York needs more of what he achieved in his first term, not less:* Gov. Cuomo Wednesday hardly sounded like a man ready to keep his promise to take out the Senate Republicans. “We have a very good working relationship on both sides of the aisle,” Cuomo to reporters following an economic development announcement in Rochester. He took credit for reversing years of partisanship in Albany that “totally gridlocked” state government. “The lack of partisanship in Albany is something that I’m very proud of,” Cuomo said.* Glens Falls Post-Star EDITORIAL: Cuomo trades honor for support: * Reminding Cuomo of his party (Wash Post)
Green Party TU: "Green Party gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins believes that the Working Families Party’s controversial decision to throw its support behind Gov. Andrew Cuomo provides a clearer choice for voters seeking an alternative to both major parties this fall." * Cuomo-Hochul Ticket Given WFP Nod, Officially(YNN) * State Republicans are accusing Gov. Andrew Cuomo of flip-flopping when it comes to supporting a Democratic takeover of the State Senate, with Senate Co-Leader Dean Skelos suggesting there are “two Andrew Cuomos,” State of Politics reports * Just a few days after calling for the ouster of Republicans from their power base in the State Senate, Cuomo sought to characterize his relations with GOP lawmakers as productive, telling a reporter “We have a very good working relationship on both sides of the aisle,” The Buffalo News reports:
de Blasio Moves Fast On Gov Min Wage Commitment
Friday
Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped a lawsuit brought by the Bloomberg administration aiming to block the city's prevailing-wage law, as de Blasio looks to raise the pay of workers in city-subsidized buildings, Crain’s writes:
Thursday
Higher Minimum Wage Gains Support(NYT)
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said he would support raising the state minimum
wage — currently $8 per hour — and he might also support an even greater
wage for high cost-of-living areas like New York City.* Can the Minimum Wage Be Too High?(NYT)On Monday Seattle raised its minimum wage to $15 an
hour. But can the city afford it? Will it lead to job losses, as some
predict, or be a model for national r
Council Speaker Melissa
Mark-Viverito Wants $15 Dollars An Hour New York City Council Speaker Melissa
Mark-Viverito said she would like to see the minimum wage in the city
increased to $15 an hour and she is ready to convene hearings on the
matter, the Daily News reports: * Mayor Bill de Blasio is dropping the city's suit against the prevailing wage law:
Fallout of the WFP Endorsement: Ammunition for GOP's Rob Astorino
Fredric U. Dicker
Wright: WFP Won’t Get All They Want(YNN)
Source: De Blasio plans outreach to I.D.C. challengers(Capital) de Blasio plans to reach out this week to potential challengers to
members of the State Senate's Independent Democratic Conference* Democrats in the mainline conference
are confident Cuomo will follow through on his promise to help them
retake the State Senate, although it remains unclear what form the
governor’s support will take, State of Politics reports: * Higher Minimun Wage Mayor Bill de Blasio got behind a
proposal floated by Gov. Cuomo to raise the state minimum wage to
$10.10, with an option—formerly opposed by the governor—for a 30 percent
increase to just over $13 in New York City, City & State reports * Lost in the chaos of the Working
Families Party convention was its endorsement of challengers to two
members of the breakaway Senate Democrats—Oliver Koppell, who is going
up against Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein, and John Liu, who is challenging
Sen. Tony Avella, Crain’s reports: * Ross Barkan of the Observer writes that de Blasio has regained some clout in his relationship with Cuomo, which was formerly defined by the governor’s clear victory in their
first budget war earlier this year * NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to reach out this week to potential challengers to IDC members and also potentialyl meet with IDC Leader Jeff Klein.
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Partnership Head Wylde We Have Business Piece In Our Time
Does Wylde Have A Clue What is Going On?
The head of the Partnership for New York City said she's heard no concerns over Gov. Cuomo's deal with the Working Families Party that includes a call to hike the state minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, tie future increases automatically to the rate of inflation, and give some localities the ability to set their own minimum wage to cover differences in regional cost of living. "The governor's decision to take the WFP line is his political decision," Kathryn Wylde said Sunday. "It doesn't necessarily disrupt his relationship with the business community." Still, she said, her members will be watching as things move forward.
@nytimes has not had one article about #Arroyo campaign fraud @joeberg #CD17
Trial for Queens Dem Charged w/ Fraud
Sampson Separate Petition
Brooklyn Boss Seddio Is Petitioning for Sampson But Won't Carry the State Senator On His Clubs Joint Petition. Turns Out All the Elected Officials and District Leaders are Carrying Separate Petitions for the Indicted Senator
.
.
Hevesi Said Not Allowed to Probe Special Needs Abuse
Does Wylde Have A Clue What is Going On?
The head of the Partnership for New York City said she's heard no concerns over Gov. Cuomo's deal with the Working Families Party that includes a call to hike the state minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, tie future increases automatically to the rate of inflation, and give some localities the ability to set their own minimum wage to cover differences in regional cost of living. "The governor's decision to take the WFP line is his political decision," Kathryn Wylde said Sunday. "It doesn't necessarily disrupt his relationship with the business community." Still, she said, her members will be watching as things move forward.
Carmen Arroyo Watch
Sampson Separate Petition
Brooklyn Boss Seddio Is Petitioning for Sampson But Won't Carry the State Senator On His Clubs Joint Petition. Turns Out All the Elected Officials and District Leaders are Carrying Separate Petitions for the Indicted Senator
.
.
Hevesi Said Not Allowed to Probe Special Needs Abuse
Secret tape shows Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi saying that his leadership refuses to probe state agency(NYDN) Hevesi,
who chairs the chamber's investigations committee, said in the
recording that he was not allowed to investigate the Justice Center for
the Protection of People With Special Needs, even though Assembly
Democratic leadership believe the agency is a fraud. He was speaking to
activist Michael Carey, who made the recording.
@klnynews typical of how legislature works in NY State, these guys forget their job is to protect the public not to cower to pol bosses
Corrections Department in Crisis
New New York City Corrections Department Commissioner Joe Ponte called the department’s performance under his predecessor, Dora Shiro, unacceptable, the New York Post reports:
* 'DEEP TROUBLE': City's new jail boss says Department of Correction is a mess(NYDN)
JFK Boss Quites
JFK boss suddenly quits(NYPThe Port Authority’s top boss at JFK Airport abruptly quit his $179,600-a-year position without explanation Monday, sources told The Post. Gennaro “Jerry” Spampanato, 75, JFK’s general manager, notified PA officials...
NY tabloids unimpressed with Bowe Bergdahl deal: "'Victory' for Terror"- @nypost & "'Taliban Victory'"
Ratner Award for?
-
Ratner award sparks intra-preservationist fight http://capi.tl/1kCp0Uo via
@capitalnewyork -
@Bkjowasserman@capitalnewyork More reasons to question award to Ratner/Gilmartin http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2014/06/on-night-ratnergilmartin-get-onassis.html …@danarubinstein#AtlanticYards
JoAnne Wasserman
BOE Wants More $$$
Board of Elections wants to raise pay for pollworkers(NYDN) NYC's embattled Elex Board seeks pay hike for 36,000 poll workers, already among highest paid in nation* NYC’s embattled Board of Elections is lobbying City Hall for $7.4 million to boost the salaries of its 36,000 temporary pollworkers — many of them party insiders — by $100.
What Happen to the Criminal Investigation That Comptroller Liu Called for Two Years Ago
May 31, 2012 John Liu Called For a Criminal Investigation on 911 Now We
Know NYPD Chief Dowd took gifts from Contractor Verizon May 31,
2012 John Liu Called For a Criminal Investigation on 911 Now We Know
NYPD Chief Dowd took gifts from Contractor Verizon Where is our criminal
investigation all these years it's been obvious we need one simple
math....I
guess city Council aren't the brightest light bulbs or is it that
they're trying to protect the fact that they dropped the ball. Over the
last few years the counicl has had dozens of hearing about problems in
the 911 system What happen to the council oversight role? * Comptroller Investigating City's 911 System After EarlyComptroller Investigating City's 911 System After Early ...(2013) * Bloomberg Blasts Liu's "Stupid" 911 Audit | NBC New York(2012) *Gonzalez: City Controller John Liu threatens to block massive Verizon contract to maintain New York's 911 system(NYDN) * Liu: 911 Upgrade Cost City Millions - Times Newsweekly * City Council holds emotionally charged hearing on 911 (2013) * Dept. of Investigation Launches Probe into Ariel Russo, 911 (2013)of D-Day Punk CM Dromm Want to Kick the Military Out of NYC Schools
Tuesday Update
Junior ROTC kids fire back at councilman who trashed program(NYP)
New York City Council Education Committee Chair Daniel Dromm wants to shut down the New York City school system’s Junior ROTC program, saying he has a philosophical problem with the program, the Post reports: * The head of the NYC Council’s Education Committee, Queens Democrat Daniel Dromm, wants to shoot down the school system’s Junior ROTC programs — charging they’re training high-school students for a “war machine.”
The .000004% Did This to NY
81 WFP Delgates/78 WFPProxy in A State of 19,000,000 -Revolution By A Potemkin Party
Monday Update
As Antics Subside, Both Cuomo and the Left Claim the Last Hurrah
In
the end, liberals were exulting in what they believed would be the
start of a tectonic shift in New York politics, as the governor agreed
to abandon his Republican allies in the State Senate and throw his
weight behind electing fellow Democrats. If Saturday’s madcap
machinations in this Albany suburb are the shape
of things to come, the liberal-Democratic rapprochement could make
politics as usual in Albany look serene and orderly by comparison. He
kept his distance by relaying his promises in a recorded video —
which itself became the subject of intense negotiations — and then even
addressing the convention in a decidedly low-tech method: by calling the
iPhone of a Working Families staff member, which was hooked up to the
sound system in the ballroom where the convention was being held. Until
moments before Mr. Cuomo addressed the convention via video,
however, it seemed possible that the peace agreement would unravel. Emma
Wolfe, one of Mr. de Blasio’s most trusted aides, popped in and out
of the room throughout the afternoon, bouncing around the hotel’s inner
courtyards. Leaders of Working Families insisted he speak to the
convention live, to
elaborate on certain of his promises. Even that was not enough;
following his live call to address the convention, Mr. Cuomo spoke with a
smaller group of party members to expand yet again on his commitments. *The floor action capped days of back-and-forth negotiations where, at one point, major unions threatened to secede
from the third party and a top Cuomo aide asked his Democratic
colleagues—Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom
DiNapoli—to boycott the W.F.P. in solidarity. In the end, union bosses and party leaders whipped enough votes to support a deal
that had Cuomo promising to work for a Democratic Senate in sync with
party priorities. Cuomo won with won with 58.7 percent of the vote. http://goo.gl/AZbXkl* --WSJ“Greater New York” cover, “Last-Minute Deal in Albany,” by Erica Orden:
“With the clock ticking, Mr. Cuomo spoke by phone to a smaller group
backstage, including a top aide to … de Blasio, Emma Wolfe, and WFP
members Jonathan Westin, Javier Valdes and Deborah Axt. This time, Mr.
Cuomo used the agreed-upon language (concerning giving local authorities
the ability to adjust the minimum wage within a formula) … The party
members were appeased, and about 45 minutes later, Mr. Cuomo received
his nomination …* Last-Minute Deal Secured WFP Nomination for Cuomo(WSJ) Cuomo's nomination by the Working Families Party came down to a set of
public declarations and private pledges—along with a few missteps by a
faction of the WFP and some heavy lifting by Mayor de Blasio and his
aides.
Cuomo Wins WFP Ballot Line
"This is literally one of those historic moments when things are changing," Mayor Bill de Blasio tells the WFP convention.* Senate
GOP's Skelos: "I have grave concerns that Governor Cuomo appears
to be turning away from a record of working with Repubs and
Dems."Skelos: "The scandal-scarred Working Families Party shouldn't be
holding
elected officials hostage in exchange for an endorsement" #WFP
Tally is 58.6% Cuomo, 41.3% for Teachout. Cuomo wins. Midnight Coup
d'etat: NYS Held Hostage By WFP Which Represents .03% of the voters in
NYS
.
Who the Hell Do the WFP Delegates Represent?
chris smith
@chrissmithnymag .@nygovcuomo conspicuously absent from quotes in WFP release declaring 'historic coalition.' hmm...'coalition' not best choice of words? * Splitsville: Skelos rips Cuomo’s deal with “scandal-scarred” WFP(LoHud)* newyorkist
@Newyorkist
Congratulations to Governor Cuomo tonight for agreeing to some democratic concessions as a democratic governor.* Paul Newell
@NewellNYC
LOL! RT @NewYorkGOP: .@NYGovCuomo is now a wholly owned subsidiary of BdB and the radical extremists of the #WFP...* Cuomo wins Working Families Party nomination(NYP) * Cuomo Secures Support of Working Families Party(NYT) *Working Families Party Gives Cuomo Its Ballot Line (Nation) * Cuomo caves to get Working Families Party nod New York Post
.
Who the Hell Do the WFP Delegates Represent?
Coup d'état The Night the WFP Took Over NYS
Cuomo Speaks
Cuomo
mentions passing same-sex marriage, gun control.
Job growth. We made government work. * Bill Lipton: "Without further
ado, we're going to watch this video from the governor." Loud boos from
attendees drown out video * OK. Enough musing. Cuomo's video is
starting. He's name-dropping EVERYONE. De Blasio, Westin, * Cuomo, in
video, says he backs a minimum wage that can be adjusted up to 30
percent depending on the area of the state. * Cuomo: “I support a
minimum wage of President Obama's $10.10, indexed.” Says NY's $9 deal
was "reduced" in legislative neg'ns.* Cuomo is now mentioning the WFP's
big priorities: Dream Act, women's equality act, and now #minwage hike. * Cuomo also calls for public campaign finance reform, and more school funding in poorer communities.
.
.
The Untold Story: The Collapse of the Democratic Machine
Cuomo vows to eliminate "power of big money in campaigns" in video at #nywfpcon. Crowd jeers. * Cuomo: "to make this agenda a reality we must change the senate leadership." IDC "must agree to return to democratic party." .@NYGovCuomo puts the screws to @JeffKleinNY and IDC. Says we must take back the senate * Boos as Cuomo video ends. "We can seize this opportunity for historic
change. I hope we can do it. I hope we can do it together."* Thomas Kaplan
@thomaskaplan Cuomo
calls for Democrats to take control of the State Senate, a break from
his position over the past several years. * Cuomo: “Either they announce
that they agree to come back to the Democratic Party or they will face
primaries this year.” #nywfpcon *
Cuomo, now speaking via phone, says the Senate leadership has "failed"
& threatens primaries against breakaway Democrats. * Cuomo: “I
don't want just a majority, I want a majority for us ... If we
have a majority, we will win, we will have a progressive agenda.” * chris smith
@chrissmithnymagvideos, speakerphones: is this @nygovcuomo
or wizard of oz? * Cuomo now on phone says he can't be at WFP
convention because he "had some previous engagements in the City" * IDC's Savino tells BuffNews just now Cuomo is "desperately trying to
seek support of fringe 3rd party so saying whatever he has to say." *Bill de Blasio is here now, to speak on behalf of @nygovcuomo. He gets a standing ovation. #nywfpcon * Now
speaking: Bill de Blasio. Unclear what kind of reception he'll get.
He's a darling of the left, but supporter of Cuomo.* In a statement, IDC
Leader Jeff Klein says he "will focus on governing and not be
distracted by nefarious political deals."* To secure @WorkingFamilies support, NY Gov Cuomo promises $10hr wage, DREAM Act, public financing of elections & break w/state Senate Rs..
From the Empire State to the Working Families Party State
.@BilldeBlasio mis-states time since that election, in 1998. "Fourteen years. Okay, fifteen years—math's not my strong suit!" #nywfpcon * De Blasio: “I know people have strong views, passionate views … but I want you to just think about that history for a moment.” #nywfpcon * De Blasio: “Six years we talked about $7.25 an hour. Tonight we talk
about a package of major reforms … that will change the lives of ppl.” * #wfp
de Blasio sez will get $10.10 min wage Dream Act & WEA in 2015
when they take Senate * "This is literally one of those historic moments
when things are changing," Mayor Bill de Blasio tells the WFP
convention. * If WFP can get Cuomo to deliver a WFP policy agenda,
they'll be the most effective political force in the US today. #longgame * .@BilldeBlasio says "tonight we talk about a package of major changes and reforms for the progressive agenda." * Josh Greenman
@joshgreenman
Saturday PM
WFP leaders urge skeptical members to support Cuomo(Capital)
WFP member: details of Cuomo deal "compelling" but gov's "obvious disinterest in poor working people" is "repulsive" * NYGOP calls for probe of Gov. Cuomo for "soliciting a bribe from the WFP - their endorsement - in exchange for promising political favors." * NY State GOP calls for investigation of Gov. Cuomo's deal with WFP * In other news, WFP just voted to endorse Adriano Espaillat * .@32BJ_SEIU's Hector Figueroa says "we have to let @NYGovCuomo
know that we have his back."* Sources say WFP leaders and union
officials have enough votes to secure Cuomo nomination, by a very thin
margin. #WFP * Gov Cuomo to get Working Families Party line after long fight in the liberal party, co-chair of party, source says.(Newsday) *Andrea Stewart-Cousins speaking to WFP's state committee about Dems taking the Senate majority. *Ten years ago, the WFP cut a deal with Joe Bruno to keep the Senate GOP in power.
