Items tagged with 'politics'
Andrew Cuomo is calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana (also a Green New Deal and voting reforms and many other big items)
Like a State of the State address, but not. / screengrab via Cuomo admin Youtube video of the speech
So, this feels like a step: On Monday Andrew Cuomo -- the governor of New York -- called for the state to legalize recreational marijuana in 2019.
He made the call as part of a larger speech outlining priorities for the next year, what his administration is calling a "justice agenda." (The speech very much had the feel of a State of the State address.) The list is long and includes a bunch of big issues. And it's very possible there could be legislation passed on many of them now that both chambers of the state legislature will be controlled by Democrats.
As with many of the items on the list, Cuomo didn't mention many details to go along with the call for marijuana legalization. But he framed it as a matter of justice, and what he described an unfair targeting of African-American and minority communities.
Kirsten Gillibrand's appearance on The Late Show -- and her answer to that question
Kirsten Gillibrand's appearance on the The Late Show Thursday night is embedded above.
The clip has been getting a lot of attention this morning because Gillibrand kind-of sort-of says she's thinking about running for president.
Here's a transcript of her answer when Stephen Colbert asked if there was "another election that you might be concentrating on" -- a clear references to the 2020 presidential election:
So I believe it is a moral question for me. And I believe in right versus wrong. And until this election I actually thought that wrong was winning. And as I've traveled across my state, across the country for all these candidates, I've seen the hatred and the division that President Trump has put out into our country and it has called me to fight as hard as I possibly can to restore the moral compass of this country. Our country was founded on the principles that we should care about one another, that we believe in the golden rule. That I should care about your kids or your kids or your kids as much as I care about my own. And so I believe right now that every one of us should figure out how we can do whatever we can with our time, with our talents, to restore that moral decency, that moral compass and that truth of who we are as Americans.
So I will promise you I will give it a long hard thought of consideration.
Of course, just two weeks ago she said during the Senate election debate: "I will serve my six-year term."
Election 2018: Two maps and three charts
You might have heard that there are a lot of votes around New York City.
A few more bits from Election Day 2018 -- about the geographical split in the gubernatorial election, voter turnout, and the unofficial popularity contest.
In (clickable) map and chart form, of course.
Quick-scan general election results 2018
Here's a quick scan of results from elections for the US Senate, Capital Region US House seats, statewide offices, and Capital Region state legislature seats (and a couple other elections).
This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial, and there are bound to be some changes on Wednesday.
On with the results...
New York is one of just a handful of states that still don't allow early voting
Electoral fact of the day: New York is one of only 13 states that do not have some form of early voting. [NCSL]
Given that early voting makes it easier to vote and is popular in many other states, Common Cause New York's Susan Lerner told the New York Times its absence here is "an embarrassment." [Brennan Center] [NYT]
Back in February a Siena poll asked people in the state about early voting. Two-thirds of respondents said they supported it. Though there was a partisan split on the issue: 81 percent of Democrats said they supported it, but just 48 percent of Republicans. Among Independents, 64 percent supported it.
The gubernatorial debate -- 36 years ago
The clip embedded above is a New York gubernatorial debate from 1982, a matchup of Democratic lieutenant governor Mario Cuomo and Republican Lewis Lehrman. It's hard to imagine watching a debate like this today.
The debate was posted on YouTube by the Empire Center as part of a piece by EJ McMahon contrasting the level of dialog then with what passes political discourse now. We saw the post earlier this month and thought about it again last night while watching the debate train wreck between Andrew Cuomo and Marc Molinaro.
The back and forth in the debate is often pointed -- and they use some of the same annoying debate moves that show up today -- but it's also detailed and suggests two people with differing perspectives trying to solve problems.
It's also notable that some of the prominent topics Cuomo and Lehrman discussed -- including New York's relatively high taxes, and the exodus of people and jobs from the state -- are still among the big topics now.
By the way
It's remarkable seeing Mario Cuomo freestyle about policy and values in this debate with such rhythm and speed. It's like watching the inspiration for an entire cast of Sorkin characters.
If you're not registered to vote, you should do it today. And if you are registered, you should check your registration today.
Today is apparently National Voter Registration Day.
Whatever day -- today, tomorrow, sometime soon -- it's a good day to register to vote if you're not already registered. Or, if you are registered, to check your registration and update it if you've moved or want to change your party affiliation.
Because: You should vote in every election, especially local elections.
The state Board of Elections has an online function for checking your registration and enrollment -- it will also tell you your polling place. (See a longer note about this below.)
If you're not registered to vote? DON'T WAIT! The deadline to register in time to vote for the November election is October 12.
And here are a bunch of ways you can register to vote -- online, via the mail, and in person.
Clickable maps of county-by-county results for the Cuomo-Nixon Democratic primary, and state attorney general
Andrew Cuomo won by a wide margin overall in the Democratic primary, but as in 2014, he didn't fare well in the greater Capital Region.
For easy scanning and discussion: We've rolled together a few clickable maps based on the results of the Democratic primaries Thursday, including Andrew Cuomo's win over Cynthia Nixon in the gubernatorial primary and the crowded race for state Attorney General.
And here are those maps, along with a few notes...
Quick-scan 2018 Democratic primary results for New York governor, lieutenant governor, and state attorney general
We rolled together a few maps and notes for these primaries.
____
Updated
Andrew Cuomo has won the Democratic primary for governor over Cynthia Nixon.
With roughly 90 percent of election districts reporting, Cuomo was ahead 64-34, a lead of more than 400,000 votes.
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Kathy Hochul appears to be headed for victory over challenger Jumaane Williams by a margin of just 48-43.
State attorney general
Tish James is headed for victory in the four-way Democratic primary for state attorney general, with 39 percent of the votes. Zephyr Teachout was in second place (29%).
A few bits from that Siena poll about the Democratic primary between Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon
The primaries for state elections are this Thursday. And the big spotlight matchup is, of course, the Democratic primary for governor between Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon, which has gotten a lot of attention here in the state and nationally because of Nixon's involvement.
But: The Siena poll released Monday morning has Andrew Cuomo leading Cynthia Nixon 63-22 percent for the primary. That's a wider lead than the 60-29 split Siena reported in July.
There's been a lot of buzzing on Twitter today among state politics people about what that says regarding the primary or just about the poll itself -- mainly, that it could be missing the mark. Because it's roughly correct, it would mean Nixon's in line to not do any better against Cuomo than Zephyr Teachout did four years ago despite much greater attention (and Teachout did pretty well in parts of upstate). Whatever happens this week, it should prompt some interesting interesting thinking/study of state politics and media.
Also: Whatever the polls say, you should show up and vote. Primaries tend to have very low turnout, which makes your vote all the more valuable. That could be especially true in a matchup such as the Democratic primary for state Attorney General in which four candidates are competing and the polling has them all pretty close to each other.
Don't know where to vote or what's on your ballot? Check with the website of your county board of election or the state Board of Election.
Here are a few more interesting bits from the poll...
Scanning that New York State Department of Health report that argues the case for legalizing recreational marijuana
photo: Ryan Bushby via Wikipedia (CC BY 2.5)
The New York State Department of Health released its report on regulated marijuana Friday -- and it argues for legalizing recreational marijuana. Here's a chunk for the report that largely sums up the argument:
The positive effects of regulating an adult (21 and over) marijuana market in NYS outweigh the potential negative impacts. Harm reduction principles can and should be incorporated into a regulated marijuana program to help ensure consumer and industry safety. Legalizing marijuana could remove research restrictions in NYS, which will enable the State to add to the knowledge of both the benefits and risks. In addition, NYS would be one of the largest regulated marijuana markets. As such, there is potential for substantial tax revenue in NYS, which can be used to help support program initiatives in areas such as public health, education, transportation, research, law enforcement and workforce development. Tax revenues can also support health care and employment. Finally, legalization of marijuana will address an important social justice issue by reducing disproportionate criminalization and incarceration of certain racial and ethnic minority communities.
Whatever the political machinations at work surrounding this report, it is a remarkable document. Pretty much anyone over the age of, say, 20, has grown up with government/law enforcement/schools warning against the dangers of pot. And in this report the state Department of Health essentially says, yeah, pot has some downsides, but they're probably not as bad as they've been made out to be and our society would be better off it we made it legal and kept an eye on it.
Anyway, we read through the report and pulled out handful of highlights -- about potential benefits, opioids, mental health, criminal justice, and tax revenue -- for easy skimming...
New York's moving closer to marijuana legalization -- thinking about what could that mean for local communities
David Soares at Wednesday's meeting in Arbor Hill.
It would not be surprising for New York State to legalize recreational marijuana sometime during the next few years.
Massachusetts will start legal sales of recreational pot this July. That same month in Vermont it will become legal to have and grow small amounts of marijuana. Legalization had majority support among respondents to a Siena New York State poll earlier this year. Cynthia Nixon's made it a plank of her gubernatorial campaign. And Andrew Cuomo, who has been against legalization, ordered the state Department of Health to study it.
If/when legalization happens, there will be a lot of things to sort out -- not just details about how pot will be sold and taxed, but also how to deal with the significant ethical and legal issues that rise from legalizing a product that's been the subject of so much law enforcement and crime for decades.
So how do people want that future to play out? And what can be done in the interim?
Those were some of the questions at the heart of a community discussion with Albany County District Attorney David Soares in Albany this week.
Another push to get e-bikes up the hill to legalization in New York State
One of Jump's bike share e-bikes.
E-bikes hold the potential to stretch the use of bikes in all sorts of interesting ways, but they're not currently legal in New York State.
There's a push to change that, and advocates are pedaling hard to make it up the hill before the state legislature ends its current session later this month.
On Wednesday reps from the company behind the bike share operated by CDTA were in town to argue the case for e-bikes along with a handful of state and local leaders. The pitch: e-bikes can be a new way for people to commute, they'll open tourism opportunities, and they'll expand the pool of people who ride bikes.
So here are a few bits about how e-bikes might work with bike share in the Capital Region, and a check-in on where things are at in the state legislature...
E-bikes stretch the idea of what a bike can be in interesting ways, but they're stuck in a gray area here in New York
Bikes can be a good way to get around. They don't take up a lot of space on roads. They're environmentally friendly. They're fun.
There are also some drawbacks that prevent people from embracing bikes as an everyday transportation option: the relatively slow speed of travel, the sweat, just the general physical exertion of riding.
E-bikes -- which give riders a little help thanks to an electric drive -- can address a lot of these issues. Riding one feels a little bit like magic. And their popularity is on a big upswing.
But there's a snag: New York State doesn't have clear rules for e-bikes.
And that casts some doubt on their future here.
An end for plastic shopping bags in New York?
Paper or... reusable?
On Monday the Cuomo admin floated a bill that would ban many kinds of plastic shopping bags starting at the beginning of 2019. Bill language blurbage:
This prohibition does not apply to (i) a reusable bag that is not made of film plastic or a compostable bag; (ii) a plastic bag used solely to contain or wrap uncooked meat, fish, or poultry; (iii) a plastic bag used by a customer solely to package bulk items, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, or candy; (iv) a plastic bag used solely to contain food sliced to order; (v) a plastic bag used solely to contain a newspaper for delivery to a subscriber; (vi) plastic bags sold in bulk; (vii) a plastic bag prepackaged for sale to a customer including, but not limited to, a trash bag and a food storage bag; (viii) a plastic garment bag; (ix) a plastic bag provided by a restaurant, tavern or similar establishment to carry out or deliver food; or (x) any other bag exempted by the department in regulations.
The bill would also make the state the sole jurisdiction for regulating the use of plastic bags. There are currently a handful of municipalities around the state already with laws on the books. (And the state already requires larger retailer to collect plastic bags for recycling.)
Chuck Schumer is supporting marijuana decriminalization (and thinks legalization in states has worked out pretty well)
Chuck Schumer says he'll be introducing legislation for decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level, which would allow states to decide on the legality of recreational pot use. He talked at some length about the idea with Vice News this week. That's a clip embedded above. (He also talks about a few other topics.)
A clip from the clip about why he's changed his mind on this topic:
Number one, I studied the issue and we've now had some evidence, state of Washington, other states, where it has done lots of good and no harm. Justice Brandeis said let the states be laboratories, now we've had a few states, we've had a few laboratories, the experience's been a success. Let's nationalize it. ...
I've looked at what's happened in the states that have done it. It seems to have worked out pretty well. All the parade of horribles that people said would happen didn't occur. Crime did not spike in any place. There's no evidence that young people are using drugs of any type more. The pathway issue hasn't proven to be true. So it all makes sense, you know. When you get evidence -- act on it.
New York's senior Senator also posted a short explanation of his thinking today, highlighting the disproportionate impact that criminalization of marijuana has had on people of color.
Of course, Democrats don't currently control either house of Congress or the presidency. So the chances of anything coming of this sort of legislation in the near term aren't good. But it's notable that someone in Schumer's position in the political establishment -- he's the Senate minority leader -- has publicly taken this stance.
Public opinion has already shifted in this direction -- 61 percent of Americans think marijuana use should be legalized, according to a Pew Research Center poll. And given the generational breakout for that support -- basically each younger generation has more support -- that overall number is almost certain to continue rising.
New York State
David Howard King recently surveyed the political landscape here in New York for legalization and concluded that the state is headed in that direction. [The Alt]
Cynthia Nixon on The Late Show
Cynthia Nixon was on The Late Show last night talking with Stephen Colbert about her run for governor. The 10-minute segment is embedded above if you'd like to watch.
The segment includes some of the usual (somewhat awkward) late night banter, but it's also an opportunity to hear Nixon talk a little bit at length about why she's challenging Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic nomination. And though his questioning had a relatively light touch, Colbert did press her a little bit on topics such as being a celebrity candidate without experience in public office.
NY Mag profile
By the way: Nixon is also the subject of a NY Mag cover story this week that focuses on her motivations for running and the idea that her presence in the race has pushed Cuomo to the left.
Science in politics, scientists in bars, and another March for Science in Albany
The crowd at last year's Albany March for Science.
The Albany March for Science returns to West Capitol Park this Saturday. It's the second year for the event -- last year's event drew thousands of people rallying to support research funding and evidence-based public policy on issues such as climate change.
This time around the event will again feature speakers, a march, and hands-on science activity tables.
There are a bunch of local academic and research orgs backing event, including a new local non-profit called CapSci that's aiming to promote public understanding of science through all sorts of events.
We talked with one of the organizers of this year's march -- Sarah Berke, an associate professor of biology at Siena -- about the motivation for a second march and... scientists in bars.
Talking with young people at the March for Our Lives rally in Albany
Thousands of people from around the Capital Region were in West Capitol Park in Albany Saturday for the March for Our Lives rally to protest gun violence. It was one of many such events around the country, and students were key to organizing them.
So we wanted to talk with young people at the rally in Albany about why they were there and what this movement this means to them.
Photos from the Albany March for Our Lives
Thousands of people assembled in West Capitol Park in Albany Saturday for the March for Our Lives event to protest gun violence and advocate for gun control. It was one of many similar events across the country fueled by the outpouring of activism over the past year and focused by the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
The event included speakers talking about the toll of gun violence in neighborhoods, students describing their fear from the threat of school shootings, elected officials highlighting legislative initiatives, and organizers urging people to vote.
We'll have more from the event on Monday. In the meantime, here a bunch of photos from the rally and march around the Capitol...
Cynthia Nixon is running for governor
It's official: Cynthia Nixon is running for governor. She's lining up a challenge to Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
That's her announcement video embedded above. A clip:
I Love New York. I've never wanted to live anywhere else. But something has to change. We want our government to work again on health care, ending mass incarceration, fixing our broken subway. We are sick of politicians who care more about headlines and power than they do about us.
(cut to live speech audio) It can't just be business as usual anymore if we're going to get at the root problem of inequity. We have to turn the system upside down. We have to go out ourselves and seize it. This is a time to stick our necks out, to remember where we came from. This is a time to be visible. This is a time to fight.
Nixon is, of course, famous for her role on Sex and the City. She has also been an activist for a range of causes, particularly increasing funding for New York City's public schools.
Photos from the Albany High School walkout, and talking with the student organizers
About 200 Albany High School students participated in a school walkout Wednesday to protest gun violence, one of many similar events at other schools around the region and the country prompted by the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
The students gathered, with the support of the school's administration, for a short (voluntary) assembly ahead of the walkout to talk about focusing attention on issues such as gun control and the importance of speaking up and voting. Then they headed out to march around the school grounds for roughly 17 minutes, a tribute to the people killed in Florida.
"You never know if it can be you," said senior class president Shafiyq Grady after the march. "Just like the 17 students at Parkland, it could have been 17 Albany High students. We shouldn't wait around for something to happen here to take action."
Here are a handful of photos from the march, along with a quick talk with the student organizers -- about why they decided to act, politics today, and how people perceive Albany High School...
Chris Gibson at Bethlehem Public Library
Former Congressman Chris Gibson will be at the Bethlehem Public Library March 3 to talk about his book Rally Point. The talk is free and open to the public.
Book publisher blurbage:
... RALLY POINT: Five Tasks to Unite the Country and Revitalize the American Dream looks past the 2016 election, past the finger pointing and conventional political thinking, to focus on clear, primary principles that conservatives must debate and defend to protect the future of America. ...
Drawn from a deep appreciation of history and American exceptionalism, Gibson provides incisive and frank analysis of the current political environment, including President Trump, and provides a roadmap based on time-tested Founding principles to help unite our country and revitalize the American Dream.
As you know, Gibson represented the Congressional District in this area that's now held by John Faso after the Gibson chose not to run again. He was at one point ranked the most "liberal" Republican in the House. There was some thinking that he could have been a formidable challenger to Andrew Cuomo for governor, but he ultimately chose not to run in this year's election.
Gibson has said he had an unfavorable view of Donald Trump leading up to the presidential election -- but voted for him anyway because Hillary Clinton "would have been more of the same -- peace through weakness, economic decline and corruption." [TU]
The talk at the Bethlehem Public Library is Saturday, March 3 at 2:30 pm.
Kirsten Gillibrand on Desus and Mero and The Late Show
More evidence that Kirsten Gillibrand is becoming a national figure: KG appeared on both the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Viceland's Desus & Mero this week.
The full-length Desus & Mero segment is embedded above. During the conversation they take up the Kristen/Kirsten issue, Mero's campaign for state comptroller, scandalizing Joe Lieberman with the f word, tweeting as a politician, Donald Trump, Russian interference, publicly-funded elections -- and running for president in 2020. Gillibrand fell back on her usual line about being focused on running for Senate in 2018. (Though look for "KG: Good in the 'hood!" bumper stickers.)
The Late Show segment is embedded below. She and Colbert talked about the NRA and giving up swearing for Lent. (Apparently that's not going well.)
Dylan Ratigan has jumped into the pool of challengers to Elise Stefanik
The Congressional elections this fall will be a big and important story as the Democrats try to take a majority in at least one of the chambers and claim a check against the Trump administration. That story will play out here in the Capital Region because the seats held by John Faso (NY-19) and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) both could potentially flip.
And Stefanik has now picked up a challenger who looks like he could be formidable: Dylan Ratigan -- the former Bloomberg journalist, MSNBC and CNBC host, and current businessman. He formally announced Wednesday in Saranac Lake that he's in the pool for the NY-21 as a Democrat.
On paper Ratigan has handful of qualities that could make him stand out. He has roots in the district -- born and raised in Saranac Lake, went to Union College, and says he's lived in Lake Placid since 2012. He has significant media skills and experience. And he's got an angry, screw 'em all, populist streak -- see his 2011 rant about the financial crisis.
Ratigan left his MSNBC show in 2012 because he said he was fed up with the state of things. He's since started a company that makes containerized hydroponic farming systems. [NYT 2016]
Kirsten Gillibrand on 60 Minutes
This past weekend's 60 Minutes included a long feature about Kirsten Gillibrand.
It covers a lot of what you'd expect -- her ongoing fight against sexual assault and harassment, her call for Al Franken to resign (clip embedded above), the back and forth with Donald Trump on Twitter, even a visit to her family's home on Noonan Lane in Albany.
But Sharyn Alfonsi also pressed Gillibrand on the way her positions have changed on issues such as gun regulation and immigrant since her time in the House. And that was maybe the most interesting moment of the whole segment. A clip (emphasis added):
Sharyn Alfonsi: So can you understand President Trump's position on immigration, since you were there?
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: No. I think his positions are racist.
Sharyn Alfonsi: You were against amnesty, against sanctuary cities. You supported accelerated deportations. You become senator...Why the flip?
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: I came from a district that was 98% white. We have immigrants, but not a lot of immigrants. And I hadn't really spent the time to hear those kind of stories about what's it like to worry that your dad could be taken away at any moment, what it's like--
Sharyn Alfonsi: But you're reading the paper--
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: Yeah. And I just didn't take the time to understand why these issues mattered because it wasn't right in front of me. And that was my fault. It was something that I'm embarrassed about and I'm ashamed of.
KG seems to be reading the recent political currents in a way that differs from a lot of other national politicians. And that sort of response feels atypical for national figure of her stature. So it's interesting to watch if the way she talks about things -- her energy, her demeanor, her style -- represents some sort broader shift.
Picking through the new Siena poll on topics such as recreational marijuana legalization
Whenever there's a new Siena poll out -- like this Monday morning -- the headline is often about the favorability of whoever the governor is or some sort of major issue that's been getting a lot of attention lately.
But the poll typically asks people about a range of issues. We like to pick through these results from the backend of the poll because they provide a peek at how people are feeling about this stuff and some of the dividing lines that run (or don't) through the electorate -- Democrats and Republicans, young and old.
Here are a few such bits -- including about recreational marijuana -- from this new Siena poll...
In the year between women's marches, here's what people have been doing to change things
It was almost exactly one year to the day between the big rally in Albany's West Capitol Park to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017 and this past weekend's Women's March, which again drew thousands of people. (It was one of many such events around the country.)
Protests can be important ways to focus attention. But change doesn't happen from protests alone. And because so many people are so keyed into what's going on politically in the country right now, we were curious about what they've been doing to change things on those other 364 days.
So we asked. Here are a bunch of the answers...
Photos from the 2018 Women's March in Albany
Thousands of people gathered in West Capitol Park in Albany Saturday afternoon for a second Women's March, a follow-up to a similar event a year ago in opposition to the election of Donald Trump. It was one of many such events around the country this weekend.
The crowd at Saturday's rally heard from a series of speakers criticizing the Trump administration, Congressional Republicans, and urging support for immigrants, reproductive rights, environmentalism, and other issues.
A recurring theme this year: Many speakers encouraged the crowd, women especially, to run for office and organize politically.
Here are a bunch of photos from the rally and march around the Capitol...
Six things from Andrew Cuomo's 2018 State of the State speech
Andrew Cuomo delivered his 8th State of the State speech Wednesday. And, citing the recent Republican tax plan, he continued to play up the theme of a federal government that's taken adversarial stance toward New York -- he argued that 2018 is shaping up to potentially be "the toughest year New York has faced in modern political history."
The State of the State is sort of like the opening ceremony for the new legislative season at the state Capitol. State government is Albany's #1 industry, and politics is probably its favorite sport. But even if you're not connected directly to what goes on there, the actions and decisions do eventually end up affecting you.
So, it's good to know what's up. Here's quick overview of some highlights...
Quick-scan general election results 2017
Updated
Here's a quick scan of results from elections around the Capital Region Tuesday, which included many local municipal races. (Some of these elections were largely decided during the primaries in September.)
This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial, and there are bound to be some changes on Wednesday.
On with the results...
A chance to hear two sides of the debate over whether there should be a state constitutional convention
The November general election here in New York State will include a ballot question about whether there should be a state constitutional convention. (The question is required to come up every 20 years.) If a majority of people vote in favor of a convention, it will kick off a process that could reshape the state's constitution.
Maybe you've heard a bit about it. Maybe you've seen the yard signs. Maybe -- if you're like most people, we suspect -- you have only a vague sense of the arguments for and against it.
Next Monday, October 30, there's a public forum at the Albany Public Library Washington Ave branch to showcase the pro and con ConCon viewpoints. Erika Lorshbough -- legislative counsel for the New York Civil Liberties Union, which is very much against a convention -- will present the con side. Laura Bierman -- executive director of the League of Women Voters of New York State, which supports the idea -- will present the pro side.
The event starts at 6 pm. It's free.
Kirsten Gillibrand en Vogue
The new issue of Vogue includes a feature about Kirsten Gillibrand in which the author, Jonathan Van Meter, visits the Senator at her home in Brunswick*, eats lunch with her in Troy, and attends events with her around the state. (It sounds like the visit was back in August.) A clip:
"It's a heavy feeling being in Washington," she says. "There are so many important issues at risk. You're in a fighting stance every day. Because the stuff that comes over Twitter is so horrible. The attack on the transgender troops: disgusting, disgraceful, outrageous. It's just endless. And then you try to do your day job of finding good bipartisan work across the aisle... You're doing both all the time. I guess I would describe it as intense. Everything is very intense."
Gillibrand's intensity is in her news and radio interviews, her impromptu press conference on the Capitol steps, her speeches at protests, her Twitter feed. She is exceedingly direct and genuine for a politician, especially when speaking about sexual assault in the military, say, or paid family leave, both core issues for her. And she has a populist streak--she has argued for single-payer health care for a decade--that puts her closer to Bernie Sanders than to Clinton. Of course, she's a quarter-century younger than Bernie and a more likable proposition altogether. "It's flattering," she says when I point out that she's made every Democratic shortlist for 2020. Is the idea of higher office something she thinks about? "I'm entirely focused on 2018. Some of the worst ideas Trump has can be better blocked if we have a majority in the House or Senate or both."
The piece -- with photos by Annie Leibovitz -- checks most of the KG profile boxes, among them: her potential as a presidential candidate, the issues she's focused on while in office (and how they've changed), her work ethic in the Senate and willingness to engage Republicans, a mention of her grandmother.
* Though its location is tagged as Troy in the article.
A breakdown of the voting in the Albany Democratic mayoral primary, up close
The Albany mayoral primary, one more time: Here's an up-close geographic breakdown of the voting in the Albany Democratic primary, which was won by Kathy Sheehan. As you know, it is the de facto election for the office because of the large Democratic enrollment in the city.
Above is a clip from a map of individual election districts and unofficial vote counts (that now include absentee ballots).
Are there clickable maps? You know there are clickable maps.
Albany's mayor gets selected by just a small slice of the city's population
Here's another bit from last week's Albany Democratic mayoral primary: Just about 15 percent of the city's voting-age population cast a vote in the primary.
That's remarkable not only because it's relatively so few people overall, but also because the primary is the de facto election for mayor (and other city offices) because of the overwhelming enrollment advantage Democrats have in the city.
The numbers are below, but we put together the graphic above as a quick illustration. The biggest square represents the entire adult population of the city of Albany. Each successive square represents the percentage of that population in each category -- all the way down to the number of people who voted in Tuesday's mayoral primary.
Quick-scan primary election results 2017: Sheehan wins Albany Democratic mayoral primary
Here's a quick scan of results from the primary elections Tuesday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial, and there are bound to be some changes on Wednesday and beyond as absentee ballots are counted.
The big news in Albany on the night was that Kathy Sheehan won the Democratic primary for mayor. Barring something very unusual happening, she's now in line to be re-elected to a second term in November.
On with the results...
Skimming the last poll in the Democratic primary for Albany mayor
We don't want to make too much out of the Spectrum/Siena poll of the Albany mayoral race that was released Sunday because 1) the primary vote is Tuesday and we'll know who actually won then and 2) it's largely the same as the poll that was out almost a month ago.
But looking at the results, the thing that struck us was the sense that people have pretty much had their minds made up for a while now -- even with the 500some* debate and candidate events since the last poll.
Also: Whatever the poll results indicate, however wide the apparent margins might be, SHOW UP AND VOTE ON TUESDAY.
Local elections don't draw huge numbers of people, which means the votes of a few hundred (or fewer) people can make a big difference. This can be especially true in an election on the level of a Common Council seat in which a handful of votes could determine the outcome.
Polls are open from noon-9 pm. Don't know where to vote? Check with the state Board of Elections website.
Anyway, here are a few bits...
Albany mayor 2017: Kathy Sheehan
Kathy Sheehan had her re-election campaign announcement in April.
Updated with text clips for skimming.
Next Tuesday, September 12, is primary day. And it will be a big day in the city of Albany because the Democratic primary will almost certainly select the person who will be mayor for the next four years.
