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Wealthy Congresswoman Avoids Criticizing Romney’s Wealth
Apr 25th - 1:39 pm
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, an Upper East Side Democrat, and her New Jersey colleague, Rep. Rush Holt, were tapped by the DNC to do some pushback against Mitt Romney, who has launched a fundraising blitz here and across the Hudson River in the Garden State in the wake of his five-state primary sweep last night.
Maloney and Holt embraced their task with relish, zinging the former Massachusetts governor at length on a media conference call, insisting his policies and ideology are bad for the middle class, women, students and, in general, the entire country.
The congresswoman said Romney’s victory speech last night should have been titled “Back to the Future,” because he’s using the “same old Bush play manual.” She slammed the Romney campaign for punting on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, telling the Huffington Post’s Sam Stein earlier this month they would have to “get back” to him on where the candidate stands on the question of equal pay for women.
The congresswoman also criticized the unwillingness of Romney – and Republicans in general – to heed President Obama’s call to make the rich pay more in taxes, saying that “Americans are not naive; they know a better American begins with everyone being able to pay their fair share.”
But she was temporarily knocked off her talking points when a reporter – I think The Capital’s Reid Pillifant – asked whether she thinks it’s fair game for Democrats to make Romney’s personal wealth a campaign issue – a potentially sensitive subject for Maloney, who is one of the wealthiest members of Congress with an average estimated net worth is over $28 million.
Maloney responded by pivoting as quickly as possible to the moment’s hot topic: The continuation of low-rate student loans.
“I think what’s fair game is his policies really,” the congresswoman said. “…The fact that he has his own wealth doesn’t mean that other Americans are going to have that wealth. I think what we have to look at is the crisis on student loans.”
And then, on safer ground, Maloney was off on running, lamenting how many young people have more student loan debt than credit card debt, and praising President Obama for being “very clear and very personal” on this issue by revealing that he and the first lady only managed to pay off their own student loans eight years ago.
Holt jumped in at some point to take the heat off Maloney, picking up the standard Democratic talking point about Romney being out of touch with regular folks. The former governor “has demonstrated over and over again that he doesn’t understand the lives the concerns of ordinary Americans, and his policy shows it,” Holt said, adding: “He doesn’t understand them, and he doesn’t seem to want to do anything to help them.”
Maloney did later add that she wants to “stay away from class warfare” and prefers to “just look at the math.”
“How in the world can you continue the college loan program…if you’re supporting the Ryan budget and all the cuts that come along with them,” she said, insisting that what Romney should do if he agrees with the Obama on extending low rate student loans is “call on congressional leaders like Speaker (John) Boehner and tell them to support the president’s proposal; the only thing standing in the way of keeping college affordable is the Republican Congress.”
Ulrich Blasts Addabbo’s Gay Marriage ‘Flip-Flop’
Apr 25th - 7:33 am
ICYMI: NYC Councilman Eric Ulrich didn’t need much urging during a CapTon appearance last night to blast his new Democratic target, Sen. Joe Addabbo, for changing his mind on same-sex marriage – a move Ulrich predicts will cost the senator votes in the fall election.
Addabbo, as you’ll recall, was one of three Democrats who voted “no” on the same-sex marriage bill in 2009, contributing to its demise, and then changed their votes – at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s urging – to help the measure pass last summer.
“I think that his flip-flop on gay marriage is going to hurt him,” Ulrich said. “I don’t believe that I’ll have to bring that up. I think that that’s clear as day.”
“People know that he voted against it first, and then voted for it two years later…He’s never revealed what his personal opinion is.”
“And I think that with the conservative voters, particularly the Orthodox Jewish and the Catholic community, people who don’t agree with same-sex marriage, that they feel betrayed, that he was trying to have his cake and eat it too.”
“So, people remember that. I’m not going to have to remind them of that. That’s still fresh in people’s minds – especially in parts of the new district.”
Addabbo, who is a former NYC Council member, came under fire from the gay community after his “no” vote in ’09, although advocates did not target him as they did others (like, say, former Sen. Bill Stachowski, who was ousted by a “yes” voter, Democratic Sen. Tim Kennedy, in 2010).
Liberal Democrats had supported Addabbo’s successful push to oust former GOP Sen. Serphin Maltese in 2008. They felt betrayed by Addabbo’s “no” vote, but he insisted it was consistent with what his constituents wanted.
He made the same argument after his “yes” vote, even as he intimated – but never explicitly stated – that he personally opposes gay marriage.
Interestingly, while the four Republicans who crossed the aisle to vote “yes” and push same-sex marriage over the finish line last summer have received massive financial support in the form of campaign contributions from the gay community, the three Democrats have not experienced the same largesse.
