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This belongs to you. Take it back...
NYC 
Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 13:27:31 PM EDT
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Today is Doomsday. After months of epic failure in Albany, the MTA today voted to pretty drastically increase fares as well as a cut in services. It really didn't have to be this way, but this what dysfunction looks like. There's plenty of blame to go around, from the two and half men in a room, to the preening antics of the Diva Three, to the MTA itself, an entity few trust and for good reason, the entire episode just reeks of massive, epic, irretrievable FAIL.
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Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 16:13:41 PM EDT
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After his indictment earlier today, Hiram Monserrate has given up his Chairmanship of the Senate Consumer Affairs Committee. Majority Leader Malcolm Smith just released this statement after meeting with Monserrate:
"Today, Senator Monserrate and I met to discuss the proceedings he is facing. As a result of this meeting, Senator Monserrate asked to temporarily step down as Chair of the Senate's Consumer Affairs Committee. I have accepted his request and such action is effective immediately. Senator Monserrate will retain his duties as a member of the State Senate during this time, but will not have the privilege of serving as chair until such time as his legal proceedings have been completely resolved."
Earlier, Smith's spokesman, Austin Shafran, said the Senator Monserrate's indictment would be discussed in the Senate Dem conference.
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Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 12:31:39 PM EDT
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Former NYC City Councilman and freshman state Senator Hiram Monserrate (SD-13) has been indicted on six counts stemming from a rather nasty incident last December involving his girlfriend.
New York state Sen. Hiram Monserrate was indicted Monday morning on a felony assault charge in Queens after allegedly attacking his girlfriend during an argument, CBS 2 has confirmed.
Monserrate, a former New York City councilman who was sworn into office as Senator in January despite the looming charge, will be arraigned later this week.
Monserrate was charged with assault and weapon possession after Karla Giraldo's face was slashed on Dec. 19 at his Queens home. Both Monserrate and Giraldo say the incident was an accident -- Monserrate told police that he tripped while holding a glass of water and that the glass accidentally hit her. The Queens district attorney's office said the case is pending.
But authorities say evidence, including surveillance videos, paints a more violent picture of a heated argument and a frightened, bleeding woman in distress. Investigators say Monserrate purposely smashed her face with broken glass in an apparent jealous rage.
The Queens County DA just put out a release which reads in part:
The grand jury charged Monserrate, 41, with three counts of second-degree assault, a Class D felony, and three counts of third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor.
According to the charges, during the early morning hours of December 19, 2008, Monserrate assaulted Karla Giraldo, 29. Ms. Giraldo was treated at a local Queens hospital, where she received stitches to the area surrounding her left eye.
Both Monserrate and his girlfriend have maintained since that night that it was an accident. The Queens DA apparently disagrees.
I'm sure this won't be the last we hear of this story.
UPDATE: Monserrate's spokesman just released a statement:
"I've said all along this was an accident. Karla has said all along this was an accident. The District Attorney's politically motivated decision to pursue this case doesn't change the fact that this was an accident."
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Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 16:46:12 PM EDT
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Looking for something to do after work? Why not drop by the Gallery Bar or a new and interesting gathering, "The Little Idea". The idea, as it is, is simple. A short lecture, no more than 10 minutes, followed by drinks. No long introduction. No moderator. No Q&A.
Tonight's guest is Micah Sifry, co-Founder of the Personal Democracy Forum, author and general all around smart guy. If you have any interest in the nexus of technology and politics, he's your guy.
Hope you can make it.
The Little Idea
Gallery Bar, 120 Orchard St (at Delancey)
6:30 pm, Free admission, $4 drink specials.
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Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 12:28:51 PM EDT
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Hail Caesar!
The federal government has approved Mayor Michael Bloomberg's change to city term-limits law, clearing the final hurdle for the billionaire to run again this year.
Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department must approve changes to voting rules in New York City. Last fall Bloomberg got the City Council to approve an extension to the city's term-limits law so that he could run for a third consecutive four-year term.
The Justice Department's ruling was the final obstacle.
Thanks so much, Speaker Quinn and the rest of the City Council.
See you in the fall.
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Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 11:40:07 AM EDT
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New numbers not so good. From the ever awesome Gotham Gazette:
The New York State Community Action Association has released a report on New York’s poverty rates. Statewide, 14 percent of the population lives in poverty, compared to 13.3 percent of the nation as a whole. But in New York City, the gap is much wider. The federal poverty line, which is the definition the report uses, is an annual income of $18,310 for a family of three.