This week we're talking with the three Democratic candidates: incumbent mayor Kathy Sheehan, and challengers Carolyn McLaughlin and Frank Commisso Jr.
And we're posting audio of the conversations so you can listen when you like -- either streamed here at AOA, or downloaded to your phone or mobile device. We'll also be pulling a handful of text clips from the conversations if you'd rather skim and read.
Next up: Kathy Sheehan, who's running for a second term. We talked with her at her campaign office on Madison Ave Friday afternoon.
Albany mayor 2017: Frank Commisso Jr
Frank Commisso Jr at a press conference this past July.
Next Tuesday, September 12, is primary day. And it will be a big day in the city of Albany because the Democratic primary will almost certainly select the person who will be mayor for the next four years.
This week we're talking with the three Democratic candidates: incumbent mayor Kathy Sheehan, and challengers Carolyn McLaughlin and Frank Commisso Jr.
And we're posting audio of the conversations so you can listen when you like -- either streamed here at AOA, or downloaded to your phone or mobile device. We'll also be pulling a handful of text clips from the conversations if you'd rather skim and read.
Next up: Frank Commisso Jr., who's currently a Common Council member representing the 15th ward.
Albany mayor 2017: Carolyn McLaughlin
Carolyn McLaughlin at her mayoral campaign announcement in January.
Next Tuesday, September 12, is primary day. And it will be a big day in the city of Albany because the Democratic primary will almost certainly select the person who will be mayor for the next four years.
This week we're talking with the three Democratic candidates: incumbent mayor Kathy Sheehan, and challengers Carolyn McLaughlin and Frank Commisso Jr.
And we're posting audio of the conversations so you can listen when you like -- either streamed here at AOA, or downloaded to your phone or mobile device. We'll also be pulling a handful of text clips from the conversations if you'd rather skim and read.
First up: Carolyn McLaughlin, who's currently the Albany Common Council president. We talked with her in her campaign offices on South Pearl Street.
The yard of campaign yard signs
Maybe you've passed by that yard on Hackett Boulevard in Albany that's full of campaign yard signs. It's become an annual tradition.
And we gotta admit it's something we look for, kind of like the house in the neighborhood that really goes all out for each Halloween.
The seasonal display is the work of journalist Marc Gronich. He said he started up the tradition 10 years ago as sort of educational exhibition of who's running for office that year. As he told us via email:
This year all the candidates gave me their signs willingly. I even have some signs you haven't seen elsewhere around the city, such as the Mark Robinson lawn sign and the Lockridge for Coroner sign, as far as I know.
After the September primary, I'll take down the signs for the people who lost and put up signs for the other candidates running in November. Who knows who is running for state Supreme Court? Peter Crummey of Colonie (R) and Julian Schreibman of Kingston (D). Julian will be bringing his lawn sign up to Albany to add to the fun.
Politics really is Albany's favorite sport.
Picking through the new Siena poll about the Albany mayoral election + a schedule of debates and candidate forums
We're just about a month away from the Democratic primary in the Albany mayoral election -- it's September 12. And, because of the party's overwhelming voter enrollment in the city, the primary is the de facto election for mayor and many other city elected positions.
So it's worth looking over the new Siena poll out today that covers the mayoral election.
Here are a few bits from that, along with some info about upcoming debates...
Scenes from the Albany rally response to Charlottesville
Several hundred people turned out in Albany's Townsend Park Sunday to speak out against racism and show their solidarity with the victims of this weekend's white supremacy march and attacks in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The rally was pulled together by a number of local political, labor, and faith groups, among them Citizen Action, the Social Justice Center of Albany, and Jewish Voices for Peace.
Here are a few scenes from the Albany rally.
Kirsten Gillibrand town hall at HVCC
Kirsten Gillibrand will be appearing at a town hall-style meeting at Hudson Valley Community College this Wednesday, August 9. Blurbage:
She'll give brief remarks, then take your questions about everything from health care to the economy.
Staff will also be on hand to answer questions you might have about how the Senator's office can assist constituents. This is the perfect chance to raise your voice on the issues you care about.
All are welcome to come.
That link includes info about how to claim a spot. Capacity is limited. These sorts of events have been well attended around the country in recent months. (You might have heard there have been a few things of interest happening in US politics lately.) So it's not a bad idea to claim a spot sooner rather than lather.
The event is in the gym at the McDonough Sports Complex. Doors open at 4:15 pm. The event starts at 5 pm and will finish at 6:30 pm.
How New York's House members voted on AHCA
photo: Martin Falbisoner via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The big national news on Thursday was the House of Representatives vote on the latest version of the American Health Care Act, the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The bill narrowly passed 217-213.
When the day started, there was a little bit mystery about how the Capital Region's two Republican reps would vote. But first John Faso, and then Elise Stefanik, fell into line with the Republican leadership and voted in favor of for the bill.
Statements: Tonko | Stefanik | Faso.
The potential effects of the bill aren't entirely clear -- the Republican leadership in the House pushed it through before the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office could make its estimates -- but it's a big departure from the Affordable Care Act and probably means millions fewer people with health care coverage. [NYT] [Vox]
If you spent any time on Twitter Thursday, you probably saw people vowing political payback for Congress members who voted for the bill. John Faso, in particular, was catching a lot of heat of there. And considering his relatively narrow victory last fall -- he won 54-46 -- he's looking like a prime target for Democrats aiming to flip seats in 2018. Will all that anger and dissatisfaction translate into voter turnout and action next year?
Here's how New York's Congressional delegation voted, along with the percentage of the vote each member got during the 2016 general election...
Signs from the Albany March for Science
Thousands of people gathered in West Capitol Park Saturday for the Albany Science March event to rally support for research funding and evidence-based public policy on issues such as climate change. (Here's more about the motivation for the event.) It was one of many related marches around the country.
As with most events likes this, many of the people at the Capitol had signs. Unlike most events like this, many of those signs involved mathematical puns or other nerdy references and jokes.
Here are a bunch of those signs, along with a handful of photos from the event...
Talking about the motivation for the March for Science in Albany
From the women's march in Albany in January. "I was very excited after seeing the momentum after the women's march in Albany, so I wanted to get involved," said Jessica Reichard, one of the organizers of the upcoming Albany march for science.
The presidential election has stirred a lot of people to take action or speak up in ways that maybe they haven't in the past, prompting new connections and organizing.
The next example is this Saturday, when there will be a March for Science in DC and cities around the country, including here in Albany. The mission statement for the local event:
• Promote scientific education for both adults and children
• Increase communication between scientists and the community
• See how government and scientists can work together
• Join with the National March to demonstrate the public support worldwide for evidence-based policies
The Facebook page for the event in West Capitol Park and subsequent march has almost 2,000 people marked as planning to go.
"One of the things that I've found most remarkable is the way our group has formed organically," said Jessica Reichard, an engineer and one of the organizers of the Albany event, this week. "None of us knew each other before organizing this -- we just connected on Facebook and it just kind of took on a life of its own with a lot of passionate people."
Here's a quick chat with Reichard about the motivation for the event in Albany and the intersection of science and politics...
WMHT live town hall with John Faso
WMHT has a live video town hall program with local Congressman John Faso set to run this Thursday, April 13 from 8-9 pm. It'll be broadcast on WMHT's TV channel, as well livestreamed on its website and Facebook page.
New York NOW's Matt Ryan and the TU's Casey Seiler will moderate. WMHT says you'll be able to submit questions by using #FasoTownHall on Twitter and Facebook. The livestream will include an additional 15 minutes of questions. (There will also be a studio audience -- it's already full.)
There's been a clamor around the country for Congressional town hall-style meetings since the last election, with overflow crowds. Faso has so far declined to participate in such events, calling them "shouting-and-screaming sessions." [Daily Freeman]
So, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. As WMHT said today in a release, it "expects lively public discourse."
As you know, John Faso represents the NY 19 Congressional District, which wraps around the southern end of the Capital Region. He succeeded Chris Gibson in the seat, and it's the Republican's first term in Congress.
Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan is now officially running for re-election
Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan officially announced Saturday that she's running for re-election.
She made the formal announcement before a crowd at the Ancient Order of Hibernians hall in Albany. A clip:
When I was running for mayor four years ago, I heard three things over and over again. That we were a city with a plan, but no action -- lots of plans and no action. That we were being strangled by out-dated rules and regulations that made it hard for people to do things like put a deck on their house without going before the zoning board of appeals, and that we were guilty of leaving money on the table when it was clear we needed every dollar we could get. I took those concerns to heart and every day over the last three years we've worked to turn those perceptions and the realities around. We are showing ourselves and the world that Albany is a city with a plan, and that we know how to act, and that we know how to get results.
And we're doing it through hard work; the un-sexy, unglamorous work; the big-picture, Capital Center, Park South, anti-poverty work. We're tackling the longterm problems we knew we had when we started this journey together four years ago.
Video of Sheehan's announcement speech is embedded below.
Sheehan is currently in her first term as mayor. Prior to that, she served as the city's treasurer for four years. Albany has had just four mayors since 1942.
The Democratic field for mayor now includes Sheehan, Common Council president Carolyn McLaughlin, and Common Council member Frank Commisso Jr. They will be focused on the September party primary, which has historically been the de facto election for the office because of the party's overwhelming enrollment advantage in the city.
Dan Plaat has announced his intent to run for mayor on Green Party line.
The presidential vote, district by district
Of course, such maps show area, not population. Some of those wide spaces between urban areas have relatively few people. Hillary Clinton ended up taking New York State 58-37 over Donald Trump
A link follow-up of sorts to the stuff about how populations are changing around New York State and the urban/rural split...
That map above is a clip of how Capital Region election districts voted in the last presidential election. It's from a larger national map by Ryne Rohla at Election Desk that aggregates the results from virtually all of the nation's election precincts.*
One of the things that sticks out when looking over New York State on the map is how stark the urban/rural split was between districts that went for Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump. That's not all that surprising -- it's not a new pattern, as Rohla's map also shows for 2012. But the pattern appears to have intensified in this past election.
Another interesting bit: The Rohla map also shows which direction districts shifted between 2012 and 2016. And the way things shook out in the Capital Region core is kind of surprising. Even in such Democratic strongholds as the city of Albany, there were districts that shifted toward Trump.
(* We had thought about doing something similar for New York State, but the challenge of pulling together the necessary election data and map files for all 62 counties in the state seemed too daunting. For someone to do this for the entire nation is crazypants dedicated/ambitious.)
Earlier on AOA:
+ Another look at New York State's population change, this time along the urban/rural split
+ Clickable county by county results for 2016 presidential election in New York State
Frank Commisso Jr. is running for Albany mayor
Common Council member Frank Commisso Jr. officially announced Thursday that he's running for mayor of Albany.
His announcement speech before a crowd at the Polish American Citizens Club focused largely on the city's fiscal issues and taxes. A clip:
The mayor's economic development policies are not developing Albany's economy. Instead of encouraging strategic investments and tactical investments in our city where we can make improvements, put people to work, create taxable revenue, the Sheehan model of economic development is irresponsible. It's become a system of corporate welfare. (applause) The mayor's argument goes that if we provide millions of dollars in tax breaks, it will benefit you and your neighbors and your families, that it will spur improvement in the surrounding neighborhoods. But that growth hasn't occurred, right? Even worse, Albany's largest non-tax-paying entities are enriching themselves at the expense of workers, seniors, small businesses, young professionals, and working class families more broadly. So there will be a lot of folks over the next six months who say Albany's economy is growing and it's growing well and we have all this great new development. Well, the reality is that none of that development is taxable. When those folks say the economy in the city of Albany is growing, you need to ask yourself -- or ask them -- who is it growing for?
Commisso, a Democrat, represents the 15th ward, on the city's west/southwest side. He was first elected in 2009. He currently works in the Albany County comptroller's office, and previously worked for the office of the state comptroller. His father, Frank Commisso, has been the majority leader of the Albany County Legislature since 1993.
Commisso joins Common Council president Carolyn McLaughlin, also a Democrat, as official entrants into the race. Mayor Kathy Sheehan has not yet publicly stated that she's running. The field will be focused on the September party primary, which has historically been the de facto election for the office because of the party's overwhelming enrollment advantage in the city.
Dan Plaat has announced his intent to run for mayor on Green Party line.
Commisso was introduced Thursday by a lineup of speakers that included Judy Logan, a candidate for city treasurer; Common Council members Mark Robinson and Judd Krasher; and county comptroller Mike Conners.
Here's video of Commisso's announcement speech...
"No Es Mi Presidente"
Local musician/activist Taina Asili has a new protest song -- "No Es Mi Presidente" -- and talked about it this week with Rolling Stone. From the interview, about music and activism:
"Within my culture and my people, Puerto Ricans, we have always used music as a tool of resistance in our folkloric art. I see this music as a part of that legacy. In general, we've seen, throughout the world, representations of that, whether we're looking at resistance songs in South Africa or folk songs, hip-hop, jazz. All of these genres really come out of musical movements of resistance. What we need more now than ever is to continue that legacy. What I resonate with now more than ever is artists that are speaking truth to power and using their voices to create a platform for social change to be more visible."
Portions of the video were shot at the Social Justice Center in Albany. And noted writer/activist/former Common Council member Barbara Smith is among the people featured.
See also this Alt profile of Asili from January.
Siena poll: Wide support for allowing ride-hailing services upstate
From the Siena poll out Monday: 76 percent respondents support allowing ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft to operate across the state.
And the proposal has widespread support, according to the poll results. More than 70 percent of respondents across every subgroup -- political, age, racial income, and so on -- supported the idea, with one exception. That group: people over age 55, in which the proposal had the support of 65 percent (and 14 percent said they didn't know or didn't have an opinion).
As you know, the issue is up again in the state legislature, and Andrew Cuomo has said he supports it.
Other bits from this Siena poll about issues such as the SUNY free tuition proposal, the Empire State Trail, Andrew Cuomo, and Donald Trump...
Fair Share 4 Albany
The push for the city of Albany to get that additional $12.5 million from the state continues...
The Sheehan administration, backed by the city's state legislators, formally launched a campaign called Fair Share 4 Albany Thursday in an effort to focus attention on the bid for the inclusion of the "Capital City Funding" in the state budget.
The campaign -- with its own logo (that it's on the right), website, and social media streams -- is focused on the city's low level of state municipal aid per capita compared to other big cities around the state* and it's high level of tax-exempt property. And it's urging people to call elected state officials to press the case -- it even includes tips on what to say.
The $12.5 million didn't show up in the Cuomo admin's 30-day budget amendments last week, setting off a scramble for the mayor's administration because the current budget relies on the money. Kathy Sheehan has said the city is facing the prospect of cuts to things like recreation programs and Alive at Five if the money doesn't come through.
How Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are voting on the Trump cabinet nominations
Updated February 2
The other day we mentioned that Kirsten Gillibrand had, at that point, voted against each of the Trump administration cabinet nominations -- the only US Senator to do so. She's been getting national attention for that fact this week, and in comments here at AOA people were interested, too.
With that interest in mind -- and to make it easy to find the info in one place for New York's Senators -- we're putting together a running tally of how Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer are voting on the Donald Trump's cabinet picks. We'll update it as votes come along in the Senate.
Let's have a look...
Messages from the "Inaugurate Resistance" march and rally in Albany
Thousands of people marched in Albany Saturday as part of the "Inaugurate Resistance" event, one of many similar marches around the country coinciding with the Women's March in DC.
We wandered through the crowd to ask a bunch of marchers why they were participating -- and what message they hoped to send by being there.
Photos from the "Inaugurate Resistance" march and rally in Albany
Organizers said the crowd included 7,000 people.
Thousand of people turned out in Albany Saturday for the "Inaugurate Resistance" march to protest the presidential administration of Donald Trump and rally for issues ranging from civil rights to the environment to health care. The local event, organized by Citizen Action, was one of many similar marches around the country coinciding with the Women's March in DC.
Among the signs: "I Stand With Planned Parenthood," "We Are Not Fake News," "We Stand For Black Lives," "Climate Change is Real," "Keep Your Tiny Hands to Yourself," "Defend Public Education," and "Resist Bigly."
Here are a bunch of photos from the march and rally...
Carolyn McLaughlin is running for Albany mayor
Common Council president Carolyn McLaughlin officially announced Saturday morning that she's running for mayor of Albany.
From her announcement speech at the Albany Colosseum building on South Pearl Street:
We know it's not about us as an individual, but it's about what we as a community can do to make this city of Albany that ultimate community for which we all can be proud to say that we live in, that we work in, and that we play in. We know that this can be the kind of city that recognizes that you can't be about one neighborhood, but it's about all neighborhoods.
McLaughlin, a Democrat, was first elected to the Common Council in 1997, representing the 2nd Ward, which includes the South End. She won the Common Council presidency in 2009. (She was also chair of the Albany County Democratic Committee for two years until losing out in a party election this past September in what was seen as part of the build up to the mayoral race.)
McLaughlin is the first candidate to officially announce she's in the pool for mayor. She will presumably face incumbent Democratic mayor Kathy Sheehan in the party's primary this September (and perhaps one other person?). The Democratic primary has historically been the de facto election for the office because of the party's overwhelming enrollment advantage in the city.
If elected, McLaughlin would be the first African-American mayor of Albany.
Here's video of McLaughlin's announcement speech, along with another clip of her talking about her personal and professional history...
A call for early voting and other ways to make it easier to vote in New York State
There are a lot of steps before you get this to this point.
Given that the United States republic is more than two centuries old, it's remarkable that we still struggle with the mechanics of one of the fundamental aspects of democratic government: voting.
New York State is no exception, as a new report from the office of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman notes the presidential primaries this year highlighted multiple problems with how the state's voting system is set up and administered. Among the most amazing examples: A person already registered to vote had to have declared or changed her party affiliation 193 days ahead of the primary in order to be eligible to vote.
The report details many of these problems and also offers a slate of potential upgrades of the state's voting and voting registration processes. One that we suspect would be popular: early voting. A clip from the report:
Permitting early voting is an easy solution to the problems of long lines and overwhelmed poll sites. Under New York State Election Law, the only way by which voters can cast a ballot early is by submitting an absentee ballot. However, access to absentee ballots is limited to a specific set of circumstances ... As a result, New York is one of only 13 states that fails to provide all voters the opportunity to cast a ballot in person prior to an election day. Permitting early voting in New York would make voting more accessible while simultaneously alleviating some of the pressure on poll sites and workers caused by heavy Election Day traffic.
Many of the other proposed reforms also seem very reasonable, such such as...
Opportunities for becoming more politically and socially active in the community?
Alyssa emails:
Hey AOA! After the most recent election, I'm looking to be more politically and socially active in the community. Know of any local activist groups I can join?
We've heard something similar from a lot of people recently, that they're interested in actively getting involved with some sort of cause, campaign, or effort. So, we'll expand Alyssa's question a little bit to include not just activist groups, but also non-profits pushing for change that have volunteer opportunities.
Got a suggestion for Alyssa, if not a specific group then maybe a cause to focus on? Please share!
Earlier on AOA: It's time to dig in.
It's time to dig in
It's clear that this presidential election season left a lot of people discouraged and fearful. Even if you were OK with the outcome of the vote, there's still a not-small chance that you don't feel good about how the whole process played out. As a nation we didn't wrap ourselves in glory on this one.
The uncertainty about what happens now -- the anxiety -- is understandable. I've felt it in a way that I don't think I've ever felt about politics before. And I can't even imagine how people who already felt threatened because of some of the rhetoric during the campaign now feel. There's a lot for all of us to consider about how we ended up here.
So, it might feel like a time to withdraw. But what I've tried to remind myself is that now is actually the time to dig in, to steady ourselves for the ongoing push to make the sort of country in which we want to live.
And a good place to start is on a local level. Here are a few ways to do that.
Clickable county by county results for 2016 presidential election in New York State
There's a clickable map after the jump.
Updated
In a presidential election marked by polling surprises, the voting in New York State pretty much shook out as expected.
Here are county-by-county clickable maps of the results, along with a few notes about some geographic voting patterns around the state...
Quick-scan general election results 2016
Here's a quick scan of results from elections around the Capital Region Tuesday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial, and there are bound to be some changes on Wednesday.
On with the results...
How do you feel about our country right now?
So, about this election. It's been tough.
On television, on social media, and face-to-face we've gotten the sense that a lot of people are discouraged right now. This election cycle has, for some people, brought out some challenging realizations about our differences. And whatever happens Tuesday night, the nation is going to have to find a way to pick up the pieces and move on together. We've been thinking about how hard it's going to be for people do that because of where the election has left people emotionally.
So we stopped outside a few polling sites around the Albany area Tuesday to ask people this question:
Based on everything that's happened this election season, how do you feel about our country right now?
Here's are some of the answers we got...
That time I was put in charge of a polling location at the last minute
A few years ago, I was in between jobs. I knew one of the two Montgomery County election commissioners because I was volunteering for some local campaigns, and he asked me to be a poll worker for the general election that November.
The county has been struggling to staff polling places. The shift is long, the usual folks are all getting older, and not as many people want to (or can) do it any more.
The job comes with a stipend. I needed the hundred bucks, so I said yes.
Hillary Clinton continues to poll ahead of Donald Trump in New York (and upstate)
A few bits from the new Siena poll out Tuesday morning:
If the 2016 election for President was held today, who would you vote for if the candidates were:
Hillary Clinton: 51%
Donald Trump: 30%
Gary Johnson: 8%
Jill Stein: 3%
The numbers for upstate voters: Clinton - 42% | Trump - 36% | Johnson: 11% | Stein 4%
[T]ell me whether you have a favorable opinion or an unfavorable opinion of each person or institution I name.
Hillary Clinton 52% favorable | 46% unfavorable
Donald Trump: 29% favorable | 68% unfavorable
One of the many remarkable things about this presidential election is how much many people seem to not like either candidate.
Do you think Hillary Clinton/Donald Trump is honest and trustworthy or not?
Hillary Clinton: 39% Yes | 58% No
Donald Trump: 29% Yes | 67% No
If Andrew Cuomo runs for re-election as Governor in two years, as things stand now, would you vote to re-elect him or would you prefer someone else?
Re-elect Cuomo: 45%
Prefer someone else: 49%
____
The Siena Research Institute says this poll was conducted September 11-15 and included 600 likely voters in New York State. Margin of error is +/- 5.
candidate photos via their campaign websites: Clinton | Trump
Governor Mario Cuomo: Poetry & Prose on WMHT, preview screening at State Museum
The trailer for the upcoming WHMT documentary Governor Mario Cuomo: Poetry & Prose is embedded above. Blurbage:
Experience the memorable twelve years Mario Cuomo spent as New York's 52nd Governor including his initial run for this office in 1982 against Ed Koch, his lauded 1984 keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, his flirtations with running for president that earned him the nickname 'Hamlet on the Hudson,' and his final political race versus George Pataki.
The doc premieres on WMHT October 3 at 9 pm. But there's also a free preview screening at the State Museum September 29 at 5:30 pm, with a discussion following (see the link to RSVP).
Preet Bharara at Saint Rose
US Attorney Preet Bharara will be at Saint Rose October 6 for an event titled "Bribery or Just Access to Elected Officials: Tawdry Tales of Ferraris, Rolexes and Ball Gowns." Bharara will be part of a panel discussion that will include:
+ U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska (also a Saint Rose alum) -- Preska will also offer opening remarks
+ Grant Jaquith, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York
+ E. Stewart Jones Jr., the high-profile local criminal defense attorney
+ Times Union editor Rex Smith
Bharara is the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It's not a stretch to say that he's has had as much influence as anyone on New York State government over the past year, with his office winning convictions of both Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos, former leaders of the state Assembly and Senate.
The Saint Rose event is Thursday, October 6 at 5:30 pm in the Lally School forum space (1009 Madison Ave). It's free and open to the public -- but pre-registration is required: preskaevent@gmail.com.
Saint Rose advertises on AOA.
photo: US Department of Justice
Siena poll on Clinton-Trump, Andrew Cuomo re-election, Uber
A few bits from the Siena poll out today of New York State registered voters:
+ Respondents say they would vote for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the presidential election 52-31. (Upstate it's 38-40 in favor of Trump, which is shift. When the Siena poll asked about a potential Clinton-Trump matchup this past spring, upstate respondents picked Clinton 51-38.)
+ The "unfavorables" for both Clinton and Trump continue to be high. Clinton's favorable/unfavorable split is 46/51 and Trump's is 27/68.
+ "If Andrew Cuomo runs for re-election as Governor in two years, as things stand now, would you vote to re-elect him or would you prefer someone else?" -- re-elect: 42 percent | prefer someone else: 49 percent
+ "[D]o you support or oppose legislation that would allow ride sharing companies like Uber to operate in your area?" -- support: 70 percent | oppose: 19 percent
+ "Do you support or oppose legislation that would legalize daily fantasy sports companies, like FanDuel or Draft kings, to operate here in New York?" -- support: 37 percent | oppose: 45 percent
The Siena Research Institute poll was conducted May 22-26 with 825 New York State registered voters. Margin of error is +/- 3.9.
candidate photos via their campaign websites: Clinton | Trump
Hugh Farley is not running for re-election
Some things around this area seem like permanent features: The Hudson River, the Helderberg Escarpment, Hugh Farley representing the Schenectady area in the state Senate.
The 83-year-old Farley was first elected to the state Senate in 1976 and has won re-election two years at a time ever since. But Tuesday he announced that he will not be running for re-election this fall. From his statement:
The love of my life, Sharon, my wife of 57 years, is now dealing with several health issues and it is my desire and responsibility to spend more time with her and my family.
I have loved my Senate career and feel I have served with honor and integrity. I accomplished more than I ever could have dreamed. ...
Service to individual citizens has always been of paramount importance to me. Over the years I have been able to assist thousands of individuals, families and businesses who have reached out to my office in a time of need. I have enjoyed making a real difference for real people.
I am grateful to my constituents who for 20 elections and 2 primaries have expressed their support and confidence in me and given me massive pluralities. I am grateful to the people on my staff who serve my constituents so well, and make me look good, day after day.
I am most grateful to my family for their sacrifices and support for me all these years.
Farley also cited many piece of legislation he was involved with, including his early support of hospice services and frequent support of library legislation.
Chris Gibson is not running for governor
In a bit of a surprise, Chris Gibson announced today that he will not be running for governor of New York in 2018. From a statement emailed to the media Monday afternoon:
"The last year has also brought into greater clarity what our next steps should be as a family. Mary Jo and I have three teenagers who are in their last years at home. In addition, I was just offered and accepted a position with Williams College as a Visiting Lecturer on Leadership beginning in February 2017, and anticipate accepting other academic positions shortly. Ultimately, for our family, the opportunity to spend increased time together balanced with a return to academia was one we could not pass up.
"Therefore, I will not be running for Governor in 2018. At the conclusion of my term in the U.S. House of Representatives, I will be leaving politics and starting this new direction with my family. In the near-term, I will be closing my exploratory committee. For our donors to that committee, we'll be refunding contributions we've received.
As you know, Gibson is a Republican and currently represents the NY-19 in Congress (he lives in Kinderhook) -- that's the district that starts in Rensselaer County wraps around the southern end of the Capital Region core around to Montgomery County. He announced a year ago that he would leave Congress when this current term ends. And he had been publicly touring on the idea of maybe/probably challenging Andrew Cuomo during the next cycle.
New York presidential primary 2016 results
Clips from the maps of results for the Democratic (left) and Republican primaries by Congressional District.
Originally published Wednesday 9:30 am. Updated Wednesday at 11:30 am.
Here's a quick scan of (unofficial) results from the New York presidential primaries on Tuesday:
+ In the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders statewide 58-42. That resulted in Clinton winning the state's delegates 139-108.
+ In the Republican primary, Donald Trump beat John Kasich and Ted Cruz 60-25-15. That results in Trump picking up 90 delegates and Kasich 5 delegates.
After the jump there are clickable maps of the results by Congressional District (delegates are apportioned by those districts) and counties. The maps highlight some clear differences across the state, like the fact that Bernie Sanders did well upstate.
Picking the candidate the other party likes the least
Favorable/unfavorable for each candidate by party. SRI polled 538 New York State likely Democratic primary voters April 6-11 (margin of error +/- 4.5 points), and 469 New York State likely Republican primary voters over the same period (margin of error +/- 5 points).
