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Archive for September, 2011
Assem. Malliotakis on DMV Vision Test
Sep 30th - 8:30 pm
The DMV will keep the vision test part of the driver’s license renewal process- at least for now. But the short-lived plan to eliminate the requirement upset many people. And Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis says if the DMV does go forward with its plan, the legislature may get involved.
Extras
Sep 30th - 5:21 pm
After saying in no uncertain terms that he would veto a LATFOR-created redistricting plan, Gov. Andrew Cuomo left the door open for a compromise.
Pat Foye could replace Chris Ward as executive director of the Port Authority.
Mayor Bloomberg is scheduled to take the stand in John Haggerty trial Monday. Haggerty’s attorney, ex-AG Dennis Vacco, won’t likely use kid gloves in questioning the mayor.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was very briefly almost a 2012 contender again. That didn’t last long.
What NJ Gov. Chris Christie must do if he decides to run for president.
Christie’s possible run has brought out the fatists.
Perhaps Christie’s weight is an asset? It’s definitely a stark contrast to President Obama’s slim physique. “Picture them on a debate stage – they would look like the number 10 standing next to each other.”
Cuomo is skipping an HRC event in DC this weekend at which Bloomberg will be honored for his role in the legalization of same-sex marriage.
How long will the Occupy Wall Street protest last before the city intervenes? “We’ll see,” said Bloomberg.
The mayor may have vastly underestimated the amount earned by the average Wall Street banker.
Radiohead did not show up at Zuccotti Park today, and was apparently never planning to do so.
The mayor called the protestors “misguided.”
California’s AG is being pressured by activists, unions and politicians – including LG Gavin Newsom – to be more like NY AG Eric Schneiderman.
The Clintons dedicated a new pedestrian bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Bloomberg’s girlfriend, Diana Taylor, channeled Sarah Palin as she slammed Obama.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s wife, Landra, has been diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer.
Exploding toilets in Washington.
DMV Regroups On Vision Tests
Sep 30th - 5:21 pm
The Department of Motor Vehicles released a formal statement this afternoon confirming reports earlier in the day that the Cuomo administration will place a hold on waiving the requirement for vision tests for those renewing their drivers licenses.
Instead, the DMV will ask members of the medical community to weigh on alternatives that are efficient and remain cost-effective, adding that public safety will not be compromised.
“I have asked the medical organizations prominent in the vision health field, AAA and AARP to review the best alternatives for a system that receives more than 2.4 million driver license renewal applications each year,” said Commissioner Barbara Fiala. “Those of us charged with delivering key government services to the public must always look for the most cost-effective ways to provide those services, but public safety will always be the first priority at DMV and it will not be compromised.”
Waiving the vision test requirement for renewing a driver’s license took effect Wednesday and was immediately scorned by local officials and doctors, along with newspaper editorial boards. Even Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb criticized the governor for the policy, which he found contradictory in light of the tough driver-safety measures Cuomo pushed for and approved.
It’s fair to say this marks a pretty speedy turnaround for any unpopular policy in recent years.
Kolb Mails Cuomo: Vision Policy ‘Inexplicable’
Sep 30th - 4:08 pm
Add Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb to the growing list of officials who have concerns about allowing drivers to opt of the vision tests at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Kolb, in a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, points out that the administration has sounded the right notes so far when it comes to driver safety, including the tough texting while-driving-measure.
All of these steps have made a positive difference as traffic fatalitiesin New York State have been on the decline.
However, this latest, inexplicable policy reversal by the State DMV could undo years of success by allowing motorists with questionable, poor and even bad eyesight to remain behind the wheeland continue driving when they clearly should not be doing so without corrective measures.
The Cuomo administration earlier today put a hold on the policy, which took effect Wednesday, while it reviews the merits.
Letter From Leader Kolb to Governor Cuomo Requesting Reversal of DMV Policy Change, Sept 29, 2011
PEF Layoffs Breakdown
Sep 30th - 3:10 pm
As per The Buffalo News’ Tom Precious, who “obtained” a list that provided the county-by-county impact of the Cuomo administration’s list of the 3,496 PEF jobs targted for elimination after rank-and-file members voted down the five-year contract deal this past Monday.
Precious reports that 178 PEF members will receive pink slips in Erie County, while just five in Niagara County are targeted, and eight could lose their jobs in Cattaraugus County.
Albany County faces the greatest number of PEF firings: 998. When other Capital District counties are included, the number of PEF workers on the layoff list climbs to 1,150 people. (Saratoga is slated to lose 7 jobs, Rensselaer 49 and Schectady 95).
In New York City, 684 state workers are on the list. Long Island would lose 167 PEF positions, while Monroe County is slated for 184 PEF firings. In Onondaga County, 222 positions are targeted.
The full list, as reprinted by the News, appears after the jump. The paper notes, however, that teh final actual distribution of layoffs will vary depending on the application of civil service rules like bumping.
NOM Expands Billboard Campaign
Sep 30th - 3:04 pm
The National Organization For Marriage is focusing on four state lawmakers who voted yes on the same-sex marriage bill in June with a new billboard campaign that calls attention to the group’s role in the ninth congressional district special election.
The campaign warns Republican Sens. Mark Grisanti, Stephen Saland, James Alesi and Democratic Sen. Shirley Huntley that “You’re Next” in reference to the upset loss of Democrat David Weprin.
NOM says the campaign is similar to the one launched against Sen. Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, earlier this year.
All four are lawmakers who either voted no on an earlier marriage bill or said they were opposed to the bill.
“Just like David Weprin discovered earlier this month when he faced voters after redefining marriage, Mark Grisanti, Stephen Saland, James Alesi, Roy McDonald and Shirley Huntley will soon discover that the people of New York will not sit idly by while the institution of marriage is redefined without voters having any say in the matter,” said Brian Brown, president of NOM. “NOM and our Let The People Vote” coalition will not rest until these legislators are turned out of office and the people of New York are allowed to vote on the definition of marriage.”