Here’s some of the more striking highlights from the five boroughs:
The Bronx poverty rate, at 28 percent, is double the state average. Furthermore, nearly 40 percent of children live in poverty there. In Manhattan, which has a poverty rate of 18 percent, blacks and Hispanics are three times as likely to live in poverty than whites.
Both Queens and Staten Island have lower rates than the state and national averages, with poverty rates of 12.1 percent and 10.1 percent respectively. And in Queens, the racial disparity in poverty rates is much less pronounced than the other boroughs; there are less blacks in poverty there than the national average for the general population. But in Staten Island, nearly four times as many blacks are in poverty compared to whites.
On the web: New York State Community Action Association.
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Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 13:45:58 PM EDT
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Senator Parker's term limits bill has cleared its first hurdle, though it may not go much further. The bill, which would require that voters approve of term limits changes, precisely what did not happen in New York City, made it out of the Senate Elections Committee on a straight party line vote this afternoon.
With fireworks not normally seen in committee hearings, the Senate Elections Committee just voted along strictly partisan lines to approve a bill that would require a voter referendum on the repeal of term limits.
It was expected to pass the committee, but is not necessarily expected to get much further.
Republican State Senators Tom Morahan, Joe Griffo and Tom Libous voted against the bill, with Libous leading the charge and raising questions. He claimed that there was not enough time to pass the bill and hold a referendum by May.
"The bill is poorly drafted and it should be specific to New York City," he said. His questions were cut short due to time constraints, causing more ire.
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After the committee's vote-Chairman Joe Addabbo voted for the bill, as did Jose Serrano (by proxy), both Martin Malave Dilan and Brian Foley-Parker claimed that the Republicans opposed the bill in "collusion" with Michael Bloomberg.
"They're in the pocket of Mayor Bloomberg," he said. "The amount of money that Mayor Bloomberg gave to stop us from taking the majority is well-documented." (Libous denied any collusion with the mayor.)
Good times.
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Sun Mar 08, 2009 at 21:28:54 PM EDT
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This is, in my opinion, very good news. One of my favorite NYC pols, City Councilman John Liu, has decided to jump into the NYC Comptroller race. Examiner.com has the goods:
Queens City Council Member John C. Liu today exited the the crowded field of candidates vying for the Democratic Party's nomination for City Public Advocate to instead join fellow Queens Council Members David I. Weprin and Melinda Katz in seeking his Party's nomination for City Comptroller.
Liu cited his strong financial background as why he'd make a good comptroller. His campaign slogan will be, "A proven record of fiscal responsibility."
"Now more than ever, we need a Comptroller who will root out waste and inefficiency as budget cuts are imposed, and ensure accountability and equal opportunity as billions in stimulus funding arrive," said Liu. "With my professional background in finance and my experience in city government, combined with my demand for fairness and equality, I will be that Comptroller. I will be the Comptroller who will scrutinize the details without losing sight of the big picture."
In 2001, Liu became the first Asian-American to hold public office in New York City.
His campaign website was temporarily down Sunday night, where a short note read, "We've taken a moment to update our website with the most recent news and developments from the campaign. Stay tuned to John Liu for NYC Comptroller!"
I really like John Liu. He's extremely bright, has built an extremely effective operation with a number of extremely talented and dedicated folks around him. He's going places. I fully expect him to be a Congressman, at the very least, one day.
Given the current field, including my own Councilman, David "Mr Squishy" Yassky, I am very bullish on Councilman Liu.
This race is going to be fun to watch.
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Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 16:23:37 PM EST
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Because of stuff like this:
Sunlight seems to be the trendy buzzword these days. First there was the Sunlight Foundation, which was established in Washington in 2006 to lobby for better government data. Then Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo's office started Project Sunlight to share New York State information online. And last week, City Councilman Bill de Blasio jumped on the solar bandwagon with a proposed legislation to create SunlightNYC, to keep track of stimulus dollars in New York.
The Obama administration has promised transparency in stimulus spending data at Recovery.gov at the federal level (in contrast with the opacity on the TARP bill.)
A nonprofit group, OMB Watch, has compiled a summary of the transparency provisions in the legislation [pdf], and released a copy of a memo from the White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, informing agency head of the transparency efforts. President Obama himself has been a longtime advocate for government transparency, and was one of the backers of the legislation that created USASpending.gov.
