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Legislature Set To Vote On MTA Debt Plan
Mar 28th - 1:17 pm
Lawmakers today are gearing up to vote on the massive transportation and economic development budget bill that includes funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority by $770 million and expands the agency’s debt cap by nearly $7 billion over three years.
The plan also includes $5.4 billion from the federal government, half of which is coming from a loan.
The deal is needed to shore up the MTA’s capital projects budget, but it raises questions about the amount of borrowing the state is committing taxpayers to as the tentative economic recovery remains somewhat shaky.
There’s also a concern from transit advocates that the debt agreement would ultimately mean higher fares for riders.
“Once again, Albany is putting the cost of our transit system on a credit card, and riders will foot the bill by paying higher fares. We already endure the highest fare burden in the nation–it’s Albany’s turn to invest in the region’s transit system through secure, dedicated revenue,” said Noah Budnick, the deputy director of Transportation Alternatives.
It also comes after the Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed off on a deal in December that included a partial repeal of the MTA payroll, a deeply unpopular revenue raiser that affected the suburban service area of the authority.
“What’s important about this they’ll be able to complete their capital program,” said Sen. Charles Fuschillo, the Senate Transportation Committee chairman, adding that he expects 8,000 construction jobs would be created by the plan.
Fuschillo said he wanted a complete repeal of the tax.
“We’re hoping that with the new chairman and CEO Joe Lhota there’s greater transparency and accountability,” he said “It started under the former Chairman Jay Walder and we hope that that continues. We’ve had many discussions and concerns about their capital program, but their answers have been satisfactory to the Legislature.”
Meng, Lancman Welcome Halloran By Tying Him To National GOP
Mar 26th - 5:51 pm
Assembly colleagues and Democratic congressional primary rivals Grace Meng and Rory Lancman issued statements “welcoming” the latest entry to the NY-6 fray – Republican NYC Councilman Dan Halloran – whom they immediately sought to link to the national GOP. (Read: Too conservative for the Democrat-dominated district).
Meng went the “war on women” route, playing up an angle that Lancman can’t, thanks to his gender. Theoretically, the third Democrat in the three-way NY-6 primary, NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley, could go this route, too. But Meng beat her to the punch with the following statement, which threw in a reference to Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal for good measure:
” I look forward to a healthy discussion of the issues facing our Queens neighbors and am eager to hear how Councilman Halloran plans on justifying his party’s embrace of the Ryan-Boehner budget which would gut vital social programs for seniors, the disabled, and working families.”
“The deficit needs to be reduced and the budget balanced, but not on the backs of middle-income families and not at the expense of Social Security and Medicare. And I’m particularly interested to hear Dan’s take on recent partisan attacks on women’s access to health care.”
Lancman’s statement invoked Ryan, too, but also reached back into history for a favorite Democratic punching bag: The Bush/Cheney years. Because you can’t have too much of a good thing, the assemblyman also went with the class warfare/anti-Wall Street reference, topped off with some good old-fashioned Tea Party bashing.
“For eight years, the Republican Bush/Cheney agenda allowed Wall Street to run amok, stretched our armed forces to the limit, undermined a secure retirement by allowing employers to weaken pension protections, and promoted some of the most anti-woman health policies in recent memory,” Lancman said
“Today, the same policies that brought our country to the brink of ruin are being embraced by Republican Tea Partiers who want to return us to those days. Republican Representative Paul Ryan’s latest budget cuts Medicare spending 50% and Medicaid spending 75% to pay for a 12.5% tax break for millionaires; Republican intransigence on raising revenue to lower the deficit will trigger irresponsible cuts to our defense budget; and Republicans want to strip women of the ability to make health care choices for themselves.”
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Fidler Siphons Last-Minute Cash Through DSCC
Mar 20th - 1:24 pm
NYC Councilman Lew Fidler, who is facing off against Republican David Storobin in today’s special election for former Sen. Carl Kruger’s Brooklyn seat, sent $20,000 to the DSCC today, according to the state Board of Election’s 24-hour filing list.
