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Erie County Conservatives Abandon Grisanti (Updated)
Feb 23rd - 10:05 pm
The Erie County Conservative Party was poised to vote tonight to endorse Democratic County Legislator Chuck Swanick over Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti in a move that could have a significant impact on the impending battle for control of the Senate chamber.
Two sources families with the local party’s plans confirmed it indeed was in the works.
But one source cautioned Chairman Ralph Lorigo had been under considerable pressure throughout the day from all sides – the Senate Republicans, labor unions, the state Conservative Party and others – so until I hear the news from Lorigo himself or someone close to him, I’m reluctant to say this is a done deal.
I left a message on Lorigo’s voicemail just before CapTon went on the air (8 p.m.), and have yet to hear back from him.
UPDATE: YNN Buffalo went to Conservative Party HQ and confirmed with Lorigo that the party has indeed endorsed Swanick. So now it’s official: Swanick, in; Grisanti, out.
If the local party indeed turned its back on Grisanti, it’s a major development and a considerable blow to the Senate GOP, since the Democrat-turned-Republican freshman lawmaker is arguably their most vulnerable member.
It also compounds what has been a dismal news cycle for Grisanti, coming on the heels of the uproar over his Feb. 10 fight at the Seneca Niagara Casino.
There’s so much political intrigue here it’s hard to know where to begin.
As you’ll recall, the Senate GOP redrew Grisanti’s district in its redistricting plan to dramatically reduce the number of Democrats (it had been one of the most Democrat-dominated districts in the state) AND to also puts its boundaries entirely in the confines of Erie County, which meant the local Conservative Party – not the state organization – would control who runs on its ballot line this fall.
State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long made it quite clear that no Republican senator who crossed party lines to vote “yes” on same-sex marriage last summer would receive his endorsement. But the state party has no control over districts that are wholly contained in a single county – only in those that cross county lines.
When I called Long tonight to ask if he knew anything about the Erie County party’s decision to ditch Grisanti, he told me this was the “first I’ve heard of it.”
Lorigo told me and Nick Reisman at CPAC last month that the door remained open to Grisanti, but also made clear it would be an uphill battle for him to win the local party’s endorsement.
Lorigo spent almost all of CPAC sitting next to Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, who told Nick (since he doesn’t speak to me) that he planned to support primary candidates against key Senate Republicans.
Since Grisanti is the senator in Paladino’s home base, it stands to reason that he would be the failed 2010 gubernatorial candidate’s primary target.
The Erie County Conservative Party has a history of supporting Democrats.
It backed former Assemblyman Mark Schroeder’s unopposed bid for Buffalo comptroller last year (much to Long’s chagrin, since Schroeder is a gay marriage supporter), and also backed both Sen. Tim Kennedy (also a “yes” on gay marriage) and (for many years, although not in 2010 when it really counted) his predecessor, former Sen. Bill Stachowski.
Swanick, as I understand it, opposes both gay marriage and abortion rights.
According to a WNY source, Swanick, a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Democrat, also has a connection to former Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon, who played a key role in the 2009 Senate coup and also worked for former Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr.
All is not necessarily lost for Grisanti. He may yet land the Independence Party line, and it remains unclear if the DSCC will support Swanick. If not, it’s possible the Senate Dems will put up a candidate to challenge Swanick for Row A, and also urge their allies in the Working Families Party to run a left-leaning opponent.
Also, we’ve yet to see exactly what Grisanti’s district will look like, since the tweaked LATFOR lines have yet to be released, and the possibility of a veto from Gov. Andrew Cuomo or (as seems more likely at this point) court intervention into the redistricting process could throw a wrench into the works.
UB Officials: We Weren’t Involved In NYPD Muslim Student Surveillance
Feb 19th - 11:26 am
The University of Buffalo released the following statement in response to an Associated Press report on widespread surveillance by the NYPD of Muslim college students attending higher ed institutions far outside the limits of New York City – including some at UB:
“This was the first time that the university learned of this matter. University at Buffalo officials were not contacted by NYPD, and the university did not provide any information to the NYPD.”