Three bits from the new Siena New York presidential primary poll, beyond which candidates are said to be leading overall:
Upstate
Despite trailing Hillary Clinton 52-42 overall, Bernie Sanders appears to be doing well upstate -- the poll has him ahead of Clinton here 48-46.
On the Republican side, the poll has Donald Trump leading among upstate voters 48-25-21 over Kasich and Cruz. (He's up 50-27-17 statewide.)
Nominating the person the other side dislikes the most
We always find the favorable/unfavorable question interesting, in part to see what people of one party think about candidates in the other party. And with an eye toward the general election, it's notable that both parties appear to be leaning toward nominating the person the other party dislikes the most.
The color-coded table above shows the favorable/unfavorable numbers from this Siena poll for each of the five candidates, broken out by party. Democrats in this state appear to really not like Donald Trump. And Republicans tend to really not like Hillary Clinton.
Ted Cruz
New York primary voters really don't seem to like Ted Cruz -- majorities of both parties said they had an unfavorable view of him.
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Earlier on AOA: Voices from the Albany rallies for Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump
Voices from the Albany rallies for Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump
The Capital Region isn't used to being courted by presidential candidates, so Monday was remarkable -- three presidential candidates all made stops in the area in the same day: Bernie Sanders at rally in Albany, John Kasich at public events in Troy and Saratoga Springs (and a private event in Albany), and Donald Trump at the TU Center. (And that all follows on visits from Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz just last week).
Thousands of people turned out for these events, with queues for both the Sanders and Trump rallies wrapping around city blocks.
We stopped by those two events in Albany Monday to talk with people standing in line about why the made the effort to be there...
JFK in Troy, 1960
The ultimate Presidential candidate visit; John F Kennedy speaking to thousands in Monument Square, #Troy, 9-29-1960 pic.twitter.com/jLhfUwucEs
— Albany Archives (@AlbanyArchives) April 11, 2016
Albany Archives shared this photo today of then-Senator John F. Kennedy campaigning in Troy in September of 1960 today (you are following @AlbanyArchives, right?). And it struck us how informal the whole scene looked, especially in contract to the large campaign events that have recently happened in the Capital Region.
Anyway, we were able to find a transcript of some of JFK's remarks that day in Troy. He mostly talked about Russia and China and communism. Here's a clip from the American Presidency Project at the University of California-Santa Barbara:
So I come here to Troy and ask your support. The name of Troy goes back in history. Therefore, in this city you connect the old with the new but the cause is still the same, the maintenance of freedom, the maintenance of self-government, at a time when it is under far more serious challenges than the city of ancient Troy ever faced. I come to Troy and ask your help in this campaign.
Kennedy would, of course, go on to the win the presidency against Richard Nixon later that fall. He won New York State 52.5-47.3 -- though the only Capital Region county he won was Albany.
Lineup for Museum of Political Corruption event includes Zephyr Teachout
The Museum of Political Corruption project has a public event coming up focused on -- surprise! -- political corruption. The roundtable discussion and public forum is April 4 at the Touhey Forum at Saint Rose (1009 Madison Ave) at 7:30 pm. It's free to attend.
The lineup (descriptions via MPC):
+ Frank Anechiarico, ​Maynard-Knox Professor of Government and Law, Hamilton College, author of The Pursuit of Absolute Integrity: How Corruption Control Makes Government Ineffective
+ Blair Horner, Executive Director, New York Public Interest Research Group
+ Zephyr Teachout - Associate Professor of Law, Fordham University, author of Corruption in America
+ Jimmy Vielkind, POLITICO, New York's Albany Bureau Chief
+ Moderator: Thomas Bass, Professor of English and Journalism at SUNY Albany
(As you know, Teachout is also running for the NY 19 Congressional District. And she ran against Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic nomination in the last gubernatorial election.)
The project -- the website for which projects it's "due to open in 2019" -- is also holding a fundraiser ahead of the public event at The Point (it's just up the street from Saint Rose). Admission to that is a donation of $25 or more.
Siena poll: Clinton tops Trump in hypothetical matchup in New York (even upstate)
Donald Trump at a gun rights rally at ESP two years ago.
Gather now at the rail as we all gawk at the 2016 presidential horse race.
In the (increasingly less) hypothetical matchup between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump for the White House, Clinton would top Trump 57-34 here in New York State, according the Siena poll out today.
As for Trump's recent claim that when it comes to Upstate New York, "I'm like, the most popular person that's ever lived" and that he could win New York State -- Clinton beats him 56-33 among upstate respondents, according to the Siena poll. [TU] [CNN]
The whole situation around Trump is odd in a way (OK, probably more than one way) because his own party appears to be deeply conflicted about him.
How New Yorkers see the presidential race
Republicans who told the Siena poll they'd vote for either Clinton or Sanders.
A lot of the stuff about the presidential race in the Siena poll out Monday is, well, pretty much what you'd expect in New York State. Democratic respondents said they preferred Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders 55-34 in a primary. And respondents picked Clinton over all the potential Republicans in a theoretical matchup by relatively consistent margins of about 57-32 (or thereabout).
But one of the things about Hillary Clinton is that she's a polarizing figure -- even here in New York State, which elected her to the US Senate. That table above lists how many Republican respondents to the Siena poll said they would vote for either Clinton or Bernie Sanders in a hypothetical matchup with each of the various Republican contenders. (The margin of error for Republicans in the poll is relatively high -- see below -- so grains of salt.)
Yep, some number of Republicans not only said they're likely to vote for the Democrat -- but a portion (or portions) said they'd be more likely to do so if the Democrat was Bernie Sanders instead of Hillary Clinton. And just going on general ideology, that's kind of unexpected because Sanders has repeatedly described himself as a socialist -- and even criticized Clinton for being too moderate.
Of course, there's a lot more to the situation, including a Hillary Clinton's long history in the political spotlight. But, still, the preference is a little surprising.
Speaking of polarizing figures (Donald Trump)...
Zephyr Teachout is running for the NY 19 Congressional District
Zephyr Teachout announced Monday that's she's officially into the pool for the NY 19 Congressional District. [@ZephyrTeachout]
The district, currently held by Republican Chris Gibson, wraps around the southern end of the Capital Region, including most of Rensselaer County. It covers all of Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties, and parts of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery, and (as mentioned) Rensselaer counties.
Teachout, who's a law professor at Fordham (and has been living in Dutchess County), most recently made her name in New York politics for challenging Andrew Cuomo in the 2014 Democratic primary for governor. She did well in many of the counties included in the NY19, in some cases beating Cuomo by large margins. (The Democratic and Republican voter enrollments in that district are pretty much even, with almost as many voters not affiliated with a party as affiliated with each of the two big parties.) [THR]
The field for the NY 19 already included Democrat John Kehoe and Republicans John Faso, Andrew Heaney, and Bob Bishop.
Chris Gibson isn't running for re-election in the district, and is apparently thinking about running for governor.
photo: Chae Kiln via Wikipedia
Don't know/no opinion
If you follow "the news" regularly it's easy to get a sort of warped idea of what people in the general public know about or are following. So we thought this bit from the Siena poll out this week was interesting. The poll asked people this question:
I'm going to read a series of names of people and institutions in public life and I'd like you to tell me whether you have a favorable opinion or an unfavorable opinion of each person or institution I name.
Here are the percentages of respondents who replied that they either "don't know" or had "no opinion" for each of the following people:
+ Andrew Cuomo: 11 percent
+ Carl Heastie: 74 percent
+ John Flanagan: 74 percent
+ Sheldon Silver: 30 percent
+ Dean Skelos: 53 percent
+ Barack Obama: 15 percent
+ Chuck Schumer: 15 percent
+ Preet Bharara: 73 percent
+ Eric Schneiderman: 49 percent
Some of these are kind of what you'd expect. Cuomo, Obama, Schumer are well known. Heastie and Flanagan are both relatively new to their leadership positions in the legislature.
But Silver and Skelos? The poll was conducted December 6-10 -- after Silver's guilty verdict and before Skelos's. And you'd think Bharara might rate more of a reaction given how much he's been in the news lately. (A separate question asked how closely people were following the Silver and Skelos trials -- 47 percent said closely or somewhat closely.)
Another question asked people how likely to they'd be to re-elect their state legislators next year given the recent scandals. "Less likely" got 46 percent, "no effect" 37 percent, and "more likely" 10 percent.
SRI says the poll was conducted December 6-10 and included 822 registered NYS voters. Margin of error is +/- 4.
The New York State AG's attempt to tackle daily fantasy (and the state's complicated relationship with gambling)
If you had Eric Schneiderman starting in your state attorney general attention fantasy league this week, you're rolling up a lot points.
New York State's AG caused a big splash yesterday when his office sent cease and desist letters to the two biggest daily fantasy sports companies ordering them to stop operating in the state because his office had concluded they're "illegal gambling" operations. A clip from the press release:
"Our investigation has found that, unlike traditional fantasy sports, daily fantasy sports companies are engaged in illegal gambling under New York law, causing the same kinds of social and economic harms as other forms of illegal gambling, and misleading New York consumers," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "Daily fantasy sports is neither victimless nor harmless, and it is clear that DraftKings and FanDuel are the leaders of a massive, multi-billion-dollar scheme intended to evade the law and fleece sports fans across the country. Today we have sent a clear message: not in New York, and not on my watch."
If you're thinking "Daily fantasy what?" or "Billions of dollars?" right now, this New York Times article includes a lot of background.
Fantasy sports was already immensely popular. And it's changed the way a lot of people view sports -- following individual players and performances rather than teams. You could argue the games have, in a way, just become number generators for the fantasy games.
Cuomo moving to raise minimum wage for state employees to $15 per hour
The Cuomo admin announced Tuesday that Andrew Cuomo is moving to unilaterally set a $15 minimum wage for state employees.
The increase would be phased in over the next few years, rising to $15 in New York City by the end of 2018, and by 2021 in the rest of the state. It's projected the increase would affect approximately 10,000 state employees -- 9,000 of them outside New York City.
The governor publicly announced the plan at a Fight for 15 rally in New York City. "This is about basic fairness and basic justice," he said of the push to raise the minimum wage both in New York State and across the country. "We're going to lead the way. The nation's going to watch us."
Quick-scan general election results 2015
Here's a quick scan of results from local elections around the Capital Region Tuesday.
This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial, and some are bound to change as things settle.
On with the results...
A few more thoughts about the push for Uber, Lyft, and similar services upstate
Sample screenshots from the Uber app.
The ongoing campaign to open the way for taxi-app services such as Uber and Lyft to operate in Upstate New York got another push this week when Uber publicly backed the campaign at the Capitol, framing it in part as a jobs and economic development issue. [NYT]
A bill that addresses insurance and regulatory issues for these sorts of "transportation network" companies has been floating around the state legislature since last session. Lyft has been pushing for legislation like this since at least this past spring. And this past summer Andrew Cuomo made comments that sounded like he supported some sort of statewide regulation. [NYS Senate] [NY Observer]
We touched on the taxi service/Uber/Lyft situation a bunch of times already. So here are a few more bits and thoughts prompted by Uber's actions this week...
A $15 minimum wage, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump
Donald Trump at the ESP last year.
A few interesting bits from recent polls of New York State:
Support for $15-an-hour minimum wage
A Quinnipiac poll out last week reported that respondents supported "raising the state's minimum wage to $15.00 an hour over the next several years" 62-35. Democrats and independents were both titled toward the supporting side (85 and 59 percent supporting), and Republicans were titled to toward the oppose side (65 percent opposing). Upstate was the region with lowest percentage of supporters -- 50 percent -- compared to 77 percent in NYC and 61 in the NYC suburbs. (That's probably not surprising given how much of a difference there is in median wages between upstate and downstate.)
The Q poll was conducted September 10-15 and has a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
Hillary and The Donald
The Siena poll out today reports that, for the first time in the poll's history, more respondents had an unfavorable opinion of Hillary Clinton than a favorable one. The former New York US Senator's favorable/unfavorable split was 46-51. The splits among Democrats (71/24) and Republicans (13/86) were what you'd expect. But the split among independents was 32 percent favorable / 65 percent unfavorable.
Clinton's still the overwhelming favorite among Democratic respondents for the presidential nomination -- 45 percent said they'd vote for her.
The poll also asking favorable/unfavorable question about Donald Trump, and the split was 32/58. But among Republican respondents, Trump led the field for the Republican nomination, with 34 percent saying they'd vote for him in a primary.
Oh, and about George Pataki -- his favorable/unfavorable split was 32/58, which was roughly the same for Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Just three percent of Republican respondents said they'd vote for the former New York governor in a Republican presidential primary.
The Siena Poll was conducted September 14-17 and has a +/- 4 percent point margin of error (+/-5 for Democrats, +/-6.7 for Republicans).
Cuomo: Raise New York State's minimum wage to $15 an hour for all industries
Cuomo announced the push during an event in New York City with Joe Biden.
Updated
Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that he will be pushing to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour. The announcement accompanied word from the governor that the state Department of Labor has accepted the wage board recommendation that the minimum wage for fast food workers increased to $15 an hour.
Cuomo's push to raise the overall state minimum wage isn't that surprising (even if he had downplayed the push for $15 earlier this year). He had tried to get the legislature to accept an increase to $10.50 ($11.50 in NYC) during the last legislative session. And the fast food wage board plan was pretty clearly an attempt to out maneuver the opposition in the legislature. (State Senate Republicans -- the most likely road block to the minimum wage increase -- criticized Cuomo's handling of the fast food wage increase Thursday.) [NYT] [Politics on the Hudson]
Invoking the memory of both FDR and his father, Andrew called the proposed increase as matter of economic justice. "You cannot support a family on 18,000 a year in New York State, not to mention having a decent living," he said with Joe Biden looking on in New York City. "Every working man and woman in the state of new york deserves $15 an hour as a minimum wage and we're not going to stop until we get it done."
George Pataki is running for President
As mentioned everywhere, George Pataki is running for president. His announcement video is embedded above.
In the video you'll no doubt immediately recognize the ample Pataki charm, his innate skill in summoning the ardor of the body politic, and his apparent inability to tie his own tie without help.
In the unlikely event* George Pataki actually becomes president, he'd be the fifth former New York governor to do so. He's the first New York governor to run since Nelson Rockefeller's serial and unsuccessful attempts in the 1960s (he would later flash some unique campaigning skills).
____
* Unlikely events include, but are not limited to: the core of the Republican Party deciding Pataki wouldn't actually have been a Democrat in many other states, zombie apocalypse, Hillary Clinton being revealed as an alien, robot apocalypse, Jeb Bush deciding to instead open an art gallery with GWB called Bush Brothers Brushes, crow apocalypse.
Siena poll: Majority support minimum wage increase to $10.50 per hour
When given the choice of letting the New York State minimum wage rise to the already-scheduled level of $9/hour next year or raise it to $10.50 per hour, almost 3/4 of respondents in a Siena poll out today picked the $10.50 level.
Here's the question text from the Siena poll, because it was a little complicated:
The current minimum wage in New York State is eight dollars seventy-five cents per hour. It is scheduled to go to nine dollars per hour next year. When it comes to the minimum wage, among the following three choices, do you agree more with the State Senate, which wants it kept at nine dollars per hour, OR Governor Cuomo, who wants it increased to ten dollars fifty cents per hour, OR the State Assembly, which wants it increased to ten dollars fifty cents per hour now, with provisions to go higher in future years?
And the answer options:
+ "State Senate, which wants it kept at nine dollars per hour": 26 percent of all respondents
+ "Governor Cuomo, who wants it increased to ten dollars fifty cents per hour": 20 percent of all respondents
+ "State Assembly, which wants it increased to ten dollars fifty cents per hour now, with provisions to go higher in future years": 52 percent of all respondents
The $10.50/hour options drew the combined support of more than 65 percent in each of the three income categories for respondents -- less than $50k, $50-$100k, and $100k+. And it also had at least 50 percent support from both Democrats and Republicans.
The Siena poll also asked about the idea of a having a higher minimum wage downstate -- the yes/no split on that was 47/51 for all respondents. NYC respondents supported 55 percent, it was essentially even for people in the downstate suburbs, and upstate respondents opposed it 63-43.
The Siena Research Institute says the poll was conducted March 15-19 and has a +/- 3.5% margin of error.
A quick scan of the feds' allegations against Sheldon Silver
As you have no doubt heard incessantly today, Sheldon Silver -- the loooongtime speaker of the state Assembly, one of the most powerful politicians in New York -- was arrested by the feds today on corruption charges. Silver said Thursday afternoon that he's "confident that when all the answers are aired I will be vindicated." [State of Politics]
So what exactly are the feds accusing Silver of having done?
Here it is, broken down in a quick-scan format.
Sheldon Silver arrested
Huge state politics news: Sheldon Silver has been arrested by the feds on corruption charges -- he turned himself in to the FBI Thursday morning in New York City, according to the New York Times.
NYT first reported back in December that Silver was under investigation by the feds, and reported Wednesday night that the Speaker of the state Assembly would be arrested. From NYT:
The investigation of Mr. Silver began after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in March abruptly shut down an anticorruption commission he had created in 2013.
The federal inquiry, led by the United States Attorney for the Southern District, focused on payments that Mr. Silver received from a small law firm that specializes in seeking reductions of New York City real estate taxes.
While it is legal for lawmakers to hold outside jobs, investigators said Mr. Silver failed to list the payments from the firm, Goldberg & Iryami, on his annual financial disclosure filings with the state.
In the past, Mr. Silver has been criticized for his outside law practice, a lucrative career that supplements the $121,000 he earns as speaker.
In 2013, Mr. Silver earned at least $650,000 in legal income, including work for the personal injury law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg, according to his most recent financial disclosure filing.
But what he does to earn that income has long been a mystery in Albany, and Mr. Silver has refused to provide details about his work.
Silver's attorneys issued a statement Thursday morning: "We're disappointed that the prosecutors have chosen to proceed with these meritless criminal charges." [WSJ]
As recently as two weeks ago Silver, in typical Sheldon Silver fashion, calmly no-commented the news that he was under investigation. [NYDN]
Silver, who represents a section of lower Manhattan, has been speaker for just short of forever (well, 1994), the second longest tenure in New York history. He is one of "The Three Men in a Room" of state government. And he's demonstrated a remarkable ability during that time to ride out the waves and scandals (of which there have been many) in the legislature. Here's a NY Mag article from a few years back that looked at Silver's ability to persist.
More than 30 New York state legislators have faced ethical or criminal charges since 2000, according to list kept by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Some history: Over at State of Politics, Liz Benjamin looks at what happened the last time an Assembly speaker was arrested, in 1990.
photo: Nyer42 via Wikipedia
5 things from the 2015 State of the State / state budget presentation
Sometimes people have a little too much with Powerpoint.
Andrew Cuomo delivered his combined State of the State/state budget presentation -- the Powerpoint of the State, if you will -- Wednesday afternoon.
It was long (almost an hour-and-a-half). And the briefing book for it is 550 pages.
So here's a quick, 5-things scan of the presentation.
That time -- not even that long ago -- that Albany annexed a chunk of Bethlehem
Was Bethlehem, is now Albany.
There was a bit of ripple this week when Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan mentioned the topic of annexation during a panel discussion about poverty and cities. From an article over at Capital:
"We could expand," Sheehan said. "States that have elastic cities where there's an ability annex do not have the same stratification that we see here in New York State. So there are states where you can grow your way out of this situation because you can expand your tax base by annexing. We can look at that, but we could also look at how we fundamentally fund our cities ... because cities still grow every day. The city of Albany doubles in population every day when people come here to work.
"We have to look at all levels at how we are funding our cities and have a conversation with those wealthier, surrounding suburban communities about what it is we need to do to address that inequity that we have," she said.
So this was a more a nod to the idea than actually raising it as a realistic option. (Update: Here's Sheehan emphasizing that point. [TWCN]) And that makes sense, because the idea that Albany could/would annex one of its surrounding suburbs seems... highly unlikely.
But. You might be surprised to find out that Albany has done just that in the past -- and it wasn't even that long ago (on the scale of Albany history). And the episode highlights why it would be so unlikely today.
Is Albany getting the short end of the stick?
The amount of aid the state distributes to cities might sound like a topic straight out of Snoresville, but it's an important -- and recurring -- topic related to Albany's finances. And Albany's finances are related to all sorts of other topics that do get a lot more attention: stuff like taxes and new development.
For years, Albany leaders have argued that city gets hosed on the amount of municipal aid the city gets from the state, especially compared to other large upstate cities. And, in the annual tradition, Kathy Sheehan has been raising this point again as the machinery of the state government budget process starts whirring. Over at the Times Union, JCE recently had an article detailing some of the mayor's arguments that Albany should be getting more from the state.
The longtime argument in favor of Albany getting more state aid has essentially boiled down to this point: When compared to other large upstate cities, Albany gets much less in aid per capita.
So, with the topic in circulation again, we figured it'd be interesting to look at exactly that -- how much the capital city is getting per capita versus other cities.
Mario Cuomo and that speech
If you're under a certain age -- we'll let you draw that line wherever you want -- it might be a little hard to get a feel for the place Mario Cuomo occupied in American politics, and why his passing has been such a noted event. Sure, there are the facts -- three-term governor, almost presidential candidate, Andrew's dad, and so on. But a person's place in history -- on a national level, or even in a neighborhood -- is more than just the sum of their facts.
Mario's Cuomo's famous speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention helps fill that out. It was a jab at then-president Ronald Reagan and the Republican Party, and a declaration of what Cuomo believed the Democratic Party should represent. A video clip is embedded above. Here's the full text. And here's some background on the speech, which involved both Andrew Cuomo and Tim Russert. [NYDN]
Over at Medium, Doug Garr wrote about what it was like to work for Mario Cuomo as a speechwriter between 1992 and 1994:
On Sunday night, one of his speechwriting aides called me. My current draft, in short, was woefully inadequate. (Looking back, I knew he was not at his happiest when he had to address a group where maybe only 10 people had voted for him. Bankers certainly weren't his base.) I was read the marginal comments, none of them good. Then he laughed and said, do you want to hear what he wrote on the last page? Yes, shoot. "This isn't an ending. This is a collapse." I didn't laugh until he told me that he took the brunt of the Governor's wrath that afternoon, when Cuomo threw the pages up in the air and exclaimed, "Can't anybody write a simple, declarative sentence any more? Get me a fucking nun." This referred to his Catholic grammar education and the how he learned to write in parochial school. From then on, we called this the "get me a fucking nun" speech.
Fracking to be banned in New York
The Cuomo's administration's long-awaited decision on whether to allow hydrofracking in the state arrived today during a cabinet meeting -- and it will move to formally ban the method of extracting natural gas from the earth. [NYT]
The decision was pegged to the long-delayed state Department of Health study of the issue. A key clip from Capitol Confidential:
While [acting state health commissioner Howard] Zucker took pains to point out that the data on long-term impacts of hydrofracking is not fully conclusive, he turned personal in his decision.
"Would I live in a community with HVHF (high-volume hydraulic fracturing) based on the facts I have now?" Zucker said. "Would I let my child play in the school field nearby, or my family drink the water from the tap or grow their vegetables in the soil? After looking at a plethora of reports ... my answer is no."
Allowing fracking had been pitched as potential economic development for the Southern Tier, which sits atop natural gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale formation. Pennsylvania allows fracking, and a large swath of the state has natural gas wells now. The Southern Tier has some of the highest unemploymen rates in the state. [NPR State Impact]
But fracking also appears to involve some significant environmental risks, especially for ground water, and environmentalists and other advocacy groups have been pushing hard on the Cuomo admin over the last few years to not allow fracking.
Capital Region gets $60 million in Regional Economic Development Awards
The planned permanent space for the Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market was awarded $1.5 million.
Capital Region projects got a combined $60 million in the Regional Economic Development Council awards announced Thursday. An easy-scan table of the projects is after the jump.
The region snagged $82.8 million last year. But this time around it was not a "top performer" in the state's annual Who Want's to Win Some Pork?!?! game show -- it ended up receiving the second-lowest amount out of the state's 10 regions.
Here are a few of the project awards that caught our eye on the first pass...
Four ideas for changing things for the better in marginalized communities
Wednesday evening at The Spectrum there's a screening of The Throwaways, a documentary created by local activist Ira McKinley and local filmmaker Bhawin Suchak. The duo co-produced and co-directed the film, which is about how people in many inner city communities, especially African-American men, have become marginalized by race, the criminal justice system, and economics -- and the challenges and frustrations that result. As Suchak described it to us, the film is a "raw and real" look at the topic through the eyes of McKinley.
The film comes along when these issues are getting a lot of national attention because of what's happening in Ferguson, Missouri.
"I think we're at a really important moment in this country's history when it comes to relationships between folks from different races," Suchak told us this week. "I think it's important for white people to not be defensive and to listen, and also do their own work. For me, part of what that means is trying to connect and make the connections that people who are living this are making all the time because they have to because it's survival. So I hope, and I think we've seen in our screenings, that our film can be a way to begin conversation."
With those sorts of conversations in mind, we asked McKinley and Suchak for suggestions about how to change things for the better in marginalized communities in our area.
NY Governor 2014: 5 (+1) maps
Updated with a bonus map.
Andrew Cuomo won re-election Tuesday over Republican challenger Rob Astorino 53-39 (according to the official unofficial count this morning with 93 percent of precincts reporting).
And while a win is win, it's not the landslide that the Cuomo team had at one time been trying to pile up. [NYT]
Here are county-by-county gubernatorial results from around the state in 5 clickable maps.
Quick-scan general election results 2014
Updated Wednesday 9:20 am.
Here's a quick scan of results from elections around the Capital Region Tuesday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial, and some are bound to change as things settle.
On with the results...
Campaign Yard Sign Design Election 2014, Part II
Election Day is Tuesday, so it's time to pull the lever for part two of Campaign Yard Sign Election 2014.
The first half of the design election included spleen throbbing induced by questionable typography.
Will the next batch of campaign signs go over better?
Campaign Yard Sign Design Election 2014, Part I
Election Day is next Tuesday, and that means campaign yard sign season is at its peak. Front lawns, street medians, parking lots, and many other spots are now filled with the signs -- they're everywhere.
So we thought it'd be fun to get together a few designers again to critique this year's crop of campaign yard signs as design objects. (Alternately, you might view this as test of how much questionable typography it takes to make a designer's spleen start throbbing -- and we now have an answer.)
Because it's a campaign yard sign bumper crop, we've split the signs into two batches. First up: governor, state Senate, and Schenectady Family Court.
Albany Common Council passes red light camera ordinance: comments, votes, thoughts
State Assemblywoman Pat Fahy speaks during the public comment period ahead of Monday's night vote on red light cameras.
The Albany Common Council passed the ordinance for a red light camera demonstration project in the city Monday night. The ordinance passed 11-4 after some impassioned comments from council members.
Pending a signature on the bill from mayor Kathy Sheehan, who supports the measure, Albany will be on its way to becoming the first municipality in the Capital Region to get the automatic cameras.
Comments, the votes, the ordinance, and a few thoughts...
Clickable county by county results for the Cuomo-Teachout primary
The deeper the blue, the higher the percentage of Cuomo votes. The deeper the yellow, the more Teachout votes. (Unofficial results with 98 percent of precincts reporting.)
Map of the day: The above is a county-by-county breakdown of votes in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
As you know, Andrew Cuomo beat challenger Zephyr Teachout 60-33. But it was a strong showing for Teachout. And as the map indicates, she ran ahead of the governor in many parts of the state.
There's a clickable large-format map after the jump, along with a few notes.
Lobbying the Hobby Lobby
The pics posted by Jasmine Shea on Twitter from a Hobby Lobby in Latham.
Prompted by the Supreme Court's recent decision in the Hobby Lobby case, Jasmine Shea wanted to do something to protest the company's policies on covering birth control for its employees. So Shea decided to visit the Hobby Lobby store in Latham last week to pass out condoms.
Along the way there Shea, who describes her day job as "office worker/comic relief," and a friend decided to add to their protest with a prank: They were going re-arrange the decorative letters sold in the store to spell out the words "pro choice."
It was a relatively small act, but it ended getting a big response after Shea posted pics on Twitter and Instagram. Sites such as Jezebel and Feministing featured the pics, and the act ended up being covered by the Washington Post. And even now, a week later, it's continuing to generate attention.
All that from something that happened in a store Shea says was more or less empty of shoppers.
We bounced Jasmine Shea a few questions this week about why she did what she did, the response it's gotten, and how it compares to other more traditional forms of activism.
