Bharara "If You Got Them By the Balls Their Hearts and Minds Will Follow" John Wayne
Gov.
Cuomo Talks Reform(NYT Ed) Gov.
Andrew Cuomo sounded this week a lot like the candidate he was in 2010, when he
promised that his first job as governor would be “restoring public trust and
accountability” in state government. He has done little to fulfill that pledge,
and worse, he canceled the Moreland Commission midway through its investigation
of ethical lapses by lawmakers last year. With the arrest of the former
Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, on corruption charges, Governor Cuomo, the
reformer, has reappeared on the scene. Mr. Cuomo said he was prepared to allow
this year’s budget to go into overtime, if necessary, unless the reforms are
passed. That is a credible threat; legislators’ paychecks are withheld until a
budget passes. The governor can also include his reforms in temporary spending
bills that keep the government going until a permanent budget is approved. His
obligation now is to maintain his resolve and not collapse when back-room
trading to produce a budget begins.
The NYT hopes he
“might actually put some political power” behind the effort this time
Mr. Cuomo’s
reawakened interest in a cleaner Albany was
clearly inspired by revelations surrounding the once-powerful speaker. Mr. Cuomo’s reawakened interest
in a cleaner Albany
was clearly inspired by revelations surrounding the once-powerful speaker. * The Imperfect Messenger Background Will Give Him Little Ability to Fight Against Real Reforms The scoop on Heastie: Background from The Bronx(NYP). The Bronx seems to have been corruption central since 2002. Wags wondered what was in the water. The shameful rogues gallery of Bronx wrongdoers include state legislators Gloria Davis, Guy Velella, Pedro Espada, Nelson Castro and Eric Stevenson, as well as City Councilman Larry Seabrook, whom Heastie years ago once served as campaign treasurer.* The speaker from Baychester(Capital) * Michael Benjamin in the Post writes he has “some hope” for
the promises of transparency and reform made by newly-elected Assembly Speaker
Carl Heastie, despite his questionable background:
Former Sen. George
Maziarz directed
aides to destroy old campaign-related bills and receipts last spring,
just before federal prosecutors ramped up a probe into Albany corruption and the misuse of political
donations for personal use. In his push for
greater disclosure of outside income by state lawmakers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said
he expects his proposed ethics reforms will be rejected because many
in the Legislature cannot comply. * The
Buffalo News says: “Lawmakers are tone-deaf. They were tone-deaf in the way
they went about electing a new speaker. They were tone-deaf in 2013 when they
initially shunned any ethics reform, leading to Cuomo’s creation of a
short-lived, if ultimately productive, Moreland Commission on public
corruption. There is little reason to believe they have suddenly learned to
sing.”
More On Albany's Corrupted Pols
Heastie Took Away Indicted Scarborough Committee Chairmanship . . . Keeps Silver's Leadership Team
Indicted assemblymantemporarily loses committee chairman post(NYDN) Scarborough was replaced on a temporary basis by Assemblyman Fred Thiele Jr. If Scarborough his cleared of state charges that the he used more than $38,000 in campaign funds for his own personal benefit. The stipend for the committee chairmanship is $12,500. Thiele will not get the stipend since he already has another leadership post. * Heastie’s Assembly lists leadership posts (Capital). Heastie retained
Herman Farrell (D-Manhattan) to run the Assembly’s Budget Committee and
Majority Leader Joe Morelle (D-Rochester) to run the day-to-day operations of
the Assembly, jobs that come with $34,000 stipends. Heastie also kept Assembly
members Joe Lentol (D-Brooklyn), Cathy Nolan (D-Queens), and Keith Wright
(D-Manhattan) in place as heads of the Codes, Education and Housing committees,
even though they ran against him.*Only one member
(temporarily) lost his
committee chairmanship, which came with a $12,500 stipend: Assemblyman William
Scarborough, who has been indicted on state and federal corruption charges, no
longer heads the Small Business Committee.
.
Crime and the NYPD Updates
Murder Shooting Up, Cop Indicted, Bratton Boost Penalties Resisting Arrest,
Bratton urges boost in penalties for resisting arrest(NYP) Staten Island courtroom today that seeks to unlock grand
jury evidence in the police killing of Eric Garner is
part of a national push to pry from law enforcement information long
kept secret. Two lawyers from a city-funded nonprofit group have
been forced to resign over their appearance in a rap video that
endorsed murderous retribution for Garner’s death. Staten Island DA Dan
Donovan said at a state Senate hearing that he favors a number of
proposed reforms to the state’s grand jury proceedings, even as he said he was
unable to provide any additional details about the grand jury that considered
the Garner case.* The Cuomo administration had
to send help to a state agency commissioner who came under fire from a
state Senate committee yesterday about the governor’s proposed criminal justice
reforms, dispatching two senior aides to help answer questions. * Bratton said he opposes Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to
impose an independent monitor when a grand jury fails to indict a cop who has
killed an unarmed citizen, the Daily News reports: * Cop Unions Call forState to Bar City Regulations on Police (NYO)
NY Gambling Market Saturated Still Building 3 Casinos
DEB pressured 2
lawyers from Bronx Defend office to resign 4 participating in anti cop video
but has staffer who tweeted violence vs cops
NY Gambling Market Saturated Still Building 3 Casinos
Gambling sales down2% in New Yorkstate (NYDN) EXCLUSIVE: New York 's overall
gambling sales dropped from $9.3 billion in 2013 to $9 billion in 2014,
according to the New York State Lottery. The dip affected both lottery tickets
and racetrack casinos. New York ’s gambling sales in 2014 dropped for the
first time in years — potentially signaling a saturated market just as three
upstate casinos are in development. “People have been predicting this for a
long time,” said Stephen Shafer, chairman of the Coalition Against Gambling in New York . “Whether this
foretells another year like it, I don’t know.” The dip affected traditional
lottery games like Mega Millions, Powerball and Lotto as well as most of the
state’s racetrack casinos, according to state lottery data obtained by the
Daily News. Overall gambling sales last year totaled a still-hefty $9 billion,
a 2% drop from the record $9.3 billion in 2013, the figures show. Traditional
games saw sales dip 2.2%, down to $7.2 billion. Sales of multistate big-jackpot
games Powerball and Mega Millions dropped 43.5% and 11.8%, respectively.
de Blasio's Madness, Fantasy, Wish List, Delusional State of the City Speech
From
the NYT: He made no mention of last year’s bitter struggle with the
Police Department, or the spike in shootings and homicides in January that runs
counter to the crime statistics he cites so proudly and often. There was little
talk of street homelessness, but he mentioned an effort to house homeless
veterans. Also left unsaid was how he was going to enlist help from state
government. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who seems to love cutting the mayor down to
size, wasted no time in declaring on Tuesday that the Sunnyside Yards plan was
unworkable because the state has other plans for the property. Housing
fantasies: The hole in de Blasio‘s ‘big idea’(NYP) *Address:
Full of Ambition, but Light on Details (NYT) Mayors often use their annual speech to outline a raft of proposals, but Bill de Blasio spoke mostly about a plan that would transform neighborhoods from Staten Island to Brooklyn.* De Blasio’s speech
focused mainly on housing. It was big on ambition and light on details.*Activists Trash Billde Blasio for Neglecting NYPD Issues in State of the City Speech (NYO)* Mayor
de Blasio on his ferry plan: ‘If you build it, they will come’(NYDN)
Mayor
de Blasio Moves to Expand Ferry Service in New York City (NYT) In one of the
best-received proposals in his State of the City address, Mayor Bill de Blasio
announced plans for a citywide ferry service with stops in, among other places,
Astoria and the
Rockaways. *
Home,
sweet — nope (NYP Ed) Bad news: Mayor de Blasio wants to manage the city’s housing supply. Good news: He offered few new, concrete ideas about how he would do it in a State of the City Address devoted mostly to housing. So maybe he won’t do too much more damage than is already being done. Builders, for
instance, will put up fewer units if they can’t get market rates for some of
them. Nor will government-discounted apartments alleviate the shortage much —
because the subsidies will just attract more tenants and fuel demand. The mayor himself
inadvertently offeredproof his plan will do little to ease the crunch when he
claimed former Mayor Ed Koch’s 1985 plan for massive new subsidized housing
worked “beautifully.” If it had, de Blasio wouldn’t have had to devote his
speech to finding ways to fix the housing problem.
Weaken the Neighborhoods for Central Control By the Mayor and Developers
Lindsay, Wagner Breslin and Mailer Worked to Give More Power To the City's Neighborhoods
In the early 1970's, Mayor John Lindsay created additional entities in some districts whose responsibility it was to oversee the provision of City services. Each "Little City Hall" as they were called, was headed by a District Manager, a person appointed by the mayor. Lindsay wanted the city halls to give neighborhoods more control of the city's government. How They Came Into Being What would eventually evolve into a system of Community Boards was the brainchild of Robert Wagner, Manhattan Borough President, in 1951. He designated twelve districts within Manhattan New York City . Eventually the term "Community Planning Board" was shortened to simply "Community Board". The role of the boards was still that of advisory boards to the Borough Presidents.
Daily News and NYT Does Not Question Mayor's Programs But Sell It
Bill
de Blasio’s Big Plans for New York (NYT Ed) Mayor Bill de Blasio came out
fighting for affordable housing, envisioning a city able to retain the working-
and middle-class families that call it home. *GONZALEZ:
For Mayor de Blasio's, affordable housing visions are really shooting for the
stars (NYDN) * WEINER:
Hizzoner's proposed city ferry network could bring economic benefits (NYDN)
*'My
grandmother's story was not a fairy tale': Hizzoner reflects on the struggles
of his Italian immigrant grandmother and uses it as a symbol to keep NYC
affordable (NYDN) * 'WE'RE
THE ULTIMATE COASTAL CITY': De Blasio proposes city ferry system to connect all
five boroughs (NYDN)* Sunnyside up for de Blasio (NYDN Ed) Mayor's State of the City speech offers big, ambitious
plans for much-needed housing construction* Bill the Builder on Tuesday unfurled housing plans faster
than the forces of gentrification, more powerful than not-in-my-backyard naysayers,
and able to leap ultra-luxury towers in a single bound. Kudos to Mayor de
Blasio for displaying superheroic ambitions in his State of the City address. With
New York in
desperate need of affordable housing, the mayor says he’ll deliver big-time
through targeted rezonings, mandates on real estate developers and some major
building projects. The biggest of de Blasio’s big deals called for creating
11,250 units of affordable housing on a deck to be built over the 200-acre Long Island Rail Road
and Amtrak railyards in Queens . Let’s hope his
other ideas get off to a surer start.* for his push to expand housing for low-income New Yorkers and lauded his proposed development at Sunnyside Yards * The Daily News offered
kudos to “Bill the Builder” de BlasioIn his second State
of the City address, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a rousing call for more
ferry service in the city. Transit advocate greeted
this idea tepidly, but former Congressman – and onetime mayoral
hopeful – Anthony Weiner is
a fan. * Sunnyside up for deBlasio (NYDN) Mayor's State of the
City speech offers big, ambitious plans for much-needed housing construction
As Housing Prices In NYC Reach New Highs the Mayor Holds A State of the City Speech
In 2nd Year, Mayor de Blasio Will Focus on Making Housing Denser and More Affordable (NYT) In his State of the City address on Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio will try to convince New Yorkers that his plan to build more, and build higher, can improve residents’ lives.Mayor Bill de Blasio will make housing a focal point in his State of the City address, including denser yet more affordable neighborhoods and rezoning of East Harlem and Stapleton on Staten Island * De Blasio is also expected to announce that the city has begun work on six new community health centers, part of a larger push to reduce health inequalities in certain neighborhoods, Capital New York
writes: * De
Blasio will unveil plan to end veteran homelessness(NYDN)Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will mandate affordable housing
in developments in rezoned areas
City
.jpg)
In his State of the City address today, NYC Mayor Bill de
Blasio is
set to declare housing as the focal point of his second year in
office, unveiling a vision for an even denser yet more affordable New York City
that will transform neighborhoods from East Harlem in Manhattan to Staten
Island’s North Shore.* Scoop on state ofcity
announcement: (Capital) * Luxury City no more? "New York risks
taking on the qualities of a gated community, a place defined by exclusivity,
rather than opportunity."De Blasio's warning: "New York risks taking on the qualities
of a gated community, a place defined by exclusivity rather than opportunity."*Mayor: Time to Work Toward a More Affordable New York (NY1)
Cuomo SunnySide Yards Are Not Available
Cuomo
shuts down de Blasio‘s ‘game-changing’ plan (NYP) “The [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] uses Sunnyside Yards as an important facility for our transportation system, and it is not available for any other use in the near term,” Cuomo’s spokeswoman, Melissa DeRosa, said in a statement. Cuomo also hit back at de Blasio’s call for the minimum wage to be set at $13 per hour in New York City , just weeks after the governor himself called for the rate to be hiked to a lower $10.50 statewide, and $11.50 in New York City .
Neighborhoods that will be rezoned for more housing: East New York, Long Island City , Flushing West, East Harlem , downtown SI, Jerome Ave Bx*De Blasio wants to rezone East NY , Long Island City , Flushing West, East Harlem, Downtown Staten Island & Jerome Ave. Corridor in the Bronx * City will supply tenants in rezoned area with free legal protections from harassment #OurCity * De Blasio HeraldsSunnyside
Yards as Next Stuy-Town, Unveils Housing Plan Details (NYO) * Housing
fantasies: The hole in de Blasio‘s ‘big idea’(NYP) * Obstacle
to Mayor deBlasio’s Affordable Housing Plan: Neighborhood Resistance (NYT)
* New York's next greatpolitical battle
will be a railyard in Queens: (NY Mag) * De
Blasio HeraldsSunnyside Yards as Next Stuy-Town, Unveils Other Housing Details (NYO)
* 'WE'RE
THE ULTIMATE COASTAL CITY': Mayor de Blasio proposes city ferry system that
would connect all five boroughs (NYDN) Cuomo said the
Sunnyside Yards are not available for development shortly after de Blasio
unveiled plans for an 11,250-unit affordable housing complex on the site* De Blasio Thinks There’s ‘A Way Forward’ forSunnyside Yards Proposal (NYO)* Cuomo
Calls Mayor's Sunnyside Yards Plan 'Problematic'(NY1)*Three years after he proposed replacing the Javits Center
on the Far West Side with a best-in-nation convention center in Queens, and two
and a half years after that proposal fell to pieces, Cuomo is
once again talking up a Queens
convention center proposal.
6 Million Uses Subways and Buses, 100,000 Ferries
Where is the Money to Pay for Any of the Mayor's Proposals
An
Obstacle to Mayor de Blasio’s Affordable Housing Plan: Neighborhood Resistance(NYT)
* Mayor
de Blasio, in State of the City, Focuses on His Housing Plan(NYT) Mayors often use their annual speech to outline a raft of proposals, but Bill de Blasio spoke mostly about a plan that would transform neighborhoods from Staten Island to Brooklyn.* Mayor Bill de Blasio focused on housing in his State of the City address, calling for the construction of thousands of new units with the goal of creating more economically diverse neighborhoods, The New York Times writes:
de Blasio Answers Increased Homelessness and Gentrification Pushing the Poor and Middle Class Out of the City With Fantasy
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was quick to split with de Blasio’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $13 per hour for New York City , instead promoting his plan to increase the wage to $11.50 in the five boroughs, State of Politics writes: * In his
address, de Blasio also promised a new city-wide ferry service to be up and
running by 2017, which will help connect historically isolated neighborhoods
and will cost the same as a subway fare, the
Post reports: *Cuomo
And de Blasio Part On Minimum Wage (Updated) (YNN) * City-wide
ferry service planned for 2017(NYP)* NYC Mayor Bill
de Blasio focused most of his second State of the City address on
housing – including a proposal to develop Sunnyside Yards. …that
suggestion was
shot down by the Cuomo administration, which called Sunnyside Yards “an important facility for our transportation system” that is not available for any other use in the “near term.”
Why Not Demand That the Mayor Stop Crown Heights Residence From Being Push Out Before He Promises to Stopping Gentrification in Other Neighborhoods?
Some
See Risk in de Blasio’s Bid to Add Housing (NYT) Many New York
residents, especially in Brooklyn , say
the influx of market-rate apartments called for in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plans
could gut neighborhoods, not preserve them. State
of City
. Bharara the 4th Man in the Room Puts On the Pressure to Change Will They Resist?
It’s
the same-old relay at the New York Assembly(NYP) Albany
make-believe. Out with the old, in with the old. Heastie, of The Bronx, is a
creature of the crooked system Silver created. From rewarding donors to
skirting the rules on per-diem claims and spending campaign cash for personal
use, the new boss followed the lead of the old boss. He got ahead by going
along. Still fearful of him, or perhaps having something to hide,
most lawmakers remained silent over the corruption charges, saying only that
Silver’s predicament is a “distraction.” They pass no judgment because . . .
why? In a speech on Silver’s last day as speaker, Cuomo rolled
out proposed ethics changes that were greeted with polite yawns. And his threat
not to sign a budget unless legislators approved those changes echoed his
flawed approach to the Moreland Commission.
He huffed and puffed for four years
about invoking the Moreland Act’s subpoena power before he actually did it,
then abruptly pulled the plug in a deal with the Legislature. That trade-off is
one of the things federal prosecutors are examining, in part because the
Moreland panel was on to a number of crooked lawmakers when Cuomo disbanded it. But Cuomo said all this many times before, going back to his
2010 campaign. Last year, he told me he was as “serious as a heart attack”
about using Moreland to “follow the money” and connect the dots, yet punted
just as investigators got close to pay dirt. Worse, he has refused to explain
fully why he backed down, or admit it was a mistake. Remember, absent federal
prosecutor Preet Bharara, Silver still would be speaker and three-men-in-a-room
negotiations over a budget still would be accepted as the way Albany works. Whether Cuomo realizes it or
not, Bharara changed the equation, first with his charges against Silver, and
second by mocking the idea that the state should be treated like a fiefdom.
“When did 20 million New Yorkers agree to be ruled like a triumvirate in Roman
times?” the prosecutor asked in a subsequent speech.* New
Speaker in Albany: A Skilled Operator, Embracing Change(NYT) Carl E. Heastie says
he hopes to reform the almost czarlike system in which the Assembly is ruled by
its speaker, though his political career would seem to make him better suited
to thrive in that environment.* Excerpts
From Carl Heastie's Speech (NYT) * Will A Tammany Hall Boss Be Able to Clean Up Albany Corruption, INC, Will He Try beyond PR Spin? Stay Tuned?* Speaker Carl Heastie: ‘Three Men in a Room’ Is ‘Overstated’(NYO)* In-depth on the background of the new speaker, Carl Heastie.The speaker from Baychester via @capitalnewyork * Assemblyman Carl Heastie was
officially elected the first black speaker in the chamber’s more than
200-year history. He spoke for almost eight minutes after his formal ascension,
and said that was the longest speech he had ever given. * He kicked
off his tenure in the leadership post by angering reporters with an
unusually short press conference. The new speaker returned to take more
questions after LCA members protested that two minutes was too short a period
in which to ask him anything significant. * Heastie’s first
word after becoming speaker was: “Wow.” (Actually, he said that
twice). He followed that up with a pledge to reform the chamber and also to
push for pay raises for its member. * The new speaker pledged
to bring a more inclusive leadership style to the chamber, insisting
that even as Bronx Democratic chairman he
“didn’t just give out marching orders.” * Michael Goodwin is
not impressed by Heastie, and he calls the governor a reform of “last
resort.”* The TU
says Cuomo’s ethics plan is “incomplete,” and suggests lawmakers one
up him by making it better, instead of complaining about his hardball tactics.* Testifying before a joint legislative budget hearing, NYC Schools
Chancellor Carmen
Farina criticized Cuomo’s teacher evaluation plan, which relies more
heavily on test results than before.Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday doubled
down on his “all or nothing” demand of the Legislature when it comes
to ethics reform, saying he needs lawmakers to approve the“whole
loaf” of what he’s proposing, or risk a late budget – the first since
he took office in January 2011.Wow A 1995 Daily
News story describes Heastie as a “bright newcomer” among Seabrook’s
Bronx entourage, a group that included Al Sharpton, future City Council
candidate Larry Warden, district leader Al DeCastro, and members of the
nonprofit Seabrook controlled, the Northeast Bronx Redevelopment Corporation
(NEBRC). Heastie is described in the article as Seabrook’s campaign treasurer,
and the bookkeeper for the NEBRC. The speaker from Baychester(Capital)Politics reports: * As Cuomo seeks a
new teacher evaluation law and a strengthening of charter schools, the governor
said today in Rochester that he respects
teachers and their work, State of Politicsreports * Heastie received
102 votes to replace Sheldon Silver as speaker, while 40 Republican lawmakers
backed Minority Leader Brian Kolb and three were listed as having voted for
“neither” choice, State of Politics reports * The Assembly
Democrats who either didn’t vote for Carl Heastie for speaker or weren’t
present for the vote explain
themselves, (with the exception of Assemblywoman Deborah Glick).*There’s a Sheldon Silver cameo in
David Axelrod’s memoir.* When a group of Assembly members met last month to consider
the fate of Sheldon Silver, they turned to a new member from Long
Island to assess the strength of federal corruption charges
against their longtime leader: former Eastern District prosecutor Todd
Kaminsky.
WHAT ABOUT THETHREE MEN IN A ROOM? By State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz * Diaz: What’s good for the ethics goose … * Newly-minted Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
more or less shrugged off Cuomo’s ultimatum. The Bronx Democrat said
he has no problem discussing ethics reform in the context of the budget, and
does not expect the Legislature to miss the mandated April 1 deadline because
of it. But some of Heastie’s members are not so sanguine. Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, (who had questioned the speed
with which Heastie rose to power), said
on CapTon two nights ago that Cuomo is not an “emperor” and should not
be stuffing so much policy into the budget, where state lawmakers have little
power to impact it.* With
Silver Out, Ethics Legislation Pushed To Front Burner(YNN)
Mr. Heastie will now be one of the three most powerful
politicians in NYS
This speech from
Heastie is in part a rebuke of Silver's leadership: calls for reform, outside
income caps, devolving of power from speaker * Heastie said among
immediate priorities:min wage hike,Dream Act,Women's Equality Act,crimin
justice reforms,on-time budget. * Carl
Heastie becomes first African-American State Assembly Speaker(NYP) * Heastie
Is Elected Speaker of New York Assembly (NYT) * Cuomo Congratulates Heastie(YNN)* New Assembly Speaker
Carl Heastie brought
his daughter, Taylor , to Albany to witness today’s historic vote.* Heastie got a
celebratory cake. * Speaker Vote Set For 11 A.M.(YNN)
The Silver Goodbye Part 1
Sheldon
Silver’s 21-year reign as speaker comes to an end(NYP) Albany
in a chauffeur-driven state vehicle. For one final time, Silver walked from his spacious office
on the ninth floor of the Legislative
Office Building
He was
accompanied by his press secretary, Michael Whyland, and his chief of staff,
Judy Rapfogel, whose husband was convicted last year of stealing from the
charity he ran.* Sheldon Silver
ended two decades as speaker with a quiet day spent largely behind closed
doors, saying, “There are no thoughts,” in an emotionless tone as he left the
Assembly chamber just after 5 p.m., the Daily News writes: * Judy Rapfogel IsWoman in the Middle of Two N.Y. Scandals (Forward) Depends What You Mean by Productive January Not A
Productive Month In Albany(YNN) * Silver, to the
amazement of some lawmakers, not only came
to the Capitol yesterday, but also attended the private meeting among
Democrats in which they embraced a new speaker. Lawmakers said Silver, who has
insisted he will remain on as a member of the Assembly, also voted in private
for Heastie. * The corruption
charges brought against Silver may raise questions about the efficacy of
attorney referral fee rules and the of counsel role, legal ethics experts said, but
don’t expect rule changes any time soon. * Alexis Grenell calls
Silver the “Bill Cosby of Albany ,”
saying his legacy “is inextricably linked to his callous disregard for the
women who needed his protection.”* Former Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver slipped out of the chamber and past reporters after
casting his vote for Carl Heastie, the Observer reports: * Silver may still
receive a salary from his law firm Weitz and Luxenberg because several of the
asbestos cases he referred to the practice are still unresolved, the Daily Newsreports: *Former Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver cast his vote for Heastie from his new desk at the back
of the chamber, then slipped
away without speaking to reporters.* Silver
a Shel of his former self in Assembly’s last row(NYP)* Now relegated to a position of a rank-and-file member at the
back of the chamber (albeit one with considerably seniority), Assemblyman
Sheldon Silver cast
his vote for his successor. Heastie didn’t mention Silver during his
brief victory speech. Rapfogel's Met Council Corruption An insurance company executive who conspired with the former
head of a leading Jewish charity to fleece it of nearly $7 million renegotiated
his plea deal so he could serve his sentence in city jail instead of
state prison.
Daily News New King Heastie Same As the Old King Silver
Heastie’s inability to recognize that the Assembly and
the rest of Albany
Assembly Democrats:They've learned nothing from Sheldon Silver scandal (NYDN Ed) The new boss in Albany , Carl Heastie,
settles all too comfortably into his predecessor's secrecy. The new boss in Albany sees no evil and
hears no evil. New Yorkers can only pray that, with Carl Heastie as speaker,
members of the state Assembly will do no evil. Count on dashed hopes. Heastie
has not the slightest interest in, nor an instinct for, transparent governance.
His inability to recognize that the Assembly and the rest of Albany need fundamental change makes it all
the more welcome that Gov. Cuomo has drawn a line in the sand, declaring that
he won’t sign the budget without key reforms. Topping Cuomo’s list is full
disclosure of members’ outside income, including who’s paying and for what
work. * Neither snow nor rain, nor gloom spread by prosecutors
stopped the Assembly from business as usual—abandoning even the facade of a
vetting process for its new leader, Heastie, Newsday writes * Process
For Speaker Conducted Behind The Scenes (YNN)
Will A Tammany Hall Boss Be Able to Clean Up Albany Corruption, INC . . . Will He Try?