A Possible Future Majority Leader Watches the WFP Vote
Update 7:20 PM Zephyr
Teachout meets the press: "I am seeking the Working Families Party
nomination." * Schneiderman is in bonafide lobbying mode. Keeps taking
Cuomo-wary
delegates into private rooms -- "Step into my office," he just quipped *
SKED UPDATE - On Sat, Mayor BdB will attend the WFP Convention in
Albany. Arrives abt 730 pm. Official sked update going out soon. * WFP
spox tried to cut down a question on Zephyr Teachout's residency. She
says she moved to NY in June 2009. * Zephyr Teachout says she's
considering whether to petition to force a Democratic primary against @NYGovCuomo * Increasingly
looking as if Cuomo will Skype into the WFP convention* W.F.P.
convention members meet in ballroom to vote on whether or not to endorse
@nygovcuomo. People call out "Don't Sell Out!" * immy Vielkind
@JimmyVielkind Here's a great primer from Laura @Nahmias on the state of play here. Party leaders whipping votes for Cuomo, hard. * WFP/Cuomo summary: Cuomo gets line, will do a video rather than show up,
de Blasio coming to speak soon, Teachout won't rule out Dem primary
'
Tweet By Tweet What Happen At the WFP Convention
If NYC Goes Back to 70's Will the GOP Campaign Against Him?
Will Hillary Have to Answer for de Blasio?
de Blasio's Jewish Hora . . . 24Hrs Later Not Paying Attention
Sunday Update
A tale of two standards (NYDN ED) Call it Mayor de Blasio’s personal tale of two cities. In one, he boycotts the St. Patrick’s Day Parade because organizers refuse to allow gays to march behind banners declaring their sexual orientation.In the other, he warmly addresses an Orthodox Jewish group that had fervently lobbied against legalizing same-sex marriage in New Y
Mayor de Blasio says it’s not kosher to ask about his silence over rabbi’s comment
De Blasio was not paying attention when an Orthodox rabbi went on a tirade against reform and Conservative Judaism at a Tuesday night event, according to mayoral aides, the Daily News reports:
Politics in NYC! De Blasio, at Haredi gala, keeps mum when Agudath rabbi slams non-Orthodox Jews
At a Jewish Gala, de Blasio Skips His Cue to Speak Out(NYT)
SILENT NIGHT — “At a Jewish Gala, de Blasio Skips His Cue to Speak Out” -- “Gotham” column by Times’ Michael Powell:
“Rabbi Perlow offered a shower of condemnation for Reform and
Conservative Jews, who he said were among those who ‘subvert and destroy
the eternal values of our people.’ These movements, he said, ‘have
disintegrated themselves, become oblivious, fallen into an abyss of
intermarriage and assimilation.’ ‘They will be relegated,’ he added, ‘to
the dustbins of Jewish history.’ This was a striking statement because a
majority of the Jews in this city identify as non-Orthodox. … When Mr.
de Blasio stood to speak a minute later, he offered no whisper of
demurral.”* Progressives against the press New York Post.* DE BLASIO’S JEWISH PROBLEM:
The fracture between the Orthodox community and progressive Jews is
becoming more difficult for politicians to navigate, as illustrated by
Mayor de Blasio’s recent tap dance, writes former assemblyman Ryan
Karben in City & State:
In NY Bad Guys Win in Politics
Despite the corrupt behind the Bloomberg millions money laundered through the Independence Party . . . Frank MacKay and his wife's consulting firm using pay to win an endorsement and the fact that the party is controlled by a sex cult, Cuomo accepted the party's line and City and State made them the winner of the week.
City and State Winner of the Week
Frank MacKay - Editorial board after editorial board urged Gov. Cuomo and the rest of the Democratic ticket to shun the state Independence Party in the 2014 elections. But MacKay laid low... and heading into the long Memorial Day weekend it was announced that the whole ticket accepted the party's backing, virtually ensuring the party another four years of viability. Even better for MacKay, the story emerging from the whole ordeal was about when Cuomo signed the paperwork and not about his actual decision to take the line.
Cuomo Speaks
Cuomo
mentions passing same-sex marriage, gun control.
Job growth. We made government work. * Bill Lipton: "Without further
ado, we're going to watch this video from the governor." Loud boos from
attendees drown out video * OK. Enough musing. Cuomo's video is
starting. He's name-dropping EVERYONE. De Blasio, Westin, * Cuomo, in
video, says he backs a minimum wage that can be adjusted up to 30
percent depending on the area of the state. * Cuomo: “I support a
minimum wage of President Obama's $10.10, indexed.” Says NY's $9 deal
was "reduced" in legislative neg'ns.* Cuomo is now mentioning the WFP's
big priorities: Dream Act, women's equality act, and now .
.
The Untold Story: The Collapse of the Democratic Machine
Cuomo vows to eliminate "power of big money in campaigns" in video at
So
bizarre that a Democratic governor had to have his arm twisted to
campaign for a Democratic Senate.* Oliver Koppell, sitting in second row
as de Blasio condemns Senate coalition, is smiling widely. * De Blasio
says this "moment" is "literally historic," and the "beginning of a
transcendent coalition" * @GannettAlbany umm he bribed the @WorkingFamilies Party for their line with a $10mm slush fund for @NYSenDems
Majority. That is a crime. * "I believe in this absolutely
unprecedented coalition. I have never seen anything like this in its
reach & power." @BilldeBlasio * "We don't leave our people behind in New York City anymore," says @BilldeBlasio. * "I am mayor of New York City only because I ran in a place that had public financing," says @BilldeBlasio.” * "I am mayor of New York City only because I ran in a place that had public financing," says @BilldeBlasio.” * Sal Albanese
@SalAlbaneseNYC
When are people going to wake up? DEB is a political operative not a
leader. He's a full fledged member of political class.* Former
Binghamton mayor Matt Ryan "I still can't figure out how taking back
senate precludes governor from being challenged." #nywfpcon.*IDC
on warpath; Senate GOP appears to have gone to bed?Those smiling
Cuomo/GOP/IDC pix still on gov's web page.Get last looks now.* After
nearly three hours of debate and speeches, the WFP has come to the voe
for governor. #nywfpcon * Dorothy Siegel, in North Brooklyn (the biggest district), votes for Cuomo. It doesn't look like Teachout can overcome this. #nywfpcon
Teachout Speaks
.@zephyrteachout
takes stage after Cuomo phone call. "I'm sure a lot of you and the
governor are wondering who is Zephyr Teachout." * End of Cuomo
speaker-phone call: "Boo!" "We don't believe you" "Liar" Followed by
standing ovation for Zephyr Teachout * Teachout: “My goal is to launch a
different argument — what kind of America, what kind of New York we
want to live in." * Teachout: “I don't want to just re-jigger screwed up
tax policy. I want
to stand with you and redistribute real power in our economy.”* .@zephyrteachout
says no matter what happens at WFP convention, she wants WFP to be
unified.* Teachout says she will fight to end Comcast-TWC merger.
Methinks this is aimed at the CWA, a major WFP component #nywfpcon *
Teachout says she was raised a Congregationalist. Closes her speech
with traditional Christian "peace be with you" exchange.* "I will never
ask you to compromise your principles and values." -- @zephyrteachout to WFP delegates.* #wfp Now phil rumor from Buff teachers union pushing Teachout sez time 4 a woman gov.* chris smith
@chrissmithnymag from the archives: "We're not a Ralph Nader Party," Cantor said. "We try to be principled and pragmatic."
-
Many people couldn't support me because their institutions had $ ties to Andrew's power. Should we accept a Gov who builds power from fear?
-
@zephyrteachout this says a lot about our pol system that allows taxpayer $ to be doled out to further personal political power
zephyrteachout
Saturday PM
WFP leaders urge skeptical members to support Cuomo(Capital)
WFP member: details of Cuomo deal "compelling" but gov's "obvious disinterest in poor working people" is "repulsive" * NYGOP calls for probe of Gov. Cuomo for "soliciting a bribe from the WFP - their endorsement - in exchange for promising political favors." * NY State GOP calls for investigation of Gov. Cuomo's deal with WFP * In other news, WFP just voted to endorse Adriano Espaillat * .
* Sherrill, Kenneth
@KenSherrill Neither Hugh Carey nor Mario Cuomo supported Dems for state Senate. Ask Roy Goodman and John Marchi.
A Possible Future Majority Leader Watches the WFP Vote
'
Tweet By Tweet What Happen At the WFP Convention
The mood here is very casual—Most delegates not in suits, protesters
with masks & signs have seats. No security. Kids in the aisle* De Blasio says 'yes' to a Democratic-controlled Senate(NYDN)
* Anti-Cuomo signs with guv photoshopped as king at WFP convention:
'Minimum wage? Let them eat cake ... out of touch elitist' * VIDEO: Zephyr Teachout won’t rule out primary against Cuomo * Schneiderman says WFP is nominating a ticket with a mandate to
"transform the Senate of the state of New York" to Democratic control.* .@AGSchneiderman
notes he was part of the group of lawyers who drafted the rules for WFP
nominations. "This is what democracy looks like."* WFP endorses Eric
Schneiderman for AG and Tom DiNapoli for Comptroller, as expected. Tense
governor nomination coming up.* W.F.P. math, pre-vote: 159 members
present. 81 are physically here, and 78 have a proxy instead.
'
Bob Master, WFP co-chair and CWA political director, now nominating Cuomo for the WFP nod.* First speaker in support of @nygovcuomo is a member of 1199. Union's leaders have been pushing in support of Cuomo. She yields to Bob Master * laura
@nahmias Bob Master: It is my honor to nominate Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The crowd breaks out in a chorus of loud boos. #WFP * .@cwabobmaster:
"The decision that we’re making tonight is one of the most complex and
challenging that we face."* AG Schneiderman says WFP will leave
convention with plan to have Dems.
take control of the Senate and they'll pass Dream Act. WEA.* Jimmy Vielkind
@JimmyVielkind Another big (and good, I would argue) cultural difference at #nywfpcon: lots of delegates drinking beer in their chairs. #nygov * Sherrill, Kenneth
@KenSherrill *@mikeallen @CapitalTonight @JimmyVielkind @capitalnewyork Amazing concession! Dem gov supports Dem control of legislature.
@JimmyVielkind @blakezeff Can't Cuomo just pretend to try, then say he held up his end of the deal when it doesn't work?
'
Bob Master, WFP co-chair and CWA political director, now nominating Cuomo for the WFP nod.* First speaker in support of
.@cwabobmaster: endorsing Cuomo, "we believe we’ve obtained a commitment to build a unified coalition" w/ de Blasio, unions, WFP. #nywfpcon * CWA made it clear weeks ago that it would push for Cuomo * First mention of Gov Cuomo at Working Families Party nomination process draws 15 seconds of loud boos, hisses * Wow. Jonathan Westin, of NY Communities for Change, is seconding Cuomo's
nomination. Big get. He's a top activist, and just invoked Jon Kest * The great @jwnychange tells #nywfpcon
that WFP got fast-food workers in reach of $15 and a union * SEIU
1199's George Gresham: “Organizing 101: we should capture a victory when
we have it, sisters and brothers.”* Jimmy Vielkind
@JimmyVielkind Now up is Bertha Lewis, the former ACORN head. She's ripping Cuomo, and people are cheering.* Zephyr Teachout's name placed in nomination by Bertha Lewis to loud applause * There is screaming, chanting and stomping accompanying Bertha Lewis's nomination of @zephyrteachout over Andrew Cuomo. * Bertha Lewis: "We're in the fog of war, and we've got a Zephyr. We've got a strong wind that will blow away all of the Cuomo clouds" #nygov * .@BerthaLewis addresses WFP says @NYGovCuomo "got his four years. So what are we doing here now?!?"
Gresham:"I know there’s things that you don’t like about the gov...but
I’ve also gone thru too much pain to not be pragmatic&take a
victory" * 1199's Greshman quotes Kenny Rodgers: "You need to know when to hold
'em. And goddamit with this victory you need to know when to fold em." * Bertha Lewis, in @zephyrteachout
nomination, quoted Drake. "We started from the bottom now we here." *
Susan Weber on Cuomo—“He cut funding for our schools and he went to Lake
Placid and he spoke to the charter school, rich bastards” #nywfpcon * Susan Weber, speaking in favor of Zephyr Teachout, said @NYGovCuomo
can't be trusted, "he lies."*Susan Weber on Cuomo: "There's one problem
with the deal: he lies. He'll find a way to squirm out of it … I don't
trust him." #nywfpcon * Susan
Weber on Cuomo's public financing deal in state budget. "He stuck it to
Tom DiNapoli. And that's just wrong."* Wow. The WFP just voted to take a
10 minute break because of "technical difficulties," which are not
apparent to the crowd. * Pablo Guzmán
@yoruba69 Now you know why #Cuomo
went video vs actually being there. So for all his tough guy jive, will
not take the heat. Or allow that photo op.* WFP pauses for "technical
difficulty" -- multiple people telling me that
the "second draft" of Cuomo's video address has *not* arrived yet *
"What's the problem with the deal? He lies!" speaker says of Cuomo.
"That's not what I planned to say," she says, a bit sheepishly. * Steve McLaughlin
@SteveMcNY @JimmyVielkind Susan Weber is correct. @NYGovCuomo has proven time and time again he can't be trusted. Just ask the Catholic Bishops.* ? MT @ItsFischy:
Sources say delay is because de Blasio rejected Cuomo's first video.*
Cuomo is about to speak to the WFP convention via video and then by
phone. Teachout will speak in person. * That @blakezeff tweet raises excellent point: what happens to IDC in this deal? Are they targeted? Is rapprochement brokered? #nywfpcon* Steve Kornacki
@SteveKornacki
If NYC Goes Back to 70's Will the GOP Campaign Against Him?
Will Hillary Have to Answer for de Blasio?
Why New York—and Bill de Blasio—May Haunt Hillary Clinton in a 2016 Campaign(Daily Beast) Rather, de Blasio’s mayoralty stands to pose as a headache for the
would-be Democratic Dynasty. Right now, the city is showing signs of
slipping into the bad old days. Crime, fiscal recklessness,
and homelessness are stirring like discordant strains of music. If New
York City again goes awry, Hillary will be called to answer for it.
de Blasio's Jewish Hora . . . 24Hrs Later Not Paying Attention
A tale of two standards (NYDN ED) Call it Mayor de Blasio’s personal tale of two cities. In one, he boycotts the St. Patrick’s Day Parade because organizers refuse to allow gays to march behind banners declaring their sexual orientation.In the other, he warmly addresses an Orthodox Jewish group that had fervently lobbied against legalizing same-sex marriage in New Y
Mayor de Blasio says it’s not kosher to ask about his silence over rabbi’s comment De Blasio was not paying attention when an Orthodox rabbi went on a tirade against reform and Conservative Judaism at a Tuesday night event, according to mayoral aides, the Daily News reports:
Politics in NYC! De Blasio, at Haredi gala, keeps mum when Agudath rabbi slams non-Orthodox Jews
At a Jewish Gala, de Blasio Skips His Cue to Speak Out(NYT)
SILENT NIGHT — “At a Jewish Gala, de Blasio Skips His Cue to Speak Out” -- “Gotham” column by Times’ Michael Powell:
“Rabbi Perlow offered a shower of condemnation for Reform and
Conservative Jews, who he said were among those who ‘subvert and destroy
the eternal values of our people.’ These movements, he said, ‘have
disintegrated themselves, become oblivious, fallen into an abyss of
intermarriage and assimilation.’ ‘They will be relegated,’ he added, ‘to
the dustbins of Jewish history.’ This was a striking statement because a
majority of the Jews in this city identify as non-Orthodox. … When Mr.
de Blasio stood to speak a minute later, he offered no whisper of
demurral.”* Progressives against the press New York Post.* DE BLASIO’S JEWISH PROBLEM:
The fracture between the Orthodox community and progressive Jews is
becoming more difficult for politicians to navigate, as illustrated by
Mayor de Blasio’s recent tap dance, writes former assemblyman Ryan
Karben in City & State: In NY Bad Guys Win in Politics
Despite the corrupt behind the Bloomberg millions money laundered through the Independence Party . . . Frank MacKay and his wife's consulting firm using pay to win an endorsement and the fact that the party is controlled by a sex cult, Cuomo accepted the party's line and City and State made them the winner of the week.