As a result, Addabbo has about $1,600 in his campaign account, though the Democrats insist he’ll have what he needs to fight a spirited campaign against Ulrich.
Ulrich admitted his challenge is an uphill battle, even though the district has been redrawn to be less Democrat-dominated.
He did note that he’s able to run this year without the risk of losing his current job on the Council, and so there’s very little downside to his bid, which came as something of a surprise to those of us who were pretty sure he wouldn’t run.
The councilman also told me he’s more than willing to take the pay cut (the Council’s base salary is $112,500 a year, compared to the Legislature’s $79,500) and the Queens-to-Albany commute if he wins.
Ulrich, as you’ll recall, headed up Mitt Romney’s NYC campaign. Even though he criticized Addabbo for flip-flopping on gay marriage, he defended Romney’s shifting of positions, insisting that’s what all presidential candidates must do after playing to their respective bases during the primaries.
Giuliani For Senate
Apr 24th - 8:18 am
…Not the former NYC mayor, although once upon a time, he did flirt with a challenge to US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
No, in this case, we’re talking state Senate. And we’re talking Rudy S. Giuliani, the former mayor’s 28-year-old second cousin.
The younger Giuliani, a Queens native who works for NYC Council Minority Leader Jimmy Oddo, has had several conversations with the Senate Republicans about a potential challenge to Democratic Sen. Tony Avella, according to a GOP source with knowledge of the discussions.
The most recent chat, the source said, took place last Friday with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos himself.
Avella, a former councilman himself, was drawn by the GOP into a potential primary with his fellow Democrat, Sen. Toby Stavisky.
But it looks like Stavisky will probably seek re-election in the newly drawn majority Asian district – assuming she does indeed run.
Giuliani has never run for office before, but he does come from a political family. (Aside from his uncle, his mother, Cathy, is a lobbyist and fundraiser).
He worked on both Uncle Rudy’s unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid and Mayor Bloomberg’s successful 2009 campaign for a third term.
Republicans have done well in certain parts of Queens. (The elder Rudy Giuliani always did well in the district currently represented by Avella, which used to belong to former Republican Sen. Frank Padavan).
Nevertheless, the district is, like the rest of NYC, dominated by Democrats, and would be an uphill battle for any Republican – especially a political neophyte, even if his last name is Giuliani.
Rudy S. has been making calls and seeking advice from various Republicans, my source said.
That includes his uncle, of course, and also Padavan, who was at one point considering a comeback run this year, and hadn’t made a formal decision as of late last month.
Rudy S. will make a decision within the next week or two, according to the source, who said a political career for this young Giuliani is definitely in the cards, but it’s unclear whether this is the right district or the right time. (The presidential race is definitely a factor).
“He’s being encouraged by a lot of folks, and he’s weighing it very carefully,” the source said.
“He’s got a good name – a very good name. And he’s an affable, nice guy who’s been around politics his whole life. His parents are pretty savvy, too.”
“If Rudy (the younger) decides to do this – and it’s a question not if he runs for political office, but when – a lot of Rudy (the elder) supporters will come out. It’s going to be interesting.”
1199 Picks Favorites In 5 House Races (Updated)
Apr 23rd - 2:31 pm
The powerhouse health care workers union 1199 SEIU formally announced its endorsement decisions in five key upcoming House races, opting to shore up two veteran incumbents facing potential tough primary challenges and play favorites with two challengers in crowded primary contests.
The union backed Rep. Charlie Rangel, who is facing multiple challenges from fellow Democrats in NY-13, including Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who has run with the support of 1199 in the past. Also getting the nod is Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who is facing off on June 26 against NYC Councilman Erik Dilan, and Rep. Yvette Clarke in NY-9. (I believe she’s running unopposed?)
UPDATE: I stand corrected. Clarke is being opposed by Sylvia Kinard, the ex-wife of former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson.
In the battle for two open downstate House seats, 1199 (unsurprisingly) is supporting Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries over NYC Councilman Charles Barron in NY-8, where incumbent Rep. Ed Towns recently announced his retirement, and Assemblyman Rory Lancman in NY-6, the district currently represented by retiring Rep. Gary Ackerman. (I reported last week that 1199′s nod for Lancman was imminent).
In NY-18, where no fewer than five Democrats are vying for the right to take on Republican Rep. Nan Hayworth in the general election, 1199 went with former Spitzer/Paterson aide Sean Patrick Maloney, giving him what I believe is his first labor nod.
A union source said NY-18 is a “major” priority for 1199, which plans to go all in for Maloney.
