Six candidates for City Council speaker made it clear at a public forum last night that they would work with Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio to make his “progressive agenda” a reality. When asked whether they would consider raising property taxes as an option for funding the mayor-elect’s goal of universal pre-kindergarten, the candidates were split.
Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito, whose district includes East Harlem and who is seen as a key ally of de Blasio, called it a “last, last resort.” Her colleague from the Bronx, Annabel Palma, agreed. Jumaane Williams, a Brooklyn councilman, said he believed that all revenue options should be explored. But James Vacca, of the Bronx, did not see it that way. “I don’t like increasing the real estate taxes,” he said.
Dan Garodnick, of Manhattan, said he wasn’t ready to “explore alternatives” to pay for de Blasio’s universal pre-K plan. The mayor-elect has said he would seek a new tax hike on New Yorkers who earn more than half a million dollars to pay for it. The Council only has control over real estate taxes; other tax increases would have to be levied by the state, which will require the assent of lawmakers in Albany.
The speaker candidates also fielded questions on affordable housing, police reform and how the legislative body operates during the forum at Baruch College in Manhattan. Over 100 people attended the forum. The members of the Council select the speaker after the New Year. Gotham Gazette will be posting a transcript of the speaker forum on its website.
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Police shot and killed 16 people last year, more than any other year since 1998. But the number of those shot and injured dropped to 14 from 19 the year before. Thirteen officers were wounded by gunfire in 2012, a number also not reached since the 90s, but none died. Meanwhile, Commissioner Kelly rejected an NYPD judge’s recommendation to fire a Brooklyn cop for shooting and paralyzing an unarmed man. And an emotionally disturbed, knife-wielding man was shot and killed yesterday by police, although he had two prior violent interactions with cops. New data also show that blacks are 25 times more likely to be involved in a shooting - with or without police - than a white person this year so far.
The Speaker Race Explained: The race to replace Christine Quinn, the current speaker who is being term-limited out of office, began long before New Yorkers even went to the polls to vote for mayor in November. The outcome will largely be shaped by backroom dealing among political power brokers and special interests, with Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio potentially stepping in to ensure a candidate ideologically aligned with his progressive agenda is picked for the job.By Chester Soria. READ MORE
Who Will Be The Next Speaker? A public forum with the candidates for City Council speaker co-sponsored by Gotham Gazette's sister organization, Citizens Union. 6 p.m. on Nov. 20. RSVPs required: email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 212-227-0342, x39. #NextSpeaker
Looking for the full schedule of speaker forums? Find it here.
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Bloomberg Signs Ban Of Tobacco To Anyone Under 21 (Wall Street Journal)
Night Falls And A Graffiti Mecca Is Whited Out (NY Times)
Former NYPD Chief: It's Time To Take On Traffic Crashes (WNYC)
Tax Plan Could Help Upstate At City's Expense (Crain's)
Liberal Bloc On Council Seeks Voice In Election Of New Speaker (NY Times)
Transition ‘Going Smoothly’ de Blasio’s Wife Says (NY Post)
State Overtime To Hit $600 Million (Albany Times Union)
Taxi Industry Wants A Friendly Commissioner From de Blasio (Capital)
Cuomo Preserves Health Insurance Status Quo (WNYC)
Carriers Reject Kill Switch For Stolen Smartphones (Associated Press)
NY Pension Fund Reports 4.6 Percent Return For Quarter (Crain's)
>Today's Report
Loose Change Means Millions For MTA
Change left over on unused MetroCards added up to $95 million in revenue for the MTA in 2012, the Independent Budget Office reports. But the $1 fee for new cards is expected to cut significantly into that number in future years. (read the full report)
Recent Reports
Spike In Heating Costs, City Payphones Turn Profit, Flood Maps Will Increase Insurance Costs, Immigrants and Workers of Color More Likely to Be Injured on Construction Sites , Poverty, Chronic Stress, and New York's Youngest Children, more recent reports.
The state is expanding its buyback program to 129 homes in Staten Island's Ocean Breeze section, which was battered by Superstorm Sandy. The voluntary program will offer residents a little above their homes' pre-storm value, including additional money if they relocate within the city. They join 420 homes covered by the program in nearby Oakwood Beach. The properties will be transformed into open space or coastal buffer zones. Floodwaters knocked down 20 houses in the neighborhood and most of the others were badly damaged. Some residents have made repairs, but many remain boarded up.
Who Will Be The Next Speaker? A public forum with the candidates for City Council speaker co-sponsored by Gotham Gazette sister organization Citizens Union. 6 p.m. on Nov. 20. RSVPs required: email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 212-227-0342, x39. #NextSpeaker
Looking for the full schedule of speaker forums? Find it here.
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Candidates Spar Over Speaker’s Power At Second Forum (Politicker)
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At One Address, $1.8 Million In Medicare Wasted (WNYC)
Thefts Of Apple Devices Continue To Increase (NY Post)
Ailing Federal Web Site May Have Initially Hurt State Healthcare Exchange Program (Albany Times Union)
Cuomo Still Getting High Marks (Albany Times Union)
State To Receive $900,000 From Google Privacy Settlement (Crain's)
No Place To Ride For City’s Dirt Bikers (NY Times)
MTA Tests New Subway Trains On Flushing Line (Wall Street Journal)
Select Bus Service Rolls Out On Brooklyn's Nostrand Ave (DNAinfo)
Is The Charter School Era Waning? (The New Yorker)
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