That’s on top of the $10,000 Fidler forwarded to the DSCC on March 16, $30,000 (in $10,000 increments) on March 14, and $40,000 transferred into its account as of the 11-day pre-special election filing. At that point, the DSCC reported spending $60,458 on his behalf.
Candidates often send campaign cash to a party or conference operation to take advantage of their reduced rate for mailers and to pay for GOTV, ads or polling.
As of 11 days prior to today’s election, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee had spent $123,866 to assist Storobin. That’s considerably more than the Dems are spending on Fidler, which stands to reason, given his fundraising advantage and the district’s Democratic enrollment edge, but it’s still not exactly the “tremendous” amount Storobin once boasted the GOP would be dumping into this race.
The post special election reports will tell a fuller story of the last-minute spending on both sides, which, unlike the last-minute giving, isn’t required to be reported to the BofE.
Of course, whoever wins today isn’t going to have long to enjoy his new seat, the 27th SD is essentially ceasing to exist, making way for a new so-called “super Jewish” district. Fidler has been drawn into Senate Minority Leader John Sampson’s district by the GOP, but has vowed to run for re-election if he wins today.
Aside from the $60,000 Fidler sent their way of late, the Senate Dems received two big infusions of cash today – $25,000 to their housekeeing account, which has no contribution limits, from PHRMA; and another $25,000 from the Empire Dental PAC.
The Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee, which has four seats in play today, received a big boost from the Uniformed Firefighters Association ($25,000) yesterday and also got $50,000 from the Drive Committee, which is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ PAC. The same committee gave the Senate Republicans $25,000 last week.
Another big bump to DACC came from NYSUT, which gace $35,000. Overall, the Democrats in both houses have been leading the last-minute money race. City&State’s Laura Nahmias has more on this.
The Avella-Stavisky Problem
Mar 19th - 4:58 pm
Sen. Tony Avella has decided not to go the independent route like Assemblyman Rory Lancman and NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley and instead heed the Queens Democratic Party’s wishes for Assemblywoman Grace Meng to run in the newly-created NY-6.
Avella, a freshman Democratic senator from Queens, just formally announced his re-election bid in a press release, saying:
“Two years ago I ran for Senate on a platform of reform and good government in this district and while we have accomplished a great deal during my first term, we still have a long way to go to reform Albany.”
In 2010, Avella won a hard-fought battle against veteran Republican ex-Sen. Frank Padavan, (who, as it turns out, is now mulling a run in NY-6).
He came in as part of a reform-minded class that included Sen. Mike Gianaris, Sen. Adriano Espaillat, Sen. Gustavo Rivera and Sen. David Carlucci, who is now a member of the IDC. Also a freshman: Queens Democratic Sen. Jose Peralta, who was elected in a special election to former Sen. Hiram Monserrate’s old seat.
By deciding to seek re-election rather than run for Congress, Avella potentially puts the Democrats in a bind. As you’ll recall, the Republicans’ first Senate redistricting map drew three sets of Democrats into head-to-head contests: Peralta vs. Gianaris, Eric Adams vs. Velmanette Montgomery and Avella vs. Toby Stavisky.
The tweaked Senate map approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo uncoupled all but one of those pairs, keeping the Avella-Stavisky match-up. I called Avella this afternoon to ask if he would run even if that meant primarying his colleague. He didn’t seem thrilled to be answering the question, repeating several iterations of the following answer:
“Whatever happens, happens…The 11th Senatorial District is basically 80 percent of my old district. It’s the district where I live. I’m running in that district.”
Source: Queens Dems Go With Meng (Updated)
Mar 18th - 10:16 pm
The Queens Democrats have settled on Assemblywoman Grace Meng to run in retiring Rep. Gary Ackerman’s stead in the newly-created NY-6 district, according to a source familiar with the party’s decision.
The other hopefuls are getting calls this evening to break the news. The party is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. to vote.
