Working Families Breakfast Reading – News from around NY
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QUOTE OF THE DAY – September 24, 2009
“They have succeeded in a crucial task for progressives: Holding Democrats accountable once we help elect them.”
-Columnist David Sirota on the Working Families Party, on Huffington Post.
WFP IN THE NEWS
Huffington Post (David Sirota): The Rare Political Party That Is a Movement
A few weeks ago, I wrote a newspaper column pointing out that traditional political parties are not the same as successful political movements because they are far more loyal to their own power than any kind of ideological/legislative agenda. If I had had the space in that column, I would have put an asterisk in there, noting that there is one political party that is very clearly a successful movement — although that party, the Working Families Party (WFP), is not at all traditional. In my most recent book, The Uprising, I devoted a whole chapter to the formation and operation of the WFP, and how it has used fusion voting systems in New York and Connecticut (once legal in every state in the nation) to build one of the most significant instruments of raw progressive power in America.
STATE NEWS
Paterson
NY Times (Hakim and Peters): Reluctant Governor Explains: ‘I Did Not Sign Up for This’
In unusually revealing remarks, Gov. David A. Paterson said on Wednesday that he never envisioned himself becoming governor and that he is trying to do the best with the situation he has found himself in. Speaking at a luncheon organized by The Associated Press, Mr. Paterson said that when he ran for lieutenant governor in 2006 on a ticket with Eliot Spitzer, he had hoped that then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton would later become president and Mr. Spitzer would appoint him to her seat. “I did not sign up for this,” Mr. Paterson said. “I wanted to be lieutenant governor. I had this grand plan that Hillary Clinton was going to become president. Maybe the governor would appoint me to the Senate.”
See also:
Daily News (Blain and Lovett): Gov. Paterson hints he might not run in 2010 after all, for the sake of the party
Daily News (Kenneth Lovett): Shaving face: Newly clean-shaven Gov. Paterson back to work after White House bid to push him out
AP (Michael Gormley): Paterson faults Cuomo allies for Obama leak
Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday blamed people connected to his potential rival, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for this week’s leak of reports that President Barack Obama wants Paterson to drop out of the 2010 race for governor. Paterson said at an annual meeting of newspaper editors held by The Associated Press that he doesn’t know if Cuomo, a Democrat long considered a strong candidate for governor, played any role himself. A Cuomo spokesman says the attorney general and his staff knew nothing of the effort.
See also:
NY Post (Frederic Dicker): ‘Andy’s tricks behind Bam nix’
NY Post (Sally Goldenberg): Gov wife to O: how dare you?!
Hell hath no fury like a first lady of New York scorned! Michelle Paterson yesterday lashed out at President Obama for pushing Gov. Paterson not to run for election next year, particularly since the slight to the state’s first black governor came from the nation’s first black president. “I never heard of a president asking a governor not to run, a sitting governor not to run, so I thought it was very unusual that this would be asked of David, and I don’t think this is right,” she told The Post during a luncheon hosted by columnist Cindy Adams.
See also:
Newsday (James Madore): Gov. Paterson, wife insist he will run in ‘10
Politics, Etc
Buffalo News (Robert McCarthy): Lazio, Cox visits signal campaign is under way
Criticism of President Obama’s “Chicago-style politics” and a call for drastic overhaul of state government highlighted the Wednesday appearances of two top New York Republicans in yet another sign that the 2010 campaign for governor is well under way. New State Republican Chairman Edward F. Cox and newly declared gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio both tried to portray the embattled GOP in a new light – each insisting that Republicans offer new solutions to state problems that Democrats have not even begun to solve.
See also:
Democrat and Chronicle (Jill Terreri): GOP’s Lazio promises to change Albany
Daily News (Kenneth Lovett): Controller limits campaign donations in attempt to curb ‘pay-to-play’ problems in the pension fund
Seeking to crack down on “pay-to-play” problems in the pension fund, Controller Thomas DiNapoli Wednesday slapped some limits on who can give campaign donations. DiNapoli signed an executive order barring financial firms that give campaign cash to the controller or candidates for the job from getting pension fund business for two years. “Pay-to-play has no place in the management of public pension funds,” DiNapoli said.
