FBI removes files from office of ex-GOP chief Powers
June 10, 2008
FBI agents removed files last Friday from the State Street offices of William D. Powers, a lobbyist and the state’s former Republican chairman.
Powers, of Chatham, has been a lobbyist since he stepped down as state GOP chairman in 2001 after holding the position for 11 years.
It’s unclear why the FBI took files from Powers’ office [...]
104 arrested in NYC for fire code violations
June 10, 2008
The latest arrests are part of a joint effort by the Department of Investigation and the city’s Fire Department to crack down on those who ignore summonses for fire code violations.
City investigators and fire marshals have arrested more than 100 people in a massive sweep targeting business owners, employees and building owners who failed to [...]
Working Families Party Drops Robach, Backs Dollinger
June 10, 2008
A local state senate candidate won’t have the endorsement of the Working Families Party going into the fall elections. That party represents organized labor in New York state and community organizations, and it endorsed Democratic challenger Richard Dollinger for Republican Joseph Robach’s 56th district state senate seat.
Working Families endorsed Robach in 2004 and in 2006 [...]
$4.5 Million Water Bill for a New York Agency
June 10, 2008
One of the biggest water bill deadbeats in New York City is the Economic Development Corporation, according to an audit released by the city comptroller’s office on Monday.
William C. Thompson Jr., the comptroller, said that the corporation had not paid any water or sewer bills for 22 years at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset [...]
State controller’s pension team gets 500G in pay raises as judges go begging
June 10, 2008
State Controller Thomas DiNapoli quietly authorized significant raises for nearly three dozen members of his pension investment team, the Daily News has learned.
Twenty-one of the 35 raises were in the double digits, including 13 that exceeded 20%, salary information from DiNapoli’s office shows.
The pay hikes come as state judges are suing for their first raises [...]
Libertarians Choose Candidate for Fossella Seat
June 10, 2008
The Libertarian Party selected Susan Overeem on Monday night as the nominee for the Congressional seat being vacated by Representative Vito J. Fossella of Staten Island. She had nearly three times as many votes as the other Libertarian candidate, Francis M. Powers, the son of the Republican Party candidate, Francis H. Powers.
Ms. Overeem, who recently [...]
Pork or not? Member items getting new scrutiny
June 9, 2008
Assemb. Steven Englebright, a Democrat, is giving $410,000 in state taxpayer money to a Setauket art gallery.
Republican State Sen. Kenneth LaValle has promised the town of Brookhaven $100,000 to build a skating rink in Shoreham.
And Democratic Assemb. Phil Ramos has come up with $3,000 for a kids’ program at Lumberjack Lou’s Community Boxing of [...]
Good timing for good deal
June 9, 2008
The widow of former state Sen. Ron Stafford last month bought a home from the elder son of Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno at an apparent premium, at a time when she is seeking legislation that would benefit her company.
Kay Stafford bought 303 Bulson Road, Brunswick, for $475,000 from Joseph M. Bruno. Town records [...]
Paterson Signals He’d Fight a Bloomberg Challenge
June 9, 2008
If Mayor Bloomberg decides to run for governor in 2010, Governor Paterson would confront him head-on despite what would seem to be an uneven matchup: a contest between a nationally known billionaire businessman with strong approval ratings and a former state legislator who is best known as Governor Spitzer’s emergency replacement.
Read more at the NY [...]
G.O.P. Candidate for Congress Faces Challenge From His Son
June 9, 2008
Competition and rivalry are common in politics, just as they are within families. But it is highly uncommon for a family rivalry to boil over into politics, and that is just what has occurred in the race for the Congressional seat that is being vacated by Representative Vito J. Fossella of Staten Island.
The Republican candidate [...]
