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	<title>The Wonkster</title>
	<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>Fri, 16 May 2008 22:13:17 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Issues Discussed in Queens Special Election</title>
		<description>While the resignation of Councilmember James Gallagher received wide ranging coverage, the resulting special election for his seat in Queens has gotten less attention  - as is generally the case. But a historic preservation coalition recently released a wide ranging voter guide. Although the focus of the guide is ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/16/issues-discussed-in-queens-special-election/</link>
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		<title>River Crossings</title>
		<description>The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council yesterday released this map of 2005 river crossing data.



A couple interesting highlights: The Bayonne Bridge has had the biggest increase in use over the past 10 years, with 4.9 percent rise, and the Cross Bay-Veteran Memorial Bridge is the runner up with 3.9 percent ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/15/river-crossings/</link>
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		<title>E-Waste Override</title>
		<description>The bill does not cover cell phones as was originally -- and incorrectly -- reported in this post. Disposal of cell phones, according to a spokeswoman for Councilmember de Blasio, are already covered by state law. Thanks to a reader for drawing this our attention! 

In a rare disagreement with ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/14/e-waste-override/</link>
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		<title>Hudson Yards Plan Derailed</title>
		<description>Mayor Michael Bloomberg's efforts to salvage the latest version of the Hudson Yards development plan for the West Side of Manhattan have failed. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials and developer Tishman Speyer have been unable to work out their differences, and today, the MTA released a brief statement:
"The MTA met today with ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/13/hudson-yards-plan-derailed/</link>
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		<title>Brooklyn Bridge Birthday Bash</title>
		<description>Yesterday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz announced a five-day celebration to mark the 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge. The event will run from May 22 through May 26 and include a bridge lighting, concerts, lectures, children's readings, dance performances, and a bike tour. The New York ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/13/brooklyn-bridge-birthday-bash/</link>
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		<title>Staten Island Scenarios</title>
		<description>So the weekend -- Mother's Day weekend no less -- has come and gone with no word from "I led two lives" Rep. Vito Fossella on his political future or lack thereof. As Fossella cogitates, pundits prognosticate. What are the various scenarios? And who wins and who loses?

Fossella could resign ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/12/staten-island-scenarios/</link>
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		<title>Game City</title>
		<description>Whatever you think of the merits or evils of videogames (Too violent? Mindless? A skills tool?),  they can help the economy. New York City already has about 30 game development companies and another 55 firms involved in some aspect of games, according to a recent count by the Center ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/12/game-city/</link>
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		<title>McCain's East River Tour</title>
		<description>In anticipation of John McCain's trip to our hometown, the Democratic Party has released this cute map outlining the areas where he has failed to provide for the city's infrastructure. (Via the Albany Project)



Although the campaign did not respond to requests for comment, it might be noted that the Republican ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/09/mccains-east-river-tour/</link>
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		<title>Water System Critics Opposed to More than the Rate Hike</title>
		<description>To help limit increases in water and sewer rate hikes, a number of people are calling for changes from the city, and it is coming from more than just those who are running for office, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg has scoffed. Among the changes critics say are needed are: a ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/08/water-system-critics-opposed-to-more-than-the-rate-hike/</link>
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		<title>The Last Republican?</title>
		<description>Given our focus on policy and issues, we have avoided the travails of Rep. Vito Fossella since his  arrest for drunk driving last week. For those of you have taken a similar tact, the congressman from Staten Island and Brooklyn was arrested in northern Virginia early Thursday morning with ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/08/the-last-republican/</link>
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		<title>Silver: Saint or Sinner?</title>
		<description>With Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver facing a credible challenge for his Assembly seat on the Lower East Side, a heated debate has broken out in some progressive circles over whether Silver is really so bad after all.

Blogging on Open Left,
Dan Cantor, founder of the purportedly progressive (but very tied to ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/07/silver-saint-or-sinner/</link>
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		<title>More on Atlantic Yards Redesign</title>
		<description>Over the weekend, developer Bruce Ratner unveiled a redesigned and scaled-down version of the Atlantic Yards project for downtown Brooklyn, complete with new models and drawings and an op-ed in the Daily News.

Now opponents have unveiled a new Web site called Atlanticlots.com, created by the Municipal Art Society and Brooklyn ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/06/atlantic-yards-redesign/</link>
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		<title>Skipping Gym Class</title>
		<description>Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum found the Department of Education is skimping kids out of their exercise, according to a new survey of scores of randomly selected elementary and middle schools. 

The report found that 96 percent of elementary schools violate state mandates for third graders, who are supposed to have ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/05/skipping-gym-class/</link>
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		<title>Spring Snarls</title>
		<description>It's that time of year again -- when city streets are closed to traffic, making way for foot races, organized bike rides, charity walks and street fairs. Fine. As writers for Gotham Gazette have frequently noted ( here, for example), in a city where land is a previous commodity, cars ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/05/spring-snarls/</link>
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		<title>Brooklyn Blight</title>
		<description>Every day seems to bring more stories about troubles at Atlantic Yards, Bruce Ratner's megaproject in downtown Brooklyn. The latest, from today's  Daily News, reports that the signature "Miss Brooklyn" residential and commercial building will be scaled back, renamed and only contain commercial space. Ratner has  conceded the ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/05/brooklyn-blight/</link>
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		<title>Spreading Ferry Service</title>
		<description>Staten Island aqua travel shouldn’t seem so unique for that much longer. 

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced the start of expanded ferry service to the outer boroughs this morning -- a pillar of Quinn's State of the City address in February -- which will start with ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/05/spreading-ferry-service/</link>
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		<title>Reactions to the Mayor's Proposed Budget</title>
		<description>Most of the reactions to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's executive budget proposal so far hail its fiscal prudence, albeit some include caveats and others were outright hostile.

Comptroller William Thompson and the Citizen's Budget Commission are both happy with what they heard, and are pleased that their recommendations are included in the ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/02/reactions-to-the-mayors-proposed-budget/</link>
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		<title>Live Broadcast of Executive Budget Presentation</title>
		<description>Mayor Michael Bloomberg is currently giving his executive budget presentation, click here to watch a live video stream. (Microsoft Windows Media Player required. Click here for download.) </description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/05/01/live-broadcast-of-executive-budget-presentation/</link>
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		<title>Quinn Kicks Public Out (Update)</title>
		<description>In the first significant disturbance since the Viola Plummer incident, Council Speaker Christine Quinn ordered the balcony of the council chamber be cleared this afternoon after a large group of Harlem rezoning opponents and supporters created a so-called disturbance.

The council approved the rezoning by a vote of 47 to 2, ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/04/30/quinn-kicks-public-out/</link>
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		<title>Park Battles</title>
		<description>In a city where everything is contentious, add another item to the list: parks. The Observer  reports on  the trend for community groups to fight parks in their midst, often with lawsuits and often with some success.

The groups do not oppose green space and trees but say they ...</description>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/04/30/park-battles/</link>
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