February 12, 2012 · www.gothamgazette.com

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UFT Wants Mediation With City
January 13th, 2012

The United Federation of Teachers is holding a press conference at 3:15 p.m today to announce that it asking the state labor board to mediate talks with the city because of the breakdown over teacher evaluation talks and the Mayor’s insistence in his State of the State speech that he will unilaterally move forward with a teacher evaluation system in low performing schools. Here is the full press release:

Teachers Union Asks State to

Order Mediation in Evaluation Talks

UFT seeks order from state labor board that would

force city to take part in mandatory mediation

on new teacher evaluation system

UFT President Michael Mulgrew holds news conference to announce that in the wake of the citys walking out of negotiations on a new teacher evaluation system, the union has filed an impasse petition with the states Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). If PERB finds that an impasse exists, it will appoint a mediator and force the city to participate in attempts to resolve the issue.

WHEN: Friday, January 13, 2012 3: 15 p.m.

WHERE: 52 Broadway, 2nd floor

By David King on January 13, 2012, 2:51 pm
In category: Albany, Education, Eye on Albany, Gotham City | No Comments »

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Cuomo on Bloomberg's State of the City
January 12th, 2012

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg may not be the best of buds but Cuomo found a lot to like in Bloomberg’s State of the City message–especially the parts about education and pension reform. “I commend Mayor Bloomberg for outlining a positive vision for New York City’s future and the most important part of building that future, our students. The State and City’s education system is facing a crisis in accountability and performance. Our continuing pattern of being number one in the nation on spending in education and thirty-eighth in graduation rates hurts our students across the State, including the over 1.1 million public school students in New York City,” said Cuomo in a statement.

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

By David King on January 12, 2012, 5:26 pm
In category: Albany, Eye on Albany, Gotham City, Governing | No Comments »

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Silver Applauds Bloomberg on Minimum Wage
January 12th, 2012

Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his State of the State address to announce his support for an increased minimum wage. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver backs the idea big time and he issued this statement:

“I applaud and thank Mayor Bloomberg for joining our call to increase the minimum wage. As I have said, it is wrong to expect anyone let alone working families to be able to afford the cost of living today and invest in their future on a salary of $7.25 an hour. Increasing the minimum wage would benefit more than 14 percent of our workforce. Mayor Bloombergs commitment to helping the more than 1.2 million low wage workers in New York climb the ladder of financial security is welcome news.”

By David King on January 12, 2012, 3:26 pm
In category: Albany, Economy, Eye on Albany, Gotham City | No Comments »

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State of the City
January 12th, 2012

Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered his State of the City Address today at Morris High School in the Bronx. Here are his prepared remarks:

Thank you. Mayors Koch and Dinkins, Speaker Quinn and Minority Leader Oddo, Public Advocate De Blasio, Comptroller Liu, Borough Presidents, District Attorneys, members of the City Council and State Legislature, my fellow New Yorkers its great to be in the Bronx.

This is the birthplace of legends like Justice Sonia Sotomayor and the workplace of legends like Mariano Rivera. And its also the home of future superstars like every member of The Celia Cruz High School Latin Band, the PS 32 Chorus and the Keltic Dreams Irish Dancers. Werent they fantastic?

In a city that is the Capital of Innovation this one borough has given us some of the worlds great authors, artists and architects, not to mention the pioneers of hip-hop and salsa.

The Bronx has always been a borough of innovators and we can see it most recently in the students here at the Academy for Collaborative Studies, who built an award-winning robot. How about the Robot Club? Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on January 12, 2012, 1:17 pm
In category: City Hall, Gotham City | 1 Comment »

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Bronx Business Incubator Opens
January 9th, 2012

The Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled a city-backed business incubator in the Bronx earlier today. The Sunshine Bronx Business Incubator at 890 Garrison Ave. in Hunts Point is set up to house 400 entrepreneurs. The New York City Economic Development Corporation helped started the incubator with a $250,000 grant. The incubator is the 8th to open as part of the city’s network of incubators.
Here is the release from the Mayor’s office: Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on January 9, 2012, 1:13 pm
In category: Economy, Gotham City, Land Use, Public Finance, Tech, Work and Labor | No Comments »

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Quinn on Fingerprinting for Food Stamps
January 5th, 2012

Gov. Andrew Cuomo seemingly went after the city’s policy of fingerprinting people who want access to food stamps in his State of the State Address. The Bloomberg administration has supported the measure as a way to stop fraud and Bloomberg dismissed Cuomo’s statement in a press conference following the speech. Council Speaker Christine Quinn just weighed in via press release and she is taking Cuomo’s side.

