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Parker Apologizes, Sort Of
May 3rd - 5:50 pm
Here’s footage of Sen. Kevin Parker’s lengthy speech on the Senate floor this afternoon, during which he sort of, kind of, apologized for the his outburst last week during the Finance Committee meeting and subsequent claim that his GOP colleagues are “white supremacists.”
At about the 3-minute mark, Parker offers “my sincerest apology for my zealous advocacy” to the extent that it “brought commotion and emotion to this house in ways that may distract or divide us, or divert us from the important work the people of New York sent us here to accomplish.”
“But to the extent my words bring debate and discussion to this house on the issue of race, exclusion, and conversely, new opportunity, I offer my sincerest commitment to continuing that debate and discussion,” the Brooklyn Democrat continued.
“It is also exceedingly important for me to explain to this house – through you, Mr. President, that my criticisms are not, in fact, at bottom personal.”
“I cannot see into anyone’s soul, and I should not have personalized my comments because the issues I spoke about are larger than any one individual or group. The problems of race, lack of access to opportunity and economic disparity in New York existed long before anyone was elected to this chamber, and to the extent they persist in many ways we are all complicit.”
GOP’s Censure Parker Resolution (Updated)
May 3rd - 4:33 pm
Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos has made good on his pledge to seek to censure and discipline Sen. Kevin Parker in the absence of any effort to do so by Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson.
Skelos had his minority counsel’s office draw up a resolution that seeks to strip Parker of his leadership post (majority whip) and its lulu ($12,500), which has been quietly restored to him by Sampson in recent months despite the fact that Parker’s felony assault case is still pending.
(For what it’s worth, the same benefit was also extended to expelled ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate after he returned to the Democratic fold following the 2009 coup).
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Tenant Advocates On The Warpath (Updated)
May 3rd - 3:30 pm
Tenant advocates and community organizers today launched a grassroots campaign in the districts of four state senators they believe are “betraying their tenant constituents” and “collaborating with the real estate lobby” to prevent the passage of a bill to repeal vacancy decontrol.
The “Real Rent Reform Campaign” (R3, for short) is targeting three Democrats – Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr., who chairs the Housing Committee; Sen. Martin Malave Dilan and Sen. Jeff Klein – and one Republican, Sen. Marty Golden.
(Golden and Dilan both represent Brooklyn districts; Klein and Espada hail from the Bronx, although the majority leader’s true residency has been in question for some time now).
Between them, the four senators represent more than 175,000 households who reside in rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments.
McKee noted that Dilan voted for vacancy decontrol in the City Council in 1994, despite promising his constituents (on at least two occasions when McKee was present) that he would not do so. The bill passed 28-18 – an unusually close vote for the Council – with only two votes more than necessary.
UPDATE: An astute reader notes that Espada’s primary challenger, Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, is a board member of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, which is referenced on the Espada poster and involved in the R3 campaign.
Senate Dems Under Fire Over Charter Bill
May 3rd - 10:45 am
NYSUT and its labor allies are going nuclear over the Senate Democrats’ push to pass a charter school bill today, accusing the majority of abandoning its principles to inoculate members against the millions of dollars pro-charter advocates have threatened to spend in the fall elections.
NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi told me this morning his union is “angrier than we’ve ever been” with the Senate Dems. When I asked if he believes this is being pushed for political, rather than ideological, reasons, Iannuzzi replied:
“I don’t think there’s any question that’s what they’re doing; there isn’t any educational reason to do it, so I’m left with only that reason.”
There’s been speculation that the charter advocates, who are already beating the bushes for a primary foe for outspoken charter opponent, Sen. Bill Perkins, could spend some $10 million during this election cycle.
One anti-charter source said: “There’s only two places that kind of money could come from: Hedge fund people, or Mayor Bloomberg.”
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Thompson’s Ex-Wife Mulls Challenge To Parker
May 3rd - 8:36 am
Former city Comptroller’ Bill Thompson’s ex-wife, Sylvia Kinard, confirmed yesterday that she is mulling a primary challenge to controversial Brooklyn Sen. Kevin Parker. (This is an extended version of the second item in my DN column).
Kinard, a lawyer and minister who split from Thompson in 2005, told me in an e-mail she’s considering the race. She did not, however, respond to an inquiry about her residency. Voter registration records show Kinard last voted in the 2006 general election and does not live in Parker’s district. (She lives in the 18th).
Parker is under fire for yelling at Sen. John DeFrancisco during a Senate Finance Committee hearing last week, accusing the Syracuse Republican of racism. Parker then upped the ante by going on the radio and calling his GOP colleagues “white supremacists.”
During a telephone interview yesterday, Parker accused Mayor Bloomberg of pushing Kinard, noting the mayor backed his 2008 primary challenger, former City Councilman Simcha Felder.