Frank MacKay - Editorial board after editorial board urged Gov. Cuomo and the rest of the Democratic ticket to shun the state Independence Party in the 2014 elections. But MacKay laid low... and heading into the long Memorial Day weekend it was announced that the whole ticket accepted the party's backing, virtually ensuring the party another four years of viability. Even better for MacKay, the story emerging from the whole ordeal was about when Cuomo signed the paperwork and not about his actual decision to take the line.
City Council Pushes Vision Zero
Council Passes Bills Aiding de Blasio’s Quest to End Traffic Deaths(NYT)
Rules governing cabbies, motorcyclists and other drivers were among the
changes approved as part of a package of bills framed as a piece of
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan. The Council passed several bills promoting
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “Vision Zero” initiative to end traffic
fatalities, including a ban on cabbies who strike pedestrians* City Council cracking down on dangerous drivers with bill package(NYDN)* New York City Toughens Traffic Laws(WSJ) * De Blasio Orders Second Review of City’s 911 System(WNYC)
The Old Real Estate Mayor is Gone, Long Live the New Real Esate Mayor
The de Blasio administration is proposing a zoning change next to Grand Central Terminal that would clear the way for a 65-story tower built by SL Green Realty in Midtown East, The Wall Street Journal reports:--BACKSTORY: City Hall has lined up support for the project that foiled the previous administration, including big backing from labor and business/real estate. Councilman Dan Garodnick will say in a statement today: “This plan now puts the right emphasis on upfront infrastructure improvements, and guarantees that there is public review of the projects most likely to move forward early. It also allows for us to have a thoughtful exchange about how the broader East Midtown can grow and remain competitive, while also planning for district-wide improvements.”--THE MAYOR TODAY will announce “a multi-part strategy to strengthen East Midtown as a world-class 21st Century commercial district … a new consensus that will help ensure East Midtown's future vitality as a business district, attract more quality jobs to New York City, and deliver vital infrastructure improvements in the same timeframe as new development.”* NEW EAST MIDTOWN PLAN – In April, Capital’s Dana Rubinstein reported that SL Green was in talks with the de Blasio administration about a way to build a 65-story tower near Grand Central Terminal without the sort of neighborhood-wide rezoning Michael Bloomberg had unsuccessfully sought. The building, called 1 Vanderbilt, would include 1.6 million square feet of space and tower above the landmark Chrysler Building. … Now, WSJ’s Laura Kusisto and Eliot Brown report: “City officials have discussed rezoning Vanderbilt Avenue, which stretches from East 42nd Street to East 47th Street… The administration then would move forward with the rezoning of the rest of Midtown East, in a process that would include more community consultation. That effort would be led by City Council member Daniel Garodnick, who represents the area, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer...”* Zoning Change Would Allow Tower Near Grand Central(WSJ)
More on NYC Real Estate
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WFP Bosses Hold All the Cards Over the Party's Activists
Who’s selling out? Cuomo, the WFP — maybe both(NYP) The WFP the decision on who to back for governor will strip away the camouflage that has cloaked the party since its inception in 1998 — ostensibly to advance progressive policies but in fact as cover for the transactional politics of the public-employee unions comprising its core. Sanctimony and subterfuge are hardly unique to the Working Families Party, of course, but it has prospered because nobody has been paying close attention — and because its leaders haven’t been faced with hard ideological choices. Now the party’s true bosses — the folks who run the health-care workers and teachers unions in particular — are pushing hard for a Cuomo endorsement. Heaven only knows what practical understandings they’ve reached with the governor, but for sure the decision wasn’t a product of his sunny disposition. Yet the true believers are pushing back.
A Party With .03% of the States Registered Voters Has Taken Over its Politics
The result is a “striking spectacle,” as Alec MacGillis writes in an essay in the New Republic, as “a governor with a famous name and $33 million in the bank is scrambling to meet the demands of a third party led by a little-known former community organizer, Dan Cantor, with a mere 40 people on his staff.” The latest push came Tuesday evening, when New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Cuomo in talking to labor leaders.
“The
people I’ve spoken with,
there isn’t anybody supporting Cuomo,” WFP state treasurer Dorothy
Siegel tells Capital New York. Cuomo’s support for charter schools — as
selectively applied as it has
been — and his refusal to nick millionaires a second time to support de
Blasio’s pre-kindergarten program earlier this year, are like a bone in
the throat to the true lefties. A WFP endorsement of Cuomo means that
the party has surrendered its soul
to the unionists — who then could quit pretending to progressive values
and get down to the business of molding state government to fit the
best interests of their members. For make no mistake: Cuomo won’t win
the WFP endorsement without
having conducted some business of his own — some of which will quickly
be apparent, but most of which will probably never become obvious. Put
more starkly, the governor will have sold his own soul — or a very large
chunk of it — to the WFP. Immediate evidence of this would be strong
gubernatorial support for
campaign-finance legislation that passes WFP muster — that is, which
includes piles of tax dollars for candidates plus sharp restrictions on
business and personal political contributions, all along with carve-outs
effectively exempting unions from spending limits of any sort. 
‘We Don’t Have to Agree With Everything’: de BlasioReveals His Cuomo WFP Pitch(NYO)* Cuomo: Without Public Financing, Senate Coalition A Failure (Updated)(YNN)
Dante, Chiara de Blasio to lead Coney Island's Mermaid Parade!(NYDN) * Dante and Chiara de Blasio Crowned ‘King Neptune’ and ‘Queen Mermaid’(NYO) * Dante and Chiara de Blasio have been named “King Neptune” and “Queen Mermaid” at the 32nd annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, Brooklyn.* Mayor De Blasio’s Kids Named King And Queen Of Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade(WCBS)* Mayor's Kids Named King and Queen of Mermaid Parade(NY1) * De Blasio Children to Be Saluted at Coney Island Mermaid Parade(NYT)
de Blasio's Decision to Move 3 Charter School Costs $5.4 Million
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to move three Success Academy charter schools cost the city $5.4 million a year for the next four years, the Wall Street Journal writes: * City to pay $11G per student in three charter schools booted from public space(NYDN)
They Can Bitch About Homeless and Transparency, But Can They Change Anything?
Council Progressives Attack Charter School With Charges of Segregation
Demonizing Charters
(Manhattan Institute) New York’s City Council denounces schools that
help disadvantaged kids.At a recent New York City Council hearing,
education committee chairman
Daniel Dromm denounced the city’s charter schools, calling them a
“separate and unequal” system of education that borders on “apartheid.”
Public Advocate Letitia James agreed, suggesting that New York City has
betrayed the legacy of the civil rights movement by instituting
“privatization” and “segregation” in public education. But for all their
incendiary charges, the hearing’s participants couldn’t seem to agree
who has been victimized by charter schools. Dromm, James, and others
implied that the charter movement’s goals are
to separate kids on the basis of skin color and give advantages to white
children. But 60 percent of charter school students are
African-American. Another third of charter school kids are Latino, which
means that New York City’s charters overwhelmingly and
disproportionately serve minority communities. In order for the
apartheid metaphor to hold up, these schools would have to be pretty
miserable places. Yet Dromm and James claim that many charters are
lavishly outfitted with the best of everything, their budgets
supplemented by “Wall Street raiders” and “right-wing extremists.”
Ferrets Making History By Becoming Part of the City's Political Spin
Carriage drivers want OK for horses as city eyes ferret ban’s end(NYP)Stuff the ferrets, Mr. Mayor — and save the horses. That’s the loud-and-clear message from the city’s horse-carriage drivers, who couldn’t understand Wednesday how the de Blasio administration could consider lifting the city’s ban on ferrets while still vowing to run the iconic steeds out of Manhattan. “Maybe we should get ferrets to pull the tourists around in carriages,” said a fuming Ian McKeever, spokesman for the Horse and Carriage Association.* City yanks license of carriage driver who forced injured horse to work(NYP) * Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is blocking bills that would prevent New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio from following through with his campaign pledge to rescind licenses to horse carriage driversAssembly Speaker blocks bills to save the carriage horse drivers(NYDN) * Giuliani Thinks Captured Nigerian Girls Should Have de Blasio’s Focus, Not Ferrets(nyo) * Some Horse Carriage Advocates Upset Over Proposal To Lift Ban On Ferrets In NYC(WABC)
Another City Hall Secret Meeting With Lobbyists Brings Results
In nearly five months, de Blasio has barred the media from 53 events and limited access to 30 more—establishing a pattern of frequently conducting public business in private, the Associated Press reports: * De Blasio bars media from many public events* NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s spokesman defended the administration’s restrictive press policy following a critical AP report. * The Post criticizes New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for his lack of transparency, suggesting there is a progressive double standard because as Public Advocate de Blasio attacked the Bloomberg administration for failing to make records public
Ferret Freedom: Giuliani "This excessive concern with little weasels is a sickness"
…“Often, the mayor's photographer later published images from
those so-called private meetings, meaning that an official image of the
event is the only one that exists. It's a tactic President Obama has
also used while restricting access to events in the White House and
around the world. Several news organizations, including the AP, refuse
to distribute such handout images from Obama or de Blasio. …“‘We believe there is a whole swath of information that needs
to be available to the public and we need to continue to do a better job
on that,’ he said [at a Brooklyn news conference yesterday]. ‘There is a
lot of day-to-day government business that is appropriately disclosable
that we need to be better at.’ Any limits imposed on reporters are
largely due to logistics, not secrecy, noted De Blasio's spokesman Phil
Walzak.”--AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll said de Blasio’s “charm and talent” does not excuse his penchant for having “closed press” meetings.--Promises lobbying disclosure - After
taking questions on the subject of his restricted access to reporters,
de Blasio said he plans to disclose "substantive" meetings his
administration conducts with lobbyists, continuing a practice he
implemented when he was the city's public advocate. "I've tried to, in
my time as public advocate and continuing as mayor, do something I
believe in," he told reporters on Tuesday in response to a question
about the lack of media access to events on his public schedule. "For
example, when I have any kind of substantive conversation on a lobbying
matter with a lobbyist, I think that should be disclosed. We've done
that voluntarily. That's a standard we'd like to see applied more
broadly.".
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de Blasio Big Brother Speak
De Blasio said he has no regrets
about declaring Long Island College Hospital saved, even though the
Brooklyn hospital later announced it would shutter all but its emergency
department, the Observer reports: * Bill de Blasio Still Doesn’t Think He Has a Transparency Problem(NYO) * De Blasio announced at a candidates’ forum in March 2013 that he would eliminate the horse-drawn carriages in his first week as mayor,
delighting NYCLASS and other animal rights activists.* Bill de Blasio Says ‘It’s Time to End Member Items’(NYO) * Blaz’s abandoned pot pledge(NYDN) * De Blasio still says health care will be ‘saved’(Capital)Maintains it wasn’t premature to declare victory on LICH
de Blasio said Tuesday it that had not been premature to host a victorious press conference in February about the fate of Long Island College Hospital, which will now continue as a dramatically scaled-down medical facility. * Mayor de Blasio defends transparency record, despite closed events(NYDN)
.de Blasio said Tuesday it that had not been premature to host a victorious press conference in February about the fate of Long Island College Hospital, which will now continue as a dramatically scaled-down medical facility. * Mayor de Blasio defends transparency record, despite closed events(NYDN)
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Is Someone Trying to Kill Citi Bike? Union? Parking Fees?
NOT GIVING UP ON CITI BIKE? -- De Blasio said he supports a plan for Citi Bike workers to unionize and that despite the operator losing money while dealing with challenges like glitchy software and Hurricane Sandy damage, he believes the program has “been a success.” D.O.T. commissioner Polly Trottenberg said she is anticipating a resolution of the city’s talks with the program’s operator, Alta Bicycle Share, “soon.” Right now, the city is engaged in talks with Alta to see how it can fix the system without having to spend any city money. Alta has reportedly been in negotiations with a real estate company called REQX Ventures on a deal that would infuse the system with a lot more capital. More from Capital’s Dana Rubinstein:* City Hits Citi Bike with Surprise $1 Million Parking TicketCurbed NY-* Citi Bikes Are a Wild Success, But Will They Survive? Mashable*Bike and switch(NYP Ed) When then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced his new initiative to promote bike-riding in the city, he was emphatic about what it meant for taxpayers. The privately funded program needs an infusion of tens of millions of dollars just to stay afloat. And that doesn’t include the $1 million in lost parking revenue that the city is now asking the bike-sharing program to pick up. Turns out, it’s part of the contract’s fine print.
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Bharara Tells Senate and Assembly Not to Shred Moreland Documents
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Last Week the CFB Uncovered the Tip of the Iceberg About Illegal Coordination Between PACS and Political Consultants
Organized Crime Politics
The CFB determined under its rules last week that the Advance Group’s work on behalf of Brooklyn Council member Laurie Cumbo and Manhattan’s Mark Levine and the supposedly “independent” anti-carriage PAC really amounted to illegal coordination between the campaigns and the PAC NYCLASS. But the coordination between campaign consultants and PAC goes mush deeper then the CFB fines.Berlin Rosen another political consultant lobbyists besides working for mayoral candidate de Blasio also worked for Advance fined candidate Councilman Levine. Both Advance and Berlin also worked together for councilman Ydanis A Rodriguez. What the CFB is looking at as it continues it investigation of Advance is other types of coordination between the candidates and the political consultants that bring money and additional resources to NYC candidates that bring them over the spending limits they agreed to when accepting public matching funds.
Not One Councilmember Called for Reform to Campaign Consultants Running PAC
Not Even Cumbo and Levine Who Were Fined
Campaign Consultant Lobbyists Led by Advance and Berlin Rosen Have Divided Up City Government Like the Mob Did At the Apalachin Crime Summit, 56 Years Ago
Who Will Prosecute the Advance Group or the Other Interconnected Political Consultants?
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CFB Ruled That A Union Donation By de Blasio Cousin to A Pro Gambling PAC Led to Illegal Coordination With the Mayor's Campaign
The leaflet highlighted de Blasio’s name on the ballot and text from the referendum that said the push for casinos was about “job growth, increasing aid to schools and permitting local governments to lower property taxes.”
I find it hard to believe that there was no coordination between these organizations and the campaign
None of the printed materials urged a vote for de Blasio, but the city Campaign Finance Board ruled that the “posters and leaflets were supportive of de Blasio’s campaign,” spokeswoman Bonny Tsang said. “Both of them had the same image of the mayoral ballot with de Blasio’s name highlighted in yellow, thus clearly identifying him as a candidate for mayor with the yellow suggesting that voters should choose him,” she said.
De Blasio’s cousin John Wilhelm founded UNITE HERE! and is its highest-paid official. He also was a top de Blasio fund-raiser. Money from the union found its way to another “independent” organization in the mayoral race.Last May, UNITE HERE! gave $175,000 to NYCLASS, the group leading the charge to ban horse-drawn carriages. NYCLASS then sent $175,000 to an “independent” committee called New York City Is Not for Sale, which spent more than $1 million bashing one of de Blasio’s top rivals for mayor, Christine Quinn. More Big Money in NY Politics The state Board of Elections voted unanimously that New York’s $150,000 cap on campaign donations by individuals will no longer be enforced, citing U.S. Supreme Court rulings as the reasoning behind their decision, Newsday writes: Ratner and Al D'Amato Transactional relationship btw Bruce Ratner & Al D'Amato: $3M + curious contribution(AYR) * NY1 ItCH: A Not-So-Independent Governor
20 Albany Pols Campaigning to Keep Out of Jail
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Lights Camera Action Brooklyn
Half of the 29 television series shot in New York City last year were
based in Brooklyn, as were many of this year’s new TV pilots.