“UB does not conduct this kind of surveillance, and, if asked, UB would not voluntarily cooperate with such a request.”
“As a public university, UB strongly supports the values of freedom of speech and assembly, freedom of religion, and a reasonable expectation of privacy. UB welcomes students, faculty and staff from a wide range of diverse backgrounds.”
“The university is committed to ensuring equal employment, educational opportunity, and equal access to services, programs, and activities without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, or ex-offender status.”
The AP story cites a NYPD intelligence report from Jan. 2, 2009 that described a trip by three NYC officers to Buffalo, where they met with a high-ranking member of the Erie County Sheriff’s Department and agreed “to develop assets jointly in the Buffalo area, to act as listening posts within the ethnic Somalian community.”
According to this report, the sheriff’s department official noted “that there are some Somali Professors and students at SUNY-Buffalo and it would be worthwhile to further analyze that population.” An NYPD spokesman said the department did not follow that recommendation.
Another NYPD report dated Nov. 22, 2006 indicated officers fro the department’s Cyber Intelligence unit visited the websites, blogs and forums of Muslim student associations as a “daily routine” at a number of universities, including Syracuse University and four SUNY schools: Stonybook, Potsdam, Albany and Buffalo.
A UB student who was a Muslim Student Association board member ended up in a police report for forwarding an email in 2006 about an Islamic conference in Toronto.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Department issued this statement:
“Some of the most dangerous Western Al Qaeda linked/inspired terrorists since 9/11 were radicalized and/or recruited at Muslim Student Associations.”
“As a result, the NYPD deemed it prudent to get a better handle on what was occurring at MSA’s via open sources like websites – hence we lawfully assembled reports under Handshu guidelines on same in 2006 and 2007.”
“We were focused on radicalization and/or recruitment specifically by groups like Al Muhajiroun, Islamic Thinkers Society, Revolution Muslim and others.”
Grisantis Pressing Charges In Casino Fight
Feb 19th - 9:27 am
Sen. Mark Grisanti, who said as recently as Feb. 16 that he had no plans to press charges in the casino fight because “I’m a guy,” has apparently changed his mind.
The Buffalo News first reported about Grisanti’s change of heart. The WNY Republican issued a statement this morning saying that he and his wife, Maria, “continue to stand by our account on what happened the night of Friday, February 10 at the Seneca Niagara Casino.”
The couple has given statements to the Niagara Falls Police Department, and, according to Grisanti, continue to “assist them in their ongoing investigation.” The investigation is continuing even though police officials have said it does not appear any crimes were committed in the fight.
Grisanti reiterated that he does not hold the Seneca Nation, Seneca President, or the Seneca Tribal Council responsible for “this isolated and unfortunate event,” adding:
“We deeply regret the fallout that has ensued following this unfortunate turn of events against the Seneca Nation and its people. I have always had a strong relationship with the Seneca Nation.”
That said, Grisanti is refusing to make any apologies for his involvement in the “vicious attack” that injured his wife, sending her to the hospital with facial bruising and a concussion. The Seneca Tribal Council on Friday called for the senator to apologize.
“All of my actions were instinctive to protect my wife, and are what any other man would have done under these circumstances,” the senator said.
“As far as I’m concerned the incident was not over until my wife was safely in my arms.”
“Additionally, we would also like to let the public know that our family has made a decision to press charges against Maria’s attackers. It is time to let the law enforcement and judicial systems do its job.”
“We have always been trying to achieve full transparency. We have no problem and we encourage the Seneca Niagara Casino to release the tapes.”
Sen. Kennedy Likes His District Lines, But Insists That’s Not The Point
Feb 16th - 3:10 pm
The final LATFOR public hearing on the Senate and Assembly lines took place in Buffalo today. Sen. Tim Kennedy, a freshman Democrat, was on hand to show the flag for his conference and reiterate the minority’s call for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to keep his word and veto the maps drawn by the majorities in either house.
