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Don't Cross Betsy
June 19th, 2009

The normally reserved, quiet public advocate came out with a bite this morning at City Hall thanks to what she says is a budget cut that would cripple future public advocates.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said her budget wasn’t restored, unlike other elected officials, by the City Council, because of her “spirited” opposition to the extension of term limits late last year. Gotbaum pointed to Council Speaker Christine Quinn mostly, whom she said she had a “spirited” meeting with last week over her office’s cut. So “spirited,” she said, she was surprised the City Hall Press Corp. missed it.

“This cut by the speaker is an attempt to turn a watch dog into a lap dog,” Gotbaum said. “The council is spending almost $50 million on member items, and the borough presidents, I hear, have been restored. I congratulate them. I find it appalling that the speaker could not find the money to restore my budget, but had $17 million to hand out.”

Gotbaum is so furious that she said she will no longer preside over the City Council’s meetings. She says she serves at the pleasure of the speaker — sitting at the front of the council chamber steering the body through their twice-monthly gatherings — but no more.

Gotbaum also said she would not be laying off any staff. They work too hard, she argues. With that, Gotbaum said she would continue as if it were business as usual in the public advocate’s office. But she did promise to leave money for the incoming advocate. She is leaving public office in January — halfway through the fiscal year.

The advocate’s budget this year is expected to be a tad over $2.8 million. According to the mayor’s executive budget, they were slated for a cut of $1.06 million, bringing down the budget to $1.77 million.

By Courtney Gross on June 19, 2009, 11:30 am
In category: Economy, Gotham City, Public Finance, nextNY | 3 Comments »

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Senate Leaders in Negotiations (Updated)
June 18th, 2009

Sens. Dean Skelos and Pedro Espada, Jr., abandoned their regularly scheduled non session this afternoon to attend a meeting with Democratic leaders.

Democrats launched a campaign this morning for Republicans to ditch Espada as Senate President and there is talk that Republicans might be considering doing just that. Yesterday, Democrats began using the phrase “Espada Republicans,” and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee began robocalling Republican Senate districts linking Republicans to Espada. The strategy could be paying off.

Skelos has stood by Espada for the past two weeks but when asked today if he would consider moving ahead without Espada in a leadership position he was less firm. Skelos replied only that there was going to be a “conversation.”

Update: The Times Union is reporting that some sort of power sharing agreement might have been close– at least one between Republicans and Sen. Darrell Aubertine. According to the report a disagreement over whether Espada would be president pro tempore led to negotiations collapsing. Republicans returned to the Senate Chamber to admonish Democrats for not “showing up to work.”

As non session ended Skelos was asked why Espada had not used the two votes he claims to have. “I think perhaps, and we’re checking that out…I don’t know if that is the case.”

Democrats have been hinting that Republicans want to negotiate without Espada. Republicans have returned fire by hinting that Sen. Darrell Aubertine might be considering attending session with them. Republicans said that Aubertine asked them to put legislation he favors on the active list and assumed that meant he might come to the chamber to vote on it. Aubertine’s representatives have denied Aubertine has interest in working with the Espada lead coalition. Aubertine told the Times Union that he was considering attending session under a failed power- sharing agreement.

Democrats say they are headed home for the weekend but that negotiations will continue.

By David King on June 18, 2009, 11:49 am
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Senate Democrats Love Espada
June 17th, 2009

Democrats think they have a new ally in the battle for control of the Senate and the hearts and minds of New York’s voters. His name is Pedro Espada, Jr. “Espada Republicans” is a phrase being bandied about by Democrats who feel that the controversial Espada is doing them a big favor by being the mouthpiece of the Republican-plus-one-Democrat “coalition.”

The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee is running robocalls in the districts of Republican Senators, trying to connect them with Espada. “Pedro Espadas campaign was convicted of stealing from the elderly to pay for his campaigns, and was just accused of trying to steal millions of taxpayer dollars through bogus nonprofits!” goes the script for the calls. It continues by telling voters to call their local Senators and “tell him weve had enough corruption in Albany. We need him to stop the nonsense, get rid of Pedro Espada and get back to work.”

It certainly helps Democrats that the face of the coalition is confronting a number of investigations and owes the state thousands of dollars in fines for failure to submit his campaign filings.

But the icing on the cake for Democrats is that Espada has a tendency to make brash proclamations (sometimes in the third person) that turn out not to hold much water. Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 17, 2009, 8:33 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Assembly Passes Mayoral Control, Senate Does Nothing
June 17th, 2009

I got a little misty eyed today standing in the Assembly chamber watching bills come to a vote in orderly fashion, listening to civil but vibrant debate. I’ll chalk it up to the long hours and the kicking-and-screaming, name-calling accusation storm that is now the New York Senate.