In these tough economic times, we need to help New Yorkers get the federal services they qualify for, not put obstacles in their way. Unfortunately, Mayor Bloomberg and I couldnt disagree more fingerprinting food stamp applicants is a time consuming and unnecessary process, which stigmatizes applicants and has prevented 24,000 New Yorkers from getting the help they deserve. The State has the authority to eliminate finger imaging in New York City, and the Mayor should not even think of challenging Governor Cuomos decision.

Cuomo said in his State of the State yesterday that, “One of the things we do now and makes the stigma actually worse and creates a barrier for families coming forward to get food stamps is we require fingerprinting. I’m saying stop fingerprinting for families, said Cuomo.

Bloomberg told reporters, “Its not a stigma, and it may be elsewhere in the state, and maybe thats what he was referring to, but its certainly not a stigma.”

By David King on January 5, 2012, 4:51 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Eye on Albany, Gotham City, Governing, Health, Social Services | No Comments »

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Groups Put Pressure on Cuomo's Tax Plan
December 5th, 2011

Progressive groups are trying to pressure Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislators into negotiating a tax code change that would make the wealthy pay much more than they do now and patch budget cuts. They say “revenue neutrality” for tax code reform is the wrong way to go. Cuomo’s recent op-ed on tax code changes does not mention raising revenue–as the Daily News’ Bill Hammond pointed out and Liz Benjamin points out here.

“If Cuomo wants to stop being labeled Governor 1%, he needs to address the fact that the richest 1% are getting 34% of the state’s income. So far his tax proposals are all about political spin, not real reform for the 99%. Yes, tax reform must correct the fact that the janitor at Trump Tower is paying a higher percentage of state and low-income taxes than Donald Trump is. Our state tax system is one way we have shifted wealth to the rich. But it also must correct the budgetary shortfalls that undercuts investment in our infrastructure, kills jobs and undermines the safety net,” said Mark Dunlea, Executive Director of Hunger Action Network.

Karen Scharff of Citizen Action sent out an appeal to supporters to encourage them to keep calling legislators to push for a plan that would generate enough revenue to patch budget cuts. “With signals coming from the Capitol that there is movement on a large-scale change to New York States tax code, we need to make sure that its the right tax reform. Any tax code plan must include raising revenue to restore the worst budget cuts, and directly creating jobs. And we shouldnt, especially with a budget deficit as big as it is, be giving even more tax breaks to corporations and the 1%.”

Some business groups and conservatives are pushing hard for Senate Republicans to stand against any tax increase.

With signals coming from the Capitol that there is movement on a large-scale change to New York States tax code, we need to make sure that its the right tax reform.
Any tax code plan must include raising revenue to restore the worst budget cuts, and directly creating jobs. And we shouldnt, especially with a budget deficit as big as it is, be giving even more tax breaks to corporations and the 1%.
By David King on December 5, 2011, 4:58 pm
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Occupy Albany Marches on
November 17th, 2011

The Occupy Albany movement is celebrating the 2-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street with a march to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office today. Buses full of protestors from across upstate have helped swell the ranks of Occupy Albany and they are planning to deliver petitions opposing Cuomo’s economic policies to his office. Protestors from across the state are invited to stay at the Occupy Albany encampment and will be provided with blankets and tents. We could see more arrests tonight if protestors stray over onto state-owned land.

Here is their schedule for the day:

“11:30am Buses arrive at Occupy Albany with supporters from across upstate NY. Occupy Albany welcoming committee will greet them and give tours of our encampment.

12:00pm Joint rally/assembly in Academy Park in front of Old Academy Bldg. by Joseph Henry Monument.

12:45pm March begins. Will stop off at least one corporate lobby target en route to the NYS Capitol Bldg.

1:30pm Action at Gov.s Office, 2nd Fl, of Capitol to deliver letters of protest against Cuomos economic policies.

2:15pm A peoples assembly/session outside of Senate lobby 3rd floor of Capitol Bldg.

3:30pm Bus pickup on State St. outside the LOB.

5:30pm Anyone who can stay is invited to attend the Occupy Albany General Assembly and spend the night at Occupy Albany (tents and blankets will be made available).”

