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<channel>
	<title>The Wonkster</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster</link>
	<description>A blog about the views and spews of editorialists, bloggers and other unsavory opinionated New Yorkers.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:43:48 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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			<item>
		<title>9/11 Bill Advances in Congress</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/16/911-bill-advances-in-congress/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/16/911-bill-advances-in-congress/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:43:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gail Robinson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6981</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[james zadroga, 9/11 responders, 9/11 emergency workers]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>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&#8217;s office. The House Health Subcommittee today approved the <a href=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/15/2010-03-15_ny_pols_press_for_911_aid_urge_congress_to_step_up_to_the_plate_and_provide_long.html>bill</a>, known as the <a href=http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h847/show>James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act</a>.</p>
<p>The move comes less than a week after the city and 9/11 workers reached a <a href=http://www.silive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-37/1268386796262820.xml&#038;storylist=simetro>tentative agreement</a> 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.</p>
<p>In a statement, Mayor Michael Bloomberg hailed the passage as &#8220;an important step in our effort to secure sustained medical monitoring and treatment for the first responders and survivors of the Sept. 11 attacks,&#8221; 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.</p>
<p>For more on the legislation, see <a href=http://gothamgazette.com/article/health/20100216/9/3155/>9/11 Health Care Bill Could Get Boost in Congress.</p>
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		<title>A Call for Charter Openness</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/16/a-call-for-charter-openness/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/16/a-call-for-charter-openness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:32:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Courtney Gross</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[City Hall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Electoral Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Governing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nextNY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bill de Blasio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[city charter review commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Liu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new york city]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6975</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now, that&#8217;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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Now, that&#8217;s preemptive. </p>
<p>Even before the newly minted <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/charter/html/about/about.shtml">Charter Revision Commission</a> announced its first meeting, <a href="http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/">Public Advocate Bill de Blasio</a>, <a href="http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/">Comptroller John Liu</a> and 24 council members sent its members a letter calling for openness and webcasted meetings. </p>
<p>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&#8217;s meetings) be open to the public.</p>
<p>The letter is after the jump.<br />
<span id="more-6975"></span></p>
<p>March 9, 2010<br />
Charter Revision Commission</p>
<p>Dear Commissioners:</p>
<p>We commend you for taking on the important responsibility of reforming the City Charter. We urge you to use this opportunity to meaningfully engage New Yorkers in discussions about how to make government more responsive to their needs.</p>
<p>A successful charter revision commission must include:</p>
<p>- Frequent, open public forums in every corner of the City that encourage New Yorkers to provide their recommendations about their visions for New York and to observe the commission’s deliberative process;</p>
<p>- Outreach to New Yorkers about charter revision using all available modes of communication – social networking media, civic, community and religious organizations, webcasting, video- and teleconferencing, and transcribing and posting all testimony and information about commission meetings and hearings online; and</p>
<p>- Clear and concise questions and extensive public education about what voters can expect to see on the ballot on Election Day.</p>
<p>We are committed to working with you over the coming weeks and months to make this a reality.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Bill de Blasio<br />
Public Advocate for the City of New York</p>
<p>John Liu<br />
Comptroller of the City of New York</p>
<p>City Council Members</p>
<p>Fernando Cabrera (14th CD)<br />
Margaret Chin (1st CD)<br />
Leroy Comrie (27th CD)<br />
Erik Martin Dilan (37th CD)<br />
Daniel Dromm (25th CD)<br />
Mathieu Eugene (40th CD)<br />
Helen Foster (16th CD)<br />
Daniel Garodnick (4th CD)<br />
Robert Jackson (7th CD)<br />
Letitia James (35th CD)<br />
Brad Lander (39th CD)<br />
Jessica Lappin (5th CD)<br />
Melissa Mark-Viverito (8th CD)<br />
Rosie Mendez (2nd CD)<br />
Annabel Palma (18th CD)<br />
Diana Reyna (34th CD)<br />
Joel Rivera (15th CD)<br />
Deborah Rose (49th CD)<br />
James Sanders Jr. (31st CD)<br />
James Vacca (13th CD)<br />
James Van Bramer (26th CD)<br />
Albert Vann (36th CD)<br />
Jumaane D. Williams (45th CD)<br />
Thomas White Jr. (28th CD)</p>
<p>Organizations</p>
<p>Citizen Action of New York<br />
Common Cause<br />
Pratt Center for Community Development</p>
<p>Cc:</p>
<p>NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg<br />
NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn</p>
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		<title>NYCHA Still in the Woods</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/15/nycha-still-in-the-woods/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/15/nycha-still-in-the-woods/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:58:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Courtney Gross</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[City Hall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nextNY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[federal funding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[john rhea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new york city]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new york city housing authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYCHA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6969</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today&#8217;s announcement of a $400 million infusion to the New York City Housing Authority will get the authority off of critical condition.