Budget, Taxes
Albany Times Union (Rick Karlin): Paterson warns of more red ink
Anyone looking for good news about the state’s fiscal situation should have steered clear of Wednesday’s meeting between Gov. David Paterson and state legislative leaders. The latest bit of gloom: The governor believes the projected $2.1 billion deficit for the remainder of this fiscal year will grow to $3 billion. “That is not a hard number; that is basically my estimate,” said Paterson, seated next to newly affirmed Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch in the ornate Red Room of the Capitol. “It may not be as great as I describe it. It may be worse.”
See also:
NY Post (Brendan Scott): Debt man talking
AP (Michael Gormley): Wisdom of taxing rich questioned
This year, the deep pockets of New York’s rich were tapped like never before. The state’s wealthiest pay new higher income tax rates, higher taxes for limousines and yachts, more to enter a horse in a race and more to dabble in real estate. Meanwhile, many are losing millions from the closing of business tax loopholes and those making over $1 million are losing tax deductions others get. Now, early revenue figures suggest that taxing the wealthy more under this year’s state budget may have driven away richer New Yorkers. That could make the economic comeback for the state even harder.
NYC NEWS
Politics, Etc.
NY Times (Julie Bosman): Green and De Blasio Focus on Attacks and Endorsements in Public Advocate Debate
Mark Green, seeking to return to his former position as public advocate, unleashed a barrage of attacks on Bill de Blasio in a debate on Wednesday night, trying to cast doubt on his opponent’s trustworthiness and independence before the Democratic runoff. Mr. de Blasio, a city councilman from Brooklyn, calmly dismissed the criticism as the modus operandi of a politician who has unsuccessfully run for office many times. The tense, hourlong debate, held at the NY1 television studio in Manhattan, was dominated by exchanges over private consulting fees, political contributions and endorsements.
See also:
Daily News (Katz and Einhorn): Mark Green, Bill de Blasio go for jugular in public advocate debate
WNYC (Arun Venugopal): One More Debate Before Public Advocate Runoff
NY Times (Kareem Fahim): A Reputation for His Outspokenness
…he has spoken out on topics that he pursued as a lawmaker, including an initiative to give New Yorkers better access to translation services, and recognition for holidays practiced by immigrant and minority communities. He has won a diverse following of allies that helped propel him to within a breath of winning the city comptroller’s race outright on Sept. 15. Instead he faces Councilman David Yassky of Brooklyn in Tuesday’s runoff. But Mr. Liu’s propensity to speak freely has also sometimes spelled trouble.
NY Times (Kareem Fahim): Known for His Pragmatic Approach
At the age of 37, with a loaded résumé and a reputation as a serious thinker, David Yassky arrived at the City Council and was quickly handed his first defeat….But he burnished his reputation in the way he fought back. He soon threw himself into the details of another rezoning, on the Brooklyn waterfront, helping to pioneer inclusionary zoning provisions giving developers incentives to build lower-cost housing in new projects. Such provisions have become a standard part of the city’s rezoning proposals…But Mr. Lander and other supporters were disappointed last year when Mr. Yassky, who is now 45, voted with the majority to give Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg a chance to run for a third term by amending the city’s term-limits law.
NY Post: Liu edging out Yassky: poll
John Liu is edging out David Yassky in the Democratic runoff next week and the public advocate race is a dead heat, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released today. Liu beats Yassky by six points – 49 to 43 – with 9 percent undecided, according to the survey, which questioned 358 likely Democratic primary voters with a margin of error of 5.2 points. Public advocate candidates Bill de Blasio and Mark Green are tied at 46 percent with 7 percent undecided.