But SunlightNYC is part of the growing number of state and local governments who want transparency specific to their areas, preferably with downloadable raw data.
“Although we think the Obama administration has very good intentions, they are going to write some very large checks to some governors and mayors who would not be described as good government types,” said Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First, which is part of a watchdog coalition called Coalition for an Accountable Recovery.
More transparency at all levels. Good on Councilman de Blasio.
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Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 11:57:15 AM EST
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Robert Morgenthau has been the Manhattan District Attorney since the Nixon Administration and had told everyone who would listen how he would seek a 9th four year term this year, the year he turns 90 years old. He's apparently had a change of heart.
Robert Morgenthau, Manhattan's iconic district attorney since 1974, will not seek re-election in November, sources said Friday.
The 89-year-old prosecutor opted to retire rather than try for a 10th term, saying he hoped to spend more time with his family, the sources indicated.
The decision throws the top prosecutor's job in the high-profile office up for grabs for the first time since the Nixon White House.
Although Morgenthau faced re-election every four years, the venerable prosecutor barely faced any challenges in his time at One Hogan Place. Only twice did he even face a primary challenge.
Morgenthau - who turns 90 in July - was re-elected eight times, including a 2005 victory over former Manhattan judge Leslie Crocker Snyder. She's likely among the front-runners for the spot.
As Liz notes, this has created quite a stir among those who would wish to replace him. There hasn't been an opening at the top here in decades and the contenders are scrambling.
Being the Manhattan DA is a huge gig and it's different from holding the same job in other large cities or even other boroughs of New York City. The crimes pursued by the Manhattan DA are often unique and very complex. Whomever takes over is sure to have a full plate in the best of times. And, as I think we can all agree, these are hardly the best of times.
This really is the end of en era.
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Wed Feb 25, 2009 at 13:20:50 PM EST
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There's a great piece at the Gotham Gazette this morning that everyone should read. It concerns next year's census and how critical an accurate count is for everyone, especially those of us in large states with large urban centers. It's even more important for New York and, specifically, New York City as we've been getting the shaft from the census for decades.
The city has claimed an undercount in every census since 1950. Things turned particularly ugly in 1980. A suspicious fire in the census office responsible for counting Bedford-Stuyvesant occurred the weekend before Washington was to send a team to investigate a massive undercount in the area. This and other problems led to a lawsuit demanding an adjustment for the 1980 count.
To resolve the issue, the Census Bureau agreed to add a survey, revisiting some households in person, to make it possible to adjust the 1990 census. Adjusted counts were prepared, and the Census Bureau staff and director recommended using them, but Commerce Secretary Robert Mossbacher, who went on to run George H.W. Bush's reelection campaign in 1992, rejected the plan.
Information also existed to adjust the 2000 Census, but thanks to the work of Kenneth Prewitt, then director of the Census Bureau, and the funding that Judd Gregg and others tried to block, the 2000 census stood without adjustments, a decision with which most professional demographers agreed. The release of the 2000 census made it plain that the 1990 Reagan-Bush census was seriously flawed. especially with respect to populous states with big cities and large minority and immigrant populations.
The implications for New York in the census are huge. We will lose at least 1, possibly 2, US House seats depending on its outcome. The count will determine the distribution of State Senate and Assembly seats. Finally, the allocation of federal and state funds is greatly determined by the census. Getting it right is of great importance for us.
Among the biggest issues for next year's census:
* The very definition of what constitutes a household. Census enumerators simply overlooked many households in New York City in 1990, leading to the severe undercount. Now census staff suggests that, if there is any question about how many units are in a given structure, they will consult with the property owner. While that may sound reasonable, landlords who have illegally divided their property may not answer truthfully. This would lead to a lower count for New York City, especially among poor people and minorities. The bureau makes many such rules and they have serious ramifications.
* The use of statistical sampling to increase the accuracy of the count for those unwilling to come forward. This was resolved in 1999 by the Supreme Court at least in regards to congressional apportionment. The court ruled the sampling could not be used in determining congressional seats.
And, of course, one of the biggies as pertains to New York State, where should those in prison actually be counted?