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Cuomo to Senate GOP: Pass Campaign Reform or the IDC-GOP Coalition Will Die
* Cuomo has won over some labor leaders in the Working Families Party, but activists in the third party’s state committee still have doubts about backing the governor for reelection, Capital New York writes:
Cuomo to press Senate Republicans on campaign finance, plus City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, former Gov. David Paterson(NYDN) If Republicans don’t get a campaign finance deal done this session, Cuomo will move to toss them out of power, say sources. Cuomo will work to toss the Senate Republicans from power by reuniting the chamber’s fractured Democrats if the GOP does not agree to create a statewide public financing system for campaigns, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation. “If Dean and the Republican conference renege and fail to pass campaign finance this session, the governor is going to actively campaign for Senate Democrats and work very hard after the election in November to unite” the breakaway and mainstream Democrats, a source said. A second source confirmed that Klein isn’t ruling out aligning the mainstream Dems. Insiders noted the ultimatum comes days before the liberal Working Families Party, which is split on whether to offer Cuomo its line, meets Saturday to make a final decision and as Klein faces a primary challenge from the left by Attorney General Oliver Koppell. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has refused to join Mayor de Blasio and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in calling on the Working Families Party to back Cuomo’s reelection. Some Dems were shocked that the liberal Mark-Viverito nominated Cuomo’s running mate Kathleen Hochul.* We talked to rank-and-file Working Families Party delegates, many of whom have lots of doubts about backing Cuomo (Capital) * Former Assemblyman Richard Brodsky says a “real” gubernatorial campaign about economic development and income inequality will only happen if the WFP “forces” the debate. * * Last week's State Democratic Convention was supposed to highlight Democratic unity, but instead it spotlighted a growing sense of unease and dissatisfaction the party's base feels for Cuomo, Gotham Gazette reports:
Campaign Debate is Not About Jobs But Fake Reform That WFP Will Use to Gain Power
The race is on(NYP Ed) Taxes. New Yorkers have long borne the heaviest tax burden in America. In the city, top earners pay more of their income (53.2 percent) in federal, state and local taxes than they keep. Beyond the city, local taxes in some New York counties lead the nation.Jobs. While spending has driven up taxes, taxes have driven jobs over state lines. So has Albany’s mind-numbing rules and mandates for businesses.
Balancing the Ticket More Important Than Details
Hochul is a conservative Democrat who as a congresswoman was highly
rated by the NRA and led the charge as Erie County clerk against
then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to provide driver’s licenses to illegal
immigrants. Albany insiders were taken by surprise that Cuomo picked ex-Gov. David
Paterson to chair the state Democratic Party, given his unimpressive
past. “Cuomo talks about taking New York out of the days of chaos and
dysfunction and then turns to the guy who was in charge at the time to
head the party?” one source said incredulously. Many of the party’s unions backers support Cuomo. But a number of party
insiders believe he hasn’t done enough to push progressive ideals.* David Paterson Definitely Has Joseph Bruno’s Back (NYO)
Campaign Finance is A Candy Store of Corruption for Campaign Consultants
WFP Created A New Machine With Just .03% of the City's Registered Voters
Once the mayoral race was over, the corruptive role of money in politics cycled out of their Super PAC structures and into 501(c)(4) structures, just like money used to cycle from ACORN, to New York Communities for Change, to the Working Families Party, to NYCLASS, and to The Black Institute. How Mayor de Blasio directs the affairs of political entities is by making sure that they get staffed by operatives or lobbyists, who have pledged their loyalty to him. Once vetted, these operatives and lobbyists can be counted on to conduct and participate in the established pattern of activities most beneficial to the mayor. It was announced last week that the purpose of the UPKNYC 501(c)(4) organization was to evolve from advancing the mayor's universal pre-kinder agenda to now being basically a blank check political apparatus. The interchangeability and permeability of these "instruments" staffed by loyalists form the basis of the "enterprise" that allows the mayor, from a phantasmal distance, to essentially order others to do his political bidding.
The Lobbyist Berlin Rosen and Pitta Bishop are Partners With the WFP New Machine
The mayor's political influence was extended across New York City after his administration installed the lobbying and consulting firm of Berlin Rosen, political operatives who worked on the mayor's campaign, in the media relations role of the mayor's universal pre-kinder initiative. Berlin Rosen maintained the universal pre-kinder messaging for the mayor this way. Berlin Rosen also serves as consultants to a coalition of major police reform groups, Communities United for Police Reform. The latter allows Berlin Rosen to again maintain the messaging coming from one of the mayor's most politically sensitive quarters : police reform activists. Tampering down police reform activists is all the more important to the mayor, especially after the NYPD continues to become embroiled in more racial profiled controversies.
Berlin Rosen besides working for de Blasio worked for the following City Council members: Margaret S Chin, Corey Johnson, Ben Kallos, Marc Landis, Mark Levine, Ydanis A Rodriguez, James Van Bramer, Elizabeth S Crowley, Richards Donovan, Rory Lancman, Stephen T Levin and AG Schniderman, Brooklyn DA Thompson.
Lobbyists Puppet Council Speaker . . .
Top Speaker Lobbyists Puts A Man Inside
Council speaker puts connected lobbyist on payroll(CrainsNY) Melissa Mark-Viverito quietly handed a $130,000-a-year staff position to
a lobbyist from the firm that helped propel her to the City Council
speakership, payroll records show. In late March, Carlos Beato, who was a lobbyist at the firm Pitta
Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin, joined the City Council payroll as a
deputy general counsel. The move came not long after the lobbying
shop—which has long served as Ms. Mark-Viverito’s campaign compliance
consultantIt was reported that another political insider and lobbying firm, Pitta Bishop, helped Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito
with City Council staffing. In respect of City Council staffing,
loyalists to the mayor being paid for by special interest donors act as
gatekeepers for the mayor's agenda. —quarterbacked her council speaker bid. The firm’s Jon Del Giorno set up an “appointments committee” for Ms.
Mark-Viverito to vet applicants for the council staff. The firm lobbied
Ms. Mark-Viverito as her speaker bid was ongoing,
and has continued to do so since her ascension to the city's
second-most powerful post. The close ties have drawn scrutiny and a call
from the Daily News for Ms. Mark-Viverito to sever ties with the firm and its clients.
Pitta Bishop also worked for PA Letitia James, Brooklyn BP Eric Adams, Councilman Chaim M Deutsch
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Cuomo to Senate GOP: Pass Campaign Reform or the IDC-GOP Coalition Will Die
Cuomo Giving the WFP Meat to Calm Their Activists Who Don't Want the Party to Endorse the Governor
* Cuomo has won over some labor leaders in the Working Families Party, but activists in the third party’s state committee still have doubts about backing the governor for reelection, Capital New York writes:
Cuomo to press Senate Republicans on campaign finance, plus City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, former Gov. David Paterson(NYDN) If Republicans don’t get a campaign finance deal done this session, Cuomo will move to toss them out of power, say sources. Cuomo will work to toss the Senate Republicans from power by reuniting the chamber’s fractured Democrats if the GOP does not agree to create a statewide public financing system for campaigns, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation. “If Dean and the Republican conference renege and fail to pass campaign finance this session, the governor is going to actively campaign for Senate Democrats and work very hard after the election in November to unite” the breakaway and mainstream Democrats, a source said. A second source confirmed that Klein isn’t ruling out aligning the mainstream Dems. Insiders noted the ultimatum comes days before the liberal Working Families Party, which is split on whether to offer Cuomo its line, meets Saturday to make a final decision and as Klein faces a primary challenge from the left by Attorney General Oliver Koppell. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has refused to join Mayor de Blasio and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in calling on the Working Families Party to back Cuomo’s reelection. Some Dems were shocked that the liberal Mark-Viverito nominated Cuomo’s running mate Kathleen Hochul.* We talked to rank-and-file Working Families Party delegates, many of whom have lots of doubts about backing Cuomo (Capital) * Former Assemblyman Richard Brodsky says a “real” gubernatorial campaign about economic development and income inequality will only happen if the WFP “forces” the debate. * * Last week's State Democratic Convention was supposed to highlight Democratic unity, but instead it spotlighted a growing sense of unease and dissatisfaction the party's base feels for Cuomo, Gotham Gazette reports:
Campaign Debate is Not About Jobs But Fake Reform That WFP Will Use to Gain Power
The race is on(NYP Ed) Taxes. New Yorkers have long borne the heaviest tax burden in America. In the city, top earners pay more of their income (53.2 percent) in federal, state and local taxes than they keep. Beyond the city, local taxes in some New York counties lead the nation.Jobs. While spending has driven up taxes, taxes have driven jobs over state lines. So has Albany’s mind-numbing rules and mandates for businesses.
Balancing the Ticket More Important Than Details
Campaign Finance is A Candy Store of Corruption for Campaign Consultants
Using political entities, operatives close to mayor exploit campaign finance regulations through ''pattern'' of activities
The New York Post has reported that since 2001, the mayor’s political operatives, possibly including Bertha Lewis and others, have been conducting activities with the goal of electing Mr. de Blasio as mayor, a feat they finally achieved last year, possibly with the help of a Super PAC. This project to elect the mayor began not long after the Working Families Party was co-founded by Mr. de Blasio, Ms. Lewis, ACORN, several unions, and others.WFP Created A New Machine With Just .03% of the City's Registered Voters
Once the mayoral race was over, the corruptive role of money in politics cycled out of their Super PAC structures and into 501(c)(4) structures, just like money used to cycle from ACORN, to New York Communities for Change, to the Working Families Party, to NYCLASS, and to The Black Institute. How Mayor de Blasio directs the affairs of political entities is by making sure that they get staffed by operatives or lobbyists, who have pledged their loyalty to him. Once vetted, these operatives and lobbyists can be counted on to conduct and participate in the established pattern of activities most beneficial to the mayor. It was announced last week that the purpose of the UPKNYC 501(c)(4) organization was to evolve from advancing the mayor's universal pre-kinder agenda to now being basically a blank check political apparatus. The interchangeability and permeability of these "instruments" staffed by loyalists form the basis of the "enterprise" that allows the mayor, from a phantasmal distance, to essentially order others to do his political bidding.
The Lobbyist Berlin Rosen and Pitta Bishop are Partners With the WFP New Machine
The mayor's political influence was extended across New York City after his administration installed the lobbying and consulting firm of Berlin Rosen, political operatives who worked on the mayor's campaign, in the media relations role of the mayor's universal pre-kinder initiative. Berlin Rosen maintained the universal pre-kinder messaging for the mayor this way. Berlin Rosen also serves as consultants to a coalition of major police reform groups, Communities United for Police Reform. The latter allows Berlin Rosen to again maintain the messaging coming from one of the mayor's most politically sensitive quarters : police reform activists. Tampering down police reform activists is all the more important to the mayor, especially after the NYPD continues to become embroiled in more racial profiled controversies.
Berlin Rosen besides working for de Blasio worked for the following City Council members: Margaret S Chin, Corey Johnson, Ben Kallos, Marc Landis, Mark Levine, Ydanis A Rodriguez, James Van Bramer, Elizabeth S Crowley, Richards Donovan, Rory Lancman, Stephen T Levin and AG Schniderman, Brooklyn DA Thompson.
Lobbyists Puppet Council Speaker . . .
Top Speaker Lobbyists Puts A Man Inside
Pitta Bishop also worked for PA Letitia James, Brooklyn BP Eric Adams, Councilman Chaim M Deutsch
In the End de Blasio's LICH Protest Help Gets Him Elected Mayor and Nothing For People Who Needed That Hospital
After All the Protests A Dead Hospital . . . After All the Money Horse Carriages in Central Park
Hey the Horse Protests Got A Mayoral Candidate Money, Wrecked His Main Opponent and Has Not Banned the Central Park Horse-Carriages . . .Green Taxi One Day Stop, Now A Go . . . Does Anyone See A Pattern?
Bill’s expensive bust (NYDN Ed)
Wag the Dog: Two Days Later the NYP Copies True News Report Card On How Well de Blasio Paid Back His Supporters
De Blasio donors aren’t getting what they paid for(NYP)Cash
poured into Bill de Blasio’s mayoral campaign from unions,
developers and special-interest groups hoping to advance their agendas.
De Blasio took in a total $10.6 million in donations, and so-called
independent spending groups shelled out even more to bash his opponents
or to support his effort. What did they get in return? For some donors,
not what they expected. Opponents of the carriage-horse industry,
for one, wanted the buggies off the streets at the start of a de Blasio
term, but they are rolling along. Here are some of de Blasio’s biggest
supporters and the issues they care about:
1199 SEIU Healthcare Workers East
How much: $208,000, plus at least $1 million spent on mailings to its members.
What they wanted: The giant health-care workers union fought to keep open Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, among other issues.
Result: Fail. As a candidate, de Blasio voiced his support for maintaining the Cobble Hill hospital, even getting arrested during a protest last year. But under a court settlement reached last week, an emergency room will remain open but the full-service hospital closed for good. * De Blasio said he has no regrets about declaring Long Island College Hospital saved, even though the Brooklyn hospital later announced it would shutter all but its emergency department, the Observer reports:
Yellow-taxi industry
How much: At least $550,000.What they wanted: To keep green taxis off the streets of the outer boroughs.
Result: Fail. De Blasio opposed green cabs as public advocate but named Meera Joshi, a supporter of green cabs, as his Taxi and Limousine commissioner. Rather than slowing the rollout of the green taxis, licenses for 6,000 of the cabs will be issued this summer.
Carriage-horse opponents
* City carriage horse drivers to bring fight to state Capitol(NYDN)How much: At least $1.3 million to support de Blasio and to promote City Council candidates opposed to the industry.
What they wanted: To banish carriage horses from Central Park.
Result: Fail. The mayor said ridding the streets of the iconic horse and carriages would be among his first acts in office. The carriages are still on the street and, with a campaign to keep them there with supporters such as Liam Neeson, they show no sign of riding off into the sunset.
Airbnb
How much: $24,950.What they wanted: The three founders of Airbnb each gave de Blasio the maximum $4,950 donation as did one of Airbnb’s investors and his wife. Another company worker kicked in $200. The apartment-sharing site has been battling regulators over the legality of offering short-term rentals in New York. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman subpoenaed Airbnb’s Web site to turn over the names of its users.
Result: Mixed. Under an agreement reached last week, Airbnb has to relinquish rental data stripped of user names and other identifying details. The AG can request more data to pursue investigations.
Affordable housing advocates
How much: $13,850What they wanted: Lisa Gomez of L&M Development Partners, bundled $13,850 for de Blasio to support more affordable housing.
Results: Victory. De Blasio unveiled a 10-year, $41.1 billion plan to create more affordable housing including a requirement for some builders set aside units for low and middle-income tenants.
When politically prudent in 2009, @BilldeBlasio said "no more subsidies" for #AtlanticYards Now, a hint of more
Labor Unions
What they wanted: A coalition of private and public unions kicked in $1 million to New York Progress, a committee that bought ads in opposition to de Blasio’s Republican rival Joe Lhota. With more than 100 municipal union contracts open, labor had a big stake in the new administration.
Results: Too soon to tell. Many contracts are still being negotiated, but the powerful United Federation of Teachers claimed victory in its newly struck deal that would provide for 10 percent salary increases over seven years.
.
.
.
It Turns Out Horse Carriages Also Makes Kings In NYC
Horsing around with cash (NYDN)
Council campaigns rightly slammed for illegal coordination with
anti-carriage crusade forces. The drive to ban carriage horses from the
city — and throw hundreds of
New Yorkers out of work — was based on more than animal rights
extremism. The higher power was illicit political cash. AdvanceAccording
to the CFB, Brooklyn Council member Laurie Cumbo and
Manhattan’s Mark Levine, both participants in the matching funds
program, hired a firm called the Advance Group as their campaign
consultants. At the same time, the Advance Group was raking in
substantial sums from
NYCLASS — and sending out campaign literature urging voters to back
Cumbo and Levine.The CFB determined under its rules that the Advance
Group’s work on
behalf of both Council candidates and the supposedly “independent”
anti-carriage PAC really amounted to illegal coordination between the
campaigns and NYCLASS. Using funds from donors that included UNITE HERE —
a union chaired by
Mayor de Blasio’s cousin John Wilhelm — NYCLASS slimed mayoral rival
Christine Quinn into oblivion.
More Actors for Future Shows Being Hired
A Real Estate Deal and A Miniature Hospital
.
.
It Turns Out Horse Carriages Also Makes Kings In NYC
More Actors for Future Shows Being Hired
UPKNYC, Now to Be Known as Campaign for One New York, Will Promote de Blasio's Agenda
A Real Estate Deal and A Miniature Hospital
#Now the activists have succumbed to reality. In exchange, Peebles Corp. has agreed to commission an independent study on the local community’s health-care needs.But it would only have to implement added facilities that are “reasonable” and “feasible.”* Woman arrives at LICH to give birth after half its staff was let go: sources(NYDN) * Activist hospital-ity(NYP Ed)The pity is the city could have had the same deal many months and tens of millions of dollars earlier. When SUNY moved to sell the bankrupt hospital, activists — led by then-mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio — launched an effort to ensure that any bidder would keep a full-service hosMore on the Battle t
Nod, Smile and Wave While You Can (Wink!)(NYT) Kathy Hochul bounded up the stairs to the podium, full of vim, vigor and enthusiasm. She’d just been nominated as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, replacing our current Lt. Gov. What’shisname. “Together,” she said on Thursday of herself and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, “we are going to be a team!” Here’s to hope.