Photo (cc) DaveTheRavingWave (Dave Sanders)
 
But it isn&#8217;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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today&#8217;s announcement of a <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/151741">$400 million infusion</a> to the New York City Housing Authority will get the authority off of critical condition.<br />
<span class="photo_right"><a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/nycha.jpg"><img src="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/nycha.jpg" alt="nycha" title="nycha" width="170" height="130" class="alignright size-full wp-image-6978" /></a>
<div class="photocredit">Photo (cc) DaveTheRavingWave (Dave Sanders)</div>
<p> </span><br />
But it isn&#8217;t out of the woods yet. </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>&#8220;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,&#8221; said Rhea. </p>
<p>To close that gap, of which a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/nyregion/18vouchers.html">large part is from the over enrollment of Section 8</a>, 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. </p>
<p>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 <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/nyregion/15housing.html">eligible for federal funding</a>. 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 <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/15/2010-03-15_city_housing_authority_gets_415m_from_feds_stimulus_and_state.html">properties will receive about $400 million in public and private money</a> &#8212; the majority of which will go to capital improvements.<br />
<span id="more-6969"></span><br />
The agreement covers more than 20,000 units.</p>
<p>These developments will also now receive up to $75 million a year for operating expenses. </p>
<p>While the agreement is a clear boost for the authority, officials said today it&#8217;s not a panacea. </p>
<p>&#8220;This was factored into your forecast and we&#8217;re still seeing deficits, which is obviously of great concern,&#8221; said Councilmember Melissa Mark Viverito at today&#8217;s hearing. </p>
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		<title>Bloomberg, Gillibrand and the Latest Challenger</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/15/bloomberg-gillibrand-and-the-latest-challenger/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/15/bloomberg-gillibrand-and-the-latest-challenger/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:30:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gail Robinson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Electoral Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6963</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mayor Michael Bloomberg&#8217;s antipathy for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, apparent to all who watched his unsuccessful efforts to recruit  Harold Ford and  Mortimer Zuckerman to challenge her &#8212; emerged into open political discourse Saturday as the Times published an article on Gillibrand&#8217;s fruitless campaign to win over the mayor.
The story portrays Gillibrand as mystified [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mayor Michael Bloomberg&#8217;s antipathy for Sen. <a href="http://gillibrand.senate.gov/">Kirsten Gillibrand</a>, apparent to all who watched his unsuccessful efforts to recruit <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/nyregion/06ford.html"> Harold Ford</a> and <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/02/mort_zuckerman_considering_a_r.html"> Mortimer Zuckerman</a> to challenge her &#8212; emerged into open political discourse Saturday as the Times published an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/nyregion/13gillibrand.html?pagewanted=2&#038;hp">article</a> on Gillibrand&#8217;s fruitless campaign to win over the mayor.</p>
<p>The story portrays Gillibrand as mystified by the mayor&#8217;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 <a href=" http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/04/11/2008-04-11_mayor_bloombergs_aides_plotting_path_aro-2.html">term limits</a> and <a href=" http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/28/bloomberg-now-opposed-to-holding-terror-trials-in-new-york-city/">terror trials</a>, said, Bloomberg (&#8221;prides himself on his willingness to stand up for principles, whatever the political cost&#8221;) and her coming from a political family.</p>
<p>The Albany Project, though, <a href=" http://www.thealbanyproject.com/diary/8050/nysen-why-is-bloomberg-campaigning-against-gillibrand"> thinks</a> the Times omits the likeliest explanation: &#8221; Nowhere does the story mention Caroline Kennedy, Bloomberg&#8217;s <a href=" http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-14/news/bloomberg-maneuvers-to-crown-a-kennedy/">very public candidate</a> for the Senate appointment&#8221; that went to Gillibrand, the blog says. </p>
<p>Running Scared agrees. &#8220;It&#8217;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&#8217;s seat, went very badly indeed and the seat, messily, went to Gillibrand,&#8221; the blog <a href=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/03/bloombergs_galp.php>comments</a>. &#8220;I feel certain the Times would have mentioned that.&#8221;<br />
<span id="more-6963"></span></p>
<p>As much as she tries to woo the mayor it will likely be for naught, the Albany Project concludes: &#8220;There is nothing she can do or say to change Bloomberg&#8217;s conceit that that Senate seat should be held by someone who is personally beholden to him.&#8221;</p>
<p>Daniel on the Talking Point Reader Blog <a href=" http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/d/s/ds4/2010/03/bloomberg-wants-to-be-senator.php">concurs</a>. &#8220;Bloomberg is a controlling figure,&#8221; he writes. &#8220;He&#8217;s used to doing things his way especially when he&#8217;s in charge. So what he probably really wants out of Gillibrand is someone who will check with the mayor before she votes for &#8212; anything. &#8221;</p>