The Queens Democrats voted last Friday to nominate candidates in all of the borough’s other districts, but Ackerman’s abrupt retirement announcement Thursday night caused party leaders to delay the decision on NY-6 until tomorrow.
The selection of Meng makes sense. Not only is she a woman and a strong fund-raiser, but she also represents a motivated ethnic voting base, which could be crucial in this first-ever June primary. Also, by choosing her, the Queens Democrats get to play up their dedication to diversity.
Also, this has the potential to be a no-risk situation for Meng, thanks to the Senate GOP, which is refusing to go along with the Assembly Democrats’ desire to move the Sept. 11 state legislative primaries up to correspond with the court-ordered June 26 House and US Senate primaries.
If there’s a primary battle for the Democratic line in NY-6 and Meng loses, she can still – with some political maneuvering – seek re-election to her current Assembly seat.
It’s unclear if any of the other candidates who expressed interest in this district – Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who bowed to county’s wishes not once, but twice, only to be passed over yet again; Sen. Tony Avella, and NYC Councilman Mark Weprin – will decide to run without the party’s support.
The truncated political calendar necessary as a result of the court’s decision to move up the federal primaries has reduced the number of signatures necessary to get onto the ballot, but also shortened the amount of time in which candidates have to circulate petitions.
Petitioning is expected to begin March 20 (Tuesday). Due to a lack of a deal between the Senate GOP and Assembly Democrats, the special master’s House lines are all but certain to stick.
As for what the rest of the field will do, Lancman is a bit of a wildcard, particularly given his willingness to play the loyal soldier role up to this point.
UPDATE1: Looks like we may have at least a two-way primary on our hands. Here’s a statement from Lancman, compliments of his spokesman, Eric Walker:
“I’ve lived in and served the 6th District for my entire life – as an Assembly member, a community board member and a civic leader.”
“I’m ready to serve in Congress, and given our head start on this campaign, we’re in a great position to win. I look forward to running a strong campaign on the issues that matter to working New Yorkers.”
Avella, who was drawn into a primary by the Senate Republicans with his Democratic colleague, Sen. Toby Stavisky, has an independent streak, too, and her certainly has a motive, given his
Both Avella and Lancman could take a flyer on this race and still run for re-election to the Legislature. As for Weprin, it seems unlikely he would buck county at this point, particularly since he has the potential to become NYC Council speaker – something for which he would need the party’s support.
UPDATE2: Weprin Tweeted his “full support” of Meng. (H/T Azi Paybarah, who has more on Meng’s background).
Also, Andrew Hawkins notes that Lancman has a fundraising head start, since he’s been laying the groundwork for a congressional run for well over a month now.
When he dropped his bid last week in deference to Ackerman, who announced his retirement just a few hours later, Lancman had raised between $120,000 and $130,000.
Meng had $457,685 on hand as of mid-January, but because state contribution limits are higher than federal limits, a portion of that cash is likely not transferable to a House run.
It’s also possible that other candidates – like NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley, as I reported earlier today – try to go it alone in NY-6. We’ll find out more tomorrow.
Queens Dems Mull Ackerman Replacement
Mar 18th - 1:01 pm
The Queens Democrats aren’t scheduled to vote on who they’ll run in retiring Rep. Gary Ackerman’s stead until tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., but party leaders plan on putting forth a consensus candidate they will select by the end of the day today.
According to party insiders, district leaders are expecting to receive calls tonight to learn who Chairman Joe Crowley and his advisors have selected to run in the newly-drawn NY-6.
Three main contenders have emerged for the Democratic nod: Assemblyman Rory Lancman, Assemblywoman Grace Meng and Assemblyman-turned-NYC Councilman Mark Weprin, according to one Democrat familiar with the Queens party’s thinking.
Meng is an attractive candidate because of NY-6 is now 38 percent Asian American. Her selection would not only provide an historic opportunity to unite a fast-growing and potentially powerful voting bloc, but would enable the Queens Democrats to demonstrate their dedication to diversity in an increasingly diverse borough.
