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‘Immediate’ Reform Of Appellate Division Hiring On Tap, Further Review Underway
Apr 3rd - 3:16 pm
In an unusually swift action for any government entity, the four presiding justices of the state’s second-highest court – the Appellate Division – have agreed to adopt all the reforms of its hiring practices recommended in a critical Commission on Judicial Conduct report that found nepotism and cronyism at play when it comes to doling out jobs to non-legal staffers.
“The recommendations of the commission will be put in place at the appellate divisions immediately,” Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti told me during a CapTon interview that will air tonight at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
“And I know that with regard to the districts, as well as the additional requirements that there may at the appellate division, that we are all going to be working on that in a very timely fashion.”
The report released yesterday detailed how 6 of 25 people hired for administrative positions by Presiding Appellate Court Judge Luis Gonzalez in 2010 had direct family links to individuals working in his chambers – including his own ex-wife, his executive assistant’s nephew, his previous assistant’s nephew, a brother of his secretary and the son and a cousin of Gonzalez’s driver.
As it turned out, Gonzalez wasn’t alone in employing what the commission deemed a “closed process,” but his actions were particularly noteworthy since they effectively undid a stringent open-hiring policy established by his predecessor in the First Department, Jonathan Lippman, who is not the state’s chief judge.
Instead of penalizing Gonzalez – a lengthy and potentially political sticky move, as he is first person of Puerto Rican descent to hold the position of presiding justice – the commission decided to push for system-wide reform instead, including the mandated public advertising of all job openings, the recusal of any employee from the hiring process when a close relative or spouse is under consideration and a ban on allowing family members or spouses to supervise subordinates to whom they are related.
These reforms were all adopted today during a meeting in Manhattan, and the presiding justices – included Gonzalez himself – were all on board with the change, according to Prudenti. An additional review will be undertaken immediately to see if more changes are necessary, she said.
Here And Now
Apr 3rd - 7:25 am
Voters go to the polls today in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) to choose a favorite in the GOP presidential primary.
Party leaders are increasingly accepting Mitt Romney as the frontrunner and eventual nominee, but Rick Santorum’s team is digging in for at least another another month of campaigning.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in Albany with no public schedule.
At 10 a.m., OGS Commissioner RoAnn Destito and DMV Commissioner Barbara Fiala will officially launch NYSStore.com and open the eBay sale of more than 450 cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans located in two lots at the Harriman State Office Campus with a ribbon cutting.
The New York Energy Highway Summit will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alfred Lerner Hall at Columbia University in Manhattan. This is actually taking place tomorrow.
As part of Cuomo’s Small Business Outreach Initiative, representatives from six state agencies – ESD, the Departments of State, Labor, Taxation and Finance, the Liquor Authority, and the Workers Compensation Board – will answer questions at the Utica State Office Building from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Today’s headlines:
DC37′s Lillian Roberts on the mad rush by city and state workers to enroll in Tier V before Tier VI kicks in: “We encouraged them to get in now so that they wouldn’t have to work longer, receive less.”
National Democrats had been counting on gains in New York to help them realize their quest of taking back control of the House, but redistricting threw a wrench in that plan, making several Democratic members vulnerable.
Promising “you’re not going to get a lot of drama out of me,” NYC Councilman Dan Garodnick announced (via video) that he’ll be running for NYC comptroller in 2013, even though the office’s current occupant, John Liu, hasn’t formally announced he’ll be vacating to run for mayor.
Garodnick will speak to reporters about his candidacy today on the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
A Niagara Falls councilman believes “strong willed” Cuomo is punishing the city for the local Democrats’ failure to endorse him in the 2006 AG’s race.
“We call it hush money,” said Rick Timbs, director of the Statewide School Finance Consortium, of the $30 million in so-called “bullet aid” that legislators will direct to select school districts. There is no formal application process.
Sen. Adriano Espaillat announced (via a statement) that he wants to be the first Dominican-American elected to Congress – a goal he has to go through Rep. Charlie Rangel to achieve.
More >
Extras
Apr 2nd - 5:03 pm
Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward crossed party lines to endorse Rep. Bill Owens for re-election. She’s also backing a fellow Republican, Rep. Chris Gibson.
Bill Clinton will be “happy” if his wife changes her mind about running for president in 2016.
Hillary Clinton will not be joining President Obama on the campaign trail this year.