Primary Challenger For Rivera?
Apr 20th - 1:40 pm
Yesterday, a new campaign committee popped up on the state Board of Elections website – Friends of Manny Tavarez – established to raise money to fund a state Senate run in the Bronx’s 33rd SD.
That seat is currently occupied by Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a freshman Democrat who was elected in 2010.
Rivera, a former community organizer and one-time aide to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, became the posted boy for good government groups, progressive labor unions and Albany reform advocates when he ousted former Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. in the September primary.
Tavarez is not a well-known individual. Most of the Bronx operatives I spoke to either had heard of him, but knew nothing about him, or had absolutely no idea who he was. A review of campaign finance filings showed he worked for District Leader Hector Ramirez’ failed Assembly bid in 2010 against now-Assemblyman Nelson Castro.
Ramirez was backed by the Bronx Democratic Party, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the Working Families Party and several promnient unions, yet nevertheless failed to unseat Castro two years ago. I don’t believe Rivera formally took sides in that race, since he had his hands full with his own campaign.
Bronx Democratic Chairman Carl Heastie told me today that he is “absolutely” supporting Rivera, and is, in fact, backing all incumbents in the upcoming elections.
Interestingly, yesterday’s creation of Friends of Manny Tavarez coincided with Rivera’s endorsement of his fellow Senate Democrat, Adriano Espaillat, in his primary challenge to Rep. Charlie Rangel.
Rivera’s move wasn’t surprisingly, given his longstanding connections to Espaillat, but it nevertheless raised eyebrows in the Bronx – and perhaps ruffled some feathers there, too.
Felder Up For Grabs
Apr 19th - 2:34 pm
Ever since word broke that former NYC Councilman Simcha Felder will be running for the new so-called Super Jewish district in Brooklyn, there has been speculation over whether the downstate Democrat will caucus with members of his own party, cross the aisle to sit with the Republicans or perhaps shun both conferences and go the independent route by casting his lot with the IDC.
The best chance of figuring out that political puzzle seemed to be to put the question to the candidate himself. So I did (via text), and he responded that he would caucus (assuming he wins) with “anyone that will help the district and New Yorkers most.”
Well. That clears things right up now, doesn’t it?
As an Orthodox Jew, Felder is a fairly conservative Democrat. He also crossed party lines to endorse Mayor Bloomberg when he ran for re-election in 2005. (The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent mayor was in his GOP phase at the time). In return, Bloomberg endorsed Felder when he unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Sen. Kevin Parker in a primary in 2008, and had two former aides – Phil Goldfeder (now an Assemblyman) and Patrick Brennan – work on Felder’s campaign.
During that race, however, Felder characterized himself as a “Malcolm Smith Democrat,” adding: “I look forward to making sure that the Senate Democrats regain control of the Senate. I’ve always been a Democrat, and I’m going to continue to be a Democrat.”
He stopped short, however, of promising that he would not cast a vote for then-Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno if he got the chance.
The whole question of who Felder would support turned out to be moot since he lost the race. But it’s relevant again now that he’s making a second attempt at running for the Senate at a time when the chamber remains closely divided and the Republicans and Democrats are preparing to duke it out (yet again) over the majority.
Last fall, Felder met with GOP Senate leaders to discuss the possibility that he could be their super Jewish candidate this year.
Now that he’s actually decided to throw his hat in the ring, Felder told Hamodia that he will be running on the Democratic line.
Felder was spotted in Albany earlier this week, though he wouldn’t confirm or deny being there. (He simply didn’t address the text I sent asking about the trip). Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans would say whether any sit downs occurred, but they did send the following statements.
From a Democratic spokesman:
“While we do not disclose the the substance of private conversations, Simcha Felder is a community leader with a distinguished record and would be a formidable candidate for any office he chooses to seek.”
From Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif:
“We continue to focus all of our attention on completing the count in the still undetermined (David) Storobin/(Lew) Fidler race, and ensuring that the taxpayers and families in Southern Brooklyn have representation in Albany. At the appropriate time, we will turn our attention to other districts.”
Rivera For Espaillat
Apr 19th - 12:44 pm
Sen. Gustavo Rivera has thrown his support to fellow Senate Democrat, Adriano Espaillat, as he seeks to oust Rep. Charlie Rangel in the June 26 primary.
“As a fellow senator, I have watched Adriano successfully fight for working families and immigrants,” Rivera said in a statement released by Espaillat’s campaign.
“Senator Espaillat’s leadership helped extend and strengthen crucial tenant protections, which kept millions of New Yorkers in their homes. Together, we have successfully advocated for education funding for our schools, affordable housing for our residents and more opportunities for immigrants who call New York home.”