Lancman, however, has proven to be a loyal party soldier. Not only did he step aside to allow the (eventually disastrous) candidacy of Assemblyman David Weprin in the NY-9 special election last year, but he also stepped aside this time around to clear the path for a veteran lawmaker: Ackerman.
Of course, Ackerman returned the favor by announcing just hours after Lancman had withdrawn from the race that he wouldn’t be seeking re-election. This took everyone, including Lancman, by surprise.
As for Mark Weprin, he’s very popular among Queens Democrats. But there’s some concern that his last name will invoke memories of his brother’s failed run, which lost Democrat-dominated NY-9 to the Republicans – a major embarrassment for the party that its leaders are not anxious to repeat.
Mark Weprin is widely considered a superior politician to his brother. But that also could serve to hamstring him in this case. He’s viewed as a strong contender for the speakership of the Council after Christine Quinn departs, and that’s something Queens Democrats have had designs on for some time.
There’s also a potential wildcard candidate in the mix: NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley, the cousin of County Chair/Rep. Joe Crowley.
According to my source, the councilwoman has been telling district leaders that she’s interested in running in NY-6 and plans to do so regardless of who the party picks.
The political calendar has been foreshortened due to the court-ordered June 26 primary date, but that has also resulted in a reduced number of signatures required to get onto the ballot – 938 enrolled voters as opposed to 1,250 for House seats. Petition-gathering usually requires an organization, unless a candidate can afford to hire one on short notice.
A number of other Democrats expressed interest in running after Ackerman’s surprise announcement, including Sen. Tony Avella, who was drawn into a potential primary with fellow Democratic Sen. Toby Stavisky by the Senate GOP; and S.J. Jung, a Korean-American district leader who ran a close NYC Council race in 2009.
On the GOP side, NYC Councilman Dan Halloran has been mentioned as a potential NY-6 contender.
Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos’ name was also floated after it became clear that he would not be the only Republican to get onto the US Senate primary ballot at Friday’s convention in Rochester.
But Maragos insists he’s staying in the US Senate race, even though he’s now locked in a three-way primary with Turner and attorney Wendy Long for the right to take on Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in November.
Dem Primary In SD 10? (Updated)
Mar 16th - 2:33 pm
There’s a sort of odd murmur going around the state GOP convention in Rochester – odd because it has to do with a Democrat-on-Democrat contest, and nothing to do with Republicans whatsoever.
Several sources say NYC Councilman James Sanders is calling around to feel out support for a potential primary against fellow Queens Democrat, Sen. Shirley Huntley.
I’m told that Huntley got a bit shafted in the LATFOR redistricting process. She pretty much swapped her Southern Queens district with fellow Democratic Sen. Malcolm Smith, putting her into largely unfamiliar territory, much of which is in Sanders’ current Council district.
Huntley took a difficult vote last year on same-sex marriage. She was one of three Democratic senators who voted “no” when the measure failed in December 2009 to switch their votes at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s request.
(The others were former Sen. Carl Kruger, of Brooklyn, and current Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., also of Queens).
She also sustained a blow last December when AG Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced that the senator’s niece and her top aide were indicted for allegedly pocketing $30,000 in state money meant for a non-profit the senator founded.
Huntley has long had a close relationship with Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, however. He supported her when she faced a 2010 primary challenge from gay-marriage supporter Lynn Nunes.
Sampson gave Huntley $9,500 from his own campaign cash that year and tried unsuccessfully to prevent the Empire State Pride Agenda, New York’s largest LGBT organization, from endorsing Nunes.
Despite Nunes support from the pro-gay marriage forces, Huntley easily won re-election that year.
UPDATE: Sampson sent this comment:
“Senator Huntley is a trusted colleague and strong voice for her constituents. Despite the Senate Republicans’ attempts to marginalize her through partisan gerrymandering, she will prevail in any primary or general election with the full support of her Conference and our partners.”
Pre-GOP Convention Notes, Ackerman Retirement Fallout
Mar 16th - 6:30 am
Good morning from (hopefully sunny) Rochester, where Republicans are gathered for their nominating convention.
