Cuomo Tackles the Albany Beast
Would-be gov’s success depends on ability to navigate Legislature
Andrew Cuomo is positioning himself to be president of the United States. His chances of getting there will be infinitely increased if he is able to turn Albany into a calmer, less venal, more reflective and genuinely representative place.
Cuomo must win the Legislature’s confidence and at the same time convince the people that he really is going to clean things up. Read more
Senate Majority Report
This week, we learned that the State Senate had established committees that literally sold accessibility to state politicians for menu item dollars. Labor leaders were told that for 50 grand they would have “increased access” to the Senate majority. Others were told that 25 grand would buy them power.
If you are recorded by the FBI saying to a legislator, “If you vote for this bill I will give you this much money,” you are guilty of bribery under the law. Read more
Ford’s Senate Ambitions
To the Editor:
“Run, Harold, Run” (Editorial, Jan. 21)? A really bad mistake! Mr. Ford has been in Manhattan for a whole three years. What does he know about us or our sister boroughs? Because he has chosen to live here, I have to ask, “Mr. Ford, do you know me?” Of course not! But Jerry Nadler does, as does Carolyn Maloney, Charlie Rangel, David Paterson, Chuck Schumer AND Kirsten Gillibrand, to name just a few.
No, I’m not an elected official. I am a very dedicated Democratic activist who is really, really deep down grassroots. I am active in my Democrat club (Community Free Democrats) and I have volunteered in a wide range of campaigns. I have crossed rivers and borders, autoed, bused, trained and planed. Read more
Domestic Workers of the World Unite!
“If something happens, you have nowhere to complain,” said Anna*, a 38-year-old West African nanny. “It makes me worried.”
For most of her seven-year career as a nanny, Anna has been fortunate to work for two families that have paid her a decent wage for roughly nine hours of work a day. Her duties usually include taking the children for a stroll or to play dates, cooking dinner in the evening and cleaning.
But even with good employers, Anna has still been denied something as basic as proper time off. Read more
MALONEY DROPS SENATE BID
Rep. Carolyn Maloney has decided against running for U.S. Senate against newly minted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Since being passed over by Gov. David Paterson to fill the Senate seat held by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Maloney had expressed interest in taking on Gillibrand, a former one-term House member from the Saratoga region.
But after months of preparing for an announcement, Maloney, a senior House member and chair of the Joint Economic Committee, backed down, citing her legislative priorities and the desire to pass healthcare reform.
“The right decision for me and the people I represent is to stay in the House of Representatives and use the leadership positions I hold, including chair of the Joint Economic Committee, to get things done,” Maloney said in a statement. “In this Congress, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to enact meaningful healthcare reform, restore the trust and confidence in our financial systems and take a step toward a clean energy future.”
Senate GOP Killed 2nd Ave. Subway Bill
The 30-member State Senate Republican conference, consisting of suburban and rural-based senators, threatened to defeat a bill designed to assist struggling Second Avenue businesses affected by subway construction.
The legislation would give property tax abatements for the next five years to landlords who renegotiate cheaper rents with small businesses hurting from Second Avenue subway construction. Read more
Our Top Reforms
As Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with barbecues, beer and Hudson River fireworks, New Yorkers—particularly the elected variety—can reflect on the sorry condition of their own state government. In decades past, Albany hasn’t exactly been a beacon of democracy. But things have gotten decidedly worse over the past month, with the Senate deadlocked in a power struggle that has stifled any semblance of legislative action. When calmer heads prevail (we’re not holding our breath), our representatives must take some solid steps toward reform, addressing not only the conditions that contributed to the June coup and ensuing confusion, but larger endemic problems as well. Read more
BILLS IN SENATE LIMBO
While the State Senate was embroiled in chaos and disorder, the Assembly was able to pass a slew of bills, including two drafted by East Side legislators.
One casualty of the turmoil was Assembly Member Jonathan Bing’s bill to make permanent a temporary law that forces the government to pay nonprofits for money lost when the government is late with contract renewal processing.
Bing’s bill was a part of the 55 actions the Senate had to pass during one of Gov. David Paterson’s special sessions.
“This is not a bill that I expect will have much negative debate,” said Assembly Member Bing. “If they were able to conduct a regular session I think it would be on its way to the governor right now.”
Another bill passed through the Assembly by Micah Kellner reaches out to small business owners on Second Avenue who are affected by subway construction. If signed into law, businesses in the Second Avenue construction zone will have the option of getting a property tax abatement if they are able to sign or re-negotiate a reduced lease. Kellner hopes that the bill will be renewed continually as the construction progresses farther downtown so that other businesses affected by the work can be protected.
“Unless we take steps to level the playing field for the small businesses trying to survive during the long construction process, we stand to lose cherished local institutions, and the vibrancy of Second Avenue could be extinguished,” Kellner said.
Kellner, echoing Bing’s sentiments, feels uncertain about the Senate and hopes business as usual will soon resume.
“I can’t speak for the Senate,” Kellner said, “but I would hope that there’s a light through the end of the tunnel.”
Senate Makes Us Pay
To the Editor:
“State Senate Action” (Editorial, June 17), concerning the Republicans regaining control of the State Senate due to the support of Democratic State Sens. Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada, Jr., is actually good news for taxpayers. Our civil and economic liberties are continually at risk when any city, state or federal legislative body is in session. Elected officials on a bipartisan basis routinely pass legislation to increase spending, taxes and deficits, pass bills benefiting their “Pay for Play” contributors, along with new rules and regulations infringing on our day-to-day lives. Read more
MALONEY FOCUSED ON BILLS, NOT SENATE
Rep. Carolyn Maloney is staying mum on her Senate aspirations after Rep. Steve Israel, a Long Island Democrat, dropped his plan to challenge newly appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Israel announced that President Barack Obama personally called and asked him to stay in the House.
Maloney is a possible challenger to Gillibrand, an upstate former Congress-woman. In a statement, Maloney said she respects Israel’s decision to stay in the House.
“But it doesn’t affect my decision-making process,” she said. “I am completely focused on passing my Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights and 9/11 health bill and getting them to the president’s desk quickly. Any decisions about any future campaigns on my part will wait until after those.”