He put Heastie to shame. When the trauma of
Silver’s arrest was fresh, the Assembly’s ruling Democrats set a vote on a
successor for Feb. 10 to give candidates a chance to make their cases and to
allow the Assembly to check into their backgrounds. Regardless, Heastie, who
serves as Bronx Democratic boss, joined forces with the Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan party leaders
in pummeling Assembly members to back him. Now that he has them sewn up, he
wanted an immediate coronation and he is going to get it. So much for an open,
rules-based process. Most shocking, in an
era when lawmakers have been arrested at the rate of one every five months, and
at a time when Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has warned New Yorkers to
“stay tuned” for more, Heastie sees no culture of corruption in the capital. “I
think it’s isolated to a few bad apples,” he said, offering an assessment all
the more frightening because Heastie is no boob. It now falls to
Cuomo to take charge. In addition to full disclosure of outside income, he
would amend the state constitution to strip government pensions from convicted
officials; crack down on expense padding; ban the use of campaign funds for
personal expenses; and enact the strongest campaign-finance disclosure in the
nation.* Errol
Louis: Carl Heastie’s shady associates (NYDN) Start with Heastie’s
home political club, the Northeast Bronx Community Democrats, which was founded
and run by Larry Seabrook, a mentor and predecessor of Heastie’s who served in
the Assembly, state Senate and City Council before ending up in federal prison,
where he is currently serving a five-year sentence for steering millions in
public funds to friends, family members and nonprofit groups that did little or
no good for the Bronx. * Heastie’s rapid rise
to the speaker’s post suffered
an unforeseen bump in the last several days when a number of news
stories called attention to his campaign spending and the amount of money he
has taken from the government to cover work-related travel and expenses. But
initial indications were that the reports had had little impact on his
popularity among the Assembly’s rank and file.* Cuomo
unveils ethics reforms for pols, threatens to block budget until they’re in
place (NYDN) The Bronx Democrat
told the Daily News Editorial Board that he thinks 'it’s isolated to a few bad
apples.' Assembly Democrats formally made Heastie their choice for speaker on
Monday.* Uber lobbyist/consultant Roberto Ramirez, a former
assemblyman from the Bronx , is on hand for the
@CarlHeastie coronation.
Will Schlein, Vargas and Other Join Forces With Albany Corruption, INC?
What Roll Will the Private Tammany Play With Heastie?
Eric Soufer who works for Risa Heller Communications who represents companies like Airbnb was listed as spokesperson for Heastie in a news story this week. Heller guests on Louis's NY1 show was not part of his article today in the Daily News
Mr. Vargas never seems to have trouble landing more
appointments.” And why should he? Like other county Democratic bosses, Heastie
largely controls who gets the party’s nod for judgeships, and those judges hand
out receiverships to favored insiders like Vargas. In 2009, reporter Tom
Robbins noted, the Bronx judicial convention,
where candidates get selected, was run by none other than Schlein. It could be that
Heastie is an honest man who happens not to inquire too deeply into the ethics
and behavior of the people around him.But the leader of a scandal-scarred
institution has to create — and enforce — a much higher standard. And members
should ask questions and demand that Heastie raise the ethical bar. They should
heed the words of Joseph Lentol, the 72-year-old Brooklyn Assembly veteran in
his 22nd term who hoped to become speaker, but dropped out when he realized his
colleagues wouldn’t support his bid. “I thought I was the clean candidate, but
that didn’t seem to matter,” Lentol said in a rueful radio interview, reported
on by The New York Observer. It does matter. If
the Assembly Dems haven’t figured that out by now, our state is in much more
trouble than we think.* Worst
illegal hotels in city to be revealed in report(NYDN)
Cuomo de Blasio Education War Escalates
Engquist Where the Flacking the Truth
Spin city (CrainsNY) "I took part in a panel discussion recently on discerning
spin from truth when politicians speak. I estimated that 90% of what they say
is spin. But it's not just elected officials. Everybody spins. Interest groups,
flacks, even holier-than-thou good-government groups assail me daily with
hundreds of messages spinning ostensibly true information to suit their
purposes. I don't resent the spin; these people are advancing their causes. But
it's enough to make my head, well, you know."
Smith Jury Sick Delay
Jury deliberations
in the corruption trial of former Sen. Malcolm Smith were
delayed once again today, after the foreman of the jury was
hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.* Juror illness
delays deliberations in Malcolm Smith trial(Capital)* The federal trial of
state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Tom Libous will
wait until after New York ’s
legislative session is scheduled to end.
Cuomo Pass My Reforms or the Government Closes Down
SpeakerCandidate Carl Heastie Backs ‘First Steps’ Toward Albany Reform(NYO) If he’s elected by his colleagues to be the next speaker, Mr. Heastie vowed he would earn no outside income and would step down as Bronx County Democratic Chairman. He would also require a new dislcosure to account for “every dollar legislators earn outside of public service,” his press release said. And he’d consider making the legislature full-time—and as a result banning outside work. Mr. Heastie, in what a press release said were “first steps” to larger reforms, also promised to create an Office of Ethics and Compliance and to reform the Assmebly’s use of per diem reimbursements, which are meant to cover travel costs.
Cuomo and Heastie Dancing to Different Reform Tunes
Mr. Heastie’s proposed Office of Ethics and Compliance would be organized by a three-member team of Assembly members who would find its first Executive Director, a person who would not be a lawmaker. As for per diem reform, Mr. Heastie vowed to “introduced new accountability and transparency measures” to the lax reimbursement system. That would include working with state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to beef up reporting requirements and oversight.* nNew York Governor Cuomo says he will not sign a budget without ethics reform. * Nolan says she could support term limits for the speaker's office.* Pushing
Ethics Reforms, Cuomo Wants Lawmakers to Reveal Income or Lose It (NYT) Declaring
that New York’s government faces a crisis of public trust, Gov. Andrew M.
Cuomo’s proposals include requiring lawmakers to fully disclose their outside
income and public financing of campaigns.* Glick On
Cuomo: We Didn’t Elect an Emperor(YNN) * UFT Targets Cuomo in New Ad (YNN) * JCOPE released a
report detailing suggested
changes to the state’s ethics and lobbying laws.* Cuomo’s effort to
change teacher tenure rules got some positive attention…in
California. *Pushing
Ethics Reforms, Cuomo Wants Lawmakers to Reveal Income or Lose It (NYT)
Cuomo and Heastie Dancing to Different Reform Tunes
Cuomo
using state budget to push ethics reforms
Andrew Cuomo was'totally shocked' by Sheldon Silver's arrest (NYO) * Cuomo To Legislature: Pass Ethics Reform In Budget Or Shut Down Gov’t(YNN)Cuomo is proposing a five-point plan that starts with what he said would be the strongest campaign disclosure rules in the nation – including revealing client lists from outside businesses, which he said are not protected, as lawmakers have claimed in court. The governor also called for a constitutional amendment that would end public pensions for elected officials found guilty of wrongdoing, an overhaul of the legislative per diem system, strict new rules prohibiting the personal use of political funds , (including, presumably, using this cash to pay for legal representation, which the governor himself is going), and enactment of a host of campaign finance fixes like closing the LLC loophole, (which he himself has used to great effect), lower contribution limits and creation of a publicly financed campaign system. * Andrew Cuomo was'totally shocked' by Sheldon Silver's arrest (NYO) * Shaken by corruption charges against Silver and other high-profile arrests in recent years, many lawmakers have become critical of JCOPE, questioning whether it has been effective or independent, the Journal reports: * The delay caused by
the Silver scandal could
take its toll in the long term this session.* Cuomo’s
ex-brother-in-law, Douglas
Kennedy: “Does anybody need to tell (the governor) that he’s, you
know, finished with national politics right now? He knows it. I mean – it’s
just something you know.”* Cuomo
Seeks Ethics Reform After Assembly Speaker’s Arrest(NYT)* Cuomo's "scolding tone signaled an abrupt shift for(gov) long known for his accommodating relationship" w lawmakers (NYT) * Cuomo
using state budget to push ethics reforms(NYP)* Cuomo:
Ethics Reform ‘More Important Than Anything Else’(YNN) * Cuomo said ethics
reform is “more important than anything else” this legislative session, and
suggested that his push to clean up Albany has
nothing to do with his scuttling of the Moreland Commission, State of Politics reports * Reform hypocrites (NYP Ed) With Sheldon Silver
out, the Albany
air is now full of talk of “reform.” But let’s put this in context: Even after
the news that Shelly was under federal investigation, only two people out of
150 in the Assembly spoke out against his continuing as speaker during a roll
call vote re-electing him that was itself followed by a standing ovation. Then
there’s Gov. Cuomo, now vowing to shut down the government if lawmakers don’t
pass his reforms, which include requiring legislators to disclose their outside
pay. This wasn’t his stand a year ago, when he shut down the Moreland
Commission as part of a budget deal. The commission was knee-capped as
lawmakers were fighting its demands they disclose their outside income and
clients. The governor closed it in exchange for a tepid array of ethics
“reforms” that didn’t go nearly as far as what the governor now tells us is
necessary. Yet at the time he pronounced it a “satisfactory conclusion.” Remember,
too, that the same governor pitching reform is part of the “three men in a
room” culture that circumvents democratic debate and process.* Joint Commission
on Public Ethics commissioners want to change rules that prohibit them from
releasing investigative findings when no legal violation is found or when they
opt not to probe a situation, The Times Union writes * The Times Union editorial board writes that Cuomo will
encounter resistance to ethics reforms in the Legislature, but they do not have
sympathy for him because New York has long been waiting in vain for Albany to
clean up its act:
NY Corruption, INC
Wills Indicted Again Failing to Disclose His Financial Dealing on Disclosure Reports
Councilman Ruben
wills indicted again by @AGSchneiderman
-- this time for allegedly filing false conflict of interest forms #breaking * Wills indicted on five counts of filing false disclosures (Capital)Wills allegedly filed five different statements with the
board between 2011 and 2013 that each failed to disclose “certain financial
dealings,” Schneiderman’s office said in a statement. If convicted, Wills would
face between 16 months and four years in prison, the statement said. Wills
served as an aide to former state senator Shirley Huntley, who was arrested on
corruption charges by Schneiderman in 2012, before joining the City Council in
2011.Wills was indicted
in May of last year by Schneiderman’s office for allegedly using
roughly $30,000 of campaign money and grant funding for his own personal use,
including spending some of it on a $750 Louis Vuitton handbag, before he joined
the City Council in 2010. Read the full indictment here: * City
Councilman Ruben Wills arrested again(NYP) * City Councilman Ruben
Wills arrested again (NYDN) * New
York City Councilman Arrested on Corruption Charges(NYT)Councilman Ruben W. Wills, who represents southeastern Queens , is charged with five felony counts of failing to
disclose financial dealings.
AG Failure to Disclose Information on Disclosure Forms Crime for Wills Not for Others
de Blasio Says He Won Cop PR Battle By Keeping His Mouth Shut
De Blasio believes he won public relations battle with NYPD(NYDN)
The Press Gives the Mayor A Free Pass On Cleaning Up His Own Law Department
NY Corruption, INC
Bharara's Trifecta: Investigating the Lawmakers, Courts and Governor Same Time
At least three judges at 60 Centre St. are connected to Silver from the Lower East Side . Judge Martin Shulman is a former president of Silver’s synagogue, and the two are neighbors in a Grand Street co-op complex. In 1999, the judge was appointed an acting Supreme Court justice by Lippman, then the state’s chief administrative judge. Shulman has been handling tax-reduction claims at the Centre Street courthouse for at least a dozen years and now presides over most of these cases. Many of these cases were filed by the Goldberg & Iryami law firm.* Shelly’s court (NYP Ed) As The Post reported Sunday, US Attorney Preet Bharara is now investigating the state Supreme Court’s civil division in lower Manhattan . Its courtrooms handled many of the asbestos and real-estate claims that provided Silver with much of his outside income. The stink here is that it isn’t just the plaintiffs Speaker Silver had ties to. He was pals with the judges as well. The most prominent is Jonathan Lippman, whom Shelly has known since childhood. Shelly helped engineer Lippman’s appointment as chief judge of the state Court of Appeals. In that post, Lippman appointed Arthur Luxenberg — yes, of the same Weitz & Luxenberg that was paying Silver — to a committee that helped decide which judges are appointed to the division handling the asbestos cases that are among Weitz & Luxenberg’s specialties. There are also the two landlords who are being represented in the same courtrooms by Silver’s other law firm, Goldberg & Iryami. Their case is being heard by Judge Martin Shulman. Not only does Silver live in the same building and go to the same synagogue as Shulman, Silver helped get Shulman his appointment. No one besides Silver has yet been charged with any wrong-doing. But with a state court now under federal investigation along with the governor’s office and the Legislature, Bharara now has all three branches of New York government in his crosshairs.* Bharara: New York's Honey Badger (Daily Public) The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New
York Preet Bharara has the ability and willingness to do what no
elected official in New York
can or will. In fact, we should be thankful that
Governor Cuomo disbanded his Moreland Commission on Public Corruption,
enabling its investigatory files to be picked up by Bharara’s team
of federal prosecutors and the FBI. The US Attorney, after all, is an
appointed federal law enforcement official, unbeholden to any of the parties,
factions, personalities, or pressure groups that maintain a corrupt chokehold
on New York’s body politic. Preet Bharara is New York ’s honey badger, completely unconcerned with the toes on which
his investigations might be treading. *If there is indeed
an investigation of his outside income – and he’s not saying there is – Senate
Majority Leader Dean Skelos will
cooperate.
AG Failure to Disclose Information on Disclosure Forms Crime for Wills Not for Others
Why one pol's wrist-slap is another's felony (CrainsNY) Attorney General
Eric Schneiderman arrested Queens Councilman Ruben Wills on felony charges
Tuesday—but a Schneiderman spokesman is refusing to say exactly what Mr. Wills
did to warrant counts carrying up to four years in prison. Other officials,
including City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia
James and former City Hall aide Rachel Noerdlinger, have failed to disclose
financial information to the Conflicts of Interest Board and were allowed to
amend their filings without even a fine, let alone criminal charges. But Mr.
Schneiderman's office says Mr. Wills' case is different because the omission is
tied to an as-yet-unspecified crime. State law allowed Mr. Schneiderman to
charge Mr. Wills with a Class E felony because the councilman submitted a false
financial disclosure to the Conflicts of Interest Board "in the course of
committing a crime," a Schneiderman spokesman said. But he would not say
what Mr. Wills omitted from his disclosure form, nor what the related crime was.
Capital New York obtained a copy of Mr. Wills' recent financial disclosure
reports and wrote that Mr. Wills had "corrected information pertaining to
outside income gains for documents filed in the years 2010 through 2014"
from "two separate building and contracting businesses." It's not
clear whether that is related to other charges filed in 2014 that Mr. Wills is
facing from Mr. Schneiderman, which center on the alleged misuse of taxpayer
money by a nonprofit and of public campaign funds.
District Leader Baldeo Comes Out of the Hospital and Goes to Jail
Queens
pol gets 18 months for illegal campaign contributions(NYP) Queens council seat. In
the fall of 2010, Baldeo, who was a district leader at the time, received
illegal contributions through intermediaries, also known as straw donors. Manhattan federal
prosecutors charged the crooked pol with seven counts of obstructing justice
last August. Baldeo, 54, was also found guilty of tampering with witnesses by
instructing them to lie to the feds. Baldeo’s lawyer, Christina Corcoran,
pleaded with the judge not to imprison the “already broken man.”But federal Judge
Paul Crotty wasn’t buying it. “What Mr. Baldeo did over an extended period of
time was pollute the administration of justice. It’s even worse because Mr.
Baldeo is a lawyer. His sentence demands incarceration,” Crotty said. Baldeo
also has to pay $15,700, do 300 hours of community service and spend three
months on house arrest following his prison time. He must report to prison by
March 23.
de Blasio Says He Won Cop PR Battle By Keeping His Mouth Shut
The Press Gives the Mayor A Free Pass On Cleaning Up His Own Law Department
Lawyer up, Mayor deBlasio, to combat frivolous lawsuits against the NYPD (NYDN) A new vow to close the city's coffers to plaintiffs seeking easy cash must result in a downward curve of out-of-control payouts.
Both the NYT and Daily News Ignore the Fed Investigation of 421-a Corruption
Among the charges
against Silver is that he arranged special real-estate-tax breaks in exchange
for large sums funneled through a friend’s law firm. In
Program to Spur Affordable Housing, $100 Million Penthouse Gets 95% Tax Cut
(NYT) The 57th Street penthouse is a prime example
in the debate over a program that offers generous tax abatements to generate
apartments affordable to poor and moderate-income tenants. * Advocates,politicians push to end billion-dollar housing developer tax break (NYDN) The 421-a property tax exemption, which costs the city more than
$1 billion a year, was slammed for 'returning nothing to the taxpayers.' Albany
The NYT and DN Should take the Blinders off and Investigate Who Next for the Feds
Bharara creates a grim
guessing game in Albany(Capital)Albany 's
elite. Not just lawmakers, but also interest groups and lobbyists.” On Friday,
lawmakers buzzed over a
report that Bharara was looking at Senate Republican leader Dean
Skelos, another third of the governing troika. Skelos' aidesquickly
questioned the report and said he had not retained a criminal defense
attorney or been contacted by prosecutors. * Shaken by the
corruption charges against Silver as well as other high-profile arrests in
recent years, many lawmakers have
become critical of JCOPE, questioning whether it has been effective or
independent.
If the City is Building A Record Number of Affordable Housing Why Has the Number of Homeless Increased By 10%
BdB undecided on extending 'affordable' housing tax break (NYP) * The Association for Neighborhood and Housing DevelopmentInc. released a report that tracks and maps the number of market-rate and
affordable housing units created through the 421a tax break: * Mayor
Bill de Blasio named Leonard Litwin, a developer tied to Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver’s alleged misdeeds, to the committee spearheading the push
to host the Democratic National Convention in Brooklyn , the Post reports: * Brooklyn's gentrification profiteers are expanding theirboundaries to East New York: (NY Mag) * "Crown Heights is the new Manhattan," says rent-gouging propertymanager * Sad how many of these stories we've heard: Brooklynlandlords pushing black tenants out for whites: (NYP) * The homeless
population has
risen to an all-time high, forcing the de Blasio administration to
house desperate families in decrepit tenements red-flagged by its own
inspectors as hazardous. Since he arrived at City Hall pledging to turn things
around, the mayor has struggled to confront a long-intractable problem that has
only gotten worse.* Homeless populationhits record highs, up 10% since de Blasio took office.(NYDN)
Bharara Investigating Luxury Real Estate 421-a Tax Break Corruption
Bharara probing tax deals given to luxury condo building(NYP)
Only True News Has Connected the Dots to Show How the 421-a Tax Breaks is Fueling Gentrification and Pushing Blacks and the Poor Out of Brooklyn
The “Billionaires Row” high-rise on West 57th Street (left) was among five luxury developments that got 421-a tax breaks authorized by state lawmakers in 2013.* Developer linked to Silver case tops 2014 donor list (Capital) These donations included $1 million to Governor Andrew Cuomo, $450,000 to the New York State Democratic Committee and $19,700 to Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. This makes Litwin the largest donor to Cuomo. He was also the largest donor to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman ($240,000) and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli ($180,000). He gave to each of Albany ’s five legislative conferences: Senate Republicans ($1.01 million), the Independent Democratic Conference ($195,300), Assembly Democrats ($179,500), Senate Democrats ($133,000) and Assembly Republicans ($3,150). Senator Jeff Klein received $80,000 from Litwin’s holdings, more than any other individual legislator. In all, 89 state-level campaign committees received money from an LLC owned by Glenwood. * Law
firm Weitz & Luxenberg mulls whether to keep paying Sheldon Silver (NYDN)
Only True News Has Connected the Dots to Show How the 421-a Tax Breaks is Fueling Gentrification and Pushing Blacks and the Poor Out of Brooklyn
The Affordable Bronx Has Become the Poor's Last Stop In NYC
What Are the Affordable Housing Pols Doing to Stop the High Number of Evictions in the Bronx?
A three-month City Limits investigation found
that Bronx tenants are at a severe
disadvantage when facing their landlords in court because the system is
overburdened
Housing Court SeesRising Pressure in Most Affordable Borough (City Limits)Bronx
housing court is crowded for a reason. Among the five boroughs, the Bronx 's portfolio of affordable housing stock is the most
robust, with rents that are still cheaper than in other parts of the city. That's
why housing advocates see the northernmost borough as the last frontier in the
fight for housing affordability — a final chance to stop the tide that
continually pushes New Yorkers from their neighborhoods.
Affordable Housing Has Become A Band-aid On A Cancer for Elected Officials to Protect Them From What They Are Doing to Our City With Their Tax Breaks to Developers
From Campaign 2013
The Bloomberg administration’s ambitious housing plan to create or preserve 165,000 affordable units by the end of June 2014, largely through incentives to private developers, will fall short of meeting the need for affordable housing in the city. “We hardly gained anything because we lost an equal number of units from rent regulation and Mitchell Lama,” said Mr. de Blasio. “There’s over a third of the city paying more than 50% of their income for rent.” Poor Door’ in a New York Tower Opens a Fight Over Affordable Housing(NYT) As public housing becomes a relic, American cities have grown morereliant on developers, who say they can maximize their revenues and build more affordable units, by separating them from their luxury counterparts. * Real Estate Developers, Tax Breakes and Politics
Silver Hanging On to Make A Deal With the Feds?
What Happens If Silver Tells the Feds What he Knows About Albany to Reduce Jail Time?
Why
Sheldon Silver can’t resign as Assembly speaker — yet(NYP) New York
taxpayers an unexpected favor.
The Post writes that Silver is doing taxpayers a favor by
retaining his district seat, which comes with a less expensive salary than his
pension, and this drives home the need for public pension reform
Not only will Silver be saving taxpayers nearly
$10,000 a year by not giving up his Assembly seat, he’s driving home a
much-needed lesson about the urgent need for public-pension reform.That’s because, as
the Empire Center Lower East Side , Silver’s salary is
$79,500 a year. But if he were to simply retire, his annual pension would come
to $87,120 — and possibly even more, if his prior job as a Civil Court clerk gives him more credits.
But hang on: Silver may not be so lucky after all. If found guilty on
corruption charges, he not only faces up to 20 years in prison, he could lose
his retirement nest egg. That’s because US Attorney Preet Bharara uses fines
and forfeitures to deny New York
pols convicted of corruption their public pensions.* How
we can start disinfecting Albany (NYP) First, we should cut
the legislative session from six months to three and reduce legislator
compensation accordingly. * Silver's resignationleaves him just short of Schenectady'sHeck (TU)
Fake Sheldon Silver
Unmasked - The New Yorker Several hours after
the news broke, last Tuesday night, that Sheldon Silver would be relinquishing
his post as the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, an e-mail arrived in
these offices from someone calling himself Fake Sheldon Silver. “We’ve made a
determination that it would be acceptable to meet with you at this time,” the
note read. Its author proposed a meal at Zafis Luncheonette, on Grand Street , down
the block from the real Silver’s apartment. * We can get the budget done and deal with any other
major issues in that time. Second, we need to
limit the terms of state lawmakers. One-third of legislative races in 2014 were
uncontested. Elections are supposed to ensure officials are accountable, but
this most basic check on power has been eliminated in much of New York thanks to gerrymandering and
one-party rule. There should also be term limits on top leadership positions
and committee chairmanships to further dilute the concentration of power.
Silver represents 130,000 people, just like each of the other 149 members of
the Assembly. But over two decades as speaker, he amassed power that rivaled
the governor, who represents 19 million New Yorkers. This is remarkably
undemocratic.* Today is Shelly Silver's last day of being speaker of thestate Assembly * Tom
Precious: “Seemingly by design, Heastie has not been a visible and loud
force in the Albany
power structure.” The speaker-in-waiting called himself “an average guy who in
my spare time likes sports and spending time with my daughter.”* Heastie has
steered hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to his
campaign contributors, according to an analysis by Capital New York.
Additionally, his donors include individuals with business before the committee
he chairs and supporters of bills that he has introduced. His campaign
expenditures include international plane tickets and over $60,000 in unitemized
expenses.* Assemblywoman
Cathy Nolan of Queens said she is still in the
race to be the next speaker of the Assembly, and called for the vote to be held
on the initial Feb. 10 deadline, Gannett Albany writes: * Heastie pledged
that if elected Assembly speaker he would not take any paid outside jobs, tried
to explain the 174 votes he missed last year, and said he is not under
investigation, Gannett Albany writes:
New Health Care Tax, Con Ed Increase and Government Waste
Patient advocates are
growing ill over a plan by Cuomo to scrap a state website that
provides health-care consumers with detailed information — including
malpractice awards — about doctors.* Gov. Andrew
Cuomo’s budget includes a $69 million tax on health insurance policies to pay
for the administrative costs of New
York ’s exchange now that federal funds are not
available, the Post says: * Patient advocates
are questioning Cuomo’s plan to scrap a state website that provides detailed
information about doctors, including malpractice awards, the Daily Newsreports: *Academic studies,
fiscal analysts and even a recent study commissioned by Cuomoquestion
whether the millions of dollars the state doles out in tax breaks and
incentives are worth the cost to taxpayers – or even work at all. Con Ed Increase Also NYC Public Advocate
Letitia James scolded
Con Edison after the utility giant filed a rate case with the state on
Friday requesting a 7.2 percent average increase in customers’ delivery charge. * Newsday
endorses Cuomo’s push for increased state oversight of local IDAs that
grant lucrative tax exemptions to businesses.
The Groundhog Hires Heat
Does Staten Island Chuck see the shadow of his mortality
today?
Silver's Court Under Fed Investigation
NY Corruption, INC
Bharara Trifecta: Investigating the Lawmakers, Courts and Governor Same Time
How Real Estate Scam Worked in the Court
Even as he ruled a vast state, it was always Grand Street that
was his capital. And it was the clan he met there whose code he embodies
Weitz & Luxenberg, the law firm where Silver was “of
counsel” until he was dumped last week, practically rules a special section of
the court dealing with complex asbestos litigation. Critics say the firm gets
the “red-carpet treatment” including a fast track, “better judges” and first
dibs on jurors to hear its cases. Sherry Klein Heitler, the chief asbestos
judge, as well as the top administrative judge at 60 Centre St. , has handled dozens of the
firm’s cases in what is called New York City Asbestos Litigation or NYCAL. Last
year, at Weitz & Luxenberg’s request, Heitler reversed a 20-year rule
barring punitive damages in asbestos cases, paving the way for much bigger jury
awards. Of 15 mesothelioma verdicts in the last four years, Silver’s
firm won $273.5 million of $313.5 million awarded by NYCAL juries. The average
award for an NYCAL asbestos case — nearly $16 million per plaintiff between
2010 and 2014 — is reportedly two to three times larger than those in other
courts nationwide. * Wayne Barrett: How Shelly Silver Made His Pal Chief Judge (Village Voice)* Four Charged in a Bribery Scheme to Gain Clients in Arraignment Court(NYT) A worker who interviewed
defendants was paid as much as $1,000 per client that he steered to three
lawyers and a paralegal, prosecutors said.* The corruption charges against Silver reveal the rot that
has plagued Albany
and deserve more national attention for exposing the links between politicians
and the asbestos-plaintiffs bar, the Journal writes:
astie would be the next speaker of the state Assembly.”