To be anointed lieutenant governor to Himself is to redefine and give a loving embrace to powerlessness. From solar power to hurricane recovery to charter schools
to the precise number of light bulbs allocated to the State Capitol,
all is controlled from Mr. Cuomo’s second-floor lair.She gave a nod to
the governor’s ticket mates, the state attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman,
and Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The governor is contemptuous of the
former and dismissive of the latter. But conventions are like
Thanksgiving dinners: All dysfunctions are forgotten, at least until the
third bottle of wine is emptied.The governor does control impeccably. Joseph Percoco, his burly
retainer, wandered by. I was introduced. He gave an imperceptible nod
and fidgeted with his jacket button. Nearly in his shadow stood Larry
Schwartz, the governor’s secretary, looking like his own sepulchral
Cardinal Richelieu. The thought occurred that perhaps the analogy was
too obscure, so I turned to Wikipedia, which reports that the cardinal
“sought to consolidate royal power and crush domestic factions.”* * On the state Democratic convention’s
closing day, Democrats staged a procession of speeches and video
testimonials that masked tensions within the party, Newsday’s Dan Janison writes:
Cuomo Says He Offers Democrats A New Deal
Cuomo Takes the Independence Party Line, Daily News: Shame-Faced Skulking
Wednesday
Saturday Update
Governor accepts tainted Independence Party line. Even as he spoke those words, in fact, the deal was done. Cuomo had signed the paperwork to accept the Independence nomination before it was formally offered Friday. Cuomo jumped in bed with a party that thrives on deception and engages in fraud.A Daily News survey of the party’s new members found that 85% had joined by accident, checking a box marked “IndepenDENCE” when they meant to enroll as “indepenDENT,” with no party affiliation at all. The News further documented that party leaders stand for nothing, engage in sleazy horse-trading with insiders and use underhanded tactics to maintain their power.
No Respect for the Voters . . . In NY Corruption Gets You Elected
Nick Confessore
MT @gblainnydn: Indy Party papers at state BOE show @NYGovCuomo signed acceptance May 22--same day he said decision was "down the road." Cuomo Accepted Independence Party Line Before Formal No
.
The
truth is beginning to come out how big money controlled by campaign
consultants robbed New Yorkers of a fare democratic election in 2013
NYCLASS Kicks Advance Group Out
Saturday Update: NYCLASS Cuts Ties With the Advance Group
NYCLASS cuts ties with political consultant linked to ongoing FBI probe of mayoral race(NYDN) The anti-horse carriage group has cut ties with controversial political consultant Scott Levenson. The FBI has been questioning key players over whether Levenson pressured Christine Quinn to support NYCLASS’ campaign to end horse-drawn carriages. On Thursday the Advance Group emerged as a central player in city Campaign Finance Board rulings fining two city council candidates for dodging limits on campaign donations. Advance Group’s Levenson has been lobbying the council since 2011 for NYCLASS, records show. * NYCLASS Drops Advance Group Amid Mounting Bad Press(NYO)NYCLASS, the vocal animal rights group that is leading the charge to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, has parted ways with the Advance Group, a source with close knowledge of the relationship confirmed to the Observer this afternoon. A clear majority of New Yorkers want to keep the horses. The drive to put them to pasture is gradually being exposed as nothing more than a big-money fix by an overzealous lobbying group.
Horsing around with cash(NYDN Ed) The drive to ban carriage horses from the city — and thow hundreds of New Yorkers out of work — was based on more than animal rights extremism. The higher power was illicit political cash. Rulings by the Campaign Finance Board certify that NYCLASS, the anti-horse ringleader, engaged in a concerted effort to funnel money into helping friendly City Council candidates in amounts far larger than permitted by law. The scheme laid out by the board was elaborate. Council candidates are entitled to generous public matching funds for their campaigns, on the condition that they abide by strict limits on their fundraising and spending. According to the CFB, Brooklyn Council member Laurie Cumbo and Manhattan’s Mark Levine, both participants in the matching funds program, hired a firm called the Advance Group as their campaign consultants. At the same time, the Advance Group was raking in substantial sums from NYCLASS — and sending out campaign literature urging voters to back Cumbo and Levine. Same candidates, same consulting firm, same office — and a clear end run around the caps on how much candidates can spend on their races under the matching funds program.
Why Isn't the AG and the Manhattan DA Enforcing the Election Law?
The
CFB determined under its rules that the Advance Group’s work on
behalf of both Council candidates and the supposedly “independent”
anti-carriage PAC really amounted to illegal coordination between the
campaigns and NYCLASS. The board properly fined Cumbo and Levine. And
its crackdown on the
out-of-bounds campaign spending by NYCLASS has done the city a huge
favor, by providing a badly needed glimpse into the big money play that
successfully swung the 2013 city elections. Using funds from donors that
included UNITE HERE — a union chaired by
Mayor de Blasio’s cousin John Wilhelm — NYCLASS slimed mayoral rival
Christine Quinn into oblivion.Now the FBI is probing the funding of the
attacks on Quinn, and de Blasio’s flip-flop that led to his vow to ban
the horses. The CFB needs to stay vigilant, making every effort to hold
NYCLASS,
the Advance Group and sponsored candidates to account for their actions
in the 2013 campaign. Among the others benefiting from NYCLASS spending
was Melissa
Mark-Viverito, who took free services from the Advance Group in her
successful bid to become City Council speaker.
NYCLASS Kicks Advance Group Out
Saturday Update: NYCLASS Cuts Ties With the Advance Group
NYCLASS cuts ties with political consultant linked to ongoing FBI probe of mayoral race(NYDN) The anti-horse carriage group has cut ties with controversial political consultant Scott Levenson. The FBI has been questioning key players over whether Levenson pressured Christine Quinn to support NYCLASS’ campaign to end horse-drawn carriages. On Thursday the Advance Group emerged as a central player in city Campaign Finance Board rulings fining two city council candidates for dodging limits on campaign donations. Advance Group’s Levenson has been lobbying the council since 2011 for NYCLASS, records show. * NYCLASS Drops Advance Group Amid Mounting Bad Press(NYO)NYCLASS, the vocal animal rights group that is leading the charge to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, has parted ways with the Advance Group, a source with close knowledge of the relationship confirmed to the Observer this afternoon. A clear majority of New Yorkers want to keep the horses. The drive to put them to pasture is gradually being exposed as nothing more than a big-money fix by an overzealous lobbying group.
Horsing around with cash(NYDN Ed) The drive to ban carriage horses from the city — and thow hundreds of New Yorkers out of work — was based on more than animal rights extremism. The higher power was illicit political cash. Rulings by the Campaign Finance Board certify that NYCLASS, the anti-horse ringleader, engaged in a concerted effort to funnel money into helping friendly City Council candidates in amounts far larger than permitted by law. The scheme laid out by the board was elaborate. Council candidates are entitled to generous public matching funds for their campaigns, on the condition that they abide by strict limits on their fundraising and spending. According to the CFB, Brooklyn Council member Laurie Cumbo and Manhattan’s Mark Levine, both participants in the matching funds program, hired a firm called the Advance Group as their campaign consultants. At the same time, the Advance Group was raking in substantial sums from NYCLASS — and sending out campaign literature urging voters to back Cumbo and Levine. Same candidates, same consulting firm, same office — and a clear end run around the caps on how much candidates can spend on their races under the matching funds program.
Why Isn't the AG and the Manhattan DA Enforcing the Election Law?
The
CFB determined under its rules that the Advance Group’s work on
behalf of both Council candidates and the supposedly “independent”
anti-carriage PAC really amounted to illegal coordination between the
campaigns and NYCLASS. The board properly fined Cumbo and Levine. And
its crackdown on the
out-of-bounds campaign spending by NYCLASS has done the city a huge
favor, by providing a badly needed glimpse into the big money play that
successfully swung the 2013 city elections. Using funds from donors that
included UNITE HERE — a union chaired by
Mayor de Blasio’s cousin John Wilhelm — NYCLASS slimed mayoral rival
Christine Quinn into oblivion.Now the FBI is probing the funding of the
attacks on Quinn, and de Blasio’s flip-flop that led to his vow to ban
the horses. The CFB needs to stay vigilant, making every effort to hold
NYCLASS,
the Advance Group and sponsored candidates to account for their actions
in the 2013 campaign. Among the others benefiting from NYCLASS spending
was Melissa
Mark-Viverito, who took free services from the Advance Group in her
successful bid to become City Council speaker.Did Speaker Mark-Viverito Break the Law By Taking Money From NYCLASS?
At the Same Time Advance's Levinson Was Working As An Illegal Campaign Consultant for Council Speaker NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito Also Received Money From NYCLASS
The CFB Finds the Advance Coordinated PAC NYCLASS $$$ and Campaign $$$
The Investigation Of the Advance Group NYCLASS Corruption Continues With Fines Against Two CN Cumbo and Levenson
City council members fined over money from anti-horse carriage group(NYP)Two city council members were slapped with hefty fines for accepting prohibited campaign contributions from a group at the center of the Central Park horse carriage brouhaha. Freshman member Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn) was fined $7,868, and newbie Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) was fined $8,686 by the city’s Campaign Finance Board for accepting over-the-limit funding from a “prohibited source.” The board found that the funding source for both campaigns – New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Street (NYCLASS) – was too intertwined with the candidates’ consultant, The Advance Group (TAG).Campaigns are prohibited from coordinating with third-party groups that make “independent” expenditures. Yet TAG president and lobbyist Scott Levenson was political director for NYCLASS, and both groups shared the same office space.* Two NYC campaigns fined over cash from animal rights group(Newsday) But NYCLASS and The Advance Group were intertwined -- NYCLASS' political director doubled as The Advance Group's president, for example -- and spending by NYCLASS "could not be and" was "not independent" of the campaigns, the finance board said. The contributions were over the $2,750 limit as nonindependent spending and weren't reported by the campaigns, the board said. Cumbo and Levine responded with a joint statement, saying their campaigns are opposed to outside spending in elections.* 2 City Council members fined thousands for accepting improper campaign funds from anti-carriage horse group NYCLASS(NYDN)
"We take our obligation to avoid coordinating with any outside group spending money on our races very seriously," they said. "Although we disagree with the conclusions the CFB reached in our cases, we support the CFB's efforts to monitor the accurate reporting of independent expenditures in general. Thus we have chosen to settle these allegations by repaying to the CFB the amount of NYCLASS's investment in our races."* A lawyer for The Advance Group blasted the Campaign Finance Board’s penalties Wednesday. “The CFB has failed to offer one iota of evidence that coordination took place in this case,” said attorney Larry Mandelker. “This is a clear case of guilt-by-association.”
CFB Chair Gill-Hearn the Investigation Moving Forward
Two Weeks Ago True News Reported About the CFB's Investigation of Cumbo
Investigation Not About Quinn
The Big Crime of the is Mixing the Citizen Action PACs With the Public Funds (CFB) The Buzz going around the ever shrinking group who really know what is going on in this town, is that their are emails being look at between Advance and their political client CM Laurie Cumbo , and that those emails show no firewalls between the Citizens United PACs and the CFB campaigns.
NYT Silent On Local Impact of Citizens United Even After Two Councilmembers Were Fined
NYT's Not Even One Story today About the CFB Fines
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. Not Even Today after the CFB fined two city council members who were helped by the Advance Group campaign consultant who used the Citizens United PAC they controlled to help their candidates. Both the Daily News and NYP which reported on the fines, limited their coverage on the fines without comment on how far the CFB could go. Nobody except this blog is doing the investigative reporting that shows the depth of corruption of the Advance Group and the Citizens United PACS in the 2013 city elections. Have these PACs made NYC government worse (if that is possible)? Have these PACs and lobbyist consultants committed crimes? Stay Tuned.
Media Continues to Ignore U.S. Attorney Plea to Investigate Corruption
Bharara to Journalist: Stop Copying My Press Releases; No Investigative
Reporting Equals More Corruption
More on US Attorney Preet Bharara
Daily News Charges Against Mark-Viverto
EXCLUSIVE: City Council Speaker candidate Melissa Mark-Viverito may have violated city ethics rules(NYDN) Mark-Viverito,
an East Harlem councilwoman, accepted unpaid assistance from the
Advance Group, a prominent lobbying firm working to further her
candidacy (Daily News 11/27/2013)
Mark-Viverito Drops Advance
Melissa Mark-Viverito Drops Advance Group for Speaker Bid(NYO)
Ms. Mark-Viverito insisted today that this was not the case but out of
an “abundance of caution,” the relationship would end. Melissa Mark-Viverito Drops Advance Group for Speaker Bid - Blogs(TU)
Politicker Reports Than Advance Group Was A Crucial Player In the Seddio Deal to Make Mark-Viverito Speaker
Speaker Mark- Viverito Nowhere Woman
More than 2/3 of voters in NY13 haven't heard enough of
Why the UFT Pay A Forge A Fake Group to Do Business With Advance?
Why Did the UFT's PAC United for the Future Hire the Advance Group? Was It Part of A Conspiracy to Coordinate their PAC and the Campaign Consultant?
The UFT PAC Paid Advance Through the Fake Group Strategic
Consultants Inc. $370,000 Her campaign also got support by two PACs controlled by the Advance Group, NYCLASS and the UFT PAC United for the Future that the UFT tried to hid Advance Groups involvement in with a fake made up company called Strategic Consultants Inc., that CrainsNY found was located in the offices of Advance. Your can bet the farm that with Mayor Bloomberg last minute appointment to the CFB Rose Gill Hearn, his former DOI Commissioner, the finances of Advance client Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo and others are in the middle of a hot hot hot investigation that the media is completely missing. * UFT under fire for apparently trying to hide identity of consulting firm(NYDN)
Did Advance Double Dip Levine PACs?
Councilman Mark Levine Who Got fined for his advanced run campaign receiving from the Advance controlled PAC NYCLASS also got funds from the United for the Future PAC that Advance Also worked for. Advance also worked for Councilman Rodriguez whose campaign was funded by the PAC that Advance worked for United for the Future
Almost the Entire Council is Infected: Advance Either Managed or Funded 31 of the 51 Council Members Including the Speaker
Candidates Funding By Advance's NYCLASS PAC: Yetta Krukland (Advance Client), Councilman Mark Levine (Advance Client), Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo (Advance Client)
Candidates Funding By Advance's United for the Future PAC:
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Inez Dickens (Advance Client), Corey Johnson (Berlin Rosen Client) (running against Advance client Yetta Krukland), Mark Levine (Advance Client), Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez, Paul Vallone (Mercury Client), Rosie Mendez, Councilman Andrew King, Councilman James Vacca (Red Horse Client), Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson (Red Horse Client), Councilwoman Annabel Palma (Red Horse Client), Councilman Costa Constantinides, Mark Weprin (Hudson TG), Councilman Daneek Miller (Red Horse Client), Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (Hudson TG), Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (Berlin Rosen Client), Councilman Richard Donovan (Berlin Rosen Client), Councilman Eric Ulrich, Councilman Antonio Reynoso (Red Horse Client), Councilman Brad Lander, Councilman Mathieu Eugene (Advance Client), Councilwoman Inez Barron, Councilman Jumaane Williams, Councilman Alan Maisel (Brandford), Councilman Mark Treyger (Hudson TG), Councilwoman Debra Rose (Brandford), Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Robert Jackson (Boro President Candidate), Councilman Vincent Ignizio
More on the Advance Groups Corruption * CrainsNY on the Advance Groups Double Dipping * The Big 8 Lobbyists * Dark Pool Politics
Advance Controlled PAC Funded Both Candidates in the 3rd Council District Krukland Vs Johnson
Advance Group Also Worked For An Anti Gay PAC
The Advance group was paid by democratic candidate Yetta Krukland $28,000 and the IE NYCLASS that Advance paid for $30,000 in mailings to promote Yetta Krukland. The UFT PAC which Advance Was Working for United for the Future funded Krukland Opponent Corey Johnson. Krukland fired Advance during the campaign.)* The Advance Group got paid $28,000 by gay city council candidate Yetta Kurland at the same time the firm work for the City Action Coalition PAC, which on its website touts itself as supporting candidates who oppose gay marriage and abortion rights.Advance was on both side of the Kurland race. The PAC City Action Coalition, an anti-same-sex-marriage group financed by a hedge funder from Princeton, N.J., and led by an evangelical minister who says Nazi tolerance of gays led to the Holocaust. The PAC spent tens of thousands of dollars during the primary campaign on mailers stressing “family values” and on robocalls for opponents to three gay City Council candidates: Rosie Mendez, Ritchie Torres and Carlos Menchaca.
Did the Advance Group Do Favors For Other Political Consultants?
Advance Group
Window Dressing to Fix City's Racial Segreation?
