Pulling the Albany Strings
Next ethics bill must disclose who legislators work for
Most Americans are either too busy or too lazy to pay attention to state politics. They may have some impression of what the president and Congress are doing, but they know very little about what really goes on in Albany. Obviously, if you don’t know what your elected officials are doing, you can’t hold them responsible. You can’t have true democracy unless people know what’s going on and unless they vote. Most people do not vote and those who do play an old game called “the odd finger.”
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First Couple of New York
Cuomo’s relationship with Sandra Lee reflects changing times
The other day, a reporter called from a fashion newspaper that was writing a story on Sandra Lee, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s significant other. The reporter wanted to know what I made of the fact that the governor was living with someone to whom he was not married. Read more
Cuomo Sets High Bar for New York
New Governor hits right notes in inauguration speech
Andrew Cuomo gave the speech of his life at his inauguration. He was gracious but stern; humorous but determined; warm and sincere yet somehow dark. He offered his hand to the Legislature and to the people, and you had the feeling you’d better take that hand lest there be trouble ahead. Read more
Nadler: Obama Didn’t Help Much on Zadroga
Long road to 9/11 Health Bill passage for local pols
By Josh Rogers
The drawn-out fight to pass the Zadroga 9/11 health bill was made even longer by the Obama administration’s indifference, but the legislation got crucial, unexpected G.O.P. help, Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler said Monday.
“We didn’t have the support of the administration,” Nadler said in a phone interview. “We never got it until it was late.” Read more
Predictions for upcoming Political Year
Cuomo, Silver and other prognostications for 2011
The New Year is upon us and as usual, it falls to me to make prognostications and predictions about what we can expect in the coming annum. Let us remember the rules. I make some of these predictions because I do not want to see them happen and by predicting them I hope to put a hex on them. I make some of them because I want to see them happen and I am giving them a little push. Finally, there are some predictions you will find here that I really think will happen. It is up to you to figure out which is which. Read more
The U.S. Must Come to the Aid of its 9/11 Heroes
On Sept. 11, 2001, when thousands of innocent men and women lost their lives, tens of thousands more came to their assistance. We as a nation saw greater acts of heroism than we could have imagined: First-responders from all over New York and all over the country came to Ground Zero to save innocent lives, provide proper burial for lives that were lost and assist in the enormous effort to clean up and recover from that devastating attack on our nation. Read more
Now Is the Time to Govern
Cuomo will whittle state budget to the bone
The first thing the new governor has to do is to get the state’s fiscal house in order. That must happen immediately because in a year, the state’s election cycle will start all over and if Andrew Cuomo waits until then, it will be too late. Cuomo is lucky because as a political genius, he has rounded up the two most powerful publishing magnates in New York: Rupert Murdoch and Mort Zuckerman, the billionaires who, by ordering up editorials in the New York Post and Daily News, can make or break a politician. These two men will back Cuomo on his rush to fiscal austerity and will punish him if he waivers on his “New Democrat” principles. Read more
Bringing the Upper West Side to Albany
Schneiderman, Cuomo hold first joint appearance
By Dan Rivoli and Allen Houston
While Republicans made a political comeback around the country, New York State Democrats fared relatively well. Andrew Cuomo is now Governor-elect, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand trounced their GOP opponents and Tom DiNapoli held on to the State Comptroller seat. Read more
Schneiderman Win Bright Spot for UWS Politics
By Dan Rivoli
Eric Schneiderman, the Upper West Sider and state senator, won the attorney general race last night, a bright spot in Upper West Side politics.
Schneiderman, who won a bruising five-way primary and tough general election, handily beat Republican Dan Donovan, the Staten Island district attorney. He will succeed Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo.
Upper West Side Democrats Help in Statewide Races
Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell has no Republican challenger for his Upper West Side seat for the Nov. 2 election. But he nonetheless opened campaign headquarters in his district to help fellow Democrats in competitive statewide races.
On one of the final Sundays before the election, O’Donnell held an open house at the 940 Amsterdam Ave. storefront to attract new activists to drive voter turnout in what is expected to be a tough year for his party. Read more