<p>The latest Bloomberg ally who was rumored as a challenger to Gillibrand is former state banking official Diana Taylor, Bloomberg&#8217;s significant other. Saturday, though, Taylor <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34411.html"> ruled that out</a>.</p>
<p>That leaves Dan Senor. Senor, often <a href=" http://gawker.com/5493378/a-guide-to-the-man-bloomberg-may-be-backing-for-senate?utm_source=feedburner&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gawker%2Ffull+(Gawker)">described</a> as a Bush loyalist, served as an advisor to the Iraqi coalition government in 2004 and 2005 and defended the policies from those days in the New York Times. He recently met with Bloomberg&#8217;s political operative Kevin Sheekey.</p>
<p>Writing on Talking Pont Café, <m>j. Rosenberg <a href="http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/12/nixon_opposes_dan_senor_candidacy/">expresses doubts</a> about the neoconservative Senor&#8217;s strength as a candidate: &#8220;He&#8217;s from Ohio. No one has ever heard of him. And pretty much everyone in New York (especially African-Americans and Jews) hated the Iraq war and despise the neocons who lied us into it.&#8221; (Of course we never learned how Bloomberg felt about all that.)</p>
<p>Senor might want to consider an embrace with Bloomberg. Whatever the mayor&#8217;s power, wealth and ability, he does not do too well in getting his allies in the Senate. Just ask Kennedy, Ford and Zuckerman.</p>
<p></m></p>
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		<title>Weekly Web Wrap</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/13/weekly-web-wrap-62/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/13/weekly-web-wrap-62/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:25:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Muller</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weekly web wrap]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6959</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bringing Basements to Code
(Urban Omnibus)
Bloomberg Ranks 20th Most Powerful in World
(Forbes)
Albany&#8217;s Crime Spree
(The Weekly Standard)
The State&#8217;s Sugar Campaign
(The American Prospect)
Paterson Typical of State&#8217;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&#8217;s Wage Theft Bill
(DMI Blog)
DiNapoli Proposes Ending &#8216;Backdoor Borrowing&#8217;
(NY Fiscal Watch)
Thoughts on Snow Removal
(Regional Plan Association)
The [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Bringing Basements to Code<br />
(<a href="http://urbanomnibus.net/2010/03/bringing-basements-to-code/" target="_blank">Urban Omnibus</a>)<br />
Bloomberg Ranks 20th Most Powerful in World<br />
(<a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/20/power-09_Michael-Bloomberg_C610.html" target="_blank">Forbes</a>)<br />
Albany&#8217;s Crime Spree<br />
(<a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/albany%E2%80%99s-crime-spree" target="_blank">The Weekly Standard</a>)<br />
The State&#8217;s Sugar Campaign<br />
(<a href="http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=sugar_high" target="_blank">The American Prospect</a>)<br />
Paterson Typical of State&#8217;s Political Culture<br />
(<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/234846" target="_blank">Newsweek</a>)<br />
Ground Zero Workers at Higher Risk of Heart Disorder<br />
(<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-13/world-trade-center-collapse-may-be-linked-to-heart-disorder.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br />
Atlantic Yards: Making Dangerous Streets Worse<br />
(<a href="http://blog.tstc.org/2010/03/12/atlantic-yards-making-dangerous-streets-more-dangerous/" target="_blank">Tri-State Transportation Campaign</a>)<br />
Albany&#8217;s Wage Theft Bill<br />
(<a href="http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2010/03/albanys_new_wage_theft_bill_co.html" target="_blank">DMI Blog</a>)<br />
DiNapoli Proposes Ending &#8216;Backdoor Borrowing&#8217;<br />
(<a href="http://www.nyfiscalwatch.com/?p=2460" target="_blank">NY Fiscal Watch</a>)<br />
Thoughts on Snow Removal<br />
(<a href="http://www.rpa.org/2010/03/spotlight-vol-9-no-5-theres-no-business-like-snow-business.html" target="_blank">Regional Plan Association</a>)<br />
The Teachers Union and the Budget<br />
(<a href="http://lwvny-blog.blogspot.com/2010/03/heres-hint-why-budget-will-be-late.html" target="_blank">League of Women Voters of New York State</a>)<br />
State Income Taxes by Place of Residence<br />
(<a href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/larry_littlefield/new_york_state_income_tax_payments_by_place_of_residence.html" target="_blank">Room Eight</a>)<br />
Twenty-One Local Housing Developments to be Federalized<br />
(<a href="http://ibo.nyc.ny.us/cgi-park/?p=132" target="_blank">IBO Web Log</a>)<br />
Cartoonist on Paterson Scandals<br />
(<a href="http://www.cagle.com/politicalcartoons/pccartoons/permalink.asp?artist=zyglis&#038;date=100304" target="_blank">Adam Zyglis</a>)<br />
How Empty Ships Led to Paved Roads<br />
(<a href="http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/shaped_by_our_shipping_part_1_empty_wooden_ships_led_to_paved_roads_16158.asp" target="_blank">Core77</a>)<br />
Lessons From Newsday&#8217;s Paywall<br />
(<a href="http://paidcontent.org/article/419-media-summit-the-medium-isnt-the-message-the-brand-is/" target="_blank">paidContent.org</a> via <a href="http://www.nyconvergence.com/2010/03/newsdays-paywall-experience-provides-lessons.html" target="_blank">NYConvergence</a>)<br />
Removing &#8216;Versus&#8217; from the Education Reform Dialogue<br />
(<a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/03/removing-versus-from-our-ed-reform.html" target="_blank">The Innovative Educator</a>)</p>
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		<title>The City&#039;s Denial</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/the-citys-denial/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/the-citys-denial/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:19:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gail Robinson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6954</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 &#8212; and the city is not budging an inch.