By David King on November 17, 2011, 12:34 pm
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Rodriguez on His Arrest
November 16th, 2011

For the second time in less than three months, reporters, members of the City Council and other public officials clustered under the overhang at City Hall in the rain to hear a City Council member describe his alleged mistreatment by the New York City Police Department.

This time it was Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez, who spent about 20 hours in police custody after being arrested by police near Zuccotti Park early Tuesday morning. Rodriguez, who has emerged as a major supporter of Occupy Wall Street, said he received a text message at about 1 a.m. Tuesday alerting him that police seemed to be moving in on the protesters in Zuccotti Park. After his wife repeatedly cautioned him to avoid getting arrested, Rodriguez said he proceeded downtown to see what was happening.

A couple of blocks from Zuccotti Park and across Broadway from the plaza — Rodriguez said he was confronted by a group of police officers who began pushing him. Even after, he said, he identified himself as a council members he also said he was wearing a suit, not exactly the standard garb of the Occupy Wall Street crowd the police kept pushing. Rodriguez said he fell, sustaining a cut, and was arrested.

In the time that followed, Rodriguez said he was kept in a van for two hours. He eventually was taken to 1 Police Plaza, where his lawyers were not allowed to see him in keeping with police policy that apparently lets attorneys visit their clients in other jails and station houses but not police headquarters. He was finally released at around 8 p.m. after being charged with resisting arrest.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on November 16, 2011, 4:01 pm
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Shelter Rules Delayed
November 10th, 2011

Correction: Apparently contrary to what we originally reporterd, the court did not order the delay. The city postponed its plans after the Legal Aid Society filed suit to block the new rules. The item has been corrected to reflect that.

The new intake procedures for single adults seeking to enter the city’s shelter system apparently will not go into effect Monday after all. Although we could not confirm this, a statement from the City Council said that a court has order postponement of After the Legal Aid Society filed suit Thursday, the city reportedly agreed to postpone implementation of the rules until next month. According to the Wall Street Journal, the city did this “because of the possibility of a state judge issuing a preliminary injunction.”

Arguments in the case are now scheduled to begin Dec. 9.

In a statement issued Thursday evening, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said, “I am pleased that, as a result of todays court hearing, the city’s dangerous new policy changing the intake procedure for single adults seeking shelter will not go into effect on Monday. I am encouraged that this matter will be heard by the court, and I continue to call on [the Department of Homeless Services] to permanently reverse course and prevent these harmful changes from going into effect.

And City Council General Welfare Committee chair Annabel Palma hailed the move as well. “I am pleased with the court’s favorable decision to stop the city from implementing its proposed eligibility changes for single adults. Absence of leadership from the administration on this issue, once again, has the city;s homeless policies shaped more by the court system rather than through collaboration and partnership with stakeholders,” Palma said.

By Gail Robinson on November 10, 2011, 6:50 pm
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The Races for DA
November 6th, 2011

Three of New York City’s five district attorneys are up for re-election this year, but for only one — Staten Island Daniel Donovan — is the contest’ outcome in any doubt.

(For more on who can vote and how this year, go here. For more on the judicial contests, go here.)

Two of the veteran prosecutors, Richard Brown in Queens and Robert Johnson in the Bronx — will appear on the Democratic, Republican and Conservative lines and will not face any opposition.

Brown, who will turn 79 later this month, is headed to his sixth-term.

Johnson, who already is in his sixth term, was the first black district attorney in the state. In a somewhat strange twist, he received a rating of “not approved” by the city bar association this year. Johnson attributed the rejection to his not agreeing to an interview with the association and said he thinks it make little sense for the group to rate candidates in uncontested elections.

“If they think that I have not demonstrated the qualifications to hold this office,” Johnson told Reuters, “they must have been stuck in a cave for the past two decades.”

The bar does not explain or amplify on its ratings although they do not endorse candidates they can’t interview.

The Staten Island race offers a reprise of the 2007race in which Republican Donovan defeated Democrat Mike Ryan with about 70 percent of the vote. Donovan has the backing of the Independence Party too, while — perhaps owing to a long-standing rift between Donovan and Conservative Borough president James Molinaro, Ryan has the Conservative Party line.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on November 6, 2011, 9:58 pm
In category: Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Law | No Comments »

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Here Come the Judges
November 6th, 2011

Occupants for 29 seats on the bench in New York City will be selected Tuesday — at least theoretically. In many cases, though, the primary process and political insiders have filled the posts already — leaving voters with nothing more than the opportunity to ratify the choice.