* The counting of prisoners at prison instead of at their place of residence when arrested. Here the National Academy of Sciences panel on the census and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has strongly questioned the bureau's current practice of counting prisoners as living in the prison. This is a major issue in New York State, where most of the prisoners come from the five boroughs but, for the purpose of the census, are counted as residents of the upstate counties where they are incarcerated. This boosts the amount of aid the upstate communities receive and also increases their official populations, giving them additional legislative seats. If the census changed or modified its method of counting prisoners, it could have a big effect on the allocation of New York State Senate and Assembly seats.
The whole post is worth your time. Getting a full and accurate count for all New York is hugely important and we should all be paying keen attention.
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Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 14:26:38 PM EST
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From the Politicker: "Bronx Republican Leader Fears Bloomberg Could Ruin the G.O.P. Brand"
A target rich environment, no?
1. "Bronx" and "GOP." Those two words are pretty hilarious when used together. There is indeed a Bronx GOP, which is funny enough, but who exactly actually cares what they may be thinking? About anything?
2. The Republicans should give their ballot line to whomever they choose. It's their party, after all. I can see why they could have misgivings about putting Bloomberg on Row B. That said, whatever Bloomberg's shortcomings in the minds of the Bronx GOP, I wouldn't worry too much about Mayor Mike "ruining" the GOP "brand."
The GOP "brand" is already in the toilet. It's been in all the papers and stuff.
Bloomberg had nothing to do with that.
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Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 10:44:31 AM EST
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The truth hurts.
The people voted a while back to impose term limits on their political leadership. That was a nuisance for the man in charge. He was in his second term and prohibited by law from running again. But he sorely wanted to try for a third term.
Here's what he did. He went back to the people to ask if they'd had a change of heart.
Obviously, he was not from New York.
Ouch.
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Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 16:10:31 PM EST
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There's a great even happening tonight in NYC and I hope you'll be able to come out for it. In celebration of Open Left co-founder Mike Lux's new book, The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be, The Tank and Living Liberally is hosting a discussion called "Creating Big Change Moments". Check out the lineup:
Participants: Gara LaMarche, President and CEO of Atlantic Philanthropies; Eli Pariser, Executive Director of MoveOn.org; Mike Lux, President of Progressive Strategies, L.L.C.; moderated by Laura Flanders, journalist, author and host of GRITtv.
What will be America's next progressive revolution? After all, since our country's founding, it has been progressive momentum that created a social safety net and ended slavery, that enfranchised voters and protected the environment. Coming out of years of conservative governance, and facing overwhelming economic, international and environmental problems, can we even hope for a next "big change moment" in America?
Join three longtime progressive movement veterans for a roundtable discussion of America's past progressive revolutions, why they happened, and what it will take to get to the next one. From funding the movement to learning what needs to be done online to overcoming the problems that plague cooperative work, this discussion will help progressive activists strategize on how we make the next several years into a time of major progressive change.
This event celebrates the publication of The Progressive Revolution by Mike Lux, and continues the discussion laid out in the book. The book will be available for sale at the event, or you can reserve a copy with your admission at a discount by clicking here.
354 West 45th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues) (Take the A, C or E train to 42nd Street/Port Authority, or take the 1, 2 or 3 train to 42nd Street/Times Square)
It should be a great event and I so hope all of you in and near the city can make it. Don't think you can make it? No problem. I'm going to bring the event to you. Really.
Beginning tonight at 6:30 7pm, I will be streaming the event via Ustream. You can watch, take part in a live chat and even embed the feed on your own site.
Pretty cool, huh?
On the web: The Progressive Revolution.
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Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 09:35:22 AM EST
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The once and future PA? Some news from the big city this morning.
Dear Friends,
New York has been the greatest city in the world in the 20th century. Our challenge is to make sure that sure it's the greatest for the 21st.
When tested by hard times, New York City has shown a capacity for coming toget her to emerge stronger, like steel hardened by fire. Because we're now in a deepening economic crisis, it's even more important to have a government that works for you. Whether you are a single parent from here in the Bronx struggling to send your children to a quality school, or a breadwinner from Queens needing job assistance, or a retiree living on a fixed income in Brooklyn wondering if your senior center will be there, or a young professional who can't find affordable housing in Manhattan--our government has to do better.
And. We. Will. I'm Mark Green. I was the City's First Public Advocate, the #2 citywide official - the "ombudsman" and watchdog over City Hall. This year I'll be seeking to be your Public Advocate again...because I'm devoted to public service, because I love the City that welcomed my immigrant grandparents a century ago and is now welcoming my two children as they begin their careers. And since their futures and ours are at risk during this economic meltdown, now is no time to sit on the sidelines.