The e-mailed statement by Paul Marks, deputy chief of labor and employment law, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>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 <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/a-discrimination-finding-aginst-doe/">below</a>), the former interim principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy &#8212; and the city is not budging an inch.</p>
<p>The e-mailed statement by Paul Marks, deputy chief of labor and employment law, reads in full: &#8220;The EEOC&#8217;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.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>A Discrimination Finding Against DOE</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/a-discrimination-finding-aginst-doe/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/a-discrimination-finding-aginst-doe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:58:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gail Robinson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debbie almontaser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equal employment opportunity commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[khalil gibran academy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[khalil gibran international academy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new york city department of education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6946</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>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.</p>
<p>The case involves <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/commentary/107.almontaser.shtml"> Debbie Almontaser</a>, 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 <a href=" http://www.kgiany.org/">Khalil Gibran Academy</a>, a small public school, and seemed a likely candidate to be the school&#8217;s principal when it opened. (The copy of the determination came Almontaser&#8217;s lawyer; the commission said it is barred from commenting on discrimination complaints &#8211; or even confirming they exist.)</p>
<p>All that changed as a number of blogs and the New York Post stepped up <a href=" http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2007/05/07/lessons-from-kahlil-gibran-2/">attacks on the proposed school</a>, 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 &#8220;intifada&#8221; and some t-shirts bearing the word.</p>
<p>The resulting <a href=" http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_UerzwvF7fcSQY8YOP1ln4K"> story</a> bore the headline &#8220;City Principal is Revolting.&#8221; Writing on behalf of the commission, district director Spencer Lewis Jr. concluded, &#8220;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.&#8221;</p>
<p>Despite that, the Bloomberg administration <a href=" http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/08/11/2007-08-11_head_of_arabic_school_drops_out.html">urged</a> Almontaser to step down from her post as interim principal and rejected her application to become permanent principal.<span id="more-6946"></span></p>
<p>According to the commission&#8217;s report, Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott told the EEOC that Almontaser had become a &#8220;flashpoint&#8221; and that what he saw as her inability to handle the press had undermined the prospects for the school. This apparently prompted him to ask for her resignation.</p>
<p>In doing this, commission said, &#8220;DOE succumbed to the very bias that the creation of the school intended to dispel, and a small segment of the public succeeded in imposing prejudices on DOE as an employer.&#8221;</p>
<p>In her complaint, Almontaser asked to be reinstated as principal and receive lost wages (she was demoted to a lower paying teacher&#8217;s post following the furor) and $300,000 in compensatory damages.</p>
<p>In an email, Almontaser&#8217;s lawyer, Alan Levine, said she would seek a settlement along those lines. If an accord cannot be reached, he said,  &#8220;We will bring suit on our discrimination claim.&#8221;</p>
<p>In a written statement, Levine said &#8220;To its everlasting shame, the DOE did the bigot&#8217;s work. Now the EEOC has reminded us that it is the responsibility of government to stand up to the forces of discrimination, not give in to them.&#8221;</p>
<p>We are awaiting a response from the Department of Education and will pass it along when we get it.</p>
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		<title>Espada Holding Town Hall Meeting, Out of Town</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/espada-holding-town-hall-meeting-out-of-town/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/espada-holding-town-hall-meeting-out-of-town/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:01:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pedro Espada]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6943</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada is hosting a town hall meeting that isn&#8217;t in his town. Espada will host virtual town hall meeting, &#8220;live from the floor of the Senate Chamber&#8221; on Sunday, March 21 from 7-8 p.m.
&#8220;This is an opportunity for residents of the Bronx, and across the city, to have a very real [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaigns/whosrunning.php?searchterms=espada&amp;submit=search">Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada</a> is hosting a town hall meeting that isn&#8217;t in his town. Espada will host virtual town hall meeting, &#8220;live from the floor of the Senate Chamber&#8221; on Sunday, March 21 from 7-8 p.m.</p>
<p>&#8220;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,&#8221; said Espada in a statement. &#8221; 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.</p>
<p>&#8220;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,&#8221; according to a press release from his office.  You can watch the meeting a at this <a href="www.nysenate.gov/espadabudgettownhall.com">link </a>on the 21st, 0r listen by calling 1-800-857-6563.</p>
<p>Espada has been accused of not actually living in the Bronx district he represents. The Gazette <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/albany/20090601/204/2931">visited with Espada</a> in his supposed Bronx residence last year. The controversial senator is also  <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/knickerbocker/cuomo_subpoenas_espada_son_UKX4GqPHpDr20Vhe5tRf3H">under investigation</a> by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.</p>
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		<title>Padavan Against Gambling</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/padavan-against-gambling/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/padavan-against-gambling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:31:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6940</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sen. Frank Padavan has had his fill with the state&#8217;s love affair with gambling.
Gov. David Paterson&#8217;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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sen. Frank Padavan has had his fill with the state&#8217;s love affair with gambling.</p>
<p>Gov. David Paterson&#8217;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.</p>
<p>Padavan is concerned that the state will exacerbate gambling addiction which will in turn cost the state money.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“Economists have argued that gambling at best is a zero-sum game &#8211; 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.</p>
<p>“But, despite all the warning signs and evidence to the contrary, what is the state’s 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 VLT’s will lead New York to become Vegas East with twenty-four hour a day slot machine venues.”</p>
<p>Padavan has pushed legislation in the past to fight gambling. One piece of legislation would have increased the gambling age. &#8221; I&#8217;ve been a dismal failure on that subject when it comes to convicining my colleagues it is the way to go,&#8221; said Padavan. &#8220;They say, &#8216;You&#8217;re right&#8230;but&#8230;&#8217;&#8221;</p>
<p>In a year when the state faces an fiscal crisis of unprecedented proportion it isn&#8217;t likely that Padavan will win the battle this time around either.</p>
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		<title>Ending Wage Theft</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/ending-wage-theft/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/ending-wage-theft/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:11:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work and Labor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carl heastie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diane Savino]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6937</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Carl Heastie stood with advocates today to announce their support for legislation that would reform labor laws t0 punish businesses that illegally shirk overtime and minimum wage requirements.