The American Tort Reform Association last year called the
asbestos court the nation’s top “judicial hellhole” where plaintiffs’ lawyers
are “brazenly favored by the judges.” Silver has been blocking tort-reform
bills for decades in Albany .* Time
to cut New York’s sky-high litigation costs(NYP Ed) Silver’s indictment
alleges that the former speaker worked to funnel $500,000 in state money to a
prominent New York
doctor who specializes in asbestos-related lung ailments. The doctor, in turn,
funneled patients to Silver’s law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg. Those patients
turned into clients with lawsuits worth millions. Asbestos litigation is the
nation’s longest-running mass tort, going on 50 years, and law firms heavily
advertise to find new “victims.” In 2008, 20 of the 30 most-expensive paid
Google search terms involved asbestos. The Weitz firm is one of the
nation’s most prominent asbestos-litigation firms. Silver was a paid “counsel”
to the firm, earning more than $5 million over the years, according to the
indictment. * Flashback 2006 State Bars a Bronx Lawyer From Receiving Court Appointments (NYT) Stanley K. Schlein,
the politically influential Bronx lawyer who
is the chairman of the city's Civil Service Commission, has been barred
indefinitely by state court officials from accepting guardianships and other
potentially lucrative judicial appointments.* The MorelandCommission was looking at Heastie for $60,000 in unitemized campaignexpenditures (Capital) More Carl Heastie
questions, via @mahoneyw: He steered
$383,400 in member items to campaign donors or their group Heastie Ethics Reform Heastie
Outlines Ethics Rules Proposals(YNN) * Potential speaker CarlHeastie promises per diem, income reforms (LoHud) * Influential Businessand Civic Group Backs Carl Heastie for Speaker (NYO)* Morelle:
There’s Been A ‘Public Airing’ On Speakers Race (NYO)* Despite calls for
transparency, it looks like the next speaker of the state Assembly could be
picked in the same “sleazy and secretive style that has long characterized Albany politics,” theTimes’ Eleanor Randolph writes:
You Got to Love It When Those With No Morals Under Silver Get Ethics Now
Glick: ‘Troubling Questions’ Should Push Back SpeakerVote (YNN) In an email newsletter released to constituents on Monday,
Manhattan Assemblywoman Deborah Glick called for a vote on the next speaker to
be pushed back to Feb. 10, the originally scheduled election date, after
“troubling questions” have been raised over the process. Glick appears to be
alluding to scrutiny that has been placed on the front runner to replace
Sheldon Silver as speaker: Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie. Veteran Assemblywoman Wants to Keep Speaker Voteon February 10 (NYO)* The Assn. for a
Better New York, composed of real estate and business machers in NYC, just
blessed Carl Heastie's #nyassembly
speaker bid.
Queens Boss Crowley is Doing to the Surrogate Court What Silver is Accused to Doing to the NY Civil Court
In
1998 Newfield reported that Frank Bolz III, chairman of the Queens
Democratic Party's law committee, is the single biggest recipient of
assignments from Nahman - collecting $178,050 for 47 paid guardianship
appointments since 1992. Bolz is the law partner of Queens Assemblyman
Joseph Crowley's father and brother. Gerard Sweeney, Manton's former law
partner and campaign treasurer, is the current counsel to the public administrator
- appointed by Nahman. Sweeney's law partner, Michael Reich, is executive
secretary of the Queens Democ-ratic organization and has received 27
real-estate receiverships from nine differ-ent Queens judges. In 2000 Newfield wrote "The
law firm of Queens Democratic Party leader Tom Manton has received more than
$400,000 in court patronage since 1997. One partner -- Frank Bolz --
heads the party's law committee. Another, Gerard Sweeney, is counsel to the
public adminis-trator. A third, Mike Reich, is executive secretary of the Queens party organiza-tion. They should apply antitrust
laws to Manton's Monopoly." The rule is that a lawyer can get only one
assignment of more than $5,000 during any 12-month period. Records show that
lawyers like Batra, Bolz and Harvey Green-berg get a lot of assignments for
$4,800 each. Queens Surrogate Court A
Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens (Powell, NYT,
11/28/11) *Were
Have All the Journalist Gone After Newfield (True News, 7/14/11) Bronx Surrogate Court Bronx Surrogate
Judge, Facing Discipline (NYT) Judge Holzman, the Bronx surrogate since 1988, is in the midst of a
disciplinary hearing in which he is charged with allowing his staff to run amok
and to take fees that were excessive and unearned from estates that it was
handling. Judge Holzman could lose his job as a result of the hearing.
Like Silver County Bosses Make Judges
Judicial Convention Sausage Factory Continues, Almost Nobody Noticed “For
a glimpse into the odious nature of how the political bosses make judges in New York , we direct your
attention to a letter in Friday's Voice of the People by veteran court watcher
Alan Flacks. On Tuesday, Flacks dropped in on the Brooklyn Democratic Party's
ceremony for elevating faithful lawyers to the bench. The party calls it a
convention. It's not. It's a charade, currently directed by boss Vito Lopez.” –
September 19, 2008.Manhattan: I attended the Kings County Democratic judicial
nominating convention Tuesday. It was orchestrated "Soviet-style."
Short, sweet, lady- and gentleman-like, the script called for the eight
candidates to be designated or redesignated without opposition, even for
supposed "open" seats. Before adjournment, each judge candidate got
up and gave a short thank-you speech. Every one of them expressed gratitude to
the party district leaders for their support, and they also expressed effusive
thanks to and praise of County Leader Vito Lopez (photo). One
"re-up," John Leventhal of the Appellate Division, Second Department
(after inquiring if the press was present) thanked now-imprisoned county leader
Clarence Norman as well, and another called Lopez "the greatest county
leader ever." After adjournment, I spoke with a number of delegates who
voted "automatically" and didn't seem to know for whom they were
voting. They didn't know, and were just told for whom to vote. - Alan
Flacks *Lombardi On ElectingManhattanJudges The Old-Fashioned Way:Before Election Day (NYDN 2011) * How
a Brooklyn Democratic functionary becomes a judge ...(NY World) * Brooklyn Dem'sJudicial Convention is a Much More Serious Sham * A
better way to pick New York judges - NY Daily News * New
York State Board of Elections v. Lopez Torres - Wikipedia * CITY
POLITICS. - Tammany Judicial Convention ...(NYT 1860)
How active has Carl Heastie been in Albany
You Got to Love It When Those With No Morals Under Silver Get Ethics Now
Queens Boss Crowley is Doing to the Surrogate Court What Silver is Accused to Doing to the NY Civil Court
Like Silver County Bosses Make Judges
Wayne Barrett Blows Up Silver's Gand Street Gang
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Sheldon Silver'sgang (Wayne Barrett, NYDN) How the disgraced
speaker put a tight network, including lifelong Lower East
Side friends, in powerful places. Rudy Giuliani used
to tell a story about a mob hit-man who blessed himself before each murder. It
could be a metaphor for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who for two decades
presented himself as the personally devout, politically principled leader of
the most progressive slice of New
York political life. Even if he eludes jail, as have
previous indicted Albany
kingpins, the criminal complaint filed against Silver marks the end of his era. When Shelly Silver
met the man that the government says became his meal ticket, Dr. Robert Taub,
in November of 2003, he was already looking for a new hook. Taub, who ran a Columbia University
center for asbestos victims, would prove to be the perfect partner for Silver,
whose personal injury law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg, was the biggest asbestos
litigator in New York .
Silver needed a new partner because his brother, Dr. Joseph Silver, the
orthopedic chief at Brooklyn's Methodist
Hospital
Unlike Today's Stenographer Journalism Barrett Reporting Always Added to the Story
Over the years, that
grew; his referral fees now total $3.2 million atop his annual base. Without
ever practicing law, Silver made far more, from this firm and another, than any
actual working attorney in the Legislature. Incredibly, neither
doctors' patients ever even met Silver. The deal that the state's most powerful
legislator cut with Taub was all the more brazen because Manhattan prosecutors
were at that very moment convicting a half-dozen lawyers for paying
under-the-table fees to a so-called "runner" to get injury cases. The
"runner" was prying medical records on car-accident victims out of
emergency-room workers and selling them to the lawyers. The judge hearing the
cases was Jim Yates, who is now Silver's chief counsel, as he was to Mel
Miller, the last assembly speaker to face federal charges. According to the
complaint, for his part in the Taub arrangement, Silver simultaneously sent a
half-million dollars in state support to Taub's clinic, another grant to a nonprofit
associated with Taub's wife, and helped Taub's son get a job at OHEL Children's
Home & Family Services. OHEL is so tied to
Silver it bought a camp in upstate Wurtsboro, just a few miles from his
vacation house, located on what OHEL called the Dr. Joe Silver Campus. The
advisory board chair for the camp is Martin "Elly" Kleinman, whose
home health-care company, Americare, was fined $15 million for bogus Medicaid
claims by two attorney generals, including Andrew Cuomo. Silver, who worked
with Kleinman on the camp and attends an annual Silver Day there, has delivered
millions in state subsidies to OHEL, which gave him its leadership award last
year.
OHEL's co-president,
introduced with great fanfare by Silver at a 2012 gala, is another Lower East
Side buddy, Mel Zachter, a board member for the camp who owns a summer home in
the same upstate village as Silver and remained a member of Silver's synagogue
after moving to Staten Island . Until recently,
Zachter was also the chief financial officer at a scandal-consumed Silver
affiliate, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, which has become a
headline hog all its own. It was the Met Council that caused these layers of
insular overlap to blow up even before the Silver bust. The council's longtime
CEO, Willie Rapfogel, took his fall in 2013, having squeezed $9 million out of
his state subsidies for the poor, pocketing $3 million of it himself.
Rapfogel and his
wife Judy, who remains Silver's chief of staff and joined Yates at the recent
members-only conference, live in the same building as Silver. Incredibly, Shelly
and Judy insist that they did not know anything about Rapfogel's nest-egg —
which included $420,000 in cash that investigators found in his homes and
$350,000 he gave his son to help finance a new house. Sentenced to
three-and-a-third to 10 years in July, Rapfogel raised $3 million from
undisclosed "friends" to pay court-mandated restitution. The
council's board was another who's who of Friends of Shelly. It included Richard
Runes, the chief lobbyist for 100-year-old billionaire Leonard Litwin, whose
Glenwood Management real estate empire is also at the center of U.S. Attorney
Preet Bharara's charges against Silver. Runes represents
Litwin — the state's single largest political contributor, who's dropped $10
million in various campaign kitties since 2005 — in negotiations over state
laws affecting rent regulations and tax subsidies.
The complaint alleges that
unidentified Glenwood lobbyists met Silver to discuss pivotal real-estate
legislation in 2011, when the Goldberg firm's payments to Silver soon soared
from a mere $800 one year to $240,994. Silver then suddenly became
"considerably more favorable" to real-estate interests on the bill
"than expected," according to the Bharara complaint. (Runes was listed on
Cuomo's schedule as one of the two Glenwood lobbyists that met with him to talk
about the same legislation at that time.) Growing up on or near Grand Street , the Rapfogels, Goldberg,
Zachter, Lippman, and Silver were virtual Little Rascals, with Silver playing
the ringleader in "Our Gang" then and as its members made their way
in the world. . Silver magically moved Lippman from chief administrative judge,
where he merely managed court operations, to the top judicial post atop the Court
of Appeals in 2009. Silver also blocked affordable housing on a barren,
city-owned, 20-acre development site close to the coops for nearly 40 years,
preferring, as one critic put it, rats to minorities. Silver and Rapfogel wound
up favoring a Costco on the site after the developer hired Rapfogel's son, gave
a million to Met Council and picked the council as its community partner.
A Well Attended Albany Reunion?
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Shel-Skel hell(NYP Ed) So that’s why Dean Skelos never asked Shelly Silver to step down as Assembly speaker: According to new reports, the Senate majority leader is himself under federal investigation. These reports say US Attorney Preet Bharara is probing the Republican leader’s real-estate ties and outside income. Skelos works for the Long Island law firm Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, which does real-estate litigation. In 2013, Ruskin paid him between $150,000 and $250,000. When Bharara had Silver arrested, he decried Albany ’s “three men in a room” culture — i.e., the way Albany ’s top three pols (Gov. Cuomo, Speaker Silver and Senate Major Leader Skelos) made all the key decisions behind closed doors and then had them rubber-stamped by the rest of the Legislature. Now, it seems, three men in a room may turn out to be three men in a jail cell.
Getting to Know Heastie Governing Style
Bronx AssemblymanCarl Heastie, set to become the next speaker, is similar to Sheldon Silver(NYDN) While of different generations,
boroughs and backgrounds, Heastie and Silver are both career politicians who
rose up the ranks of local city Democratic clubs through behind-the-scenes
maneuvering and alliance building to become major players in state politics.
Just the opposite, in fact. Heastie, who also
heads the Democratic County Committee in the notoriously corrupt Bronx , comes to the new position with some baggage. Four Bronx lawmakers have been arrested on corruption charges
since he became chairman in 2008. When he did vote, Heastie sided with Silver 98.9% of the
time. He introduced a relatively modest 51 bills during the 2014 session, only
five of which were approved by the Assembly, according to NYPIRG. Critics have suggested Heastie’s personality, including his
aversion to the press, could be problematic as he takes on the high-profile
post of Assembly speaker. “I find him to be thin-skinned,” said one veteran Bronx political operative.
Supporters are confident,
however, he will grow into the role. Unlike other lawmakers who have lucrative nonlegislative
jobs or financial investments, Heastie’s outside interests are limited largely
to a job as an adjunct professor at Monroe
College Albany
— which often means killing any legislation that could cut fat jury payouts to
lawyers and litigation costs for local governments and businesses. Heastie pays Jenkins
$4,000 a month as his political consultant through the Bronx Democratic Party’s
housekeeping account, state Board of Elections show. Heastie is the county’s
Democratic leader. Heastie has received $26,300 in campaign contributions from
trial lawyer groups since 2000, more than any of the other candidates that have
sought to become Assembly speaker, according to the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of
New York.* Bronx’s
Heastie Gains Early Support To Be Speaker(WSJ) Bronx power broker Carl Heastie has emerged as the
front-runner to succeed Sheldon Silver, who departs Monday as speaker of the New York state Assembly.
Heastie Unlike Silver Did Not Use Government to Become A Rich
Heastie Has No Skin In the Silver Game to Use Government to Make Money for Himself and His Developer Friends NY Times vets Bronx Democratic Assemblyman @CarlHeastie, who's poised to become next Speaker of the State Assembly
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Speaker Candidate Drew Ethics Panel’s Notice(NYT) Carl E. Heastie, a lawmaker from the Bronx who has emerged as the favorite to succeed Sheldon Silver, attracted the attention of the now-defunct Moreland Commission on corruption in Albany .Over $10,000 for car repairs. Hundreds of dollars in interest and finance charges on credit-card balances. Thousands of dollars in expenses for which no explanation was given. Moreland subpoenaed his campaign’s bank records to see whether he was using political donations for personal expenses, records show.Assemblyman Heastie has been accused of no wrongdoing, federal prosecutors have signaled no interest in him, and the potential violations of campaign spending rules flagged by Moreland investigators — who were halted before they could finish their work — were a far cry from out-and-out graft.
Heastie Will Be Pressured By the Permanent Government to Continue Their VIP Service
Mr. Heastie’s spokesman has said he believed the campaign was in compliance.In a statement on Friday, Mr. Heastie said: “I am eager to work with my colleagues to develop and enact reforms that will bring more transparency, openness, and accountability to the Assembly. It is time for us to move forward.” An internal memorandum prepared by the Moreland staff cited Mr. Heastie among 28 lawmakers — out of the 213-seat Legislature — whose campaign reports from 2008 to 2013 showed more than $10,000 in spending that was not detailed. The memo said the failure to identify recipients or itemize credit-card payments “raises questions about whether campaign funds are being used for personal expenses instead of permissible election purposes.
”Mr. Heastie’s campaign bank account at HSBC was subpoenaed by investigators, the memo said. But the commission’s work was not completed when the panel was closed last year in a deal between lawmakers and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat.The review of Mr. Heastie’s filings also showed that he has been somewhat lax in his accounting. His campaign paid more than $900 for parking and traffic tickets. The elections board prohibits lawmakers from billing parking tickets to their campaign accounts. “It was the committee’s understanding that this was an allowable expense under existing law,” Mr. Soufer said. “However, if that is not the case, we will address the issue immediately.” His campaign has also paid over $10,000 in charges at an auto body shop in the Bronx . He pays for his own car, but Mr. Soufer said he used it to campaign. The campaign also covered more than $1,500 in interest charges on the campaign’s own American Express card.* N.Y.
Ethics Agency Faces Questions (WSJ) After a series of high-profile arrests and corruption scandals in
Albany, some are questioning the effectiveness of an ethics agency that Gov.
Andrew Cuomo created to clean up the Capitol.
Daily News Called Heastie An Empty Suit . . . A Puppet of the Party Boss Fixers
Bronx's Carl Heastie Rises from Obscurity to Likely Speaker Successor(NY1) Daily News says Assembly Democratsare being too hasty about Carl Heastie (NYDN Ed) It’s an open secret
that many legislators milk the Assembly’s loosey-goosey expense accounts to pad
their paychecks — by making extraneous trips to Albany to collect “per diems” for meals and
lodging that are currently worth $182 a day. Heastie stands out for claiming
the third-largest expense haul of any Assembly member in 2014 — collecting
mileage and per diems exceeding $22,000. (That’s on top of a salary of
$93,500.) A call to Heastie’s office seeking an explanation got us nowhere, no
doubt because any attempt to portray him as a legislative dynamo would not fly.
Heastie missed votes on 173 bills — or 15% of the legislation the Assembly
passed in 2014, according to an analysis by the New York Public Interest
Research Group. Only 13 other members skipped more. When Heastie was present in
the chamber, NYPIRG found that he spoke during debate on only four of the 1,138
bills that he didn’t sponsor. And the Labor Committee that he chairs — for a
stipend of $14,000 — held just one announced hearing all year. Still more,
Heastie’s campaign committee has reimbursed him for thousands of dollars in
credit-card charges without giving details as required. And the Bronx
Democratic Committee that he heads has yet to file financial disclosure reports
that were due on Jan. 15.
Memo to NYT CityDesk: This is just one of Carl Heastie's other bad dogs. Neither are namedSpot. (Riverdale Press) What's left unsaid
is that the judges owe their jobs to Heastie and Schlein
Assembly Puppets So Used to Kissing Silver's Ass Could Not Even Resit A Weak Political Machine
Weak Pols Fear of Pissing Off the Leader
Lawmakers are
failing to vet their party bosses' anointed candidate for speaker. The raw power of New York City ’s Democratic bosses has set Assemblyman —
and, yes, Bronx party leader — Carl Heastie on
track for coronation as Assembly speaker. Never mind that
Heastie is an expense-account hog, has been a no-show at roll calls, has pulled
down $14,000 in bonus pay for no work, has a paper-thin legislative record,
cuts corners on campaign finance disclosure and plays fast and loose with
campaign funds. These are
frivolities to his fellow bosses: Frank Seddio of Brooklyn, Rep. Joe Crowley of
Queens and Assemblyman Keith Wright of Manhattan .
But they should be matters of pressing interest to the Assembly members the
bosses have cowed into backing Heastie without the slightest scrutiny. When the Dems began
to come to their senses after Sheldon Silver’s arrest, they gushed with
promises of openness and reform. They agreed that Silver would leave Monday and
that members would vote on a successor on Feb. 10. The delay was designed to
give contenders the chance to make their cases and for members to review the
backgrounds of candidates. But then the bosses intervened with visions of
owning the Assembly through Heastie. Quickly, the members
fell in line. On Thursday, while visiting the Daily News Editorial Board,
Majority Leader Joe Morelle called for a full and open process and said he was
in the fight to the end. Less than 24 hours later, the hayseed from Rochester caved to the
city’s tough guys. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Carl Heastie, Albany ’s new standard-bearer of ethics, a man who is also surrounded by an small army of fixers. Whoa.Assembly Democrats are being too hasty about Carl Heastie (NYDN Ed) * Speaker selection process happens behind closed doors (LoHud)
The Real Corruption In NY the Lobbyists and Party Machines That Elect Pols
The NYT Spends No Times Looking At the Machines That Include Lobbyist Like Stanley Schlein That Allow Pols to Get Elected
In theory, the Democrats who control the Assembly should be able to pick a successor who is committed to good governance and ethics reform, but already the signs of back-room dealing and meddling from party hacks are not encouraging. “Maybe it’s time for us to do something about the election law that allows such a liberal view of what we’re able to spend money on,” Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, a Brooklyn Democrat, told an Albany radio interviewer on Friday, a day after he withdrew from the speaker’s race.* U.S.Attorney: New YorkPolitics a ‘Cauldron of Corruption’ - WSJ
NYT Silent On Local Impact of Citizens United on Public Financing in the 2013 Elections
NYT's + Media's Blind Side The NYT has written several times on the national impact of Citizens United but never on the impact of that special interests big money supreme court decision on the 2013 NYC election. The press is focused on a preacher and 4-year-olds, while not reporting on how our city government was mugged by special interests Citizen United PACs and the lobbyists political consultants who do their bidding in the last election. Have these PACs made NYC government worse (if that is possible)? Have these PACs and lobbyist consultants committed crimes? stay tuned. The Line at the ‘Super PAC’ Trough(NYT) An unlimited source of cash is now a requirement for contested congressional races * Change the Rules on Secret Money(NYT Ed) * Liberal Donors Pollute Politics, Too(NYT Ed) * Campaign finance reformers take a hard line(TU)
Silver's Leaving Only Offers the Opportunity of Change
Smith Trial Jury Still Out Update
Dismissed
juror says she would’ve voted to convict Malcolm Smith(NYP)White Plains , says she
sides with the government and would have voted to convict both Smith and former
Queens Republican Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone on corruption charges if she had
become a “regular” juror. “I went in there thinking that each was guilty by
association, then flipped back and forth, but with the final summation … my
personal opinion is ‘yes,’ they are guilty of each and every charge,” Liller
told The Post on Friday. * Jury Deliberations Underway in Malcolm Smith Bribery Trial (NY1)
Assembly Swamp Replaces Corrupt Silver With Corrupt Party Bosses
Who Replaces Heastie As Bronx County Leader
Silver Supports Heastie
Putting the County Bosses In Charge of the Assembly . . . Will Make Assembly Function Like the Board Of Elections Which They Always Controlled
Silver Golden Age of Good Government?
If Frank Seddio of the Brooklyn machine, Joe Crowley of the Queens machine, Keith Wright of Manhattan’s barely-a-machine and Carl Heastie of the Bronx machine succeed in installing Heastie as speaker without so much as a public look-see, New Yorkers may one day look back on Silver’s reign as a golden age of good government.* The DN calls Heastie a “man with blemishes,” noting his name appeared in the files of the Moreland Commission for having failed to properly account for $25,000 in campaign spending. He also claimed almost $21,000 from the Assembly’s notoriously lax travel expense account during just the first six months of 2014 — more than any other member.* Carl Heastie aide"Howard Vargas has built a lucrative side business in court-appointed realestate receiverships". (NYDN)
.
If You Looking for Reform of Our Broken Election System Forgetaboutit
The Kinds of Reforms that are Likely to Pass are Making It Easier to Get Bill Heard on the Floor. Reforms That Will Give More Power to the Member Not the Voters
Heastie Solidifies Support in 1 Day . . . County Leads See They Opportunity and They Are Taking It
The Election for Speaker is Ending So Fast, Where are The Reform Demands?
How Albany Became So Corrupt
Shadow Government Lobbyists Schlein Tied to Heastie at the Hip
“The only constant in Bronx politics for the past 35 years has been Stanley Schlein,” said Michael Benjamin, a former
Stanley Schlein, a City Island
A Seasoned Bronx PowerBroker Looks to Rise With Carl Heastie (NYO) Mr. Schlein, 67, is
not an elected official or the leader of the Schlein is de Blasio's Election Lawyer
Flack Lobbyists Arzt Represented Lobbyist Schlein When he was Fired From the NYC Civil Service Commission
When the The New York City Conflicts of Interest
Board has fined Stanley K. Schlein, a prominent political lawyer,
lobbyist and former chairman of the New York City Civil Service Commission,
$15,000 for misusing city resources and personnel to perform work for his
private law practice, Flack George Arzt represented Schlein. Mr. Schlein did not respond to messages left on his cellphone.
But a spokesman, George Arzt, said, “Mr. Schlein decided to settle
this matter on an expeditious basis and has agreed to the stipulated payment
called for in the settlement.”
Skelos the Third Amigo Under Fed Investigation . . . Shocking Feds Looking at Ties to Real Estate Industry
NYP's Peyser Does Not Name or Interview the Lawmakers in the Cover-Up
A few days ago the Daily News caused panic when they asked individual lawmakers where they stood on keeping Silver as the speaker . . . Peyser Should Ask Lawmakers Why Albany Remains A Sexual Sewer and Print Their Answers
Sheldon
Silver gave horndogs free rein(NYP) In the end, it was money, not
sex, that brought down New York state
Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver. And that’s a giant slap in the faces of women who’ve toiled long
and hard in the state capital in Albany .
“Don’t our lives matter?’’ one female Albany veteran asked me. Of course not!
Over the decades, Silver, who plans to step
down from his powerful post as speaker, likely on Monday, orchestrated
payoffs to four women who accused his pals and cronies of sexual harassment or
egregious intimate abuse. But this series of scandals (Silver has been accused
of enabling, not committing, sexual offenses) had nothing to do with his fall
from grace. This proves that our Legislature remains a sexual sewer. I’ve
been writing about Albany ’s
naked shenanigans for more than two decades. I’ve detailed the antics prevalent
in a swamp that nearly swallowed me whole when I, as an ambitious college
intern in the 1980s, was hit on by my married, elected boss, pushed him away —
then was fired the next day.Andrea
Peyser is outraged Silver’s going down on alleged corruption charges
and not for allowing sexual harassment to prevail in the Assembly for years:
“I’ve been writing about Albany ’s
naked shenanigans for more than two decades. I’ve detailed the antics prevalent
in a swamp that nearly swallowed me whole when I, as an ambitious college intern
in the 1980s, was hit on by my married, elected boss, pushed him away — then
was fired the next day.”Glass Ceiling and Heastie Heastie: Someone Who ‘Breaks The Glass Ceiling’ Nolan Has Been Silent About the Hush Fund One of Heastie opponents, Cathy Nolan (Queens ), has
insinuated that the Assembly’s deplorable record on handling sexual
harassment under Sheldon Silver calls for a female Speaker to replace him.
