|
BLAME ALBANY
Critics cringe at the power that officials in Albany have
over the lives of New Yorkers, because the New York State
Legislature has been called the most dysfunctional
legislative body in the nation. A look at a dozen issues of
vital importance downstate and what Albany legislators are
(or, more likely, are not) doing about them.
ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING YEAR FROM ALBANY
As the 2002 legislative session winds down, Jonathan Bowles reports, New York
City is winding up getting little from Albany. This is the way it usually is,
but this year needed to be different. Jonathan Bowles details 10 things
Albany lawmakers denied the city.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 34
District
34's Republican State Senator Guy Velella was indicted
on bribery charges in May, but this does not appear to be
affecting his ability to get re-elected for a ninth term.
When well-known Democratic challenger Lorraine Coyle Koppell
dropped out of the race in July, she was replaced by the
little known Frances Mahony who is running on a platform
focused on women's rights.
Also, read a transcript of a debate between Andrew Eristoff and Liz Krueger as the
battle heats up for the 26th State Senate seat on the Upper East Side.
UPDATE ON ELECTION RESULTS
After several days of counting paper ballots, the Board of Elections has
released vote counts in the two tight Democratic primaries in the Bronx.
In the 32nd State Senate District, city council member Rev. Ruben Diaz,
Sr. has defeated incumbent Pedro Espada, Jr by 113 votes. Meanwhile,
Espada Jr.'s son, Pedro G. Espada has defeated incumbent Carmen Arroyo
in the 84th Assembly District by only three votes. Although these results
will not be certified until Tuesday, September 24, the Board of
Elections has acknowledged that these results are final. Both Espada
Jr. and Arroyo are currently slated to run against these challengers
again in the general election, this time as Republicans.
PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS
With extremely light voter turnout, most New York City
incumbents had no trouble being re-elected to their state
senate or state assembly seats. However, Brooklyn's State
Senate District 17, covering Bushwick, Cypress Hills and
parts of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford-Stuyvesant,
Brownsville and East New York, Nellie Santiago has lost
her state senate seat to former city council member Martin
Malave Dilan. Winners emerged in the races for the
city's open legislative seats including: Daniel O'Donnell
in the 69th Assembly District on the Upper West Side;
Jonathan Bing in the 73rd Assembly District on the Upper
East Side, Kevin Parker in the 21st State Senate District
in Brooklyn, Luis Diaz in the 86th Assembly District in
the Bronx; Barry Grodenchick in the 22nd Assembly District
in Queens, Jose Peralta in the 39th Assembly District in
Queens, John Sabini in the 13th State Senate District in
Queens and Frank Peters in the 63rd State Assembly Seat in
Staten Island. The
results of the rest of the city's races, including those
for judicial seats, are on Gotham Gazette's Primary
Election Results page
GUIDE FOR THE LAST MINUTE VOTER
The primary is taking place on September 10th, but many New Yorkers
are not even sure who is going to be on the ballot. There are races
for three statewide offices, and many voters will be asked to select
party nominees for state assembly, state senate and for judges.
To help you find out more about what is going on in your district,
and in districts around the city, we provide this Guide
for the Last Minute Voter, with a rundown on the races, the
candidates, the issues, how and where to vote, and why this election
is important.
CUOMO DROPS OUT
Faced with polls showing him trailing by
more than 20 percent, Andrew Cuomo announced that he was dropping
out of the race against H. Carl McCall for the Democratic nomination
for the governor of New York. Cuomo and his running mate, lieutenant
governor candidate Charlie King pledged their support for McCall.
"We need healing now," Cuomo said at a news conference
announcing his departure from the race a week before the September
10 primary. "Let Democratic unity start today, not next week."
See Associated Press article.
See a transcript of Cuomo's
speech.
OPEN IN QUEENS
Two races in Queens are giving voters many options in the Democratic Primary.
In the 31st Assembly District, new
incumbent Michele Titus. elected only four months ago, faces five
challengers. Five candidates vie for the open seat in the 22nd Assembly
District.
GOVERNOR'S DEBATE
A
transcript of the second debate between Democratic gubernatorial candidates
Andrew Cuomo and Carl
McCall.