But seriously, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s school governance bill did pass in the Assembly today by a vote of 121-18. Its just one of hundreds of pieces of legislation the Assembly has acted on whose fate is now uncertain because of the state of the Senate.

Silver’s bill largely preserves the current governance structure, which Mayor Michael Bloomberg favors. Those who voted against the bill are Democrats who want considerable more checks and balances in the system.

Their hopes rest on Sen. John Sampson, the new leader of the Senate Democrats. Sampson has made it clear he favors reforming the current school governance system to allow more public input. Sampson sponsored a bill in the Senate that some say would gut Bloombergs control of schools. Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 17, 2009, 7:12 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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De Blasio on Democracy
June 17th, 2009

To Bill de Blasio, democracy is down in New York City.

As public advocate, he argues, he would change it.

At a Citizens Union breakfast this morning, de Blasio, a councilmember from Brooklyn turned borough president candidate turned public advocate candidate (a post-term limits change), said New Yorkers have been growing more and more distant from their government at no fault of their own.

“Our city government does not attempt to bring people in,” said de Blasio.

No city department exemplifies this like the Department of Education.

“The Tweed building is impenetrable,” said de Blasio.

With a mayoral office whose power far outweighs any other branch of government, someone like the public advocate needs to provide checks and balances, said de Blasio. De Blasio said he would act as an advocate and attempt to strengthen the position, which, he argues has been steadily defunded throughout the Bloomberg administration.

That is, if he is elected.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on June 17, 2009, 4:54 pm
In category: Education, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, nextNY | No Comments »

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Assembly to Senate: Get it Together!
June 16th, 2009

A group of eight Assembly members who represent New York City signed a letter today asking Senate leadership to pull it together. The Assembly has been in session and passing legislation while the Senate has veered into chaos.

One of the legislators’ main requests is that the Senate vote to repeal vacancy decontrol. The prospects of that happening seem fairly slim.

Tomorrow the Assembly is expected to vote on school governance and the home rule message that needs to be approved for the city budget to go forward. It is not at all clear when the Senate will be considering legislation again.

The full letter follows: Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 16, 2009, 11:16 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Espada Panics (Updated)
June 16th, 2009

Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. seems to be concerned that one of the investigations that have dogged him for months may finally be catching up to him.

His office released a statement late tonight saying that they will call on the office of the Inspector General to investigate Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson for “prosecutorial misconduct and selective prosecution.” Kate Gurnett, spokesperson for the Inspector General, says that her office does not have authority over the state’s District Attorneys.

Johnson has been looking into allegations that Espada does not live in the district he represents but instead in a house he owns in Mamaroneck. Espada’s press release is implying that Johnson is moving forward with his investigation out of political retribution. Espada has had a contentious relationship with Johnson in the past.

I recently interviewed Espada in the Bronx apartment he claims he lives in. Residents of the building say they don’t see Espada with any frequency. Espada is fairly open that he spends a significant amount of time at his Mamaroneck home. “If I happen to be in Mamaroneck you’ll find me in Mamaroneck,” he told me. “On a day like today you’ll find me, you know, in the Bronx.”

What prompted Espada’s sudden accusations against the Bronx DA?

According to the release from Espada’s office, “Sen. Espada revealed that he received information that Mr. Johnson has subpoenaed his New York State Senate records, including member items and residency, dating back to 1993. Sen. Espada said Mr. Johnson already has these records from a case he litigated against him in 2000.”

Just a thought, but perhaps Johnson’s office is looking for Espada’s more recent records, as well as everything else? Things certainly could have changed since 2000.

The full release from Espada’s office follows: Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 16, 2009, 10:02 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Senate Still Playing Chicken
June 16th, 2009

Republicans tried again today to hold a Senate session, but spent most of their time in the Senate chambers reading the names of the Democratic senators who did not show up. Of course, session could not be held as there were only 31 Senators present. Democrats want Republicans to enter into a power sharing agreement before they attend. Both sides did their best today to lay blame for the mess at each other’s feet.

Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., looked just a tad lonely sitting by himself on the Democrats side of the room, but as soon as non session ended he was joined by a gaggle of reporters.

He told them he was looking into legal action that would force his fellow Democrats to attend session. He said Demcorats were violating their “fiduciary responsibility.”Espada had previously called on Gov. David Paterson to order Democrats to session.

Espada and Republicans have been emboldened by Justice Thomas McNamaras decision to dismiss the Democrats case, declining to insert himself into legislative matters. Democrats have decided not to appeal.