Cuomo won The Fix’s “Sweet 2016″ competition. (Caveat: This game is based on the premise that President Obama wins re-election this fall).
Greg David expects to see signs of how Cuomo would position himself in 2016 sooner rather than later.
Governors Journal says Cuomo has exceeded expectations during his first two years in office, linking to Colby Hamilton’s think piece as an explanation of why. (No small factor: His predecessors were really bad).
The California GOP chairman wishes his governor, Jerry Brown, would follow Cuomo’s lead on “difficult reforms – even if they do not go as far as I might prefer.”
Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch endorsed Assemblyman Rory Lancman in the three-way Democratic NY-6 primary.
Another GOP committee (Malta) picked Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione over Sen. Roy McDonald.
Current TV has hired Clinton administration crisis communications specialists Chris Lehane and Mark Fabiani to represent its interests in what is likely to be a very public, and very nasty, battle with its ex-anchor, Keith Olbermann.
Gridlock Sam is continuing to push his congestion pricing proposal – hard.
JCOPE has refused to release to the public any record of the secret vote to hire longtime aide Cuomo Ellen Biben as its $148,000-a-year executive director.
Sen. Adriano Espaillat made his primary challenge to Rep. Charlie Rangel official.
Espailat’s once – and future? – political nemesis, Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, isn’t quite ready to jump onto the Espaillat-for-Congress bandwagon.
Former Gov. David Paterson thinks the Madoff scandal will trump the Spitzer scandal (which landed him – albeit briefly – in the governor’s office) 100 years from now.
There isn’t enough disco in NY politics. NYC Council candidate Hill Krishnan aims to change that. But he might have to face off against Assemblyman Micah Kellner.
Race, ideology and county politics will all be at play in the next NYC Council speaker’s race.
Three well-known D&C columnists accepted buyouts from Gannett.
Moody’s says the 2012-13 budget is good for high-needs school districts.
A breakdown of retiring Assemblyman Jack McEneny’s new district, which is very much in demand.
Lancman, Rangel, Velazquez In Line For WFP Nod (Updatedx2)
Apr 2nd - 4:00 pm
The Working Families Party is headed toward backing Assemblyman Rory Lancman in the hotly-contested NY-6 primary, according to multiple labor sources familiar with the situation.
The party’s advisory committee voted today to give endorse the Queens Democrat over his two rivals: NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley and Assemblywoman Grace Meng. The matter will now be taken up by the executive committee.
Also recommended by the advisory committee to receive WFP support: Harlem Rep. Charlie Rangel, who is facing multiple primary challengers, including Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who formally confirmed his campaign today; and Brooklyn Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who’s being challenged by NYC Councilman Erik Martin Dilan. The party has already decided to support Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries against Rep. Ed Towns, also of Brooklyn.
The advisory committee’s vote is “non-binding but influential,” according to a party insider. That said, it’s rare that the executive committee goes its own way on endorsements. UPDATE1: The executive committee will be meeting next week to vote on issuing Wilson Pakulas to its endorsed Democrats.
This is a big win for Lancman, particularly given the fact that the political calendar is foreshortened this year with the primary on June 26 instead of Sept. 11, thanks to US District Court Judge Gary Sharpe. An off-cycle race like this one will undoubtedly have low turnout, which means the candidate with the best field operation has a significant advantage.
Both Meng and Crowley have run with WFP support in the past, and the party “likes” them just fine, according to my insider. But Lancman has proven himself to be “exceptionally hardworking” on progressive issues that the left-leaning unions that dominated the party care about – including standing up publicly to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the millionaire’s tax last year.
He also defended ACORN back in 2009 when it was smack in the middle of the conservatives’ crosshairs, and pushed a so-called “panic button” bill for hotel workers in the wake of the DSK scandal.
The WFP is well known for its field work, even now that Data & Field Services is no more, and now the party will put its know-how and muscle to work for Lancman.
As the Queens County Democratic Party’s official candidate, Meng with have an operation behind her, too.
Crowley is the odd woman out in this case, although today she reported raising $100,000 in a very short period of time – an impressive number somewhat dampened by the City&State report that some 30 percent of her contributions were “refunded donations,” meaning cash was given back to her City Council committee donors, who then gave it right back to her congressional committee.
It’s also worth noting that this isn’t the first time the WFP and the Queens Dems have been at odds. The WFP backed a number of “insurgent” candidates in the 2009 NYC Council races, and won quite a few.