Though NOM spent more than $50,000 in the race, the role Weprin’s vote in favor of same-sex marriage is hotly debated, with Republican Bob Turner’s spokesman Bill O’Reilly saying it was essentially a non-factor.
Brynien ‘Encouraged’ By Cuomo’s ‘Tweaks’ Comment
Sep 30th - 1:13 pm
Public Employees Federation Ken Brynien issued a statement this afternoon saying he was encouraged by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s comments in a radio interview this morning.
Cuomo said he was open to revenue-neutral “tweaks” to the existing contract that PEF rank-and-file members voted down, essentially opening the door to re-negotiate the contract now layoff notices are heading out to nearly 3,500 workers.
But Brynien also said a re-vote wouldn’t change the outcome of the previous vote, which shot down the contract 54 percent to 46 percent.
“I heard the governor’s willingness to have open communication with us and I am encouraged the governor is willing to hear our ideas. At this time, we see no evidence to suggest that a revote would result in an different outcome. We are anxious to discuss with the governor’s negotiators how we can reach an agreement my members are willing to ratify while preserving state services and meeting the savings the state requires. Our team remains in place, ready and willing to meet with the governor’s negotiators. We are now in the process of making those arrangements,” Brynien said.
No mention in the statement of whether PEF would be open to changes that are, in the governor’s words, revenue neutral.
In No Uncertain Terms, Cuomo Promises LATFOR Veto (Update)
Sep 30th - 1:01 pm
Toward the end of his interview with Susan Arbetter on The Capitol Pressroom, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made perhaps his most direct comments yet on his vow to veto the new legislative lines drawn by the LATFOR.
Asked specifically if he would veto the lines drawn by the lawmaker-run commission, Cuomo said, “yes.”
“I don’t see how a non-independent process can produce an independent product,” he added. “I therefore would veto a bill that is not an independent product. It would therefore go to the courts. That’s what I’ve said and that’s what I’m sticking by.”
As Jimmy V. points out in a piece for Capital New York, the governor has actually said only one other time, directly, that he doesn’t believe LATFOR can draw independent lines.
Cuomo, in the radio interview this morning, compared the veto promise similar to the one he says he’s keeping on sending out pinkslips to PEF employees in the wake of the contract rejection.
The statement on LATFOR today from Cuomo is significant because it removes some confusion about whether the governor would veto lines he considers “unfair” or simply non-independent.
Cuomo has said he wants an independent commission to draw state and federal legislative boundaries. Still, he has no plans to call the Legislature back to Albany before the end of the year to do so because no agreement is in place for a commission.
Senate Democrats are particularly pushing for an independent redrawing of the lines in 2012. Because of their enrollment advantage in the state, Democrats feel they have a good shot of reclaiming control of the Senate, which is divided 32-30.
Update: Well, we’re back to parsing the governor’s words. Karen Dewitt of New York Public Radio had a separate sit-down interview with Cuomo today. She tweeted: Cuomo on redistricting: “to the extent there is a situation where people want to compromise, fine”
Turner Spokesman: Weiner’s A ‘Mensche’
Sep 30th - 12:39 pm
Bill O’Reilly, the GOP consultant who served as spokesman for Rep. Bob Turner’s surprisingly successful campaign in NY-9, blogged in praise of Turner’s predecessor, ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner, calling the former congressman a “mensche” for keeping secret a meeting with his replacement that took place at a Kew Gardens diner earlier this week.
While it was Weiner’s “Twitter indiscretions” that cost him his Brooklyn/Queens seat, he was the picture of discretion when it came to the meeting, according to O’Reilly.
The get-together, called so Weiner could update Turner on the projects he had been working on for his former constituents, was held in “strict confidence,” O’Reilly noted, but could very easily have been leaked with a single well-placed anonymous phone call.
“He traveled out to his former district from Manhattan, where he now lives, because he cared enough to do it,” O’Reilly wrote. “There could be no other reason for his action, and it showed character.”
“I have a laundry list of philosophical disagreements with Mr. Weiner, but I am struck by his graciousness in meeting with Mr. Turner – a man from the opposite political party who ran against him in 2010 – to help Congressman Turner better hit the ground running.”
Call Mr. Weiner what you want, but I call him a mensche today for what was supposed to be a quiet, unnoticed gesture. So now it’s leaked. Whoops!
In my eyes, this shows class on two sides here. Yes, Weiner took the time to help the man who now holds the seat he was forced to give up in disgrace, keeping the meeting on the down-low even though it would have helped improve his image.
But O’Reilly, a loyal Republican, gets points, too, for giving credit to a guy the GOP really had no use for – until he provided them with a chance to show up President Obama and his fellow Democrats.
NOTE: In case you’re unfamiliar with this Yiddish term, a “mensche” is “a person of integrity and honor.”
Source: Eye Test Policy On Hold
Sep 30th - 12:08 pm
As reported earlier by the Associated Press and just confirmed by a Cuomo administration source, the state will place a hold on the new policy of allowing drivers to skip eye examinations at the Department of Motor Vehicles when renewing a license.
The new policy, which was aimed at streamlining the renewal process by allowing drivers to do so over the Internet or mail was to take effect today.
But local officials opposed the plan, saying it was too dangerous to essentially allow some drivers claim their vision was good enough to drive without corrective lenses.
Drivers receiving commercial or new licenses would still have to go through a vision test at either the DMV or from a doctor.
Vision tests were suspended by the DMV from 1993 through 2000, but were later brought back after suggestions from doctors.
A formal announcement from the state DMV on the policy hold is yet to be made.
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