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Levy Makes it Official
March 19th, 2010

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy threw the Republican Primary for governor into chaos this morning when he joined the race after switching parties. Levy called it a “game changer.” There is no doubt that it changes things.

Already announced Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rick Lazio has started attacking Levy for his liberal leanings. Republican Party leadership is taking sides, the Conservative Party is none too pleased with Republican State Chair Ed Cox’s decision to back the former Democrat, and neither is the Republican National Committee. Cox bolted Levy’s Albany announcement seemingly to avoid questions about inter-party tension.

Cox did formally endorse Levy saying, “Steve, I welcome you into our party, and with your outstanding record of fiscal conservatism, and your detailed plan to save New York, I endorse your run for governor.”

Levy’s switch from Democrat to Republican is symbolic as it won’t go into effect until next year. Levy will need 51 percent support from his party at it’s June convention.

Oh, and Democrats have wasted no time attacking their former colleague. Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson told Liz Benjamin that Levy is, “a nightmare who is attacking the values and history of our state just to win an election.”

Sen. Eric Schneiderman has a similar take: “Steve Levy has built a political career on fear and intimidation. In these tough times, we need a leader who will bring our communities together, not divisively scapegoat the most vulnerable among us. New York deserves better than Steve Levy.”

Here is Levy’s full statement: Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on March 19, 2010, 12:58 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Commission's First Meeting -- With Cheesecake
March 19th, 2010

They were welcomed to the City Charter review process by about 60 attendees and a power point presentation from the city’s Law Department that included old political cartoons of the days of Tammany Hall.

They were welcomed to Brooklyn with cheesecake from Junior’s — courtesy of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

Last night, 15 members of the newly minted City Charter Revision Commission sat on a crowded dais in the New York City College of Technology for its first meeting. They introduced themselves, and the chair, CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, set out a potential timeline for their work, which could end up bringing proposals before the voters this November.

Calling the timeline “aggressive,” Goldstein promised to hold extensive hearings in all five boroughs.

“We are a group of [15] individuals,” Goldstein said. “Omniscient, no. But thoughtful, yes.”

When considering any charter change, Goldstein suggested the board consider three principles: whether the change would improve government transparency and accountability, would it make government more efficient and effective and would it make civic life more participatory.

“We ensure everyone’s input is taken into consideration,” said Goldstein. “We will be as transparent as possible.”
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on March 19, 2010, 12:30 pm
In category: City Hall, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Law, nextNY | No Comments »

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Charter Debate Heats Up
March 19th, 2010

Things got contentious this morning between State Sen. Bill Perkins and “Morning Joe” host, Joe Scarborough, when the subject of charter schools in Harlem came up.

Perkins has become one of the most outspoken critics of charter schools in the city.

Watch below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

By Courtney Gross on March 19, 2010, 10:25 am
In category: Albany, City Hall, Civil Rights, Education, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance | No Comments »

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Liu Convenes Task Force on Public Benefits (update)
March 19th, 2010

In an effort to make sure the public receives benefits when the city gives out public subsides, Comptroller John Liu convened the first meeting of a task force this morning that will look into reforming the process of economic development.

Liu announced the task force in February, saying in a press release at the time: “It is simply common sense to have clear standards that ensure benefits for the public when private developers receive benefits from the public.”

Initially charged with looking at community benefit agreements, the task force has expanded its scope to all deals that receive public subsidies, according to Sharon Lee, the comptroller’s spokesperson. They will report back to the comptroller in six months with recommendations, she said.

Over the years, community benefits agreements, which are unregulated, have become standard practice for development deals. The agreements are struck between community groups and stakeholders and developers, often quelling community opposition and ensuring a development moves forward. They are outside of the land use process.

Since the City Council defeated Kingsbridge last year, some officials have questioned the use of public subsidies and are promising to scrutinize projects that receive public benefits.

UPDATE: Here are the co-chairs of the task force:

JOHN “JACK” AHERN President of the New York City Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO)
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on March 19, 2010, 10:00 am
In category: City Hall, Community Development, Economy, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Land Use, Public Finance, Work and Labor, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Let Them Eat Pop-Tarts
March 18th, 2010

IMG_0674-3

If you thought a bake sale was just a place to scarf down a brownie think again. To the parents, children and local officials protesting the Department of Education’s new bake sale policy, the selling of home-made goodies epitomizes democracy, tradition, community and, yes, health.