“I am proud to endorse Adriano for Congress because he will bring the same passion and energy to Congress and deliver the change we need in Washington D.C. I look forward to campaigning for Adriano, particularly in the Bronx, to get him elected as our next Congressman.”
The newly-drawn NY-13 encompasses Rivera’s district, which he won by ousting former Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. in the 2010 primary. (Espaillat, who was an assemblyman running for former Sen. Eric Scheniderman’s seat at the time, endorsed Rivera in that race).
A Rivera aide noted that the senator has several years of experience working in East Harlem on various races prior to his own political career.
Espaillat’s campaign called Rivera’s nod an “important milestone” because he represents a portion of the district that could “prove decisive” in the election.
Rivera’s entire district (in its pre-redistricting state) is located in the new NY-13. The area was not previously located in the congressional district, and so is new – arguably up-for-grabs – territory, although there has been an influx of people to the Northwest Bronx from Washington Heights, where Espaillat is well known.
Rivera is Puerto Rican, and I believe he is the first Puerto Rican elected official to endorse Espaillat, who would be the first Dominican-American elected to the House. Since the black vote is going to be split in the primary, thanks to the presence of Clyde Williams, Joyce Johnson and Craig Schley in the race, the Rangel camp is counting on the support of Puerto Rican voters as a sort of “firewall” to help him stave off Espaillat, according to a Democratic operative familiar with the race.
Fight For ‘Super Jewish’ Senate Seat Shapes Up
Apr 19th - 7:57 am
Nachman Caller, a wealthy real estate attorney who has been trying to break into politics for several years now, is going to seed his campaign for the new so-called “super Jewish” Senate seat with $100,000 of his own money.
That’s according to GOP operative and former aide to ex-Gov. George Pataki Michael Fragin, who is advising Caller.
As was reported last night by Hamodia, former NYC Councilman Simcha Felder will make his second attempt at a Senate seat by running in the new district.
(He’s running as a Democrat, but a GOP-friendly Democrat who is willing to work with “anyone and everyone” who will help his community).
Caller will be making his debut as a candidate at tonight’s state GOP dinner in Manhattan, Fragin said.
It’s unlikely he’ll be welcomed with open arms by everyone there – particularly the senators who might be in attendance, since Caller’s candidacy complicates thing for David Storobin if he manages to eventually defeat NYC Councilman Lew Fidler in the too-close-to-call race for ex-Sen. Carl Kruger’s seat.
(Storobin, of course, complicated things to begin with, since no one thought he would actually win. The idea was for him to merely force the Democrats to spend money to defend a seat that was then drawn out of existence by the GOP).
Caller has been planning this run for some time.
Back in February, he paid for an ad that ran in Orthodox Jewish newspapers downstate challenging voters to repeat the election of GOP Bob Turner and reject Fidler’s candidacy.
Felder, an ally of Mayor Bloomberg, lost a primary challenge to Sen. Kevin Parker in 2008. He had been preparing to run for NYC Comptroller, but decided to take a chance on Albany instead.
When that didn’t work, Felder resigned his Council seat to take a job as a deputy in the office of the man who won the 2009 comptroller’s race, John Liu. But the job was never really a comfortable fit, as Felder never lost the political bug.
According to Hamodia, Felder still has about $318,000 on hand in his campaign committee.
In 2010, Caller started running in the race for the seat Felder vacated, but dropped out of the running after a chat with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was backing another candidate, Joe Lazar.
Lazar ended up losing the special election to David Greenfield, the former the executive director of the Sephardic Community Federation, who is still in office.
Diaz Sr. To NY House Members: Retire Or Be Retired
Apr 18th - 3:07 pm
In the latest installment of his required reading “What You Should Know” press releases/cri de couers, Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. targets some of the longer-serving members of New York’s congressional delegation, suggesting the time has come for them to “voluntarily open the door to leave and allow for new blood to come in,” or risk being ousted at the polls this year.
Diaz Sr., who hinted at one point that he might be considering a congressional run himself (which did not come to pass), targeted most of his ire at his own representative – Jose Serrano – who, he notes, was elected to Congress in 1990 and has served 22 years. Serrano is not facing any significant challenges.
“Here in the Bronx, we are stuck with Congressmen José Serrano and Eliot Engel,” Diaz Sr. wrote.
“My advice to Congressman Serrano, Open your eyes and look around you at all of the young people who surrounding you in Bronx County who hunger and thirst for new Congressional blood. He should really start planning his retirement before he is forced into it.”