"You Don't Have to Put Up the Red Light"
Presented (mostly) without comment: "Sheehan (You Don't Have to Put Up the Red Light)," by former Albany mayoral candidate Jesse Calhoun. It's... well, it's much pretty much it sounds like -- a cover of "Roxanne" by The Police as criticism of a possible plan to install red light cameras in Albany.
Calhoun was the Republican candidate for mayor in last year's election. He's also part of a band, The Ameros.
A few quick comments:
The lieutenant governor: so close to being governor, yet so far away
Mary Anne Krupsak, the first female lieutenant governor of New York, talking with governor Hugh Carey 1977. / photo via New York State Archives
Andrew Cuomo's selection of Kathy Hochul to run as his lieutenant governor this week got us thinking about the job of lt gov, and whether the possible (likely?) election of Hochul could push New York any closer to having a female governor. [Capital]
So let's a take a quick spin through the (low profile) history of New York's lieutenant governors...
Donald Trump, Rob Astorino, and the gun rally on the Empire State Plaza
Donald Trump after his speech at an anti-SAFE Act rally on the ESP Tuesday.
Donald Trump was at the Empire State Plaza Tuesday for an anti-SAFE Act rally -- as were Carl Paladino, the former Republican candidate for governor, and Rob Astorino, who looks to be the next Republican candidate for governor, along with (we're guessing) about 2,000 people.
Trump talked about protecting the 2nd Amendment during his time up on stage, and then talked a bit about maybe buying the Buffalo Bills during a short press session afterward. Then he left, in a helicopter apparently.
The celebrity something-aire wasn't really the interesting thing during the time we listened on the sunny plaza Tuesday. We ended up being more curious about Astorino -- the Westchester County exec -- who we hadn't seen much of before.
Here are a few thoughts and observations, about the rally, about Astorino, and about Andrew Cuomo...
Siena poll: continued majority support for medical marijuana legalization, not for recreational pot
Some follow-up to the recent Q Poll that reported a majority of New Yorkers -- 57-39 -- supported legalizing recreational marijuana use: A Siena poll out today reports respondents oppose recreational legalization 53-43.
The results on recreational pot legalization might not be as far apart as they seem. The Q Poll reported a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, and the Siena poll 3.5 points. And differences in the makeup of the samples could lead to different results. They also asked slightly different questions:
Q Poll: "Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New York State to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?"
Siena: "Looking beyond the issue of medical marijuana, two states - Colorado and Washington - have legalized and regulated marijuana for recreational use. Do you support or oppose passing a similar law in New York to legalize and regulate marijuana for recreational use?"
As with that Q poll, the Siena poll also reports large majority support for at least some sort of medical marijuana program in the state. This isn't surprising -- polls have reported majorities in favor of medical marijuana for the last few years. (See 2010.)
Related: There was an interesting article in NYT today about the fact that it's apparently unclear how many votes currently constitute a majority in the state Senate (because of vacancies and the current three-coalition makeup of the body) -- and how that could have an effect on potential votes about legalizing medical marijuana.
More bits from the Siena poll...
+ Respondents had a more or less three-bears split on the Common Core standards: too demanding, not demanding enough, just about right.
+ Respondents prefer Andrew Cuomo over "someone else", 54-37.
+ 73 percent of respondents supported allowing local municipalities to set their own minimum wage at rate higher than the state's.
+ On allowing fracking: oppose - 43 percent | support - 38 percent.
photo: Flickr user Caveman 92223
Q Poll: Majority of New Yorkers support medical marijuana and recreational pot legalization
Don't squint, man, here's a large-format version. Wait, what if our world is just a large-format interactive illustration on the computer of some higher being? Crazy. ... Hey, you wanna get some pizza...
A few interesting things about the Q Poll out this week that looked at where New Yorkers stand on marijuana legalization:
+ There's across the board support for medical marijuana. The Q Poll reports that 88 percent of respondents said they were in favor of allowing marijuana use for medical purposes. And not a single demographic group registered support below 82 percent.
That a majority support medical marijuana isn't surprising -- New Yorkers have been trending that way for years -- but the strength and breadth of the support is notable.
+ A majority of the Q Poll respondents -- 57 percent -- said they support allowing "small amounts of marijuana for personal use." The only groups of respondents in which a majority opposed: Republicans (55-39 against) and people age 65+ (57-38 against).
+ There appears to be gradient of opinion on pot questions, from young to old. Not that this is really all that surprising, but the younger the person in the Q Poll, the more likely they were to support relaxing rules and attitudes about pot. Example: 83 percent of respondents 18-29 said they supported allowing small amounts of marijuana use for person use. While at the other end of the age spectrum, 65+, just 38 percent said they support legalization.
This age gradient is depicted in the graph above, which includes the numbers from a handful of the survey's questions. (Don't squint -- here's the large format version.)
It'll be interesting to see how results such as this latest Q Poll will play out at the state Capitol. There's been some push for medical marijuana in the legislature over the last few years, and there's now even a bill to legalize and tax pot in a system similar to the one for alcohol.
And Andrew Cuomo? On one hand, medical marijuana -- and even recreational pot legalization -- is growing in popularity. On the other hand, Cuomo probably wants to stick to the moderate Democrat brand he's developed in an attempt to also appeal to moderate Republicans (both here and, you know, other parts of the nation). Cuomo has proposed a limited trial program for medical marijuana, though advocates have criticized it for being too timid. And his admin has called recreational legalization a "non-starter." Is there a point at which public support shifts his position on the issue?
Poll details: "From February 6 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,488 New York State voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones."
Three mayors on a "new era in city government" at Albany Law
The new mayors of Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Rochester will be at Albany Law February 19 for an event titled "Leading a New Era in City Government: Women Mayors of Upstate New York." Even blurbage:
Come listen to Kathy Sheehan '94, Albany, Lovely Warren '03, Rochester, and Joanne Yepsen, Saratoga Springs, all newly elected mayors of cities in Upstate New York, discuss their own journey to elected leadership seats, their personal insights on the equitable participation of women in politics and government, and the unique responsibility of running a city government.
You already know a bit about Sheehan and Yepsen, but maybe not Lovely Warren. She's an interesting story -- her victory in the Rochester mayoral election was considered a big upset. And she's just 36 years old (and got a law degree from Albany Law in 2003). Her term has gotten off to a bit of a rough start.
The Albany Law event is at 4 pm on February 19 (a Wednesday), and there's a reception afterward. It's free and open to the public, but if you'd like to attend the reception, registration is required (details at the link).
Albany Law advertises on AOA.
Focusing on support for a possible Capital Region casino, town by town
Don't squint, and don't scratch your head -- it'll make sense when you see the bigger versions.
The Capital Region is in line to get a casino as part of the vote to allow full casino gambling last fall (as you know). And based on comments made by Andrew Cuomo in last week's State of the State address, the selection of the casino site is scheduled to happen sometime during the six months or so.
As the selection process picks up, the discussion around it is focusing in part not just on where a casino might be viable, but also which municipalities do -- or don't -- want one of the gambling facilities. Examples: The vocal opposition in Saratoga Springs to a full casino, despite conventional wisdom that the Spa City would be a leading potential site; or, conversely, the mayor of Rensselaer's lobbying for his city to be in the running.
The casino selection process doesn't include local approval. Even so, we thought it'd be interesting to get a better feel for how cities and towns in the Capital Region might be leaning on the issue based on how residents voted last November on the state constitutional amendment that allowed casinos.
So we pulled the vote totals on the ballot question for the Capital Region by town, mapped 'em, and also put together some "tree maps" (kind of like square pie charts) to get a sense of how a city or town's support or opposition fits into the whole.
That's a long way of saying: look at these maps and charts...
A quick scan of State of the State 2014
We believe you're familiar with the governor, Andrew Cuomo.
As you know, this year's State of the State speech was Wednesday. There will be all sorts of coverage dissecting for the next few days. This isn't that. This is just a few quick-scan highlights.
And here they are...
A quick scan of Joe Biden's appearance at the state Capitol
Vice President Joe Biden dropped into Albany today for an appearance at the state Capitol, to talk about rebuilding infrastructure after the storms that have hit the state in recent years, to literally and figuratively give Andrew Cuomo a pat on the back -- and see a Cuomo powerpoint presentation. "I wish everyone could see this presentation," Biden said (really, he actually said that).
Infrastructure is an important issue, but it's one of those topics that tends to make people start to glaze over a bit -- you know, until it breaks. So it's worth paying attention to it, maybe even better if someone else watched it for you. As we did.
Here's a quick-scan recap of Biden's appearance at the Capitol Tuesday...
How New York's deck of counties split on the casino vote
Red = counties in which a majority voted "yes." Black = counties in which a majority voted "no." (Corrected.)
One of the items up for a vote Tuesday was a proposed New York State constitutional amendment that would allow up to seven full casinos around the state, starting upstate. The Cuomo admin has been pushing the idea as economic development, and framed it that way again after the vote. [NYS BOE] [NYT] [Cuomo admin]
The amendment was approved, 57-43. But support around the state was evenly distributed. In fact, majorities in three of the Capital Region's four core counties voted against it -- one of the majority "no" counties was Saratoga, which has a good chance of ending up with a casino. [NYS BOE]
We pulled the unofficial vote tallies on the casino amendment and mapped the results by county. Two clickable maps are after the jump.
Quick-scan general election results 2013
Updated 10:24 am Wednesday
Here's a quick scan of results from the general election around the Capital Region Tuesday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights.
Numbers are unofficial, and some are bound to change as things settle (and as absentees are counted).
OK, on with the results...
Talking with the Republican, Green, and Conservative candidates for Albany mayor
As you know, one of the offices up for election in Tuesday's election is mayor of Albany, an important election for a lot people -- whether they live in the city, work in the city, or just go there often. And as you also know, voter enrollment in the city heavily Democratic -- so the winner of September's Democratic primary, current city treasurer Kathy Sheehan, is in position to take the election. (Here's an interview with her from just before the primary.)
Pretty much every candidate will tell you they're in a race to win it. But even if victory is a long shot, there are other reasons to run -- maybe most importantly, getting alternative ideas out there and focusing attention on topics a candidate thinks should be getting more of the spotlight.
So with that mind, we interviewed the other mayoral candidates with spots on the ballot: Jesse Calhoun, on the Republican line; Theresa Portelli, on the Green Party line; and Joe Sullivan, on the Conservative Party line.
Here are their answers to a handful of questions in a quick scan, pick-and-choose format.
"Gillibrand is good at having it both ways..."
The National Journal has a big article on Kirsten Gillibrand's rise to prominence in national politics, and the evolution of her positions on various issues along the way. From "How Kirsten Gillibrand Shed Her Past on the Way to Liberal Stardom," by Ben Terris:
It's a stretch to imagine Gillibrand running for president any time soon: There's a Hillary-sized shadow hanging over 2016, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo also appears above her on the New York depth chart. But this is a Democratic Party desperate for new blood and new talent. At 46, Gillibrand fits the bill perhaps better than anyone--and she has begun to build a national persona that can match her ambitions. Her battle against the Pentagon over sexual assaults in the military has won her headlines and praise. At the same time, she's a stunningly adept fundraiser who earns loyalty from her colleagues the old-fashioned way--by doling out money. It's telling that when potential women presidents are mentioned, the list tends to begin and end at Clinton. There is opportunity there.
But to reach that place in the firmament, Gillibrand will have to pull off what many politicians before her have had to do: reconcile her past political identities with her present ones. Gillibrand isn't the first Democrat from a rural, centrist background to try to build a bridge to the progressive wing of the party. (See: the other Clinton, Bill.) And often, it can be easier to accomplish than those liberals trying to convince rank-and-file voters that they are one of them, as both Barack Obama and John Kerry before him struggled to do. But that doesn't mean she won't have some explaining to do on what can be politely termed her evolution.
How she navigates those questions will say a lot about her readiness for the grand stage.
If you've been following along over the past few years, a lot of it won't be new to you. But it's another picture of KG as a persistent, savvy, highly-skilled politician.
Earlier on AOA: "What is required of that money? Because it makes me uncomfortable..."
Stacking the deck with words?
Surprise: If you frame an issue positively, more people will support it.
A Siena poll out this week asked people about the upcoming ballot question on whether New York should legalize full casino gambling. When people were asked:
Do you support or oppose passing an amendment to the state constitution to allow non-Indian, Las Vegas style casinos to be built in New York?
Responses were: 46 percent support | 46 percent oppose | 8 percent don't know.
When people were read the following, which includes actual text from the ballot question:
A proposed constitutional amendment on casino gambling will be on the ballot in November. Specifically, the wording on the ballot says in part that the amendment would, QUOTE allow the Legislature to authorize up to seven casinos in New York State for the legislated purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated, UNQUOTE. If you were voting today and were asked whether the amendment should be approved, would you vote yes or no?
Responses were: 55 percent support | 42 percent oppose | 3 percent don't know.
The poll's margin of error was +/- 3.4 percent, according to SRI.
Critics of the ballot question's wording have argued it casts an overly optimistic light on casinos. As NYPIRG's Blair Horner recently said of the question's phrasing: "It has more spin than a roulette wheel." [NYSNYS]
See also: the use of the word "gaming" instead of "gambling."
Right track/wrong track: The Siena poll also reported that 46 percent of respondents said the state was on the "wrong track" compared to 43 percent who said it was on the "right track." SRI says it's the first time since November 2011 the balance has shifted toward wrong track.
photo: Flickr user Håkan Dahlström (cc)
Kathy Sheehan wins Democratic primary for Albany mayor
The big takeaway from Tuesday's primary election results: Kathy Sheehan is in position to become the next mayor of Albany.
Sheehan, the current city treasurer, won the city's Democratic primary for mayor 66-29 over former councilman Corey Ellis, according to unofficial results.* That margin isn't really a surprise -- Sheehan had big leads in polls from both late July and early September.
Sheehan will now face Jesse Calhoun (Republican), Joseph Sullivan (Conservative), and whoever emerges from the Green Party.** Because of the overwhelming enrollment advantage Democrats have in the city, something highly unexpected would have to happen for Sheehan to not win the general election.
Albany has had just three mayors since 1942. When Jerry Jennings finishes his term this December, he'll have held the office for the last 20.
Earlier on AOA: Albany mayoral candidate interview 2013: Kathy Sheehan
Quick-scan primary election results 2013
Here's a quick scan of results from primary elections around the Capital Region Tuesday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights.
Numbers are unofficial, and some are bound to change as things settle (and as absentees are counted).
And, of course, these are the primary elections -- the general election is November 5.
OK, on with the results...
Siena poll: Sheehan has big lead on Ellis
A Siena poll out this weekend reported that Kathy Sheehan leads Corey Ellis in the Democratic mayoral primary 68-20 -- and that's with 92 percent of respondents saying they've either made up their mind or are unlikely to change it.
The poll result isn't really surprising. Sheehan had a large lead in a Siena poll released at the beginning of August, and if a voter was leaning in her direction there probably isn't much that's happened in the interim that would shift that decision. It's not that people seem to dislike Ellis -- 58 percent said they have a favorable opinion of him. It's just that people like Sheehan more -- 76 percent said they have a favorable opinion. (And 65 percent said they have a favorable opinion of Jerry Jennings.)
The thing we took away from the poll results: People appear to be expecting that Sheehan will make a significant difference for the city.* Three-quarters of respondents have a favorable opinion of her. The same number say they're satisfied with the choices for mayor. And when asked, "Overall today, do you think a Mayor of Albany is capable of successfully addressing the problems facing Albany or do you think the
problems are too large for any Mayor to address?" -- more than 70 percent said they think the mayor is capable of successfully addressing the problems facing the city.
It'll be interesting to see how people react if a Sheehan administration hits some speed bumps. It's not like that's necessarily a low-probability event -- however well prepared and planned an administration might be, things almost never go exactly to plan. And Albany definitely faces some rough stretches, particularly in closing the city's budget gap.
* Well, duh, they say they're going to vote for her. But sometimes people vote for the the candidate they think is the least-bad choice.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Albany mayoral candidate interview: Corey Ellis
+ Albany mayoral candidate interview: Kathy Sheehan
Albany mayor 2013: Kathy Sheehan
For the first time in 20 years, Albany will have a new mayor next year. The changeover is important not just for the city itself, but for the tens of thousands of people who go there each day for work or entertainment. Even if you don't live in Albany, what happens there probably affects you in some way.
The key point in the process of electing the next mayor is next Tuesday, September 10, primary day. Because the voter registration in Albany is overwhelmingly Democratic, the winner of the Democratic primary for mayor will almost certainly win the general election.
This week we talked with the two Democratic competing in the primary -- former common councilman Corey Ellis, and current city treasurer Kathy Sheehan. We asked them each the same set of questions on a range of issues -- from why they want to be mayor, to an aquarium downtown, to what books have influenced them -- and we're sharing those answers at length. The Q&A is set up so it's easy to scan and focus in on the questions that interest you.
On Thursday, we had the responses form Corey Ellis. Today, answers from Kathy Sheehan...
Albany mayor 2013: Corey Ellis
For the first time in 20 years, Albany will have a new mayor next year. The changeover is important not just for the city itself, but for the tens of thousands of people who go there each day for work or entertainment. Even if you don't live in Albany, what happens there probably affects you in some way.
The key point in the process of electing the next mayor is next Tuesday, September 10, primary day. Because the voter registration in Albany is overwhelmingly Democratic, the winner of the Democratic primary for mayor will almost certainly win the general election.
This week we talked with the two Democratic competing in the primary -- former common councilman Corey Ellis, and current city treasurer Kathy Sheehan. We asked them each the same set of questions on a range of issues -- from why they want to be mayor, to an aquarium downtown, to what books have influenced them -- and we're sharing those answers at length. The Q&A is set up so it's easy to scan and focus on the questions that interest you.
First up: Corey Ellis.
Update: Here are the responses from Kathy Sheehan.
Top Obama campaign advisers to speak at UAlbany
Left to right: Axelrod, Plouffe, Favreau.
Update: Here's the link for registration.
The World Within Reach speakers series has lined up an appearance by three of top advisers on Barack Obama's two presidential campaigns: David Axelrod, David Plouffe, and John Favreau. The trio will be talking and taking questions as part of a "Inside the Obama Campaign" program September 28 at the SEFCU Arena.
This should be a pretty big event for political nerds. Axelrod was key adviser to Obama as he moved from Illinois state Senate, to the US Senate, to the White House. Plouffe was the campaign manager for the 2008 Obama presidential campaigns and then served as senior advisor to the White House. Favreau was Obama's chief speech writer for the first presidential campaign and served in the same role at the White House.
The event at UAlbany starts at 8 pm on September 28. It will be open to the public, but a ticket will be required. Details on how to get a ticket are still to come -- the UAlbany Student Association, the event's organizer, says the info will be posted on its website and Facebook page.
This is the seventh event for World Within Reach speakers series. It's put together a string of high-profile speakers, including Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, Howard Dean and Karl Rove (together), and Russell Simmons.
photos via Washington Speakers Bureau
"What is required of that money? Because it makes me uncomfortable..."
Kirsten Gillibrand was on the Daily Show Thursday night talking about her admirable efforts to reform how the military handles sexual assault, as well as a few other issues. The first segment is embedded above, and the second after the jump.
The second segment -- especially the extended segment at the Daily Show website -- is worth watching because John Oliver (politely) tries to put the screws to KG over the amount of money she's taken from banking organizations such as Goldman Sachs. It's interesting to watch Gillibrand field Oliver's questions. Once again she displays a remarkable ability to both side-step and reframe the question (that is, not really answer it) while at the same time coming off as totally reasonable and likable.
That's a valuable skill for politician. And maybe it's a peek into the reasons KG is apparently becoming a formidable player in the Senate -- and keeps getting mentioned as an eventual presidential candidate.
Picking through that Siena poll on the Albany mayoral Democratic primary
A few bits from the Siena/YNN poll of the Albany Democratic mayoral primary:
+ When asked for whom Democratic respondents would vote for today, Kathy Sheehan led Corey Ellis 54-23, with 23 percent undecided. 85 percent of respondents said there was either "no chance" they would change their mind or it was unlikely.
+ When asked which candidate would do a better job on a series of issues, Sheehan led Ellis in every issue -- with the largest margins for economic development (50-19) and keeping city taxes under control (50-18) and "capitalizing on the Hudson River waterfront as an Albany asset" (49-14). Ellis was closest on fighting crime (39-26) and addressing neighborhood concerns (40-32).
+ 57 percent of respondents said they support term limits for mayor.
+ 71 percent of respondents said they had a favorable opinion of Jerry Jennings. And 66 percent said they rate his job as mayor as either good or excellent.
+ 51 percent said they believe the city is on the right track.
+ The poll also asked people's opinions on a handful of aspects of the city. The answers point to some disparities between how African-American and white residents perceive and experience the quality of things like the condition of parks and roads, and the job done by police. A graph of responses is after the jump.
The poll did not ask people about non-Democratic candidates.
Crosstabs. The margin of error for the poll was +/- 3.2 percentage points and +/- 3.8 percentage points for Democrats only.
Update: YNN talked with Sheehan and Ellis about the poll results and some of the issues mentioned.
The primary is September 10. Considering the fact that the city is overwhelmingly Democratic by enrollment, the primary is pretty much the de facto election. And last time around, only about 14,000 people cast a vote in the mayoral primary. So it's worth doing some research and voting, if you can -- because your vote really could matter. That's especially true in Common Council primaries, where seats are sometimes won by fewer than 20 votes.
Albany Museum of Political Corruption
With Trader Joe's now in the area, Bruce Roter has moved on to another pursuit: an Albany Museum of Political Corruption.
As Roter tells the Biz Review's Mike DeMasi: "That's what Albany is known for. Why shy away from it? Let's embrace it. If other politicians can come from around the state and sully the name of Albany, why not cash in on it?"
From the Facebook page Roter has set up for the idea:
Just think of it, a wonderful "rogue's gallery" of those who have sullied Albany's fine name!And the creative possibilities!... for example, visitors wouldn't pay an entrance fee, they'd pay a bribe! (of course). And parents will be encouraged to lie about how old their children are!
And the gift shop, ladies and gentlemen, that will be the best! We will sell little dolls of men and women in suits, and written on their backs will be this: "I bought this legislator in Albany, NY." ...
Friends, we here in Albany take ourselves too seriously. A bit of self-deprecating humor would serve us well. Or, to "corrupt" the lyrics from a famous song: "a spoonful of irreverence makes the medicine go down!"
[via @AlbBizMikeD]
From way back: No Trader Joe's, no peace: What's up with Bruce Roter's supermarket activism [CelinaBean]
Spitzer photo: US Department of State via Wikipedia
Vote counting
NYPIRG released its round up of end-of-session state legislature stats today. It's total political nerd food. A few bits:
+ The legislature passed 650 bills in both chambers. That's up a bit from last year, but it's not out of step with the long downward trend that's been going on since the average number peaked during the administration of Nelson Rockefeller -- during which an average of 1,356.20 were passed.
+ More than half of bills passed in the Senate did so with not a single nay vote. In the Assembly, 42 percent did so.
+ Almost half of all the bills passed by the Assembly were passed during the last week of the session. In the Senate, 36 percent were passed in the final week.
+ Andrew Cuomo got a lot of criticism for issuing "message of necessity" to speed along passage of the NY SAFE Act. He ended up using tactic on just two other bills during the session. That is a very low number compared to the annual average since 1995: 70.4 (and that includes just five during the previous session).
+ Senator Kevin Parker led the legislature in the number of bills introduced (406). Assemblyman Jose Rivera was the only legislator to not introduce a single bill.
+ Teaming up: Three local legislators were among the leaders in the highest percentage of bills introduced with a same-as bill in the other chamber -- Pat Fahy (100%, 15 bills), Cecelia Tkaczyk (96%, 25 bills), Kathy Marchione (87.5%, 32 bills).
+ Neil Breslin led the legislature in the number of resolutions adopted: 304 -- 37 more than the next person.
+ In both chambers the top 10 rankings for members who voted "no" on bills are dominated by party members not in the majority -- except for one: state Senator Greg Ball, a Republican, who topped state Senate chart.
+ The leading vote misser: Assemblyman William F. Boyland Jr, who missed 74 percent of all votes.
+ Votes recorded as absent/no vote taken by local legislators:
Senate: Marchione (5), Breslin (1), Farley (1), , Tkaczyk (0)
Assembly: Jordan (123), McLaughlin (55), McDonald (35), Santabarbara (10), Steck (2), Fahy (0), Lopez (0), Tedisco (0)
+ Senator Liz Krueger (D) was by far the leader in number of words spoken in floor debates in the chamber at 40,064 words -- 13,658 more than the next person, Tom Libbous (R). Libbous got most the laughs (according to the official record) -- 38.
Jerry Jennings on the decision not to run
"I haven't lost my love for this city. I haven't lost my excitement about seeing and getting things done."
As you've heard, Jerry Jennings announced via letter Tuesday night that he will not run for re-election. This is a big deal -- Jennings has been in office for 20 years. And, at least in the last century or so, Albany doesn't get a new mayor very often. There have been just three since 1942.
The way the announcement came about was a surprise, too. As Common Council president Carolyn McLaughlin told the media this morning: "Very few people knew [that it was happening], even people close to him ... They were surprised."
So, as you might imagine, there were a lot of people packed into a conference room at city hall Wednesday morning to hear Jennings talk a bit about his decision.
Here's a quick scan of a handful of clips -- even one about tanning...
Jerry Jennings not running for re-election
Jennings during his 2009 campaign for mayor.
Updated
There's been a lot of speculation over whether Jerry Jennings would be running for re-election this fall for mayor of Albany. Speculation over.
From a letter to city residents sent out by the mayor's office Tuesday evening:
My love for this City and my commitment to our children, our neighborhoods and the people who reside in them is boundless. Given this, the decision of whether to seek another term as your mayor has been one of the difficult evaluations I have ever faced. My family has been supportive; my trusted friends valued.
After countless hours of deliberation and evaluation, I have decided not to seek re-election as your Mayor. Although every day I still find joy in the work I do and in the people I serve, the time has come for a new chapter to be written.
The full letter is embedded after the jump.
Jennings is the 74th mayor in Albany's history. He was elected to the office in 1993, upsetting the Democrat party's establishment candidate. He's now in his fifth term and is the second longest tenured mayor in Albany history, after only Erastus Corning 2nd.
The city of Albany has had just three mayors since 1942.
Current city treasurer Kathy Sheehan has already announced her candidacy for the job, as has former Common Councilman Corey Ellis, who challenged Jennings in the Democratic primary in 2009. Both are Democrats -- and the party's September primary is pretty much the de facto election for the office. It will be interesting to see if Jennings' announcement prompts others to get into the race.
The city of Albany will have a new mayor next year. It's not often you can say that.
Also after the jump: A compilation of reaction to the announcement...
"Distrustful, even cynical"
Bits from the Siena poll released today:
+ When asked about how they view state politics, 52 percent of respondents said they were "distrustful, even cynical."
+ About 1/3 of respondents said it was either "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that their own state Senator or Assembly member could be arrested for corruption.
+ Percent who said they support: term limits, 82 percent; limiting candidates to one party line, 55 percent; a full-time legislature with no outside jobs, 54 percent. (If that were a Jeopardy clue, the correct response would be: "What are three things unlikely to happen with the New York State legislature?")
+ Andrew Cuomo's "favorable" number was 62 percent (it was 77 percent two years ago). And 16 percent of respondents said he was doing a "poor" job, the highest level so far. Fifty-three percent said they'd vote to re-elect him as things stand now.
+ On supporting full casinos in the state: 49 percent support, 44 percent oppose.
+ On whether to approve hydrofracking: 40 percent support, 45 percent oppose.
crosstabs | poll was conducted April 14-18 | margin of error: +/- 3.4
Earlier:
+ Andrew Cuomo's calibrations
+ State legislation: $10,000
Andrew Cuomo's calibrations
We finally got around to reading "The Albany Machiavelli," the long profile of Andrew Cuomo by Chris Smith in this week's NY Mag. Smith remarks that "Cuomo may be this country's best politician--in the interest-swapping, nut-ÂÂcutting, backroom sense--since Lyndon Baines Johnson." And there are a bunch of interesting back room bits about Cuomo's handling of issues, his relationship with the legislature, how fracking vexes the Cuomo political calculations, the potential role of Hillary Clinton in blocking in his presidential ambitions.