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Moya’s First Union
Apr 30th - 1:47 pm
Francisco Moya has received his first labor endorsement in his quest for the 39th Assembly post vacated by now-Sen. Jose Peralta, who departed for a successful special election bid for Hiram Monserrate’s seat.
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union announced its support of Moya, citing his commitment to fighting for the rights of working men and women, and his dedication to promoting immigrants’ rights.
“The members of the RWDSU have been able to count on the support of Francisco in the fights for our members,” said union President Stuart Appelbaum.
“Whether it was standing with us in our fight at Duane Reade, fighting for living wage jobs or standing up for immigrant rights, Francisco has been and continues to be a strong advocate for issues facing the working men and women in his community and across the city.”
“He will bring that advocacy to Albany to make sure that the constituents of the 39th Assembly district get the representation and resources they need.”
Incidentally, the RWDSU has been busy this week. This its second legislative endorsement in less than three days.
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Volker: ‘No Regrets,’ ‘I Did My Best’
Apr 30th - 11:12 am
Soon-to-be-former Sen. Dale Volker has released a formal statement confirming multiple reports yesterday that he has decided not to seek re-election this fall.
Volker, who made his announcement this morning at his Depew regional office, said he tried during his 38 years in public office “to put the people over politics.”
The veteran GOP lawmaker has always been outspoken – sometimes to his detriment. But he is nevertheless well-liked on both sides of the aisle.
He went out of his way today to praise Western NY elected officials – both Democrats and Republicans – saying they are “for the most part…fine individuals with good intentions that work very hard on behalf of their constituencies and their communities each and every day.”
“I have no regrets in making this decision, only very fond memories,” Volker continued.
“I have always lived my life with dignity, integrity and honesty; and I can say without hesitation that I brought those same characteristics everyday when I proposed bills, passed legislation, debated public policy, and fought tooth and nail to protect western New York on the floor of the New York State Senate for the past 38 years.”
“Thank you all again for allowing me the honor and privilege in representing you over the past 38 years. I did my best.”
Volker did not endorse a successor – at least not in this press release.
Erie County GOP Chairman Jim Domagalski is expected to throw his hat into the ring. He’s got the inside edge to receive support from the SRCC, Senate sources said.
Volker’s 2008 primary opponent, former East Aurora Mayor David DiPietro, had already announced his intention to primary Volker again this fall, which likely contributed to the senator’s decision to bow out of the race.
Damn Yankees
Apr 30th - 10:38 am
Considering the Yankees World Series tickets ethics charge lodged against Gov. David Paterson and the Senate Democrats’ recent pay-to-play dust-up, you might think a baseball-themed fundraiser isn’t the best idea.
But that hasn’t stopped Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson from making his “9 Innings at Yankee Stadium” event a tradition. (The June 13 fundraiser is being billed as the “second annual”).
A base level ticket is going for $2,400. You can also be a $4,500 “silver slugger,” a $7,000 “gold glove” or a $9,500 “MVP.” All tickets buy access to a luxury suite.
The DSCC has been fundraising very aggressively in preparation for the epic battle it will be waging this fall against the outgunned (in cash terms, anyway) SRCC for control of the chamber – a crucial fight, since whoever has power over the next round of redistricting will have he upper hand for at least the next decade.
Ravitch Warns: NY Has No ‘Fairy Godmother’
Apr 29th - 4:41 pm
LG Richard Ravitch was the featured speaker at this morning’s ABNY breakfast, and he gave his usual grim assessment of the state’s perilous fiscal situation, NY1′s Bobby Cuza reports.
Ravitch, who is widely credited with helping to rescue NYC from the brink of bankruptcy in the 1970s, said what New York is facing right now is “even more serious,” but harder to solve.
“It lacks a precipitating event,” the LG explained. “And behavior has not changed even though consequences of the path we are on are as serious if not more serious than what the city faced in 1975.”
Ravitch said Gov. David Paterson’s controversial proposal to furlough state employees until there’s a budget deal is an effort to “get the attention of people,” adding:
“We are legally constrained because of our inability to file an insolvency petition. So we’re trying to get people to recognize that there’s no fairy godmother. And they better change their behavior.”
All In The Senate Family
Apr 29th - 3:02 pm
Senate Democrats were poised this week to axe yet another member of their central staff who had been hired during the Malcolm Smith era, but abruptly called off the firing when the aide’s politically-connected father intervened, sources confirmed.
Rodney Rivera, who works in the majority press office compiling media clips and doing other low-level communications tasks, splitting his time between 250 Broadway in Manhattan and a satellite office on Long Island, was on the chopping block as of yesterday morning.
By afternoon, however, his job, for which he has been paid $65,000 to date, according to SeeThroughNY.net, was safe, although he’s been relocated out of the press office and into conference services.
This likely had something to do with the ire expressed by Rivera’s father, Assemblyman Jose Rivera, sources said. Spokesmen for Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson refused to comment on Rodney Rivera or whether the assemblyman intervened on his behalf, but did confirm he is still working for the majority.
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