It’s expected to be quite the show, since there are now four candidates vying for the right to take on Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (in order of their entry into the race) – Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, attorney Wendy Long, Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin and Rep. Bob Turner.
There was a lot of politicking and rumor-mongering going on last night at the Radisson bar where convention-goers and candidates were gathered.
Maragos worked the room hard. He insisted he has no plans to run for the House seat Rep. Gary Ackerman abruptly announced last night he’ll be vacating – despite speculation to the contrary.
(The rumor was being pushed by the Turner camp, and would be very helpful to the congressman’s quest to get 25 percent of the weighted convention vote to get onto the ballot as it would free up two vote-heavy counties now backing Maragos: Nassau and Suffolk).
Spotted at bar deep in conversation with Maragos was ex-Rep. John Sweeney, who, according to GOP sources, is whipping votes by phone for the comptroller, along with another veteran former politico, former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. (Sweeney was also reportedly trying to put together a NY slate for ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential run not long ago).
Wendy Long spent most of the night in a hospitality suite on the 12th floor. Her old friend and supporter, radio host Laura Ingraham was there, and caused quite a stir – everyone wanted a photo, I’m told. Long is holding fast as the state Conservative Party favorite.
State GOP Chairman Ed Cox held mini confabs in the lobby. He seems to want a primary battle, convinced it will provide “excitement” and, more importantly, free news coverage, for the party’s quest to unseat Gillibrand.
That’s despite the fact that a three-way primary in 2010 failed to help the GOP cause; the senator sailed to her first statewide victory against former Rep. Joe DioGuardi.
Expectation is that at least two – and maybe three – candidates get onto the ballot this afternoon. Most expect Carvin to drop out or fail to make the 25 percent cut on the first round of voting.
Also expected at the convention today: 2010 gubernatorial candidate Carl “Mad as Hell” Paladino. He’s intent on running primary candidates against key WNY Republican senators and on ousting Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. Any gathering Carl attends has the potential to be very interesting indeed.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side of things, the Queens Dems are still reeling from the Ackerman’s curveball last night.
It should be noted certain Republicans are crowing after predicting this weeks ago on Twitter and getting slapped down by the congressman, who Tweeted: “Republican rumor mill is 100% wrong. Absolutely. I’m running.”
Anyway, the Dems are scheduled to meet at the Queens HQ this morning at 8:30 a.m. to pick House candidates, but won’t likely select a someone to run in the new NY-6 that Ackerman had been drawn into, according to a party source.
There hasn’t been enough time to coalesce around a favorite, the source said. The list of would-be replacements is long:
Assemblyman Rory Lancman, of course, who bowed out just hours before Ackerman’s announcement, thinking the veteran would be running this fall; both Weprins: Mark, the assemblyman-turned-councilman, and David, the councilman-turned-assemblyman; Assemblywoman Grace Meng, who wants to capitalize on the new Asian-heavy NY-6; Sen. Tony Avella, who’s definitely interested (remember, he was drawn into a potential primary with Sen. Toby Stavisky by the GOP), and Queens Democratic Chairman/Rep. Joe Crowley, who has always wanted to run in a Queens-only district and leave the Bronx behind.
(It just so happens to be Crowley’s birthday AND Halloran’s birthday, according to City&State’s First Read (as Tweeted by the NYT’s David Chen). What a present! Mazel tov!)
On the GOP side, Maragos’ name has been floated, as mentioned; ditto for Turner, but perhaps that’s just payback. Also we’ve heard NYC Councilman Dan Halloran, who took a pass on a Senate run this fall, is a possibility.
Should be an eventful Friday at both ends of the state. We’ll try to keep you posted as things develop.
Lancman Opts Out Of Congressional Run
Mar 15th - 5:37 pm
Assemblyman Rory Lancman has decided against running for Congress after the special master’s maps gave him little choice but to challenge a fellow Democrat, veteran Rep. Gary Ackerman.