As has been widely noted – and ridiculed– the Department of Education
enacted
new rules last month that would sharply curtail the sale of homemade treats in cafeterias and at school events. Instead clubs and others looking for funds could peddle 27 department-approved items — including Pop-Tarts and individually sized bags of some types of Doritos.

To those at today’s protest near City Hall, this makes no sense. To drive their point home they set up two tables one with banned treats, including mini-empanadas, pumpkin bread and a vegan cake and the other with the packaged food, the Department of Education apparently prefers.

As three little girls ran around in ban junk food aprons, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio lauded the traditional bake sale as “an example of the New York we should all want to see. … This is about people living in a community, caring about their community, their neighborhood, their school as a community.”
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on March 18, 2010, 5:57 pm
In category: Gotham City | 2 Comments »

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A Regional Market at South Street Seaport
March 18th, 2010

seaport

Photo (cc) 2006 David Reeves

Is the New York City Economic Development Corp. open to Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s proposal to create a regional market at the South Street Seaport?

Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky thinks so.

“We definitely agree that a regional market is a good use for the South Street Seaport,” Pinsky said this afternoon at a City Council budget hearing.

The corporation and seaport owner, General Growth Properties, had been working on a redevelopment plan for the downtown shopping area for several years. That plan included a specialty food market.

But when Properties filed for bankruptcy in April of 2009 — predominantly an effect of the real estate bust — the redevelopment proposal was abruptly put on hold.

Now that General Growth Properties appears to be emerging from bankruptcy, Pinksy expects the project to move forward. A hearing on the developer’s exit from bankruptcy will be later this spring.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on March 18, 2010, 3:10 pm
In category: City Hall, Community Development, Economy, Gotham City, Land Use, Public Finance, Waterfront, nextNY | 8 Comments »

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Putting the State Police in Check
March 18th, 2010

Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries are pushing legislation that would keep an eye on the relationship between the State Police Superintendent and the executive branch. The legislation would have the governor appoint a superintendent to a single term of 10 years.The candidate would be confirmed by the legislature. The governor will no longer have the ability to simply fire the superintendent. Instead the superintendent would have to be removed by a majority vote by both houses of the legislature.

The superintendent would also be required to check in with the legislature once a year.The bill would require a record be kept of interactions between State Police leadership and other government agencies. According to a release from Krueger’s office the record would include,”information detailing any special requests from the Executive and the Legislature for services of the State Police beyond traditional services provided by the State Police.” The bill follows some recommendations made by criminal justice experts following the scandal involving Gov. David Paterson, his top aide and the State Police. Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on March 18, 2010, 12:58 pm
In category: Albany, Crime & Safety, Eye on Albany | 1 Comment »

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Bloomberg's Film Crew
March 17th, 2010

If Mayor Michael Bloomberg decides to test the waters for a possible presidential bid in 2012 what will it cost the cash strapped city?

In an article in this week’s Village Voice, Tom Robbins looks at possible costs of the mayor’s last flirtation with the White House. Shortly after he re-election in 2005, Bloomberg began to travel widely and give speeches. “We later learned this was mostly about setting the stage for a potential run for president,” Robbins writes. “One of the interesting features of this publicity push was that — despite his own fabulous wealth — the mayor wasn’t shy about using city resources to promote his image.”

According to Robbins, “starting in February 2006, the Bloomberg administration began assigning a team of video camera operators from the city’s television station — NYC-TV — to follow and film the mayor” on trips to such places as Shanghai, Beijing, Bali, Paris, London, Mexico City, Belfast, Berlin, Jerusalem and cities across the United States. Even though, unlike their boss, the city workers flew commercial, a trip by a camera crew to say, Oklahoma, cost some $3,4000. An Asia jaunt was $16,400.

Robbins reports that he tried to get this information in a Freedom of Information request last May. The Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications did not respond until a few weeks ago — and then only after a lawyer intervened.

While the tech office has sought to portray the trip — and the filming — as business as usual, when contacted by Robbins, spokespeople for the previous three mayors seemed unfamiliar with such a practice.

By Gail Robinson on March 17, 2010, 2:27 pm
In category: City Hall, Gotham City, Tech | 1 Comment »

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Paterson Administration Loses Another
March 17th, 2010

Gov. David Paterson’s press secretary Marrisa Shorenstein resigned from her post today. Shorenstein was involved in in the scandal surrounding Paterson, his aide David Johnson and the State Police. Shorenstein is the fifth major administration official to resign following a bombshell report by the New York Times.