Opportunity? GOP Name Recognition is Relatively Mediocre
G.O.P. Sees Chance as Schneiderman Seeks 2nd Term as Attorney General(NYT) As he accepts his party’s support for re-election on Wednesday, Eric T. Schneiderman is facing a hodgepodge of criticism from Republicans, who say they have a realistic chance of dethroning him in November. * * Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown reportedly asked that he be withdrawn from consideration as a candidate for lieutenant governor on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ticket this year, The Buffalo News reports:
Will de Blasio Hold the Left in Place When Hillary Moves to the Center? Stay Tuned
BILL CLINTON ON DE BLASIO’S ‘BRILLIANT’ START -- Capital’s Gloria Pazmino: Bill Clinton said at a Harlem restaurant Tuesday that he thinks Mayor Bill de Blasio is having a "brilliant first year." Introducing Clinton, de Blasio said, "He's been so kind in the time since I became mayor, taking time to advise me and coach me. When President Clinton speaks, I play close attention, he's been an incredibly wise voice in my life he's been the example that I borrow from all the time."
Brooklyn is Open for New Leadership
With retirement announcements from Assemblywomen Joan Millman and Rhoda Jacobs this week, there are now six open state Assembly and Senate seats in Brooklyn, the Daily News reports:A combination of term limits, unexpected retirements and indictments has created an historic number of openings in Brooklyn state politics. “For the first time in 50 years, six state Assembly and Senate seats have opened across Brooklyn, prompting a rush to fill electoral pockets that, in many cases, have changed dramatically since the last time they were contested,” writes the Daily News. “From Flatbush to Carroll Gardens and farther east to Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant, shifting demographics promise to upend the political landscape…”
More Races Councilman Cabrera Will Challenge Senator Rivera, Won’t Rule Out Joining IDC(NYO) * Financial firms scale back New York municipal bond holdings fearing proposed teachers’ contract could raise deficits(NYDN) UBS Global Asset Management slashed allocations for New York City bonds by half for most of their wealthy clients’ portfolios. The Atlanta-based RidgeWorth Capital Management Inc. has also pared down its holdings, Bloomberg reported.
I, Robot de Blasio's Jobs Team
What . . .Not One Member of the Mayor's Jobs Team Mentioned High Taxes and Regulations Are Keeping NYC's Unemployment Numbers High?
NEW JOB FORCE -- Capital The mayor has assembled a 30-member task force to create higher-wage jobs across the city and enhance the manufacturing sector. The task force, dubbed "Jobs for New Yorkers," will be headed by an 11-person team that includes Kyle Kimball, president of the city Economic Development Corp.; Jennifer Jones Austin, who headed the mayor's transition team; Vincent Alvarez, president of the city's Central Labor Council; and, on the corporate side, Fred Wilson, a managing partner at Union Square Ventures.
In the Same Week the Mayor Creates A Job Force He Says He Will Not Fight to Keep Jobs In NYC
Mayor de Blasio will not grant tax breaks in a bidding war with New Jersey to keep businesses in New York: official(NYDN) * JPMorgan, RBC putting 4,500 workers in Jersey City | Capital * JPMorgan, RBC Win N.J. Tax Grants Valued at $300 Million ... *Battle of the Hudson(NYP Ed)When asked if New York City would match the $300 million in tax breaks to lure JP Morgan Chase Bank and Royal Bank of Canada to Jersey City, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen said Gotham would not try to match it to keep them here.
“This is not a game we’re going to play,” Glen said this week.
If the Queens Organization Siding with the WFP's Liu to Save Parkside Mom?
The failed mayoral candidate will be picked as the Queens Democratic Party's candidate on Monday. A Liu candidacy means two members of the five-member breakaway Democratic faction in the Senate are facing primaries from traditional Democrats this year.The Queens Democratic Party, which had been courting Liu, is set Monday to designate him as their candidate so his name can appear on party nominating petitions circulated in the district. He has already met with key union leaders and hired consultant Neal Kwatra, a former chief of staff to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman with deep union ties.
Daily News Says Two IDC Members Have Challenges, It is Close to 2 and A Half
Queens businessman and activist S.J. Jung is mounting a primary challenge against veteran Democratic Sen. Toby Stavisky. Stavisky's Son Evan from the Parkside Group Was Sen. Tony Avella and Raised Most of the Funds for Him. Evan Stavisky is the top player or clog in Crowley's Democratic Machine.* Queens Dem Party boss
Liu and the CFB
New York City lawyers are attempting to dismiss a suit by former mayoral candidate John Liu, who is eyeing a state Senate seat, charging that the Campaign Finance Board unlawfully denied his mayoral campaign millions in public-matching funds, The Wall Street Journal writes* City lawyers are asking the court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by failed mayoral contender John Liu, accusing him of “assaulting the integrity of the city’s campaign-finance system,” the Wall Street Journal writes. Mr. Liu, who is trying to revive his political career with a bid for state Senate, is suing the city’s Campaign Finance Board for denying him millions of dollars in public matching funds thanks to the allegations.
"It is All About Saving My Mom" Evan
Why not? Liu's a gr8 public servant. He gives county its "own" Asian senate candidate while it and Parkside defend Stavisky
Avella Under the Bus
All told, 134 separate contributions were made to the real estate PAC, via checks submitted by subsidiaries of major corporations with obscure names like 1345 Cleaning Service Co., II LP, and TS/TSCE India Nominee LLC. In an effort to determine who exactly was writing the checks, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism students osifted through property records, corporate registrations and court documents to identify the names behind the corporate donors. The search revealed a who’s who of New York’s real estate heavyweights, including many of the city’s most active developers. Eighteen of the 26 major companies responsible for the bulk of the donations, the investigation found, are included on the official “Doing Business” list compiled by the Mayor’s Office of Contracts. Under a 2007 city law (see “Business Donors Get Around NYC Campaign Curbs“), principals of those firms are limited to a maximum donation of $400 per candidate. But when it comes to the independent spending authorized by Citizens United, all gloves are off, and records show that the city’s real estate industry made the most of it. Among those writing big checks to the independent PAC, the investigation found, were many of the same players who served as major bundlers for candidates. They included click here
Awards And Media Coverage for Failed Lobbyists Parkside Group
Lobbyists Groups Parkside Spent $7.5 Million of Real Estate Developers Money and Failed to Elected A Council Speaker. . . Making Their Queens Boss Crowley Their Benefactor A Loser
But the biggest donors to council races were the city’s real estate titans, who raised nearly $7 million in a bid to influence the election of City Council members. Spending for the PAC was coordinated by the industry’s lobbying arm, the Real Estate Board of New York. But after the elections, REBNY President Steven Spinola was quick to declare victory, asserting that 18 of the 22 candidates backed by his group had won their elections. But determining just who was doling out the big bucks proved challenging, since most of the contributions to the real estate PAC, dubbed Jobs for New York, came from murky corporate entities that are otherwise ineligible to donate directly to candidates in city elections.
Campaign Reform and Media Cover Up of Citizens United On Local 2013 Election
The Parkside Monopoly
Lots of towels out there green taxi cuts, full service LICH Hospital, Banning member items, horse-Carriages
-
@nypost He cannot address these questions, bc there is just no way accounting/paying retro raises in the future fits guidelines. -
.
@nicolegelinas the Mayor has thrown in the towel on this point, no ? Might be nice f he answered some questions on it -
@powellnyt@nicolegelinas Lots of towels out there green taxi cuts, full service LICH Hospital, Banning member items, horse-Carr
Nicole Gelinas
Michael Powell
True News
CITY & STATE REPORTS—DE BLASIO: According to a new poll, 64 percent of New York City voters would be willing to consider other alternatives to Mayor Bill de Blasio if he were up for reelection today, including Donald Trump, Eva Moskowitz, Liam Neeson and Michael Bloomberg:*Mayor Bill de Blasio: ‘We Have to Take Back the House’(NYO)
Cuomo's Government Funded TV Commerical Re-Election Campaign
A Politically Incorrect Scandal With No Press
Nobody Notices that Bertha Lewis is Connected to A Data and Field scandal in the 2009 elections and the NYCLASS PAC Scandal in the 2013 Election
Former ACORN honcho rakes in the green at new group(NYP)Former ACORN head Bertha Lewis, a friend of Mayor de Blasio, is raking in benefits at her new nonprofit — even as she recruits board members with checkered pasts. TBI honored de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, Thursday night at a Chelsea gala where sponsorships cost up to $50,000. Lewis worked on the de Blasio campaign and was a member of his transition team. She formed TBI after the 2010 fall of ACORN, a left-leaning collective of community-based organizations that was rocked by a series of scandals and probes. The group was cleared of wrongdoing. However the investigation of the WFP's Data and Field by the office of the Staten Island DA is trying to continue, but is being tied up in court by the WFP lawyers. The Staten Island investigation of WFP has gotten almost no press attention. Either has the Bertha Lewis ties to Scott Levension of the Advance Group, who is being investigated by the FBI an investigation no doubt being pushed by Bloomberg appointee to the CFB Rose Gill Hearn for his work with the anti-horse carriage PAC NYCLASS and well as working on both sides in campaigns he was involved in. As noted by City & State, the Bertha Lewis-led nonprofit the Black Institute continues to operate out of the Advance Group offices, unlike NYCLASS, Ms. Lewis is close to Mayor Bill de Blasio. "It is interesting to note that the Black Institute shares office space with the prominent consulting firm the Advance Group, which has deep ties to Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and WFP candidates generally. Until her recent departure from the Advance Group, both the firm and the Black Institute had the same spokeswoman, Chelsea Connor, who handled press inquiries for both organizations."Megadonor Ken Langone tells
Killings by the Gun Surge in North Bronx, Council Demands More Cops
Homicides
Reported and confirmed shootings
Two Trees Government Sugar and Mold
A Brooklyn developer who cut a deal with Mayor de Blasio to create more affordable housing runs a building that’s dangerous and mold-infested, tenants say.
Tenants accuse developer Two Trees of moldy apartments(NYP)Last week, the City Council approved Two Trees Management’s plan to transform the Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg into a mixed-use development with 700 low-income units. At 125 Court St., a modern 11-story building with 321 affordable and rent-stabilized units, there are split and buckling floors teeming with mold, and a broken elevator that often gets stuck and traps people — including a visiting Post reporter. In 2012, tenants filed a class-action suit in Brooklyn Supreme Court accusing the company of violating Department of Housing Preservation and Development rules on rent. Two Trees founder David Walentas, 75, made his fortune buying 2 million square feet of waterfront industrial space in 1979 and transforming it into the luxe Dumbo neighborhood. The company has $3 billion worth of commercial and residential real estate.*2 shot, 1 stabbed after large dispute at Brooklyn park
GWB
investigation: Port Authority executive director Foye testified before
grand jury
- See more at:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/gwb-investigation-port-authority-executive-director-foye-testified-before-grand-jury-1.1018059#sthash.A9KxPBvT.
Feds Sequster Could Shut 57 NYCHA Centers
Growing chorus of City Council Members Demand NYCHA Centers stay open(Witt, Out Time Press)
City Council members with large amounts of public
housing developments in their district vowed this week to ensure the de
Blasio Administration doesn’t shutter 57 NYCHA-operated Community and
Senior Centers that will lose their funding on July 1. The centers were put on life support last year following
the federal sequester, but it did affect center sites run by
community-based organizations. This includes the Department of Youth and
Community Development (DYCD) assuming operation of 45 NYCHA Community
Centers and the Department for the Aging (DFTA) assuming operation of 4
NYCHA Senior Centers.
NYT Joins With the WFP Pressuring Cuomo to Pass Public Financing
NYT's Blind Side On the Effect of Citizens United On the NYC's Public Campaign System in the 2013 Election
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 Times keep pushing for a state public finance system modeled after the city's, without understanding how the CFB was abused by the political PACs in 2013. The NYC press is focused on Jay-Z and a Baldwin nut, 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. The control of the real estate industry in the city over the media is clearly the reason for the lack of PAC coverage. Have these PACs made NYC government worse (if that is possible)? Have these PACs and lobbyist consultants committed crimes?
How the Citizens United PACs Took Over New York's City Hall . . .
Only the Blogs Report on PAC Corruption in New York City
Is Fixing Elections and Destroying Democratic Elections Important in NYC?
In 2013, NY PACs Rushed to Fund Campaigns(Voices
of New York)"Names of the real estate firms that paid for the push were
nowhere to be found" in their mailings. In New York’s 2013 elections,
candidates for office weren’t the only
ones raising and spending millions of dollars to influence the outcome.
In the biggest surge of outside campaign spending since New York City
adopted a public campaign finance system in 1988, 50 separate political
action committees spent almost $16 million. The spending binge was a
result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in
the Citizens United case, which opened the floodgates to unlimited
spending by independent groups in political elections. The back-door
money went for TV ads and mailings aimed at helping
favored candidates win election, and trying to make sure their opponents
lost.Thanks to a preemptive move by the city’s Campaign Finance Board
to
mandate disclosure of the spending, New Yorkers at least got to know the
names of donors and how they were spending their money. But unlike the
limits imposed under the city’s campaign finance laws, which allow only
individual donations up to $4,950 per candidate, the sky was the limit
as long as the PACs remained independent of candidates’ campaigns.
Records show that the PACs spent as little as $1,200 (by a union
representing school cafeteria employees and crossing guards) and as much
as $4.9 million (by a real estate group). The second biggest
expenditure was by the United Federation of Teachers, a city election
powerhouse representing 200,000 teachers and educational employees. The
UFT plowed $3.5 million into the elections, most of it to support races
by City Council candidate
War of the Machines: WFP Attacks Democratic Power Centers
Sunday Update WFP Co-Chair Bob Master wants party to endorse Cuomo:
Saturday Update: WFP Meeting With Senate GOP Leaders on Public Financing. Expect the WFP to put a placeholder on their ballot line to give them until late July to hammer out a deal
De Blasio headlines fund-raiser for ACORN honcho(NYP)The mayor is rewarding former ACORN honcho and longtime pal Bertha
Lewis by headlining a fund-raiser for her new group, The Black
Institute. “It’s a big deal for me. It’s a coup to have the mayor and Chirlane
there. It’s The Black Institute’s coming-out party!” Lewis told The Post
Wednesday night. The invitation to the gala, which asks donors to contribute up to
$50,000, is being held Thursday night at the 32BJ SEIU headquarters in
Chelsea.* Skelos: Public Financing Debate Won’t Break Up Coalition(YNN)* Skelos also told reporters that there
have been “discussions” taking place on public campaign financing and
said “we’ll see,” the Daily News reports:
* * Progressives worry that the future of the state’s Democratic Party lies with Cuomo, who is described as a moderate and has pushed for progressive change on social and cultural issues but has clashed with progressives on economic issues, Vox writes:
* Skelos sees ways to fund public financing without taxpayer money
*Klein Scores Endorsement of Koppell Protégé(NYO) Councilman Andrew Cohen, Mr. Koppell’s protégé, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who represents Mr. Koppell’s Riverdale turf, announced they were throwing their support behind State Senator Jeff Klein*Conservative Party Warns Republicans: Don’t Go There on Public Financing(YNN) Mike Long warns Senate Rs: If public financing goes through it's a vote for the WFP *
Working Families Party Honors QueensOfficials(Queens Tribune)
* Klein Gets Key Endorsements from Riverdale Officials
* * Progressives worry that the future of the state’s Democratic Party lies with Cuomo, who is described as a moderate and has pushed for progressive change on social and cultural issues but has clashed with progressives on economic issues, Vox writes:
* Skelos sees ways to fund public financing without taxpayer money
*Klein Scores Endorsement of Koppell Protégé(NYO) Councilman Andrew Cohen, Mr. Koppell’s protégé, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who represents Mr. Koppell’s Riverdale turf, announced they were throwing their support behind State Senator Jeff Klein*Conservative Party Warns Republicans: Don’t Go There on Public Financing(YNN) Mike Long warns Senate Rs: If public financing goes through it's a vote for the WFP *
Working Families Party Honors QueensOfficials(Queens Tribune)
* Klein Gets Key Endorsements from Riverdale Officials
Working Families Party Honors Queens Officials
Speaker to Push for Free Lunch and More Cops, What Budget Problems? . . .
