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Today’s Lead: The Incumbent Governor’s Base


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Gov. Andrew Cuomo has turned his attention to repairing his relationship with liberals as the legislative session nears its end. Cuomo stands to see his lead over Republican gubernatorial challenger Rob Astorino significantly impacted if The Working Families Party (WFP) backs their own candidate to the left of Cuomo. The governor does not seem to be in jeopardy of losing his reelection bid, but he surely wants to secure an impressive victory. To that end Cuomo is focused on delivering a deal on campaign finance reform before the mid-June end of the session. Reform-minded Democrats and advocates want to see an expanded public campaign financing system from the pilot program included in the state budget agreement that only includes this year's comptroller race. Backroom negotiations over the issue are expected to heat up starting today, Monday, and play out over the next few weeks before the WFP's May 31 convention.

New from Gotham Gazette

Transformative FOIL Transparency Bill on Verge of Introduction

Kristen Meriwether has an exclusive look at new legislation that is set to have wide-ranging impact on how people access government information and government transparency in general.

The Week Ahead in New York Politics

Get ready for the week with our latest installment of The Week Ahead. Our preview includes the president's visit to New York, the City Council dealing with its latest corruption scandal, and much, much more.

ICYMI from Gotham Gazette

Cornegy on Police-Community Relations [video]

In a video interview, Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr. discusses his perspective on the NYPD's new commissioner and police-community relations.

 


Other Stories We're Following

Documents Reveal Moreland Targeted Questionable Campaign Spending(City & State )

Malcolm Smith Says He Bribed Colleagues With Campaign Cash (NY Post)

City to Expand Free Wi-Fi By Transforming Old Pay Phones Into Hot Spots(Daily News)

DiNapoli Creating Investigations Wing (Daily News)

Cuomo's No-Name Strategy (WSJ)

Obama to Visit Tappan Zee Bridge (YNN)

Cuomo's Girlfriend Fails to Secure Upgrade Permits (Lower Hudson Journal)

Pataki Aid Announces Bid For Attorney (Lower Hudson Journal)

Another Queens Official Hit With Corruption Charge (Crain's)

Salary Boost For Pre-K Teachers Stiffs Colleagues Who Teach Younger Kids (DNAinfo)

 

Today's Lead: Council Member Wills Arrested for Fraud, Grand Larceny


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New York City Council Member Ruben Wills, who represents parts of Southeast Queens, was indicted Wednesday for a dozen crimes, including fraud and grand larceny charges. He is accused of going on a shopping spree with state money meant to be used for starting an anti-obesity non-profit. He's also being charged with the creation of a shell company and using it to claim campaign finance expenditures. In total, he's accused of stealing about $30,500 in government funds. Wills hasn't entered a plea, but he denied the charges. He also didn't resign, but gave up chairmanship of a subcommittee on drug abuse and was barred from distributing Council funds to his district. The council member was arrested by a “joint task force” between the offices of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. He faces a maximum of seven years in prison on the most serious charge, grand larceny. Opponents of public financing used the arrest to bolster their stance, since some of the money in question included public matching funds.

New from Gotham Gazette
Equality Bills Await Senate Action
Three State Senate 'equality' bills have strong support in the Assembly and await action in the Senate as the session nears an end.

ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
Veterans Benefits Counselors at Risk in Budget
Mayor de Blasio releases his executive budget on Thursday. Crucial resources for the city's veterans are at stake.

A correction:
New York's Uncovered Crisis
In our Wednesday Eye-Opener we mischaracterized the theme of an op-ed by JobsFirstNYC's Louis Miceli. Miceli argues that instead of helping young adults to qualify for decent jobs, the State of New York compels them to compete for a worthless certificate. Read Miceli’s piece: New York's Uncovered Crisis

Other Stories We're Following

Former Assemblymember Gets Lightened Sentence (Daily News)

Cuomo Maybe Beyond Federal Prosecutors' Reach on Moreland (Crain's)

New York Public Library Scraps Redesign Plans (WSJ)

Bureaucratic Bungling at Human Resources Administration (Daily News)

Two-Thirds Vote From Teachers Required in New Contract (NY Post)

Cuomo: MTA Needs Plan to Reinvent Transit System (AP)

Battle for City Control of Rent Regulation Seen Shifting (Crain's)

The Benefits of Obama's Tax Plan for Low-Wage New Yorkers (Capital)

City Opens Traffic Crash Data - Finally (WNYC)

Feds Want $60 Million in Medicaid Reimbursements Back (NY Post)

Cuomo, Lawmakers Push Campaign Finance Reform (AP)

Rikers Health Care Workers Protest Inmate Assaults (Capital)

GOP Easing on Medical Marijuana (Times Union)

Most Radioactive Place in City Is a Queens Garage (The New Yorker)

The Hudson Yards: A 'Quantified Community' (Engadget)

US Congress: NY-13


«US Congress: NY-11 Races to Watch»

Stretching across northern Manhattan and into the Bronx, New York's 13th U.S. Congressional District is one of the poorest in the nation. In the district, one quarter of households remain in poverty, according to the Urban Justice Center. Socioeconomic and ethnic demographics are likely to again play key roles in the outcome.

The Democratic primary election featured a rematch of the top two finishers from the 2012 contest, and a repeat in which long-time incumbent Congressman Charles Rangel narrowly defeated New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat. Joining the primary race this year were Michael Walrond, Senior Pastor at First Corinthian Baptist Church, and Yolanda Garcia, Bronx community activist. Archived profiles of the primary contenders can be found below.

 Rangel

 Photo Currently Unavailable

 Photo Currently Unavailable

Charlie Rangel (D)

Kenneth Schaeffer (WF)

Daniel Vila Rivera (G)

 



 

Primary Candidate Profiles 

Espaillat Yolanda Garcia, a Bronx community activist is in the running to unseat Rep. Charles Rangel Walrond

Adriano Espaillat (D, WF)

Yolanda Garcia (D)

Michael Walrond (D)

 

Candidates' statements and photos are taken from their respective websites and press releases, unless otherwise noted. 

Notes:

1. Congressional District 13 Candidate Debate #1

2. Congressional District 13 Candidate Debate #2

3. Congressional District 13 Candidate Debate #3, June 9, 2014, ABC.

4. Congressional District 13 Candidate Debate #4, June 11, NY1.

5. Congressional District 13 Candidate Debate #5, June 16, BronxNet.

6. Representative Charles Rangel, New York's 13th District, Issues: Foreign Policy, Healthcare, Veterans.

7. The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC, June 20, 2014.

 

For more coverage of the election in this district, check out the NY-13 Voter Guide from the NYC League of Women Voters.

 


For additions or corrections, please contact Talia Werber at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 



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