STRANGE DOINGS IN STATEN ISLAND
Three races in Staten Island reveal the confusing and often inconsistent
politics of that borough. In the 62nd Assembly District, not only is
the Staten Island GOP not supporting a long-term Republican incumbent,
but they are refusing to support the Republican challenger running
against him in the primary. Meanwhile, in that same district, the
Conservative Party is backing a Democratic challenger in the general
election. Next door, in the 63rd Assembly District, former Republican
Borough President Guy Molinari carries on his feud with the Republican
Party by backing a Staten Island ferry captain against the Party's
choice. Finally, voters in Senate District 24 will have a choice in
the general election for the first time in 22 years as Democrats
actually put up a challenger against 46-year Republican incumbent John
Marchi.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 13
John Sabini is one of several former City Council members now seeking to
represent their local areas in the state legislature. Sabini is opposed by
two Latino candidates in State
Senate District 13, which has been redistricted so that a majority of its
population is Latino.
NYC'S HOUSING, ALBANY'S RULES
A number of housing issues that will have long-term effects for New York
City -- from rent regulation to to availability of land for building --
will be decided in Albany's next legislative session, by the state
legislators who are elected in November. A look at these issues,
and also at the housing record of the major candidates for governor.
TWO HEATED SENATE RACES
Three women politicians in Queens get personal in their fight for the
Senate seat in district 16. Liz
Krueger versus Andrew Eristoff in district 26
on the Upper East Side.
WHERE THEY STAND...IF THEY DO
The eight candidates for governor of New York say what they will do if
elected about a dozen of the most important issues, including education,
crime, jobs and the economy, and rebuilding the city. We summarize each
position and then link to their platforms.
AFFECTED BY ISSUES, DEFINED BY EMOTIONS
Susan Reefer analyzes the NYC stands and the campaign strategies of the
three candidates considered most likely to be elected governor: Andrew
Cuomo, H. Carl McCall, and George Pataki.
THE 20 REAL RACES
Want to learn something about the 20 most competitive races
for State Senate and Assembly? Eye On Albany now has updated
information on the state legislative races where, as of now,
there is more than one candidate running. Included on the
district pages are records of selected votes from the
incumbents in those races, and how these votes line up with
the views of such groups as the Empire State Pride Agenda,
the Business Council, the AFL-CIO, and others.
Click on a district below to find out information about the
race:
New York State Senate:
District 13 - Jackson Heights, Corona
District 16 - Flushing, Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Long Island City
District 17 - Bushwick, Cypress Hills, parts of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford- Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York
District 21 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Borough Park
District 22 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, southern Sunset Park, Boro Park, St. George, Stapleton
District 23 - Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Seagate, Coney Island
District 24 - Staten Island
District 25 - Williamsburg, Sunset Park, Navy Yard, Lower Manhattan
District 26 - Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper, Murray Hill, Tutor City, Sutton Place, Yorkville
District 31 - West Side of Manhattan, Northwest Bronx
New York State Assembly:
District 22 - Queens
District 39 - Jackson Heights, Corona
District 43 - Crown Heights, Flatbush
District 57 - Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Flatbush, parts of Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant
District 60 - Rosebank, Aerocar, Grasmir, Old Pound, Southbeach, Midlin Beach
District 61 - Westerleigh, Mariners Harbor, Port Richmond, West New Brighton
District 62 - New Dorp, Oakwood, Great Kills, Eltingville, Annandale
District 63 - Staten Island
District 69 - Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights
District 73 - East Side of Manhattan
ALBANY'S SMOKE SCREEN?
Why did a popular bill that would have banned smoking in
restaurants die in the State Senate? Why will the state get
half of the money from New York City's new cigarette tax?
And why did the governor and the State Assembly refuse to
pass a bill that would have banned lawmakers from accepting
gifts from lobbyists, even after it was discovered that
Philip Morris paid for the governor's "family vacation" to
Europe and had given gifts to more than 115 legislators?
Read "When Smoke Gets In NY" for one more
reason New Yorkers should keep an eye on Albany.
|