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Charter Commission Approves Term Limits Question
August 24th, 2010

As expected, the city Charter Revision Commission approved a ballot proposal last night that if approved would rescind the controversial 2008 term limits extension, prohibit the City Council from extending their own terms in the future and grandfather in current officeholders to the three term limit.

The grandfathering proposal proved to be the most controversial considered by the commission. Some commissioners urged the commission to make any term limit proposal effective immediately. The mayor also came out against grandfathering every official in.

“Allowing any councilmember to benefit by postponing the effective date and precluding the public from immediately voting on it, in my view, does not respect the will of the people,” said Commissioner Kenneth Moltner last night.

Meanwhile, some members of the City Council threatened to sue if they were not allowed to serve a full three terms — we covered that issue here.

In addition to term limits, proposals to disclose independent spending in campaigns, increase the fine for ethics violations and halving the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot were all approved by the commission.

Larger issues, like the power of borough presidents or the public advocate, that some anticipated would be under review, were sidestepped.

By Courtney Gross on August 24, 2010, 11:08 am
In category: City Hall, Economy, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Work and Labor, nextNY | No Comments »

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Weekly Web Wrap
August 20th, 2010

City’s Open Data Sets Allowed to Stagnate
(Spatiality)
Mosque Hatred Symptom of Viscous Cycle
(The American Conservative)
Two Cheers for American Tolerance
(Reason Magazine)
Ground Zero Imam: ‘I Am a Jew’
(The Atlantic)
Bike-Pedestrian Injuries Drop Even Lower
(Streetsblog)
Foodprint City
(Urban Omnibus)
Still Time for a Complete Streets Law
(Tri-State Transportation Campaign)
The Burden of Proving One’s Homelessness
(Coalition for the Homeless)
The MTA’s Uninformative Info Boards
(Second Avenue Sagas)
County to County Commuting
(Newgeography.com)
State’s Budget Gap Grows
(NY Fiscal Watch)
Wireless Bike Share Pilot Coming to City
(Govtech.com via NYConvergence)
Governor Has the Power to Control Spending
(City Journal)

By Mike Muller on August 20, 2010, 6:19 pm
In category: Gotham City | No Comments »

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Federal Investigation into WFP Closed
August 20th, 2010

We just got this in from the Working Families Party.

Looks like nothing is to come out of the federal investigation into its finances — which was first announced after an exhaustive series of investigative pieces by City Hall News.

Here is the statement:

In December 2009, we announced that the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York was conducting an investigation concerning the Working Families Party and Data & Field Services, Inc. We were advised last night that the U.S. Attorneys Office has decided to close its investigation without the filing of any charges.

The Working Families Party and Data & Field Services cooperated fully with the extensive investigation conducted by the government. We appreciate the professionalism of the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Of course, the NYC Campaign Finance Board, as part of the post-election audit process of campaigns that participate in the public campaign finance system, is auditing the campaigns that contracted for services with Data & Field Services in 2009.

We are gratified that the federal investigation has concluded and look forward to continuing our work for good schools, good jobs, and good government.

By Courtney Gross on August 20, 2010, 1:40 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Measuring UP, nextNY | No Comments »

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Court: City Can't Tax Diplomats
August 17th, 2010

A federal appeals court sided with India and Mongolia over the Bloomberg adminsitration today, saying the city cannot collect property taxes on diplomatic spaces not used for so-called diplomatic purposes.

According to the Department of Finance, the city is owed about $590 million in outstanding property taxes. At least $278 million of that debt is directly related to foreign missions, like those owned by Mongolia and India. According to City Room, it is not clear whether today’s ruling would affect taxes previously collected by these types of properties.

Our chart below breaks down who owes what to the city — from Iran to Bulgaria. According to the Department of Finance, the largest sovereign debtor goes to Hungary, which the city argues owes $139 million in property taxes.

Click on the chart to interact.

By Courtney Gross on August 17, 2010, 4:18 pm
In category: City Hall, Economy, Gotham City, Law, Public Finance, nextNY | No Comments »

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Diaz Endorses Espada
August 17th, 2010

Amigos stick together.

We got this press release from Sen. Ruben Diaz’s camp yesterday. For more on Sen. Pedro Espada’s re-election campaign, go here:

Here is the full release in all its glory:

Earlier this afternoon, at 1:30PM, while standing in front of the beautiful Church of the Mediator located at 351 East 231 Street in Riverdale, New York State Senator Ruben Diaz,Sr. endorsed the Re-Election of New York State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr for another term. Senator Esapda was described as the seminole leader who worked closely with Senator diaz to save senior centers from closing. Senator Diaz exhorted the public to prevent the election of an unknown rookie who, “does not know where the Senate is”.