NY Post (David Seifman): Liu: I’ll cut off seed $$ for ACORN
John Liu, the front-runner in the hotly contested race for city comptroller, pledged yesterday not to invest pension funds in projects tied to ACORN, the community-activism group that is the target of numerous investigations. “John certainly isn’t planning to hire ACORN or any of its entities for any comptroller-related business,” said Juanita Scarlett, his spokeswoman. Asked if that meant he wouldn’t invest pension funds in affordable housing projects run by ACORN, Scarlett responded, “Yes.”
Healthcare
NY Times (Diane Cardwell): A Plan to Add Supermarkets to Poor Areas, With Healthy Results
The Bloomberg administration, in its ever-expanding campaign to make New Yorkers eat better, has already clamped down on trans fats, deployed fruit vendors to produce-poor neighborhoods and prodded corner bodegas to sell leafy green vegetables and low-fat milk. Now, in a city known more for hot dogs and egg creams than the apple of its nickname, officials want to establish an even bigger beachhead for healthy food – new supermarkets in areas where fresh produce is scarce and where poverty, obesity and diabetes run high.
Housing, Development
Daily News (Mike Jaccarino): Homeless shelter stirs fight as locals file suit over Westchester Square center
Break out the legal briefs. Residents and merchants sued the city last week for creating a homeless shelter in the middle of a bustling shopping district. The Department of Homeless Services opened the shelter just off the Westchester Square shopping area on Aug. 21, placing 36families in a 38-unit apartment building on St. Peters Ave., citing a homeless emergency crisis in the city. Shelter opponents argue Westchester Square is already saturated with more than 20 social services programs.
Daily News (Joe Kemp): Small businesses at Willets Point demand to be moved en masse, slam city for no relocation plan
A group of workers and local advocates rallied at Willets Point on Tuesday to demand the city come forward with a relocation plan for small businesses in the area. The 62-acre labyrinth of about 60 auto repair shops, salvage yards and ironworks companies depend on one another to survive, the owners said. “It’s important that these businesses be relocated together,” said Tatiana Bejar of the Human Rights Project of the Urban Justice Center.
Etc.
Daily News (Ben Chapman): Westboro church members from Kansas travel to NY to target Brooklyn Jews for hate-filled rally
They’re not in Kansas anymore. Topeka-based hate group Westboro Baptist Church is targeting Brooklyn Jews with a barrage of hate-filled demonstrations this week. “These guys are really sick; they’re filled with hatred for Jews and a lot of other people,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park). “We have to make their lives miserable when they come to Brooklyn.”
WESTCHESTER/ROCKLAND/HUDSON VALLEY NEWS
Journal News (Gerald McKinstry): Spano, Astorino frosty in exec debate
Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano and his Republican opponent, Rob Astorino, offered sharply contrasting views Wednesday on how they would lead county government. One touted his experience and fiscal leadership as reasons for having a strong and stable government, while the other accused the incumbent of being stale and tired, and pledged to cut taxes and streamline county government. The men met for more than 1.5 hours, discussing taxes, the environment, government consolidation, the federal housing settlement and the Tappan Zee Bridge, among many other matters.
Journal News (Jonathan Bandler): Castro gets judicial nod, may leave D.A. race
After losing last week’s Democratic primary for Westchester County district attorney, Tony Castro had three options to get his name removed from minor party lines on the November ballot. He wasn’t keen on dying and he had no plans to move out of Westchester. So Tuesday night he was nominated by the Republicans to run for a state justiceship. It was an odd twist for a candidate who campaigned as the real Democrat in the primary, assailing District Attorney Janet DiFiore for switching parties after winning in 2005 as a Republican.
LONG ISLAND NEWS
Newsday (William Murphy): Suozzi pushing Lighthouse for Nassau growth
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi sketched out his vision for economic growth Wednesday, and made yet another pitch for the Lighthouse project, one of the key components of that vision. Suozzi made his presentation on what he calls “new suburbia,” on the lower level of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which would be renovated as part of the megaproject. The event was meant to promote Suozzi’s broad plan, but the setting, the participants and the comments were all Lighthouse related. And the session came on the heels of a daylong hearing on Islanders owner Charles Wang’s project before the Hempstead town board.