UPDATE2: Now there’s an official press release, which appears in full after the jump.
DCCC Backs Maloney In NY-18 (Updated)
Apr 2nd - 1:21 pm
Despite his late entry into the already crowded race against Republican Rep. Nan Hayworth, the DCCC has thrown its support behind former Spitzer/Paterson aide Sean Patrick Maloney in NY-18, sources familiar with the decision confirm.
Maloney was presented to attendees this weekend at the DCCC’s second annual New York Issues Conference at the New York Palace Hotel in NYC. He was one of just a handful of congressional candidates to attend.
According to a schedule of the event, also present were House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Whip Steny Hoyer, Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn, DCCC Chairman/Rep. Steve Israel, (he didn’t have too far to travel, since he’s from Long Island), and a number of NY congressional delegation members: Eliot Engel, Jerry Nadler, Nita Lowey, and Joe Crowley.
Maloney, as you’ll recall, served as an aide in the Clinton White House. He made an unsuccessful run for state attorney general in 2006 (the year Gov. Andrew Cuomo won the primary and then the general election), and then joined the Spitzer administration.
As first deputy secretary to the governor, Maloney got caught up in the Troopergate scandal, but escaped relatively unscathed (by that I mean, he wasn’t fined, forced to resign or cited for breaking any laws). He then held the same position in Gov. David Paterson’s cabinet when the former LG was elevated to replace Spitzer after the former governor resigned following a prostitution scandal.
Maloney left the Paterson administration at the end of 2008 to join Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm that hired Michael Garcia, the U.S. Attorney who brought down Spitzer.
A Democratic source said the DCCC’s main motivation behind backing Maloney was his ability to fundraiser. (I’m told he’s raising at a rapid clip, we’ll know for sure when the numbers come out for the first quarter, which ended Friday).
This source seemed unconcerned about Maloney’s Troopergate association, or the fact that he doesn’t live in NY-18 – actually, none of the Democratic hopefuls do since it has been redrawn by the court-appointed special master, with the exception of Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander, I believe.
Cortland Councilman Richard Becker, who has been leading the fundraising race among the NY-18 Democratic hopefuls, has said he’s shopping for a new home inside the district, even though he’s not legally required to live there in order to run.
Both Becker and Alexander have received endorsements from various Democratic committees in NY-18. To my knowledge, Maloney has not, but his support by the DCCC is significant and carries a lot of weight – assuming it helps him with his petitioning effort to get onto the ballot. Remember: The primary comes early this year, June 26.
Also in the running are Tuxedo Park Mayor Tom Wilson and Times Square-vendor-turned-hero Duane Jackson of Buchanan.
Maloney originally hoped to run in NY-22 (he and his partner, Randy Florke, have owned property in Sullivan County for some time, and Florke’s real estate/restoration business is based there). But the special master got rid of NY-22, much to the chagrin of its current representative, retiring Congressman Maurice Hinchey.
Maloney reportedly has said he and his family will “definitely” live in NY-18 if he wins, most likely in Beacon.
UPDATE: Becker’s campaign spokesman Barry Caro emailed a response, which appears in full after the jump.
‘It’s An Age Without Heroes’
Apr 2nd - 7:56 am
ICYMI: Assemblyman Jack McEneny sat down with me on CapTon last Friday to explain why he has decided not to seek re-election this fall after 20 years of serving at the Capitol and some 40 in public service.
McEneny talked about how much things have changed and the difficulty of leading in what he called “an age without heroes.”
“You don’t find it in sports – you’ve got the steroids scandals and the extraordinary paychecks,” the Albany Democrat said.
“You don’t find it in business with Enron and Wall Street. You don’t find it in the clergy anymore, and you certainly don’t find it in politics.”
“It’s an age without heroes, and it’s difficult to be in a leadership position in that type of thing, and when people do mess up, there’s a media guilt by association – whether warranted or not.”
But what about Gov. Andrew Cuomo, I asked, noting his unusually high approval ratings and the fact that he has managed to maintain his popularity through two budget cycles now – far longer than anyone expected.
“The polls change,” replied McEneny, who hasn’t been shy about disagreeing with Cuomo on several issues, including the ongoing executive vs. Legislature power struggle and redistricting.
“I remember George Bush Sr. went from like 75 percent in April to lose in November,” the assemblyman continued. “But I think with Andrew Cuomo, even the people who have disagreements with him on one thing or another…they feel good about Andrew Cuomo.”
