Week of November 7, 2005
November 11, 2005
311 ExpansionWithin a year New Yorkers seeking assistance on food stamps, job training and other social services will be able to get it by calling 311, according to a plan presented yesterday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The city is has reached an agreement with United Way through which the agency will direct callers inquiring about social services to the appropriate city agency or to one of 2,500 nonprofit groups. The program will cost $10 million to set up, and the city will pay United Way $12 million annually to maintain it. Bloomberg made repeated campaign promises to expand 311 in his second term.
Business Group Pushes Congestion Charges for Manhattan Drivers (NY Times)
Science Scores Drop at City Schools (Daily News)
Price of Ground Zero Memorial, Cultural Center Soars (NY Post)
Free Sunday Parking Begins This Weekend (Newsday)
Police Increase Hotel Security After Jordan Bombings (NY Sun)
NYC Calendar: Next Week's Events Looking Forward at the Next Four Years (Gotham Gazette)
Eight NYC Top Ten Lists -- Worst Trends Busiest Restaurants, Great Moments in Dance ... (Time Out New York)
Transportation Bond Act's Passage May Bring Other Transit Issues To The Fore (Gotham Gazette)
Transportation Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)
November 10, 2005
Second Avenue Subway by 2012The Second Avenue subway will be a reality by 2012, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chief Peter Kalikow said yesterday, citing the approval of the Transportation Bond Act on Election Day. The bond act, which allows the state to borrow up to $3 billion for transportation projects, dedicates $450 million to the line. The first leg of the new subway, which has been dubbed the "T" line, will run from 96th to 63rd Street. The MTA has set aside $2.5 billion for the project and plans to meet with lawmakers in Washington to secure promised federal funding.
Graduate Assistant Strike
About 1,000 graduate assistants went on strike against New York University yesterday over its refusal to bargain with or recognize their union. The Graduate Students Organizing Committee said its members will not teach, grade, advise students, or do research while on strike. Some professors are holding classes off campus in a show of solidarity.
Mayor Crossed Ethnic Lines in Reelection Victory (NY Times)
Glut of Luxury Apartments in Manhattan (NY Times)
Effort to Save Fund for Sick 9/11 Rescuers (Daily News)
Comptroller Blocks $46 Million State Contract for Company with Mob Connections (NY Post)
Jockeying for Council Speaker Begins, in Puerto Rico (Newsday)
Conflict of Interest in MTA's Chief's Backing of Bond Act? (NY Sun)
Rising Heating Costs (Gotham Gazette)
Tech Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)
November 9, 2005
Bloomberg Wins Resounding VictoryMichael Bloomberg was re-elected mayor yesterday, defeating Democratic challenger Fernando Ferrer by about 20 points, according to unofficial returns. This would be the largest margin of victory for a Republican mayoral candidate in the city�s history, topping Fiorello La Guardia's 19-point landslide in 1937. But the mayor was unable to help other Republicans, as members of his party lost three hotly contested races for open seats on the City Council and failed to oust any of the council�s Democratic incumbents. City Comptroller William Thompson, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and the four incumbent borough presidents seeking re-election won easily. In Manhattan, voters elected Democrat Scott Stringer as their new borough president.
New York State voters approved a $2.9 billion bond act to fund transportation projects, including some money for the Second Avenue subway and a link between the Long Island Rail Road and Grand Central Terminal. But they rejected a measure that would have changed the state budget process. City voters approved two changes to the City Charter.
For complete unofficial results, go to the Election Results Page,
For more coverage, go to Campaign 2005.
Bloomberg Wins Reelection by Resounding Margin (NY Times)
As Work Begins, Disputes Continue Over Freedom Tower (NY Times)
Republicans Fail to Gain Council Seats (Daily News)
Ground Zero Memorial to be Open Round the Clock (Daily News)
With Enrollments Dropping, More Catholic Schools Could Close (NY Post)
Sanitation Workers Approve New Contract (Newsday)
Voters Overwhelmingly Reject Change in State Budget Process (NY Sun)
New Principal Confronts Big Challenges at East Harlem School (Village Voice)
What Now, Mayor Bloomberg? (Gotham Gazette)
Voting Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)
November 8, 2005
Election DayToday is Election Day in New York. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
List of Candidates
For a full list of candidates, see Gotham Gazette's Guide for the Last Minute Voter.
Finding Your Polling Place
To find your polling place, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE. To contact the New York City
Board of Elections call 1-866-VOTE NYC or e-mail them at vote@boe.nyc.ny.us
with your complete address, and you should receive an email back instructing you where to vote. For more information, see Where Do I Vote?
First-Time Voters
New Yorkers who registered to vote in the state for the first time via mail after January 1, 2003 will be asked to provide identification, such as a driver's license, when they go to the polls. For more information see What Do First Time Voters Need to Know?
Voter's Bill of Rights
The New York Voter�s Bill of Rights guarantees certain rights, such as not being coerced or intimidated by poll workers. For more, see What Are My Voting Rights?
Problems At The Polls
If you encounter problems at the polls, there are several numbers you can call. For a full list, see What If I Encounter Problems at the Polls?
Who Won?
Come to our site starting at 9 p.m. for the most important news about the election. For a list of the winners - posted as they are announced - go to our Election Results Page.
Tell Us About Your Election Day
Please share you own funny, frustrating or fulfilling experiences at the polls. You can do so by clicking here.
$1 Billion Pledged to Help House City's Homeless (NY Times)
New York Doctors Demand Government To Control of Flu Vaccine Distribution (Daily News)
Liberty Bond Has Been Scheduled for a Public Hearing Next Month (NY Post)
Restriction Is Lifted on Funds for Tutors in Failing Schools (Newsday)
November 7, 2005
Election Day TomorrowThe two major mayoral candidates are focusing on their "get out the vote" effort, both worrying that the lopsided polls would discourage their supporters from showing up to vote.
Voters must decide more than just who will be mayor for the next four years. There are four ballot proposals requiring a yes or no. There will be at least nine new members of the City Council because of term limits, and the remaining 42 incumbent City Council members all must run for reelection (though a dozen are unopposed). New Yorkers will also elect the public advocate, the comptroller, the borough presidents, as well as State Supreme Court justices, and judges to the Civil Court.
Gotham Gazette offers comprehensive coverage for New Yorkers who are confused about the four ballot proposals (we have an overview of them, as well pro and con essays), who missed the mayoral debates (we have transcripts of the two between Bloomberg and Ferrer) or who don't know the candidates' positions (check out our mayoral issues grid), who would like to know where their City Council representative stands on issues like local development or what the public advocate does (we have a page on each race, including a "campaign trail" that summarizes and links to articles written in the mainstream press going back to the beginning of the year). Start with our step-by-step Guide To The Last Minute Voter.
Reverse Commuting On The Rise (NY Times)
Transit Authority Shelled Out Some $50 M To Injured Riders Over Past Five Years (Daily News)
Most New Yorkers Want Ban On Outdoor Smoking Too, Health Department Survey Says (NY Post)
Doctors Not Getting Enough Flu Shots, Medical Society Survey Finds (NY Post)
Campaign Finance Board Faces Challenges (Newsday)
Same-Day Voter Registration Pushed (NY Sun)
Kenyan, Latvian Win NYC Marathon In Closest Race Ever (No American Has Won In 24 Years) (BBC News)