A report by the National Employment Law Project found that  $18.4 million in wages a week is stolen from workers in New York [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaigns/whosrunning.php?searchterms=heastie&amp;submit=search">Carl Heastie</a> stood with advocates today to announce their support for <a href="http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/api/1.0/html/bill/S7050">legislation</a> that would reform labor laws t0 punish businesses that illegally shirk overtime and minimum wage requirements.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://nelp.3cdn.net/990687e422dcf919d3_h6m6bf6ki.pdf">report</a> by the National Employment Law Project found that  $18.4 million in wages a week is stolen from workers in New York City alone.  They estimate more than $1 billion is stolen from them in a year.</p>
<p>&#8220;This money that would otherwise be spent on food, rent and school supplies,&#8221; said Anna Maria Archila,  co-executive director of Make the Road New York, &#8220;This bill will turn around the perverse economic incentives that currently encourage wage theft, undermine responsible businesses, and steal from our tax base.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;The Wage Theft Prevention Act is a comprehensive bill to change the perverse incentive by increasing penalties, increasing protection for workers who speak up, and adding tools that the Department of Labor and Courts can use to investigate cases and actually collect the money that workers are owed,&#8221;said Heastie in a statement.</p>
<p>The bill,<a href="http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/api/1.0/html/bill/S7050">S.7050</a>, has been refereed to the Senate Labor Committee.</p>
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		<title>Peralta&#039;s Lead</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/peraltas-lead/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/12/peraltas-lead/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:33:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gail Robinson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6933</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hiram Monserrate&#8217;s efforts to cast himself as a defender of traditional values and a victim of vengeful state Senator, do not seemed to have gained much traction in the Senate district he used to represent &#8212; and wants to represent again. According to a Siena Poll conducted earlier this week, Assemblymember José Peralta leads Monserrate [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_Monserrate>Hiram Monserrate</a>&#8217;s efforts to cast himself as a defender of traditional values and a victim of vengeful state Senator, do not seemed to have gained much traction in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_Monserrate">Senate district</a> he used to represent &#8212; and wants to represent again. According to a <a href="http://www.siena.edu/uploadedfiles/home/parents_and_community/community_page/sri/sny_poll/SNYSD130310%20Release.pdf">Siena Poll</a> conducted earlier this week, Assemblymember <a href="http://joseperalta.com/">José Peralta</a> leads Monserrate among likely voters in next week&#8217;s special election.</p>
<p>(For more on the issues and the candidates, see Gotham Gazette&#8217;s <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20100312/203/3210">Monserrate Fights for His Old Job &#8211; and &#8216;Traditional Values.&#8217;</a>)</p>
<p>Some 60 percent of those polled supported Peralta, the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate, with Monserrate, who is running as an independent for the specially created Yes We Can Party, bringing in 15 percent. Republican <a href=http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=334652307161>Robert Beltrani</a> has 9 percent and 16 percent remain undecided. While 60 percent have a favorable view of Peralta, only 25 percent of those responding have a good view of Monserrate. Almost three quarters of the voter followed the issue around Monserrate&#8217;s assault trial and expulsion from the Senate closely or very closely.</p>
<p>The poll found voters in the district split evenly on same sex marriage, which has emerged as a big issue in the election, with Peralta in favor and Monserrate opposed.  Monserrate voters are likely &#8212; by a two to one margin &#8212; to be against same sex marriage, but even many voters who agree with Monserrate&#8217;s stand on that issue said they would vote for his opponent on Tuesday.</p>
<p>In a statement accompanying the release of the numbers, Siena New York pollster Steven Greenberg cautioned that in special elections, which tend to have low turnouts, &#8220;anything can happen.&#8221; However, he added, &#8220;it seems unlikely that ‘former Senator’ Monserrate will be losing the first word in that title come next Tuesday.”&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Cuomo Appoints Kaye to Head Paterson Investigation</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/11/cuomo-appoints-kaye-to-head-paterson-investigation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/11/cuomo-appoints-kaye-to-head-paterson-investigation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:38:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[david paterson]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6928</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Attorney General Andrew Cuomo recused himself  and appointed former Chief Judge Judith Kaye as &#8220;independent counsel&#8221; weeks after initializing an investigation into the Paterson administration.
Cuomo&#8217;s office is simultaneously conducting two investigations into Paterson. The first investigation, that stems from a report by the New York Times involving Gov. David Paterson and his use of State [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Attorney General Andrew Cuomo recused himself  and appointed former Chief Judge Judith Kaye as &#8220;independent counsel&#8221; weeks after initializing an investigation into the Paterson administration.</p>
<p>Cuomo&#8217;s office is simultaneously conducting two investigations into Paterson. The first investigation, that stems from a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/nyregion/25paterson.html">report by the New York Times</a> involving Gov. David Paterson and his use of State Troopers in a domestic violence incident, was called for by Paterson himself. The second case was referred by the Public Integrity Commission that has to do with <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/03/more-rain-on-patersons-soggy-parade/">tickets to the World Series</a> that Paterson received.</p>
<p>Many critics cried foul that Cuomo, who was Paterson&#8217;s chief political opponent, would investigate the sitting governor. A recent Marist Poll found Cuomo&#8217;s popularity has slipped 13 points since he started his investigation. Cuomo said that the move to recuse himself was based on the law and had nothing to do with polling.</p>
<p>As for the two investigations into the Paterson administration, Cuomo said preliminary research has revealed that there are &#8220;credible issues to be resolved.&#8221; Cuomo has promised to finish the probe as quickly  as possible. There was chatter there could be a result by the end of this week. That is now clearly not the reality.</p>
<p>&#8220;An immediate resolution of these matters does not appear to be at hand,” Cuomo said. “We are fully cognizant of the need to do the investigation quickly, as well as the need to do the investigation thoroughly.”</p>
<p>Cuomo is expected to be the Democratic nominee for for Governor but he has consistently dodged questions about when he might actually formalize his campaign. Many expected Cuomo was waiting for Paterson to exit the race before he got in, but <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/01/2010-03-01_andy_cant_get_race_in_gear_till_probes_wrap_up.html">sources have said</a> that Cuomo won&#8217;t announce until after several investigations his office is conducting conclude.</p>
<p>Liz Benjamin <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/of-cuomos-and-kaye.html">points out</a> that Cuomo and his father Mario have had a long history with Kaye.</p>
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		<title>With Cops Down, Kelly Promises to Keep Crime Low</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/11/with-cops-down-kelly-promises-to-keep-crime-low/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/11/with-cops-down-kelly-promises-to-keep-crime-low/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:31:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Courtney Gross</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[City Hall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Electoral Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nextNY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new york city]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ray kelly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[terror trials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[terrorism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6924</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Come January 2011, the city&#8217;s police ranks will be as low as they were in the 1990s, said Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., the chair of the council&#8217;s public safety committee, this morning.