This section resonated with us:
So far that experiment has been a solid success, especially for Cuomo. He's been more fiscally responsible than many of his predecessors. He's boldly and forcefully delivered on progressive ideals, legalizing gay marriage and passing some of the toughest gun laws in the nation. He's been rewarded with high public-approval numbers in New York and heightened national stature. Yet there's also a cost, and a considerable irony, to Cuomo's tactics. For all his speechifying about the "us" of government, he runs a government of one, controlling decisions large and small. And the way Cuomo wins his battles--strong-ÂÂarming and horse-trading; a mastery of talking past inconvenient questions and facts--tends to antagonize enemies and allies, as in the most recent round of budget wrangling, in which he managed to chafe both liberals and business fat cats. People are afraid of him; David Paterson, as governor, once described feeling like Cuomo was lurking under the floorboards of the executive mansion, holding a saw. In politics, fear can be a highly useful tool, but it is a risky one. The governor doesn't have many friends. ...
As Cuomo looks to score a wide reelection margin in 2014, he has become New York's most successful governor since, well, the early days of Mario Cuomo. Yet he's engendered much more fear than love--an emotion the governor believes is overrated, in politics anyway. The growing turbulence will show whether he's right about the value of affection in Albany--and whether Andrew Cuomo will loom larger in history than his father.
Now a little arm chair political science: We get the sense that everyone respects Andrew Cuomo, even his enemies and detractors (maybe especially his enemies and detractors). But do people like him? You know, in talking with people it's like there's this acknowledgement that Cuomo has imposed a certain order on state politics, and the situation is no longer the embarrassing train wreck it had been. It's just that there isn't much (if any) love or passion for him. And that's a problem if you're running for president -- because as much as issues and all that stuff matter, there's also an emotional part of it for voters.
Anyway. This (here, totally stripped of its context) quote-- "They have needs, and you have needs. And your appetite has to be calibrated thusly." -- kind of us made us a feel a little bit for Sandra Lee.
Scenes from the rally to repeal the NY SAFE Act
Thousand of people rallied outside the Capitol Thursday for the repeal of the NY SAFE Act. Among those there: NRA president David Keene (Cap Con/NY Now has video). And Carl Paladino was also there, apparently in low-profile mode. [TU CapCon] [State of Politics]
A lot of the talk from the speakers was you might expect at a rally against a gun control law: a focus on the 2nd Amendment (and other rights), freedom, charges of government overreach, chants of "Cuomo's gotta go." And there were also some of the caricatures you might expect -- both in the people rallying, and in their messages (there were at a few führer references).
But there was also a lot of talk about things you might not expect if you're only familiar with these sorts of rallies via blurbs on the news. And it's the kind of stuff you could easily come across at, say, an anti-fracking rally (or whatever the issue): the importance of voting and voter registration, paying attention to what you're elected representatives are doing, problems with the legislative process and back room dealing.
Here are a bunch of scenes from the rally...
Chris Gibson ranked as most "liberal" Republican in the House
The National Journal does an annual vote rating of Congress members (methodology), then it ranks the representatives and senators on "liberal" and "conservative" scales. And this year, in National Journal's estimate, Chris Gibson ranked as the most liberal House Republican -- with a voting record more liberal than that of 10 House Democrats.
From an accompanying article about Gibson:
Gibson placed the furthest left of all House Republicans in National Journal's 2012 ideological vote ratings. Whether that means he is the most liberal, the most moderate, or perhaps just the least conservative member of the GOP conference is in the eye of the beholder. The way Gibson sees it, he landed near the middle of both ratings in his first term because he balances a pro-growth and an anti-debt agenda, all while representing a district (New York's 19th) that Obama carried twice.
"This is the kind of representation that gets things done, that creates jobs," Gibson said. "We can bring people together in an era rife with partisanship and divide."
After the jump, a quick scan of the ratings for other regional Congress members, and little more about the NY 20th, which Gibson represented until the most recent redistricting. (We'll just say it now... yes, there's a graph.)
A quick scan of Andrew Cuomo's 2013 budget
Now with descriptive podium.
Two weeks ago was the State of the State address (the talk), this week: the budget proposal (the walk). The budget is a big deal for the state, because it's the Cuomo administration putting its money (actually, all our money) where its mouth is.
Like last year, this year's budget presentation didn't include the dire pronouncements about gloom and doom that had been so common in previous years. As Andrew Cuomo said at Tuesday's presentation, "It's not supposed to be traumatic." He even called this year's budget proposal "simple and straightforward." (Those are always in the eye of the budget beholder -- we are talking about a plan to spend $130something billion here.)
So let's get to it...
The state Senate 46th election is over. Finally.
Democrat Cecelia Tkaczyk has won the election for state Senate 46th over Republican George Amedore (unofficially). More than two months after election day. After absentee ballot counts. After court challenges. After a counting of challenged ballots. By 19 votes (or so). [TU CapCon]
Tkacyzk had trailed Amedore by 35 votes, but she gained the advantage after 90 additional ballots were opened and counted in Ulster County Friday morning. [YNN] [Daily Freeman]
Said Tkaczyk in a statement: "It is an incredible privilege to have been selected by the people of the 46th District to serve as their State Senator. No one believed our campaign had a chance in a district hand-carved by Republicans, and yet the power of good ideas and a strong campaign proved itself."
Said Amedore to the Business Review after the count: "I just know one thing: This has got to stop. ... The election happened in November. It's mid-January. Let's get this behind us and just move on." [Biz Review]
The state Senate 46th covers a large chunk of western Albany County, and much of Schenectady County, Montgomery County, Greene County, and Ulster County (pdf map).
This result is notable for a few reasons:
New gun control legislation passed, signed
Andrew Cuomo signing the legislation shortly after 5 pm on Tuesday.
The state Assembly passed -- and Andrew Cuomo signed (video) -- the NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act Tuesday afternoon. The state Senate passed the gun legislation late Monday night. The law takes effect immediately, though many provisions in it don't start right away.
The law is notable for a few reasons. New York now has the strictest assault rifle ban in the nation. And, from a symbolic and political perspective, New York becomes the first state to pass new gun control legislation after the Newtown shootings.
A quick overview of what's included in the law is after the jump, as well as a rundown of how Capital Region legislators voted.
A quick scan of State of the State 2013
There will be all kinds of coverage of Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address everywhere over the next few days. But for right now, here's a quick, scannable overview of this afternoon's speech -- enough to get you through a conversation today -- you'll find it after the jump.
Spoilers: "innovation hot spots," upstate New York, casinos, equality, and gun control.
State Senate is about sharing now, apparently
With Andrew Cuomo supplying a carefully choreographed order to the executive branch of New York State government, it's good to know that we can continue to count on the state Senate to provide the political drama we've come to expect from the Capitol.
The latest turn in the ongoing drama: Republicans and the Independent Democratic Conference -- a group of four (now five) breakaway Democrats -- announced today that they've formed a coalition to grab control of the chamber.
From the press release:
Under the unprecedented agreement, the Independent Democratic Conference will be formally recognized as a third, permanent Senate conference. Senator [Jeff] Klein and Senator [Dean] Skelos will assume the roles of Conference Leader for their respective conferences and will administer joint and equal authority over (1) the daily senate agenda (a/k/a the "Active List," which lays out which bills will be voted on each day), (2) the state budget, (3) appointments to state and local boards, and (4) leadership and committee assignments for their respective conferences. Under the agreement, coalition leaders will need to work together to lead the Senate forward. The new agreement will also provide for a process by which the title of Temporary President will alternate between the two conference leaders every two weeks. Therefore, the role of the temporary president will be constitutionally fulfilled at all times.
What could go wrong? And if we're going to have coalition government, maybe the Senate should make like Parliament, with Question Time for the Temporary President and yelling backbenchers. We'd watch that.
The development included extra drama in the form a B plot line involving Democrat Malcolm Smith, who was part of the Senate leadership when it was briefly (and chaotically) under Democratic control. It came out today he's joined the IDC. (We hope there was some sort of dramatic reveal.) [NY Post]
So what?
Push for pot, now with lobbying muscle
Noted: a Colorado-based marijuana company has hired influential lobbying firm Patricia Lynch Associates to push for marijuana legalization in New York State. [NYDN]
One of the main arguments being floated for pot legalization: tax revenue. State senator Diane Savino -- who's been pushing for medical marijuana since at least earlier this year -- told the NY Post earlier this month that licensing and taxing could generate close to $1 billion for the state. We'd be interested in the math behind that figure. We did some back-of-the-envelope estimating a few years back and figured the state could probably pull in at least $230 million. [WSJ] [NY Post]
Andrew Cuomo has publicly been less than enthusiastic about the idea. [State of Politics]
Voters in both Colorado and Washington State recently approved measures to legalize recreational use of pot. Estimates of the revenue potential from taxation in those states are in the $300-$400 million/year range. [CNN] [US News]
Eighteen states and DC now allow medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures -- even though it's still illegal under federal law. A Siena poll reported this past May that New Yorkers support legalizing medical marijuana 57-33.
Earlier on AOA: Pot prices around New York State (2011)
photo: Flickr user Caveman 92223
General election results 2012
Updated 10 am Wednesday
Here's a quick scan of results from elections around the Capital Region Tuesday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial, and some are bound to change as things settle.
OK, on with the results...
Surprises in local state Senate races?
A couple of interesting things about two local state Senate races in the Siena poll out today:
Roy McDonald
Here's how respondents said they'd be voting in the state Senate 43rd election:
Kathy Marchione (R): 40%
Roy McDonald (I): 29%
Robin Andrews (D): 25%
(MOE +/- 4.4%)
Yep, Roy McDonald -- who stopped campaigning after narrowly losing the Republican primary -- polled ahead of the Democrat in the race, Robin Andrews. Two questions that occurred to us because of this result:
+ Could Roy McDonald have won the general election if he kept going?
+ And/or, is McDonald's relatively strong showing in the poll just an artifact of incumbency? Of all the candidates in the field, he's the one most likely to be known by voters. And 67% of respondents in the Siena poll said they didn't know about/didn't have an opinion of Robin Andrews.
Tonko/Dieterich Twitter debate
The Daily Gazette's David Lombardo hosted a Twitter debate for the 20th Congressional District race between incumbent Paul Tonko (D) and challenger Bob Dieterich (R) yesterday -- it's embedded (with free access) at that link.
How was it? Not bad!
Sure, the candidates weren't able to go on at length about their positions -- though that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Most debates are relatively high in "blah blah blah" content. But on Twitter the candidates had to get right to the point. Considering the way a lot of these sorts of discussions go off the rails because of the candidates and/or moderators, some built-in constraints can be helpful (up next: dueling political haiku).
Of course, a Twitter debate by itself would be insufficient -- but part of a broader mix of live debates, interviews, exchanges, it's a good changeup. So +1 for trying something new. We'd like to see it again.
Shake up for horse racing in New York
Two important recent developments about horse racing in New York:
State takeover of NYRA
The Cuomo admin announced today (Monday) that Andrew Cuomo has signed the legislation that creates the "NYRA Reorganization Board" -- basically the committee that will carry out the three-year state takeover of NYRA, a plan that was announced this past spring. This is important because NYRA is the org that runs the Saratoga Race Course, Belmont, and Aqueduct. From the press release:
"New York State's racing industry is a major economic driver in the state, supporting thousands of jobs and attracting tourists from around the world," Governor Cuomo said. "New York taxpayers and the betting public deserve a racing industry that is managed competently and does not neglect the health and safety of the horses. The NYRA Reorganization Board will restore public trust, accountability, and transparency to the racing industry in our state, so New York can continue to offer one of the most exciting, enjoyable, safe horse racing experiences in the nation."
The reorganization board will have 17 members -- Cuomo gets to pick seven of them, the Senate and Assembly two each, and the current NYRA board five, with a chairperson nominated by Cuomo.
NYRA has been a scandal-plagued trainwreck for years, so it will be interesting to see if the state takeover smooths things out.
Horse safety
On Friday the Cuomo admin announced a series of reforms aimed at promoting the safety of horses racing on tracks in New York.
Roy McDonald stops his campaign
In a statement today Roy McDonald announced that he will not "actively campaign" in the upcoming general election for the state Senate 43rd.
As you know, the incumbent state Senator from Saratoga County lost the Republican primary to Kathy Marchione -- the election came to down to absentee ballots, and McDonald came up about 100 votes short. McDonald could have continued in the general election on the Independence Party line. [State of Politics] [TU] [Daily Gazette]
From McDonald's statement:
Moving forward, I will be supporting all Republican candidates - including Kathy Marchione - in the General Election, because I believe maintaining the Republican Majority in the New York State Senate will continue to positively change state government. It is important to recognize the need for checks and balances in our democracy, which can only be assured by a multi-party system.
Marchione's challenge of McDonald was prompted by the senator's vote in favor of the Marriage Equality Act. Of the four Republican state senators who voted for the act, two survived primary challenges, another chose not to run, and McDonald lost. He didn't mention the vote in his statement.
Even so, McDonald will be remembered for that vote on the historic legislation -- and his awesomely non-politician statement that preceded it:
"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing.
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f--- it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.
"I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this."
His vote and statement made him a temporary viral star online and won him a relative avalanche of campaign funding. [AOA] [NYDN] [AOA]
Political memorabilia show
This Saturday at the Best Western Sovereign Hotel (across from UAlbany) there's a political memorabilia show. From the blurbage:
100'S of Collectors of American Political Campaign material with gather Saturday in Albany starting at 9:00 a.m. to buy sell and trade OBAMA, ROMNEY and ABE LINCOLN campaign buttons and other political and historic material.
As you might imagine, threre's a whole world of campaign memorabilia collectors. They even have their own org. And they collect all sorts of stuff -- buttons, stickers, the always popular "ephemera."
The show at the Best Western is from 9 am-2 pm. It's free to get in.
Good design leads to electoral success?
Winning design?
Observation: the results of our campaign yard sign design primary matched up surprisingly well with what actually happened in last week's primaries.
Here's the breakdown...
State and local primary election results 2012
Here's a quick scan of results from state and local primary elections around the Capital Region Thursday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial.
The boards of election from Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Columbia, Washington, Greene, Montgomery counties have results posted online.
These primary results are important because some of the winners will face little or no competition in the general election. And in the case of the state Senate 43rd -- Roy McDonald vs. Kathy Marchione for the Republican line -- the primary is too close to call.
OK, here are the results...
Political yard sign design primary, part II
Oh, the polarizing typefaces.
Yesterday we started our political yard sign design primary with a look at signs for Albany County DA, and a few local state Senate races. Today, we move onto a handful of local Assembly races. And there a lot of signs. So let's get to it.
As in part one, we got a trio of accomplished local designers to critique signs. Here are the results...
Political yard sign design primary, part I
In this primary, your stance on kerning can make all the difference.
The primary elections for state and local offices is this Thursday. And that means lawns, medians, parking lots, and other spots all over the Capital Region are currently adorned with political signs. So. Many. Political signs.
You can't help not seeing them. They're everywhere. So we thought it'd be fun to look at the signs a little differently, a little more fundamentally -- as design objects. And we got a trio of accomplished local designers to critique the design of signs from a handful of local races.
Because of the vast herds of signs this year, we've broken the design primary up into two days.
Today: design primary results from races for Albany County DA, State Senate 43rd, and State Senate 44th...
Kirsten Gillibrand on the Daily Show
Kirsten Gillibrand was on the Daily Show last night. KG was there to talk about the Democratic National Convention, and getting more women involved with politics The video is embedded above. And part two is post jump.
Increasing the number of women in politics is one of KG's frequent focuses. She was on a panel about topic yesterday at the convention -- she talked about her 2006 run against John Sweeney and her grandmother, Polly Noonan (a key figure in the political machine that ran Albany). [TU CapCon]
Watching these Daily Show segments reminded us of how Gillibrand often doesn't come across as a typical politician. Instead of the measured, bland presence that many politicians usually have on TV, KG registers as enthusiastic. That's drawn her some flak, but it makes her stand out. And she comes through the TV more like a real person. That's a pretty useful skill for a politician.
Many chances to see candidates for state Assembly and Senate, Albany County DA
A lot of Capital Region politicians are currently missing their hats because they've thrown them in to some ring or the other. That's what happens when a lot of incumbents decide not to run. The result: some very long slates for offices.
Something that might help you narrow the field: seeing the candidate for a race in person in one place. There are a bunch of chances this week (listed post jump). Bring a scorecard.
That (anti) fracking rally in downtown Albany
A crowd of about 1,000 people showed up in downtown Albany Monday to rally against hydrofracking. The crowd gathered in the Corning Preserve, then filled the block on Broadway in front of the the DEC building, moved up the middle of State Street, and finally to Capitol Park for a lineup speakers. [LoHud Albany Watch] [@JonCampbellGAN] [@JonCampbellGAN] [@_1134] [@AmandaSavarese]
The anti-fracking movement is fired up right now because the Cuomo administration's decision on whether to allow the natural gas extraction method is reportedly near -- and the word circulating is that the admin will allow some fracking in the state. (Cuomo played down those rumors recently.) Not surprisingly, much of the anti-fracking message today was directed at Andrew Cuomo. [CBS News] [TU] [Reuters]
The decision -- whenever it comes out -- will be a big deal.
How to win a mayors race
A rare time out from the intensity of the race for (left to right) "Gary McCarthy," "Lou Rosamilia," and "Jerry Jennings."
While many politicians are just gearing up for the fall elections, some Capital Region politicians have been at it since the beginning of summer.
The nightly mayors race at the Tri-City ValleyCats games have kept Albany mayor "Jerry Jennings," Troy mayor "Lou Rosamilia," and Schenectady mayor "Gary McCarthy" in peak political shape.
Hardened with the fire of intense competition, honed to a razor sharp edge by experience, the three mayors now graciously offer some tips to other local politicians on how to win...
Behold, the Andrew Cuomo bobblehead
Monday night was Andrew Cuomo bobblhead night at the ValleyCats game. The bobblhead on the right is the one snagged by Jessica R.
Much like the actual Andrew Cuomo, the the bobblehead Andrew Cuomo apparently enjoyed strong popularity. People were lined up ahead of time in order to score one of the 1,500 bobbles. Inevitable next question: will bobblehead Andrew Cuomo run for the bobblehead presidency? The world holds its breath, nodding its head gently, waiting for an answer.
Sadly, the life of a bobblehead can be tough -- a lesson bobblhead Andrew Cuomo found out last night.
Earlier on AOA: Kim's collection of Capital Region/New York State bobbleheads
photo: Jessica R
You might have heard: Andrew Cuomo is popular
The Quinnipiac Poll out today reports that Andrew Cuomo's approval rating has hit 71 percent -- the highest level for a New York governor as measured by the Q poll since George Pataki hit 81 percent shortly after 9/11.
Cuomo's approval mark hit a high mark of 77 percent in the Siena poll in February. The polling over the last few months prompted a Washington Post writer to declare Cuomo "most popular governor in the country" back in April.
Of course, if you've followed New York politics for any length of time, the next natural thought is: there's no where to go now but down.
A few other bits from the Q poll:
+ 78 percent of respondents supported some sort of raise in the state's minimum wage.
+ Respondents supported making teacher evaluations public 56-40.
+ Respondents support "the creation of Las Vegas-type casinos" 56-33 -- but support for changing the state constitution to do so is 49-42.
Poll: New Yorkers continue to support medical marijuana, not sure about fracking and MMA
New Yorkers support the legalization of medical marijuana 57-33, according to the Siena poll out today.
That result isn't really surprising -- a few other polls in recent years have also registered support for medical marijuana. The only subgroups in this new Siena poll not responding with majority support: Republicans and conservatives. Also, the income group registering the most support for it: $100k+ at 68 percent.
There have been bills in the legislature over the last few years that would legalize medical marijuana. And state Senator Diane Savino has picked the issue up again this year. But the chances of a bill making it through are probably small without support from Andrew Cuomo -- and he appeared to indicate last month he's not on board. [WSJ] [State of Politics]
We're curious to see the results if people were asked about straight out legalization or decriminalization of pot.
A few other bits from the poll...
Poll: strong support for minimum wage increase
$8.50
A large majority of New Yorkers support raising the state's minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 per hour, according to the Siena poll out today. Of the people polled, support for the increase ran 78-17. The group registering the lowest support for the increase was Republicans -- and even among that group, 58 percent support it.
A few other interesting bits from today's poll:
+ One of Andrew Cuomo's strategies since becoming governor has appeared to be finding ways to allow the legislature to look good (while still doing what he wants it to do). It seems to be working: the number of people saying they have a "favorable" opinion of the Assembly and Senate are at "highest ever" levels* -- in the upper 40s.
+ The Occupy Wall Street movement registered its lowest favorability so far -- 38/52 favorable/unfavorable. The Tea Party's favorable/unfavorable: 38/58.
+ If the presidential election was now: Obama 57 | Romney 37.
+ The percent of people who said "don't know" or have "no opinion" of Kirsten Gillibrand is 25 percent -- the same as it was back in January 2011. We suspect this is roughly the same percentage of people who would feel open about admitting they don't follow politics or government at all. Chuck Schumer's don't know/no opinion: 9. See also: Chuck who?
+ KG still easily beats any of the potential Republicans in a hypothetical matchup for the US Senate.
+ The percent of people who agreed that New York State is on the "right track": 55 percent, a "highest ever" level.
* "Trends reflect questions asked at least twice since the first Siena College Poll in February 2005."
Occupy Albany re-emerges
On Pearl Street this afternoon.
Occupy Albany reminded people today that it's still kicking by gathering in Lafayette and Academy parks and marching around downtown Albany. The group is planning to celebrate "May Day's historic roots in the labor movement." Also: "It is worth noting, however, that celebration is scheduled to continue past the 11pm park curfew." (This feels familiar.)
Two people were arrested by State Police today for setting up a table without a permit in the state-owned Lafayette Park. [TU]
Hey, that's Chris Gibson and... Alec Baldwin
Jack Donaghy has just told Chris Gibson a terrible secret about the Trivection oven.
Among Alec Baldwin's stops this week in DC while lobbying for National Endowment for the Arts funding: Chris Gibson.
The Congressman's office says Baldwin wanted to thank Gibson for his support of arts funding. Baldwin has been working with a group called Americans for the Arts to rally support for the NEA. At the National Press Club yesterday he called Gibson a "hero" of the arts on Capitol Hill. [NPC] [TU CapCon]
Last year Gibson was one of only a handful of House Republicans to vote against a cut to NEA funding. The measure still passed by eight votes. From a political perspective, Gibson's support makes sense. It'd be he hard to represent the Hudson Valley and somehow be seen as anti-arts. And his new district -- NY-19, if he's re-elected -- covers even more of the Hudson Valley and Catskills. [Americans for the Arts]
Gibson's office says the Congressman invited Baldwin to the district to co-host an arts event. Alec Baldwin in Kinderhook would have a certain State and Main quality...
(Press release post-jump.)
photo: Chris Gibson's office
New Congressional districts for the Capital Region
Here's the map of new Congressional districts for New York State approved by a panel of federal judges (large format). The state is down two districts, from 29 to 27, after the most recent census.
Under the new lines, the Capital Region is now spread over three districts: NY 19 (currently Chris Gibson), NY 20 (currently Paul Tonko), and NY 21 (currently Bill Owens). There's some significant reorganization, especially in the core of the area -- the cities of Albany, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Troy are now in the same district (they had been split between districts represented by Tonko and Gibson).
The New York Times has posted a very good interactive map comparing the new and old districts.
All the new maps from the federal judges are embedded after the jump.
New York State scores a "D"
A project called the "State Integrity Investigation" has released report cards for each state's "corruption risk." And, surprise (not really), New York State scored poorly.
New York State's score -- 65%, a D -- ranked #36. The state had low scores in categories such as public access to info, state pension fund management, budget processes, and redistricting.
The project is a collaboration between The Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity, and Public Radio International. The scores were determined by journalists in each state based on a set of 330 question (apparently not among the questions: "Are bills passed by sleep-deprived legislators in the middle of the night?). In New York, the journalist was the Gotham Gazette's David King.
New Jersey was the top-ranked state (87%, B+), Georgia was the lowest (49%, F).
The Capital Region's legislative districts, before and after the proposed new lines
How Capital Region state Assembly districts could shape up.
Update: Andrew Cuomo says he'll veto the new lines, which probably means negotiations and adjustments. [AP/WSJ]
____
The task force in charge of drawing new districts for the state Senate and Assembly released its slate of proposed maps this week. As this is New York State politics, there was much criticism. And we'll get to some of that in a bit.
The Capital Region could potentially end up being affected by a lot by the proposed new district lines. Most significantly, the task force is proposing to add a new Senate district that would cover the southwest corner of the area. But there are also shifts in the city of Albany, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Troy.
Reading about all this, we found it kind of hard to keep all the old and new maps straight. So we've we've put together before-and-after versions of the Capital Region's legislative districts -- the current districts side by side with the proposed new lines.
Citizens of the Capital Region, meet what could be your new gerrymanders...
Kirsten Gillibrand, SOPA/PIPA, 2016, and cake
There was some interesting blowback today for Kirsten Gillibrand on SOPA/PIPA -- federal legislation touted as a way for copyright holders to crack down on piracy, but in practice would muck up much of the internet. Under pressure from widespread online protest this week, Congressional leaders took the bills off the table today. [TechDirt] [Wired]
Both Chuck Schumer and KG were co-sponsors of PIPA (basically the Senate version of SOPA), and tech industry people in NYC organized a large protest (with actual, in-real-life people) outside the senators' office there on Wednesday. [BetaBeat]
Apparently in response to the protests and the pulling of the bill, KG (or her office) posted on her Facebook page today:
Whether passing the 9/11 Health Bill, repealing DADT, or my call to action for women, I have always urged New Yorkers to make their voices heard. There has been an outpouring of democracy in action over the last several weeks on PIPA & SOPA. While many of my colleagues and I have worked hard to address concerns with the current bill, it is clear this proposal will not create consensus on how to crack down on the real problem of online theft that threatens tens of thousands of New York jobs in a balanced way that ensures our tech companies will continue to flourish. It is time for Congress to take a step back and start over with both sides bringing their solutions to the table to find common ground towards solving this problem. New talks between stakeholders -- media companies, music and film companies, Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley here in New York is a critically needed step forward. Make no mistake, we must act to protect the theft of intellectual property that costs our economy billions in revenue -- but we must get it right without unintended consequences that could stifle the internet.
Which, in turn, prompted Markos Moulitsas (the Kos in Daily Kos) to argue that KG is "trying to have her cake, and eat it too, on PIPA." And the overarching reason, in his view: she's looking ahead to 2016 and a run for a White House.
[via @patrickboegel]
A quick scan of Andrew Cuomo's 2012 budget
Let me show you some PowerPoints...
Updated Tuesday at 6:30 pm.
Andrew Cuomo and his administration presented their proposed 2012-2013 budget this afternoon. The budget is a big deal for the state, because it's the Cuomo administration putting its money (actually, all our money) where its mouth is.
This year's presentation was less dramatic than last year -- there was no declaration of the state being "functionally bankrupt." Cuomo touted the measures taken in last year's budget for helping to make things easier this year. "We regained the public trust," he said, "That is a great gift and an awesome responsibility. Let's build on it this year, even higher, together." (pause for applause)
So, we watched the address and skimmed through the budget briefing docs so you don't have to. Here's a quick overview of Cuomo's proposed budget...
A quick scan of the State of the State 2012
Today's SOTS at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center
There will be all kinds of coverage of Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address everywhere over the next few days. But for right now, here's a quick, scannable overview of this afternoon's speech -- enough to get you through a conversation today -- you'll find it after the jump.
Spoilers: It mentions casino gambling and convention centers, and "reimagined" government.
Interesting in 2011: Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian
Outgoing Troy mayor Harry Tutunjian.
All this week we'll be highlighting some of the interesting people we've gotten to know over the past year.
After two terms, Harry Tutunjian steps down as the mayor of Troy this week. In his eight-year tenure as mayor, Tutunjian has overseen a lot of change in the Collar City: new development, the controversial demolition of the former city hall, and the plan for the new Riverfront Park which broke ground this week. Tutunjian's term was also marked by some rather public and acrimonious battles with the Troy city council.