The Republicans, with Espada, assert that McNamara’s action legitimized the vote that made Espada Senate President and Sen. Dean Skelos Majority Leader. They say its simply up to Democrats to “show up to work.”

Democrats say that McNamara’s ruling is not significant and that Republicans need to acknowledge that the Senate is split 31 to 31 by entering into a power sharing agreement. Until that happens it seems Democrats won’t attend session. Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 16, 2009, 7:42 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Thompson Chimes In
June 16th, 2009

Democratic mayoral contender and Comptroller William Thompson just released this statement in response to the mayor and the City Council’s budget agreement last night:

During tough times we must all work to make sacrifices, but the budget agreed upon by the mayor and City Council, while moving to save some important city services, unfairly affects the small business and middle class communities throughout the city.

The approximately $380 million in cuts to the Department of Education is unacceptable. Mayor Bloomberg would rather pull money out of classrooms than admit that under his administration, the DOE has become a top heavy agency that has wasted millions of dollars in no bid contracts and fiscal mismanagement.

The citys agreement to raise the sales tax is a regressive move that will adversely affect New York Citys families and small businesses, which are the backbone of our local economy. In a time of economic recession, asking hard-working New Yorkers to pay more for goods and services is simply unfair.

Instead, the city would have been better served by raising the Personal Income Tax on those New Yorkers making $500,000 or more annually, as I have recommended. This would bring in more than $1 billion annually in additional revenue to the city.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on June 16, 2009, 2:14 pm
In category: Albany, Economy, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Public Finance, nextNY | No Comments »

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Tier V Out in 2010?
June 16th, 2009

There are plenty of proposals that we will soon find out were left out of this year’s budget agreement, which was announced last night by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn — documents are pending.

One which is definitely not included in this plan is the creation of a fifth pension tier for city employees, which earlier this week the administration said was one of its top priorities in Albany this session. A new tier for employees could save the city billions over the long term by reducing benefits and possibly raising the retirement age. The governor brokered a similar deal with state employees’ unions earlier this month.

Whether it was the Senate stalemate or a backlash from city unions, we don’t know. But it looks like the administration isn’t anticipating it for this budget cycle. Here is the mayor’s response last night when asked whether it was in the new budget:

“We are expecting and hoping that Albany will help us The biggest problem we have is our uncontrollables, mainly those in the hands of Albany, (which) are up 6 percent. And we just have to do it. We cannot afford going forward (with) the kind of pension costs and health care costs that we have had. We did negotiate some health care costs with the unions, and they deserve a lot of credit for coming to the table. It was a long negotiation. It was not an easy one, but we came to an agreement. Thats what democracy is all about. Thats exactly the kind of relationship we want to have We have to do something in Albany for changing the pension system cause otherwise it will be something we cant afford whatsoever in another few years. It is growing unchecked and if the stock market does not recover between now and the end of this month we are going to have to repay into the system all the monies they lost. We can do it over a six year period, but we have to make up those.”

A spokesperson later confirmed it wasn’t in the plan.

By Courtney Gross on June 16, 2009, 2:10 pm
In category: Albany, Economy, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Public Finance, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Dismissed
June 16th, 2009

Justice Thomas McNamara has dismissed the case brought by Senate Democrats. McNamara said the court should not involve itself in this legislative matter. Democrats plan to appeal.

That leaves Sen. Dean Skelos as Majority Leader and Sen. Pedro Espada as President of the Senate.

The Senate remains split 31 to 31. Not much legislation is likely to occur until a power-sharing agreement is reached. That is easier said than done. Republicans insist the leadership vote that put them in charge was valid and Democrats must recognize it.

Gov. David Paterson is pressing for a session presided over by a neutral party. Paterson wants legislators to take care of the backlog of legislation that has been ignored while both sides squabble. Paterson specifically mentioned the New York City sales tax increase as legislation that must be acted on.

Democrats are fairly open to the idea. Republicans seem much less inclined to participate.They say Democrats need to come to session under the situation that exists. Republicans plan to hold session later today.

Republicans and Espada tried to hold session yesterday but were unable to as they were one vote short of the quorum that is required .

By David King on June 16, 2009, 12:42 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Ruling Delayed
June 16th, 2009

Justice Thomas McNamara has again delayed ruling on who is actually in charge of the Senate. McNamara indicated that progress was being made by both sides in coming to terms on how to go forward without judicial intervention. That notion apparently drew laughter from Liz Benjamin.

Meetings between Democrats and Republicans to reach a power-sharing agreement did not go particularly well last night.