For Vallone, that is intolerable. 
&#8220;1990 was before safe streets, safe city,&#8221; said Vallone. &#8220;It was a time when the City Council realized we [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Come January 2011, the city&#8217;s police ranks will be as low as they were in the 1990s, said Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., the chair of the council&#8217;s public safety committee, this morning.</p>
<p>For Vallone, that is intolerable. </p>
<p>&#8220;1990 was before safe streets, safe city,&#8221; said Vallone. &#8220;It was a time when the City Council realized we cannot police this city with this many police officers.&#8221; </p>
<p>Including academy class sizes and attrition, the police department headcount is expected to be at 34,875 in July, lowering to 34,475 in January 2011, <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/home/home.shtml">Police Commissioner Ray Kelly </a>testified at a preliminary budget hearing today. No unit, he added, will be held harmless. </p>
<p>&#8220;Virtually every unit, every entity, is going to be affected,&#8221; Kelly said. &#8220;No unit is spared, certainly in a mega sense.&#8221; </p>
<p>At the beginning of the fiscal crisis, the police department was one of the City Council&#8217;s top priorities. Members <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20081218/203/2784">fought tooth and nail </a>to keep academy class after academy class. </p>
<p>This year, after several years of budget cuts, it may not be the same. With <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/02/25/2010-02-25_city_should_spare_kids_the_budget_ax.html">day care centers on the chopping block</a> and fire companies set for slashing, police officers may not be the council&#8217;s number one priority in <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20100201/203/3167">fiscal year 2011</a>. Much of the noise coming from City Hall&#8217;s steps refers to <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/03/10/2010-03-10_ralliers_cry_against_govs_25m_cut_for_senior_centers.html">social service cuts</a> and the <a href="http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-city-proposes-fdny-firehouse-closures,0,2912891.story">Fire Department</a>, not necessarily New York&#8217;s finest.<br />
<span id="more-6924"></span><br />
Nonetheless, the city is at the very beginning of its budget process. Much of the details are to-be-determined until the state approves its budget. </p>
<p>What&#8217;s not in the department&#8217;s budget, Kelly said this morning, is funding to support security for the proposed terror trials in Lower Manhattan. Kelly said it would likely cost $200 million a year to secure Lower Manhattan during the trials, which federal officials estimate could last between two to five years. </p>
<p>The location of those trials, which are extremely politically unpopular in the Big Apple, is still under <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/us/politics/09terror.html">debate</a> in Washington. </p>
<p>When asked by the council whether the department&#8217;s budget could still keep New York City safe from terrorism, Kelly said, &#8220;We are going to do everything we possibly can to protect the city.&#8221; He added the department must be successful every day, while a terrorist only has to be successful once. </p>
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		<title>AEG Out of Racino Deal</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/11/aeg-out-of-racino-deal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/11/aeg-out-of-racino-deal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:36:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[david paterson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Floyd Flake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay-Z]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6921</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The state is no longer supporting Aqueduct Entertainment Group&#8217;s bid to run the racino at the Aqueduct Race Track.
Gov. David Paterson&#8217;s office released this statement earlier today:
&#8220;The Division of the Lottery has concluded that it cannot issue a gaming license to Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG). Therefore, the State has officially withdrawn its support for AEG [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The state is no longer supporting Aqueduct Entertainment Group&#8217;s bid to run the racino at the Aqueduct Race Track.</p>
<p>Gov. David Paterson&#8217;s office released this statement earlier today:</p>
<p>&#8220;The Division of the Lottery has concluded that it cannot issue a gaming license to Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG). Therefore, the State has officially withdrawn its support for AEG to develop and operate a video lottery terminal (VLT) facility at Aqueduct Race Track. The Executive Branch advocates that the selection of the Aqueduct VLT franchisee be done pursuant to an expedited, transparent, apolitical and publicly accountable procurement process.&#8221;</p>
<p>AEG has been under great scrutiny over the last few months and investors including Rev. Floyd Flake and Jay-Z <a href="http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100309/REAL_ESTATE/100309862">backed out of the group</a>.</p>
<p>If a replacement isn&#8217;t found soon it could leave a $300 million hole in the state budget.</p>
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		<title>Ravitch: &quot;I Have Not Written The Bible&quot;</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/10/ravitch-i-have-not-written-the-bible/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/10/ravitch-i-have-not-written-the-bible/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:41:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Ravitch]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6918</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;I recognize I have not written the bible,&#8221; Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch said while unveiling his fiscal plan this afternoon.  &#8220;Others might have ideas that are just as good.&#8221;
Ravitch will now spend the week discussing his plans with legislators. He is set to spend the day meeting with the Republican and Democratic legislative conferences. Here [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;I recognize I have not written the bible,&#8221; Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch said while unveiling his fiscal plan this afternoon.  &#8220;Others might have ideas that are just as good.&#8221;</p>
<p>Ravitch will now spend the week discussing his plans with legislators. He is set to spend the day meeting with the Republican and Democratic legislative conferences. Here are the major points of Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch&#8217;s fiscal plan according to a release from his office:</p>
<ul>
<li> Lock the State into paying down its existing structural budget gap within five years;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Require a quarterly assessment by an independent Financial Review Board of the State&#8217;s progress towards structural balance and the maintenance of annual balanced budgets;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Authorize the Governor, if the independent review board finds that the budget is not projected to be in balance at year&#8217;s end, and the Governor and the Legislature cannot agree on gap-closing actions within a limited time-frame, to implement across the board pro-rata reductions;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Allow the State to borrow within stringent limits to close existing budget gaps, but only if the independent review board finds that strict new financial controls have been met.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ravitch spent much of the conference playing down the inclusion of the borrowing measure in his plan saying it was not what he wanted to focus on and hoped it would not be necessary.</p>
<p>Here is the full release:</p>
<p>Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch today unveiled a fiscal reform plan which calls for a five-year plan to eliminate the State&#8217;s structural imbalance and institutes a process by which annual budget balance is mandated, monitored and maintained.</p>
