State Breathes New Life Into NYRA
February 13, 2008
The New York Racing Association will continue to operate the Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga race tracks for another 25 years under a deal struck among political leaders, two state officials said.
NYRA’s board still has to approve the deal, which was confirmed by two state officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn’t [...]
Speaker Christine Quinn Positions Herself For Mayoral Race
February 13, 2008
The City Council will cut its own budget to help close the city’s budget gap, Speaker Christine Quinn announced yesterday in a “State of the City” speech crafted to address the city’s uncertain economic future.
Ms. Quinn, a likely candidate for mayor in 2009, echoed many of Mayor Bloomberg’s strongest themes in her speech, such as [...]
Viola Plummer Trial On Hold
February 12, 2008
US District Court Judge William Pauley (PDF) has granted a stay in Viola Plummer’s $1 million civil rights suit against the city and Council Speaker Christine Quinn pending an appeal of his original decision that the ousted staffer’s suit can go forward.
Pauley tossed part of Plummer’s suit last month, dismissing her claim that she was [...]
Former Pataki Aide To Pay $15K Ethics Fine
February 12, 2008
The state Public Integrity Commission may not be moving very quickly on its Troopergate probe, but it has settled an issue held over from the Pataki administration, announcing today that a onetime aide to the former governor has agreed to pay a $15,000 fine to settle charges that she violated the Public Officers Law in [...]
Court Fight Brews Over City Rules On Financing Political Campaigns
February 12, 2008
New York City’s new campaign finance regulations, which limit the campaign contributions of lobbyists and many business owners by 90%, are headed to court on a First Amendment challenge.
The regulations significantly lower the maximum amount that can be contributed toward a campaign by people who do business with the city. That is a category that [...]
Spitzer’s “Drug Tax” is Unfair on Drug Users and Dealers
February 12, 2008
A prominent Democratic Queens assemblyman yesterday warned that Gov. Spitzer’s proposed tax on illegal drugs - dubbed the “crack tax” by critics - could unfairly impact the drug dealers themselves. Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry told Spitzer Tax Commissioner Robert Megna during a legislative budget hearing that requiring drug users and dealers to pay state sales tax [...]
Bloomberg-Hagel ticket increasingly unlikely
February 12, 2008
The possibility of Sen. Chuck Hagel joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg on an independent presidential ticket seems to be dimming, with Bloomberg distancing himself on Monday from the Nebraska Republican.
The New York Times reported Saturday about a conversation one of its reporters had last week with Hagel, during which Hagel confirmed he had spoken with Bloomberg [...]
Tom Suozzi touts “Biggest Loser” to Nassau residents
February 12, 2008
County Executive Thomas Suozzi called on Nassau residents yesterday to sign up for NBC’s “Biggest Loser” program: Lose weight, and maybe win a ticket to L.A.
Suozzi kicked off his plea at the county Aquatic Center in East Meadow with last year’s “Biggest Loser” winner, Bill Germanakos, a salesman from Lynbrook, and his brother Jim, a [...]
No congressional bid for Schenectady mayor
February 12, 2008
The field of candidates vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty got smaller Tuesday with Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton announcing he won’t seek the congressional seat his father, Samuel S. Stratton, held for 30 years.
With Stratton’s announcement, the race in the 21st Congressional District is shaping up to be one featuring relative political newcomers. [...]
A local school property tax cap is a Capitol idea
February 12, 2008
New York State’s local property taxes, particularly its school property taxes, are out of control. Local taxes in the state are 70 percent above the national average, and school property taxes alone have risen by a similar amount over the past decade.
During my 2006 campaign for governor, I advocated placing a cap on local school [...]