Senator Diaz extolled Senator Espada’s many years of fighting for the community, and he enthusisastically endorsed Senator Espada ’s Re-election in the September 14, 2010 Democratic Primary.

Several members of the Bronx Clergy also publicly endorsed Senator Espada att the press conference.
Senator Espada thnaked Senator diaz for his support and he made brief remarks, and he took questions from news reporters afterward.

The video furnished herein of Senator Diaz’ endorsement of Senator Espada, was made by Franck LaBoy, Press Secretary to Senator Espada for use by the news organizations.

By Courtney Gross on August 17, 2010, 3:55 pm
In category: Albany, Blogroll, Electoral Politics, Governing, Measuring UP, nextNY | No Comments »

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A Million Trees, Minus 87?
August 13th, 2010

Parks Columnist Anne Schwartz filed this post:

Former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, one of the citys most stalwart defenders against arboricide, recently sounded an alert about a proposed massacre of 87 trees, many nearly 80 years old, along Pelham Parkway in the Bronx.

What is special about this Parkway is that as you drive in it, above you is an arbor of trees whose upper branches reach from one side of the road to the other. It looks, and you feel, as if you were traveling through a park, he writes.

The $36 million road project by the NYC Department of Transportation to install guardrails and re-grade the road is supposed start this fall. Sterns comments are posted on the website of New York Civic.

By Courtney Gross on August 13, 2010, 6:02 pm
In category: Environment, Gotham City, Parks | No Comments »

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Weekly Web Wrap
August 13th, 2010

Ground Zero Mosque Would be Green
(The Daily Beast via greenbuildingsNYC)
Interactive Tool for Tracking MTA Capital Plan
(Second Avenue Sagas)
Community Gardens as Green Infrastructure
(SWIM Coalition)
Why the City Needed the Federal Fiscal Relief
(DMI Blog)
What to Expect from the New Sustainability Chief
(Streetsblog)
Flexible Transit to Serve a Decentralized Workforce
(Forbes)
State’s First Passive House Under Construction
(Inhabitat)
Making Small Spaces Livable
(Core77)
New Work City Moves Into New Location
(Business Insider via NYConvergence)
PULP Still Without Funding
(PULP Blog)

By Mike Muller on August 13, 2010, 5:01 pm
In category: Gotham City | No Comments »

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Thompson Endorses Schneiderman
August 13th, 2010

The man who nearly beat Bloomberg, former City Comptroller Bill Thompson, has endorsed Sen. Eric Schneiderman in his run for Attorney General. Here is the release from the Schneiderman campaign:

Former NYC Comptroller and Brooklyn Democrat Bill Thompson announced his support today for Eric Schneiderman to be New Yorks next Attorney General. Thompson, New Yorks first black comptroller, joins the growing list of over 100 progressive leaders, labor unions and grassroots organizations that have endorsed Schneiderman for Attorney General.

Im proud to endorse Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General because he is the one candidate in this field who will truly represent all New Yorkers in the fight for equal justice. Ive seen Eric in action and have no doubt that he will continue his lifelong fight for criminal justice reform, for economic fairness and for progressive change as New Yorks next peoples lawyer. Whether its taking on the insurance industry or ending the Rockefeller Drug laws, Eric has shown true leadership and demonstrated that he will be an Attorney General we can be proud of, said former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson.

From 2002-2010, Bill Thompson served as New York Citys Comptroller. Thompson grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and became the youngest Brooklyn Deputy Borough President and later served as President of the Board of Education. In 2009, Thompson was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York.

I am thrilled to have the support of Bill Thompson, a progressive leader who has worked his whole life to improve the lives of New Yorkers, said Eric Schneiderman. As Attorney General, I will join forces with the reformers of this state to end the status quo and fight for equal justice every day. Our broad, diverse and progressive coalition is growing by the day and will lead us to victory this fall.

With widespread support from a broad and diverse coalition of progressive New Yorkers and the unanimous endorsement of the states largest labor union, 1199/SEIU United Healthcare East, the largest private-sector union, 32BJ, NARAL Pro-Choice New York and Citizen Action, momentum is growing for Schneidermans campaign to be the states next Attorney General.