I'd be so grateful if you'd again consider letting me serve you. For while anyone can tell you what they would do - I can tell you what I have done as your first Public Advocate for eight years....to save your money and your health, to actually make progressive change happen.
Maybe he can hire Lionel to run his campaign. At least it would get that dimwit off the radio.
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Mon Feb 02, 2009 at 17:00:58 PM EST
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So, if that groundhog in PA sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. What does it mean if a groundhog in Staten Island bites the Mayor?
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Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 09:37:42 AM EST
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Obviously, we need a third term of this. Oh, did I mention that 15,000 of those folks about to get axed are teachers?
Mayor Bloomberg's bare-bones budget for next year will slash the city work force by 23,000 and drastically increase its sales tax, officials revealed Thursday.
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Bloomberg's scaled-back plan plugs a $4billion deficit, but officials warned that the work force will shrink further if the state and feds don't approve reforms to city pensions, employee health care contributions and Medicaid relief.
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Among those on the chopping block will be roughly 15,000 teachers and other educators, a move United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten warned "would be devastating" to schools.
Because what you want in a severe economic downturn is fewer teachers and cops.
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Mon Oct 27, 2008 at 12:58:56 PM EDT
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It seems pretty much all upstate Republicans are sticking to the tired old "ooga booga...NYC" messaging that has so successful as of late. (Hello, Senator Aubertine!) Just like clueless wingnut Dennis Delano, SD-61 GOP hopeful Mike Ranzenhofer is raking in big bucks from downstate fat cats all the while telling anyone who will listen that Joe Mesi is too beholden to downstate interests. Sound familiar?
Developers in NYC know that if Republicans lose power their gravy train in Albany will go out the window too. For decades Republicans have taken money from developers and then thanked them by loosening laws to protect tenants and giving developers tax breaks, sweetheart land deals, and other favors.
Glenwood Management, which has given Ranzenhofer over $19,000, was featured in a NYT’s article from last year as one of the main development companies involved in lobbying efforts to keep a loophole open that effectively lets them donate as much as they want to political interests.
It’s ironic that Mike Ranzenhofer and his cronies try to paint Mesi as a tool of downstate interests when in fact Ranzenhofer and his Republican buddies have been used as a pawn for downstate developers for decades.
Ranzenhofer even goes so far as to run this ad to drive his BS point home:
There is a negative Ranzenhofer ad out there hitting Mesi for taking downstate money. (Interesting that it's bad for Mesi, but OK for Ranzenhofer and Delano. But I digress).
This is how Ranzenhofer's ad illustrates the point about downstate money. In it, a stencil is applied over a white brick wall that has "NYC" drawn in stylized graffitti print. A spray can miraculously appears, causing the message carved into the stencil to appear on the brick wall. I don't even remember what the point being made is.
What's Ranzenhofer trying to say here? That downstate = urban blight, graffitti, and defacement of property? Gee, what a fascinating image to convey. I'd love to hear more about why that particular device was employed to make this point.
Pathetic.
On the web:
Joe Mesi for State Senate
Wall St, Ranzenhofer and the NYC Money Trail (Awesome new watch blog)
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Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 16:49:18 PM EDT
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Azi has the Hall of Shame roll call.
As per usual, my Councilman, David "Which way the wind blows" Yassky, caved. What a weasel.
More. MUCH more on this soon.
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 at 11:40:35 AM EDT
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NY1 has a poll that shows that New Yorkers, by a 3 to 1 margin, believe that voters should decide the term limits question.
Term Limits- Overview: Memo by NY1 Pollster Mickey Blum
• Let the people decide. Three-quarters (75%) of New York voters say they should decide term limits on a referendum-not the council. One-quarter say council (10%) or not matter (14%).
• By nearly 2 to 1 margin (62%-33%) city voters favor term limits for city elected officials.
• However, voters are more divided on the mayor's proposal to extend limits from 2-3 terms (50% oppose/44% favor).
• Majority oppose to having limits extended for the mayor only (55% not only for mayor/ 39% say okay if mayor only).
• There is overwhelming agreement that voters should decide the issue in a referendum, irrespective of demographics, borough, party or even opinion of the mayor or term limits in general.
• A smaller majority - but again a clear majority -approves of term limits in general. Again there is agreement across the demographic, geographic and opinion spectrum.
How much clearer can we be?
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