Cathy Nolan's chance of becoming Speaker may be dwindling, but at least
we have the Women's Equality Party #progress
Daily News Moves Out of the Neighborhoods
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Daily News Moves Out of the Neighborhoods
The end of an era: There
are plans at the Daily News to close down the Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens bureaus in the coming weeks.In New York 's tabloid war, the Daily
News has generally been the combatant with an army on the ground in
the outer boroughs, while the New York Post has consolidated
power around its Manhattan-centric base. That's about to change: There are
plans at the News to close down the Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens
bureaus in the coming weeks, sources with knowledge of the matter told Capital,
in a move that one insider described as the "end of an era."* New York CityTabloid Warrior’s Job Prospects Are Murderous (Bloomberg Business)
Anti-NYPD Lack of Common Sense Rules
de Blasio and DOI Slam Anti-Cop Video
Democratic Convention Closing Argument
Real Estate Player in the Silver Scandal On the Convention Host Committee
DNC
head coming to city for 2016 convention push(NYDN) Brooklyn . One of the committee members is developer
Leonard Litwin, a major campaign contributor in New York who is also a player in the Silver
corruption scandal.* De Blasio InsistsPolice Union Tensions Not a Concern in DNC Bid (NYO) * Mayor
Welcomes DNC Chair to Barclays Center as City Makes Final Pitch to Host
Convention(NY1)
Why Did Silver Pay A Consultant $750,000 and Spend Almost $2 Million When He Had No Challengers?
From 2010 to 2014 Friends of Silver paid Berlin Rosen over $750,000. During that three election cycles Silver one had one weak GOP opponent Maureen Koetz in 2014 who received less than 20% of the vote against the speaker. Why was Berlin Rosen paid so much money when Silver faced no challengers? Was the speaker trying to hide his involvement in other races that Berlin Rosen was running like de Blasio for mayor in 2013? Or was the speaker trying to get over the spending limit by paying the consultant Berlin Rosen directly for candidates he was supporting? Developer number one in the Silver indictment used LLC as a “loophole corporations,” to get around the election law to funnel more money to political candidates, to buy influence. Was Silver trying to buy with the $750,000 payment to Berlin Rosen? For What? Besides his own campaign account Friends of Silver, the speaker controls the Assembly Campaign Committee account and an Speakers PAC which has Trump, James Dolan and Meryl Tisch among its individual donors. Other than a handful of individuals with less colorful names (Schedule A) SpeakerPAC is mostly a destination for corporate and PAC money (Scheds B, C). At its beginning, in 2000-02, SpeakerPac spends over $100,000 on entertainment (MARTEL’S RESTAURANT, THE GRAND DELI, RICK ANGERAMI-D.J., ALBANY PARTY WAREHOUSE, RADIO CITY ENTERTAINMENT, SODEXHO, and so on) and nothing else. In October of ’02,SpeakerPAC hires SAM WIETSCHNER, CPA and begins candidate disbursements. From then on, SpeakerPAC pays SAM, makes it rain like crazy on the Assembly, and occasionally writes out fat checks to DACC.
Berlin Rosen who is not for some reason not listed as registered lobbyist work for a lot of real estate developers. Berlin Rosen’s current and recent clients include Two Trees Management Negotiations between Mr. de Blasio’s team and Mr. Walentas’s firm took place over the last few days. The two men share a mutual adviser: Jonathan Rosen, one of the mayor’s top political hands and the chief executive of a public affairs firm, Berlin Rosen that counts Mr. Walentas’s company as a client. Berlin Rosen served as a consultant to de Blasio campaign and runs he slush fund PAC NY1 which pushes the mayor’s agenda. The 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.” Berlin Rosen worked all the candidates that hired the WFP’s Data and Field in 2009 that is still being investigated by a SI special prosecutor. Both partners in New York One’s letter lobbyist Berlin Rosen, Jonathan Rosen and Valerie Berlin worked for Schneiderman. Berlin was his chief of staff when he was a NYS Senator.
Did Silver Pay the Berlin Rosen and the WFP to Keep the Albany DA Away?
A capital veteran describes a telling dimension of Silver’s destructive stranglehold on government. The story begins in 2003, when Silver’s chief counsel was charged with rape and marched out of Assembly offices in handcuffs. Although District Attorney Paul Clyne was a fellow Democrat, Silver was furious at being embarrassed. “He was fuming,” the Albany vet says, “and swore he would get a DA in there he could control and who would never embarrass him.” Silver found his candidate for the 2004 election, little-known lawyer David Soares, and engineered the support of the upstart Working Families Party, a union front which went to work for Soares. Against heavy odds, Soares upset Clyne in the primary and triumphed again in the general election. To this day, Soares remains the Albany DA, yet never finds anything amiss in the Legislature. Soares paid Berlin Rosen $30,000 in 2012. Berlin Rosen's Alex Navarro-McKay as a WFP operative helped Soares get elected as Albany's DA * Rx for cleaner pols: Body cameras and stings (NYP)
Berlin Rosen Works for the Mayor, AG, Comptroller and dozens of State and City lawmakers
More on Lobbyist Berlin Rosen
New Speaker's Race Wraping Up . . . Wright Out . . . Brooklyn for Heastie?
More on Lobbyist Berlin Rosen
New Speaker's Race Wraping Up . . . Wright Out . . . Brooklyn for Heastie?
Next Speaker?
Inbox: @Wright4Harlem drops out of Assembly speaker race, throws his support to @CarlHeastie
Rangel's congressional district extends into the Bronx , where Heastie is the Democratic leader. Wright's base is in Manhattan , in Harlem .*Wright Withdraws From Speaker Race, Backs Heastie (YNN) @CTLizB @Wright4Harlem March to 76 just got easier for @CarlHeastie. Brooklyn Democratic Party to Back Heastie Brooklyn
Democratic Party to back Carl Heastie for Assembly speaker(NYP) * Assemblyman Joseph
Lentol, a Brooklyn Democrat, has dropped out of the race for Assembly speaker,
throwing his support behind Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Gannett Albanyreports: * Albany ’s male-dominated culture makes it
difficult for women to rise to power, according to Assemblywoman Catherine
Nolan, the lone woman seeking to replace Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver,Gannett Albany reports: * The Times Uniondetails the JCOPE filings of the four proclaimed candidates for Assembly
speaker, but the filings reveal less than one might hope: * Brooklyn AssemblymanJoe Lentol abandons bid for speaker, endorses Heastie (NYDN) * Lentol
Withdraws From Speaker’s Race, Backs Carl Heastie(YNN) Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan
said she’s continuing with her speaker bid even though support is
consolidating behind Assemblyman Carl Heastie.*Heastie’s potential
hurdles to locking up the speakership: The reformers and women.* Eight Questions forCarl Heastie * Heastie would be the
first black speaker in history if he’s elected by his colleagues to succeed
Silver. He told
NY1′s Zack Fink that he “loves being a person who breaks the glass
ceiling.* Here’s what Assembly
Speaker-in-Waiting Carl Heastie looked
like in 1985.
The Assembly Democrats' belated "Reform Coalition" looks more
like the "Coalition of the Left Out" as Carl Heastie locks up the
vote.
UNDER PRESSURE,KEITH WRIGHT LEAVES ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RACE (CS) With Mayor Bill de Blasio supporting Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie behind the scenes and Gov. Andrew Cuomo actively pushing for Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, who will serve as interim speaker until a Feb. 10 vote, Wright struggled to gain traction, a knowledgeable source told City & State. Both Wright and Heastie are African American, which played a role in the pressure on Wright to step aside, the source added. "The city people are listening to Cuomo and de Blasio—two white guys are telling us what to do,” said the source, who had supported Wright's candidacy.* The Assembly may be getting its first African-American speaker(NYP) * 6 Days That Felled Sheldon Silver, the Speaker Who Ruled Albany for Decades(NYT) Mr. Silver’s staggering fall from grace as Assembly speaker played out over a week of secret deliberations and shifting alliances. * Sheldon Silver Taking Leave of Absence From Law Firm(NYT) * Morelle Says
He’s A Candidate For Speaker(YNN) *Reform
Caucus Pressures Speaker Candidates(YNN) * Lentol Claims
Brooklyn Support (Updated) (YNN) * Nolan:
A Female Speaker Will Bring ‘Collaborative Style’(YNN) * Lentol,
In Letter To Reform Caucus, Backs Term Limits For Speaker (YNN) * Brooklyn DemocraticParty Will Back Carl Heastie for Assembly Speaker: Sources (NYO)* Source: Queens Dem meeting on Asmbly speaker race over. No
consensus on a favorite yet. Delegation agreed to stick together.
Idealistic new wave of Assembly members who helped galvanize opposition to Silver, prodded a loyal old guard and cleared the way for an election of a new speaker
Sheldon Silver Should Resign Already(NYT) Political etiquette, what there is of it, decrees that after getting arrested, a politician should step down. * ONE DOWN: Manhattan Assemblyman Keith Wright quits race to replace Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, leaving four candidates vying for the spot(NYDN) * Assemblyman Carl Heastie’s chances of succeeding embattled
Speaker Sheldon Silvergot
a boost on when a key rival – Assemblyman Keith Wright – dropped out
and backed the Bronx Democrat’s bid. Heastie’s team called Wright’s endorsement
a “game changer.” * Heastie, who would be the first
black speaker in Assembly history, has
promised reformsif he’s elected. He also revealed his favorite term when it
comes to the press: “No comment.” * Calls, meetings, texts, promises and head fakes were
the rage as the competitors for Silver’s speakership raced to put
together a coalition ahead of their competition.
Ruben Diaz Jr. Pushes for Carl Heastie to Replace Sheldon Silver
Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle Morelle, who is trying
to defy history by becoming the first upstate speaker in decades, is
in New York City to meet with colleagues over the next several days and
will continue to press his case for the job across the state. He said he should
not be discounted by New York City
leaders because he’s from upstate. Bronx Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda said he and
more than a dozen other members are
drafting a list of policy demands they want the next speaker to abide
by. Among them are term limits on the speaker job and on committee
chairmanships. Until the candidates respond, the group isn’t committing their
votes. Interviews with more than a dozen legislators indicate that
it was an idealistic new wave of Assembly members who helped galvanize
opposition to Silver, prodded a loyal old guard and cleared the way for an
election of a new speaker and, they hoped, a new start.* Ruben Diaz Jr. Pushes for Carl Heastie toReplace Sheldon Silver (NYO)
Without Silver's iron Fist . . . Poor Leadership and Chaos?
Albany ripe for chaos after Preet’s capital crackdown(NYP) For Bharara doesn’t seem to be missing much on his long march through the swamps of Albany — and this could have a direct bearing on the most pressing question in New York politics today: Après Shelly, what? Short answer: Too soon to say with certainty, but look for chaos. For when it came to management style, Sheldon Silver never bothered with the velvet glove; with him, it was all iron fist, all the time. Initiative? Not in Shelly’s shop. Just a glance at potential Silver successors — Carl Heastie of The Bronx, Catherine Nolan of Queens and Joseph Lentol of Brooklyn — reveals no proven leadership skills, precious little imagination and virtually no independence from the interests that have been issuing marching orders to Shelly Silver for two decades. But neither is there an apparent willingness to use the iron fist — or, more to the point, the cleverness needed to get away that sort of a managerial style. But these aren’t tranquil times. These are Preet Bharara’s times. He said “stay tuned” last week, with one eye presumably on Cuomo and one on . . . how many others, especially in the Assembly? Until he lifts that alert, there will be no business as usual in Albany .
Instead, there will be a vacuum. They never last, but when they collapse, the effects can be spectacular.
Over A Year Before the Charges Against Silver The U.S. Attorney Bharara Ask the Press to Do More Investigative Reporting
The Press Missed the Speaker Silver Corruption Story
Bharara to Journalist
Investigate Stop Copying My Press Releases
Investigate Stop Copying My Press Releases
Preet challenges journos to do investigative reporting (CrainsNY) "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 press has a role to play. "Rather than just covering the cases that my office and other offices are already bringing, figure out ways to break new ground and to cover new stories," he said
de Blasio and Cuomo Pay Not Attention To What Were Doing to Elect the Next Speaker
De Blasio staying out of fight for Assembly speaker(NYP) Albany ’s closed-door power scramble to anoint a new speaker of the Assembly, Mayor de Blasio said Tuesday. During a chat with reporters, the mayor said. “I’m not talking to Assembly members at all,” said de Blasio, dispelling claims by some Albany insiders that he’s been promoting Carl Heastie of The Bronx to replace Silver.“The mayor desperately needs to have a friend in
Albany ,” said one lobbyist who works extensively in the capital. * Phil
Reisman: “Twenty-nine days into January and already 2015 is shaping up as
an annus horribilis for Gov. Andrew Cuomo. That’s Latin for a bad year.”
Where Are the Reforms?
The New Mob Boss Speaker Will Be As Corrupt As the Mob Boss Silver
Albany , but he said any new leader should be from the city, the Daily News says:
Where Are the Reforms?
The New Mob Boss Speaker Will Be As Corrupt As the Mob Boss Silver
The bottom line is that Silver wasn’t the cause of Albany ’s dysfunction – but merely its biggest symptom. There’s nothing stopping the next Speaker from launching a law practice or a political consulting firm and then covering his client list with a legal veil of secrecy that might only be lifted if an investigator with subpoena powers comes along. Albany needs lobbying reform before the new speaker is picked.
“He’s angered the Republicans in the Senate [by supporting Democrats in last year’s elections], and you know he can’t count on [Gov.] Cuomo.” Silver was pivotal in helping the city secure hundreds of millions of dollars for expanding pre-kindergarten in 2014.* New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he still supported Silver as Assembly speaker and denied his staff was pushing any replacement in
You Do Not Fix the Speaker's Corrupt by Electing A New Mob Head Speaker
"I hope Silver's removal will lead to many necessary changes so Assembly can operate as true democracy & better serve all people across NY."
Cup Cake to change the system you have to change reform lobbyists and party leaders who elect the bums electing the New Speaker
Assembly Democrats must make sure the new boss is nothing like the oldboss
After Past GroundhogWoes, de Blasio Vows ‘No Harm Will Befall’ Him or Rodent (NYO)
True News Wags NYP's Goodwin on Organize Crime Albany Government
Today's NYP
Sheldon Silver'sdownfall exposes corruption in Albany(Goodwin, NYP) Since prosecutors filed the charges against Silver, published reports are detailing how he manipulated the courts, the Legislature, not-for-profits and even an innocuous-sounding resolution to enrich himself. The portrait that emerges is that of a boss of a Mafia-like gang. Think of it as La Cosa Nostra’s government family.
True News Last Weekend
A Coalition ofCounty Leader
New York ’s representative democracy has been hijacked in an organized crime sort of way by our elected officials. Just like the mob at the Appalachian meeting rigged drugs, gambling and prostitution, our elected officials have rigged government, the judicial system and the state prosecutors to enrich themselves in money and power. That 1957 meeting included over 100 mobsters including "Joe the Barber," divided the illegal operations of loan sharking, narcotics trafficking and gambling controlled by the late Albert Anastasia. The soldiers of New York ’s Political Elected Mob are two Tammany Hall machines that have control over a broken down election system, unbeatable and unaccountable to the voters in New York ’s broken down election system. The lobbyist with their real estate and union funding make up the new machine, the party leaders who no longer control the vote, but its leaders have control of the special election, the court and the old guard of elected officials in Albany makes up the second machine.Under plan to cede duties to senior members, Silver would keep his title, his formal powers and his leadership stipend, spokesman says.
The New Puppet Bosses of Albany Is As Bad As the Old Boss
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Like the Appalachian mobsters the Party leaders, consultants/lobbyist has divided up New York to control the government and rake in millions of dollars for themselves. The press coverage of politics is amazingly similar to the SEC reviews of Madoff’s records over the years. They saw but did nothing. The press is reporting the indictment of the U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, but they are not helping him by investigating the corrupt like he asked them to do over a year ago.
Sheldon Silver stepping down to fight charges (NYP)Sheldon Silver agreed on Sunday to step down temporarily as Speaker of the Assembly as he fights federal corruption charges, according to sources. “Shelly will withdraw as speaker,” one source said. A coalition of up to five assembly Democratic will take over his duties. Two of them — Herman “Denny” Farrell of Harlem and Joseph Morelle of Rochester — will handle the budget negotiation with the governor and state senate.Sheldon * The quintet of leaders includes Farrell, Morelle, Heastie, Nolan and Lentol. RACE TO REPLACE: Democrats jockeying behind the scenes to replace Speaker Sheldon Silver in New York Assembly, source says(NYDN)
After Past GroundhogWoes, de Blasio Vows ‘No Harm Will Befall’ Him or Rodent (NYO)
True News Wags NYP's Goodwin on Organize Crime Albany Government
Sheldon Silver'sdownfall exposes corruption in Albany(Goodwin, NYP) Since prosecutors filed the charges against Silver, published reports are detailing how he manipulated the courts, the Legislature, not-for-profits and even an innocuous-sounding resolution to enrich himself. The portrait that emerges is that of a boss of a Mafia-like gang. Think of it as La Cosa Nostra’s government family.
True News Last Weekend
New York's Organize Crime Politics
Crooks in Assembly are using 1957 Apalachin Organized Crime Commission as model to Take Heat Off Them
A Coalition of
The New Puppet Bosses of Albany Is As Bad As the Old Boss
The Corrupt Speaker Replaced By Corrupt Tammany Hall County Party Leaders
Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle in news conference says there will be a "vacancy" in the office of the speaker come Monday.
With Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expected to relinquish his leadership, Assemblymen Carl Heastie, Joseph Morelle and Keith Wright are the top candidates to replace him * Sheldon Silver to Be Replaced as Speaker of New York State Assembly(NYT) * Morelle may have a head start in the race to replace Silver, but he could face several downstate rivals, including Carl Heastie, Joseph Lentol, Catherine Nolan and Keith Wright, The New York Times writes: * The Post says“good riddance” to Silver, but writes that Albany officials responded as if they were in a “banana republic” by letting him maintain his position for a week following his arrest: *Interim #SheldonSilverreplacement has more business-friendly agenda (Capital) Law Firm Cuts Ties With Silver Also Disgraced SpeakerSheldon Silver cuts ties with law firm Weitz & Luxenberg (NYDN) Silver, who previously reported earning up to $750,000 from the law firm, will cut ties with it after a federal criminal complaint accused him of referring a Columbia University Empire Center
Assemblyman Dilan Pays Fine for Getting An Apartment from A Developer
Why are they waiting until Monday to dump corruption-tainted Sheldon Silver as speaker?
Assemblyman Dilan Pays Fine for Getting An Apartment from A Developer
Ex-New York CityCouncilman Erik Dilan to pay $9000 over relationship with developer who gavehim apartment (NYDN) Now a state Assemblyman, Erik Dilan broke the conflicts of interest law by failing to disclose his financial relationship with his landlord — developer Sergio Benitez, who illegally gave Dilan an apartment for which made too much money — when he voted to approve three of Benitez’s projects before the City Council, the Conflicts of Interest Board found.
The Shelly Silver era in New York state government is Over
Heastie, Morelle, Wright moving quickly to be next speaker(LoHud) * Renewed Jockeying Underway To Replace Silver(YNN) * Gibson ‘Digusted’ By Silver Scandal, Touts Term Limits, Dings Cuomo(YNN) * Assembly Republicans Want Public Vote On Speaker(YNN) * Lentol Backs Silver, Would Step In If Needed (YNN)* @BilldeBlasio says he want Assembly speaker to be from city. "It's been tough enough to get our fair share even with the speaker from NYC." * Upstate-downstatedivide grows in Silver succession * Sheldon Silver and theLawyers of New York(New Yorker) * de Blasio point person Emma Wolfe is pushing hard for Carl Heastie to replace Shelly as speaker * Sheldon Silver says "I'm a member of this house and I will be a member" @wnyt * WATCH: SheldonSilver Not Saying Whether He Plans to Resign (NY1)
Goo-Goos Want Open Speaker Selection (YNN) * Assembly Democrats Consider Long-Term Versus Interim Silver Replacement(YNN) * An Unassuming Bronx Democrat Jockeys to Replace Sheldon Silver(YNN) * De Blasio: ‘Crucially Important’ Assembly Leadership ‘Fair’ To NYC(YNN) * De Blasio: Decisionon Silver is up to the Assembly (Capital) * The New York Timeswrites that Heastie and Morelle are the frontrunners, but Wright, Joseph Lentol and Catherine Nolan are all still potential contenders to be the next Assembly speaker: * Assembly Republicans called for a public vote on the next speaker of the chamber in order to make clear where Democrats stand on keeping Silver as speaker and to remove outside influences, State of Politicswrites:
TIME TO GO: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will be out by Monday following corruption charges as Dems eye successor (NYDN) * Republican Rep. Chris Gibson, who is stepping down in two years and could run for a statewide office, said he was “disgusted” but not surprised by Silver’s arrest, State of Politics reports: * Several Democratic Assembly members expressed doubt that Silver would resign willingly, even after the conference said it had lost confidence in his ability to lead, CapitalNew York reports: * If Assembly Democrats have to wrest the speakership from Silver they will be in uncharted territory, and the chamber’s rules provide little guidance if he steps down, other than naming an acting speaker, the Times Union reports * Not unexpected.Downstate dominates. Idea of a bipartisan coalition is interesting, though: (Democrat and Chronicle) * Meanwhile, in Albany , that Assembly Dems just broke into applause - about taking a food break * @JimmyVielkind So rumor has it Peter (among others) was backing Keith Wright, but Brooklyn County Albany fundraiser:
Bharara: The Man Who Got Silver, What is Next?
Bharara: The Man Who Got Silver, What is Next?
Saturday Night Massacre Destroyed Nixon, Killing Moreland Took Down Silver
Stranger Cuomo insisted again that his Moreland Commission was a success, despite the fact that he disbanded it and would have let Silver off the hook.
Federal case againstSilver has something Bruno case lacked: cooperating witnesses. * The bribery case against Silver raises questions about whether he pulled his punches in 2011 negotiations on rent regulations at the expense of New Yorkers in rent stabilized apartments, ProPublica’s Justin Elliott: * Former AG Vacco takes twitter shot at current AG Schneiderman:"Was big wig on Moreland but despite all his rhetoric-he takes no action."
Preet nabs state senator’s son on tax cheating(NYP) Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara has carved another notch on his belt in his ongoing quest to weed corruption out of Albany politics. Matthew Libous, son of state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Tom Libous (R-Binghamton), was found guilty at a bench trial Monday by White Plains federal Judge Vincent Briccetti of underreporting $69,950 of his income on federal tax returns for 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Some staff members who work for Silver, who faces corruption charges, have been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors, a source told Newsday, but it wasn’t clear how many * Silver’s decision to quit — amid calls from fellow Democrats to do so — came less than a week after being busted by the feds for allegedly using his public office to amass millions of dollars in kickbacks and no-show jobs.
Cuomo Does A Subway Snow Job on de Blasio Latest Battle In Ongoing War
De Blasio: I was frozen out of decision to shut down subways(NYP)
The King is Dead Long Live Whatever is Next
Silver being pushed out as Assembly Speaker (NYP) Albany reign. Following a tense five hour meeting that ended Monday night, members of the 105-member Democratic conferences recommended that Silver resign in light of the shocking federal criminal charges filed against him by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. Discussions centered on having Majority Leader Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester) take over as the Assembly leader in the interim, and eventually electing a new speaker. *
Assembly Democratsto meet at noon today after calling on Sheldon Silver to step down as speaker (C&S) *
Vinny the Chin Baldeo?
Albert Baldeo has checked himself in a hospital before he was to be sentence in his federal conviction for threading witness in his trial that had to do with filing false matching fund documents with the city’s Campaign Finance Board. The original sentencing was scheduled for January 21. Approximately three hours prior to the proceeding, a fax was sent to the defense counsel from Nima Tagipour , MD , of Flushing Hospital
That same afternoon, a conference was held, in lieu of sentencing, at which defense counsel represented that, test performed on the defendant has not indicated there to be any problems, and that, accordingly, he was expected to be discharged the following day. The following day, the defense counsel reported to the court that the defendant remained in the hospital; a different kind of test had been ordered for the next day, which was believed to be standard procedure for someone of the defendant’s age who has self-reported chest pains. If the new tests did not report any problems Baldeo was to be released the next day. However, defense council also reported that the defendant has announced that he has a new medicinal issue. – Weakness on his left side.
The court then ordered sentencing to proceed January 26th approximately three hours later, without informing the court or his council, the defendant Baldeo requested his then-current hospital to transport him, by ambulance to Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The defendant’s request was affected at approximately midnight. The next day Dr. Lee stated to the defense councils that the defendant “had an angiogram and cardio catheterization procedure to clear two blockages, and that two stents were inserted. He was to be released the next day. . As of three days ago Baldeo was still in the hospital, being held for unknown reasons. Dr. The same day Dr. Jauhar, the cardiologist who preformed the procedure recommended that the court delay the sentencing for a week. The court refused. The prosecutors think Baldeo is faking or exaggerating his medical problems and has demand that the court order Baldeo lawyers to come up with proof of Baldeo’s condition * BALDEO
SENTENCING DELAYED BY ‘CONTINUED SELF-HOSPITALIZATION’(Forum)
Vinny the Chin Baldeo?
Members of Silvers Staff Subpoenaed by Federal Prosecutors
The push to ease Silver out came after Gov. Cuomo and other Democrats blasted as unworkable the speaker’s plan to keep his title and have a committee of five loyalists run the Assembly while he focused on his legal defense. The idea was scrapped. * Assembly Democrats Call on Sheldon Silver to Step Down as Speaker(NYT) “He’s lost the confidence of the majority of our conference,” one lawmaker said of Mr. Silver, who is accused of corruption. * 'HE MUST RESIGN': Democrats demand Silver remove himself as speaker, but the defiant politician trying to keep his title(NYDN) * * It may be coincidence, but a founder of the law firm that employed Sheldon Silver once worked at another firm at the center of one of the state’s “most notorious (proven) scams,” writes The New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin:
Betrayal of the public trust is at the heart of the #SheldonSilver thief of honest svcs charges; pall on legislation. (Propublica) * Conundrum at the Capitol (TU) The conference meeting served as the agonizingly drawn-out climax to the most tumultuous day in the state Legislature since the June 2009 onset of the Senate coup, which heralded five weeks of...* Assembly Democrats Ponder Next Step (YNN) Wanted: Leader for a 150-member state-level legislative body. Budget experience a plus. Candidates under investigation need not apply. That’s the situation Assembly Democrats find themselves in as they seek to end the tenure of embattled Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a move that only a week ago before his arrest on corruption charges seemed unthinkable. Silver is yet to signal that he plans to officially step down as speaker, a post he’s held since 1994. “I am the speaker,” Silver declared last night as he was leaving the Capitol.* Silver’s-Gotta-Go Predict-O-Mat™(TU) * Cracks in the armor: Steck, Santabarbara, McDonald, Fahy, and Worner all calling for Silver to resign.* Silver remained aliberal bulwark despite Bragman coup, scandals over Boxley, Lopez: * Bill Hammond: After Silver, a new speaker and speakership(NYDN) * With Sheldon Silverout, watch for scaffold law reform and legalization of MMA.