McNamara acknowledged the absurdity of the situation but insisted he wants to provide every chance for a settlement to be reached by legislators. McNamara has delayed ruling on the matter four times now. Representatives from both sides are expected to return to court in a few hours.

Legislative session had been scheduled to end on this coming Monday. It is unclear at this point whether session will be extended, although Sen. Pedro Espada has said he expects to do so.

Meanwhile, Sens. Dean Skelos and Espada announced they intend to hold 3 p.m. session today.

By David King on June 16, 2009, 10:49 am
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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What the Dems Offered
June 15th, 2009

The Senate Democrats issued a press release this evening detailing the power-sharing agreement they say they offered Republicans in a closed-door meeting today. Democrats say their offer was rejected. Republicans say discussions never reached a point where the proposal was addressed. Either way, here is what Democrats say could have been:

“The Senate Majority offer included:

Democratic and Republican Presidents of the Senate alternating daily;

Floor Leaders alternating daily (from a different party than that days
President of the Senate)

6-Member Senate Conference Committee (3 Democrats, 3 Republicans)
to determine what legislation reaches the floor”

It is interesting to note that the release was issued by “Temporary President of the Senate Malcolm A. Smith and Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson.” I was getting fond of “CEO.”

Here is the full release: Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 15, 2009, 8:57 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Assembly to World: We Still Function!
June 15th, 2009

The Senate may be paralyzed by a leadership struggle of unprecedented proportions, but the Assembly is still humming away, deliberating and voting on legislation.

This year the Assembly has played attention-starved but well-behaved sibling to the dysfunctional, conflicted, constantly troubled Senate.

Today the Assembly asked for a reassuring pat on the head by announcing that legislation pertaining to mayoral control of schools has been reported out of the Assembly Education Committee. The bill will now have to be approved by two more committees before coming to a vote on the Assembly floor.

The Assembly also issued this release noting their general ability to function:

“In response to ongoing media requests, the Assembly Press Office is providing the following statistics. Today the Assembly convened for 4 hours and 30 min and acted on 78 bills, while holding 10 committee meetings.” Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 15, 2009, 8:06 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | 1 Comment »

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Senate "Gridlock"
June 15th, 2009

Democrats and Republicans emerged separately from a meeting this evening and declared they have not been able to negotiate a power-sharing agreement.

Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara delayed ruling on the matter this afternoon to allow more time for both sides to negotiate. I urge you in the strongest way I can,” said McNamara today, “Youve got to work this out yourselves.” So much for that idea.

New Democratic “CEO” Sen. John Sampson said that Republicans were too preoccupied with titles to negotiate. Republican leader Sen. Dean Skelos asserted that Democrats need to recognize that last Monday’s vote was legitimate and that he is Majority Leader and Sen. Pedro Espada is temporary President of the Senate.

Sampson and the rest of the Democrats are unwilling to cede that point. So Republicans and Espada, who previously insisted the court had no place deciding the legitimacy of Monday’s leadership vote, now say the judge needs to rule.

“We need judicial intervention, we need judicial action,” declared Espada after the meeting. Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on June 15, 2009, 7:55 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | 1 Comment »

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Council Sends Sales Tax to Assembly
June 15th, 2009

The City Council thinks something might gone done in Albany this week — at least in the Assembly.

In a rare move that splices the city’s budget process, the City Council approved a revenue package this afternoon, which will increase the sales tax by .5 percent and removes a sales tax exemption for clothing purchases more than $110. The Bloomberg administration and the City Council have not yet agreed on a spending package for fiscal year 2010, although I am told one might be pending very shortly.

The tax package, which includes tax breaks for corporations and small business owners, was approved by a vote of 48 to 0, with the exception of the sales tax increase, which was approved by a vote of 37 to 10 with one abstention (a full breakdown is after the jump). The revenue package must now be approved by the State Legislature.

The bills have already been introduced in the State Assembly, and it is likely they will be approved there before it adjourns June 22. The State Senate is, of course, another story.

The business taxes include doing away with “double-taxing” freelancers and unincorporated businesses who make under $100,000. The break would apply to about 11,000 freelancers and small businesses, according to the council. The city will also move to a single sales factor for its corporate business tax. Currently it uses property, payroll, and sales to tax corporations. If approved in Albany, the city would move to a formula which bases taxes solely on sales. The move is expected to bring more businesses to the city.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on June 15, 2009, 2:12 pm
In category: Gotham City | 2 Comments »

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Sampson the CEO
June 15th, 2009

Democrats have marked the first anniversary of the coup in Albany by announcing an anticipated change in leadership, David King reports from Albany. In an effort to hold on to the chamber, the party named Brooklyn Sen.
John Sampson their conference leader — a kind of CEO in the words of Sen. Malcolm Smith — who would run day to day operations for the beleaguered Democrats. At least officially, Smith keeps his title as leader — at least until the State Supreme Court justice rules today on the Democrats’ effort to hold on the Senate majority.