<p>With the creation of a Financial Review Board, comprised of representatives appointed by the Governor, the Legislature and the Comptroller, adherence to the five-year plan will be monitored and reviewed on a quarterly basis. And in order to maintain balance in a given fiscal year, the Legislature would be required to act within a limited timeframe when the budget is out of balance or the Governor would be authorized to initiate across the board pro rata spending reductions.</p>
<p>The proposal also recommends stronger reserve requirements, a transition to GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) budgeting standards, and changing the beginning of the State fiscal year from April 1 to July 1.</p>
<p>This plan is founded on two fundamental propositions: first, fiscal integrity, which means the acknowledgement that for too long we have found ways to cover up a structural imbalance between recurring revenues and recurring expenses. We should adopt new laws that assure we spend only those monies we are willing to raise, and never again pretend our budgets are in balance when they are not. Second, is the avoidance of the inevitable increase in taxes that will result unless our political system finds the will to make the spending reductions necessary to close our growing structural deficit,&#8221; said the Lieutenant Governor.</p>
<p>Major recommendations in the report include the following:</p>
<p>* Lock the State into paying down its existing structural budget gap within five years;<br />
* Require a quarterly assessment by an independent Financial Review Board of the State&#8217;s progress towards structural balance and the maintenance of annual balanced budgets;<br />
* Authorize the Governor, if the independent review board finds that the budget is not projected to be in balance at year&#8217;s end, and the Governor and the Legislature cannot agree on gap-closing actions within a limited time-frame, to implement across the board pro-rata reductions;<br />
* Allow the State to borrow within stringent limits to close existing budget gaps, but only if the independent review board finds that strict new financial controls have been met.</p>
<p>When Governor Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch to serve as Lieutenant Governor he asked him to prepare a long term fiscal plan for the State of New York. Over the past several months, the Lieutenant Governor has met with State officials, stakeholders and fiscal experts to better understand the challenges facing New York and to provide his recommendations for fixing them.</p>
<p>&#8220;I want to thank the Governor for giving me the opportunity to work on this plan over the past several months,&#8221; added Ravitch. &#8220;I look forward to assisting the Governor in any possible way on the budget negotiations moving forward and I look forward to a robust discussion with the Governor, Legislative Leaders, budget officials and stakeholders about the ideas I have presented in my plan.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Ravitch: Extend This Fiscal Year</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/10/ravitch-extend-this-fiscal-year/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/10/ravitch-extend-this-fiscal-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:50:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6915</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Part of Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch&#8217;s long-term fiscal plan would be to extend the fiscal year to June 30. Currently the fiscal year ends on April 1. Ravitch said it is not his &#8220;intention to give people an excuse to postpone tough decisions,&#8221; but said he wouldn&#8217;t bet that under circumstances a budget deal will [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Part of Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch&#8217;s long-term fiscal plan would be to extend the fiscal year to June 30. Currently the fiscal year ends on April 1. Ravitch said it is not his &#8220;intention to give people an excuse to postpone tough decisions,&#8221; but said he wouldn&#8217;t bet that under circumstances a budget deal will be reached by April this year.</p>
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		<title>Ravitch Unveils His Plan</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/10/ravitch-unveils-his-plan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/10/ravitch-unveils-his-plan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:29:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Ravitch]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6912</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch is currently briefing reporters on his 5-year fiscal plan. You can watch it here. The office of Gov. You can find a copy of Ravitch&#8217;s plan here.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch is currently briefing reporters on his 5-year fiscal plan. You can watch it <a href="http://pointers.audiovideoweb.com/asxfiles-live/ca25winlive2138.asx">here</a>. The office of Gov. You can find a copy of Ravitch&#8217;s plan <a href="http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/pdf/FIVE%20YEAR%20FISCAL%20PLAN.pdf">here</a>.</p>
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		<title>Graduation Rates</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/09/graduation-rates/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/09/graduation-rates/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:31:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gail Robinson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6910</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No doubt many experts will slice and dice the data in days and weeks to come but the city this afternoon released figures showing high school graduation rates continue to climb and reached an all-time high of 63 percent last summer (this figure includes people who graduated in four years, receiving diplomas in June or [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>No doubt many experts will slice and dice the data in days and weeks to come but the city this afternoon released figures showing high school graduation rates continue to climb and reached an all-time high of 63 percent last summer (this figure includes people who graduated in four years, receiving diplomas in June or in August). The city&#8217;s results show increases among all racial groups and among English language learners and special ed students, although  even with the increase, less than 27 percent of special ed students graduate in four years.</p>
<p>While the four-year graduation rate generally is seen as the key indicator, the rates for graduation within six years climbed too, meaning that almost two thirds of students in New York City high school graduate before they &#8220;age out&#8221; of the system.</p>
<p>According to the department, an increasing number of students received a Regents or Advanced Regents diploma. Almost 45 person of the graduates received these more rigorous diplomas, meaning they passed a number of state Regents exams in specific subjects.</p>
<p>The city does not yet have all this on its web site (stay tuned for that) but the state has posted relevant information <a href="http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/irts/pressRelease/20100309/"> here</a>.</p>
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		<title>Trooper Scandal Claims One More</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/09/trooper-scandal-claims-one-more/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/09/trooper-scandal-claims-one-more/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:29:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[david paterson]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6907</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The scandal surrounding the State Troopers has claimed yet another. Acting State Police Superintendent Pedro Perez has announced that he is retiring. Perez&#8217;s retirement comes one week after his former boss Harry Corbitt retired. Corbitt&#8217;s boss, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O&#8217;Donnell, resigned over the scandal a week earlier.