Stringer, James and Wright Dream A Dream . . .
All the Machines Men and All the Lobbyists Horses Could Not Put Shelly Together Again
The Longest Serving Assemblyman Pimps for Silver
A Rebellion In the Puppet Assembly
Assembly Democrats ask Sheldon Silver to resign (Capital) Assemblyman Abbate says no decision tonight. Assembly Dems will meet tomorrow at noon.* Assemblyman Kavanagh said it's being conveyed by conference that Silver should step down. Doesn't expect new speaker vote tomorrow * Sounds like there's no consensus on who comes next. "I have no idea," Brian Kavanagh says. #nyassembly * Charles Barron says he continues to call for Sheldon Silver to resign and "I expect that to happen." * BREAKING: LI Assemb. Thiele: No support for #SheldonSilver to continue. But not certain who will succeed.* More Democrats, Including Cuomo, Want Silver to Step Down as Speaker (NYT) Over 20 Assembly Democrats called for Sheldon Silver to step down or appeared poised to do so; Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said it would be “good thing” if someone else took charge of the Assembly * With Leadership Fight Underway, Session Is Cancelled(YNN) New York . The Kavanagh group is a coalition of youngish Assembly Democrats elected in last few years. Not the strongest ties to Silver * Assmb Kavanaugh abruptly cancels 5 pm press Conf of members critical of Silver Keith Wright Silver Resign a senior member from Harlem and Manhattan Dem chair, has called for Sheldon Silver to resign. Most prominent Dem to do so. * City ComptrollerStringer Calls On Silver To Give Up Speakership * Stringer calls on Silver to step down as speaker(NYP) * Remix: Dems fear, RNC cheers as Sheldon Silver's arrestclouds NY's DNC 2016 bid (NYDN)* Assemblyman Ryan calls Silver plan for running Assembly with 5 Dems "unworkable.'' Stringer New Leadership Comptroller Calls for ‘New Leadership’ in Albany AfterSheldon Silver Steps Aside (NYO) * Keith Wright Calls On Silver To Resign(YNN) * Stringer To Silver: ‘Step Down’ Not ‘Step Aside’ (YNN)
Shame in Albany
Silver To Retain Speaker’s Stipend (YNN) * Manhattan DemocraticLeader Calls on Silver to Quit Post(NYT) * Silver has not responded to a state ethics committee inquiry into why he did not publicly reveal about a decade’s worth of income from a small law firm on annual financial disclosure forms, the Daily News’ Ken Lovett says: Push Back Sheldon Silver faces pushback from fellow Dems over title (NYDN) * Assemblyman Charles Barron says Silver's plan to share some power 'an insult to our intelligence' * Assemblyman Jeff Aubry recently left Silver's office, saying he wasn't going to caucus. #nyassembly * Rapidly eroding Silver support: Cuomo critical, Wright & Stringer seek resignation, suburbanites & scattering of others revolt.* Assemblyman Mickey Kearns, a Democrat from Buffalo , said #nyassembly session tonight and Tuesday are canceled. He left in a huff. Tom Libous Son Convicted A federal court on Monday convicted the son of New YorkState Senate Deputy GOP Leader Tom Libous. He's next to go. * Disappointed to see so many brand-new Assembly members inSheldon Silver's corruption caucus. (NYDN)* You have to go back to 1911 to find a Democratic Assembly Speaker who wasn't from New York City .* Silver is now in the crosshairs of the media, prosecutors and ambitious members." - @SquarePegDem, Sept. 2013 * Speaker Sheldon Silver faces pushback from fellow New York Democrats as he fights to keep title(NYDN)
Daily News: Five Democrats Working With Silver Are His Partners In Crime . . .
Silver Must Go
Sheldon Silver's'stepping back' is a cynical stunt; Assembly Democrats must bounce him from thespeakership entirely (NYDN) The five Democrats working with Silver are now his partners in crime. Their names must be memorialized on a roll call of shame: Denny Farrell of Manhattan, Carl Heastie of the Bronx, Joseph Lentol of Brooklyn, Joseph Morelle of Rochester , Catherine Nolan of Queens. New York 's chief executive needs to definitely demand Silver's departure. So, too, must the state’s top law enforcement official, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Ditto Controller Tom DiNapoli, a Silver acolyte who owes his current job to the speaker, and owes it to taxpayers to stand up to him now. Scott Stringer set the example for the mayor Monday, when the city controller became NYC's first prominent Democrat to buck his craven colleagues, and say Silver must go. "I do think it's not time to step aside, it's actually time to step down," he said. "We need one leader in the Assembly, someone who can guide these budget negotiations."
Glick Vs Freedom of the Press
Public Advocate Letitita James, too, said Monday that Silver must go. The Democrats have now had four days to read the complaint. Yet only five of the 105 Democrats in the Assembly majority have publicly demanded that Silver step down. Those are Charles Barron of Brooklyn, Luis Sepulveda of the Bronx, Mickey Kearns of western New York , Carrie Woerner of Saratoga Springs , Al Stirpe of the Syracuse area and, in a major break, Keith Wright of Manhattan , who also serves as the county Democratic boss. “We are supportive of our speaker, as always,” echoed Jeff Aubry of Corona . Michael Benedetto of the Bronx and David Weprin of Fresh Meadows saw no cause for forcing Silver out. Manhattan Assemblywoman Deborah Glick declined to commit either way: "That's for us to have a full conversation over." Also weaseling out was Brooklyn 's Nick Perry: "I'm still in the process of digesting all that happened." Ditto Manhattan 's Brian Kavanagh. Four NYC members weaseled out by declining to comment: Helene Weinstein and Karim Camara of Brooklyn, and Dan Quart and Rebecca Seawright of Manhattan . Twenty-two more, as of this writing, have so far lacked the courage to return our calls: Carmen Arroyo, Michael Blake, Victor Pichardo and Jose Rivera of the Bronx; Peter Abbate, Rodneyse Bichotte, James Brennan, Alec Brook-Krasny, Roxanne Persaud, Annette Robinson and Latrice Walker of Brooklyn; Robert Rodriguez, Linda Rosenthal of Manhattan; Edward Braunstein, Phillip Goldfeder, Nily Rozic, William Scarborough, Michael Simanowitz, Aravella Simotas and Michele Titus of Queens; and Matthew Titone of Staten Island.
Daily News: Five Democrats Working With Silver Are His Partners In Crime . . .
Silver Must Go
Glick Vs Freedom of the Press
Sheldon Silver agrees to step down as NYS Assembly speaker while he fights federal corruption charges. 5 members to run chamber
Sheldon Silver "is not stepping down," his spokesman e-mails, but "appointing a senior grp of members to undertake various responsibilities" *
Dicker Cuomo Freaked Out Sources tell Fred Dicker the governor is “freaked-out and furious” over the bombshell criminal charges dropped on Silver, and also “obsessed with fear” because of the ongoing federal corruption probe. The governor is also angry with US Attorney Preet Bharara for stepping on his 2015 Opportunity Agenda headlines.
The Speaker is Not Stepping Down . . .
“The Speaker is not stepping down,” Whyland said. “He is appointing a group of senior members to undertake various responsibilities such as budget negotiations to ensure a timely spending plan for the state. This will give him the flexibility he needs so that he can defend himself against these charges, and he is confident that he will be found innocent.” Sources told The Post that — instead of Silver — budget negotiations would likely be overseen by Herman (Denny) Farrell of Harlem and Joe Morelle of Rochester . The other members of the five-man group were identified by sources as: Joseph Lentol of Brooklyn , Cathy Nolan of Queens And Carl Heastie of The Bronx. Even Silver does quit the top post, he is not expected to quit his office as assemblyman for the Lower East Side . Meanwhile, the disgraced politician is scheduled to vote this week on handing out nearly $95 million in state grants and loans — despite allegations he funneled taxpayer money to a leading cancer doctor as part of a long-running kickback scheme. The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the Public Authorities Control Board — where Silver is one of just three voting members — also includes a residential real-estate project in his district. * NO SILVER LINING: Sheldon to step aside as NYS Assembly speaker while battling federal corruption charges — 'appoints' five members to jointly run chamber(NYDN) Sheldon Silver will temporarily cede power as he fightsfederal corruption charges.(WNYC) * Silver still voting on public matters after corruption charges(NYP) * Halloran defends Silver amid corruption charges(NYP) GOP Push Silver Out "Republicansmay get some Democratic support if they push a resolution to oust Silverentirely." (NYDN) * Silver plans todelegate some power to five senior members. He doesn't plan to step down. @J__Velasquez & I explain:
Dicker Cuomo Freaked Out Sources tell Fred Dicker the governor is “freaked-out and furious” over the bombshell criminal charges dropped on Silver, and also “obsessed with fear” because of the ongoing federal corruption probe. The governor is also angry with US Attorney Preet Bharara for stepping on his 2015 Opportunity Agenda headlines.
The Speaker is Not Stepping Down . . .
Speaker Silver still running the show. He "appointed" the 5 Assemblymembers to the committee.
Silver Could Be Fined Up to Half A Million for False Disclosure Filings
If Shelly Silver isn't performing speaker duties, shouldn't he give up his $41,500 speaker stipend? He has stripped others of stipends
Yes. Our job's to shame you as needed, like now. MT @DeborahJGlick: It's for elected Assembly members, not press, to to determine our future
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Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin Llc $150,000
Carl Andrews & Associates, Inc. $ 144,000
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Lieberman, Mark L. $90,000
Sanzillo, Francis J. & Associates $90,000
Runes, Richard $60,000
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Silver as speaker would make New York
New York Democrats Ask Whether Silver Should Remain Leader (NYT) Many Assembly Democrats feel a deep loyalty to Speaker Sheldon Silver, but his arrest on federal corruption charges have left many wondering if he can carry out his job.
Sheldon Silver agrees to step down as NYS Assembly speaker while he battles federal corruption charges — 5 members to run chamber: source(NYDN) The embattled Democrat was discussing with top Dems in the Assembly about possibly leaving as leader. But on Sunday, he admitted he had to step down while facing federal corruption charges. Earlier, an assemblyman said he had received calls from Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle and surrogates of Assemblyman Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and Keith Wright (D-Manhattan) gauging his feelings on the uncertainty in the chamber.
Silver is set to spare New York the shame of having the gavel of the state Assembly in the hand of a naked extortionist. But Gov. Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio and the Assembly Democrat must sever all ties with him.* Developer Who Keeps Low Profile Is Embroiled in Silver Scandal(NYT) Unlike many New York
NYP: Why Did the AG Not Scream to High Heaven About Moreland Being Shut Down
Eric the silent(NYP Ed) New York than the silence of the state’s top lawman, Eric Schneiderman. If what US Attorney Preet Bharara alleges is true — that for years Assembly Speaker Silver “monetized public office” — why should it have taken a federal prosecutor to bring him down? Why wasn’t it New York ’s attorney general? Schneiderman has said before that our state laws don’t give him much power toprosecute crooked pols. But even if it’s true, the excuse doesn’t wash in this case. When Gov. Cuomo set up the Moreland Commission to “probe systemic public corruption and the appearance of such corruption in state government, political campaigns and elections in New York State
The Silver Lobbyists Rat's Assemblyman Nephew Supports Silver
NYP: Why Did the AG Not Scream to High Heaven About Moreland Being Shut Down
The Silver Lobbyists Rat's Assemblyman Nephew Supports Silver
Nephew of lobbyist who turned on Sheldon Silver supportedkeeping Silver as speaker (NYP) Queens ,attended a news conference of Assembly Democrats supporting Silver.
Silver and His Firm Weitz & Luxenberg Run the Courts and Judges Also
Silver’s law firm rakes in millions from judges he controls(NYP) His law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg, gets its asbestos cases — and paydays — moved more quickly than those of other attorneys, and reaps a fortune from favorable rulings by friendly judges, charge lawyers and tort-reform advocates. Silver’s East Village Manhattan ’s chief civil judge — has handled dozens of Weitz & Luxenberg cases. “They’ve taken over a section of the courthouse, and the people in charge of the courthouse run it for them,” said a disgusted lawyer who files personal-injury cases in Manhattan . “It pours money into the firm.” Another judge, Joan Madden, consolidated unrelated asbestos cases.
“Imagine you’re a judge and you know the person in front of you litigating in asbestos court is also responsible in some way for your career”
Joining up to seven plaintiffs has resulted in huge increases in NYCAL jury verdicts — from an average of $7 million to $24 million per plaintiff between 2010 and 2014, data collected by Bates White Economic Consulting show. Of 15 mesothelioma verdicts in the last four years, Silver’s firm won $273.5 million of $313.5 million awarded by NYCAL juries. Law firms usually take a third. Last month, the American Tort Reform Association branded NYCAL the nation’s top “judicial hellhole,” saying it’s rife with plaintiff attorneys “brazenly favored by the judges.” The group largely blames Silver, who not only has killed any tort reform, such as efforts to limit claims and cap damages, in Albany , but wields enormous power over the judiciary. “Imagine you’re a judge and you know the person in front of you litigating in asbestos court is also responsible in some way for your career,” said Tom Stebbins, a spokesman for the New York Lawsuit Reform Alliance, which also faults Silver.
As Assembly speaker since 1994, Silver names one of 13 members to a state judicial screening committee. The panel recommends candidates for the governor’s appointment to the Court of Claims and Appellate Division and other judge vacancies. In 2008, Silver named his law partner and another Weitz & Luxenberg founder, Arthur Luxenberg, to the committee, ignoring the blatant conflict of interest. Silver also plays a key role, along with Gov. Cuomo and the state Senate majority leader, in negotiating the judiciary’s budget. In 2011, Silver’s appointee to a seven-member state commission cast the deciding vote to give all state judges a 27 percent pay hike. As one of the state’s most powerful Democrats, Silver also strongly influences his party’s nomination of candidates for judgeships in Manhattan and elsewhere. Heitler and Madden are both Democrats, and both first ran for the bench during Silver’s tenure as speaker.* Silver’s betrayal — explointing the fears of his constituents(NYP) Problem: You’re a powerful public official, and you want to make “real private-sector money,” as the politicians call it, without (horrors!) doing any actual work. You consider it below your pay grade to take a fistful of cash from a lobbyist. Solution: The worst terror attack on US soil has just killed 2,753 people at the World Trade Center — and now hundreds of thousands of survivors fear for their health. And it all happened right in your district! What terrific luck. Federal officials accuse Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver of exactly that line of thinking: scheming to profit from 9/11 and its victims.* Nicole Gelinas:"The 9/11 attacks, though, presented a new opportunity" for SpeakerSilver to profit illicitly... * MEET THE DOC: Oncologist who allegedly helped Silver with 9/11 scam is lauded by cancer patients, peers(NYDN) * Sheldon Silver Is So Crooked That He Even Corrupted The Courts (Albany Project )
Corrupt county leaders are organizing to replace corrupt Silver Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
“He has a hand in judicial appointments, and judges know not to bite the hand that feeds them,” said Mark Behrens, a DC attorney who advocates for asbestos-litigation reform for defendants. To top all that, Silver and New York ’s Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman are boyhood chums from the Lower East Side . Lippman, who has been the chief administrative judge for all New York state courts since 2009, can assign judges to top administrative positions and plum posts. Heitler was promoted to Manhattan ’s chief administrative judge in 2009, a post she holds in addition to running asbestos court. ources say Weitz & Luxenberg gets the “red-carpet treatment” in Manhattan , including “more experienced and better judges” in the asbestos court.
State courts spokesman David Bookstaver said Friday that he could not reach anyone to explain the alleged jury hogging. Weitz & Luxenberg filed 53 percent of the NYCAL mesothelioma cases and 74 percent of the lung-cancer cases from 2011 to 2013, Bates White found. Besides the landmark $190 million award, the firm last June won $25 million for two workers exposed to asbestos insulation, and $20 million for the family of a former ship fitter who died. The indictment says Silver pocketed $5.3 million from Weitz & Luxenberg without ever doing legal work — as he was paid a yearly salary of $120,000 (for a total $1.4 million since 2002) and $3.9 million in “referral fees.” Silver allegedly drummed up plaintiffs — and referral fees — by having Columbia University Medical Center
A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens
A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens((NYT) Queens machine lives off the Queens Surrogate Court * True News Corruption and the Surrogate Court *Stealing From the Dead Court
A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens
Wayne Barrett: How Shelly Silver Made His Pal Chief Judge
Justice is Blindsided Shelly Silver games Governor Paterson to get hischildhood pal the state's top courts job By Wayne Barrett (Village Voice) Jonathan Lippman and Sheldon Silver grew up together on the Lower East Side in the 1950s, living next door in the insular Grand Street projects and sitting near each other's family in the neighborhood's Orthodox shul. After both graduated from law school in 1968 and drifted into low-level courthouse gigs in Manhattan in their early careers, one went on to become the longest-serving Democratic legislative leader in modern New York history, master of an unprecedented 107 to 43 majority in the State Assembly. The other remained largely unknown, except inside the state's vast court system. Below the political radar, the black-hatted, still religious, and gravel-toned Silver, who is celebrating his 65th birthday and 15th year as speaker this month, has been quietly boosting the more secular Lippman for years. Now, he's finally pushed Lippman from the series of back-office management posts where he's labored for years to the job of top gavel in the State Judiciary. * Lawyers say this is the worst judge in New York City(NYP) Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Braun’s courtroom is the worst-case scenario, with civil lawsuits dragging on for years because of endless adjournments, attorneys charge. If a lawyer is one minute late, Braun will adjourn the case for three months, lawyers claim. When lawyers fail to include room numbers on addresses, submit motions more than 25 pages long or don’t use proper margins in papers, their cases are adjourned.
The Crimes of Lippman
Democrats
defend Silver because they profit from his corrupt system(NYP) The
ink was scarcely dry on the federal fingerprint pad last week when the usual
suspects began lining up behind the biggest fish US Attorney Preet Bharara has
hauled in to date: New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. “I’ve
always known Shelly Silver to be a man of integrity,” announced
Mayor de Blasio, without an atom of irony. “There is no one in public
life in New York who has fought more effectively, for decades, for almost
everything I care about in public policy than Sheldon Silver,” Richard
Gottfried of Manhattan, one of the Assembly’s longest-tenured members
proclaimed with a straight face. “I want to see the facts before I have an opinion,” said Gov. Cuomo — ominously for him, also an object of curiosity to the feds. For Silver’s day gig — Assembly speaker — has him in the catbird seat regarding the disposition of billions upon billions of tax dollars every year. The special interests understand this, and boost the campaign accounts and electoral prospects of Silver’s allies, while damaging his adversaries, accordingly. Reasonably strong governors (George Pataki and Andrew Cuomo), a weak governor (David Paterson) and an insane governor (Eliot Spitzer) only rarely made waves on Silver’s pond — and when the turbulence settled the speaker was always stronger than ever. Fundamentally, they involve corrupt payments for work not performed — and greasing the skids for lawyers involved in New York’s notoriously seamy practice of adjusting commercial property-tax assessments. It’s a big-bucks business — and Silver certainly isn’t the only one stained by the skid-greasing. The real-estate industry generally is a cash-pump for politicians. (Cuomo himself last year collected as much as $1 million in campaign cash sifted through several limited-liability corporations by a single contributor, real-estate titan Leonard Litwin.)
By virtue of his status as top Democrat in the Albany Legislature, Silver:
- Controls appointments to the state Board of Regents, which sets policy for
- Put Jonathan Lippman, another boyhood buddy and a fellow trial lawyer, in command of
Albany's Corruption Hall Of Shame Forced to Expand With New Wing
Will Sheldon Silver's arrest finally spur ethics reforms in Albany ? (syracuse.com) * Assemblywoman uses nonprofit to turn taxpayer-bought land into private parking lot(NYP) Assemblywoman Vivian Cook has resurrected her defunct nonprofit in order to turn an empty plot— purchased by the shady group with taxpayer money — into a private parking lot.The Queens Democrat said the Rockaway Boulevard Local Development Corp. is renting the parcel to a New Jersey contractor who has stashed trucks and construction equipment behind a locked chain-link gate. Cook said she can’t remember how much rent the group is charging the contractor, what his name is, or when exactly he signed the lease. Cook is best known for sending taxpayer money to another nonprofit — an education concern run by her pal, former state Sen. Shirley Huntley. Huntley pleaded guilty in 2013 to taking $87,000 from the group, admitting that she and a fellow lawmaker — later identified as Cook — would use the taxpayer cash to go on shopping trips.
What Happen to Cook's Per Diem Expense Investigation?
Jamaica to Kennedy Airport Rockaway Boulevard . It hasn’t filed required paperwork with the state since 2008. Cook, who was listed as the group’s president on its 2008 tax filing, said some of the charity’s former board members came together to rent the property.
What Happen to Cook's Per Diem Expense Investigation?
Politicians caught collecting Albany per diems when they’re not there(NYP)
R.I.P. Joe, You Were A Class Act
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Secret Government Lobbyists Partner With Silver in Corruption Rats on Speaker
Close friend, top lobbyist helped feds take down Sheldon Silver(NYP)
Meara is one of the state’s most powerful lobbyists . . . Part of the Silver, Queens Boss Crowley and Speaker Quinn Crime Families
The Bayside resident is also close to Queens Democratic boss and US Rep. Joe Crowley, while his brother, Chuck, was chief of staff to former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. In addition to the state court officers union and other labor groups, Meara represents a host of big-bucks industries, including casino operators, insurance companies and soft-drink makers. His clients also include the Yankees owners and the Silvercup Studios production facility in Queens . The Bayside resident is also close to Queens Democratic boss and US Rep. Joe Crowley, while his brother, Chuck, was chief of staff to former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. According to Thursday’s criminal complaint against Silver, Meara got a non-prosecution deal from the feds in exchange for agreeing to serve as a “fact witness” against the Manhattan Democrat. The complaint says Silver got two developers — including “Developer-1,” identified by sources as 100-year-old Litwin — to hire the law firm run by Silver’s former counsel, identified by sources as Jay Arthur Goldberg. Silver allegedly pocketed at least $700,000 by splitting the fees generated by the lucrative property-tax challenges, without notifying either developer or disclosing the payments.
Companies That Brian Meara Has Been A Lobby For
Companies That Brian Meara Has Been A Lobby For
NRG Energy, Inc. , Motorola Solutions Inc., New York Black
Operator's Injury Compensation Fund, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., Dominion Voting
Systems, Inc, New York Black Car Operators' Injury Compensation Fund, Inc.,
MANHOLE BARRIER SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC., COMMISSION ON INDEPENDENT COLLEGES
& UNIVERSITIES, empire racing
associates llc, ABC, INC. CBS Corporation, NBC Universal, Harter, Secrest
& Emery LLP, Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance, Covanta
Energy Corporation (formerly American Ref-Fuel Co.), American Ref-Fuel Company,
Essex Enterprises LLC, Power, Crane & Company. LLC, Power, Crane
& Company. LLC
Queens Boss Crowley Tied Into Silver By Corrupt Lobbyists
LOSING CONFIDENCE: Embattled Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver may be losing support as he also could face tax problems(NYDN)
indictment * Even before #SheldonSilver's arrest, state defense costs pile up @JimmyVielkind reports (Capital)
After Bharara's Coup d'etat Daily News Assigned to Clean Up
Daily News Hunger Games Hunting Down Each Member of the Assembly And Ask Them If They Support the Speaker
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Monday Morning Albany Explodes
Silver Striped Boyland, Lopez, Kellner of their Committee Chairmanships After Indictment . . .
How Does Silver Remain Speaker?
Organize Crime Politics: Albany Crooks Stand By Their Don
Silver has been dirty for decades. Tammany revisited. "If" guilty he should go? Like asking if Boss Tweed was guilty...come on
Assembly Democratsrally behind Silver after arrest(Newsday) * Democratic Assembly members came out strongly Thursday in defense of #SheldonSilver, their longtime leader:(NY1) * Silver has a well-documented history of coming down hard on many of his colleagues who have been ousted from their offices on similarly unsavory charges, the Daily News reports: * State Assembly Democrats back Sheldon Silver amid calls foraccused speaker's resignation(NYDN) * Silver, a powerful negotiator, should remain in power given the high-stakes debates over schools and spending because constituents *Democrats in the Assembly insist they are standing bySpeaker Silver (TWC) * Assembly Democratssupport Sheldon Silver despite arrest * Bruno on lawmakers receiving outside income: "They can select anyone of those people and prosecute them under the federal law."* ASSEMBLY DEMS STICK WITH SILVER: Assemblyman Richard Gottfried told City & State that support for Speaker Sheldon Silver among Assembly Democrats is “enthusiastic” and the allegations against him are “flimsy”:* Assemblyman Richard Gottfried insists support from his conference for embattled Speaker Sheldon Silver is not only steadfast, but “enthusiastic.” He’d be “astonished” if Silver resigns.
de Blasio Ties to Walk Back Silver's Integrity Statement
'I SPOKE ABOUT MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE': De Blasio tries to explain defense of Silver as 'man of integrity'(NYDN) * Mayor de Blasio Maintains His Support for Speaker Silver(NYT) Silver's Cancer Doctor Removed Doctor linked toAssembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's arrest removed from head of cancer researchcenter position (NYDN) Dr. Robert Taub still remains on the payroll but is no longer overseeing the Mesothelioma Research Center
Weitz and Luxenberg was equally generous with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Perry Weitz, Felicia Weitz, Arthur Luxenberg, and Randi Luxenberg alone combined for $200,000, with each giving $50,000 according to an article that says “The attorney general has topped even his popular predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, in raising money from organized labor.” There have been other donations since, including $12,500 each from the two named partners.Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) said, “Did Schneiderman go along with Cuomo’s decision to shutter Moreland? Did Cuomo have the power to shut it down if Schneiderman deputized these guys? And if Schneiderman didn’t go along with it, did he just appear to while continuing to investigate? We just don’t know.” The good-government publication Gotham Gazette wrote, “Schneiderman’s entire involvement in the Moreland Commission mess, both past and present, remains a question mark as the AG has only commented to say he shouldn’t comment – something that is becoming a familiar refrain for many of those involved with the commission.”Interestingly, referral fees are at the core of the case against Mr. Silver. The government alleges that Weitz & Luxenberg paid the speaker $1.4 million in salary and another $3.9 for referrals – and that some of those referrals came from a doctor who himself was the beneficiary of state money that Mr. Silver helped arrange.With the stunning arrest of the Speaker, the disbanding of the Moreland commission once again takes center stage. The Attorney General was not only involved with that disbanding, but also counts the law firm at the center of the Speaker’s demise among his biggest donors. With US Attorney Preet Bharara hinting that New Yorkers ought to ‘stay tuned‘ for additional corruption arrests, the next few weeks could prove to be wildly interesting in the Empire State
.@GeraldoRivera: DN is trying to save Bill de Blasio “from himself”; Post wants him to “jump” off a bridge
Sheldon Silver’s Arrest Leaves Cuomo in a Tough Spot(NYT) The arrest of the New York State Assembly speaker is threatening to upend the order that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo spent his first term in the capital working to restore. * In Silver’s Backyard, Views of the Case Against Him Are Split (NYT) Sheldon Silver is an outsize presence on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, which he has represented in the State Assembly for nearly 40 years and where he is also a polarizing figure. * Long Led by Silver, Assembly Democrats Face Uncertainty on a Successor(NYT) Sheldon Silver, who has served as Assembly speaker for more than two decades, has given no indication that he plans to resign. But as Democrats look for a potential heir, they are finding few options.