“My enthusiasm for running against Republican Bob Turner on a platform of leveling the economic playing field for working people doesn’t extend to running against fellow Democrat Gary Ackerman,” the assemblyman said in a statement.
“Gary Ackerman is a solid progressive who is, if the Democrats take back the House, poised to assume important leadership roles in protecting the integrity of our financial system and strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship as a senior member of the House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees.”
“I have enjoyed a great relationship with Gary over the years, from interning in his office when I was a high school student to having his support in all of my campaigns for public office, and I’ll be supporting Gary this year in the new Sixth congressional district.”
Lancman had hoped to challenge Rep. Bob Turner in some version of NY-9, the Democrat-dominated Queens/Brooklyn district formerly held by ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner.
But the court-appointed master, US Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann, proposed more or less doing away with Turner’s seat, placing him into a veritable sure-lose face-off with Rep. Greg Meeks.
Turner, who was elected in a special election last year after Weiner was forced to resign in the wake of his Twitter scandal, initially said he was “prepared to run in whatever district I reside in once the final lines are adopted and signed by the governor.”
But after it became clear the Senate and Assembly would not reach an agreement on the House lines, punting the responsibility to Mann, Turner thought better of that and became a late add to the list of Republicans – now four candidates long – fighting for the right to challenge Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in November.
Similarly, Lancman noted Mann’s proposed “centered around my home and communities that I have represented in the Assembly, on the community board and as a civic leader for over 20 years.” A source close to the assemblyman tried to paint Ackerman as the interloper in the newly-drawn district, insisting the Long Island resident long ago lost his Queens cred.
Ackerman, on the other hand, called the new NY-6 “fantastic,” noting it included the neighborhoods where he “grew up, went to public school and college, and started my family and my business,” adding: “It contains my political base and longtime roots, and I have had the privilege of representing approximately 90 percent of it during my 34 years in the state Senate and U.S. Congress.”
Lancman said he plans to continue to “zealously” do his job in the Assembly, adding: “There will be other opportunities to assume greater public responsibilities in the near future.”
Diaz: ‘I’m In The Business Of Giving’
Mar 13th - 4:22 pm
Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, said he was shocked when hearing the news that AG Eric Schneiderman had announced the arrest and arraignment of Clement Gardner, the fiscal officer of a local non-profit that that the lawmaker had steered close to a half million dollars in member items over the years.
Indeed, Diaz seemed surprised when reading Schneiderman’s news release off my Blackberry outside of the Senate chamber. Scrolling down, he jumped as if he was electrocuted when reading the details that Garnder was accused of embezzling $75,000 from the Christian Community Benevolent Association, Inc.
“What the — ?” he asked turning to a staffer.
Diaz himself founded the group in 1977 in the basement of the Church of God on Seward Avenue, according to his official Senate biography, and served as the organization’s executive director until he was elected to the Senate in 2002.
After going back into the chamber to vote on a resolution, Diaz emerged about 20 minutes later to talk.
“It was something I didn’t suspect. I don’t know — I’m shocked,” Diaz said.
He said called the Christian Community Benevolent Association “beautiful” and said it was shame that it was now the target of an investigation. The lawmaker, a Pentecostal minister, said Gardner should be punished if the charges prove true.
“If that is true, he has to face the law,” Diaz said.
Diaz would not comment on whether he feels he’s being targeted by Schneiderman, a former state senator who led the charge against now ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate’s expulsion proceeding.
Diaz and Monserrate were allies in the Senate, but didn’t want to criticize the attorney general for bringing the case.
“I don’t want to go into that. whatever it is, it is,” he said. “I don’t want to go into that.”
The agency was actually looked into by Attorney General Eliot Spizer in 2006, but Diaz indicated he was unfazed.
“They’ve been looking into me all the time,” he said. “Every two years they come with something. Every two years an election comes and they come with something.”
He added: “They have been checking that from left to right.”
Diaz also insisted that he did not regret his own member items, which haven’t been doled out to lawmakers in several years.
“I’m in business of giving, not in the business of taking. So whatever it is, it is,” Diaz said.
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