The latest machinations brought Sen. Hiram Monserrate (but not fellow renegade Pedro Espada Jr.) back into the Democratic fold. Assuming everyone else stays where he or she is, that means an evenly divided (31 to 31) Senate with no lieutenant governor to break the tie.

In light of that, Democrats said they hoped to meet with Republicans and their leader, Sen. Dean Skelos, to work out some kind of shared leadership. Sen. Neil Breslin told King the Senate might try to move on New York City issues, such as raising the city sales tax and mayoral control of schools, later this week.

Neither Sen. Darrel Aubertine or Sen. Kevin Parker were at the Democrats’ announcement this morning, but at this point there seems to be little significance to their absence. Although, given what’s gone on in the past week, who knows?

By Gail Robinson on June 15, 2009, 12:48 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | 6 Comments »

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Meeting A United Senate?
June 12th, 2009

Gotham Gazette’s Jackie Pearce reports from 250 Broadway:

Senate Democrats came out of their meeting at 250 Broadway in the same fashion they went in an hour before: Saying nothing about the fate of their majority.

But they had no problem displaying a cohesive front.

Our conference is very united, reported Sen. Malcolm Smith, the disputed leader of both the (former) majority and the State Democrats.

Were a united conference doing the business of the people of the state of New York, echoed Sen. John Sampson, who could be stepping in for Smith.

Smith did not respond to questions over whether or not he was still, in fact, the majority leader. Notably absent from the meeting was Sen. Hiram Monserrate, who supposedly will not rejoin the Democrats unless Smith is replaced.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on June 12, 2009, 5:37 pm
In category: Albany, Electoral Politics, Eye on Albany, Gotham City, Governing, Law, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Domestic Workers Push for Bill of Rights
June 12th, 2009

Taking care of children and the elderly: Check.

A bill of rights: left blank.

Early this morning, dozens of domestic workers and their allies set up shop outside City Hall, participating in a 24-hour vigil to lobby for a bill that would provide basic labor protections for domestic workers in New York.

Domestic laborers said that the 24-hour vigil is symbolic of their working situation. “We work in the employers’ house around the clock, 24 hours,” said Joycelynn Gill-Campbell, a former nanny from Barbados who is now a full-time organizer with Domestic Workers United, a grassroots group.

If passed, the domestic workers’ bill of rights would be the first bill to address their exclusion from federal and state labor laws. Though its prospects, according to some legislators, looked good at one point, it too could become a casualty of the Senate stalemate.

“I know what it is to be treated less than a human being and to be exploited and abused,” Gill-Campbell said. “We have to create history. The bill of rights is about correcting all the injustices that have been done.”
Read the rest of this entry »

By Alex Kane on June 12, 2009, 5:23 pm
In category: Albany, Civil Rights, Demographics, Eye on Albany, Gotham City, Governing, Immigrants, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Weekly Web Wrap
June 12th, 2009

  • Senate Control More Important After 2010 Redistricting
    (Ballot Box)
  • Breakdown of the 2008 Election Results
    (Prime News)
  • Bloomberg, Quinn Discuss Green Building Laws
    (Charlie Rose)
  • Councilmember Nelson Aide Gets Large Earmark
    (City Council Watch)
  • Chow Takes Fundraising Lead in Race for Liu’s Seat
    (The Queens Campaigner)
  • Work Continues on Making Senate Data Accessible Online
    (NY Senate CIO)
  • Did Paterson Agree to No Layoffs for Two Years in Union Deal?
    (NY Fiscal Watch)
  • Ruiz Declines to Challenge Baez in Bronx Council Race
    (Bronx News Network)
  • New Magazine Covers Strategic Planning and Design
    (CATALYST via Core 77)
  • Making Grocers More Appetizing to Developers
    (Planetizen)
  • Train Tunnel Project Receives $3 Billion from Feds
    (Regional Plan Association)
  • Photographs of Harlem in its Most Neglected Age
    (Slate)
  • City Seeks New Approach to Ad-Based Free WiFi
    (GovTech)
  • Bloomberg Might Yet Buy Your Love
    (Huffington Post)
  • Advocates Call for Redirection of $900 Million to Schools
    (Manhattan Borough President’s Blog)
  • By Mike Muller on June 12, 2009, 1:02 pm
    In category: Gotham City | 1 Comment »

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