Follow the Money Weitz and Luxenberg to the AG and Others
Still Three Men In A Room (Does One Have A Wire?) Speaker Silver isn'trequired to step down despite corruption charges. So he's still 1 of "3Men In A Room." * Sheldon Silver’s wealth a well-kept secret(NYP)
All Daily Editorials Tell Silver to Get Out
The Times Editorial Board called on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to step down in the wake of his arrest on corruption charges, and says that reforming rules governing legislators’ outside pay should now be at the top of Albany’s priority list:
* Daily News editorial board says: Sheldon Silver must go. (NYDN)
Presumption of innocence granted, it was a pleasure to see Sheldon Silver in handcuffs, for his offenses against New Yorkers have long been criminal
Presumption of innocence granted, it was a pleasure to see Sheldon Silver in handcuffs, for his offenses against New Yorkers have long been criminal
* The Speaker must go (NYP Ed) Cuomo Gov. Andrew Cuomo told the Daily News editorial board thearrest of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was "a bad reflection on government," but would not say if he believes Silver should resign his leadership post * Silver’s arrest puts the heat on Cuomo for Moreland disbanding(NYP) * Silver did all he could to derail and undermine the Moreland Commission panel established by Cuomo, and his arrest on federal corruption charges may explain why, The New York Times reports: * Following Silver’s arrest, the Legislature must end the secrecy surrounding outside income, Cuomo must say what he knew about the Moreland Commission’s investigation and Silver must resign, the Times Unionwrites:
High Noon The Sheriff Rounds Up the Dark Master of NY Politics
Bharara Speaks to NY's Sheep (Us) Get Mad As Hell And Don't Take It Anymore
People need to demand more, Bharara says before quoting Edward R Murrow: 'a nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves'*
Weitz & Luxenberg Gave $600,000 to Federal Candidates
Employees of Weitz & Luxenberg have given at least $600,000 to federal candidates—nearly all Democrats—over the last two cycles, including Rep. Kathleen Rice, a former Moreland co-chair, the Observer reports:
Accused AssemblySpeaker Sheldon Silver's lawyer has experience defending corrupt pols(NYDN) Silver lawyer Joel Cohen represented former state Controller Alan Hevesi when he was accused of helping himself to taxpayer money for personal expenses. * An Albany Powerhouseon the Edge of a Volcano, via @nytimes * Sheldon Silver’s wealth a well-kept secret(NYP)* Silver’s thrifty spending habits and low-key, modestlifestyle might be why federal authorities were able to seize millions of dollars in bribes in kickbacks from eight of his accounts at six separate banks, the Post writes: * Former City & State editor Morgan Pehme outlines in the Gotham Gazette five immediate impacts Silver’s arrest will have on Albany , including potential reform, a major power shift and a signal of more arrests to come: * Assembly Speaker Silver's arrest marks stunning career turn(NYDN) * Assembly Speaker Silver can stay in power despite arrest(NYDN) * Editorial: Sheldon Silver is bad to the bone(NYDN Ed) * Feds sought evidenceof Silver's actual legal work. Got 1 file. One. And it was pro bono. Um... Aboutthose fees...? (NYT)* Silver’s Law Firm Disavows Referrals(YNN) * Columbia Doctor, Player in Sheldon Silver Investigation, Is Leaving Post(NYT) * Sheldon Silver, Assembly Speaker, Took Millions in Payoffs, U.S. Says(NYT) *Complaint Details How Silver Earned Millions From Obscure Legal Work(NYT)
Here Comes the Mud in the PBA Elections
PBA president contender faced gender-discrimination suit(NYP) PBA presidential candidate Brian Fusco, who has two running mates under criminal indictment, was a defendant in a federal gender-discrimination lawsuit that was settled in 2009, The Post has learned. Officer Cathy Caban filed the $15 million suit against the city, the NYPD, ex-Commissioner Ray Kelly, Fusco and three other cops in Brooklyn’s 72nd Precinct in August 2008, claiming her civil rights were violated because she’s a woman. The suit was settled by the city for an undisclosed amount in November 2009, court records show.Police union presidential candidate Brian Fusco has two running mates under criminal indictment and was a defendant in a federal gender-discrimination lawsuit settled in 2009
How the Crime Wave At NYCHA is Being Kept Secret
How the Crime Wave At NYCHA is Being Kept Secret
Shooting Up 20% at Public Housing
Assembly Speaker Silver Arrested
Update Silver was being held Thursday at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, lawenforcement sources said.
Mr. Silver, before entering 26 Federal Plaza, said, “I hope I’ll be vindicated.”Buffalo-area Assemblyman @Mickey_Kearns — one of two Dems who opposed Silver's reelection as speaker — calls for him to step down.* Assemblyman Jeff Aubry; "We are supportive of our speaker, as always."* Lawmakers on both sides of aisle call on Sheldon Silverto quit in bombshell corruption case(NYDN)
Times Tells Silver to Step Down
Here's the federalcomplaint against @ShellySilver Silver allegedly obtained $4M in payments from Weitz &Luxenberg "solely through the corrupt use of his official position." US Attorney accuses Assembly Speaker Silver of taking millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks, complaint says.Correction: Silver steered $500K to doctor who referred asbestos cases to his law firm Got the Bastard New York Daily News really takes Speaker Silver to task withan editorial that begins with "They got the bastard"... (NYDN) * Sheldon Silver arrested, accused of taking $4M in bribes, kickbacks(NYP) * Released on Bail, Sheldon Silver Says He ‘WillBe Vindicated’(NYO) * De Blasio Calls Sheldon Silver a 'Man of Integrity' (DNAINFO) *After SpeakerSilver’s Arrest, Predicting ‘Chaos’ in AlbanyPower Balance (NYT) * Bharara lays out case against Silver, hints at more arrests(CrainsNY)
Silver Blocks Housing for the Poor and PRs and de Blasio Calls Him a Man of Integrity
de Blasio Silver Man of Integrity .@BilldeBlasio: Sheldon Silver a'man of integrity' (NYDN) *A Swaggering PreetBharara Charges Sheldon Silver With Public Corruption(NYO) * De Blasio: Sheldon Silver is a ‘man of integrity(NYP) Flashback
Silver Released On $200K Bond(YNN) * Bharara: Silver Case Goes To The ‘Core’ Of Albany’s Problem(YNN) * Assembly Democrats Back Silver Staying On As Speaker(YNN) “I’m continuing to support the speaker and I would say the members are overwhelmingly from the conversation that we just had are continuing their support,” said Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, who was joined by dozens of Silver’s 106-member Democratic conference in the Assembly. Two Democrats — Assemblymen Charles Barron and Mickey Kearns — reiterated their calls for Silver to step down today, but neither lawmaker had initially supported him in the first place. * The Moreland Connection(YNN)* Republicans Pile On Silver (Updated)(YNN) *US Attorney Bharara used several graphic charts to illustrate the flow of money and influence in the speaker’s alleged schemes, State of Politics reports: * Since 2000 Silver has engaged in the scheme to defraud the public and used his position to obtain at least $6 million from two outside law firms. You can read the full federal complaint here: * By default or by design, there are few Democratic successors to succeed Silver, who basically ruled the Assembly with unquestioned authority since 1994, save for a 2000 coup brought by Assemblyman Michael Bragman, State of Politicsreports: * Shelly Silver’sArrest: 5 Immediate Impacts on Albany * @GregDavidonNY asks: How much did Cuomo know about the Silver case? via @CrainsNewYork
Albany for @billdeblasio * * Silver’s arrest could potentially cause a seismic shift in power with reverberations felt from the speaker’s home district on the Lower East Side to the grounds of the State Capitol, the Times reports: * Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty may disband, hand offservices to other groups: sources (NYDN)
Albany Is Shocked About the Charges Against Silver
Albany Crooks In A PanicTimes Tells Silver to Step Down
Silver Blocks Housing for the Poor and PRs and de Blasio Calls Him a Man of Integrity
.@yoruba69 Exactly. If there was any doubt he's a full blown IDIOT, it's gone. Silver was caught blocking housing for poor PRs already.
They Kept a Lower East Side Lot Vacant for Decades (NYT) * HAMMOND: Sheldon Silver championed the poor... and is now accused of robbing them (NYDN)* Dinkins declines to agree/disagree w @BilldeBlasio on Silver as "man of integrity"* Joe Lhota Calls Bill de Blasio a ‘Hypocrite’ forSupport of Sheldon Silver(NYO) * De Blasio, With Business Before Albany, Defends Silver(YNN)
Silver Released On $200K Bond(YNN) * Bharara: Silver Case Goes To The ‘Core’ Of Albany’s Problem(YNN) * Assembly Democrats Back Silver Staying On As Speaker(YNN) “I’m continuing to support the speaker and I would say the members are overwhelmingly from the conversation that we just had are continuing their support,” said Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, who was joined by dozens of Silver’s 106-member Democratic conference in the Assembly. Two Democrats — Assemblymen Charles Barron and Mickey Kearns — reiterated their calls for Silver to step down today, but neither lawmaker had initially supported him in the first place. * The Moreland Connection(YNN)* Republicans Pile On Silver (Updated)(YNN) *
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in a swaggering press conference at his offices in Manhattan slammed Silver with a five-count complaint that portrayed the Democratic lawmaker as greedy and secretive
Federal charges appear to cite state's top political donorThe 100-year-old Litwin spent the most money on political donations during that time, as The Real Deal reported. Crain’s also made a connection between Litwin and the $900,000 Developer 1 paid to eight lobbying firms. The complaint also calls out another developer,* An unnamed firm described in the federal charges against Silver appears to be Glenwood Management, a Manhattan apartment developer owned by Leonard Litwin—the state’s largest political donor in the past decade,Crain’s reports:
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“Developer 2,” though this developer’s identity was not immediately clear. Together, 19 buildings owned by the two developers brought in more than 31 percent of Goldberg & Iryami’s revenue in 2011, according to the complaint. - See more at: http://therealdeal.com/blog/2015/01/22/mystery-developer-1-in-silver-case-said-to-be-glenwoods-leonard-litwin/#sthash.abfhWLM3.dpuf * Skelos Won’t Weigh In On Whether Silver Should Resign(YNN) * Silver Charged On Five Counts(YNN) * Aubry: Conference Remains ‘Supportive’ Of Silver(YNN) * Successors Few And Far Between For Silver(YNN) * Silver Turns Himself In(YNN) * De Blasio: Sheldon Silver is a ‘man of integrity’(NYP)* * Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was arrested on federal corruption charges and accused of using his power to secure millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks for over a decade, The New York Times reports:
Pitta Bishop Del Giorno Lobbyists for Litwin "Develper 1" in the Silver Indictment
Albany Is Shocked About the Charges Against Silver
Sen. Jeffrey Klein is "shocked" about the serious allegations against Sheldon Silver.Pols standing by Silver: @DavidWeprin @billdeblasio @wright4harlem @aubry_jeff @DeborahJGlick @CarlHeastie @SandyGalef @dennyfarrell
Silver under pressure to resign(NYP)*
“I am happy the issue is being aired in a legal process,” Silver told reporters. “I am confident that when all the answers are aired I will be vindicated.” Silver
The Most Dangerous Man In American Politics
Preet Bharara Goes to War
Why say this is a sad day for NY? If you were robbed, & they finally caught the thief, would you be sad or happy?
Shame On NY Reporters Who Need Prosecutors to Uncover Political Corruption
Daily News Editorial Spanks the Speaker for Watergate Level Corruption of Her Election As Speaker and the Entire 2013 Election
Speaking
of speakers (NYDN Ed) Gifts of service to Melissa Mark-Viverito
must not go unpunished. When, after the 2013 elections, then-Councilwoman
Mark-Viverito was angling, with Mayor de Blasio’s enthusiastic backing, to
become Speaker Mark-Viverito, she relied on the help of a well-connected
political consulting and lobbying firm called the Advance Group. The pros
helped her prepare for debates, network with county leaders, court fellow
Council members — and win the second-most powerful job in city government. She
got those usually high-priced services for the low, low price of zero dollars
and zero cents. In other words, Mark-Viverito received a highly valuable
in-kind campaign contribution from a company with lots of business before the
city — including representing dozens of clients who regularly lobby the
Council. This column urged the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board to take up
the matter. The City Charter, after all, states: “No public servant shall
accept any valuable gift . . . from any person or firm” who “is or intends to
become engaged in business dealings with the city.” To its credit, the board
has now opened up a case; the speaker has filed campaign finance statements
that she has spent $20,000 on lawyers to represent her. What could her
defense possibly be? Neither the facts of her accepting freebies nor the rules
against it are in dispute. She should be fined the max possible, $25,000. Even
still, she’ll end up getting away with having violated the charter in order to
be one of the top officials sworn to uphold it.
Conflict of Interests Board Investigates the Speaker Where Are the Prosecutors?
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How Can Robbing New Yorkers of Their Voting Rights, Their Democracy Be Considered None Criminal?
Advance Also Did Mailings for the Speaker During Her Campaign Through Their PAC
Mark-Viverito Received Mailings From NYCLASS . . . Two Council Members Were Fined Because Advance Worked for Them and Gave Them NYCLASS PAC $$$
One ambiguity is that Ms. Mark-Viverito was not running in an election regulated by the city Campaign Finance Board, but rather in a leadership race within the council. 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.
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UFT Controlling Government By Breaking the Election Law . . . DAs Don't Notice?
Cover-Up Of Campaign Consultants Advance Group/Red Horse Involvement in UFT PAC United for the Future, Which Conspired To Break Election Law to Control Council
How Campaign Consultant Lobbyists and The PACs They Controlled Broke the Election Law and Got Away With It and Built A Shadow Government
The UFT PAC Paid Advance Through the Fake Group Strategic Consultants Inc. $370,000
Nothing Has Happen - Five Months Ago the Daily News Wrote:
UFT under fire for apparently trying to hide identity of consulting firm(NYDN)The city’s powerful teachers union is under fire from good-government groups for apparently trying to hide the identity of a consulting firm it was using to boost union-backed candidates. "The listing of the phony firm, 'Strategic Consultants, Inc.,' in campaign filings, obscured that Advance Group was being paid both to promote candidates for the United Federation of Teachers' independent political action committee, and working as the main campaign consultant for several of those same candidates."
On Third of the City Council Was Is Infected With Illegal PAC $$$ From Advance and Red Horse in the 2013 Election
Candidates Funding By Advance and Red Horse
NYCLASS: Councilman Mark Levine (Advance Client), Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo: (Advance Client)
United for the Future: Councilman Mark Levine (Advance Client), Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo (Advance Client), Councilman Robert Jackson (Advance Candidate, Boro President Candidate)
Candidates Funding By Red Horse and Advance's United for the Future PAC:
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (Abvance Worked on her Speakers Race), Inez Dickens (Advance Client), Corey Johnson (AdvancePAC) (running against Advance client Yetta Krukland),
James Vacca, Helen Rosenthal, Annabel Palm, Daneek Miller, Antonio Reynoso, Ritchie Torres
Advance Clients Who Received Mailings from Advance PACs
Mathieu Eugene, Yetta Krukland, Ydanis Rodríguez, Rafael L Espinal, Jr.Other Council Member Funded By United for the Future
Costa Constantinides, Mark Weprin (Hudson TG), Karen Koslowitz (Hudson TG), Elizabeth Crowley (Berlin Rosen Client), Richard Donovan (Berlin Rosen Client), Inez Barron, Jumaane Williams, Alan Maisel (Brandford), Mark Treyger (Hudson TG), Debra Rose (Brandford), Steven Matteo, Vincent Ignizio, Eric Ulrich, Rosie Mendez Mendez, Inez E Dickens, Andrew Cohen, Rory Lancman, Steven Levin, Brad Lander
Is the Manhattan DA Not Investigating Advance Because of A Conflict of Interests?
Manhattan DA Vance Consultant Red Horse Broke the Law Along With Advance Working for the UFT PACs United for the Future that did mailings for the same Council Clients that both firms represented
The MirRam Group
The Advance Group was not the only lobbying firm to help. Early in Ms. Mark-Viverito's speaker bid, an employee from another lobby firm close to Ms. Mark-Viverito, the MirRam Group, handled an inquiry from Crain's for a story about her past refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. MirRam also was not paid for work on the speaker race. But MirRam maintains the work was merely related to Ms. Mark-Viverito's 2013 City Council bid—for which MirRam was paid—though that campaign had ended weeks before the Crain's inquiry. MirRam has since successfully lobbied Ms. Mark-Viverito on behalf of other clients.
Lobbyists Campaign Consultants Pitta Bishop Works Both for the I Can't Breathe and Pitta Bishop Which Represents the Detectives Endowment Assoc.
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Puppet Council Speaker Controlled By the New Private Tammany Hall
Top Speaker Lobbyists Puts A Man Inside
Cuomo's Plans
Cuomo's Education War With de Blasio and UFT
Impose stricter teacher evaluations, extend the period to earn tenure, expand charter schools and boost state oversight of failing public schools.
The UFT is holding
a series of “emergency meetings” for educators, parents and clergy
today in response to Cuomo’s fiery declaration of war on the union in the
aftermath of his State of the State speech.
.@BilldeBlasio on charter cap "I think the cap we have now is sufficient." Cuomo just announced he plans to raise it by 100 schools. * Cuomo’s Education Policy: Expand Charters, Reform Teacher Tenure(YNN) * Cuomo Dangles ExtraSchools Funding in Exchange for Education Reform(YNN) * Republican-Led Senate Passes Controversial Education Tax Credit(NYO) * Cuomo proposes sweeping education reforms (NYP)Half of a teacher’s rating should be tied to how their students perform on state standardized exams, up from the current 20 percent, Cuomo said in his State of the State Address.Classroom observations by school officials and an independent educator would account for the other 50 percent. The Cuomo plan also seeks to prevent school districts from inflating the scores of teachers. Any instructor who is rated ineffective based on student test scores or observations would be barred from receiving an overall rating of effective. The governor also recommended that teachers not be awarded tenure until they got five years of effective ratings, up from three years. Cuomo also called for an increase in the number of charter schools allowed statewide to 560 from 460.An education tax credit would give New Yorkers a tax break for donating funds to public schools or scholarship funds that aid students in parochial schools. The plan is a top priority of Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The Cuomo education plan, which requires legislative approval, also would authorize the state education commissioner to appoint receivers to try to turn around chronically failing public schools — modeled after a 
Who is the Boss More gently this time, @NYGovCuomo shows @BilldeBlasio who's boss, @SallyGold reports
Budget
Cuomo Proposes $141.6B Spending Plan(YNN)
Grand Jury Reform
DA Assoc Prez Frank Sedita says group "accepts the concept of statutory changes to increase the transparency of the grand jury process" Fairness for All': Cuomo Seeks Criminal Justice and Prison Reform (NYO) * Garner prosecutor: I would oppose any law that alters grand jury decisions(NYP) * Cuomo also called for a commission on police and community relations, recruiting of minority police officers, greater grand jury transparency and an independent monitor to review police killings, the Observer reports: * Skelos: Don’t ‘Tinker’ With Grand Jury Process(YNN)* Cuomo to name ‘independent monitor’ to review cop-related grand jury decisions(NYP)
Terrorism And Kelly
Terrorism And Kelly
Cuomo announced that he is naming New York City ’s former city police commissioner, Raymond Kelly, to conduct a terrorism “preparedness audit” of state agencies, the Post reports:
Why Don't The Progressives On the Council Try to Pass A Bill Banning Lulu?
Daily News Gives Credit to A Few Council Members for Returning Their Lulu, But Never Asked the Councilmember Why No Bill
Before every election, good-government groups and the Daily News Editorial Board poll candidates on the question of accepting lulus. Van Bramer brings to 12 the cadre who have signed documents renouncing the extra cash. The others who had already done so are: Brad Lander, Alan Maisel, Carlos Menchaca and Mark Treyger of Brooklyn; Andy Cohen of the Bronx; Dan Garodnick, Ben Kallos, Mark Levine and Helen Rosenthal of Manhattan ; Rory Lancman of Queens; and Steve Matteo of Staten Island . Garodnick and Lander said no to $15,000 lulus. Matteo’s was $5,000 and the rest declined $8,000. Bravo to all. An additional 18 members accept lulus and say they donate the money to charity, though they show no proof of their gifts.
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The Taxis Uber Fight
James, Stringer and Council Blast Airbnb Before City Council Hearing
Wednesday Update Neighbors’ complaints to 311 over Airbnb are on the rise(NYP) * A New York City Council hearing pitted affordable housing advocates against proponents of sites like Airbnb, with lawmakers bashing short-term rentals they say hurt low-income residents, The New York Timesreports: *City Council blastsAirbnb executives in contentious hearing (NYDN) Council members accused the company of helping landlords transform affordable housing units into illegal hotels. But Airbnb executive David Hantman said the company doesn’t support illegal hotels and tries to remove abusers from the site. The eight-hour hearing was Tuesday before a packed audience.* Council Slams Airbnbfor Having No Idea How Many Listings Are Illegal | New York Observer * NYC Council members ripped into Airbnb.com executives at a contentious hearing, accusing the company of helping landlords transform affordable housing units into illegal hotels.* Complaints about short-term apartment-rental services such as Airbnb soared in the past year — but there were only 12 inspectors to act on them, a city official said.* Public Advocate Letitia James blasts Airbnb for making Brooklyn "least affordable" housing market in nation(NYDN)* Council Slams Airbnbfor Having No Idea How Many Listings Are Illegal (NYO)* Airbnb’s affordable housing(NYP Ed)
Airbnb Buys News Organization and Starts It Media Blitz to Brainwash New Yorkers That They Are Not Wearhousing Apartments
Airbnb Contributes Max to de Blasio, Other Pols and Online News Blogs
Why Pols Don't Speak Out on Airbnb . . . It all About the Benjamins
Airbnb and Uber's Latest Lobbying Tactic: Donate to Bill De Blasio * Airbnb Really Wants Bill De Blasio To Be Cool With Airbnb ... * Former de Blasio campaign manager Bill Hyers joins Airbnb (NYDN)
Airbnb and Uber's Latest Lobbying Tactic: Donate to Bill De Blasio * Airbnb Really Wants Bill De Blasio To Be Cool With Airbnb ... * Former de Blasio campaign manager Bill Hyers joins Airbnb (NYDN)
Lobbyists Bolton St Johns
Airbnb works directly with its own lobbyist, Bolton-St. Johns, and indirectly as "an industry stakeholder" * Lobbyist for Airbnb in NYC is Bulton St Johns
Airbnb Ads Help Support the New Online News Blogs Capital, City and State and Local TV
The Capital News and City and State Blogs mix an advertising spin message from Airbnb at the same time when the day after the AG forced the company to release info to expose apartment bundlers who turned NYC apartments into hotels. Everytime bad news about Airbnb is printed these publication and the local TV stations get more ads.*according to New York state senator Liz Krueger, one of Airbnb's lobbying arms has started a misinformation campaign about the law to put more pressure on elected officials. Krueger is referring to Peers, a non-profit industry mouthpiece that presents itself as a grassroots organization for folks who just wanna make a little money on the side—and what kind of monster would object to that? Except that Peers was cofounded by Airbnb's "head of community" and has investment from the Omidyar Network, the foundation of eBay billionaire Pierre Omidyar—connections that are glossed over in order to make campaigns look more authentic, and less like a pre-IPO necessity. * New York Senator Accuses Airbnb Lobbyist Of Misinformation Campaign
Lower East Side Without Bagles How Much of the Blame Goes to Airbnb?
Landlord"Pushes Out" Gramercy's Ess-A-Bagel After 39 Years(Gothamist)
Homeless #'s Up 6% Under DeBlasio 52% Over Last 5 Years . . . Warehousing for Airbnb is A Cause
The Daily News Leaves Out the Most Reasons for the Increase In Homelessness and the Pushing Out of the Middle Class Out of the City, Tax Breaks to Luxury Developers and Airbnb
DE BLASIO'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS: Number of homeless peoplespikes 52% in last five years — grows 6% under de Blasio(NYDN)The city has seen a 6% increase in homelessness since the mayor took office in January. In response, Mayor de Blasio added several new shelters to the city, sparking protests from affected neighborhoods.The city says it housed an average of 54,754 people a night in August, including 23,000 children — up from an average of 51,470 in January. The number is 10% higher than in August 2013. Overall, in the last five years, the city’s homeless population has soared by a stunning 52%.