“They feel good particularly in the light of his immediate predecessors…I think they feel the ship of state actually has a real captain who’s going somewhere.”
McEneny also told me he’s unlikely to endorse a successor, joking that if the line of would-be replacements gets any longer someone might need to apply for a “parade permit” to get them all into one room.
He did say, however, that he would come out in opposition against anyone who intends to make the job of representing the Capitol City a part-time gig, or doesn’t support the Albany Convention Center – a project he believes in (he also serves on the authority commission).
Here And Now
Apr 2nd - 7:12 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in Albany, so some sort of appearance/announcement could be on tap. Health care exchange?
Legislators are off for two weeks for Easter/Passover, so there won’t be any session action for a while.
With no mention at all, the 2012-13 budget killed a signature Pataki gun control program: The Combined Ballistics Identification System, which critics say never worked anyway.
A “significant” number of peeved Senate Democrats skipped Cuomo’s budget victory lunch at the executive mansion last week, even after they received calls from the second floor inquiring about their absence.
Nonprofits are still awaiting details from the Cuomo administration about a pay cap, but officials are trying to figure out how to exempt certain entities – like hospitals – so hey can keep paying seven-figure salaries.
Both the Senate and Assembly majorities have items on their respective “to-do” lists for when they return from break.
The New York Power Authority is launching a five-year $30 million solar energy initiative as part of a program Cuomo announced during his State of the State address.
The Oneonta Daily Star: “(I)n passing the first consecutive on-time budgets since 2005 and 2006, Cuomo, Silver and Skelos have restored some faith that Albany can get things done.”
Sen. Adriano Espaillat announced during a Barack Obama Democratic Club fundraiser yesterday that he’s definitely going to primary Rep. Charlie Rangel. (The senator is circulating petitions, but so far hasn’t formally announced his campaign).
Still fighting the perception that his heart’s not in a second run for mayor, Bill Thompson is re-hiring two members of his 2009 campaign team: Geoff Garin, a pollster; and Doc Sweitzer, a media consultant.
The Weekend That Was
Apr 1st - 4:00 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo spent the weekend in Albany, but made no public appearances.
Mayor Bloomberg participated in his 11th Inner Circle Show, responding to the reporters’ gridiron show with the Broadway cast of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” – including Nick Jonas.
Seen at the Hilton taking in the show: Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos – both sitting at Bloomberg’s table (wonder if redistricting came up…a little awkward), and former Gov. David Paterson (sitting at the DN table). No Cuomo and no Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, neither of whom usually attend.
Embattled NYC Comptroller and 2013 mayoral hopeful John Liu showed up and had to sit through a cringe-inducing song about his fundraising scandal entitled “Secret Asian Man.”
His fellow Bloomberg successors worked the crowd, including Council Speaker Christine Quinn, (depicted on stage as a bride in a nod to her upcoming nuptials), Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Manhattan BP Scott Stringer, former Comptroller Bill Thompson and City&State Publisher Tom Allon, who was seen deep in conversation with NYS GOP Chairman Ed Cox – perhaps about that party switch?
Headlines…
The NYT is not thrilled the 2012-13 budget gives Cuomo even more power than he already has, writing: “Governor Cuomo is a good governor. But even the best executive needs checks and balances. There are too few in this new system.”
The state’s highest-paid school superintendent has quietly re-inked a contract to make sure she doesn’t lose a dime if the governor decides to re-invigorate his push for a salary cap.
The WIGS lobby is basically dormant, until there’s a change in the executive’s office and/or legislative leadership.
The Syracuse Post-Standard wonders how long it will be before local governments are back in Albany crying poor, writing: “Union leaders should be congratulating each other, considering how Tier 6 was watered down.”
The paper also doesn’t think LG Bob Duffy is the best Tier 6 cheerleader since he’s “double-dipping” (collecting both his state salary and his pension).
Ball Opponent Likens Senator’s Pantsless Tweet To Weiner, Lee
Mar 31st - 5:20 pm
The campaign of Sen. Greg Ball’s Democratic opponent, Justin Wagner, issued a statement excoriating the Hudson Valley Republican for Tweeting a photo of himself wearing a Superman T-shirt and shorts – but no pants – likening the incident to the on-line scandals of two former lawmakers: ex-Reps. Anthony Weiner and Chris Lee.