Shorenstein issued this statement:

It has been a privilege to serve New York State for the past two years and I thank the Governor for giving me the opportunity to do so. Due to the circumstances that have led to my unwitting involvement in recent news stories, I can no longer do my job effectively. Throughout my career, I have performed my duties professionally and with integrity, basing my actions on what I believed to be true at the time. I therefore tender my resignation as press Secretary to the governor.”

Morgan Hook will take over for Shorenstein.

By David King on March 17, 2010, 1:34 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Dancing on Monserrate's Grave
March 17th, 2010

Assemblyman Jose Peralta defeated former Sen. Hiram Monserrate last night in a landslide and now some politicos want to savor the moment.

Peralta’s victory is particularly sweet to Marcia Pappas, president of the National Organization for Woman of New York State, who issued this statement:

“For months, we’ve been saying that the citizens of Queens deserve better,” said Pappas. “Echoing those sentiments in the voting booth, the proud citizens of Queens spoke loudly. They have cleared the way for Mr. Peralta to be their next State Senator. They now have a Senator who represents them in an honorable way, who does not abuse women, and who understands the importance of women’s rights and women’s equality. This is an election year and it’s time for everyone who cares about women’s equality and safety to clean house, as did Queens, by electing people who will do the right thing for the women that they represent.”

Joe Tarver, interim executive director for the Empire State Pride Agenda, issued this statement:

“We congratulate Jose Peralta on his big victory tonight. He will be a Senator who stands up for the rights of all the people of the 13th Senate District in Queens. Jose has demonstrated time and time again that he is a tireless advocate for equality for LGBT New Yorkers and that he doesnt duck-and-run when our bills come up for a vote. He will be a promise keeper and not a promise breaker like the person he is replacing.
Now is the time to go back to work in the State Senate. We have just over three months left in the legislative session and the Pride Agenda is ready to work with Jose Peralta, the Senate Leadership and every Democrat and Republican Senator who is ready to advance LGBT issues and make New York a better place to live.” Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on March 17, 2010, 7:26 am
In category: Albany, Electoral Politics, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Peralta Wins
March 16th, 2010

Assemblyman Jose Peralta won the special election to fill the Queens senate seat vacated when Hiram Monserrate was expelled. Early reports have Peralta with 60 percent of the vote compared to Monserrate’s 34 percent.

Peralta enjoyed the majority support of the Democratic Party. Monserrate had little organized support and ran a campaign with no paid staffers. Senate Democrats have been unable to advance any major legislation without the help of Republicans while waiting for the special election. Peralta will switch from assemblyman to senator during dire budget negotiations that so far have made little outward progress.

By David King on March 16, 2010, 9:54 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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9/11 Bill Advances in Congress
March 16th, 2010

A bill that would provide permanent health care for 9/11 emergency and cleanup workers has advanced a step in Congress, according to the mayor’s office. The House Health Subcommittee today approved the bill, known as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

The move comes less than a week after the city and 9/11 workers reached a tentative agreement to give a total of $575 million to workers who became sickened from their time at the trade center site. Those one-time payments, though, would not provide ongoing coverage.

In a statement, Mayor Michael Bloomberg hailed the passage as “an important step in our effort to secure sustained medical monitoring and treatment for the first responders and survivors of the Sept. 11 attacks,” and reiterated his oft-expressed opinion that the issue deserved a federal response. The mayor also urged passage of the bill by the full House and Senate.

For more on the legislation, see 9/11 Health Care Bill Could Get Boost in Congress.

By Gail Robinson on March 16, 2010, 3:43 pm
In category: Gotham City, Health | No Comments »

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A Call for Charter Openness
March 16th, 2010

Now, that’s preemptive.

Even before the newly minted Charter Revision Commission announced its first meeting, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Comptroller John Liu and 24 council members sent its members a letter calling for openness and webcasted meetings.

The first meeting of the commission will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn. There will be no public comment at the meeting, but it is (as will all the commission’s meetings) be open to the public.

The letter is after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on March 16, 2010, 12:32 pm
In category: City Hall, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, nextNY | No Comments »

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NYCHA Still in the Woods
March 15th, 2010

Today’s announcement of a $400 million infusion to the New York City Housing Authority will get the authority off of critical condition.
nycha

Photo (cc) DaveTheRavingWave (Dave Sanders)


But it isn’t out of the woods yet.

Testifying at a budget hearing just hours after the announcement of a federal funding boost, New York City Housing Authority Chairman John Rhea said the authority still faces a more than $100 million deficit in the current fiscal year.