Big Secret: As Taxes Rise NYC's Middle Class Escapes
Escape From New York Increase As State Falls to 4th Biggist . . . . Weaking Clout In Congress
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NYC's Economic Problems
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Monday
Sunday Update
Friday Update
Thursday Update
Farina Rearranges Deckchairs on the Education Titanic
Thursday
Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña is expected to announce today principals will once again report to superintendents and regional centers, a shift from the prior administration’s management philosophy, the Times reports: * Veteran civil servant Christopher Caruso will lead the charge to create 128 new community schools with expanded services under a new division in the New York City Education Department, the Daily News reports:
Wednesday
The city’s school support networks, which provide services such as teacher training and school budget consulting, had no impact on academic performance, according to a study by Brown University’s Annenberg Institute. Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña plans to announce that she will dismantle the city’s 55 school support networks. *Siena College
Monday
Queens lawyer joins legal fight to overhaul teacher tenure for his kids(NYDN)*
Sunday Update
Elite school takes huge hit in science contest(NYDN) * Probe investigates educator’s grade-changing ways(NYDN)
Why Campbell Brownis the latest hate figure for education reform critics: (NY Mag)Friday Update
The de Blasio administration managed to boost enrollment in after-school programs for middle school children this year, but still fell short of its lofty goals, the New York Post writes: * Because CarmenFariña says so (NYDN) New York ’s schools chancellor continues her troubling history of ignoring educational evidence
Thursday Update
New York City Education Department to Add or Expand 40 Dual-Language Programs(NYT) Carmen Fariña, the schools chancellor, said the programs for elementary, middle and high school levels would be created or expanded for the 2015-16 school year.De Blasio and Fariña plan to shift power from principals to superintendents (NYP)
The UFT Used Its $$$ To Buy the City Government Does Not Own the Governor
The teachers unions are used to funneling cash and warm bodies into elections and then reaping the political rewards, but Cuomo understands that New York should be getting much better results for all its spending, the Post writes: Elif Gure-Perez, who was named in June as an executive director in the DOE’s Office of School Improvement, created a “hostile, race-based work environment,” a Manhattan federal court found months before her appointment. Gure-Perez, the former principal of PS 316 in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, called one staffer the N-word to her face; referred to an African-American teacher as “Shining,” an insulting term for a shoe shiner; and spoke of buying a bright orange blouse to wear to school “since I know black people like loud colors,” witnesses testified.* RICH SCHOOLS, POOR SCHOOLS: Funding gap between NYC schools and state's wealthy districts rise 43% under Cuomo(NYDN) Teacher Ratings Associated Press queries to districts around the staterevealed that few parents have asked for their child's teacher's rating since New York began requiring teachers to be classified every year:* A coalition of charter school supporters is planning a charter advocacy day in Albany on Feb. 3, shortly after Cuomo proposes his budget for the next year, to rally for charter-related legislative priorities.* * Education advocates accused Cuomo of trying to punish the state’s teachers because unions representing them did not endorse his re-election campaign in 2014, the Daily News writes: * Here are 4 pressingissues that will shape Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina’s second year.(DNAINFO)* Hearing Set on Challenge to Teacher Tenure Law(WSJ)* Skelos Open To Gubernatorial Control On Education(YNN) Charter Rights in Public Schools Charters have right to share space with public schools: court *Sheldon Silverquestions need to raise charter school cap * Silver: No Reason To Change Regents Appointments(YNN)* Skelos continued to support Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push to reform the state’s education policy by taking away the Assembly’s controlling power over how members of the Board of Regents are appointed, State of Politicsreports: * The state Education Department agreed to improve school safety enforcement after an audit from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found that seven New York schools failed to report cases of violence and bullying, Gannett Albany reports * Protesters at the state Capitol this week called for pouring $2.2 billion more into the state’s education budget, but lawmakers should rather be focused on spending the billions already in the system better, Bill Hammond writes in the Daily News: * The state Conservative Party supports Cuomo education reform push.* Cuomo pledged to have a “full agenda” of proposed reforms to the state’s education policy in his State of the State, due to be given next Wednesday, State of Politics reports: * Challenged broadly by @NYGovCuomo, teacher unionsticks to funding issue(Capital)
Education Arms Race: UFT vs Charters
Wednesday Cuomo’s Plans Set Up a Clash With Teachers(NYT) Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is expected to seek changes to teacher evaluations and charter school limits, reforms that, uncharacteristically for a Democrat, will put him in conflict with the unions.* More than 80 state lawmakers have joined a long list of advocates urging Cuomo to include a big boost in spending among any education proposals he lays out in his address today.* Cuomo has been laying the groundwork for an aggressive education agenda as he begins his second term, signaling that he will seek several major changes that, atypically for a Democrat, will put him in direct conflict with teachers’ unions. * The governor reportedly will propose tying together two education initiatives that have split the left and right — creation of a state DREAM Act and an education tax credit. This is the first time he’s including the DREAM Act in his budget, which is something advocates have been pushing.
“It’s an education arms race,” said Basil Smikle, a former state Senate candidate. “Education has become the dominant policy issue in New York City . . . Everyone is sort of playing defense now. The union is using all the resources it can muster to counter the school-choice movement. And school-choice advocates are marshalling significant resources to protect their charter schools.” One pro-charter group, Families for Excellent Schools, spent $5.95 million on Albany lobbying last year. And the campaign arm of StudentsFirstNY, another school-choice group, spent $4.4 million to help Republicans secure control of the Senate. * Cuomo faces a lot of pressure to propose education reforms that address the social and cultural issues that hobble urban public schools while challenging the status quo of teachers unions, the Post’s Bob McManuswrites: * Poll: Nearly half of voters oppose Common Core (Capital) Cuomo’s job approval stands at 47 percent, but 60 percent have a favorable view of him* Education group ripsGov. Cuomo in a new video a day before he proposes school reforms (NYDN) *Poll: Nearly half ofNY voters oppose Common Core but more trust State Ed Dept than Cuomo via @capitalnewyork * “The most sophisticated lobbying, politicking is done around the education budget,”Cuomo said. “And the answer to education has always been the same: more money, more money, more money.” * nAQE released a video ripping the governor’s policies and calling on him to address funding inequities between poor and rich school districts. * A group of state and city politicians are mounting a legislative push to tighten laws surrounding the locations of new charter schools in New York City . * * Gov. Andrew Cuomo will propose tying together two hot-button education initiatives that have split the left and right—creation of a state DREAM Act and an education tax credit, the Daily News reports: *All Education, All the Time(YNN)
Elections Over So Fare Takes A Hike . . . . Fares Up
MTA board approves fare and toll hikes(NYP) Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, depending on the line. Tolls will also increase about 4 percent on nine MTA bridges and tunnels, including the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge , Queens Midtown Tunnel, and RFK Bridge New York City ’s Independent Budget Office found that the city's contribution to the MTA's capital budget has barely moved in the past 15 years, averaging about $100 million a year since 2000, the Daily News reports:
The MetroCard will be phased out in 2022, not in 2016 or 2017 as initially forecasted, while paying for MTA Unfunded Capital Plan
* The cost of building a transit link to
LGA AirTrain to the 7 No One Seat to the City . . . Tappan Zee Bridge, Thruway
@nickconfessore Not a "hater," but the MTA has a $15bn gap in its existing capital plan. Crazy to add project wo addressing that first!
Challenge to Lynch UFT Leadership
Can Your Imagine the Media Access and Money Team de Blasio Will Give Lynch's Opponents
PBA dissidents out to challenge Pat Lynch for control of union (NYP) Brooklyn on Tuesday, according to the sources. The announcement will come amid tension in the department over Lynch’s crusade against Mayor de Blasio following the murders of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in December.* Commish Bill Bratton: Rhetoric and tension reached new heights after madman killed two NYPD officers(NYDN) * Female NYPD cop attacked while heading to work in Harlem — suspected attacker nabbed(NYDN) * In a season of protest — of cops and by cops — the mayor and his commissioner move New York forward(NYDN)* Taxi kingpin brokers ceasefire between City Hall, NYPD sergeants union head (NYDN) Evgeny (Gene) Freidman hosted the mayor and NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins at his ritzy Upper East Side home on Jan. 10, less than a month after the labor leader branded Hizzoner a 'total nincompoop,' sources told the Daily News.
The Strengthen the Shield Slate Against Lynch
NYPD vet to challenge Pat Lynch for PBA president (NYP) PBA trustee Brian Fusco will challenge Pat Lynch this spring in a bid for PBA president, a group of union insurgents announced Tuesday. The 27-year NYPD veteran is one of several police officers, who call themselves the Strengthen the Shield slate, seeking to supplant Lynch and the rest of his leadership team for control of the police union. “It’s time we take over control and get the members the representation they deserve,” Fusco told The Post on Tuesday, adding that Lynch and his cohorts are “failing” them. He charged Lynch with delivering fiery speeches, only to disappear after the microphone’s turned off. Lynch has been a vocal critic of Mayor Bill de Blasio, accusing Hizzoner of not supporting cops in the wake of the Eric Garner grand jury decision. The strains within the union date back to when some cops believe Lynch did not have their backs during a Bronx ticket-fixing scandal that came to light in 2011. The slate of candidates includes Joe Anthony and Mike Hernandez, union trustees in The Bronx who are currently under indictment in the scandal, sources said. Other candidates include financial sectary John Giangrosso, of Brooklyn North, and trustee Brian Fusco, of Brooklyn South.* Black and Latinoofficers have their own concerns about the mayor and are feeling left out ofthe conversation. (WNYC) * PBA Boss Patrick LynchFaces Challenge From Brooklyn Cop (NYO) * BA President PatrickLynch faces leadership challenge from unhappy cops (NYDN) Brian Fusco, a trustee of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, plans to run for president of the union with a slate of candidates calling itself ‘Strengthen the Shield.’ Lynch, who has led the group for 16 years, is ‘not listening to the membership,’ Fusco said, and his leadership has been scrutinized in recent weeks due to a slowdown in summonses issued and his repeated speaking out against Mayor de Blasio. * Challengers Look ToUnseat Patrick Lynch As NYPD Union Head (CBS)***PEF President Susan Lent was heckled by her own members at the People’s State of the State.* Police union challenger runs against contract, away fromrhetoric(Capital) * President of New York Police Union Will Face Election Challenge(NYT) Patrick J. Lynch, who has openly clashed with Mayor Bill de Blasio in recent weeks, is facing rare opposition to his leadership from within his own union, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. * campaign web site for guy challenging police union leaderPat Lynch, registered 11/28/14. context: #NYPD #labor * A LIVING HEIL: Former NYPD officer called 'dirty Jew' in anti-Semitic attack by fellow cops at WTC post files lawsuit after being forced to quit(NYDN) * PBA President Patrick Lynch faces leadership challenge from unhappy cops who say he’s not listening (NYDN) * Outraged and IndictedOfficers Declare War on Patrick Lynch (NYO)
As Europe Hunts Down Muslim Terror Sleeper Cells de Blasio Visits
de Blasio Who Also Needs the Jewish Vote for 2017 Heads to Paris
More on de Blasio's 2017 Re-Election Efforts
Will the Mayor Ask the French What They Think About Targeting Muslim Terrorists?
Will the Mayor Ask the French What They Think About Targeting Muslim Terrorists?
All against all: NYC’s policing war(NYP, Paris leave a lesson for New York : Jihad no longer comes exclusively from abroad, as radicalized Muslims within our midst can be just as lethal, the Post writes:
Remember, the present turmoil is most likely being watched carefully by people who’d like nothing more than to exploit our weaknesses to carry out a successful terror attack. The current crisis of police morale and performance is almost an invitation to a terrorist strike at the world’s most important city. That’s one key reason for the governor to ensure that New York law enforcement presents a strong and united front. No leader need ever apologize for fighting crime and terrorism. The recent polls confirm this: City residents want an end to the name-calling and infighting, and vigorous action against all threats to safety. Thomas A. Reppetto is past president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City
DA's Transparency OK But No Special Prosecutors
Tickets and Arrests Up But Not Up To Last Years Levels
Arrests and tickets have yet to reach the same levels as in past years, but the rebound further indicates that a slowdown is over.
Tawana Brawley-Sharpton hoax portrayed in new novel(NYP) * Dozens join candlelight walk to remember Eric Garner on 6-month anniversary of his death (SI Advance)* Families of slain NYPD Officers Ramos and Liu attend benefit on Staten Island (SI Advance) * News Closeup: Staten Island DA Dan Donovan weighs in on Eric Garner grand jury(WPIX) * NYC College Students Ponder Post-Garner Activism(Village Voice) * NYPD Being Investigated by Brooklyn DA for Planting Guns onInnocent People * The Dark Side of 'Broken Windows' Policing (NYT)* NYC politicians, protesters to be out in force on MLK Day(NYP)* Ex-CCRB official caught lying at murder trial of beau(NYP) *Schumer Rails AgainstAlleged Efforts to Suppress Minority Turnout (NYO) * Brooklyn streets renamed in honor of murdered cops(NYP)Cuomo Looks At Criminal Justice Changes
The 11th preview from the Opportunity Agenda came in the form of a 176-page report from the governor’s Commission on Youth, Public Safety and Justice, appointed as part of a Cuomo initiative from his 2014 State of the State address to examine how the state treats 16 and 17-year-old offenders. * The commission recommended, and Cuomo supported, ending the state’s policy of treating minors in the criminal justice system as adults. New York is one of just two states – the other being North Carolina – that does this. * Cuomo is considering requiring automatic state reviews when grand juries fail to indict in police brutality cases. Under a scenario being discussed with interested parties, once a grand jury decides not to indict, the DA would be required to transmit all records from the case — including grand jury transcripts — to the state entity doing the review.
So Much for Connecting Albany Pay Raises to Ethic Reform
Flashback Cuomo: Pass Ethics Bill or No Raises(WSJ) * Cuomo Plans Panel on Legislative Pay and Restricting Outside Income (NYT) The commission proposed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo would be charged with creating a cap on the amount of income a
$20 Million for New Summons Court In the Municipal Building
City will spend $20million to renovate space in Municipal Building to house Summons Court:officials (NYDN) The city sold the building where Summons Court was located to a developer. Now, the Summons Court will be housed in the 16th-floor of the landmark Municipal Building
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Cuomo Good Minimum Wage Cop, Senate Bad Minimum Wage Cop
Trade Mission to Cuba? Why Cuomo is Really Going to the Communist Nation
The state’s top Republican contends Cuomo’s upcoming “trade mission” to Cuba should convince him to back off his efforts to have the government control New York’s economy, the New York Post’s Fred Dicker reports * Ed Cox thinks Cuomo has a lot to learn during Cuba visit(NYP) * New York Gov. AndrewCuomo is planning trade mission to #Cuba @WSJ * Cuomo says he will not push Cuba on human rights, says he doesn't want to get involved in American diplomacy as relations are normalized *n Cuomo says state is researching now what it can do to trade with Cuba before upcoming trade mission.* Cuomo: "There are issues that concern me about Cuba " but says trip is not conducive to raising human rights issues.* Cuomo says he'lltalk business, not human rights, while visiting Cuba (Capital)
Sinatra is the Chairman of the Board(Walk) Not Plastic
Critics ripped de Blasio Sunday for going along with a $10 million scheme to replace the wood on Coney Island’s iconic Riegelmann Boardwalk with concrete and plastic, the Post writes:
Does the City Understand History . . . It Started In Europe Last Time Also
City may yank terrorism report to appease mosque ‘spying’ critics(NYP) New York , Zale Thompson, a man who heeded online calls by ISIS for jihad, attacked two NYPD officers with a hatchet in October. “The harm is that it sends the message that the NYPD is going to back down on its counterterrorism effort in the name of political correctness,” said a former NYPD official. “Shame on the NYPD if they do.”
Sources familiar with the case confirmed that removal of the NYPD report is one of the major sticking points in settlement negotiations. Also on the table are demands that the NYPD halt any ongoing surveillance in the Muslim community and that records of prior monitoring be expunged, sources said. With what seems today like a crystal ball, the 2007 NYPD report identified an “emerging threat” — al Qaeda-inspired jihadists in the United States and abroad, hell-bent on attacking their host countries. Under former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, the report served as a blueprint for the NYPD’s “demographic unit,” which sent plainclothes detectives into Muslim cafes, stores and mosques to detect potential terrorists. After the initiative was exposed by The Associated Press, Muslim leaders and groups filed two lawsuits in Brooklyn federal court claiming they were subjected to unwarranted surveillance. The suits complain the radicalization report puts virtually all Muslims under suspicion. Last April, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton disbanded the intelligence-gathering unit. A spokesman for the city Law Department said, “Discussions are ongoing, and nothing is final.” * They shavedregularly. Wore jeans and sneakers. They blended into Paris. Then they carried out their murderousplot. (NYT) * Perpetuating Guantánamo’s Travesty(NYT Ed) * German anti-Islam rally canceled after warning of"concrete" terrorist threat to organizer - * Making Distinctions: Islam Is Not Islamism (Jewish Week) * 5 killed in Niger as anti-Charlie Hebdo protesters burn churches in capital *Hebdo Editor to Chuck Todd: When You Blur Our Cover, 'YouBlur out Democracy' (VIDEO)
Community Watch-Groups Abandoned the Neighborhoods
A City Which One Hosted Neighborhood Watch-Groups Moves Towards Religious and Ethnic Watch Groups
Muslim preacher starts neighborhood-watch group(NYP) Don’t trust the cops? Call the “peace” patrol. A Muslim preacher in The Bronx is behind the Community Peace Patrol Officers — a neighborhood-watch group that helps teenagers who don’t want to listen to police. “There are lots of times where kids don’t like law enforcement because they were born and raised in a situation where [police] are their enemies,” said Sheikh Moussa Drammeh. The imam’s crew is part of a number of citizen patrols launching citywide. Some private groups — including Sunset Park
Gray Mommy NYT Protects Her Mayor From Bully Cuomo
NYT Does Not Want PO Healey Who Was Attacked With An Ax to Only Get A Pension of $27 Dollar-A-Day, But Took $100 Million from A Mexican Billionaire for Themselves
After the Death of Two Cops and A Police Crisis Council Finds $$$ to Buy New Effective Bullet-Proof Vests
Boyland is A Toxic Mess
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NYPD finally getting new bullet-proof vests(NYP) Brooklyn . * City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-ViveritoPhoto: Brigitte Stelzer “It’s sad that it takes this long and a tragedy to make them realize there are more important things to spend money on,” said a law-enforcement source.
Boyland is A Toxic Mess
Former assemblyman sued by office manager(NYP) Brooklyn politico William Boyland Jr. The former assemblyman – who was convicted of corruption last March – is being sued by his one-time office manager for wrongfully canning him because he cooperated with the federal investigation, according to a Brooklyn federal lawsuit. Michael Caver, who testified at Boyland’s trial, claims his former boss caught wind that he had discussed his case with FBI agents and that “he was going to to something about it,” according to court papers.
More On Boyland Going to Jail
Vito Lopez Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Goes Forward
Vito Lopez Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Goes Forward
Victims of disgraced Rep. Lopez can sue state: judge(NYP) New York for allowing the behavior to go on, a judge ruled. In a decision released Thursday Justice Paul Wooten writes that before the women in his case, Victoria Burhans and Chloe Rivera, went public with their boss, two previous Lopez staffers had complained to legislative staff about his inappropriate conduct. Yet the state officials never forwarded the complaints to the Ethics Committee or investigated the alleged incidents, Wooten notes.* Judge allows VitoLopez accusers to pursue sexual harassment claims against the state (NYDN) State Supreme Court Judge Paul Wooten rejected arguments by the state that former Lopez staffers Victoria Burhans and Chloe Rivera were not state employees and that the state – specifically Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver – was unaware of Lopez’s actions and could not be held responsible for his harassment.
A Speaker Cou d'e'tat Derailed By Silver GOP loyalist on the Member Item Tit
Assembly Republican blocks coup effort against Sheldon Silver(NYP)
Blow to Klein New Republican Senate majority is a blow to breakawayDemocrats, especially Sen. Jeffrey Klein (NYDN) * Respected Assembly sergeant-at-arms hits 40 years in chamber (NYDN) Women's Rights Bill Portions of the Women’s Equality Act will be among the first bills passed by the state Senate in 2015, but the chamber won’t be taking up a provision that would bolster the state’s abortion law, Gannett Albanyreports: *Silver: No WEA Vote Without Abortion Provision(YNN) *Senate To Vote On Eight Women’s Agenda Bills(YNN) * Our view: SheldonSilver's repugnant re-election as speaker(auburnpub.com) * Moderate Republicans Oppose Immigration Vote(YNN)* On Policy, Stewart-Cousins Sees Common Ground With IDC(YNN)* Under federal investigation, new records show Sheldon Silver spent another $30,000 from campaign account on legal fees.* With a federal investigation looming over outside income he’s received, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver last month spent $30,000 on attorneys fees, State ofPolitics reports * The IDC released its 15-point policy agenda today - two days ahead of the full release of Cuomo’s Opportunity Agenda
Blow to Klein New Republican Senate majority is a blow to breakawayDemocrats, especially Sen. Jeffrey Klein (NYDN) * Respected Assembly sergeant-at-arms hits 40 years in chamber (NYDN) Women's Rights Bill Portions of the Women’s Equality Act will be among the first bills passed by the state Senate in 2015, but the chamber won’t be taking up a provision that would bolster the state’s abortion law, Gannett Albanyreports: *Silver: No WEA Vote Without Abortion Provision(YNN) *Senate To Vote On Eight Women’s Agenda Bills(YNN) * Our view: SheldonSilver's repugnant re-election as speaker(auburnpub.com) * Moderate Republicans Oppose Immigration Vote(YNN)* On Policy, Stewart-Cousins Sees Common Ground With IDC(YNN)* Under federal investigation, new records show Sheldon Silver spent another $30,000 from campaign account on legal fees.* With a federal investigation looming over outside income he’s received, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver last month spent $30,000 on attorneys fees, State of
After Galante Fall Queens Library Cleaning House
Cuomo's 100,000 So Far Legal Bill to Shut Down Moreland
Cuomo’s spent $100,000 last month on the law firm representing him and the executive chamber in the federal probe into his administration’s handling of the governor’s anti-corruption commission
Andrew Cuomo's campaign pays $100K fighting federal probe(NYDN)
Black Team Cuomo Taking Shape to Take On Who? Another Rev? Flake, Camara
New York ’s overall tax problems — or even just its high property taxes — for the long term? Not even close.As E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center
Black Team Cuomo Taking Shape to Take On Who? Another Rev? Flake, Camara
Rev. Floyd Flake, who Cuomo nominated to the state Public Service Commission, is has a record as a “Cuomo back-scratcher” who will do the governor’s bidding, regardless of the merit, the Post writes: * Brooklyn Assemblyman Will Join the Cuomo Administration(NYO) Assemblyman Karim Camara, a Brooklyn Democrat and ordained minister, will lead a new faith-based community development program, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.* Cuomo announces $50M nonprofit program headed by Karim Camara(Capital)
Shifting State Tax to Local Taxes Gov. Unserious(NYP Ed) Certainly, the plan can provide minor relief for some taxpayers. But does it address Scripted Government With Media Enablers
On the Same Day the Mayor's Media Bullies Work Over Lynch de Blasio Appeals Over His Head Directly to His Men
A Campaign Manager Mayor
De Blasio reveling in union dissent directed toward Lynch(NYP)
De Blasio also took a clear shot at Lynch’s heated rhetoric, which has included accusing the mayor of throwing cops “under the bus” and having “blood on the hands” in the Dec. 20 assassination of two cops in Brooklyn . “I think I’ve separated, a long time ago, some of the specific things some of the union leaders have said from what is felt by the rank and file. This wouldn’t be the first case where that is true,” de Blasio said. Lynch has insisted the mayor apologize for a lack of support in the aftermath of the Eric Garner grand-jury decision. While de Blasio also insisted that he did not owe anyone an apology Wednesday, he did denounce planned Thursday demonstrations by virulent anti-cop protesters who, he said “say really inappropriate, reprehensible things about our police officers.* Mayor Bill de Blasio said he could improve his communications on law enforcement matters, a remark that came a day after Cuomo met with police union officials, The Wall Street Journal reports: * De Blasio appeared to take delight in the labor discord that could topple a major nemesis, longtime NYPD union chief Patrick Lynch, theNew York Post writes: * De Blasio also said NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton has a right to speak his mind, even when he’s linking police-City Hall tension to Chirlane McCray's former aide Rachel Noerdlinger, the Daily News writes: * De Blasio's sorry performance heats up his war with theNYPD (NYDN) Mayor de Blasio has gone to war with the NYPD, risking consequences that could be disastrous for New York . Mistaking stubbornness for strength, the mayor ruled out expressing any regret for the words and deeds that have cost him command of the police force.
Mayor's 180 on Protests Blame His unsolicited slam of the protest groups was a departure from the tone he’s taken in the past, when he’s bristled at being asked about inflammatory chants and blamed the media for bringing them up. It followed another nod to cop concerns—his pledge Tuesday to veto a bill to make chokeholds a crime, which he reiterated Wednesday.” News editorial page: “Now, by refusing to acknowledge even the possibility that the cops have valid complaints, by ruling out even the chance that he gave unwarranted offense to individual officers, the mayor confirmed for the rank-and-file that his attempts to praise his way into the good graces of the Finest are hollow.* * The New York City Council proposed spending $7.3 million on new bulletproof vests for cops, which would fund 10,000 vests at $600 each during the fiscal year that starts in June, the Daily News reports: *"de Blasio’s efforts to end a bitter rift with parts of the police force could be complicated by his liberal allies”(WSJ) * De Blasio’s next lesson: He still hasn’t learned last year’s(NYP) * 'It sounds like a temper tantrum': Rank and file rip PBA boss Lynch for recent tirade, accuse him of neglecting safety of officers(NYDN)* At New York City Police Meetings, Officers Offer Varying Opinions on Slowdown, Police Unions(WSJ)* Bratton defends broken windows policing: "Quality-of-lifeenforcement is what saved this city back in the ’90s."(Brooklyn Paper)* Everyday New Yorkers and NYPD officers both fear violence and demand respect, and both sides—cops and their allies on the one hand, and protesters and City Hall on the other—will have to acknowledge their biases before New York City can move forward, writes Richard Aborn in AM New York: * NYPD to host benefit for families of slain officers(NYP)
Affordable Housing is Only A Numbers Game
By Highlighting Housing Gains, de Blasio Raises a Counting Question(NYT) Mayor Bill de Blasio said that his administration was on pace to meet his 10-year affordable housing goals, but his predecessor might take issue with his first-year tally. Mr. Bloomberg, who had his own affordable housing goal of 165,000 units, said before he left office that 160,000 of the homes would be completed by the time his final term ended in 2013, with the rest on track to be finished by June 2014 — the end of the 2013-14 fiscal year. According to the Independent Budget Office, about 8,700 units were included in either new construction or preservation projects that received financing — the point at which they are counted toward the city’s housing goals — from January 2014 to June 2014. That means they spanned both the 2013-14 fiscal year, which began under Mr. Bloomberg, and the 2014 calendar year, Mr. de Blasio’s first 12 months in City Hall.* No affordable housing is going up south of 96th St.(NYDN) More Numbers Games from the Mayor:Trafic De Blasio said 2014was the safest year in traffic on record. But a WNYC analysis finds that’s notexactly clear.