“From Congressman Craigslist to Weiner-gate to the latest hijinks of Greg Ball, I think it’s safe to say the people of New York have had enough of their elected officials tweeting half naked pictures rather than focusing on the problems of middle class New Yorkers,” said Wagner’s campaign manager Steve Napier.
“The truly sad part of this story is that not one person in the Hudson Valley is surprised that Senator Ball tweeted a pantless picture of himself. His outrageous behavior has become par for the course.”
“The Hudson Valley has had enough of Senator Ball’s attention-seeking shenanigans and they are ready to restore integrity to this Senate seat.”
Interestingly, Napier’s characterization of Ball’s semi-risque Tweet puts him in the same camp as the website of the recently deceased conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, who took down Weiner by (ahem) exposing the former congressman’s Tweet of his underwear-clad privates.
The site notes that Ball has a history of odd behavior, recalling his ex-girlfriend’s restraining order, his questionable polo fundraiser and Goatgate.
Not mentioned: The threatening package he received, the sender of which ended up being shot and killed by police in Georgia, or the sexual harassment complaint lodged against him by an Albany waitress.
There’s also an untapped treasure trove of weirdness in the increasingly nasty primary race between Ball and his erstwhile ally, Assemblyman Steve Katz.
Ball Tweeted the photo last weekend while participating in a charity event called the Celebrity Waiters Brunch, during which local personalities dress up in strange outfits to benefit the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum in Poughkeepsie.
According to Ball’s office, which issued a statement of its own earlier today, the senator took home a prize for the “smoothest legs.”
“This is a great organization and a worthy cause,” Ball said. “I was proud to accept the invitation to take part in this fun event!”
His press release included another photo of Ball with his fellow “celebrity” waiters, in which his shorts are clearly visible. He’s also wearing the aforementioned t-shirt, a tuxedo jacket, white button-down shirt and Vibrams on his feet – altogether a very odd outfit, indeed, but not one that’s terribly inappropriate.
His outfit is actually downright tame compared to what some of the other people in the photo have on.
Extras
Mar 30th - 4:57 pm
Writes Jeane MacIntosh: “Anna Gristina, the notorious soccer mom madam, does have a relationship with someone at the New York Post. It’s me.”
Rep. Charlie Rangel is back in the hospital for the second time this month.
Current TV, the fledgling liberal cable channel, has terminated its relationship with anchor Keith Olbermann.
Starting tonight, Olbermann’s replacement will be former CNN host/ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
The Committee to Save NY’s pro-Cuomo budget ad buy tally this year: $3.9 million.
More trouble for Matt Doheny – now there’s video of him with his arms around two women, neither of whom are his fiancee.
Unlike her two Democratic opponents, Assemblywoman Grace Meng has so far not lined up labor support for her NY-6 run. The labor-backed WFP might sit this race out.
An anonymous GOP official on Doheny: “He’s your Wall Street-type – go, go, go, work hard, play hard. You might be able to do that on Wall Street, but not as an elected official.”
Sen. Joe Robach wants to keep Bob Duffy as LG. Cuomo wants to wait until after the session to talk politics.
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks was endorsed by the Monroe County Conservative Party. She now has two minor party lines (she got the Indys yesterday) to Rep. Louise Slaughter’s one (WFP).
The Village Voice’s James King has some suggestions for questions Fred Dicker might ask the next time he gets Cuomo on this radio show.
Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander is touting the support of Democratic committees located in his NY-18 primary rival Richard Becker’s backyard.
David Storobin now leads NYC Councilman Lew Fidler by a single vote. But that tally is unlikely to remain static for long.
Thomas Kaplan catches top Cuomo aide Joe Percoco telling the legislative minority leaders to take a seat in the audience and not stand at the podium during today’s budget victory press conference.
Yossi Gestetner games out a challenge to Sen. Kevin Parker.
Mayor Bloomberg continued to dig in his heels on his position that his successor shouldn’t live in Gracie Mansion.
Former Sen. Frank Padavan is reportedly unlikely to challenge his old rival, Sen. Tony Avella, but three other Republicans are interested in running.
Today was Albany PD spokesman Jimmy Miller’s last day on the job. For his next act, he’s mulling a run for the Assembly – among other things.
In 2008, Mitt Romney’s PAC made a $10,000 donation to the National Organization of Marriage at a time when the anti-gay rights organization was seeking repeal of a California’s Prop. 8 – the law legalizing marriage equality.
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