Ironically, Kennedy admitted he fared pretty well in the LATFOR redistricting process, thanks to the Senate GOP’s effort to gerrymander as many Democrats as possible OUT of their WNY members’ districts – particularly for Kennedy’s fellow freshman, Sen. Mark Grisanti.
“The proposed 58th district is actually good for me personally, but this isn’t about me personally,” Kennedy said. “I’m the only Democrat west of Syracuse in the New York State Senate. So, what the Senate Republicans did was they put all the Democrats in my district.”
“So, while it might work for me, it doesn’t work for the community as a whole here in Western New York and it doesn’t work for the communities across New York State. Minority communities have been disenfranchised. Neighborhoods have been cut in half.”
“And the fact of the matter is these are Albany incumbents that are drawing lines based upon what’s best for them and in their own best interest rather than in the best interest of the community at large. And it’s wrong, and it needs to be stopped. We’re calling on the governor to veto these lines.”
Slaughter: D.C. Is Like ‘Alice In Wonderland’
Feb 16th - 6:11 am
Rep. Louise Slaughter appeared on “The Daily Show” last night to discuss the STOCK Act – a bill to ban insider trading by members of Congress and their staffers that she has been pushing since 2006.
Host Jon Stewart was incredulous that Congress is just now getting around to making something illegal for itself that is already not allowed for the rest of us.
Slaughter urged members of the audience to call their local representatives to urge a committee to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the bill, and expressed particular upset that the House version was “hijacked” by the GOP leadership to remove the gathering of so-called “political intelligence.”
The WNY congresswoman said banning political intelligence – the gathering of information, although not by registered lobbyists – would be worth $402 million a year.
Stewart: “Everything you described sounds insane to me.”
Slaughter: “You’re absolutely right. It is insane…It’s an Alice in Wonderland world. It’s through the looking glass, and it’s gotten worse.”
Binghamton Mayor Admits ‘Irony’ Of His Pension Reform Opposition
Feb 15th - 12:43 pm
ICYMI: Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan admitted on CapTon last night that his opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal for a 401(K)-style pension option for new state employees is “ironic,” given the massive burden ballooning pension costs on his city budget.
Ryan said pension costs are about $8.4 million this year, which accounts for more than 10 percent of the Binghamton budget. He also said he had been “drinking the Kool-Aid” poured by Cuomo on the need to upend the defined-benefit model until he heard state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. last month, during which DiNapoli deemed a 401(K) option “unacceptable” and “extreme.”
Ryan penned an OpEd in opposition to this aspect of Cuomo’s plan that appeared in the Times Union last week. He says he favors other aspects of pension reform and readily admits changes are needed to get spiraling costs under control.
Ryan, who was first elected in 2005 and then re-elected in 2009, said he’s prevented by term limits from running for re-election in 2013. He has been mentioned as a potential contender for retiring Rep. Maurice Hinchey’s seat.
I asked Ryan whether he’s trying to curry favor with organized labor by opposing Cuomo’s Tier 6 plan with an eye toward running for Congress. He insisted he’s really not very interested in Hinchey’s seat, but didn’t 100 percent rule out a run, saying he needs to see what the district looks like – if it continues to exist at all after redistricting – before making a final decision.
Grisanti Stands By His Story As Video Surfaces (Updated)
Feb 14th - 6:46 am
Last last night, a cellphone video surfaced of the fight involving Sen. Mark Grisanti, his wife, Maria, and several Seneca Nation businessman that took place at the Seneca Niagara Casino last Friday night.
The video, which isn’t the best in terms of quality and doesn’t show the entire incident, was distributed to news outlets by Gerald Walsh, an attorney for Eric White, one of the men who was reportedly involved in the melee.