All candidates for Manhattan judgeships — including places of the state Supreme Court and Civil Court — face no opposition. All have the Democratic Party line; a few also have the GOP nod. In no case, though, have the Republicans — or any other party for that matter — put forth candidate who is not the Democratic standard bearer. In the one judicial race on Staten Island the sole candidate — Acting Judge Joseph J. Maltese — has support from the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Independence parties.

The contested elections come in Brooklyn and Queens. There are no judicial races — contested or otherwise — in the Bronx.

(For more on who can vote and how this year, go here. For more on the district attorney contest, go here.)

More on the individual judicial races after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on November 6, 2011, 9:54 pm
In category: Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing, Law | No Comments »

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A Quiet Election Day
November 6th, 2011

Even by the standards of the off-off-year election — those contests in odd-numbered years when there is no mayoral race — this is a non-election election year.

There are no contested races of any kind in the Bronx or Manhattan, according to the Board of Elections’ lists of candidates. In Queens and Brooklyn, the sole seats up for grabs are judgeships. Only Staten Island residents will have the chance to vote for or against someone they might actually have heard of: Republican District Attorney Daniel Donovan, who faces a challenge from Democrat Mike Ryan. It’s a repeat of their 2007 contest.

(For details on the district attorney race, go here. For more on the judicial contests, go here.)

Sleepy elections occur about once every four years in New York, Unlike the one in 2007, this year’s features no ballot measures, fewer contests for the bench and no particularly high profile ones. As is often the case in general elections in New York City, many candidates including those for some important posts face no opposition.

More voting details after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on November 6, 2011, 9:39 pm
In category: Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing | 2 Comments »

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Change for the Homeless
November 4th, 2011

Advocates for the homeless and some City Council members are reacting with alarm to reports that the city will institute a policy later this month that will make it more difficult for single adults to gain admission to city shelters.

According to WNBC, which first
reported on the move, workers will subject people applying to stay in shelters to more questions about where they have lived recently and whether they have another place to stay. This could create a problem for someone who, say, lost her apartment, doubled up with a sister for a short time and then was asked to leave.

The move apparently an effort to save money has been in the works for a while but needed state approval. City officials told NBC they received the OK yesterday. The city already conducts similar reviews for homeless families.

Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Seth Diamond told Reuters that many people applying to shelters these days may have other options. They include, he said, “a lot of people who are working or capable of work, who may have gone through a little bit of a rough time — their employer may have reduced their hours, or they may have lost their jobs.”

But advocates dispute such arguments. “The city is playing with fire by implementing this policy, particularly in the winter,” Steven Banks of the Legal Aid Society told WNBC. “It’s certainly going to result in vulnerable New Yorkers ending up on the streets. He said the society would go to court to try and block the change.

Earlier today, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and General Welfare Committee chair Annabel Palma. Issued a statement condemning the move. “This policy is cruel, risky, unacceptable and will not reduce homelessness in the city of New York. Denying people shelter because they have found another option for some period of time is punishing people for trying to do the right thing,” they said.

The council will hold an emergency oversight hearing on the policy at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
By Gail Robinson on November 4, 2011, 3:28 pm
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City Council Takes to the Streets
November 4th, 2011

On the same day, it tackled the issue of undocumented immigrants (for that story, go here), the City Council took on something really controversial: the battle for spaces on the city’s crowded streets.

At its stated meeting Thursday, members enacted two measures.

One reflected concerns that the Bloomberg administration, in its zeal for bike lanes, has sometimes ignored wishes of local residents. Intro 412, which passed unanimously, would require that the city Department of Transportation provide community boards with at least 90 days notification of any planned bike lanes in their area, allowing the board to hold hearings. If the board wanted, transportation officials would have to make presentations to the affected boards.

This does not mean the board could veto bike lanes, but simply that it be informed and consulted.

More on the bike law bill and residential parking permits after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on November 4, 2011, 1:20 pm
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The Union on School Cuts
November 1st, 2011

With the city facing a multibillion dollar shortfall and the Bloomberg administration demanding further cuts, the United Federation of Teachers went on the offense today, with a study it says shows that fiscal constraints already have taken a toll on the city’s more than 1.1 million students.