“While we have made huge strides in addressing our long-term infrastructure needs and moving the authority towards financial health, ultimately reducing our section 8 and public housing operating forecasted deficit from $137 million to $103 million, we still have work to do,” said Rhea.

To close that gap, of which a large part is from the over enrollment of Section 8, the authority has four options, Rhea said, including terminating families from section 8, reducing section 8 payments or getting more funding from either the federal or local governments.

The news soured a more jovial announcement this morning from the Bloomberg administration that 21 NYCHA housing developments, originally built by the city and state after World War II, would become eligible for federal funding. Since these developments were built by the city and state, they never received federal funding, and they gradually stopped receiving city and state subsidies in the 1990s. Through a partnership with Citibank, who will own a stake in the developments, these properties will receive about $400 million in public and private money — the majority of which will go to capital improvements.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on March 15, 2010, 5:58 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Community Development, Gotham City, Housing, Public Finance, nextNY | No Comments »

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Bloomberg, Gillibrand and the Latest Challenger
March 15th, 2010

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s antipathy for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, apparent to all who watched his unsuccessful efforts to recruit Harold Ford and Mortimer Zuckerman to challenge her — emerged into open political discourse Saturday as the Times published an article on Gillibrand’s fruitless campaign to win over the mayor.

The story portrays Gillibrand as mystified by the mayor’s attitude and offers a few none-too-convincing theories: her flip-flopping on gun laws (even though she flipped to the Bloomberg side), her alleged lack of conviction (the Times, forgetting about term limits and terror trials, said, Bloomberg (”prides himself on his willingness to stand up for principles, whatever the political cost”) and her coming from a political family.

The Albany Project, though, thinks the Times omits the likeliest explanation: ” Nowhere does the story mention Caroline Kennedy, Bloomberg’s very public candidate for the Senate appointment” that went to Gillibrand, the blog says.

Running Scared agrees. “It’s entirely possible that all of this has nothing to do with the black eye Bloomberg and Sheekey and the Times got when their efforts on behalf of Caroline Kennedy, their high-profile candidate to be appointed to Hillary Clinton’s seat, went very badly indeed and the seat, messily, went to Gillibrand,” the blog comments. “I feel certain the Times would have mentioned that.”
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on March 15, 2010, 2:30 pm
In category: Electoral Politics, Gotham City | 2 Comments »

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Weekly Web Wrap
March 13th, 2010

Bringing Basements to Code
(Urban Omnibus)
Bloomberg Ranks 20th Most Powerful in World
(Forbes)
Albany’s Crime Spree
(The Weekly Standard)
The State’s Sugar Campaign
(The American Prospect)
Paterson Typical of State’s Political Culture
(Newsweek)
Ground Zero Workers at Higher Risk of Heart Disorder
(Bloomberg)
Atlantic Yards: Making Dangerous Streets Worse
(Tri-State Transportation Campaign)
Albany’s Wage Theft Bill
(DMI Blog)
DiNapoli Proposes Ending ‘Backdoor Borrowing’
(NY Fiscal Watch)
Thoughts on Snow Removal
(Regional Plan Association)
The Teachers Union and the Budget
(League of Women Voters of New York State)
State Income Taxes by Place of Residence
(Room Eight)
Twenty-One Local Housing Developments to be Federalized
(IBO Web Log)
Cartoonist on Paterson Scandals
(Adam Zyglis)
How Empty Ships Led to Paved Roads
(Core77)
Lessons From Newsday’s Paywall
(paidContent.org via NYConvergence)
Removing ‘Versus’ from the Education Reform Dialogue
(The Innovative Educator)

By Mike Muller on March 13, 2010, 6:25 pm
In category: Gotham City | No Comments »

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The City's Denial
March 12th, 2010

The city law department has responded to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determination that the Department of Education discriminated against Debbie Almontaser (see below), the former interim principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy — and the city is not budging an inch.

The e-mailed statement by Paul Marks, deputy chief of labor and employment law, reads in full: “The EEOC’s finding is without any basis whatsoever. The DOE in no way discriminated against Ms. Almontaser and she will not be re-instated. If she continues to pursue litigation, we will vigorously defend against her groundless allegations.”

By Gail Robinson on March 12, 2010, 6:19 pm
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A Discrimination Finding Against DOE
March 12th, 2010

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued a determination that the Department of Education discriminated against an employee who was playing a key role in the creation of school focusing on Arab culture and language by, for all intents and purposes, succumbing to a media frenzy against her.