By David King on August 13, 2010, 1:27 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Espada's Petition Challenge Fails
August 12th, 2010

The court appointed referee overseeing Sen. Pedro Espada’s challenge to his opponent Gustavo Rivera’s petitions has declared that Rivera has more than enough valid signatures to be on the ballot.

Rivera issued this statement: “Instead of fighting for our community, Pedro Espada tried to intimidate his own constituents and take away our right to vote for change. But the Bronx is still a democracy and our community will have a chance to elect new leadership on September 14th. I’ve spent my career fighting for change on behalf of my community and our campaign will continue to fight for that change so that on election day the residents of this great district will have a true public servant as their State Senator.”

By David King on August 12, 2010, 5:58 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Firm Selected for Living Wage Study
August 12th, 2010

The city Economic Development Corp. has selected Boston-based Charles River Associates to conduct a $1 million study on the impact of living wage policies across the country and how they might affect the Big Apple’s economy.

The study is in response to an outcry from labor unions and advocates for the city to adopt a living wage — a debate that culminated in the defeat of a controversial development project in the Bronx last year called the Kingsbridge Armory. The City Council voted the plan down when the developer would not promise to force retail tenants to pay a living wage.

The adminsitration has said it would like to conduct a study before it considered any widespread policy, and the move has effectively stalled two pieces of living wage legislation at the council — one to require a living wage for building service workers at city-assisted developments and another that would require all city subsidized developments pay a living wage.

Daniel Hamermesh, a well respected professor at the University of Texas at Austin, will be the chief economist on the study, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2011. He is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Matthew Thompson, a vice president at Charles River Associates, will lead the project.

Even before Charles River Associates was selected as the consultant, elected officials and living wage advocates were debating the potential results. Comptroller John Liu called it a “sham” in June after the Economic Development Corp. failed to appoint an advisory panel of labor economists to oversee the study’s methodology and results.

Now some advocates are questioning the objectivity of at least one member of the study’s team, specifically David Neumark, a professor of economics at the University of California and a fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California. Neumark has authored several studies questioning the economic viability of living wage laws.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on August 12, 2010, 5:50 pm
In category: City Hall, Community Development, Economy, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Land Use, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance, Work and Labor, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Teamsters Joint Council 16 Endorses Ramos
August 11th, 2010

Charlie Ramos, who is challenging Sen. Ruben Diaz in the Democratic Primary, has received the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16. Ramos has racked up endorsements from progressive groups that support same-sex marriage as well as pro-choice groups because of Diaz’s stance on those topics. This endorsement gives him a little more help from labor.

The union includes 32 Teamster locals in New York City and surrounding areas. Teamsters Joint Council 16 has over 120,000 members.

“I am proud to endorse Charlie Ramos for New York State Senate. His work ethic and commitment to working people make him an ideal candidate to clean up Albany and protect the needs of Teamster families in the Bronx and across the State, said George Miranda president of Teamsters Joint Council 16.

Ramos was more than happy to receive the endorsement.

I am humbled by the Teamsters Joint Council 16 endorsement, said Ramos. The Teamsters have been at the forefront of empowering working people and I am honored to stand with them and I kindly accept their endorsement.

By David King on August 11, 2010, 4:29 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | No Comments »

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Legislature is Not Out for Summer
August 11th, 2010

Senators are gearing up to return to Albany as soon as next week so that they can dole out federal cash to prevent teacher layoffs. The Assembly would also have to return to authorize the distribution of cash to schools but it isn’t clear yet if both branches of the legislature have aligned their schedules. The Assembly was scheduled to return after the September primary.

This action could certainly help Democrats heading into the elections but will Federal money for teachers be enough to erase the memory of the Senate coup and this year’s absurdly long budget process?

By David King on August 11, 2010, 1:42 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | 2 Comments »

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New Sustainability Director Selected
August 11th, 2010

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that David Bragdon will take the reins as the city’s new sustainability czar.

Bragdon, who was most recently the president of the Portland, Oregon Metro Council, replaces Rohit T. Aggarwala, who helped spearhead the administration’s PlaNYC 2030 sustainability agenda. Aggarwala had been hailed as a chief architect of the administration’s environmental policy, and his departure in April threw much of the 127 PlaNYC proposals up in the air.

Bragdon, however, appears to have a decade of experience in the sustainability area.

At the Metro Council, he coordinated the region’s land use and transportation planning. As part of his role there, Bragdon attempted to plan how the Portland area would handle a million more residents in the next 20 years.

Now he will be doing the same thing here in New York.