CENTRAL NY/FINGERLAKES/SOUTHERN TIER NEWS
Post-Standard (Mike McAndrew): Syracuse mayoral candidates to debate tonight
All three Syracuse mayoral candidates plan to participate today in their first public debate since the primary election cut the number of candidates in half. The event, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church, 501 James St., is being Sponsored by the Greater North Salina Business Association. Democrat Stephanie Miner, Republican Steve Kimatian and Ronald “Otis” Jennings, the Conservative Party candidate, will each be given 10 minutes to make an opening statement before the moderator, Geoffrey Navias, artistic director of Open Hand Theater, and the audience ask questions.
Democrat and Chronicle (Claudia Vargas): Effort to help homeless gets big boost from stimulus funds
Each year in Monroe County, about 7,500 adults and children go through the doors of homeless shelters, and with the economic crisis, those numbers could be even higher this year. But come November, Rochester and Monroe County will start using the $4.5 million approved in stimulus money for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program to prevent those homeless numbers from increasing and to help those who already are homeless find stable housing. The one-time funding will last three years with the condition that 60 percent of the money is used in the first two years…
CAPITOL REGION/NORTH COUNTRY NEWS
Albany Times Union (Paul Nelson): Schenectady County cuts taxes
Despite contentious partisan political bickering, the Schenectady County Legislature came together Wednesday night and unanimously approved a $288 million budget that includes a small dip in taxes. To cut taxes, the county is relying heavily on federal stimulus money and about $6 million in surplus funds, according to Philip Fields who chairs the panel’s Ways and Means Committee. “Despite the tax cut, we’re still keeping these services going,” Fields said of the 2.1 percent tax decrease during his budget presentation at a special meeting Wednesday.
WESTERN NY NEWS
Buffalo News (Henry Davis): Percentage uninsured here below state, U. S.
The percentage of people without health insurance in the Buffalo Niagara region is lower than estimates for both the state and nation, according to a new U. S. Census Bureau survey. Still, the 10.3 percent of uninsured residents in Niagara County and 7.2 percent in Erie County represent a large number-86,123 people. That remains a source of concern for those advocating an expansion of insurance coverage as Congress debates health reform. “We can’t let health reform take us backwards in New York State,” said Diana Cihak, chairwoman of the Western New York Health Care Campaign.
NATIONAL NEWS
NY Times (Robert Pear): Senator Tries to Allay Fears on Health Overhaul
Senator Bill Nelson of Florida desperately wants to expand health insurance coverage because one in five Floridians is uninsured. As a former state insurance commissioner, he wants to crack down on insurers. And as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, he can shape legislation to achieve both goals. But Mr. Nelson, a Democrat, has a big problem. The bill taken up this week by the committee would cut Medicare payments to insurance companies that care for more than 10 million older Americans, including nearly one million in Florida. The program, known as Medicare Advantage, is popular because it offers extra benefits, including vision and dental care and even, in some cases, membership in health clubs or fitness centers.
NY Times (Goodnough and Hulse): Kennedy Confidant Expected to Take Senate Seat
Senior Democrats in Washington said Wednesday that they expected Gov. Deval Patrick to name Paul G. Kirk Jr., a former aide and longtime confidant of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, to Mr. Kennedy’s seat on Thursday. “This is a very serious and important decision,” Mr. Patrick said Wednesday night. “I expect to make it very, very soon.” But the Democrats in Washington, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they were certain Mr. Kirk was the choice.
NY Times (Stephen Labaton): White House Pares Its Financial Reform Plan
In a step toward overhauling the nation’s financial regulation, a senior Democrat on Wednesday announced a plan that preserved the core of the White House’s proposal for a new consumer financial protection agency, while jettisoning a smaller though symbolically significant provision that had posed political obstacles. The announcement by Representative Barney Frank, of Massachusetts, comes after weeks of consultations with other members of the fractious financial services committee that he heads.