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito ready to battle Mayor de Blasio for free school lunch, more cops(NYDN) City
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said she’s ready to battle her
ally Mayor de Blasio over his snub of Council proposals to hire more
cops and give all city schoolkids free lunch.* De Blasio aides insist that the
contract brokered with the United Federation of Teachers is fiscally
sound, and that the mayor’s disagreement with Comptroller Scott Stringer
on the matter “did not represent a significant conflict,” the Times reports: * The Post’s Bob McManus writes that de Blasio’s budget makes it clear that he is a man
who pays his political debts, even at the expense of fiscal prudence. The Council proposed $94 million to hire 1,000 new officers and $24
million to extend free lunch to all students — but de Blasio left both
ideas out of his executive budget last week.
de Blasio Food Stamp Changes Removes Work Provisions, But No Free School Lunch for All The de Blasio stamp: Moving to boost dependency(NYP Ed) The city’s Human Resources Administration just informed able-bodied, childless adults that they no longer need to do anything in exchange for their food stamps. Until this Monday, New York City required able-bodied adults without dependents to work or to participate in a work-placement program for 20 hours a week in order to maintain their food-stamp eligibility. (Mothers with children are exempt from the work requirement.) Federal law limits healthy, childless recipients who refuse to seek work to three months of food stamps over a three-year period. That same law, however, allows states and cities to request a waiver of the food-stamp work requirement, if their economies are less than robust. The Obama administration grants those requests as a matter of course.* New York City school antipoverty advocates thought de Blasio would champion a push to get students more free food, but food programs have been left alone as the mayor’s prekindergarten and afterschool programs have taken off, the Journal reports: * Free Student Meals Bid Stalls Under de Blasio(WSJ)
de Blasio Food Stamp Changes Removes Work Provisions, But No Free School Lunch for All The de Blasio stamp: Moving to boost dependency(NYP Ed) The city’s Human Resources Administration just informed able-bodied, childless adults that they no longer need to do anything in exchange for their food stamps. Until this Monday, New York City required able-bodied adults without dependents to work or to participate in a work-placement program for 20 hours a week in order to maintain their food-stamp eligibility. (Mothers with children are exempt from the work requirement.) Federal law limits healthy, childless recipients who refuse to seek work to three months of food stamps over a three-year period. That same law, however, allows states and cities to request a waiver of the food-stamp work requirement, if their economies are less than robust. The Obama administration grants those requests as a matter of course.* New York City school antipoverty advocates thought de Blasio would champion a push to get students more free food, but food programs have been left alone as the mayor’s prekindergarten and afterschool programs have taken off, the Journal reports: * Free Student Meals Bid Stalls Under de Blasio(WSJ)
Celebrity Journalism Builds An Uninformed Public to the Corruption that has Taken Over the Campaign Process
An Uninformed Populace
John Wilhelm, cousin of New York City
Mayor Bill de Blasio, sidestepped questions about an FBI investigation
into a $175,000 donation to NYCLASS, an animal rights group that
attacked de Blasio’s mayoral opponent Christine Quinn, the Daily News report UNITE HERE! gave the $175,000 to the anti-carriage horse group NYCLASS
on June 1, and two days later, NYCLASS passed along the money to a
political action committee that was funding a flood of TV ads attacking
the candidacy of then-City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
In addition to being affiliated with UNITE HERE!, Wilhelm was a top fund-raiser for de Blasio’s campaign. Under
the law, independent political action committees like the
anti-Quinn group, which was called New York City is Not for Sale, cannot
coordinate their activities with any candidate’s campaign. The de
Blasio campaign has denied that any coordination took place. UNITE HERE!
represents food service, hotels, transportation, textile,
laundry manufacturing and distribution, airport and gaming workers.
Wilhelm stepped down as president in late 2012, according to the union’s
website, but he’s still chairman of the board and assistant to the
president for benefits. His wife, Elizabeth Gilbertson, is chief of
strategy of UNITE HERE!
Health, the labor-management trust fund that provides health benefits to
UNITE HERE members. * If de Blasio goes ahead with his plan
to ban horse-drawn carriages 24 percent of voters say they would be
more likely to vote against him and only 15 percent say they would be
more inclined to support him, according to a new poll by City &
State Reports, the Daily News writes:
There’s a bigger spread among likely voters: 31% say a ban would make
them less inclined to support the Democrat for reelection, and 11% said
it would sway them de Blasio’s way.*
Will the Assembly Which Paid for Hush Funds for Sexual Abuse Stop Blocking the Passage of A Sex Trafficking Bill?
Advocates for a bill that would increase penalties for sex trafficking are calling on the Assembly to pass the stand alone bill instead of holding out to get the full 10-part Women’s Equality Act, the Times Union writes: .
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NYP Joins True News Is Going After the Gray Ladies Selective Coverage of News
Missing Mulgrew
The Post writes that UFT President Michael Mulgrew's comments about charter school supporters weren't as surprising as the fact that New York City's paper of record, the Times, didn't report them:
Saturday Daily News Picks Up on the Friday's NYP's UFT Taping Story Sabotaging Education Reformers
Friday
According to the New York City Independent Budget Office, the number of New York City teachers quitting their jobs has dropped by 11 percent since 2000, while racial disparities among teachers’ placements persisted, the Journal writes:
Thursday
King: Cuomo, lawmakers should learn from year one of pre-K(Capital)
Ed commissioner says it’ll take years to get expansion right* de Blasio added millions in the executive budget for charter schools, with $26.9 million budgeted for the current fiscal year, and an extra $217.9 million next year, an increase from the preliminary budget unveiled in February, Capital New York reports:
Saturday
School critics say teachers union deal doesn't help kids — it's 'petty politics'(NYDN) After teachers union president Michael Mulgrew gloated about the labor deal in a leaked recording, critics of the $5.3 billion deal are fighting back, saying the contract isn’t good policy. Michael Mulgrew said he’s at war with education reformers — and now they’re fighting back over his dismissive comments and the teachers contract they say condemns students to subpar schooling. Jenny Sedlis of Students FirstNY, a pro-charter, anti-union group, called Mulgrew’s victory lap “shameless.”“For anyone that thought this was about kids, we know this is the truth,” said Campbell Brown, a former CNN anchor and outspoken critic of the union. Critics said a close reading of the memorandum of agreement between the city and union reveals the new process of terminating teachers in the 1,200-strong costly Absent Teacher Reserve doesn’t actually increase the likelihood they’ll be canned.*IT'S 'PETTY POLITICS': School critics slamming teachers union $5.3 billion deal and UFT boss Michael Mulgrew(NYDN) * Mulgrew’s wicked game(NYDN Ed) Mayor de Blasio just struck a major deal with a union boss who boasts about using negotiations to gut reforms he claimed to support.
He Who Picks Judges Controls Judges Decisions, Silver Gets Over Hush Fund $$$
Judge tosses lawsuit against Sheldon Silver over secret settlement with Vito Lopez accusers (NYDN)
A
judge Monday threw out a lawsuit seeking to force Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver to reimburse the state for a $103,000 secret payout to
two sex harassment victims of pervy former Assemblyman Vito Lopez..The
lawsuit filed last June by Albany gadfly Robert Schulz argued
Silver should be on the hook for the payout to the Lopez accuser because
he did not go through proper Assembly channels in dealing with the
complaint. In a 7-page decision, acting Albany County state Supreme
Court Justice
Kimberly O’Connor ruled that because Silver’s decision was
discretionary, it made him “immune from civil liability, and the
complaint against him must be dismissed.”
Has Queens Boss Crowley and His Mini Me Parkside Split? Or Has Cuomo and His Mini Crowley Folded to the WFP?
Parkside Avella Split? Or Did the News Get It Wrong and Crowley Covering His Ass?
EXCLUSIVE: Queens Democratic Party pushing for John Liu to run against Tony Avella(NYDN) Party officials want Liu to go after Avella in the Democratic primary now that Avella has switched to the Independent Democratic Caucus.
Parkside Doll Toby Stavisky Gets A Primary
Queens businessman and activist S.J. Jung is mounting a primary challenge against veteran Democratic Sen. Toby Stavisky
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WFP Saying It Wants Public Financing But Demanding Senate Take Over in Private?
Cuomo Spins Possible Democratic Take Over of the Senate
Has Queens Boss Crowley and His Mini Me Parkside Split? Or Has Cuomo and His Mini Crowley Folded to the WFP?
Parkside Avella Split? Or Did the News Get It Wrong and Crowley Covering His Ass?
EXCLUSIVE: Queens Democratic Party pushing for John Liu to run against Tony Avella(NYDN) Party officials want Liu to go after Avella in the Democratic primary now that Avella has switched to the Independent Democratic Caucus.
Parkside Doll Toby Stavisky Gets A Primary
Queens businessman and activist S.J. Jung is mounting a primary challenge against veteran Democratic Sen. Toby Stavisky
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WFP Saying It Wants Public Financing But Demanding Senate Take Over in Private?
Cuomo Spins Possible Democratic Take Over of the Senate
The fight for control of the soul of the state Democratic party is
proving problematic for Senate Republicans. Heading into campaign
season, Gov. Cuomo and Klein are under heavy pressure from their party’s
left wing to deliver liberal initiatives like the creation of a
statewide public financing system. In hopes of wooing the Working
Families Party, which has threatened to back a different candidate,
allies to Cuomo said the popular governor could call for a full
Democratic take-over of the Senate if the Republicans don’t agree to a
public financing system in coming weeks.
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The Dems Attack During the GOP Convention
Former GOP AG Dennis Vacco: “There was never a substantive, coordinated effort (by the Republicans) to build on the successes of ’94.”* Republicans Aim for Broad Appeal in Race Against Cuomo(NY1) * When Rob Astorino opposed fracking(Capital)Cuomo challenger quietly approved fracking-waste ban as county executive* GOP CONVENTION SIGHTS AND SOUND BITES: A wrap up of top quotes, talking points and observations from Day 1 of the Republican State Convention: (City and State) * Rob
Astorino takes to airwaves to slam Gov. Cuomo as ‘down-in-the-mud’
politician in response to ad labeling him as extremist(NYDN) * Westchester County Executive Rob
Astorino, the Republican candidate for governor, claimed that Gov.
Andrew Cuomo’s staff refused to allow Astorino to sit in the front row
at President Barack Obama’s speech in Tarrytown, The Journal News writes * New super PAC called "New York 2014" appears. Treasurer is Lisa Lisker, who serves same roll for many GOP cmtes
* Democrats go old school Daily News in mocking Rob Astorino over seating complaints(NYDN) * Sharpton Wades Into the LG Fray(YNN) * Just A Hint of GOP Conflict(YNN) * GOP Counting On Upstate Turnout(YNN) * Astorino, Moss Are Upstate Bound(YNN) * Moss Says He Will Have A Role As LG(YNN) * In Speech, Astorino Mocks Renovation Flap(YNN) * Democrats Blast Astorino Speech(YNN) * At least 100 protesters rallied outside the GOP convention to call out Astorino for his positions on abortion rights, women’s issues, labor issues and housing, Gannett Albany reports: * The Astorino Truth Squad—run by the Westchester Democratic Committee—released a spoof of the famous Daily News Newt Gingrich crybaby cover with Astorino at the center—a jab at the gubernatorial candidate for alleging that he was kept from sitting in the front row, the Daily News reports: * A political operative with ties to Cuomo was researching Astorino’s past more than a month before he announced his bid to run for governor in March, part of an effort on the part of Cuomo’s allies to define the Republican before he can define himself, the Times reports:
Killing Stuy-Town Peter Cooper for the Middle-Class II . . .
Real Estate Baron Who Tried to Drive Middle Class Tenants Out Of Stuy Town to Host Mayor's Birthday Bash
Killing Affordable Housing First Attempt
1. Tishman Lost Billions In Pension Funds in 2006 when they bought Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village for $5.4 Billion and $1.5 billion of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac funds. Funds which FDR created to help the poor and middle class to buy homes. The Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac funds were ripped off by the Tishman Barons were according to some were intended to push people out of their homes. Real estate experts agree that the only way Tishman could have made money with that deal was push the middle class tenants out of Stuy Town. The Biggest, Baddest Real-Estate Loan(NY Mag) Tishman Speyer’s $3.4 billion Stuyvesant Town mistake.Speyer and McCray to host birthday bash for de Blasio(Capital) Mayor Bill de Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray and real estate developer Rob Speyer will host a birthday party for de Blasio at Gracie Mansion on Friday, according to an invitation obtained by Capital that's been sent to real estate folks and other municipal powerbrokers. McCray chairs the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, a city-controlled group that raises money for mayoral initiatives (and allows people with money to gain access to the mayor). Speyer chairs the fund's advisory board. He's also the chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York, the city's main real estate lobby, and the president and co-C.E.O. of Tishman Speyer, an international real estate concern that controls, among other things, Rockefeller Center.* Mayor de Blasio's birthday party at Gracie Mansion is low-key event(NYDN)
More on How Wall Street Hijacks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for Stuy Town
.* Democrats go old school Daily News in mocking Rob Astorino over seating complaints(NYDN) * Sharpton Wades Into the LG Fray(YNN) * Just A Hint of GOP Conflict(YNN) * GOP Counting On Upstate Turnout(YNN) * Astorino, Moss Are Upstate Bound(YNN) * Moss Says He Will Have A Role As LG(YNN) * In Speech, Astorino Mocks Renovation Flap(YNN) * Democrats Blast Astorino Speech(YNN) * At least 100 protesters rallied outside the GOP convention to call out Astorino for his positions on abortion rights, women’s issues, labor issues and housing, Gannett Albany reports: * The Astorino Truth Squad—run by the Westchester Democratic Committee—released a spoof of the famous Daily News Newt Gingrich crybaby cover with Astorino at the center—a jab at the gubernatorial candidate for alleging that he was kept from sitting in the front row, the Daily News reports: * A political operative with ties to Cuomo was researching Astorino’s past more than a month before he announced his bid to run for governor in March, part of an effort on the part of Cuomo’s allies to define the Republican before he can define himself, the Times reports:
Killing Stuy-Town Peter Cooper for the Middle-Class II . . .
Real Estate Baron Who Tried to Drive Middle Class Tenants Out Of Stuy Town to Host Mayor's Birthday Bash
2.
Stuyvesant Town, Bastion of Affordable Housing, Is on Way Back to Auction (NYT) CW Capital, which controls Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village, is
announcing on Tuesday its intention to foreclose on a loan, a step that
could trigger a sale.* Stuyvesant Town likely headed to auction after its lenders moved to foreclose on loans (NYDN) * Stuyvesant Town Has Sale in Its Sights (WSJ)
1. Tishman Lost Billions In Pension Funds in 2006 when they bought Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village for $5.4 Billion and $1.5 billion of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac funds. Funds which FDR created to help the poor and middle class to buy homes. The Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac funds were ripped off by the Tishman Barons were according to some were intended to push people out of their homes. Real estate experts agree that the only way Tishman could have made money with that deal was push the middle class tenants out of Stuy Town. The Biggest, Baddest Real-Estate Loan(NY Mag) Tishman Speyer’s $3.4 billion Stuyvesant Town mistake.Speyer and McCray to host birthday bash for de Blasio(Capital) Mayor Bill de Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray and real estate developer Rob Speyer will host a birthday party for de Blasio at Gracie Mansion on Friday, according to an invitation obtained by Capital that's been sent to real estate folks and other municipal powerbrokers. McCray chairs the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, a city-controlled group that raises money for mayoral initiatives (and allows people with money to gain access to the mayor). Speyer chairs the fund's advisory board. He's also the chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York, the city's main real estate lobby, and the president and co-C.E.O. of Tishman Speyer, an international real estate concern that controls, among other things, Rockefeller Center.* Mayor de Blasio's birthday party at Gracie Mansion is low-key event(NYDN)
More on How Wall Street Hijacks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for Stuy Town
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Putin Nyet: How the Mulgrew's UFT and the Scott Levenson's Advance Group Illegally Took Over NYC's Government
Story to be posted later this weekend
Saturday Daily News Picks Up on the Friday's NYP's UFT Taping Story Sabotaging Education Reformers
School critics say teachers union deal doesn't help kids — it's 'petty politics'(NYDN) After teachers union president Michael Mulgrew gloated about the labor deal in a leaked recording, critics of the $5.3 billion deal are fighting back, saying the contract isn’t good policy. Michael Mulgrew said he’s at war with education reformers — and now they’re fighting back over his dismissive comments and the teachers contract they say condemns students to subpar schooling. Jenny Sedlis of Students FirstNY, a pro-charter, anti-union group, called Mulgrew’s victory lap “shameless.”“For anyone that thought this was about kids, we know this is the truth,” said Campbell Brown, a former CNN anchor and outspoken critic of the union. Critics said a close reading of the memorandum of agreement between the city and union reveals the new process of terminating teachers in the 1,200-strong costly Absent Teacher Reserve doesn’t actually increase the likelihood they’ll be canned.*IT'S 'PETTY POLITICS': School critics slamming teachers union $5.3 billion deal and UFT boss Michael Mulgrew(NYDN) * Mulgrew’s wicked game(NYDN Ed) Mayor de Blasio just struck a major deal with a union boss who boasts about using negotiations to gut reforms he claimed to support.* Teachers lose retroactive pay in if they quit before 2020(NYP0
Finally: The Post is no longer alone in claiming the teachers union
acted in bad faith. The union’s boss says so
himselfStory to be posted later this weekend
Saturday Daily News Picks Up on the Friday's NYP's UFT Taping Story Sabotaging Education Reformers
School critics say teachers union deal doesn't help kids — it's 'petty politics'(NYDN) After teachers union president Michael Mulgrew gloated about the labor deal in a leaked recording, critics of the $5.3 billion deal are fighting back, saying the contract isn’t good policy. Michael Mulgrew said he’s at war with education reformers — and now they’re fighting back over his dismissive comments and the teachers contract they say condemns students to subpar schooling. Jenny Sedlis of Students FirstNY, a pro-charter, anti-union group, called Mulgrew’s victory lap “shameless.”“For anyone that thought this was about kids, we know this is the truth,” said Campbell Brown, a former CNN anchor and outspoken critic of the union. Critics said a close reading of the memorandum of agreement between the city and union reveals the new process of terminating teachers in the 1,200-strong costly Absent Teacher Reserve doesn’t actually increase the likelihood they’ll be canned.*IT'S 'PETTY POLITICS': School critics slamming teachers union $5.3 billion deal and UFT boss Michael Mulgrew(NYDN) * Mulgrew’s wicked game(NYDN Ed) Mayor de Blasio just struck a major deal with a union boss who boasts about using negotiations to gut reforms he claimed to support.* Teachers lose retroactive pay in if they quit before 2020(NYP0
Mulgrew "Gum up the works"
Parents, staff & pols won’t support union head’s reform ‘war’(NYP) * A union boss confesses(NYP Ed) United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew has admitted he and his union are “at war with the reformers.” He said they sought “to one more time wink at Bloomberg” — the union had clashed bitterly with the former mayor — “and say ‘gotcha.’ ” Mulgrew confessed his real aim was to “gum up the works” to thwart any teacher ratings: “We had a goal that this year would be the first and only year” teachers were subjected to the new system. In the end, Mulgrew’s secret war paid off. He waited for a sympathetic mayor, Bill de Blasio, to give him what he wanted. And as StudentsFirstNY Executive Director Jenny Sedlis noted on these pages Friday, the city’s kids got little in return.