A survey of union chapter leaders (perhaps not the most objective of sources) found, the UFT reports, that 74 percent of elementary schools have seen class size increase this year. The number of students in a class rose at 61 percent of the middle schools reporting and 59 percent of the high schools.

More than half of elementary schools responding have scaled back services to help academically struggling students, and almost two thirds cited reductions in supplies. In general, the chapter leaders at high schools cited fewer effects from cuts than those in elementary schools. And despite Chancellor Dennis Walcott’s pledge to focus on improving middle schools, 63 percent saw their afterschool programs curtailed and 59 percent lost extracurricular activities.

While the administration enthusiastically supports charters schools, which often offer after school and or weekend programs, it has ramped back efforts to expand instructional time for students in its conventional public schools, according to the report. About 60 percent of schools at all levels reported cuts in afterschool programs, and about 40 said weekend programs had been reduced.

In a statement on his union’s report UFT president Michael Mulgrew said, “Based on our survey, an estimated 91 percent of our school population — nearly 1 million children — are in schools where budget cuts are having a direct and immediate effect on their education.”

By Gail Robinson on November 1, 2011, 2:09 pm
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Closing Public Spaces
October 31st, 2011

(Gotham Gazette parks reporter Anne Schwartz filed this post.)

Last week, Crain’s reported that landlords, taking action in response to Occupy Wall Streets weeks-long occupancy of Zuccotti Park, want the city to revamp its laws covering the citys privately owned public parks to set hours of operation and prohibit large gatherings. Crain’s has a survey asking readers whether they think “private parks” should be allowed to set their own hours. As of today, the 201 people who bothered to respond said yes by a margin of almost two to one.

The business paper, however, did not note that these spaces are actually public places that developers were required to create — and keep open — in return for the right to build taller buildings under city zoning laws. Having already received the financial benefits of the added floor space, the landlords now are seeking to restrict some of the public benefit.

A study conducted in 2001 by Jerold Hayden, a Harvard professor of urban planning and design, with the Department of City Planning and the Municipal Art Society, found that 40 percent of these parks “were and are practically useless, with austere designs, no amenities and little or no direct sunlight. Roughly half of the buildings surveyed had spaces that were illegally closed or otherwise privatized.” (For Gotham Gazette’s report on that study, go here.)

The results still hold today, Kayden wrote in a recent New York Times piece.
Kayden said he welcomes the attention the protesters have called to the city’s privately owned public spaces, but calls for a much broader discussion on how they can contribute meaningfully to city life. “They need a champion, an independent steward or curator who actively promotes their use, not only by assuring that spaces are provided as legally promised but also by encouraging improvements, activities and public educational opportunities,” Kayden said.

By Gail Robinson on October 31, 2011, 3:06 pm
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Cuomo Taps Foye For Port Authority
October 19th, 2011

The Cuomo Administration has announced a major reorganization plan for the Port Authority and announced the nomination of Patrick J. Foye to head the authority. The reorganization would fold the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and Moynihan Station Development Corporation into the agency. Here is the full release from Cuomo’s office:

“Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he has recommended Patrick J. Foye to serve as Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and will nominate James Rubin and Rossana Rosado to the Port Authority Board. Additionally, the Governor is calling for the board to approve the consolidation of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation and Lower Manhattan Development Corporations operations into the Authority. There is no fiscal impact to the Port Authority as a result of these changes.

Mr. Foye’s recommendation is subject to the approval of the PANYNJ Board. Current Executive Director Christopher Ward will remain in his position until the end of October and then serve as an advisor to the Port Authority for a transitional period through the end of the year.

“The Port Authority must meet its potential as a major economic engine that plans for the region and attracts business on an international scale,” Governor Cuomo said. “We must also improve its operations and maximize the value out of every dollar spent so that it is financially responsible and respects the tax and toll payers.”

Pat Foye said “I am honored to be recommended for Executive Director of the Port Authority. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, we have begun to re-energize New York’s economy and pave the way for job growth in the state. I thank Governor Cuomo for this opportunity and look forward to working closely with him and the Board of Directors at the Port Authority on maintaining and improving the New York metropolitan region’s vital transportation, infrastructure and economic development assets”.

Governor Cuomo also announced the reorganization of the operations of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation into the Port Authority.