As an aside, Bragdon couldn’t run for president of the council again this year because of term limits, according to the The Oregonian. (I am sure he’ll get even more familiar with the subject when he relocates to the Big Apple.)

For more on Bragdon, check out his bio here.

The mayor also announced he has selected Elizabeth Weinstein to head the Mayor’s Office of Operations. She had been the Mayors Office Director of Agency Services and Director of Customer Service.

The full release is after the jump:
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on August 11, 2010, 12:58 pm
In category: Gotham City | 4 Comments »

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Weekly Web Wrap
August 6th, 2010

State Ends Prison Gerrymandering
(Wall Street Journal)
New Investigative Journalism Publication Coming
(Broadcasting & Cable via NYConvergence)
New Solar Powered Carousel in Chelsea
(Inhabitat)
Harlem’s High Line
(Metropolis)
Understanding Parole Revocations
(Re-thinking Reentry)
How the City Decided on Subsidies for Big Firms
(Clawback)
A Transportation Agenda for the Next Governor
(Tri-State Transportation Campaign)
Photo Essay on Delivery of New Train Cars
(Second Avenue Sagas)
Non-Partisan Elections Back?
(ReformNY)
The Good and Bad of the Budget’s Final Piece
(Citizens Budget Commission)
Study Finding Bias in Police Shootings is Flawed
(City Journal)
Disputing the Homeless Department’s Fact Sheet
(Coalition for the Homeless)

By Mike Muller on August 6, 2010, 4:43 pm
In category: Gotham City | 1 Comment »

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Silver Congratulates Kagan
August 6th, 2010

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver just issued this statement congratulating Elena Kagan on her confirmation to the United State Supreme Court.

I congratulate Elena Kagan on her confirmation to serve as a Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Her confirmation, along with the seating of Justice Sonia Sotomayor last year, is a victory for women and will be an enduring source of pride for all New Yorkers. Ms. Kagans experience as the first woman dean of Harvard Law School and her service in the administrations of President Obama and President Clinton, has proven that she is eminently qualified to serve on our nations highest court. I am confident that Elena Kagan, like her predecessor, Justice Stevens, will guide our legal system with wisdom, integrity and patriotism.

By David King on August 6, 2010, 2:55 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany | 1 Comment »

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Bronx Ballot Bingo
August 4th, 2010

Alana Horowitz filed this post.

It’s been a wild day at the Bronx Board of Elections, where a slew of candidates are trying to bump each other off the ballot — and some are just hanging on for dear life.

The hearings take place in a small room, with sometimes four or five proceeding simultaneously. With so little space and so much political unrest, noise has become a huge issue. Police officers continually remind those in the room to take all calls outside. One lawyer complains that a man talking on his phone nearby is disrupting his case.

As if defending your candidate’s legitimacy weren’t a daunting enough obstacle.

Among the disputes is a three-way battle between incumbent State Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. and opponents Gustavo Rivera and Daniel Padernacht. Espada is accused of not really living in the district — a common refrain in local elections.

Rivera was previously challenged because the name listed on his voter registration forms (Jose G. Rivera) differed from the one on his petitions (J. Gustavo Rivera), but that case was dropped after yesterday’s Bronx Supreme Court hearings.

Espada cried fraud on both of his opponents’ petitions — presenting, according to Padernacht, “a laundry list of everything you could challenge a petition on.” The court appointed a special referee to decide on the matters.

Rivera filed about 6,300 signatures and Padernacht submitted around 4,500. Democratic candidates need 1,000 valid names to get on the ballot.

“It’s no surprise that Albany’s king of corruption continues to undermine our democracy because he knows he can’t win this election,” said Horacio Gutierrez, Rivera’s chief campaign strategist, said of Espada.

For his part, Espada previously said challenging bad signatures represented good government in action.

By Gail Robinson on August 4, 2010, 4:58 pm
In category: Albany, Electoral Politics, Eye on Albany, Gotham City, Governing | 5 Comments »

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Quinn Weighs in on Proposition 8
August 4th, 2010

Council Speaker Christin Quinn wasted no time weighing in on the overturning of proposition 8 in California.

This just landed in our inbox.

“Todays decision by the California District Court marks a historic day in the fight for LGBT equality. I am elated by the courage and wisdom demonstrated by District Judge Vaughn R. Walker in his decision to strike down Proposition 8, a law that unfairly targeted and harmed families across California.

I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation and thanks to David Boies and Ted Olson, who joined together in the common belief that same sex couples should be able to have access to civil marriage and those rights and responsibilities that go with it.