UPDATE: The video was shot by Coreen Thompson, and provided to YNN Buffalo by John Kane, host of the “Let’s Talk Native” radio show.
Thompson told the station she began recording with her iPhone well into the altercation – after, she says, Grisanti needlessly inserted himself into a disagreement between Seneca businessmen Seth Snyder and White.
In the video, you can see Grisanti on the ground being restrained by a casino security guard and later being put into a chokehold.
WARNING: There’s a lot of swearing going on, which seems to be coming from the individual who’s recording.
What you can’t hear is any evidence of the senator directing a racial epithet at a black security guard. Ross L. John Sr., a former member of the Senecas’ Tribal Council, told The Buffalo News he heard Grisanti use the epithet at least twice.
Grisanti told the paper he was upset during the incident, but cannot recall saying anything of the sort, insisting that to do so is “not in my nature.”
The police have viewed another video taken by one of the casino’s security cameras and so far determined no crimes were committed here. Everyone involved was invited to give a statement about what happened, but as of last night, no one had come forward.
The casino’s official video hasn’t yet been released, but may be soon.
Walsh told The Buffalo News he believed the cellphone video shows Grisanti as the aggressor in the fight, which is the claim made by White’s wife, Kristina, and several other witnesses.
But Grisanti’s chief of staff Doug Curella disagreed, issuing the following statement late last night:
The video released tonight is consistent with what Senator Mark Grisanti has stated previously. It is also consistent with the police report that was filed regarding the incident.”
“Additionally, the Buffalo News has confirmed after watching the video that the Senator used no racial epithets during the incident. This video shows only the final few minutes of a prolonged altercation on Senator Grisanti and his wife.”
“People need to read the complete police report, which was taken moments after the altercation, to understand the totality of the incident – including the attack on Mrs. Grisanti.”
“As for the interview earlier today with WGRZ-TV, Senator Grisanti believed the reporter was asking about the entire incident that evening, including the altercation on the video. Senator Grisanti never denied throwing punches in the police report and subsequent interviews.”
Ravitch Not 100% Sold On Cuomo Pension Plan
Feb 13th - 1:24 pm
I spoke this afternoon with former LG Richard Ravitch, who has years of experience as a budget reformer, and he sounded not quite sold on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed Tier 6 plan, nor was his thrilled about the demonizing of public sector employees that is taking place as elected officials all over the country struggle with varying degrees of fiscal meltdown.
Ravitch, who sat down with Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner to discuss his role in trying to rescue the Central NY city from insolvency, initially said he thought the 401(k)-style plan Cuomo has floated is a “perfectly reasonable concept,” but then added:
“I think the issue that people have to face is that they have been using interest rate assumptions to determine the contributions necessary to existing defined benefit plans, and if those are realistic assumptions, which I’m not sure they are, then the earnings in defined contribution plans should be comparable.”
“I do think that probably that we should end up in this society – this is a national problem; it’s not unique to Syracuse, it’s not unqiue to New York State,” Ravitch added. “There are states in much worse shape like New Jersey and Illinois. There’s got to be a serious national dialogue.”
“…I will tell you I don’t think the burden of this serious fiscal crisis that most states and municipalities are facing in this country, I don’t think that burden should be placed only on the public employees. It’s not fair. And how you adjust for others to contribute to this is the big domestic political issue in the United States for the next five years.”
Ravitch, who was appointed LG by former Gov. David Paterson (who went to court for the right to pick his own No. 2, and then promptly froze out his choice after a disagreement over borrowing), is working with former Federal Reserve chairman and presidential adviser Paul Volcker on a comprehensive and far-reaching report about the fiscal problems of states and cities, which is expected to be released in May or June.
The full Ravitch/Miner interview will air tonight at 8 p.m.
NY Farm Bureau To Simmons: Milk This!
Feb 10th - 2:26 pm
The New York Farm Bureau was quite taken aback by yesterday’s report that hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons had asked Gov. Andrew Cuomo to end milk’s status as New York’s official state beverage.
