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Archive for October, 2011
Municipalities Pushing For Local Fracking Bans
Oct 31st - 9:00 pm
As the debate over whether to drill for natural gas in New York gets more and more heated, some local communities are taking matters into their own hands as the state tries to figure out if and when it will start issuing drililng permits.
Many municipalities including some major cities like Buffalo, Albany and now Syracuse have proposed local bans on fracking. Opponents laud the legislation, but many in the gas drilling industry are criticicing the move– saying it’s illegal because drilling can only be regulated at the state level.
Helen Slottje, a lawyer who has been instructing local municipalities on writing land use ordinances banning the practice, joined Liz from Ithaca Monday to talk more about this.
Brian Kolb Discusses Millionaires Tax
Oct 31st - 9:00 pm
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb discusses the proposed Millionaires Tax and the Occupy protest movement.
Health Insurers Agree To More Transparency
Oct 31st - 8:59 pm
Back in 20-10, the state legislature passed a bill changing a long used practice by the health care industry in New York state that is known as prior approval. In the old system, health insurers could raise rates without having to provide documents supporting the increases. The industry argued that those documents were confidential, and complex, and they didn’t want them to be available to the public because it would put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Most of the state’s largest health care providers were fighting the implementation of this bill, up until last week when several of the largest companies agreed to new transparency rules. Brian O’Grady from BlueShield of Northeastern New York sits down with Liz to discuss why they decided to go along with the changes.
Rep. Hochul Discusses Flight 3407 Latest
Oct 31st - 8:55 pm
Congresswoman Kathy Hochul is among the list of New York representatives who have reached out to US Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to investigate whether Colgan Airlines committed a crime during the NTSB’s investigation into the crash of Flight 3407. The airline did not hand over emails showing concerns about the pilot’s abilities.
Extras
Oct 31st - 5:22 pm
A typical hydrofracking well can require up to 1,340 truckloads of liquid hauling, according to Broome County Attorney William Gibson.
Herman Cain says he was falsely accused of sexual harrassment and a Politico report about past complaints against him is “baseless.”
Cain insisted there was an internal review into the allegations lodged against him conducted by the National Restaurant Association. That’s not how the NRA’s HR department remembers it.
First Lady Michelle Obama remains more popular than her husband, a new Marist poll found.
The results of President Obama’s annual medical exam have been released. He’s “fit” for duty, and should remain so for the duration of his time term.
Nearly 750,000 people are still without power following the Snowalloween storm.
Occupy Albany could become semi-permanent.
Some PEF ballots mistakenly contained an incorrect bar code, sending them back to the union’s headquarters.
The top school administrators’ salary is more than a half-million dollars, Gannett found.
Michael Townsend, the placeholder at NYPA, won’t speculate on where he’ll land next.
Mark Poloncarz’s fundraising is looking pretty good.
Cuomo issued more local endorsements today.
The state Assembly plans to hold hearings on the effectiveness of economic-development programs (no link).
NYC Councilman Vincent Gentile had a “challenging” conversation about fundraising with DCCC officials and is moving ahead with a potential challenge to Rep. Michael Grimm (NY-13) next fall.
Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm is calling on Obama to fire AG Eric Holder.
Queens Democratic operative Ross Wallenstein is blogging.
Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch thinks the ticket-fixing scandal will grow.
New York is in a heated competition with Washington state to be No. 2 in vino production.
Democratic congressional hopefuls ding GOP incumbents on jobs and the stagnate economy.
Newt Gingrich compliments Chuck Schumer?!
Cuomo Heading Back To Suffolk For Bellone
Oct 31st - 4:39 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be heading back to Suffolk County to campaign for Democratic county executive hopeful Steve Bellone, his campaign announced today. And we’ve learned the governor will be heading to western New York in the near future to campaign against a possible 2014 challenger.
In an email release with all caps in the subject line (I think Bellone is a little excited that the imensely popular Cuomo is campaigning again for him), Bellone says the governor’s visit scheduled for Wednesday is part of a major get-out-the-vote effort.
From the email:
Big Announcement – Governor Andrew Cuomo is coming back to Suffolk County to Get Out The Vote for my campaign for County Executive!
In just a few short months, Governor Cuomo has shown real leadership and I am humbled to have his endorsement. As County Executive, I will bring a similar style of leadership and work closely with Governor Cuomo to create an affordable Long Island with good jobs so our kids can stay here
Cuomo also plans to head out to Erie County to campaign for Democrat Mark Poloncarz. The Democrat, currently the county comptroller, is launching an aggressive bid against Republican incumbent Chris Collins. Recall that Collins, who dropped a 2010 bid for governor following controversial comments about Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, is believed to still have designs on running for higher office in the future.
The state Democratic Party Committee has sent out scathing attacks on Collins in recent days after polling showed him running a competitive race against Collins.
Espaillat Organizes OWS Solidarity March
Oct 31st - 3:27 pm
More Democratic elected officials are shaking off their initial reluctance about the Occupy movement and are embracing it with both arms.
On the heels of last week’s solidarity march organized by Assemblyman/Brooklyn Democratic boss Vito Lopez (which was a mixed blessing for him, in terms of media coverage), comes a second march put together by Sen. Adriano Espaillat.
The Manhattan Democrat sent out an invitation for a solidarity march schedule for 10:30 a.m. next Monday starting at 181st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.