Campaign 2013: UFT Gumming Up the City Council's Checks and Balances Role With Campaign Contributions
The UFT PAC Contributed to 31 of the 51 Council Members
Mulgrew "Gum up the works"
When we think "outside spending," it's usually corporations who come to mind, but with the education system becoming further and further embroiled in controversy over efficiency and charter schools, it makes sense that this would be a key race for educators' unions such as UFT. The United Federation of Teachers, through its political spending body, "United for the Future," has spent the most money of any group in the race, $3.3 million on 37 elections. United for the Future contributed to the following 31 of the 51 council members.
Thomas Jefferson Fought Centralized Power, UFT's Mulgrew Worked With the Advance Group to Centralized With Money NYC's News Progressive Tammany Hall
More Evidence That Arzt Protects and Causes Bad Government
In 2009 Juan Gonzalez wrote in the Daily News City officials were unhappy with Hewlett Packard Company. By 2006, ECTP was suffering from so many problems that Mayor Bloomberg assigned his chief troubleshooter, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler, to supervise it. In 2007 HP hired George Arzt to lobby Skyler on communications. 2013 the family of Ariel
Russo, the 4-year-old who was killed by an unlicensed driver is suing
the city because they believe a flawed 911 system led to the death of
their daughter. The Russo lawsuit says there was a four-minute delay in
sending an ambulance to the scene of the crash because of problem with
the 911 system. NYC's already beleaguered 911 system crashes again and again — and again(NYDN)
More on Corrupt Lobbyists Arzt
More on Corrupt Lobbyists Arzt
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Court Gridlock By NY Pol Corruption Trials . .
Which parts of New York City government are most corrupt? Gothamist reports on which agencies produced the most cases at the city’s Department of Investigation between 2011 and 2013:
The federal judge in former state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno’s second corruption trial, due to start Monday, has agreed to Bruno’s request for shorter court days on the condition that Bruno doesn’t use the early dismissal time simply to chat with the press outside the courthouse. (TU) Tomorrow, former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno will return to U.S. District Court in Albany to face trial for the second time. The charges center on hundreds of thousands of dollars in “consulting fees” Bruno received from businessman Jared Abbruzzese, or companies controlled by him, between 2004 and 2006.The federal corruption re-trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is set to kick off Monday in Albany. Bruno was convicted in 2009 on two of eight charges. But the convictions were thrown out after the US Supreme Court in a different case watered down the honest services statute that was used by the northern district US Attorney’s Office. Despite saying during the initial trial that it was not a case about quid pro quo, the feds are taking that tact this time around. The case involves $280,000 consulting fees Bruno received from a businessman and friend, Jared Abbruzzese while the upstate Republican was still majority leader. Bruno, during an interview with the Albany NBC affiliate aired Sunday, insisted he’s innocent.* Opening arguments for former Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s trial on corruption charges were set to begin today for a second time, Gannet Albany reports:
More on Albany Corruption
Team Comrie Smell Smith's Blood, Smith Trial Starts June 5th
Leroy Comrie to Challenge State Senator Malcolm Smith in Primary: NY1 has learned that former City * Queens Deputy Borough President Leroy Comrie will run for the state Senate seat held by indicted Sen. Malcolm Smith, even if he has to run in a primary against the current senator, whose federal bribery trial is set for June, the Daily News reports:
CM Hallorian Arrested
New York City Councilman Dan Halloran, indicted on federal corruption charges, has rebooted his law firm while awaiting trial, with one client saying he met repeatedly with Halloran in his district office, a violation of city law, the Post reports:
.@ChrisCQuinn says she is referring use of office by dan halloran to da's office, says he can't take a step right latel
Corrupt Dan Halloran
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Sen. Sampson pal in US Attorney's office quick to turn mole for corrupt pol: legal papers(NYP).
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Court Gridlock By NY Pol Corruption Trials . .
Which parts of New York City government are most corrupt? Gothamist reports on which agencies produced the most cases at the city’s Department of Investigation between 2011 and 2013:
The federal judge in former state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno’s second corruption trial, due to start Monday, has agreed to Bruno’s request for shorter court days on the condition that Bruno doesn’t use the early dismissal time simply to chat with the press outside the courthouse. (TU) Tomorrow, former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno will return to U.S. District Court in Albany to face trial for the second time. The charges center on hundreds of thousands of dollars in “consulting fees” Bruno received from businessman Jared Abbruzzese, or companies controlled by him, between 2004 and 2006.The federal corruption re-trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is set to kick off Monday in Albany. Bruno was convicted in 2009 on two of eight charges. But the convictions were thrown out after the US Supreme Court in a different case watered down the honest services statute that was used by the northern district US Attorney’s Office. Despite saying during the initial trial that it was not a case about quid pro quo, the feds are taking that tact this time around. The case involves $280,000 consulting fees Bruno received from a businessman and friend, Jared Abbruzzese while the upstate Republican was still majority leader. Bruno, during an interview with the Albany NBC affiliate aired Sunday, insisted he’s innocent.* Opening arguments for former Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s trial on corruption charges were set to begin today for a second time, Gannet Albany reports:
More on Albany Corruption
Team Comrie Smell Smith's Blood, Smith Trial Starts June 5th
Leroy Comrie to Challenge State Senator Malcolm Smith in Primary: NY1 has learned that former City * Queens Deputy Borough President Leroy Comrie will run for the state Senate seat held by indicted Sen. Malcolm Smith, even if he has to run in a primary against the current senator, whose federal bribery trial is set for June, the Daily News reports:
Judge Refuses to Delay Sen. Malcolm Smith's Trial - Hamodia WHITE PLAINS - A New York state senator accused of corruption
won’t be able to delay his trial until after his primary, a federal
judge said Monday, setting the trial for Malcolm Smith, a Queens
Democrat, to June 2
More on the AEG Cover-Up
CM Hallorian Arrested
New York City Councilman Dan Halloran, indicted on federal corruption charges, has rebooted his law firm while awaiting trial, with one client saying he met repeatedly with Halloran in his district office, a violation of city law, the Post reports:
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Corrupt Dan Halloran
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Those papers also disclosed for the first time that Sampson's mole -- federal paralegal Samuel Noel -- later became a cooperating witness for prosecutors investigating the Brooklyn senator after Noel's betrayal was uncovered last year. New York Political Consultant Charged in Corruption Case(NYT) Melvin E. Lowe, whose clients include the State Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and top real estate developers, faces nine criminal counts. An influential political consultant whose clients include the New York Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and leading real estate developers, including Forest City Ratner, was arrested on federal corruption charges* Melvin Lowe Political consultant Lowe, 53, was busted in October on federal fraud and tax violations. A former top aide to Sampson, he was accused of defrauding the state Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee out of $100,000 by using a false invoice for printing services. No trial has been set.
More About Sampson Arrests
Arroyo's Election Petit
As
of Friday, it took 126 days on average to get a repair done that
required skilled labor. That's two-and-a-half times what de Blasio said.
- See more at:
http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/politics/political_news/206877/mayor-s-speech-may-not-have-given-whole-picture-of-city-housing-authority-repairs#sthash.W3MmWhsG.d
Ocean
Hill-Brownsville Panel Discussion at Museum of the City of New York -
See more at:
http://www.edwize.org/ocean-hill-brownsville-panel-discussion-at-museum-of-the-city-of-new-york#sthash.6An62IFR.dpuf
Ocean
Hill-Brownsville Panel Discussion at Museum of the City of New York -
See more at:
http://www.edwize.org/ocean-hill-brownsville-panel-discussion-at-museum-of-the-city-of-new-york#sthash.6An62IFR.d
What Bill de Blasio subscribes to(Capital)
JUICY READ -- “Sulzberger scion’s star rises,” by Joe Pompeo: “As the [‘Innovation’] report beganto ricochet around the media echo-chamber, adding fuel to the fire of Abramson's departure, [33-year-old Arthur Gregg] Sulzberger was seen at his desk on the third floor newsroom looking sad, dejected, betrayed. A few weeks later, he was in a conference room participating in one of more than 20 internal presentations his team had arranged as a result of the report's unexpected publication. … Sulzberger [said] that the report … was not meant for a universe of bloggers and subscribers and shareholders and advertisers and competition.
“At the same time, now that the report had been exposed to that universe, he admitted, the Times was better off for it. He said it had sparked a lot of good conversations around the building. … ‘I was some mix of heart-broken and terrified,’ said Sulzberger, according to sources who were present. ‘That was 96 pages of self-examination and criticism of an institution I love.’ …
“TO HEAR INSIDERS TELL IT, Sulzberger's stock has risen as a result of the whole ordeal. And one can't help but speculate as to the significance of that elevated cachet in terms of his family's succession plans for the fifth-generation of Times leaders. … Sulzberger graduated from Brown in 2002 with a degree in political science. He cut his teeth at The Providence Journal and The Oregonian before landing at the Times as a metro reporter at the beginning of 2009. … The following year, he was named Kansas City bureau chief and then returned to New York in 2012 as an editor on the metro desk, where he displayed a knack for getting stories onto A1. …
“[H]e and his teammates have more presentations to give about the Innovation Report, including a session with the board of directors on June 19. … Sulzberger Jr. turns 63 this fall. He was 40 in 1992 when he took over as publisher from Punch, who resigned at the age of 65.” http://goo.gl/aSRj0g
Media Bistro on @CityAndStateNY's new partnership w/ @wpix http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/wpix-partners-with-city-state-to-expand-political-coverage_b121749 …
* The Justice
Department should block the proposed $45 billion merger between Comcast
and Time Warner Cable because it will concentrate too much power in the
hands of one company, the New York Times writes: Veteran Journalists to Start Politics Site for Bloomberg(NYT) John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, political journalists known for their detailed, gossip-filled books on the past two presidential campaigns, will join Bloomberg in the coming days to start a new site that will focus on American politics and policy. The new project, Bloomberg Politics, is part of a broader strategy put in place by Justin B. Smith, who was appointed chief executive of Bloomberg Media Group last summer after serving as president of Atlantic Media.The cost of Mark Halperin and John Heilemann for Bloomberg: $1 million-plus per man, per year through 2016.
President Obama made jokes about FOX News and Hillary Clinton at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who plays the VP on TV, teamed up with real life VP Joe Biden for a Correspondents Dinner video that features several VIP cameos.
NYS gave Time Inc. $7 million in cash and $3 million in tax credit to move to lower Manhattan (and not New Jersey). http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/nyregion/with-tax-incentives-new-york-and-new-jersey-fight-for-jobs.html …
* The state Public Service Commission will review the Time Warner Cable-Comcast merger deal under new regulations passed by lawmakers in April, which will force Comcast to show evidence that the merger is in the public interest, the New York Post writes: http://goo.gl/eI0Nrl
Cuomo pledges "hands-on" review of TWC-Comcast merger by state regulators http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2014/05/cuomo-pledges-hands-on-review-of-twc-comcast-merger/ …
Philly newspaper auction is over: "Inquirer co-owners Lewis Katz and H.F. 'Gerry' Lenfest won control..."
POLITICO
Big Money (on the left and on the right): http://politi.co/1huXCgJ
Last 100 Days in Washington Coverage
Boy, 14, Fatally Stabs Schoolmate in Bronx, Police Say(NYT)
Mother Charged With Fatal Poisoning of 5-Year-Old Boy(NYT)Rappers’ Lyrics and Lifestyles Scrutinized in Murder Case(NYT)
Mother Who Blogged About Son Is Charged With His Murder(WSJ)
Signs of Trouble Preceded Fatal Stabbing at Bronx School (NYT)
Rapper Denies Murder, but Testifies About a Life Studded With Criminal Acts(NYT)
Wednesday
Accused of Unheroic Acts, a Spider-Man Claims Self-Defense(NYT)
Drug Suspect Who Took Control of Police Car and Fled Is Found(NYT)
Teen dies after brutal schoolyard stabbing in the Bronx(NYP)
Times Square Spider-Man Found Not Guilty of Assault(NYT)
Monday
Man wrongfully convicted of murder to sue city for $162M(NYP)
Dispute Over Judges Leaves Family Courts in Limbo(NYT)
In New York, the state budget has provided funding to add 20 family
court judges, but regional squabbling is holding up the assignments.
Sunday
Police open fire on gunman(NYP)
Saturday
Police say three men were stabbed early Saturday in a Brooklyn banquet hall(WNBC)
Friday
Two drug gangs busted in Staten Island(NYP)
Woman sexually assaulted in Greenwich Village(NYP)
Wednesday
Bratton shrugs off spike in shootings(NYP)
No Body Is Found, but a Man Is Charged With Murder(NYT)
City Settles Occupy Protesters’ False-Arrest Lawsuit(NYT)
The man accused of stabbing two children in Brooklyn asked to speak in court:(NYT)
5 Accused of Luring Men to New York Strip Clubs for a Night They Wouldn’t Remember(NYT)
3 Sought in Series of Laundry Robberies(NYT) According to the police, masked men have robbed or tried to rob a dozen laundromats and two fast-food restaurants, mostly in Brooklyn, since January.
Stabbing Suspect Indicted on Murder Charges(NYT)
Tuesday
Brooklyn man pleads guilty to strangling girlfriend during an argument over infidelity(NYDN)
Homicides down, but shootings rise citywide over 2013(NYDN
Police open fire on gunman(NYP)
Saturday
Police say three men were stabbed early Saturday in a Brooklyn banquet hall(WNBC)
Friday
Two drug gangs busted in Staten Island(NYP)
Woman sexually assaulted in Greenwich Village(NYP)
Wednesday
Bratton shrugs off spike in shootings(NYP)
No Body Is Found, but a Man Is Charged With Murder(NYT)
City Settles Occupy Protesters’ False-Arrest Lawsuit(NYT)
The man accused of stabbing two children in Brooklyn asked to speak in court:(NYT)
5 Accused of Luring Men to New York Strip Clubs for a Night They Wouldn’t Remember(NYT)
3 Sought in Series of Laundry Robberies(NYT) According to the police, masked men have robbed or tried to rob a dozen laundromats and two fast-food restaurants, mostly in Brooklyn, since January.
Stabbing Suspect Indicted on Murder Charges(NYT)
The hearing for Daniel St. Hubert was largely a procedural affair, but
Mr. St. Hubert caused a stir when he asked the judge if he could address
the court.
Tuesday
Brooklyn man pleads guilty to strangling girlfriend during an argument over infidelity(NYDN)
Homicides down, but shootings rise citywide over 2013(NYDN
Terrorism . . .
Tunisian Man Accused Last Year of Terrorism Pleads Guilty to Lesser Counts(NYT)
Cleric Convicted of All Terrorism Charges(NYT)
A man who federal prosecutors said last year had wanted to commit acts
of terrorism pleaded guilty on two counts of fraud and misuse of visas
to facilitate an act of international terrorism.
Mostafa Kamel Mostafa, a former imam who prosecutors said had “devoted
his life to violent jihad,” was convicted of 11 terrorism-related
charges on Monday.
More on Terrorism
TLC says 800 summonses to outerboro taxi drivers/owners issued for pick ups in the yellow taxi-only zone
.@TishJamesLetitia breaks city rules with rental property but she denies despite records via