One the things we've found interesting about Tutunjian is that he's made frequent use of Twitter -- to share news, answer questions from constituents, promote local businesses, make contacts, and jab political opponents. And while Twitter might not necessarily have always been the best venue, we think public officials communicating this way is generally a good thing. And we'd love to see more local officials follow Tutunjian's example.
So, as his last term as mayor comes to a close, we talked with @TroyMayor about his time in office, his leadership style, and the appeal of the Collar City.
Interesting in 2011: Mike Guidice & Jen Pursley Guidice
Hounds on the Hudson owners, and Albany chickens proponents, Mike and Jen.
All this week we'll be highlighting some of the interesting people we've gotten to know over the past year.
We've known about Hounds on the Hudson Mike and Jen for a while, but this year the owners of the local dog walking company became known more for chickens than for dogs.
When the city of Albany took away the chickens they'd been raising for years in the backyard of their Grand Street home, Mike and Jen, along with councilman Dominick Calsolaro and a group of dedicated volunteers, worked to amend a 10-year-old law that prohibits farm animals from being kept in Albany in order to allow for small urban chicken coops.
Word spread quickly through social media, and for a while it seemed that everywhere we went someone was talking about urban chickens. But the issue sparked other conversations about participation in local government and what it really means to be a progressive city. Regardless of the outcome, it was interesting to hear the various opinions.
The Albany chickens group campaigned, refined their ordinance and finally got it passed by the common council, but in the end Jerry Jennings vetoed the law and there were not enough votes on the council to override.
So after all of their efforts, Mike and Jen did not get their chickens back. We've been wondering what they did get out of the whole experience, and what, if anything, is next for Albany chickens.
The eviction of Occupy Albany
Occupy Albany took its protest on the road. Literally.
Updated Friday evening
Following the expiration of its permit Thursday morning, Occupy Albany was evicted from Academy Park that afternoon. City of Albany Department of General Services employees dismantled and removed tents as police watched.
Then things went a bit crazy -- Occupiers took their last tent on a tour of the city's streets before returning to the park. That's when police grabbed the last tent, the scene became chaotic, there was pepper spray, and a few arrests.
Here's a photo log of what we saw.
Occupy Albany, two months later
Occupy Albany's permit to continue the protest in Albany's Academy Park ran out at 7 am this morning, and it's possible they could be booted by the city tonight (though it doesn't appear likely, at this point). Update: The city ">moved in this afternoon and took down tents.
The Occupy protestors have been in Academy park since October. This seemed like a good time to ask some of the OA protestors about what effect they think they've had during the last two months -- and what happens next.
Occupy Albany's demand
After a two month encampment, Occupy Albany made its first official demand today.
After two months camped out in Albany's Academy Park -- and two days before they face potential eviction by the city -- Occupy Albany protestors made their first public demand today.
At a press conference amid the tents they announced they've decided to focus on separating politics from money. In a prepared statement occupiers argued "the voice of the people is drowned out by the corrupting influence that concentrated economic power exerts on the government."
The gerrymanders of New York State
A few figures from Citizen's Union's recent report on gerrymandering in New York State and what the org says is the resulting "pernicious decades-long erosion of our state's democracy and governance":
+ 96 percent of incumbents in the state legislature have been re-elected since 2002
+ the average margin of victory in contested races last year: 51 percent
+ 19 percent of general election state races were uncontested in 2010
Perhaps the most colorful of New York's gerrymanders: the Senate 51st -- AKA, "Lincoln Riding on a Vacuum Cleaner." Of course, the gerrymander's original habitat was Massachusetts.
[via @dannyhakim and NYDN]
Earlier on AOA:
+ Soapbox: Why I didn't vote last Tuesday
+ New York State ranked last in voter turnout
map: NYS LATFOR
Where New Yorkers stand on Occupy movement
A few bits from the Siena poll out today:
+ 71 percent of respondents said they had been paying at least "some" attention to the Occupy Wall Street movement.
+ 66 percent said Occupy protesters "do not" represent 99 percent of people (56 percent for Democrats, 80 for Republicans).
+ On whether Occupiers should be allowed to stay in parks 24 hours a day -- 57 percent said yes (67 percent of Democrats, 42 percent of Republicans).
+ Favorable/unfavorable: Occupy Wall Street 45/44 | Tea Party 28/60.
+ "Do you think there has been too much media coverage [of Occupy Wall Street movement], about the right amount of coverage, or not enough coverage?" 29 percent said too much, 46 percent right amount, 22 percent not enough. Republicans were split 41/41 on too much versus right amount.
It's been interesting watching reaction to the Occupy movement on Twitter and other places online. The reaction seems to range from automatic, uncritical support to contempt/borderline disgust. That's kind of remarkable for a movement/group whose message lacks sharp focus. Then again, maybe that allows everyone to project their own notions onto the situation.
Why I didn't vote last Tuesday
Tuesday was, of course, Election Day -- and for the third time in 12 years, I did not vote.
The first time I didn't vote was 1999. I turned 18 on October 3, was a freshman in college and was overwhelmed and misinformed about where to vote. The second time was in 2003. I had just moved to a new town and registered when changing my drivers license. The registration was never processed.
But this year, my absence from the polls was an active choice.
Arrests at Occupy Albany
One of the protesters being arrested.
State Police arrested approximately 25 Occupy Albany protesters in Lafayette Park shortly after 11 pm Saturday. The park is across the street from the Capitol and owned by the state -- the Cuomo administration instituted a curfew there in late October. This group of protesters had gathered in a deliberate attempt to see if there would be a response from the state. [TU]
As they were clearing the park, State Police said they would also arrest members of media in the park. Media members moved to the sidewalk, but then returned to the park and were not arrested.
Saturday afternoon, State Police had arrested an Occupy protester -- Bradley Russell -- in Lafayette Park for building an "illegal structure" there. Occupy Albany had sent out a press release Friday announcing that Russell intended to build the "freedom fort" as a protest against the state curfew. [TU] [OA press release, pasted after jump]
The Occupy Albany protest previously had been contained to the city-owned Academy Park, which is directly adjacent to Lafayette. Officials from the city of Albany and Albany County have said local police would not arrest or charge protesters staying in the city-owned side of the park.
Here's a tweet-by-tweet of how things went down Saturday night, with photos...
Election results highlights 2011
Here's a quick scan of results from local elections Tuesday. This is not a comprehensive list, just some highlights. Numbers are unofficial.
The boards of election from Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties have results posted online.
We need a better opposition party
Someone's else's name here. Please.
Standing at the voting booth today, looking at all the unopposed races, we thought: Albany needs a better opposition party -- whether it's Republicans, Greens, Technocrats, the Party Party. Something, anything to make the Democrats at least have to earn it.
You know, there's a small mischievous thrill from voting "none of the above" as a write-in, but it doesn't really help anything. And voting for voting's sake is hollow.
More photos from Occupy Albany
There's now a Flickr pool for photos from Occupy Albany, and a handful of photographers are contributing to it.
Sebastien has continued to update his ongoing photoset from Occupy of Albany (that's his photo above), as has Tim Raab. Their latest photos give a bit of a sense of how the scene is evolving as the protesters settle in for what apparently is intended to be a long term stay. One example: there's now a "People's Potty."
Occupy representatives met with city officials this week about some of the health and safety issues that might arise because of a long term stay at the park. There didn't seem to be much specific that came out of the meeting other than agreement to keep talking and working together. [Fox23] [TU]
photo: Sebastien Barre
Sights and sounds from Occupy Albany, and a focus on Cuomo
Here's a nice video from Occupy Albany by Bhawin Suchak. It give you a sense of the scene there. (It's worth mentioning the piece is sympathetic to the cause. There's a whole thread here about how orgs and social movements are now creating media coverage of themselves -- but we'll leave that to political scientists and media theorists.) And here's a new photoset from Sunday by Timothy Raab.
Andrew Cuomo
One of the apparent results of the stories circulating that Andrew Cuomo wanted the police to arrest the Occupy Albany protesters for violating park curfew is that Cuomo is emerging as a/one focus of the protest (or, at least, the coverage of the protest -- the media get bored when the story doesn't change). As Jimmy Vielkind asked in a headline this morning: "Is Occupy Albany about Cuomo? Is it now?" There's already been a "Cuomoville" sign (historical context). [Gotham Gazette] [TU]
Ron Canestrari said today that pressure for extending the Millionaire's Tax has been increasing among state politicians -- in part because of the Occupy movements. [State of Politics]
Occupy Albany
Occupy Albany protestors in Lafayette Park today.
The Occupy Albany protest began Friday afternoon. Protestors gathered with signs at Lafayette Park, right across from the state Capitol.
So, who's down there? And what are they hoping they'll achieve?
Here are some of the faces of Occupy Albany and why they were there...
Toward occupying Albany, via consensus
The crowd expressing approval during the general assembly.
Update: Here are some the people were at the first day of Occupy Albany -- and why they were there.
____
Occupy Albany, the local incarnation of the Occupy movement, has decided to start its occupation this Friday (October 21) at noon in Lafayette/Academy Park (the park across Washington Ave from the Capitol).
The decision came via the group's "general assembly" Sunday night at the Grand Street Community Arts. Curious about the movement, and interested to hear about how it might be manifesting locally, we stopped by the meeting. It was at times remarkable -- and frustrating.
Here are a few observations and thoughts...
Bill Clinton speaking in Albany September 27
Update: Here's video of the speech.
____
Shh, don't tell anyone: Bill Clinton will be speaking in Albany next week (Tuesday, September 27).
The former president will be the keynote speaker at a conference at the Empire State Plaza for the regional economic councils set up by the Cuomo administration. The event is open to the public, but there's a ticket lottery. You must enter by the end of this Tuesday (September 20) and confirm your intent to attend within 24 hours of being notified.
Oddly, the Cuomo admin seems to be underplaying the event a bit. On the website for the economic councils, it's just billed as "Governor Andrew M. Cuomo/ REGIONAL COUNCIL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE/ September 27, 2011- Albany, NY." Stars are always so touchy about whose name goes above the title...
Bill Clinton was last here in March when he spoke at UAlbany.
[via Biz Review]
photo: Flickr user World Economic Forum
The Pataki-for-president thing keeps going -- somehow
This George-Pataki-wants-to-run-for-president thing just won't go away -- probably because he keeps pushing it! He's now expected to announce... something... this weekend in Iowa. [AP/WP] [CNN] [Des Moines Register]
At Five Thirty Eight, Nate Silver has analyzed the Republican field and determined there's room for Pataki -- somewhere behind Mitt Romney, who's depicted as a gas giant (maybe we're reading the graph incorrectly).
All this talk is ridiculous. Because, as we said last year when there was low level hum about Pataki in 2012, and we'll repeat it now:
Why it's implausible that George Pataki will be President of the United States
photo: Flickr user Center for American Progress Action Fund
Speed reading what local Congressional reps said about the debt ceiling deal
Yes, No, Yes, No
The federal debt-ceiling drama ended today after the Senate passed the bill raising the ceiling, and Barack Obama signed it late this afternoon. [NYT] [NYT]
No one seems happy about the deal -- a fact reflected in the votes and comments from local Congressional reps, who split on how they voted...
Lewis Black on Albany
One of our favorite Lewis Black lines, about mad cow disease: "What were these ranchers thinking when they started feeding cows to other cows? Hey, when I eat human, I get a little crazy myself!"
Comedian and playwright Lewis Black is heading for Albany in a few months to do his stand-up act at The Palace. Black is well known for his rants and observations about politics, which is pretty much our local sport.
So we gave him a call to ask what he thinks about some of the things that have been going on lately at the state Capitol.
An animated account of the Marriage Equality Act
The recent passage of the Marriage Equality Act, as only NMA -- the animated Taiwanese news -- could report it:
[via Politics on the Hudson]
Earlier on AOA: New York Senate passes Marriage Equality Act, Andrew Cuomo signs it shortly after
New York Senate passes Marriage Equality Act, Andrew Cuomo signs it shortly after
A few scenes from the state Capitol Friday night.
The state Senate passed the Marriage Equality Act 33-29 Friday night.
Earlier in the evening, the Assembly passed amendments to the bill that included increased protections for religious organizations that choose not to participate in same-sex marriages.
Andrew Cuomo signed the bill shortly before midnight on Friday. It takes effect 30 days after his signature.
Recaps, quotes and pics from the vote after the jump...
Same-sex marriage vote: corn-hold
The Daily Show takes on the state Senate's choice of issues to address.
And because we know you're hanging on every development in this state vegetable drama, contrary to that new report in the clip, only the Senate has voted in favor of corn. The grain (yes, not actually a vegetable) is backed by Republicans in the Democratic majority Assembly.
Is same-sex marriage legal in New York, yet?
That's the question everyone keeps asking. And the legislature seems to be taking forever. Seriously, if the state Senate can vote on whether corn should be the official state vegetable, you'd think they could move this issue along a little faster.
To make it easy to keep track of what's happening, we've created a single-serve site: IsSame-SexMarriageLegalinNY.com.
It gets right to the point.
You can follow it on Twitter: @SSMNewYork.
Marriage equality rally
Today's marriage equality rally outside the Capitol.
Several hundred people rallied outside the state Capitol Tuesday afternoon for a last minute push for marriage equality. The rally included speeches by families, clergy, gay rights activists, union reps and legislators.
Jim Alesi, the first Republican in the state Senate to publicly declare he'd be voting for the Marriage Equality Act, was one of the first people to stand up and speak at the rally. "I'm a Republican," Alesi joked with the crowd. "I was born that way."
The Republican senator said he lost a lot of friends when he decided to vote in favor of marriage equality. "I think I have some new friends," he told the crowd, which cheered in response.
Alesi said that at one point he was anguishing over the vote, but not anymore. "Passing marriage equality is the most important thing I can do, I think, in my 20-year history as a legislator."
"My name begins with A," he told the crowd, noting he's the first Republican called during votes in the Senate. "I am proud to be a Republican. And I will also be proud to be the first Republican to vote for marriage equality in this state."
After the jump, a look at the rest of the rally...
NYC taxi invasion
Manhattan to Albany would be a rather expensive fare. (About $300 before tip, according to this fare calculator.)
Summer emails:
NYC taxis have invaded downtown Albany! Apparently they're in town for some sort of protest, but it was strange sight. The photos (attached) doesn't do it justice.
There was a mass taxi sighting at the Exit 24 tolls this morning, too.
The cabs are part of a rally against legislation that would let livery drivers in the city pick up passengers who hail them in northern Manhattan and the four non-Manhattan boroughs (the cabs are upset because they say the law would cut into their business). The Bloomberg admin is pushing the legislation, and apparently it's trying to route around a city council traffic jam. [NY Post] [NYT] [Gothamist]
More photos via Summer after the jump.
Update: Sean reports that many of the taxis were ticketed.
Roy McDonald: viral star
Roy McDonald's now-famous line about his switch on same-sex marriage -- "Well, f--- it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing." -- has made him a small-scale viral star online.
On Buzzfeed, a site that "tracks the web's obsessions in real time," the post about McDonald's line has racked up more than 82,000 likes on Facebook. (It also earned him the "badass" and "win" badges.) Searches on Google for "Roy McDonald" shot up to a level almost 20 times the average rate after his comments started spreading (that's relative, of course, we doubt there was mass googling of him before this). And, in a sentence we never thought we'd type, there was a story about Roy McDonald on TMZ (11k FB likes).
Comments praising McDonald's switch have been showing up on his Facebook page's wall at a healthy clip. His page is promoting his position on the issue, with a profile pic that says he's "standing up for your equal rights." He also a "Stand with Roy" petition. And he's asking for campaign contributions ("a little bit will go a long way towards silencing the critics").
Also: The column by the Post-Star editor Ken Tingley about McDonald's switch is worth reading.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Roy McDonald will vote yes on same-sex marriage
+ To: Roy McDonald, From: Bombers and Matt Baumgartner, Re: marriage equality
Assembly speeches on same-sex marriage
New York Now has edited together a handful of clips from speeches in the Assembly yesterday ahead of the vote on the Marriage Equality Act. Some of the speeches are passionate and thoughtful.
How local Assembly members voted yesterday:
Yes: Canestrari, McEneny, Reilly
No: Amedore, Jordan, Tedisco, McLaughlin
Roy McDonald will vote yes on same-sex marriage
The Capitol media Twitter feeds erupted late this afternoon with news that state Senator Roy McDonald -- who reps Rensselaer County and most of Saratoga County -- will vote yes on the bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. That brings that vote count in favor to 31 (one short of a majority).
Said McDonald to the Times Union's Jimmy Vielkind:
"I'm trying to do the right thing. Rather than wait I worked with the governor ... I'm not out to alienate anybody. This is driven by compassion. ... My lifestyle is my lifestyle -- I don't want anyone telling me or my children what to do."
McDonald, as quoted by the NYDN's Ken Lovett:
"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing.
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f--- it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.
And McDonald quotes via tweets by NYT's Danny Hakim:
"I think I'm doing the right thing, it's the appropriate thing, and if the public respects that, I'm grateful. If they don't... then I move on. ..."
"I'm tired of blowhard radio people, blowhard television people, blowhard newspapers. They can take the job & shove it."
McDonald had voted "no" the last time around, and he's said for weeks that he was undecided on the issue. He had been the subject of some intense lobbying lately, including a billboard along I-787 urging him to support same-sex marriage. He becomes the second Republican Senator to say he'll vote "yes."
There's a clip of McDonald talking about his decision, after the jump.
Andrew Cuomo submitted a bill today that would legalize same-sex marriage (the bill is embedded after the jump). From the memo for "The Marriage Equality Act":
Section 3 of this bill would add new Section 10-a to the Domestic Relations Law (DRL) providing that: (1) a marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex; (2) no government treatment or legal status, effect, right, benefit, privilege, protection or responsibility relating to marriage shall differ based on the parties to the marriage being or having been of the same sex rather than a different sex; and, (3) all relevant gender-specific language set forth in or referenced by New York law shall be construed in a gender-neutral manner.
The Cuomo admin says the bill aims to keep civil marriage separate from "the religious institution of marriage." One of the provisions of the bill amends the current law "to make clear that no member of the clergy acting in such capacity may be required to perform any marriage."
The bill would take effect 30 days after it's signed.
A similar bill has passed the Assembly in previous years and is expected to do so again. Dean Skelos has said the Senate could have a vote on the bill this week. [Daily Politics]
Andrew Cuomo would like you to pay attention to the road
The Cuomo admin proposed legislation that would make it illegal to use any portable electronic device while driving (exception: phone with a hands-free device). From the release:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he will introduce new legislation that will crack down on drivers caught using a portable electronic device including blackberrys, iPhones, i-pads, laptop computers, gaming devices and any other portable device, or talking on a cell phone without a hands free device, while driving. The bill would impose unprecedented penalties drivers caught using such a device by adding three points on a driver's license in order to curb the dramatic rise of this dangerous activity. Governor Cuomo's legislation would also make driving while using any portable electronic device a primary, rather than just a secondary offense, meaning that drivers can now be stopped solely if they are found to be using such a device while driving.
As it is now, you can't be stopped specifically for texting or phoning while driving -- you have to be pulled over for some over offense (say, crossing the double yellow because you weren't watching) and then you can be tagged for using your phone.
You might think you can text and drive with no problem -- we're all above average drivers, right (oh, wait...) -- but you're probably wrong. There's research that indicates a distracted driver is about as bad as a driver with a .08 blood alcohol level, which is the legal limit for drunk driving. (The New York Times produced a good series about the risks of distracted driving.)
The Cuomo admin hasn't posted the actual bill, yet, so there are still some questions. Among them: what about dashboard GPS devices (trying to find out where you're going can make you forget about where you're going). And automakers are starting to put dashboard computers into cars.
There's already a bill in the legislature that would make texting while driving a primary offense.
photo: Flickr user mrJasonWeaver
Kirsten Gillibrand's push for open government
Kirsten Gillibrand has been pushing the cause of open public data this week. The clip above is her presentation at the nerd-wonk Personal Democracy Forum on Monday -- she talked about her office's disclosure of schedules and earmarks and how's she's pushed for similar disclosure for all Congressional members.
KG also announced this week that she's co-sponsoring the "Public Online Information Act," a bill that would require public info to be made available online in a searchable format before it could be considered public.
It's good to see this kind of support for open data initiatives -- in the Information Age (or whatever you call right now), useful access to data generated by the government should be a civil right. But if KG and other open government people want to really shake things up, they'll push for the federal government (which has money) to help develop tools for local governments (which don't have money) to collect, manage and share public data. The state of access to local public data is currently underwhelming -- even for data that should be relatively easy to post. (When was the last time you searched crime reports online for your town -- oh, right, you probably can't.)
A few cities are already headed in this direction. New York City has made a big deal of it recently, releasing a "road map" toward becoming a "digital city." It's touting the push as a way of increasing civic engagement and economic development. (It already makes some data available via a "data mine.")
That kind of initiative is easier for a place like NYC -- it has a huge budget. The jump is much bigger for local municipalities that can't be even manage to consistently post their press releases online (nevermind in a format that's not pdf).
Albany chicken veto override vote
Councilman Dominick Calsolaro speaking ahead of the override vote.
The push to allow backyard chickens in Albany came to an end Monday as an override attempt of the Jerry Jennings' veto failed to get enough votes in the Common Council .
Mike Guidice, who along with his wife Jen Pursley has been leading the chicken coalition, was disappointed -- and talking about what's next.
To: Roy McDonald, From: Bombers and Matt Baumgartner, Re: marriage equality
You can see it as you travel south on I-787.
This electronic billboard message is now showing along I-787, just north of the Central Warehouse. Bombers owner Matt Baumgartner bought the billboard to reach one person: state Senator Roy McDonald. The Republican, who represents Rensselaer County and much of Saratoga County, is publicly "undecided" on legalizing same-sex marriage.
We emailed with Matt, who's gay and has been an outspoken proponent of marriage equality, this afternoon about why he chose a billboard to reach McDonald.
Polls: public leaning toward support of same-sex marriage. Probably.
Efforts to get a bill legalizing same-sex marriage through the state legislature have been ramping up (as has the opposition). Here are how a few recent polls have measured the public's opinion on the issue (all numbers for registered voters):
NY1/YNN-Marist poll conducted April 25-29
Do you believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman?
Yes: 51% | No: 47% | Don't know: 2%
Which of the following comes closest to your view?
Gay or lesbian couples should be allowed to marry: 51%
Gay or lesbian couples should be allowed to legally form civil unions, but not marry: 28%
There should be no legal recognition of the relationship between gay or lesbian couples: 21%
margin of error: +/- 3.5 - poll data
Quinnipiac poll conducted April 5-11
Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?
Support: 56% | Oppose: 38% | Don't know: 5%
margin of error: +/- 2.4 - poll data
Siena poll conducted April 4-6
Do you support or oppose making same sex marriages legal in New York State?
Support: 58% | Oppose: 36% | Don't know: 6%
margin of error: +/- 3.5 - poll data
Nationally: it appears a majority of Americans now support legalizing same-sex marriage. [FiveThirtyEight]
____
Of course, in some ways, the only opinion that matters right now is that of the legislators who represent potential swing votes in the state Senate (the bill will almost certainly pass the Assembly). The last vote on the issue in the chamber -- in December 2009 -- was 38-24 against.
photo: Matt Ryan
Rally for same-sex marriage
Today's rally at the Capitol. (Courtesy of New York Now's Matt Ryan.)
More than a thousand people showed up at a rally for same-sex marriage outside the Capitol today. But a lot of the coverage focused on the one person who was not there: Andrew Cuomo. [NYT City Room]
Lieutenant governor Bob Duffy (you remember him: from Rochester, silver hair, tall) was there -- and made sure to emphasize that Cuomo's absence doesn't indicate a lack of support for legalizing same-sex marriage. he said a "horrendous" schedule kept Cuomo from appearing. The disembodied voice of Cuomo will be soon be making an appearance on the issue on your phone, though. And his admin says the "People First" statewide campaign will be highlighting the issue. [Karen DeWitt] [State of Politics] [State of Politics] [Cuomo admin]
So is same-sex marriage going to move ahead, or what?
Chuck who?
The Brennan Center recently released a "report card on New York's civil literacy." Newsflash: it's low, in most of the way's you'd expect (nope, the President can't declare war; the founders weren't trying to found a Christian nation; the Constitution's goal wasn't to increase the power of the 13 original states).
But this bit made us take notice/wonder/laugh wryly: 58 percent of New Yorkers in the survey failed to name at least one of the two current New York members of the US Senate. As the report notes (emphasis added):
Respondents were not given any list to choose from, so they had no opportunity to guess or "refresh their recollection." Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's junior Senator, was appointed less than two years ago, after then-Senator Hillary Clinton was appointed Secretary of State. Senator Gillibrand had never previously run for statewide office, and the fact that her name wasn't widely known is not surprising. Chuck Schumer, though, has represented New York State since 1999 and is a major national player on the political stage. It is significant that so few New Yorkers were able to provide his name when asked, especially when we consider that both senators' names were on the ballot in the November 2010 elections and both were campaigning during the time the poll was conducted.
That's right, Chuck Schumer, who hasn't passed up an opportunity for a press conference -- ever* -- still not at the top of a majority of New Yorkers' minds.
It's worth noting that Schumer did get 65.5 percent of the vote in last year's election, so he's doing OK -- whether people remember his name or not.
The full Brennan Center report is embedded after the jump.
* Unconfirmed, but probably true.
photo: schumer.senate.gov
On public concubinage
Of all the criticisms one could make of Andrew Cuomo, this is probably the weirdest (and dirtiest sounding): "public concubinage."
Edward Peters -- self-described as "one of the most widely-known lay [Catholic] canon lawyers in North America" and reportedly an adviser to the Vatican -- wrote earlier this year that Cuomo and First Lady-friend Sandra Lee live in "public concubinage" -- and as a result, Cuomo should not be allowed to receive communion. [NYT] [Canon Law Blog]
And Cuomo did just that at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany after his inauguration -- during a mass led by bishop Howard Hubbard, no less. Peters accused Hubbard of a "dereliction of pastoral duty" for not admonishing Cuomo and Lee "for their objectively and publicly sinful status." And Peters recently told a conservative news site that Cuomo's action "produces grave scandal within the faith community." [NYDN] [CNS]
The Albany diocese released a statement this afternoon about all this in which it basically told Peters to mind his own business (politely). And Cuomo said to reporters today: "For me, I choose to keep my religion and my religious practices private and not discuss it in the political arena." [State of Politics] [TU CapCon]
Not being read up on concubinage -- public or otherwise -- we did a little research. According to Wikipedia (so you know it must be true), it's defined as:
Concubinage is the state of a woman or man in an ongoing, usually matrimonially-oriented relationship with somebody to whom they cannot be married, often because of a difference in social status.
Well, there are certainly status differences here. She is more famous than he is. And a lot richer.
Earlier on AOA: Sandra Lee in Vogue
The wail over the quail
Paul Egan, the teachers union official accused of flipping out at Marche this week over the size of a quail, says in a letter that it wasn't the bird's size that upset him but rather an evening of poor service. From the letter, posted online by Daily Politics:
A number of untoward incidents occurred, including half the party not getting served for an hour and a half, late and rude service, drinks hot and cold spilled by waiters and cold and uncooked meals.
The incident has prompted the media to pick through Egan's past, which includes allegations that he helped students at a Bronx school cheat on a standardized test. [NY Post]
By the way: the best tag for this situation comes via Casey Seiler: "Marche Madness." [TU CapCon]
Also: Bob, who dropped the great parking lot Shakespeare comment last week, returned with his own poetic take on this situation. That's after the jump.
New Yorkers to Cuomo: be mine
The Siena poll out today reports that Andrew Cuomo currently has his highest-ever favorability rating -- 77 percent of respondents reported having a favorable opinion of the governor.
People have pretty much swooned over Cuomo. In addition to that crazy-high favorability mark, 57 percent say he's doing an "excellent" or "good" job as governor. Seventy percent say they trust him, over the legislature, to do the right thing for the state. And 47 percent say they would give Cuomo's proposed state budget a grade of A or B. (Let's see what people think after the budget's actually finished -- legislating has a way of killing the mood.)
And get this: 47 percent of respondents say the state is now on the right track (as opposed to 39 percent saying it's heading the wrong way). It's the first time since October 2007 the right track number has been higher than the wrong track.
Kirsten Gillibrand While not in the throes of full-on infatuation, New Yorkers do seem to be warming to Kirsten Gillibrand. KG's favorability mark was 57 percent in this poll, the highest it's ever been. And 52 percent said they'd re-elect her.