Simmons, a vegan and outspoken advocate on any number of issues, maintains that milk produced by cows is less healthy than milk made from rice, almonds or soy. He was not concerned about the potential impact on the state’s dairy farmers, insisting that other industries will spring up to pick up the slack when milk sales tank.
Needless to say, none of that sat terribly well with Julie Suarez, the Farm Bureau’s public policy director.
“Russell Simmons can pour whatever he wants on his corn flakes in the morning. As for me and our members, I think we’ll stick to pouring milk on our corn flakes,” Suarez told me in a CapTon interview that will air in full tonight at 8 p.m.
“For him to come out and ignore a lot of the nutrition evidence that’s been out there on the health benefits of milk, and also the impact of the state’s dairy industry on our state’s economy – particularly in upstate areas – seems a little bit strange to us. But I understand certainly that he has the right to his own opinion. But we think we’ll stick with milk as the official beverage.”
“…I would argue that we’re not going to making or producing almonds in any great quantity in New York State. They need a different climate than we have.”
New York’s dairy industry is big business – something that is not news to upstaters, but perhaps is not widely known down in NYC, where Simmons lives.
According to the Cornell University Cooperative Extension, it’s actually the state’s largest contributor to the agricultural economy and generated $1.7 billion in 2009. One-third of the state’s milk production is for drinking and the remaining two-thirds is used for processed dairy products such as cheese, butter, yogurt, cottage cheese and ice cream.
There are 5,400 dairy farms in NYS, and most of them are family-owned.
When I pointed out that Simmons might not be up to speed on his milk production facts, Suarez replied:
“We would certainly welcome the opportunity to have him come visit one of farms, so he could see the impact of the dairy industry on New York State and kind of get a sense of how milk is produced.”
We have asked Simmons to come on CapTon. If he does, we’ll be sure to extend Suarez’s invitation – and maybe even tag along if this visit materializes.
Simmons and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have a long-standing connection. They both originally hail from Queens and worked together for years on Rockefeller Drug Law reform.
Lorigo: Local Conservative Nod For Grisanti Won’t Come Easy
Jan 30th - 11:43 am
One of the byproducts of the Senate GOP’s plan to gerrymander the district of their most vulnerable member, Sen. Mark Grisanti, so it’s entirely within the boundaries of Erie County is that the Conservative Party endorsement will be controlled by local officials and not state Chairman Mike Long.
Theorectically, that’s helpful to Grisanti, who very much needs the Conservative line, but lost his chance of landing it – in Long’s eyes, anyway – when he crossed over to vote “yes” on same-sex marriage with the Democrats.
Erie County Conservative Chairman Ralph Lorigo told me and Nick Reisman last last night’s CPPAC that he hasn’t locked the door against Grisanti the way Long did for teh Democrat-turned-Republican senator and his three GOP colleagues who heeded Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s call to provide the deciding votes for gay marriage.
On the other hand, Lorigo said, Grisanti has to come through an executive board of 35 people and “convince a number of those people that he’s deserving at this point in time.” The local Conservatives had “high hopes” for Grisanti, the chairman said, and they weren’t thrilled that he had indicated he would vote “no” on marriage and then changed his mind.
“That vote hurts Mark Gristanti in terms of getting a conservative endorsement,” Lorigo told us. “….I gave him a list and said, ‘Mark, if you want to come back and try to seek our endorsement, you have to champion conservative values, and that’s his task, whether or not he can champion conservative values enough to be able to effectively ask for that endorsement.”
“…I’m talking about all values, social values and economic values. If he can come back and say that, ‘Look, I’ve done this in terms of the pro-life movement.’ Some of the things that were discussed here about the issues of pro-life or Second Amendment, as well as the economic issues. If he can come to us and have become a champion of some of those issues, he might be able to earn the endorsement. But it’s not going to be easy.”
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