&#8220;My decisions over time, combined with [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/Albany/20100305/204/3203">scandal </a>surrounding the State Troopers has claimed yet another. Acting State Police Superintendent Pedro Perez has announced that he is retiring. Perez&#8217;s retirement comes one week after his former boss Harry Corbitt retired. Corbitt&#8217;s boss, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O&#8217;Donnell, <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/02/25/state-police-in-the-spotlight-again/">resigned</a> over the scandal a week earlier.</p>
<p>&#8220;My decisions over time, combined with the indication that you are seeking a new superintendent and the labor unions’ perception of my ability to lead the agency, have led me to conclude that continuing in my position as Acting Superintendent may be an obstacle to progress of the New York State Police, an agency I love,” Perez <a href="http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/23519/here-we-go-again-perez-retires-from-troopers/">wrote to Paterson</a>.</p>
<p>The New York State Troopers Benevolent Association and the New York State Police Investigators Association released a joint statement calling on Paterson, &#8220;to appoint a strong, progressive leader to restore confidence in the management of the New York State Police, and to do so in a swift manner.&#8221;</p>
<p>“These past few weeks have been difficult for the morale of the men and women of the New York State Police who answer calls for assistance and investigate crime,” said PBA President Thomas H. Mungeer. “We look forward to beginning a new chapter, and we urge the Governor to make this appointment a priority.”</p>
<p>“It is time to move forward and return the focus of the New York State Police to our core mission of serving and protecting the public,” said NYSPIA President Joseph Barrett.</p>
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		<title>Paterson in Brooklyn</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/08/paterson-in-brooklyn/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/03/08/paterson-in-brooklyn/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:09:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gail Robinson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=6903</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This morning&#8217;s town meeting on the budget may have been the most fun Gov. David Paterson has had in a while. Inside the ornate room at Brooklyn Borough hall, no one mentioned David Johnson or Yankees tickets. Instead the crowd applauded Paterson and those who alluded to his other problems did so only to express [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This morning&#8217;s town meeting on the budget may have been the most fun Gov. David Paterson has had in a while. Inside the ornate room at Brooklyn Borough hall, no one mentioned David Johnson or Yankees tickets. Instead the crowd applauded Paterson and those who alluded to his other problems did so only to express support for him.</p>
<p>Of course, the subject at hand was none too cheery &#8212; the state&#8217;s massive budget deficit.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are going to make cuts that if you had told me years ago I was going to become governor and make these kinds of cuts I probably wouldn&#8217;t have believed either,&#8221; Paterson said.</p>
<p>The meeting allowed him to show a command of the state&#8217;s finances and indicated he was able to think about cutting spending and raising taxes while controversy swirls around him. Warning that the state could run out money in May or June, Paterson told people he needed their ideas but cautioned that, if they told him not to cut something,  they had to tell him whether else the money could come from. </p>
<p>Even the questioning on the budget, though, was fairly easy. No representative of health care workers, teachers or public school parents stood up to denounce sweeping cuts in their areas. Instead Queen Mother Blakely asked how she could market her coffee to that state. (&#8221;I haven&#8217;t the slightest idea,&#8221; Paterson said before asking a purchasing person to speak with her.)<br />
<span id="more-6903"></span></p>
<p>He sympathized with many of the questioners, promising to look into some areas such as cuts to kin care for children from troubled families, whether selling wine in grocery stores would boost teen drinking, and whether to save a CUNY program to find jobs for disabled students.</p>
<p>He refused, though, to rule out cuts to senior center, saying &#8220;It’s very hard for us to take things off the table when we have to come up with another $1 billion.&#8221;</p>
<p>After expressing support for Paterson, City Councilmember Charles Barron urged the governor to institute a stock transfer tax and increase other taxes on the wealthy.</p>
<p>Paterson basically rejected that.</p>
<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re living in an electronic environment,&#8221; he said, &#8220;so if you want to move Wall Street to Newark, I think Mayor [Corey] Booker would like it but it&#8217;s not good for us. If you want Wall Street to move to Greenwich, enact the stock transfer tax.&#8221;</p>
<p>Another council member, Letitia James, urged Paterson to &#8220;close some of these prisons upstate that are now empty.&#8221; If he did that, she continued, &#8220;you could save 16 daycare centers they’re proposing to close&#8221; as well as schools and senior centers.</p>
<p>Paterson did not respond to her suggestion.</p>
<p>After the meeting, Paterson went outside to meet the press. Unlike the citizens at the town hall, reporters wanted to know about the scandal but the governor said little, saying he was acing on the advice of his lawyer. &#8220;I’d like to talk about what’s in my heart to the people of New York, Paterson said &#8212; but he can&#8217;t.</p>
<p>One bright note: According to Paterson the crisis, contrary to popular opinion, might actually make it easier for him to govern &#8212; in his view at least. </p>
<p>&#8220;The most significant obstacle to governor negotiating with a legislature is the governor is running for re-election,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and I&#8217;m not running for re-election.&#8221;</p>
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