Gillibrands moving to Brunswick
Kirsten Gillibrand and her husband have bought a house in Brunswick, near the Troy Country Club. The house -- on more than 2.5 acres with a tennis court -- was $335,000. [WNYT] [TU]
KG and her family had been living at her mom's house in Albany temporarily after they sold their house in Columbia County, so they could move closer to family. Being closer to the airport is probably a nice bonus, too.
Speed reading the coverage of Andrew Cuomo's budget proposal
To much fanfare (and powerpoint) Andrew Cuomo presented his proposed state budget yesterday.
During the presentation he described the state as "functionally bankrupt," and remarked that he viewed his dental appointments for root canal as a welcome respite from the budget process. So, that gives you a sense of where the state's at.
We've read a bunch of the details and coverage of the budget so you don't have to. Let's get to it...
Bill Clinton coming to UAlbany
Bill Clinton is coming to UAlbany as part of the school's World Within Reach Speaker Series. The former President will be speaking March 2.
The first mention we saw of this event came via the Albany Student Press Twitter feed. UAlbany Student Association president Justin Wax Jacobs confirmed the appearance via email. (The SA organizes the speaker series.)
Previous events in this series have included Colin Powell, Barbara Walters and a debate between Howard Dean and Karl Rove. These events have been open to the public (a pre-registered ticket was required).
We'll follow up when there's info about the Clinton appearance.
The 42nd President was in the Capital Region just recently -- he made a brief stop in Saratoga in November to campaign for Scott Murphy.
Update: Clinton will speaking at SEFCU Arena on the uptown campus. Registration starts February 1. It's open to "UAlbany students, faculty, staff, and alumni."
Earlier on AOA: a whole bunch of stuff about Barack Obama's Schenectady visit
photo: Flickr user World Economic Forum
Barack Obama's visit to Schenectady, take two
The White House sent out the schedule for Barack Obama's (re)planned visit to Schenectady this Friday. From the press release:
WASHINGTON--On Friday, January 21, 2011, President Barack Obama will travel to Schenectady, NY, to visit the birthplace of General Electric and deliver remarks on the economy. He will depart Schenectady later the same day. The arrival and departure of Air Force One in Albany, NY, is open to pre-credentialed media and closed to the public.
The President will then travel to the General Electric Plant in Schenectady, home to GE's largest energy division, including steam turbines, generators, wind and solar, and the future home of GE's advanced battery manufacturing facility. The President will tour the site with GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt and he will make remarks on the importance of growing the economy and making America more competitive by investing in jobs, innovation and clean energy. The President's remarks are open to the press, but space is limited. Public attendance at this event is by invitation only. [AOA adds: we've heard there was a lottery for GE employees to attend.]
The GE plant in Schenectady is a direct beneficiary of GE's power turbine deal with India announced during the President's trip last November.
As with the previously planned visit, the POTUS will not be in the Capital Region very long -- just about two hours. Air Force One is scheduled to arrive at ALB around noon. The President is scheduled to speak at GE around 1 pm. And AF1 is scheduled to take off again around 2 pm.
Are you enjoying the honeymoon with Andrew Cuomo?
The Siena poll out today reports that Andrew Cuomo's favorability is at 70 percent -- it's highest point since June 2009. And when respondents were asked who they trusted to do the right thing -- Cuomo or the legislature -- the governor was picked 68-17.
Also possibly of interest: 50 percent or more of respondents in every ideological group had Cuomo pegged as "moderate."
On race
The poll also asked people about race relations in New York State: "As we look to next week's commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, how would you describe the state of race relations in New York State? Would you say they are excellent, good, fair, or poor?"
Overall, 55 percent respondents said race relations were excellent or good. 43 percent said they were fair or poor.
Among white respondents the split was 60/40. Among African-Americans it was 36/63.
Walking the Hall of Governors at the Capitol
Where governors walked. And, just recently again, the rest of us.
Architecture, at its best, creates buildings that not only shelter us, but that reflect something of our values or ideals. Churches inspire our eyes to soar upwards, awed by dappled light through stained glass. Banks are designed (well, they used to be designed) to look solid, strong, unshakeable.
State capitols usually feature a central, light-filled rotunda for this very reason. It's a manifestation of our democratic values: government as something open, transparent, accessible, welcoming to all.
And then there's New York.
"Open, accessible and welcoming" are words few would apply to New York's state Capitol. You're more likely to hear things like "labyrinthine," "dark," "can't get anywhere unless you already know where you're going." If we see architecture as a representation of government, then, well, you might say we have the state capitol we deserve.
With that said, it's an absolutely beautiful building. And now we can see a little bit more of it.
Barack Obama coming to Schenectady
Air Force Once at ALB during Barack's Obama's last visit here.
Update: The TU reports the President will be visiting the GE campus, most likely the new battery plant being constructed there.
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The word going around this afternoon is that Barack Obama will be visiting next Tuesday. All the reports are based on unnamed "sources." [TU] [Daily Gazette]
The purpose of the visit is still unclear, but all the speculation is focused on some sort of GE-related thing. WTEN reports the "the governor's office" confirmed the POTUS will visit a GE facility. [WTEN]
Of course, President Obama visited the Capital Region in September 2009 and spoke at HVCC.
photo: Amy Mengel
Lay out the Congressional air mattress
Chris Gibson is officially on the job as a Congressman after the 112th Congress convened Wednesday. And his congressional office space is now his second home -- both figuratively and literally.
Gibson is one of the apparently large handful of Congressional reps who have decided to not get a place to stay in DC -- so they're sleeping in their offices. Gibson will reportedly be bedding down on an air mattress (let's hope he at least sprung for an Aerobed) and showering in the Congressional gym. [WSJ] [State of Politics]
The Congressman has said that renting a place in DC was an unnecessary expense. And as he told YNN last month:
Look, it's going to better accommodations than I had over in Iraq. I can tell you that much. Really when I'm there, I'm really focused on work. They aren't 9 to 5 hours, it's up to 18 hours a day. [WNYT] [YNN]
By the way: the salary for House members is is $174,000 a year. Gibson has stopped taking his military pension while he's on the Congressional payroll so as not to be a double dipper. [Wikipedia] [Journal Register]
A quick scan of State of the State 2011
And did I mention that I brought Power Point slides?
There will be much coverage of Andrew Cuomo's first State of the State speech all over the media. But if you're just looking for a quick overview of what he said, or just enough to not have a blank look when someone says, "hey, how about that State of the State? -- here's a quick scan...
Kirsten Gillibrand on the Daily Show
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c |
| Kirsten Gillibrand | |
If Jon Stewart is a person of influence, Kirsten Gillibrand got a pretty good endorsement last night.
Sample line, Stewart on KG's efforts in the Senate: "You know what you are? You're The Who in a hotel -- you're just wrecking the joint."
The Kirsten Gillibrand storyline shifts
This was a big week for Kirsten Gillibrand. Two pieces of legislation for which she's gained a high-profile supporter were approved in Congress. First, it was the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. And yesterday, it was the bill funding health care for 9/11 responders.
The legislative successes landed her on the front page of the New York Times today:
Once derided as an accidental senator, lampooned for her verbosity and threatened with many challengers who openly doubted her abilities, a succinct, passionate and effective Senator Gillibrand has made her presence felt in the final days of this Congress.
Her efforts have won grudging admiration from critics, adulation from national liberals and gay rights groups, and accolades from New York politicians across the political spectrum, including Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who once shopped for potential candidates to oust her.
Even her relentlessness, which once drew mockery, is now earning the highest compliment of all: professional jealousy from her more senior colleagues.
Chuck Schumer said this week that KG's persistence on the 9/11 bill had Senate colleagues asking him to call her off:
You know, some of these senators said: Would you stop her from bothering me? And I said: No! And the result of all that hard work we see today. What a great victory for a new legislator, isn't that fabulous. For any legislator, but for someone this new to do so much so soon is utterly amazing. [State of Politics]
This coverage represents quite a shift in the media's attitude toward KG. Earlier this year as she faced a possible challenge for her Senate seat, stories often focused on issues such as her weight loss and the the tone of her voice. And just this past fall Harry Reid reportedly called KG "the hottest member" of the Senate.
As it happens, this recent arc is roughly similar to one Gillibrand followed here in the Capital Region. She wasn't given much chance of knocking off John Sweeney (though his self-destruction didn't hurt). And there were doubters she could hold onto the seat in the majority Republican district (which she did, easily).
May we suggest a new media frame for KG: not to be underestimated.
Earlier: Don't Ask Don't Tell as Kirsten Gillibrand's signature issue
image: New York Times
New York is third most populous state again, but it's losing two Congressional seats
There's a bigger version of this interactive display embedded in wide screen after the jump.
New York State had 19,378,102 residents on April 1, 2010, according to data released by the Census Bureau today. That ranks the Empire State third overall among states for population.
New York was the third most-populous state during the 2000 decennial census, too. The state's population has grown by 401,645 people since then. But its slice of the nation's overall population declined in that time. In 2000, New York counted as 7 percent of the US population -- now it's 6 percent.
And, as expected, New York is losing two Congressional seats. After re-apportionment, the state will have 27 members of the US House. (A House seat will represent about 710,767 people this time around.)
The total national population was counted at 308,745,538. That's up 9.7 percent since 2000.
Tables with number candy are after the jump.
Don't Ask Don't Tell as Kirsten Gillibrand's signature issue
KG speaking in the Senate before the DADT vote
Steve Kornacki writing today at Capital New York about how the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell has become Kirsten Gillibrand's "signature issue":
... It is impossible to overstate how perfectly the issue addressed all of her political imperatives. Since her appointment, Gillibrand had been pleading with gay-rights leaders to consider her an ally; this was her chance to prove that she really was. It also promised to boost her overall image with liberal primary voters and her reputation with high-end Democratic donors around New York City, among whom DADT repeal, and gay rights in general, was particularly important. Plus, with Democrats running the White House and Congress for the first time since '94, the stakes were real; this wouldn't be an exercise in symbolism. There was also minimal chance of general-election blowback, with swing voters, especially in blue states like New York, increasingly ready for DADT to go.
... after two years in the Senate, DADT has become Gillibrand's signature issue. Job security may have been her primary motive, but the repeal fight also helped Gillibrand establish her own political identity in the Senate and with New Yorkers, and to develop her own voice.
Kornacki notes that DADT probably would have been repealed without KG's efforts, but "all of her efforts helped ensure Saturday's result." The whole piece is worth reading -- it puts KG's Senate career in context.
David Paterson's greatest hits
New York Now has put together an epic montage covering David Paterson's 34 months in office. It's all in there, from Paterson taking the oath of office and the legislature chanting "David, David, David!" -- to him asking "why me?" It's remarkable to watch his body language change over the course of the montage. He just seems beaten down by the end.
Paterson will also be appearing on New York Now tonight for another exit interview (7:30 pm on WMHT -- and Sunday at 11 pm).
The montage highlights some of the reasons we feel conflicted about David Paterson. On one hand, he was thrown into a job that even he probably never expected to have, sounded the alarm early about the state's fiscal crisis, kept the state solvent, took the initiative to get a lieutenant governor in place (and kept Pedro Espada from possibly being next in line for governor -- *shiver*), made a good pick for US Senator (KG), and basically stuck it to the legislature while it stalled on the budget.
On the other hand (and it's a big hand)... Paterson had a tendency to say one thing one day and something else the next, didn't necessarily surround himself with the best people, turned the selection of a new US Senator into a circus, seemingly ignored the guy he picked to help fix the state's fiscal situation, intervened in a case of alleged domestic violence involving a top aide, his administration tried to score free Yankees tickets, and he just seemed to generally be a scandal magnet. And that doesn't even cover all of it.
So long, Governor Paterson. It wasn't boring.
New York State ranked last in voter turnout
New York State had the lowest voter turnout in nation during this most recent election, according to figures compiled by the United State Election Project at George Mason University. Of people eligible vote (but not necessarily registered), only 32.1 percent showed up on Election Day (methodology).
The top five states -- and bottom five -- are after the jump.
The Empire State has done a bit better in recent years. During the 2008 election, the state ranked 42nd with 58.3 percent. And in the 2006 midterm election, the state again ranked 42nd on 34.9 percent participation.
Among the reasons offered by political scientists for New York's low turnout: uncompetitive races and a slow adoption of convenient voting options such as early voting.
[via NYT City Room]
Siena poll: New Yorkers "optimistic" about Cuomo
A few bits from the Siena Poll out Monday:
+ Andrew Cuomo's favorable/unfavorable: 64/26
+ Percent of respondents who said they were "optimistic" about Cuomo's chances of creating jobs: 75 percent
+ Percent of respondent show said they were "optimistic" about Cuomo's chances of balancing the state budget: 59 percent
(Respondents were generally optimistic for Cuomo's chances on every policy front.)
+ Percent of respondents who said New York's fiscal condition is "fair" or "poor": 92 percent
+ The top two priorities, by far: developing new jobs and balancing the state budget
+ 53 percent said Democrats and Republicans should "share power" to run the state Senate.
+ "Do you support or oppose the Governor and Legislature passing a law to legalize same sex marriages in New York?": support: 52 | oppose: 39
+ 85 percent said they don't like talk about Cuomo running for president
photo via Andrew Cuomo Facebook
Pataki 2012? Really?
Presidential material?
There's buzz this week (OK, it's actually a low-level hum) about George Pataki running for president. Of the United States.
The push is off to an entertaining start. In talking about a potential run with ABC News, Pataki noted he was mayor of Peekskill at one time:
It was a challenging job, mayor of Peekskill, let me assure you. Twice the size of Wasilla.
Of course, that's a jab at Sarah Palin (her camp's response), of which Pataki added later in the interview:
It was hard for me to support Carl Paladino. And I did that. So certainly if the choice is between her and President Obama, I don't think I'd have any difficulty at all supporting Sarah Palin.
Fun.
Even so, the idea that it's plausible Pataki could actually become president is borderline crazy talk. So much so that we've compiled a few reasons why into a list:
"Why it's implausible that George Pataki will be President of the United States."
AOA Exit Poll 2010 important issues
People are not too happy about what's been going on here.
Here are the results of the "What was the most important issue to you?" question from AOA's informal exit poll. (We posted results from the multiple choice questions earlier this week.)
You can probably guess what some of the top issues are. But we were a bit surprised by just how irked people seem to be by the screwed-up state of government.
Results and a few notes after the jump.
AOA Exit Poll 2010 results
We did sort of have to resist the urge to tell it how many copies we wanted.
Here are the results from AOA's informal exit poll yesterday. Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill it out -- we got 133 responses.
Charts and a few comments after the jump.
Election results 2010
Updated Wednesday at 7:55 am
Here's a quick scan of results from statewide, as well as federal and state-level locally-relevant races. Numbers are unofficial and some don't represent total counts, yet (we'll update).
The boards of election from Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties have results posted online.
AOA Exit Poll 2010 (and drawing!)
Update: The drawing's now closed, as is the exit poll. Thanks!
___
We thought it'd be interesting/fun to do a quick (and totally unscientific) exit poll for Election Day.
So, the first-ever AOA Exit Poll is after the jump. It should take all of 30 seconds to fill out. We'll post the aggregate results tomorrow.
Also, as part of the poll, we're giving away a copy of the Daily Show book Earth: A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race. We'll draw one winner at random from all the people who take the poll.
Important: You have to take the poll by 11:59 November 2 to qualify for the book drawing. You'll also have to enter an email address (that you check regularly) so we can contact you. We'll notify the winner by noon on November 3. And the winner must respond by 8 pm that day.
On to the poll!
Meanwhile at Rent is 2 Damn High HQ...
In the skit above, local comics Matt Kelly and Mary Briwa imagine the reaction back at campaign headquarters to Jimmy "The Rent is TOO DAMN High" McMillan's performance in the gubernatorial debate.
And in what only seems like a skit, the real McMillan is now shilling for an online shopping site. [TU CapCon]
Earlier on AOA:
+ "Jimmy McMillan" on SNL
+ Other things that are too damn high
Bill Clinton in Saratoga
New York Now Matt sent along this photoset from Bill Clinton appearance this morning at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga.
Clinton was in town to campaign for Scott Murphy. Said Clinton of the race between Murphy and Republican Chris Gibson: "It's not about right and left, it's about tomorrow versus yesterday." (You can probably guess which candidate he thinks represents tomorrow.) [TU CapCon]
While Clinton and Murphy were in Saratoga, Gibson was on TALK 1300 also striking a non-idealogical tone: "Here's the thing though: Let's not worry about who gets the credit ... At the end of the day when we get the economy moving again, that's what matters." [Post-Star]
Sometimes it seems like we don't really have good choices in our elections. But both Murphy and Gibson seem like smart, engaged people. Sure, they have different viewpoints -- but neither is a bozo. That's saying something.
Here's the video of their debate two weeks ago.
As late as the end of September, Murphy had a big lead in the polls. But the latest Siena poll reported Gibson up by 9. FiveThirtyEight is projecting a 4.5 point win for Gibson.
(Thanks, Matt!)
photo: Matt Ryan
Siena poll: Gibson now leads Murphy
The Siena poll out today reports that Chris Gibson now leads Scott Murphy 51-42 for the NY 20th Congressional District. Gibson also leads 49-42 among independents.
That's quite a swing from a little more than a month ago, when the Siena poll had Murphy up 54-37 (and up 58-30 among independents). Murphy has also lost what was a strong lead in the northern part of the district (he's from Glens Falls, Gibson is from Kinderhook). And his favorability rating has taken a dive -- it was 56-27 a month ago, now it's 45-45.
Interestingly, Barack Obama's favorabilty rating in the district has also fallen over the that time (51 then, 41 now) -- but Kirsten Gillibrand's has not.
The poll was conducted October 23-25 -- that's after last week's debate, in which Gibson came across as confident and likable. [WMHT video]
Bill Clinton is coming to Saratoga Springs Monday to campaign for Murphy. And you can bet both campaigns will be running a whole bunch of ads between now and election day. [Post-Star]
This poll was of "likely" voters and its margin of error was +/- 3.8.
Murphy photo via campaign site
Gibson photo via campaign Facebook page
"Jimmy McMillan" on SNL
SNL took on Jimmy "The rent is TOO DAMN high" this past weekend. We wouldn't be surprised if some of this skit was already written before the gubernatorial debate was over...
It's funny enough. But it points to the difficulty of parodying a process that has already successfully parodied itself.
NY Mag asked McMillan about the skit -- his response: "That put me over the top. It's over. This election is over."
Fox23 went to Brooklyn last week to follow McMillan. It found that he's pretty good at staying on message, not so great at math and that people in the neighborhood call him "Papa Smurf." Also, if elected he says he would turn the Governor's Mansion into a dojo.
And that bit about McMillan not paying rent? He told NYT last week that he hasn't paid rent for the last decade because he and his landlords are "like family."
Earlier on AOA: Other things that are too damn high
Congressional debates tonight
Because we know that you arrange your social schedule around such events, here's tonight's lineup:
US Senate: Kirsten Gillibrand and Joe DioGuardi
7 pm on YNN
The Siena poll out this week reported that Gillibrand has large lead, but there should still be some good back-and-forth here. KG is a very capable debater and DioGuardi went after her in a debate last Friday.
NY 20th: Scott Murphy and Chris Gibson
8 pm on WMHT
We're looking forward to this debate because both candidates are accomplished people who seem to be serious about the issues confronting the country -- though they differ greatly on how they think we should take on those challenges. Their debate earlier this week did get a little heated when the flip-flopping allegations came out. Still, there should be some substantial back-and-forth here. And the race is relatively close.
State IG: public's best interest was of "militant indifference" to state leaders in Aqueduct project
A report out today from the State Inspector General criticizes pretty much all the state leaders involved with the failed AEG bid for the big Aqueduct racino project. The report alleges that leaders ignored vetting, leaked info, took questionable campaign contributions or just didn't try to stop a process they knew to be flawed.
Says state IG Joseph Fish in the press release:
This process was doomed from the start, and at each turn, our state leaders abdicated their public duty, failed to impose ethical restraints and focused on political gain at a cost of millions to New Yorkers ... Unfortunately, and shamefully, consideration of what was in the public's best interest, rather than the political interest of the decision makers, was a matter of militant indifference to them.
The IG's office says it's forwarding the report to federal and local prosecutors, as well as the state Legislative Ethics Commission.
The Aqueduct project has since been won by another investor, Genting New York. Some of the revenue from the deal will be used to prop up horse racing in the state -- including $100 million in improvements at Saratoga Race Course (though it could be 2012 before that happens). [TU CapCon] [Saratogian]
Kirsten Gillibrand in Vogue
The November issue of Vogue includes a long profile of Kirsten Gillibrand. A clip:
"I think faith transformed my interest in politics into a calling for service," she says. "I think it's metaphorical . . . to actually raise your voice. But you have to really fight hard. Just as I was talking to you about trying to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell. It takes enormous effort. Nothing happens in Washington unless you really push--push your colleagues, push the White House, push the leadership. You don't have to necessarily do it in an aggressive way. You can do it in a very kind way. But people need to know it's important to you. It's the belief in something that can make the difference in winning the debate. They need to know that you care."
The piece follows KG through DC, NYC and Columbia County (Hudson gets some pub). The writer, Jonathan Van Meter, practically gushes about her. (Maybe it was the cheese she had put in his omelet.)
There are a few photos, too.
thumbnail: Vogue
[via @michellejamiek]
Gubernatorial debate live blog
With a slate of candidates that looks more like a reality show cast than a ballot, we figured tonight's debate could be fun to live blog. Of course, there was only one way to find out.
Live blogging after the jump.
Congressional and gubernatorial debates
Debates for both local Congressional races -- and the gubernatorial race -- are coming up. And they're all on TV:
New York 21st
Incumbent Democrat Paul Tonko and Republican challenger Ted Danz will be debating tonight at 8 pm on WMHT. It'll be posted online tomorrow.
New York 20th
Incumbent Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican challenger Chris Gibson will meet next Thursday (October 21) at 8pm on WMHT.
Governor
It's Monday at 7pm on YNN. This one is shaping up to be a circus. Here's the lineup, which looks like a reality show cast:
Charles Barron (Freedom Party)
Andrew Cuomo (Democratic Party)
Kristin Davis (Anti-Prohibition Party)
Howie Hawkins (Green Party)
Jimmy McMillan (Rent is too Damn High Party)
Carl Paladino (Republican Party)
Warren Redlich (Libertarian Party)
Paladino: I don't want children "brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option"
Speaking in Brooklyn Sunday Carl Paladino said: "... I don't want [children] brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option -- it isn't."
The speech was recorded by WNYC's Azi Payabarah. The clip is embedded above -- and here's a longer version. Here's the comment in context, which he appeared to be reading from a prepared speech:
I didn't march in a gay pride parade this year. My opponent did. And that's not the example we should be showing our children -- and certainly not in their schools.
And don't misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie. My approach is live and let live. I just think my children -- and your children -- would be much better off, and much more successful, getting married and raising a family. And I don't want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option -- it isn't.
Andrew Cuomo's campaign released a statement in response to Paladino's comments: "Mr. Paladino's statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality." [NYT]
Paladino was on the Today Show this morning to respond to outrage generated by his Sunday comments. He told Matt Lauer during an interview that he didn't regret his remarks. Here's a clip:
My feelings on homosexuality are unequivocal. I have no problem with it whatsoever. My only reservation is marriage. That's the only reservation I have. I have a lot of homosexuals working in my organization. ...
Young children shouldn't be exposed to this at a young age. They don't understand this. It's a very difficult thing. And exposing them to homosexuality -- especially at a gay pride parade, and I don't know if you've ever been to one, but they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other, it's just a terrible thing.
Paladino has said he's not a politician. And unlike a politician, he does seem willing to say whatever's on his mind. The problem is... that's what's on his mind.
In a chat with Capital New York today, Azi Paybarah noted that Paladino's propensity to say something stuff like this has actually led to more reporters covering him than Andrew Cuomo recently.
The FiveThirtyEight poling model is currently predicting Cuomo has a 98.9 percent chance of winning the governor's race.
Siena poll: Cuomo still has big lead on Paladino
Sixty-one percent of respondents agreed that Paladino is "a loose cannon who doesn't have the temperament to be governor."
The Siena poll out today reports that Andrew Cuomo leads Carl Paladino 56-32 among likely voters (margin of error +/- 3.9 points). And among independents, Cuomo leads 50-39.
Siena's last poll on the governor's race, in September, reported Cuomo up 57-24 on Paladino (that poll also included the now-dropped out Rick Lazio, and it was of registered voters). So, in some sense Paladino has picked up a bit of ground. But he's bumping up against this political problem:
+ 59 percent of respondents in this new poll say they have an unfavorable opinion of Paladino
+ 61 percent agreed that he's "a loose cannon who doesn't have the temperament to be governor." (Yep, this poll was conducted after the Bolton Landing Brouhaha.)
+ Cuomo also has a wide lead when voters were asked which candidate would do better on a range of issues (except taxes).
FiveThirtyEight's prediction model currently has Cuomo with a 97.8 percent chance of winning (the model doesn't include today's Siena poll).
"Cloud Cuckooland"
The story (legend?) of Carl Paladino got even stranger this week when he told the Syracuse Post-Standard that he helped defuse a hostage situation at Syracuse University while he was a law student there in 1970. It's a great story... except for the fact that other people -- and archived press clips -- say it didn't happen (emphasis added):
Carl and Fred meet cute
Because, well... just because...
The Atlantic created this video to reproduce the confrontation in "a format where Paladino's and Dicker's terms are clearer and easier to understand."
Paladino vs. Dicker, the Bolton Landing brouhaha
Here's the video of that altercation between Carl Paladino and the New York Post's Fred Dicker yesterday in Bolton Landing. It was shot by YNN's Kaitlyn Ross with her mobile. [State of Politics]
Dicker was pressing Paldino for evidence to back up the allegation Paladino had made earlier, in an interview with Politico, that Andrew Cuomo had had an affair back when he was married to Kerry Kennedy. Paladino tells Dicker that he does have evidence and "you'll get it at the appropriate time." Paladino then accuses Dicker of working for Cuomo. And then he tells Dicker, "If you send another goon to my daughter's house, I'll take you out." (Paladino's campaign alleged the Post had sent photographers after Paladino's 10-year-old daughter -- the child from his affair.)
Probably the best line from the schoolyard fight came from Paladino campaign manager Michael Caputo, to Dicker: "You're off the Christmas list!" Dicker now joins Joy Behar on said list. [State of Politics]
The Cuomo campaign's response to Paladino's accusation: "We have not and will not descend into the gutter with Paladino, Caputo and [Roger] Stone. We're not going to start now because the people of New York deserve a better dialogue from their candidates and journalists." [NYDN]
There's better quality video of the spat from CBS6 embedded after the jump.
Lazio out
Rick Lazio announced today that he's dropping out of the race for governor. Even though he had lost the Republican primary, he still had a spot on the Conservative line. [State of Politics YouTube]
Said Lazio: "While my heart beckons me forward, my head tells me that my continued presence on the Conservative line would simply lead to the election Andrew Cuomo..."
Not that Lazio's a fan of Paladino. He went on to criticize both candidates -- and many of the shots were aimed right at Paladino.
I look at the two major party candidates and I see flawed individuals -- flawed in terms of public character, flawed in terms of commitment to ideas and principles that will restore restore growth and pride to our great state ... I 'll be watching very closely to see if either candidate can prove to me -- and to New York -- that they can rise above the empty slogans and the name calling. ...
I strongly believe that Andrew Cuomo can not bring about change. But I remain unconvinced that Carl Paladino will bring the improvement that New Yorkers need, deserve and want.
The people deserve a civil campaign and a vibrant exchange on the challenges real New Yorkers face. They deserve leaders who are good, decent, responsible people who will put citizens first. They deserve real results from public servants who are accountable for what they say, how they say it, what they don't say and what they truly deliver.
As it happens, getting Lazio off the ballot isn't as simple him saying, "Thanks, you've all been wonderful, I'm out" -- and it looks like he'll be nominated for a state Supreme Court judgeship in order to complete the maneuver. [Daily Politics]
Lazio's exit should clear up the polling picture a bit. The polls from last week that included Lazio had him at 8 and 9 percent. That's not much -- but if Cuomo and Paladino are close, it could have made a difference.