The case involves Debbie Almontaser, long-time education department employee who has been active in promoting racial and religious harmony, particularly after 9/11. IN 2007, Almontaser was project director and interim principal during the planning of the Khalil Gibran Academy, a small public school, and seemed a likely candidate to be the school’s principal when it opened. (The copy of the determination came Almontaser’s lawyer; the commission said it is barred from commenting on discrimination complaints – or even confirming they exist.)

All that changed as a number of blogs and the New York Post stepped up attacks on the proposed school, calling it a madrassa and trying to portray Almontaser as a jihadist who would seek to spread radical Islam in city schools. The breaking point came after the New York Post interviewed Almontaser about the meaning of the word “intifada” and some t-shirts bearing the word.

The resulting story bore the headline “City Principal is Revolting.” Writing on behalf of the commission, district director Spencer Lewis Jr. concluded, “The most inflammatory parts of the article as published were neither quotations from Ms. Almontaser nor legitimate background information; they were characterizations and opinions either from the reporter or as attributions to unnamed others.”

Despite that, the Bloomberg administration urged Almontaser to step down from her post as interim principal and rejected her application to become permanent principal. Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on March 12, 2010, 3:58 pm
In category: Civil Rights, Education, Gotham City, Law | 4 Comments »

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Espada Holding Town Hall Meeting, Out of Town
March 12th, 2010

Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada is hosting a town hall meeting that isn’t in his town. Espada will host virtual town hall meeting, “live from the floor of the Senate Chamber” on Sunday, March 21 from 7-8 p.m.

“This is an opportunity for residents of the Bronx, and across the city, to have a very real voice in what is expected to be a difficult and challenging budget process,” said Espada in a statement. ” I will discuss the concerns they express in their questions, as well as my role in protecting education, health care, transportation, public safety, jobs and affordable housing from budget cuts, Senator Espada said.

“Questions for Senator Espada can be submitted in advance, between now and 7 p.m. on March 21st, by going to EspadaTownHall@gmail.com or by calling toll-free 1-800-930-9964,” according to a press release from his office. You can watch the meeting a at this link on the 21st, 0r listen by calling 1-800-857-6563.

Espada has been accused of not actually living in the Bronx district he represents. The Gazette visited with Espada in his supposed Bronx residence last year.The controversial senator is also under investigation by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

By David King on March 12, 2010, 3:01 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Padavan Against Gambling
March 12th, 2010

Sen. Frank Padavan has had his fill with the state’s love affair with gambling.

Gov. David Paterson’s proposed budget would remove restrictions on Quick Draw Lottery eliminating restrictions on operating hours, and requirements on the size of establishment allowed to operate the game. The budget also has a measure that would remove limits on the operating hours for video lottery terminals.

Padavan is concerned that the state will exacerbate gambling addiction which will in turn cost the state money.

Who bears a major responsibility for putting New York at the top of the list in terms of citizens with gambling problems- the state itself, Padavan said in statement. In short, we have turned from the Empire State to the Gambling State. New York must end its practice of state-sponsored and state supported gambling. Simply put, New York continues to make bad bets for our future with increase gambling option and opportunities.

Economists have argued that gambling at best is a zero-sum game – meaning that the impact on the state economy as a result of the social costs, increased crime, disruption of non-gambling business sector and overall job loss produces a net loss. As a matter of fact an economist from the University of Illinois concluded that for every $1 that gambling contributes it cost taxpayers at least $3, Padavan said.

But, despite all the warning signs and evidence to the contrary, what is the states latest response as outlined in the budget submitted by the Governor and other actions under consideration you guessed it- more of the same, more gambling. The elimination of all restrictions on Quick Draw (ie food sale, hours of operation, and size of facility) will lead to the gambling game at almost every place you can imagine. The removal of restrictions on operating of hours of VLTs will lead New York to become Vegas East with twenty-four hour a day slot machine venues.

Padavan has pushed legislation in the past to fight gambling. One piece of legislation would have increased the gambling age. ” I’ve been a dismal failure on that subject when it comes to convicining my colleagues it is the way to go,” said Padavan. “They say, ‘You’re right…but…’”

In a year when the state faces an fiscal crisis of unprecedented proportion it isn’t likely that Padavan will win the battle this time around either.

By David King on March 12, 2010, 2:31 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | 1 Comment »

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