From his email invite:
“The Occupy Wall Street movement has gained ground, garnering strong support from everyday Americans who feel left out. As a state senator, I know how important it is to advocate for economic fairness and an end to corporate greed – goals I share with the Occupy Wall Street protesters.
That’s why I am proud to help organize a march that will bring together communities throughout Manhattan in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.”
Expect Senate Democrats to heavily push the “millionaires tax” issue next year, despite opposition from both Senate Republicans and fellow Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But seeing that the Occupy movement, so far, has support from voters (as does taxing the wealthy in order to plug budget deficits), Democrats aren’t going out on a limb by trying to catch some the enthusiasm from the movement.
And launching this march is also this is not too much of a surprise, given Espaillat’s perceived ambitions. There’s also talk of a Latino congressional district.
And this comes as the Albany version of the Occupy movement appears to be getting a bit more permanent.
Cox: McCall Did The Right Thing
Oct 31st - 3:16 pm
As Liz scooped earlier, Carl McCall decided to not attend a $60 to $500-a-head Dutchess Count fundraiser for Beekman town supervisor Dan French’s county executive effort — a move that today earned plaudits from Republican Chairman Ed Cox.
“Carl McCall did the right thing in cancelling his appearance at a political fund raiser after being named to chair the SUNY trustees by Governor Cuomo. Carl understands the need for public officials to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.”
“Mr. McCall’s decision comes on the heels of at least two previous instances this fall where high level Cuomo Administration officials were engaged in direct political activities. We continue to urge the Governor to develop and enforce a policy banning partisan politics by high ranking officials in his Administration. “
McCall’s original plan to attend the fundraiser raised eyebrows after Gov. Andrew Cuomo picked him to become chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees, a non-paid position.
Ex-Dem Leader Seeks ‘Progressive’ Primary Challenger For Obama
Oct 31st - 1:40 pm
A reader forwarded this mailer sent last week to about 1,800 New York Democratic leaders and advocates by Bob Ginsberg, a former member of the State Democratic Committee who is searching for a “credible progressive” to challenge President Obama in a primary next fall.
Ginsberg, who represented the Upper West Side for more than 25 years, agrees with commentators who have determined Obama is unpopular due to his “wimpiness,” “unwillingness to fight for anything,” and “addiction to compromise.” Pressuring the president from the left to change his ways hasn’t worked, Ginsberg maintains, which leaves activists such as himself little choice but to look elsewhere for a standard-bearer.
This mailer has some ancient history in it, which demonstrates New York Democrats’ penchant for long-held memories – and grudges. Ginsberg says he has “never forgiven” former Gov. Mario Cuomo, and his son, current Gov. Andrew Cuomo, for backing President Carter over would-be primary challenger, Ted Kennedy. Carter defeated Kennedy for the Democratic nomination and went on to lose the general election to former California Gov. Ronald Reagan, who even carried Democrat-dominated New York.
That same year, Republicans won control of the United States Senate for the first time in 28 years. This election marked the beginning of what is popularly called the “Reagan Revolution.”
Citing the “Weprin disaster” in the NY-9 special election, Ginsberg is worried about a repeat of the GOP sweep in 2012, suggesting many congressional and local districts will be on the line next fall if Obama is at the top of the ticket. (Recent polling has shown Obama under 50 percent here in New York, but also leading his top two rivals – Mitt Romney and Rick Perry – by about 20 percentage points).
I have a call in to Ginsberg, but have not yet managed to reach him. This is a quixotic effort, to be sure, although no less real than the folks who insist on trying to draft Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (who is out-polling Obama against the 2012 GOP challengers). Nevertheless, it’s worth noting how shaky Obama’s support is here in true-blue New York – particularly in the Republic of the Upper West Side.
Can Republicans Win SD 27?
Oct 31st - 1:17 pm
Could the ripple effects of Anthony Weiner’s resignation keep the Senate out of reach for Democrats?
The morning email blast from City Hall News (an essential morning read!) included a interesting item on whether the Senate GOP can pick up Brooklyn’s 27th Senate District that is held by Democrat Carl Kruger.
From CHN note:
Asked directly whether Kruger’s district is a top target for next year, Skelos said, “Republicans are going to have a great year, because President Obama has not been able to turn the economy around.”
Unless something really weird happens, the federally charged Kruger won’t be re-elected in 2012. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, the thinking goes, sees blood in the water thanks to upset victory by Bob Turner in the Democratic-dominated ninth congressional district which partially overlaps with the 27th. Both districts share the neighborhoods of Sheepshead Bay, Midwood and Mill Basin.
And it’s tempting to see why.
Kruger’s district is home to Orthodox Jews who were largely responsible for pushing Turner over the top against Democrat David Weprin.
At the very least, Skelos’s possible designs on SD27 has to be a galling move for Democrats, who are trying to recapture a majority after losing control in last year’s election (and an attempt to get the party to divide up its resources in next year’s campaign). Democrats had been eyeing Republican Sen. Marty Golden’s district, also in Brooklyn, but so far no challenger has emerged. Actually two have come forward.
But all of this could be moot depending on how redistricting goes next year. Remember: With Turner’s election, the general wisdom is that the 9th will be consolidated with another district where he’ll have to launch another long-shot campaign.
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