“Too many different agencies doing the same or closely related work makes little sense,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Port Authority is best situated to oversee the development at Moynihan Station and the orderly wind down of the LMDC and these changes will consolidate responsibility within the Authority.”

There is no fiscal impact to the Port Authority from these changes. David Emil will become the Deputy Executive Director of the PANYNJ.

Governor Cuomo also intends to nominate Rossana Rosado and James Rubin to the Board of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Mr. Rubin’s appointment as Senior Advisor for International Competiveness at the Empire State Development Corporation.

“With decades of work in government, finance and the media, James Rubin is a true national leader in international economic affairs,” Governor Cuomo said. “He will bring a knowledgeable and experienced voice to designing a program that enhances New York’s role as the gateway for global commerce, and a center for the international business community.”

“Rossana Rosado has served the people of New York, and particularly our Latino communities, with a dedication and vision,” Governor Cuomo said. “Her 13 years of experience as Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of El Diaro La Prensa have highlighted her ability to communicate effectively with all New Yorkers. These skills will serve the Port Authority well as it continues to improve the lives of New Yorkers and our neighbors.”

James Rubin said, “The Port Authority can and should serve as an engine of international trade for the New York region. The state needs a renewed effort to grow jobs and increase global investment in New York and that will be my project.”

Rossana Rosado said “I am thrilled by the opportunity Governor Cuomo has given me to serve our communities in this new role. The Port Authority can have a positive impact in the lives of our residents, and it will be my pleasure to further the significant benefits that it provides, both now and in the future.”

Mr. Foye is currently the Governor’s Deputy Secretary of Economic Development, a role in which he manages the state’s initiatives for economic recovery, investment, and job creation, and oversees the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC). Previously, Mr. Foye was Deputy County Executive for Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano. Mr. Foye has also served as a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), representing Nassau County. Mr. Foye was one of only two MTA board members who in 2010 voted against fare increases- the third in three years. Prior to working for Nassau County, Mr. Foye was the downstate chief of ESDC for former Governor Eliot Spitzer as well as Vice Chair of the Long Island Power Authority. Mr. Foye was a partner at Skadden Arps and practiced law in New York, Brussels, Budapest, and Moscow and was a senior member of the management team of a S&P 500 REIT for six years. Mr. Foye also served as President and CEO of the United Way of Long Island for three years.

Mr. Rubin is currently President of the Atlantic Partnership. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Rubin served as Executive Editor of Bloomberg View, the opinion section of Bloomberg News, and adjunct professor of international affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Mr. Rubin served under President Clinton as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Chief Spokesman for the State Department from 1997 to May 2000. He was also a top policy adviser to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and acted as a special negotiator during the Kosovo war to secure the demobilization of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Mr. Rubin was also a Visiting Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics from 2001-2004; a partner in the Brunswick Group a financial advisory firm from 2001-2004; and in 2002 and 2003, the host of the PBS series Wide Angle, a primetime, weekly international affairs program.

Ms. Rosado has over twenty five years in the New York media industry. Since 1999 she has served as the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of El Diario La Prensa – the nation’s oldest Spanish-language newspaper. She is also the first woman to serve in this position. Prior to joining El Diario in 1995 as Editor-in-Chief, Ms. Rosado was the Vice President for Public Affairs at the Health & Hospitals Corporation for the City of New York and continued to serve there under both the Dinkins and Giuliani administrations. She was also chosen to assist the transition teams for the Bloomberg and Spitzer transitions. From 1988 to 1995, Ms. Rosado was a public affairs programming producer at WPIX, where she became sole producer of daily program “Best Talk in Town.” In 1992, Ms. Rosado won an Emmy for her public service campaign “Care for Kids.” Ms. Rosado first joined El Diario in 1983 as a City Hall Reporter upon graduating from Pace University with a degree in Journalism. She is currently a member of the Pace University Board of Trustees.

Kathryn Wilde, President and CEO of Partnership for New York City said, “Governor Cuomo’s choice of Pat, James and Rossana, demonstrates his administration’s commitment to improving New York’s infrastructure and economic development. Having worked with Pat on a number of projects, I have had the opportunity to witness the experience and knowledge he brings to the table. I am confident that these appointments will help lead the Port Authority into a new era of fiscal responsibility and efficiency. This group’s management skills are exactly what we need to put New York on the path to economic recovery.”

Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York said “On behalf of the affiliated unions of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and the 100,000 working men and women we represent, we commend Governor Cuomo for his appointment of Pat Foye to serve as executive director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. We and others in the business community have worked with Pat and are confident that he will bring competent and practical management to The Port Authority’s vital role in maintaining and expanding our regional transportation assets and completing the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site. We look forward to continuing to work with Pat to keep critical projects on track and assure that public resources are invested to maximize economic growth and job creation.”

Robert Yaro, President of Regional Plan Association said, “I commend Governor Cuomo on nominating Pat to the Port Authority. He will bring public and private sector experience to the Port Authority, increasing its efficiency and productivity. An agency as complex as the Authority requires experienced managers who will balance the needs of the organization with the fiscal situation in New York. Pat and his team have the necessary credentials to ensure that the Port Authority will become a driving force in New York’s economic development.”

Steve Spinola, President of the Real Estate Board of New York said, “The Governor has made it clear that creating jobs is his top priority. The Port Authority plays an essential role in New York’s economic development and infrastructure, and Governor Cuomo is making sure that it will be able to produce the best results for the people of this state. Pat Foye and the rest of the team are excellent additions to the Authority’s team. Pat’s extensive management experience and keen knowledge of New York’s fiscal make him especially suited for transforming the Port Authority into an economic engine.”

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, “Today’s nomination of Pat Foye to lead the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey comes at a critical time in New York’s history. There are many important projects throughout the region that can be advanced through strong leadership, and Senate Republicans stand ready to work with Governor Cuomo’s team to promote regional economic development throughout New York. Pat Foye has worked for county executives and Governors, and has decades of public and private sector experience. I wish him great success in this new role.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “The Port Authority is an integral part of the redevelopment of downtown, and I look forward to working with Pat Foye as we continue the progress we have made in rebuilding my lower Manhattan community. Pat has a strong economic development record and I know we will work well together to complete the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site.”

By David King on October 19, 2011, 3:02 pm
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DEC Cancels Fracking Advisory Panel
October 14th, 2011

The Department of Environmental Conservation has cancelled today’s scheduled hydrofracking advisory panel meeting and Environmental Advocates of New York says it knows why. They say Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing the state towards drilling faster than state agencies can prepare.

“Today’s Fracking Advisory Panel meeting was canceled because New York’s Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Public Service Commission and Department of Agriculture and Markets have not completed estimates of the demands that drilling 1,400 new gas wells each year will place on their agencies in terms of staff and resources,” said Environmental Advocates in a statement. “Clearly, state agencies are caught flat-flooted by Governor Cuomo’s rush to drill. We’re less than two months from closing the simultaneous comment periods on the environmental impact statement, regulations and draft permit, and the Governor and New York State’s agencies still don’t know how many tens of millions of dollars this industry will cost the state. This is further evidence that New York is unprepared to provide responsible oversight of fracking and guarantee that our drinking water and communities are protected.”

For more on the debate over fracking check out two recent op-eds written for and against the controversial issue.

By David King on October 14, 2011, 12:56 pm
In category: Gotham City | 1 Comment »

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AM Showdown at Zuccotti Park?
October 13th, 2011

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has informed Occupy Wall Street protesters that he wants them to leave Zuccotti Park so that it can be cleaned tomorrow. Bloomberg says protesters will be allowed back in but must follow a set of rules. Some are concerned the rules are designed to effectively end the protests. Dan Cantor of the Working Families Party wrote supporters today asking them to support protesters and to contact Bloomberg to demand protesters be allowed to stay.

“In theory the protesters will be allowed back in, but there’s a catch — there will be a new set of rules, including no lying down and no sleeping bags,” wrote Cantor. It seems clear to us these rules are designed to end any ongoing occupation of the park.The Occupy Wall Street sanitation committee has begged the administration and anyone in earshot for dumpsters, but the City has ignored them. Instead, officials are using the excuse of cleaning the park as a back-door attempt to get protesters out of the park and put an early end to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Protesters are concerned that Bloomberg’s cleaning could just be a ploy to oust them from the park and so they are trying to gather support from the community to let Bloomberg know that people are watching.”

The WFP is holding a press conference tonight at 6 p.m. at Brown Brother Harriman 140 Broadway at Liberty Plaza to call on Bloomberg to allow the protests to continue. Cantor issued this statement earlier today: Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on October 13, 2011, 4:31 pm
In category: Gotham City | 1 Comment »

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