“At the same time, José Rivera, Carmen Arroyo and I might also start looking around and planning our good-bye…but not before José Serrano does because his time is long overdue.”
Diaz Sr. also offers a bit of a back-handed compliment to his Senate Democratic colleague, Adriano Espaillat, noting he has undergone a bit of a transformation as he ramps up his challenge to veteran Rep. Charlie Rangel – an effort Diaz Sr. appears to believe will be successful.
“State Senator Adriano Espaillat has been sending a message to Congressman Charles Rangel that after 42 years in Congress (and at 80 years of age) he should retire and enjoy the rest of his life. In response, Charlie Rangel must have thought Adriano Espaillat was bluffing and said, ‘Come on. Take me on.’”
“Now, Adriano Espaillat, energized with his comunnity’s support and the backing of Oscar de la Renta, has a new look. Espaillat is now dressing like a movie star – has changed his wardrobe, hairdo, shoes and cologne – and is on his way to forcing Charlie Rangel into retirement.”
The senator also has something to say about the Brooklyn primary battle between Rep. Nydia Velazquez and NYC Councilman Erik Dilan, writing:
“Erik has the support of many who believe that Nydia Velázquez should just go back to Puerto Rico and join the Popular Party and all of her cronies in continuing their push to keep Puerto Rico a colony of the United States and leave the Brooklyn Congressional seat to new blood.”
Diaz Sr. praised Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, calling him “an energized, eloquent, well-spoken young African American” who ” effectively sent a message to incumbent Ed Towns that if he doesn’t retire, he will make him retire in an election,” adding: “Apparently Congressman Towns saw the writing on the wall and has announced his retirement.” (The senator doesn’t mention anything about Jeffries primary opponent, NYC Councilman Charles Barron).
As for the other retiring downstate congressman, Queens Democrat Gary Ackerman, Diaz Sr. says he “also read the writing on the wall (and maybe read his horoscope) and has decided that it’s time for him to hang it up.”
Rasiej: Dem 2013 Candidates Don’t ‘Get It’ On Tech
Apr 18th - 2:11 pm
Technology strategist and Personal Democracy Media Andrew Rasiej is not terribly impressed so far by the tech savvy displayed by the group of Democrats vying to replace Mayor Bloomberg in 2013.
Bloomberg has made a point of getting on the technology bandwagon – not only by embracing social networking tools like Twitter and Foursquare (from which he was briefly ousted as mayor of City Hall by some guy named Omar from Queens), but also working hard to make New York City a tech capital, insisting it might someday rival Silicon Valley.
In an interview with former NYC Councilman Ken Fisher, series host of CUNY-TV’s CityWide, Rasiej said he’s still waiting to be wowed by the crop of would-be Bloomberg replacements. He also downplayed the possibility that a yet-to-be-named Republican candidate would actually be able to compete in 2013, noting that the unique circumstances that facilitated the election of Democrat-turned-Republican Bloomberg (his money, the 9/11 attacks) are highly unlikely to be replicated.
Then again, Bloomberg followed on the heels of another Republican – Rudy Giuliani. But he was a law-and-order guy at a time when crime was a huge problem in the Big Apple. There are people (like NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly) who argue the city could slip back to those bad old days under the wrong leadership, but I’m not sure public safety is the No. 1 issue on NYC residents’ minds these days.
Here’s what Rasiej (who isn’t a political neophyte, as he ran an unsuccessful Public Advocate campaign in 2005) tells Fisher at about the 21-minute mark. The show premiers tonight in NYC on Channel 75 at 11:00pm and repeats Saturday, April 21 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m.
“They’re all trying, unfortunately, none of them really get it. They have, obviously, Twitter accounts and Facebook accounts and are using on-line to raise money. But, you know, unfortunately, New York City is going to probably elect a mayor from a very small percentage of its population that’s going to vote in the Democratic primary.”
“You may have a Republican candidate. but there isn’t going to be a Republican candidate that’s going to spend spend $73 million the way Mike Bloomberg did in 2001. And there isn’t going to be a 90 percent approval mayor like Rudy Giuiani was to endorse a Republican candidate the way Giuliani endorsed Bloomberg. So, it’s very likely that whoever wins the Democratic primary is going to be mayor in a city where 85 percent of the population is Democratic.”
“The question is is whether or not with only 500,000, 600,000 people voting in the primary, whether a new candidate might emerge who uses technology in a new way to bring a whole new group of people to the polls different than what the Democratic Party is used to by tapping into the unions or to the Democratic Clubs that make up the Democratic base in New York.”
“So, it’s still early, and I’m hopeful that the candidates that are currently running will start to articulate a message about how to bring New York into the 21st Century.”
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