Affordable Housing is Only A Numbers Game
I agree with Senator Jesse Hamilton, 421A tax breaks should not apply to market rate developments. #WeNeedAffordableHousing
Airbnb Offers the City Some Sugar
Airbnb Offers the City Some Sugar
Days before the New York City Council’s scheduled hearing on short-term rentals, Airbnb says it could send $65 million to city and state coffers in 2015 if the law was changed to allow it to collect and remit certain taxes, the Daily News reports:
Another Kind of Ticket Fixing Cop Pleas Guilty to Conspiring to Kill A Witness
Former Officer Admits Crimes in Bronx Ticket-Fixing Scandal(NYT) Jose Ramos, previously sentenced to more than 12 years in prison, received an additional three to nine years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kill a witness.* José Ramos, the disgraced former Bronx cop at the center of a massive NYPD ticket-fixing scandal, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a slew of charges—including conspiring to kill a witness, the Post reports: * Ticket-fix cop pleads guilty to conspiring to kill a witness(NYP)
Conflict Of Interests On Fire In the Cover-Up of Death of 4 Year Old Ariel Russo
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Update No Trial No Record For Parents Lawsuit Against the City. . . Judge Block Manhattan DA Cover-Up of 4 Year Olds Death
Who is Protecting Ariel Russo? DA, Media, Pols or Her Lawyer
Lobbyist Mercury Represent HP A Major Contractor of the City's Failed 911 System
No Human Rights for Ariel Russo Who Counted On the 911 Emergency Phone System to Live
de Blasio Names 911 Failed System Lobbyists Greenspun to the Human Rights Commission
de Blasio Names 911 Failed System Lobbyists Greenspun to the Human Rights Commission
Bill de Blasio nameschair for city's Commission on Human Rights, eight new commissioners(NYDN) de Blasio named a chair for the city’s Commission on Human Rights and eight new commissioners to the agency’s board Friday – including a deep-pocketed lobbyist who donated heavily to the mayor in 2013. Brazil native and president of the New York Women’s Foundation, Catherine Albisa, a constitutional and human rights lawyer of Cuban heritage, and East Harlem native Arnaldo Segarra, who is of Puerto Rican descent. .” Liu’s audit said that Hewlett Packard shouldn’t have been hired for the 911 work because it failed to meet the city’s technical requirements. Among the lobbyists to get paid by the city’s broken 911 system contractors wLiu also claimed that the city and HP hired unqualified project consultants and overbilled the city by another $50 million.as George Arzt, Mercury Public Affairs, LLC, Jennifer Carlson, Peter Barden, Jonathan Greenspun, Michael McKeon, Kasirer Consulting LLC. More on Corrupt Lobbyists More on Dark Pool Corrupt Lobbyists
Newly appointed Jonathan Greenspun, a Mercury Public Affairs Managing Director and registered lobbyist, bundled $4,075 for de Blasio’s 2013 City Hall campaign, and donated another $23,000 towards his transition, according to campaign finance records. Greenspun, a former community affairs commissioner for ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, was apparently hedging his bets during the campaign. He also raised $5,000 for mayoral candidate Bill Thompson – who lost to de Blasio in the primary – and another $400 for failed Republican candidate Joseph Lhota. The mayor, who has been criticized for failing to appoint Hispanics to high-ranking positions, also tapped three Latinos to serve on the board alongside Greenspun. Those three are Ana Oliveira, a
Sharpton's Sanford Rubenstein Represents Ariel's Family in 40 Million Dollar Lawsuit Against the City's 911 System
Family of ArielRusso, tot killed by driver fleeing police, will stand by lawyer Sanford Rubenstein (NYDN, October 16, 2014) Allen and Sofia Russo said they don’t believe Rubenstein is guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in his apartment after the Rev. Al Sharpton’s birthday party last week. Rubenstein is suing the city and driver Franklin Reyes in the death of 4-year-old Ariel. Rubenstein is suing the city and driver Franklin Reyes for wrongful death, and has accompanied the parents to every hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court for the child’s killer.Family of ArielRusso, killed in crash, prepares $40 million suit against city over 911 delay (NYDN June 11, 2013)
It took emergency responders more than 4 minutes to arrive to the scene of the motor vehicle accident that killed Russo. The driver of the SUV was unlicensed. The family of a 4-year-old girl whose death followed the bungling of a 911 call will file a $40 million lawsuit against the city and emergency responders, the Daily News has learned. The complaint by the parents of little Ariel Russo charges the defendants — including the unlicensed driver in the fatal wreck — were careless and negligent in the child’s heartbreaking death on June 4. “It took too long for them to get there,” devastated mom Sofia Russo told The News, referring to a four-minute delay in getting an ambulance to the scene. “No other child should die because it takes too long. The ambulance system has to be fixed for the children of New York .” Notices of claim will be filed Wednesday — two days after innocent Ariel was buried in her ballerina dress, alongside her favorite doll and teddy bear. Family attorneys Sanford Rubenstein and Ira Newman cited the city’s failure to quickly transport the mortally injured girl and her grandmother to a hospital after the crash.
McCray and Sharpton's Noerdlinger Is A GOP Mercury Lobbyist
Was Mercury Hiring of Sharpton's Rachel Noerdlinger An Attempt to Influence Rubinstein in the Ariel lawsuit?
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The Shadow Government Grows
Rachel Noerdlingerstarts new job at Mercury Public Affairs(NYDN)
The controversialformer chief of staff to the city's first lady has landed a new job. (NY1)New York City 's first lady, announced that she has a new job at Mercury Public Affairs, theAssociated Press reports Update Former New York state Democratic Party executive director/Cuomo running mate Charlie King joins Mercury LLC
Six Degrees of Sanford
Six Degrees of Sanford
Partner of AkaiGurley, the man killed by rookie NYPD cop in Brooklynstairwell, hires law associate of Sanford Rubenstein (NYDN) EXCLUSIVE: Kimberly Ballinger, the mother of Gurley’s 2-year-old daughter, dumped lawyer Jonathan Moore and hired Scott Rynecki. She said Rynecki’s experience handling wrongful shootings by NYPD cops was the reason she switched lawyers. Rynecki is the law partner of Rubenstein.
de Blasio is Trying to Line Up GOP Mercury for His 2017
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ECTP lobbyist namedby de Blasio to city's Commission on Human Rights (Progress Queens) Jonathan Greenspun, a registered lobbyist and managing director atMercury Public Affairs LLC, has been named by Mayor Bill de Blasio(D-New York City) to serve on the New York City Commission on Human Rights, City Hall announced on Friday.
The Sharpton de Blasio Koch Brothers Mercury Connect
In 2013 Mercury Public Affairs, which was running an independent spending campaign funded by billionaire David Koch and others boosting Mr. de Blasio's general-election opponent, Republican Joseph Lhota.
Grimm Update . . . Malliotakis Out . . . de Blasio Sends Peace Message to NYPD in Praising Donovan
Update
Donovan Calls for de Blasio to Apologize, Give ‘Recognition’to NYPD (NYO)
De Blasio unexpectedly praises Dan Donovan(NYP)
The Reform Party Is Born
The “Stop Common Core” ballot line that received enough votes in the Nov. 4 elections for permanent ballot status is changing its name to the “Reform Party” and will broaden its focus to include an array of issues, Gannett Albany reports
DOI Not Arresting Corrupt City Workers . . . A Political Operation?
Team de Blasio Shuts Down A Boss Tweed Crime Fighter
Arrests by Department of Investigation drop 74 percent in 2014 via @nypost appears office just a political operation
Daily News de Blasio must call an end to this insulting lunacy by announcing that he would veto any such measure
May I Search You De Blasio's duty to veto NYPD handcuffs (NYDN Ed) Asking permission is no way to police. A bill requiring permission from suspects for police searches failed the laugh test when Councilmen Antonio Reynoso and Ritchie Torres offered it in November. The bill provides powerful evidence that the Council is filled with members who believe the NYPD cannot be trusted to constitutionally carry out its duties. That’s what they are saying by proposing to force cops to get documentary proof from suspects that they have consented to be searched. Searchees would even get receipts. Call it the “mother, may I?” school of policing. Mayor de Blasio must call an end to this insulting lunacy by announcing that he would veto any such measure. Doing so while also canning a bill criminalizing chokeholds would dampen City Hall’s anti-police fanaticism.
A Lobbyists Guides Mayor, Has the Mayor Marry Him and New Wife and Gets His Massive Housing Project
“[De Blasio’s] very interested in the history of the Lindsay administration. He has been quite clear in asking very pointed questions about what happened in that era.” -- SidDavidoff, via NYO’s Ross Barkan:
Lobbyist For the Astoria Cove Project Davidoff Spotted At City Hall
De Blasio Performs First Marriage at City Hall(NYO) between lobbyists Sid Davidoff. and Linda Stasi, a columnist for the Daily News.Sid Davidoff, an early de Blasio backer and longtime friend whom insiders view as one of the big winners of the 2013 elections. Has gotten the following contracts in 2014 to lobby the mayor: 
Telebeam Telecommunications Corporation, New York Cosmos LLC, Association of Water and Sewer Excavators Inc., Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc., AMERICAN RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES INC., Election Systems & Software, Inc., Touro College, Abbott Laboratories, Times Square District Management Association, Inc., Oxford Nursing Home, Inc., New York Community Bancorp, Inc., Marshall E Bloomfield ESQ, Palladia, Inc., RCN Telecom Services, LLC, AbbVie, Inc, 2030 Astoria Developers, LLC., HUNTS POINT TERMINAL PRODUCE COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION INC, Taxicab Service Association Inc., Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc, American Recycling LLC, FIGLI DI SAN GENNARO, INC. ***Here is City Hall lobbyist Davidoff telling Earl Lewis on NY1 that the mayor will be OK
Davidoff Cashing in Again 5-building complex OK'd for Queens waterfront (CrainsNY) The City Planning Department has given a preliminary thumbs-up to a proposed residential project set to include three towers, each with as many as 32 stories, plus a pair of six-floor buildings farther inland, with a total of 1,698 apartments. "This project will take what is presently an isolated and desolate, underutilized area and transform it into a vibrant mixed-use community," said Howard Weiss, chair of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron's land-use group, who is representing the developer. Astoria Cove, south of Astoria Park on a gritty waterfront peninsula, is being developed by 2030 Astoria Developers Group, which includes Queens-based Alma Realty. The property will include 295 units of affordable housing, a public school and a supermarket, plus a waterfront park that will be open to the public.
Lobbyist For the Astoria Cove Project Davidoff Spotted At City Hall
De Blasio Performs First Marriage at City Hall(NYO) between lobbyists Sid Davidoff. and Linda Stasi, a columnist for the Daily News.Sid Davidoff, an early de Blasio backer and longtime friend whom insiders view as one of the big winners of the 2013 elections. Has gotten the following contracts in 2014 to lobby the mayor: Telebeam Telecommunications Corporation, New York Cosmos LLC, Association of Water and Sewer Excavators Inc., Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc., AMERICAN RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES INC., Election Systems & Software, Inc., Touro College, Abbott Laboratories, Times Square District Management Association, Inc., Oxford Nursing Home, Inc., New York Community Bancorp, Inc., Marshall E Bloomfield ESQ, Palladia, Inc., RCN Telecom Services, LLC, AbbVie, Inc, 2030 Astoria Developers, LLC., HUNTS POINT TERMINAL PRODUCE COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION INC, Taxicab Service Association Inc., Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc, American Recycling LLC, FIGLI DI SAN GENNARO, INC. ***Here is City Hall lobbyist Davidoff telling Earl Lewis on NY1 that the mayor will be OK
Telebeam Telecommunications Corporation, New York Cosmos LLC, Association of Water and Sewer Excavators Inc., Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc., AMERICAN RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES INC., Election Systems & Software, Inc., Touro College, Abbott Laboratories, Times Square District Management Association, Inc., Oxford Nursing Home, Inc., New York Community Bancorp, Inc., Marshall E Bloomfield ESQ, Palladia, Inc., RCN Telecom Services, LLC, AbbVie, Inc, 2030 Astoria Developers, LLC., HUNTS POINT TERMINAL PRODUCE COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION INC, Taxicab Service Association Inc., Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc, American Recycling LLC, FIGLI DI SAN GENNARO, INC. ***Here is City Hall lobbyist Davidoff telling Earl Lewis on NY1 that the mayor will be OK
Davidoff Cashing in Again 5-building complex OK'd for Queens waterfront (CrainsNY) The City Planning Department has given a preliminary thumbs-up to a proposed residential project set to include three towers, each with as many as 32 stories, plus a pair of six-floor buildings farther inland, with a total of 1,698 apartments. "This project will take what is presently an isolated and desolate, underutilized area and transform it into a vibrant mixed-use community," said Howard Weiss, chair of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron's land-use group, who is representing the developer. Astoria Cove, south of Astoria Park on a gritty waterfront peninsula, is being developed by 2030 Astoria Developers Group, which includes Queens-based Alma Realty. The property will include 295 units of affordable housing, a public school and a supermarket, plus a waterfront park that will be open to the public.
Council Drone Crap Rather than wait for feds with the expertise and authority to work out regulations on drones, the New York City Council is pushing forward two “half-baked” bills to either ban or regulate them, the Daily News writes: * The New York CityCouncil is over its head on drone ban (NYDN Ed) Local lawmakers should let the FAA do its job. Rather than wait for feds with the expertise and authority to work out details of this fast-emerging technology, a bill sponsored by Manhattan ’s Daniel Garodnick, and with 14 cosponsors, would outright ban their use in the city. Even the NYPD would need to apply for a warrant each time it wanted to use one. It would also destroy “the decades-old, family-oriented and community-based recreational activity” of model airplaning, a hobbyist group has warned Garodnick in a letter.
Why Silver Helped Kill Moreland New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, now under federal investigation, was also under scrutiny this year by the Moreland Commission looking into the sources of his six-figure outside income, The WallStreet Journal reports:
Preet is literally going where no man has gone before here
Federal authorities are investigating substantial payments made to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver by a small law firm that seeks real estate tax reductions for commercial and residential properties in New York City U.S.Said to Investigate Sheldon Silver, New York Assembly Speaker, OverPay(NYT) New York City , according to people with knowledge of the matter. *Silver, donor under investigation are longtime friends(NYP)A lawyer whose firm made unexplained payments to Sheldon Silver is so close to the Assembly speaker that the attorney attended a young Shel’s bar mitzvah nearly 60 years ago, The Post has learned.In addition to the payments, Goldberg has donated $7,600 to Silver’s campaigns since 2001, including $1,800 in February of this year, according to campaign-finance records. * The End Of Shelly Silver? Mother Of All Albany Scandals Brewing In NY Tonight(Daily Kos) * Sheldon Silver’s latest storm(Capital) The speaker came under fire for his handling of sexual misconduct by a former aide, Michael Boxley, as well as a senior member from Brooklyn, Vito Lopez. The husband of Silver's chief of staff pleaded guilty to skimming money from a charity that was fueled by state grants. And Silver fired one of his lawyers after a report that he sat on accusations of sexual harassment concerning Assemblyman Micah Kellner, a Manhattan Democrat.
Prosecutors from the United States attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have found that the law firm,Goldberg & Iryami, P.C., has paid Mr. Silver the sums over roughly a decade, but that he did not list that income on his financial disclosure forms, as required, the people said. Silver is "not known to have any expertise in the complex and highly specialized area of the law in which Goldberg & Iryami practices"* "properties on the Lower East Side 4 which Goldberg has sought real estate tax reductions include Silver’s own co-op"* Asked if the federal investigation would hinder the speaker’s legislative abilities, Whyland replied: “Absolutely not.”* Before the focus of US Attorney Preet Bharara’s probe emerged this week, Moreland Commission members said they had considered the speaker’s outside income a high priority up until the point that the panel was disbanded by Cuomo in a budget deal with Silver and the state Senate. The probe into Silver’s outside income sheds a rare spotlight on a small group of lawyers who specialize in challenging tax assessments in New York City ’s complex property tax system.
de Blasio's Owes His Victory to 3% of New Yorkers, 80,000 Black Voters and 1 Sharpton
New Yorkers
282,344 votes were cast for de Blasio in the 2013 Democratic Primary, about 3% of New Yorkers (8.500.000). de Blasio tied Bill Thompson, the only African-American in the race, overall at 42 percent of the vote. Sharpton did not back Thompson in the primary. In the general election virtually every vote cast by black New Yorkers — 96 percent — went de Blasio way. Of those we have flagged as likely Black (which would exclude Whoopi Goldberg, Spike Lee & David Dinkins), we have 178,843 Dems who voted in 2013 Primary. That is certainly too low.
Many Black New Yorkers Are Seeing de Blasio’s Victory asTheir Own(NYT)In New York the Democratic Primary is the real election, for most elective officers.. In the primary runoff Comptroller John Liu received 127,173 or just 4% of the registered Democrats in the city (3,177,740) in the runoff. De Blasio did a little better with 138, 736, he got 4.4% of the city's democratic voters. John Liu was elected with just 2.7% of all the city's registered voters casting their vote for him.* "This isn’t thecampaign"-Ray Kelly to Bill de Blasio * Bill de Blasio’s Circle of Power(NYT)
Arrest Down Update
Life in New York City, Where Arrests Are Down and Tickets Are Rarities(NYT)New York City . If you’ve noticed the decline, please share your stories.* In New York City, where cops arrested or ticketed just 22people for jumping the turnstile in the metro last week, compared to nearly 1,400 a year ago, The Times compiled reports of police officers blatantly declining to make stops:
Caught
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Fugitive Jason Polanco was captured Tuesday at Tremont and Westchester Ave. in the Bronx following a massive manhunt for the gunman who opened fire on NYPD Officers Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellerano. Both cops were wounded and remain in the hospital.*
The police received tips from 10 people after releasing a photo of Jason Polanco. Cops also busted his criminal colleague, Joshua Kemp. Polanco was charged with five counts of attempted murder of a police officer. Officers Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellerano were wounded and remain in the hospital.
de Blasio Blasts Cops After two weeks of cautious, sometimes halting remarks, Mayor Bill de Blasio blasted the language of police unions and those who turned their backs on him at two officers’ funerals, the Times reports: * 'DISRESPECTFUL': Angry de Blasio denounces NYPD cops who turned their backs to him during fallen officer's funeral(NYDN) * Manhunt launched for 2 armed thugs who opened fire on pair of NYPD cops responding to Bronx robbery; both wounded but alive — SEE THE VIDEO(NYDN) * THE NEWS SAYS: Real leadership wanted from police unions and de Blasio to ensure city doesn't slide backward on crime(NYDN)* WATCH: Police havereleased surveillance footage of 1 of 2 suspects who shot NYPD officers latelast night * Gunman who shot cops robbed grocery store minutes before(NYP) * Both NYPD anti-crime cops wounded last night were not happy to see @BilldeBlasio, one more than the other.(DNAINFO)
Daily New NYC Needs "Mature Leaderhip"
Daily News 180 Blamed the Cops On Monday
After Rangel
The Corruption Progressive Coalition
Blasio praised the speaker, now under federal investigation, with a phrase usually reserved for line-of-duty cops
Wed Silver Re-Elected
De Blasio's man in 'blue' is Silver
De Blasio’s man in ‘blue’ is Sheldon Silver (NYP) Turns out Mayor de Blasio has shown his unwavering support for “the thin blue line” — just not the one most people are familiar with. The embattled mayor uttered the colloquial term for police to heap support on the unlikeliest of public protectors: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. At a closed-door meeting of Silver’s Democratic conference last year, the then-mayor-elect praised the speaker, who is currently under investigation by federal prosecutors, by using a phrase usually reserved for line-of-duty cops.
@ShellySilver re-elected as #nyassembly speaker. He marks 21 years in the post in November, breaks record next year
De Blasio's man in 'blue' is Silver
Silver's Secret Law Firm Is the Nexus For Albany's Real Estate Corruption and Brooklyn Gentrification
Assmbly Dem just said on @CapitalTonight that this means we need "more disclosure" Y? If a certn someone doesnt follow the rules we now have
Albany's Tax Policies Pushing Blacks Out of Brooklyn Increasing Homelessness
The Daily News Left Out the Role the Unions Played In de Blasio's 2013 Election
The Communication Workers Of America Family
The Lobbyist for the Family is the Advance Group
The Daily News Outlines the Corruption of the 2013 Campaign But Does Not Call for the Prosecution of This Crime
Who is Investigating the Horse-Carriages
UFT Advance Secret Relationship Secret Illegal Relationship During the 2013 Campaign
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) *UFT paid $370,000 to fake consultant (CrainsNY)* Advance Group puts logo on phony firm's invoice( CrainsNY)
Daily News Charges Against Advance and 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)
Restaurant Health Code Violation Down
Health Dept. Records Show Dip in City Restaurant Violations
de Blasio At Year One
Mayor Bill de Blasio fought to fulfill his promise to advance liberal policies after Democrats’ two-decade exile from the west wing of City Hall, but many of his accomplishments during a stormy first year were ultimately eclipsed by the imbroglio over this month’s police killings, theJournal writes: * The Mayor at Year 1(NYP) Mayor de Blasio and the police unions are finally talking, and that’s a good thing. But it underscores the most terrible development New York City has seen over the past year: a police force that believes the mayor regards it as the enemy.* Year One: A Bill de Blasio paradox (Capital) * WILD RIDE: Mayor deBlasio's first year in office, as reported by the Daily News. An interactivetimeline(NYDN) * JibJab 2014 Year inReview: "2014, You Are History!" * The Daily News chronicles 23 key moments in de Blasio’sfirst year, from when the mayor ate pizza with a fork and knife to the recent eulogy he delivered at the funeral of NYPD officers Liu and Rafael Ramos * An Eventful Rookie Year (WSJ) Mayor Bill de Blasio fought to fulfill his promise to advance liberal policies after Democrats’ two-decade exile from the west wing of City Hall, but many of his accomplishments during a stormy first year were ultimately eclipsed by the imbroglio over this month’s police killings.
NYT Finds A Way to Honor de Blasio
Landlords Upset Courts Helping Rent Over-Charged Tenants
NYC Elected Officials No Opinion On Cops Turning Their Back to the Mayor
Elected Officials and A Lot of the Media Off Facebook and Twitter Has Kim Hacked Their Accounts?
Top elected officials, including City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, have declined to say whether it was appropriate for police to turn their backs on de Blasio during an officer’s funeral, the Daily News reports:
Weapons Charges for Man Heard Threatening Police(NYT)* #CUNY grad student standsby pro-violence editorial (Capital) * NYPD Funerals: Intense Affairs with Flourishes from the Civil War (WNYC) *Pilgrimage, Prayer for Slain Officers(WSJ)* REMEMBERING RAFAEL: Family, friends prepare to bid emotional farewell to NYPD Officer executed in Brooklyn(NYDN) * Local Democratsmaintain wall of silence on police officers' rebuke of Mayor de Blasio(NYDN)
A Quinnipiac poll found just 8 percent of New York voters would be interested in spending New Year’s Eve with either de Blasio or Cuomo, while 37 percent would toast champagne with Hillary Clinton, the Observer reports: http://goo.gl/2RvE6s
Village Voice Continues Newfield's Tradion of 10 Worst Landlords
The Ten Worst NewYork City Landlords of 2014(Village Voice) * The 10 Worst Landlords | Village Voice * The New York Times > Obituaries > Jack Newfield, 66 ...
SI Special Prosecutor WFP Grand Jury Extended
The NYT Reports Who Is Behind the Demonstrations But Does Not Report the Groups Created to Influence Who New Yorkers Vote for
How Fringe Groups Control Politics In NYC
Special prosecutorRoger Bennet Adler’s probe into Working Families Party extended (NYDN) Grand jury examining whether Data and Field Services illegally provided campaign services. The investigation into whether the Working Families Party violated election laws in 2009 will continue for at least a month into 2015. The grand jury convened in the matter was set to expire Dec. 21, but a judge extended it through the end of January at the request of special prosecutor. In an interview Wednesday, Adler didn't rule out indictments. He also said it's likely there will be a grand jury report that could recommend legal and policy changes "that would improve the campaign finance system and election law enforcement." "It's beneath the dignity of a political party," he said. "It's indecent and I think it's inappropriate. This should play out without the name calling. Let the grand jury do its thing and the result will speak for itself."
The Style Over Substance Mayor Floats Calmly In His Own Reality and Imaginary Majority
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Mayor de BlasioConfronts Crisis With a Practiced Calm(NYT) Manhattan skyline to dim their lights on Tuesday evening in tribute. The mayor’s approach will be tested in the coming days. Mr. de Blasio and his aides hope the Christmas holiday will ease tensions and allow them to seek a more civil and tempered discussion. Aides to the mayor say that they are intent on de-escalating the conflict, and that they have been effective at it.
Here Comes the Winners and Losers Crap
The year’s biggest winners and losers in state politics(NYP)*
New York is A Colony Again . . .
Norman Oder @AYReport At #AtlanticYards groundbreaking, ForestCity exec hails Com. Benefit Agreement partners.Another's called'em "snakes" * FCR, De Blasio BreaksGround On ‘100 Affordable’ Complex at Atlantic Yards(NYO)* Chinese investors can 'buy' a green card to help pay fornew TZ bridge ?!?! * More developers turn to in-house EB-5 centers(Real Deal)* The dark, disturbing world of the visa-for-sale program (fortune)* Anatomy of a Green Card Pitch: In China, Atlantic Yards ... * Second Apartment Tower Near Barclays Center Breaks Ground(WSJ) All of Building’s 298 Units to Be Considered Affordable * The Chinese government is building affordable housing in Brooklyn (QZ)
"The Chinese Government Is Building Affordable Housing in Brooklyn." (Oh, really?)(AYR ) It's all about the frame, right? So the article from Quartz, The Chinese Government Is Building Affordable Housing in Brooklyn (repurposed on fellow Atlantic site CityLab), was a particularly sheep-like framing of a building that includes below-market housing that's not affordable to most Brooklynites, and is accompanied by the construction of a luxury condo tower. “We are committed to doing everything we can to keep this neighborhood diverse, affordable and accessible for all New Yorkers,” I-Fei Chang, head of Greenland Holdings Group’s US expansion, was quoted as saying. Relying on an imprecise description in a DNAinfo article, the Quart article states:
Half of the 298 units are supposed to be for families that make as low as 40% of the median income for the area—that’s about $33,560 for a family of four. Thankfully, Quartz offers the opportunity to post an annotation on each paragraph. Here's one I posted: Chang's quote is pure p.r. , surely fed by (unmentioned) partner Forest City Ratner, part of Greenland Forest City Partners. Poor phrasing: only 5% of total units are for households @ 40% of AMI--most "affordable" units are for households far better off then average Brooklynites. AYR linked both to my analysis of affordability and my coverage of the groundbreaking.
Foreign Ownership of NYC Real Estate is Increasing At AFast Pace
After A Billion Dollars In Tax Payer Money Ratner's $3500 Affordable Housing FU
"Insane" says NYDN commenter on "De Blasio hails 'affordable' complex with $3,500 apartments"
