Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was a popular target this week, branded a deceiver by editorial writers, and singled out by former mayor Ed Koch for reneging on his promise to reform the state’s once-a-decade redistricting process. “I’m very disappointed that he’s withdrawn his commitment. Most people don’t do that in politics,” Koch told reporters [...]
Pedro Espada Jr., the former State Senate majority leader who is facing federal corruption charges, strode into federal court in Brooklyn on Friday with a far different demeanor than he did four months ago. In December, Mr. Espada was subdued as he was arraigned on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy. But on Friday he was [...]
A bill that would end the “last in, first out” layoff policy for New York City teachers passed in the State Senate today, but faces an uphill battle in the Assembly. Introduced late last week by State Senator John Flanagan, a Long Island Republican, the bill rules out seniority as the sole factor in determining who [...]
NYPIRG whiz Bill Mahoney reports an amazing $210,664,067 was spent lobbying in New York State in 2010, according to lobbying data obtained from the Commission on Public Integrity. The bump from 2009’s total of $197.8 million came out to an increase of 6.5%. Source: NY Daily News Continue Reading This Article here
Mayor Bloomberg has yielded to Controller John Liu’s demand that the city rein in the skyrocketing cost of its 911 system modernization. Liu refused in January to approve a new $286 million contract for defense giant Northrop Grumman to design and install computer software for a $650 million backup 911 call center the city is [...]
Andrew Cuomo on Thursday amended his proposed budget to incorporate Medicaid funding cuts and policy changes recommended by a task force that reviewed the program and to reflect some future economic optimism. His revisions include a projection that school aid will increase a year from now, which would be the first increase since the 2009-10 [...]
The Bloomberg administration may need to close 105 senior centers — 40 percent of the entire system — if Albany makes good on a budget cut of approximately $25 million, city officials said on Thursday. The proposed closing would affect 8,000 of the 28,000 people who visit the centers for meals, friendship and activities. And [...]
A state Assemblyman has quickly withdrawn a bill that would require paid registration and license plates for all bicycles in the state, whether ridden by adult or child. The Assemblyman, Michael G. DenDekker, Democrat of Queens, said he had been flooded with complaints from people who lived outside the city that they were being taxed [...]
Mayor Bloomberg isn’t the only person getting snubbed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo these days. Cuomo’s office told the state’s Catholic Conference this week that the governor would not have the time to meet with Archbishop Timothy Dolan and other bishops when they travel to Albany next week for their annual conference. The governor’s decision puts [...]
The New York City Central Labor Council, the umbrella organization representing more then a million workers, lost two powerful unions this week because of a controversy over its president. A spokesman for 32BJ, which represents 70,000 building service workers, said Thursday the union had withdrawn from the labor council. The Hotel Trades Council quit the [...]