This is not just a win for same sex couples in California; its a victory for all of those who believe in full equality for all Americans.

I hope that members of our State Senate see this decision and decide to do the right thing for same-sex couples in New York.”

By Courtney Gross on August 4, 2010, 4:58 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Civil Rights, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, nextNY | No Comments »

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City Gets FMAP Funding
August 4th, 2010

Phew.

After a slew of warnings and threats of layoffs, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today New Yorkers need not fear for the city’s share of federal Medicaid funding. It was approved today by the Senate, bringing another $400 million to the city. In addition, the city will get another $200 million in education aid.

According to the mayor’s statement, in full below, the budget approved by the council in June assumed the city would get this funding.

Here is the mayor’s statement:

Todays vote in the Senate is a major step towards extending the Federal Medicaid cost relief that was initially provided in the stimulus package known as FMAP and increasing Federal support for education. The Senate and House each previously passed bills including an extension of the FMAP program and cities and states around the country, including New York City, factored the assistance into their budget plans. A strong majority of the Senate today rightly decided to put partisan and electoral politics aside to ensure cities and states receive this funding, preventing possible layoffs and harmful budget cuts.

Early this summer, State leaders joined me to convene a meeting at Gracie Mansion with members of our congressional delegation to stress the importance of these dollars and the serious implications that would result if the funding did not come through. United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew joined me in Washington this summer to tell our Congressional leaders that increased Federal support is essential to continuing the progress we have made in our schools. Todays vote demonstrates our message was heard.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on August 4, 2010, 4:09 pm
In category: City Hall, Economy, Education, Gotham City, Governing, Health, Public Finance | No Comments »

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The Mayor's Other Company
August 4th, 2010

Earlier this week, City Councilmember Daniel Halloran argued on these pages that City Council members should be full time.

Well what about city employees?

Apparently not — at least in the view of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Post reports today that the mayor went so far as to form his own company (nice what billions will do for you) so he could pay three city workers who already make between $110,000 and $113,000 a year an additional $60,000 to $100,000. All three — Allison Jaffin, Irene Pistorino, and Karen Greene — came to the administration from Bloomberg L.P.

Interestingly, Jaffin, a longtime mayoral aide who worked for him at Bloomberg L.P., according to the Wall Street Journal, has been “a key witness” in probe into the mayor’s $1.2 million payment to the Independence Party. (The party, as you recall, backed the mayor’s re-election bid last year and funneled $750,000 of that to John Haggerty, a political operative who now faces criminal charges.)

Jaffin is not a target of the investigation into Haggerty but the Journal noted, her involvement and her extra paycheck from the mayor “revive criticism of the blurred lines between Mr. Bloomberg’s public and private lives.”

Bloomberg’s use of his personal wealth to lavishly augment the salaries of his staff is, of course, nothing new. Earlier this year, he apparently decided being deputy mayor was such an easy job that Patricia Harris would be able to run his foundation in her spare time. That job does not bring any extra pay but came after Harris raked in a $400,000 mayoral bonus on top of her $246,000 salary for advising his successful 2009 re-election campaign.

All of this is fine with the Conflicts of Interest Board whose members all are appointed by Bloomberg.

By Gail Robinson on August 4, 2010, 11:09 am
In category: City Hall, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing | No Comments »

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Williams: I want a pension
August 4th, 2010

Councilmember Jumaane Williams is catching some flak after a staff member testified at Monday’s Charter Revision Commission that council members should get three terms in part to get a larger city pension.

In his testimony, Williams argued that three terms would give members the right amount of time to do the job effectively, but he also said it would be “great to reach the ten year mark” in the pension system.

“I believe three terms is necessary to do the best job possible. Of course I would love three four year terms, for one it would be great to have the possibility to reach the ten-year mark in term of city pension for my family. Still even three three-year terms would be better. There is something about councilmembers having the possibility of growing together from term to term. I believe the third term is necessary to effectively apply all the growth and knowledge learned. Please do not throw this away for political expediency.”

We covered the debate on how the Charter Revision Commission might act on term limits and whether they would grandfather the current class of legislators in.

In his testimony, Williams also argues members should be allowed to give member items to organizations they or their family have connections to. Banning such activity would prohibit community activists from running for office, he says.

Here is his testimony and you can watch it live here.

Williams Testimony

By Courtney Gross on August 4, 2010, 9:19 am
In category: City Hall, Gotham City | No Comments »

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