Earlier on AOA: Rick Lazio finished as just a shot glass in AOA gubernatorial beer poll
Client 9, the movie
The trailer is out for the Eliot Spitzer documentary Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer. It's directed by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney.
The early word on the doc has been positive. Spitzer apparently granted Gibney access without asking for editorial control (something Ashley Dupree reportedly wouldn't do). Joe Bruno appears in the film -- he's featured in the trailer pounding a punching bag and looking like a tough guy.
Client 9 debuts in theaters November 5.
It's remarkable how, more than two years after the spitzering, Eliot Spitzer keeps popping up in the conversation. His new CNN show starts up soon. And he's been very willing to say things that grab attention -- like in this segment on CNN this week quote from this week about Andrew Cuomo, and the matchup with Carl Paladino:
Well, what he needs to do is speak to the public and, of course, the problem that Andrew has is that everybody knows that behind the scenes, he has the dirtiest, nastiest political player out there and that is his reputation from years in Washington.
To which Cuomo responded today in Rochester:
That's saying something from Eliot Spitzer. I think Eliot Spitzer's record of performance and honor speaks for itself.
By the way: NYT reports that David Paterson will appear this weekend on Saturday Night Live
[via @rmadeo]
Another day, another poll
A Marist poll out this morning reports that Andrew Cuomo is leading Carl Paladino 52-33 in the race for governor. Rick Lazio registered at nine percent. The poll surveyed "likely voters" and the margin of error is 3.5.
So, to recap this week of conflicting polls:
Quinnipiac: Cuomo leads Paladino 49-43 (out Wednesday)
A poll of likely voters. Rick Lazio not included.
SurveyUSA: Cuomo leads Paladino 49-40 (out Wednesday)
A poll of likely voters. Rick Lazio not included.
Siena: Cuomo leads Paladino 57-24 (out Thursday)
A poll of registered voters. Rick Lazio included (8 percent).
Marist: Cuomo leads Paladino 52-33 (out Friday)
A poll of likely voters. Rick Lazio included (9 percent).
There's been a lot of talk this week about how these polls are put together -- whether Lazio should be included and whether the surveys should be of registered voters or "likely voters." Some experts have argued that it's too early to start sorting people people based on whether they're likely to vote. [FiveThirtyEight] [TU]
Election Day is now 39 days away.
By the way: AOA's completely unscientific "Who would you like to have a beer with?" poll showed Andrew Cuomo up on Carl Paladino 48-43 (Rick Lazio 9 percent). Of course, it should be noted that we didn't include a "none of the above -- please let me drink alone" option.
Gubernatorial beer poll results
Poor Rick Lazio -- his pint looks like a shot glass.
Yesterday Jeff suggested that we poll people on which of the major gubernatorial candidates they would most like to have a beer with. The utterly unscientific results are above (as of about 4:30 pm Thursday). More than 200 people voted.
It looks like a tight race to the bar. And you never know what's going to happen in a race that close. (Will one of the candidates buy? Come on, Carl! You're worth $150 million!)
This could be (probably is) coincidental, but the beer poll results actually match up pretty well with this week's Q Poll that showed Paladino trailing Cuomo, 49-43.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Siena poll: Cuomo still has a big lead
+ Cuomo vs. Paladino -- stop the landslide?
Fine print: This is a completely unscientific poll. Results have been rounded. Margin of error? Depends on how much you drink.
Siena poll: Cuomo still has a big lead
The Siena poll out this morning reports that Andrew Cuomo leads Carl Paladino 57-24 in the race for governor (margin of error +/- 3.5). And Rick Lazio registers at... eight.
So, that's quite a different result from yesterday's Quinnipiac poll that reported Cuomo was ahead by just six points. And a Survey USA poll also out yesterday reported Cuomo was ahead by nine points.
There are a few differences between the Siena poll and the other two. First, Siena included Rick Lazio and the others did not. And the Siena poll surveyed registered voters, while the others surveyed "likely" voters.
Polling data uber-nerd Nate Silver examined the likely voter issue after Wendnesday's surprising Q Poll result. Likely voter models tend to favor Republicans a bit. But after talking with people at Quinnipiac, Silver concluded it probably doesn't explain Paladino's surge in the poll.
So... who knows where things are at right now. There are still 40 days before Election Day, which is plenty of time for the situation to change. Let's hope for a debate or two. Or at least a more interesting exchange between the candidates than a Photoshop competition.
A few other bits from the Siena poll
+ Chuck Schumer leads Jay Townsend 64-30.
+ Kirsten Gillibrand leads Joe DioGuardi 57-31 (though, that Survey USA poll only had her up 45-44)
+ No one knows who's running for attorney general. Both candidates -- Eric Schneiderman and Dan Donovan -- have don't know/no opinion scores over 60. The same thing goes for the comptroller matchup between Tom DiNapoli and Harry Wilson.
Drinking with Andrew and Carl
The key to electoral success?
After today's post about the seemingly-narrowing race for governor between Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino, Jeff suggested we do our own one-question poll.
The question: which candidate would your rather have a beer with? We're pretty sure we know what Jeff is getting at here (you probably do, too -- more after the jump), so let's go with it. And just to mix it up, we'll add Rick Lazio into the mix.
Push all the stuff about parties and policies and platforms to the side -- just on the basis of personality alone -- who would you rather have a drink with?
We'll post results of this completely un-scientific poll at the end of Thursday.
Cuomo vs. Paladino -- stop the landslide?
For what seems like forever now, the conventional wisdom has been that Andrew Cuomo will cruise to an easy win in the race for governor. And the poll data backed up this view.
Until now. (With a caveat.)
A Quinnipiac poll out today of likely voters reports that Cuomo leads Carl Paladino by just 6 points, 49-43 (margin of error 3.6). And Paladino leads Cuomo among independents, 49-43.
These results are quite a contrast to other poll results. A Rasmussen poll out earlier this week reported Cuomo was up 54-38. And in mid-August, the Siena poll reported that Cuomo was ahead of both Lazio and Paladino by more than 30 points in hypothetical matchups.
It's not surprising that Paladino has gotten a bump after all the attention from winning the Republican primary -- there were people who probably didn't know, or only vaguely knew, who he was before that.
But here's the caveat to today's Q poll: it doesn't include Rick Lazio (nor did the Rasmussen poll). And, so far at least, Lazio is still in the race on the Conservative Party line. And if he stays in, you gotta think he's going to draw votes that would otherwise go to Paladino.
Political stat nerd Nate Silver tweeted today that leaving Lazio out of the poll was "pretty clearly wrong." As of yesterday, Silver's model was forecasting Cuomo had an almost 97 percent chance of winning the governorship. But the model has its own caveats -- among them, it was based on the mid-August Siena poll.
So take all these numbers with a grain or two of salt. There are 41 more days until Election Day.
Cuomo photo: Cuomo campaign Facebook | Paladino photo: Paladino campaign Facebook
Siena poll: Murphy leads Gibson
Scott Murphy, Chris Gibson
A Siena poll out today reports that Scott Murphy leads Chris Gibson 54-37 for the 20th Congressional District (margin of error +/- 4). Among independents, Murphy's up 58-30. And in Rensselaer and Saratoga counties, he's up 58-36.
When asked which candidate would do a better job representing the district in Congress on a range of issues, Murphy led in each category. The closest was the war in Afghanistan, at 39-31 (Gibson recently retired from the Army -- he was a colonel.) Here's the full breakdown of results.
The poll found that Gibson is trailing close behind Murphy in the southern part of the district. That's not surprising -- Gibson's from Kinderhook. If you drive around Columbia County now, you'll see a bunch of his signs. And he still has about a month-and-a-half to up his name recognition in other parts of the district.
Update: The Gibson campaign sent out a press release this afternoon in an attempt to cast doubt on the Siena poll. The campaign's pollster says the Siena results are "not consistent with other polling in the district" -- and cites results from a poll conducted at the beginning of August by a conservative think tank that reported Murphy was ahead 45-40 (just outside the margin of error).
The release also takes a shot at the Siena poll, noting that its "too close to call" description of the Lazio-Paladino primary "was off by an astounding 24 points."
By the way: When people were asked which issue was most important to them right, 41 percent of respondents said jobs. No other issue was even close.
Murphy photo via campaign site
Gibson photo via campaign Facebook page
The new voting experience: how was it?
Voting is now like a trip to the office copy machine.
We voted yesterday.
And it was a thoroughly unsatisfying experience.
OK, not thoroughly unsatisfying. We did get to participate in the political process and have our vote count and all that.
But something was missing.
Paladino wins Republican nomination for governor, and other primary results
Carl Paladino beat Rick Lazio in the Republican primary for governor -- and it wasn't even close. He was ahead by a 2-1 margin when the AP called the race last night. [AP] [NYDN]
Embedded above is a clip from Paladino's post-primary speech, posted by State of Politics (here's part two). Here's transcript clip:
They say I'm too blunt. Well I am, and I don't apologize for it.
They say I'm an angry man. And that's true! We're all angry - not just because we woke up on the wrong side of the bed. We're angry about paying the highest income taxes and property taxes in the nation and getting less and less for it. We're angry about our incompetent, dysfunctional government that pays no attention to the desires of the people. We're angry about the cesspool of corruption and conflicts of interest and self-dealing that's the Albany of today.
But here's what my critics, what they don't quite understand: I know there is a way to bring opportunity and economic growth back to new york state. And you're coming with me and we're going to do it. And I believe we can.
We're New Yorkers and we're Americans - we can do anything we set our minds to. Those who say that New York's brightest days are behind us - those who say our our state is so broken it can't be fixed - those that say nothing can be done to rebuild New York - they're dead wrong!
You see, I believe our brightest days are ahead of us.
A Siena poll from mid-August had Paladino trailing Andrew Cuomo by a wide margin in a hypothetical general election match-up for governor. That poll also reported that Lazio was leading Paladino for the nomination.
Earlier on AOA: Who is Carl Paladino?
Other notable primary results
+ State senator Eric Schneiderman edged out Kathleen Rice in the Democratic primary for attorney general. He'll face Republican Dan Donovan in the general election. [Bloomberg]
+ Former Congressman Joe DioGuardi won the Republican primary for US Senate and will face Kirsten Gillibrand. Jay Townsend won the other Republican primary for US Senate and will face Chuck Schumer. [NYT] [AP]
+ Incumbent Neil Breslin fought off a challenge from Luke Martland in the Democratic primary for the 46th state Senate seat (the district that covers Albany County). He'll face Republican Bob Domenici, and Michael Carey -- who's running on an independent line. [TU] [TU Local Politics]
+ State senate majority leader Pedro Espada was defeated by Gustavo Rivera in the Democratic primary for the 33rd state Senate seat (the Bronx). Rivera is a former Kirsten Gillibrand staffer. Though, as one voter told NYT: "The best thing about him is that his last name isn't Espada." [NYDN] [NYT]
What's the new sound of voting?
Tuesday's primary election will mark an important moment for many New York voters -- the sound of democracy will no longer be "ka-CHUNK!"
Out are the old lever voting machines, and in are the new optical-scan voting machines, which work like a scantron machine (see, all those standardized tests you took are finally paying off).
There will be two different systems in use in the Capital Region. Albany and Schenectady counties are using the "DS200," which looks like a scanner perched on a garbage bin (state board of elections how-to video). Saratoga and Rensselaer counties are using the "ImageCast," which looks like a ballot-eating microfilm projector (how-to video). In both cases, you mark a paper ballot at a stand and then take the ballot (don't forget your privacy sleeve) to the scanner and feed it in. If all checks out, you hit the vote button.
Optical-scan machines are said to have a lot of advantages over the old lever machines. They provide instant feedback when a ballot's cast (including whether there's an error). And there's a paper trail to check against the electronic count. They're also supposed to be more accessible to people with disabilities.
Downside: you have to supply your own "ka-CHUNK!" when casting your ballot.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Farewell, lever voting machine
+ New life for lever voting machines?
image via NYS Board of Elections
Lazio and Paladino in "virtual dead heat"
Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino are in "a virtual dead heat" for tomorrow's Republican primary for governor, according to a Siena poll of likely primary voters out this past weekend. Lazio leads Paladino 43-42 -- but that's within the 4 point margin of error.
The Siena poll reports that support for the two candidates is skewed geographically. Lazio, who's from Long Island, has a 55-30 lead among downstate Republicans. And Paladino, who's from Buffalo, leads 53-32 percent among upstate Republicans.
Paladino has picked up a lot of ground with Republican voters over the last month. A mid-August Siena poll had Lazio leading 43-30 among Republicans (they both were way behind in hypothetical matchups with Andrew Cuomo). It seems Paladino's angry-guy-taking-a-baseball-bat-to-the-establishment message is resonating with some people. Or maybe it's the campaign mailers that smell like garbage. [NYT] [NYT]
Paladino was in the Capital Region Sunday. He accepted separate endorsements from the Tea Party and Troy mayor Harry Tutunjian. [WTEN] [Troy Record]
Earlier on AOA:
+ Who is Carl Paladino?
+ Carl Paladino is one of those people who won't stop forwarding crap
image via Paladino campaign
Gillibrand one of Capitol Hill's "most beautiful"
Kirsten Gillibrand ranked #3 on the The Hill's 2010 list of the "50 Most Beautiful People" on Capitol Hill. That's the highest of any elected official (a staff aide and a lobbyist took the top two spots).
From the KG profile:
After adjusting to motherhood, Gillibrand seems to be back into her exercise groove. ("Most of us are not Heidi Klum and Angelina Jolie, who look great the next day" after having a baby, she said. "For me, it took a good two years.") She co-captained the female Congress members' softball team, plays tennis and squash when she can, fits in jogs here and there and is hoping to run the New York Marathon again (she's run it twice before).
[via DNAinfo]
Earlier on AOA:
+ Squash with Al Franken
+ Is Kirsten Gillibrand unstoppable?
+ Describing the candidates
+ Does she sound like a senator?
Where to eat like a state politician
The state Senate Democrats are apparently big fans.
After the Daily News mentioned that the state Senate Democratic campaign committee spent $26,000 in Albany restaurants over six months, we were curious about where these politicians were eating.
So we looked it up in the campaign finance disclosure reports. The lists -- for the campaign committees for both parties and chambers -- are after the jump.
Act One. Mister Fix It.
Ira Glass interviewing David Paterson at the Capitol in May.
This week's This American Life featured a long segment about the New York State budget. During the setup for the piece, host Ira Glass says: "For those of you who live far from New York, you need to understand a few things about just how terribly run New York State is." And then he runs through all the scandals and drama (that part runs longer than many regular radio segments).
That all leads to the appointment of Richard Ravitch, whom Glass describes as the "hero of our story." Says Ravitch at one point, when asked if he felt like he was going to into a "madhouse" after being appointed to Lt. Governor (at Peter Luger):
Yes. But I'm also... this sounds terribly pompous, forgive me... but I have a kind of romance with the whole idea of government and public service. So, at the same time I knew I was going into a madhouse, I also, it was a matter of pride that perhaps I could be helpful and there was nothing more useful I could do with my life.
Ravitch later says: "I didn't know how serious the problem was. I didn't realize the state had been faking balanced budgets for so many years."
The piece includes a bunch of people from around the Capitol, including David Paterson, state budget director Bob Megna (and his non-state-funded stress balls), Ruben Diaz, public radio correspondent Karen Dewitt, YNN's Erin Billups, the singing of Jay Gallagher and NYSNYS's Kyle Hughes.
The piece is a good overview of how the state got into so much budget trouble. It's not a hopeful picture.
The show is available as a free download this week. It's also available for streaming.
photo: Paterson admin media images
Paterson says "hand is forced," considering layoffs this year
Appearing on the Capitol Pressroom today, David Paterson said he's considering state worker layoffs this year:
... what bothers me is, it's gnawing me, I don't think I should be setting up a layoff plan for the next governor to do. I think if you're going to layoffs, you do them yourself. And so I'm really considering altering [the layoff plan for next year] and starting the layoffs sooner... [in] 2010.
We need $250 million in workforce reductions and we have not come close to that. That's why we tried to do the furloughs, the court told us we couldn't do it. That's why we tried to get five days extra lag pay in negotiation, and the workers wouldn't do it. And so I think our hand is forced here.
Paterson said his administration is "still calculating" how many layoffs might be involved -- the number of early retirees would play a role in the number.
I don't want to lay people off ... This is just the unfortunate situation that I turned up in going back to a little over two years ago when I became governor that it's the worst economic times in the state's history and I've had to do things that go against what I have felt in my heart, the same way those Republican senators had to vote against how they feel about the extenders. But what I'm doing and what I think they're doing and other are doing here at the Capitol is we're trying to adjust to a crisis.
If Paterson tries to layoff state workers, the public employee unions will almost certainly sue because of the no-layoffs agreement they have with him.
Also: The state Senate passed a bill today that would institute a "Question Time with the Prime Minister" style session between the governor and the legislature each month. We'd watch that. [TU Cap Con]
Yep, the Capitol Pressroom advertises on AOA. That's where the the governor said it.
file photo via Paterson press images
Noam Chomsky coming to Albany
Update: Props to Bill M for noticing the asterisk in the conference program that noted Chomsky would be giving the keynote "by videotape." If that's the case, here's plenty of online video -- no conference required.
___
Noam Chomsky will be the keynote speaker at conference in Albany this July, according the program for the National Peace Conference -- which describes itself as "a national conference to bring the troops home" (here's the program).
The conference is scheduled for July 23-25 at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Albany.
Chomsky, a professor at MIT, is famous for his his critiques (and protests) of American foreign policy. But he first gained (academic) fame as as an influential linguistic theorist.
[via @patrickdodson and @GIKate]
photo: Duncan Rawlinson
Speed reading the coverage of Andrew Cuomo's campaign announcement
Gubernatorial candidate.
Andrew Cuomo has publicly declared that he's running for governor (finally).
Here are a bunch of the quick scan highlights from the coverage, including bits about Cuomo's plan, his apparent cold shoulder toward Sheldon Silver, being an insider-outsider-upsidedownsider and Sandra Lee.
Andrew Cuomo announces for governor
Andrew Cuomo officially announced that he's running for governor Saturday with a video posted on his website:
From the video message:
Our state government in Albany is disreputable and discredited.
New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance. The New York State government was at one time a national model. Now, unfortunately, it's a national disgrace. Sometimes, the corruption in Albany could even make Boss Tweed blush.
In my opinion, politicians of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, share the blame. Both are guilty of playing partisan politics and bringing New York State to the brink.
Because I believe so deeply in the mission of government, I am so troubled by its failure. The Declaration of Independence says when government fails, the people have the right to replace it. Well, New York State government has failed and the people have the right, indeed the people have the the people have the obligation, to act.
Later on in the message, he says: "We want to know how the candidates for the State legislature are going to vote on key issues and we want to know now. Let's make this a litmus test for change."
Here's a transcript of the video. The text is also embedded after the jump.
Cuomo's campaign has posted an issues agenda. Among the main points:
"It is what it is."
New York Now has posted a condensed version of today's public state leaders meeting about the budget. (You might say it's a package of "highlights," but somehow that word doesn't seem appropriate for New York State politics.)
The meeting kind of reminded us of a really uncomfortable family dinner where a few of the people argue over some longstanding grudge while everyone else stares at their plates and contemplates the mashed potatoes.
Oh, and David Paterson would like Scottie to beam him up.
It should all be good material for Ira Glass.
Yes, usher in the golden age of semi-homemade dinner parties
From a NYT profile of the relationship between Andrew Cuomo and Food Network star Sandra Lee:
In Albany, which is not known for its cuisine or its social scene, the most anticipated question about Ms. Lee is whether she will move into the governor's mansion and usher in a golden age of dinner parties and cocktail hours. (Ms. Lee creates a new drink for nearly every episode of her show. Her Christmas concoction: a Gingerbread Martini, made with ginger beer, hazelnut-flavored liqueur and butterscotch schnapps.)
As Joshua David Stern notes at Eater, Lee does enjoy a cocktail -- and, when armed with a can of Pam, could have quite the effect on Albany.
The Cuomo-Lee relationship also sets up an interesting possible situation: that the governor of New York's significant other could be both richer and more famous than he is.
By the way: Cuomo is expected to maybe/probably/oh-who-really-knows officially declare that he's running for governor next week. [Bloomberg]
Earlier on AOA: New York's next First Lady-friend?
photo: Food Network
State worker furloughs blocked
A federal judge has granted a restraining order against the state worker furloughs.
WTEN has posted a copy of the order. Among the orders:
- It temporarily blocks the Paterson administration from furloughing state employees
- It also blocks the admin from including another furlough measure in upcoming budget extenders.
- And, if we're reading it correctly (if), it also blocks the administration from holding back the four percent raises that are part of the union contracts.
A hearing on the issue is scheduled for later this month.
Also: Jack McEneny apparently led some sort of sit-in this afternoon outside Paterson's office to protest inaction on the budget. [State of Politics]
Update: The temporary restraining order is embedded after the jump.
photo from anti-furlough rally earlier this week: Rob Gierthy
Lobbying with Rachael Ray
And afterward, they discussed how to take over the world. (Obviously.)
Kirsten Gillibrand and Rachael Ray teamed up on Capitol Hill yesterday to press the case for healthier school lunches. From a NYT article, which reports that KG "unleashed" the Ray on other lawmakers:
"How could you go to any state in the union and say you are not for an extra couple of cents to eradicate hunger, to make our kids healthier, stronger, better focused?" [Ray] said. "It doesn't make any sense that you would even have to have a long conversation about that, to me."
Specifically, Gillibrand and Ray were pushing for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.
KG has made school lunches one of her focus issues -- this week she was pushing legislation that would ban trans-fat from school meals. RR has also campaigned for healthier food in schools.
photo: gillibrand.senate.gov
State worker furlough protest
No, "furlough you!"
Rob sent along a handful of photos from the bit anti-furlough rally at the Capitol today. The giant inflatable rat made an appearance.
The Troy Record reports there were estimated to be about 3,500 in the crowd. Kaitlyn Ross reports Jack McEneny told the crowd that Assembly is trying to take the furlough measure out of the emergency budget extender. But Erin Billups reports that Ron Canestrari says that's not legally possible.
photo: Rob Gierthy
Speed reading the coverage of the Joe Bruno sentencing
He still may not end up going to prison.
A federal judge sentenced Joe Bruno to two years in prison on corruption charges yesterday.
Here are a bunch of the quick scan highlights from the coverage -- including bits about the "vintage" Bruno speech, the judge, the sentence and the reaction.
Sweeter than the soda tax?
Despite the impassioned and persistent efforts of the state health commissioner, the soda tax has reportedly gone flat.
But New York apparently still needs the money. And it probably doesn't need the calories.
So here's a potentially sweeter idea: instead of specifically taxing sodas that contain sugar, New York should tax high-fructose corn syrup.
Eliot Spitzer can't stay out of the spotlight
It would appear that Eliot Spitzer is intent on being talked about.
In an interview posted this weekend by NYT, Spitzer said it's unclear whether Andrew Cuomo has the guts to take on tough political fights as governor. He also said he wasn't sure if he would vote for Cuomo.
Of course,there's some history here. Spitzer and Cuomo fought over the Joe Bruno investigation (Spitzer tells NYT Cuomo's approach was a "whitewash"). And Mario Cuomo reportedly said Spitzer wasn't qualified to be governor because he was "a bad man."
The book and the doc
Also stoking the coverage of Eliot Spitzer are Rough Justice, the book by Peter Elkind and the the untitled documentary by Oscar-winner Alex Gibney.
Eliot Spitzer's staying power
A soon-to-be published book about Eliot Spitzer includes some juicy details about the former governor's fall.
In Rough Justice, Peter Elkind reports that former AIG chairman Hank Greenberg and investment banker Ken Langone "remain the most obvious suspects" to have hired a detective to follow Spitzer looking for dirt. From an excerpt posted by Fortune:
Greenberg had a long-standing reputation for deploying clandestine methods; he had contacts in the CIA, and he had used detectives at AIG (AIG, Fortune 500). Langone had a palpable thirst for revenge. He had hired a private investigator to find political ammunition to use against Spitzer during the run-up to his gubernatorial campaign.
In high-level Wall Street circles, there are persistent rumblings that Langone hired someone to shadow Spitzer. Some of the rumblings come from those with ties to Langone; other people claim to have heard it in social settings directly from Greenberg. On July 17, 2009, Fortune writer James Bandler, interviewing Langone for a magazine profile of Greenberg, asked, Did you hire a gumshoe? "I'd say, 'No comment,' " Langone responded.
As you might expect, the book also contains some salacious details about Spitzer's, uh, consumption habits.
Tea Party Express
The Tea Party Express rolled through Albany today and made a stop near the Capitol. This is the series of rallies that started in Nevada with an appearance by Sarah Palin. Alas, the ex-governor of Alaska didn't show up at this stop (she's scheduled to be at the stop in Boston).
Rob's posted a photo set of the rally and counter-protest. Among the sign topics: spelling, math and sad Sarah Palin on a bus.
(Thanks, Rob)
photo: Rob Gierthy
Carl Paladino is one of those people who won't stop forwarding crap
WNY Media -- a news site in the Buffalo area -- has posted on a bunch of emails reportedly sent by Carl Paladino (the site seems to be getting slammed with traffic right now). Many of the messages are forwards. And they contain some nasty stuff: racist jokes, a woman and a horse, uh, you know. "Dramatically unsafe for work" is the way WNY Media describes them.
Paladino's campaign has released a statement responding to the emails. A snip, via Daily Politics:
Carl Paladino has forwarded close friends hundreds of email messages he received. Many of these emails he received were off color, some were politically incorrect, few represented his own opinion, and almost none of them were worth remembering.
Earlier on AOA: Who is Carl Paladino?
Clip from Rove/Dean debate at UAlbany
Via New York Now, here's a clip from last night's Karl Rove / Howard Dean debate at UAlbany -- the topic was the stimulus package. As you'll see, the pointed finger was one of the preferred moves:
There were a few protesters outside the debate. A protester was tossed from the debate itself about two minutes in.
Tweets from/about the debate. Here's a recap from the Troy Record.
"I'm as mad as hell!"
With Carl Paladino seemingly basing his campaign for governor on this clip from Network, we figured it would make for interesting viewing this morning.
It should be noted that Network is a dark satire and the Howard Beale character (the one who yells "I'm as mad as hell! I'm not going to take this anymore!") is literally crazy.
By the way: If you haven't seen Network, you should definitely watch it. It's a fantastic film. It won four Oscars.
Also: After the jump, Warren Redlich's video on why he's not qualified for higher office. The Guilderland resident has set up a long-shot bid for governor.
Earlier on AOA: Who is Carl Paladino?
Who is Carl Paladino?
Update September 15: Paladino has won the Republican nomination for governor.
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From April 12: Carl Paladino is one of those people who won't stop forwarding crap
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Carl Paladino is expected to toss his hat in the ring for governor of New York today.
When talking about Paladino, though, "toss" is probably not the right word -- "jam" or "shove" might be more fitting.
Is Kirsten Gillibrand unstoppable?
It appears the conventional wisdom (or whatever) is shifting from "Kirsten Gillibrand isn't going to make it" to "Kirsten Gillibrand is unstoppable." From a NYT story today about "What Makes Gillibrand Scary?":
... Ms. Gillibrand possesses assets most of the aspiring senators lack. She has a legitimate geographic base, having represented an Albany-area Congressional district in a part of the state where her family is prominent. She has a network of donors, especially women, who are not going to abandon her. She has a commitment to working her tail off to keep the seat, a fact that even her political enemies grudgingly acknowledge.
And, perhaps most important, she has $5.1 million in her campaign account.
Nothing like a big stack of money to scare off opponents. KG's skill/luck at clearing the field of electoral opponents for her Senate seat has prompted all sorts of theories, including one that involves Al D'Amato secretly supporting her while he publicly supports a Republican.
Earlier this week, a writer for TPM asserted (absurdly) that KG is... "the most powerful woman in American politics." (That kind of press should really help KG's relationship with Nancy Pelosi.) Not bad for someone whose favorable rating in the last Siena poll was just 32 percent -- with 38 percent of respondents saying they "prefer someone else" for the Senate.
And all this while she's, reportedly, busy "in the middle of diapers and bottles and bills and votes and markups."
If this kind of press keeps up, we'll await news of a kryptonite intolerance...
Earlier on AOA:
+ Describing the candidates
+ Does she sound like a senator?
Run for your lives! It's... Cutzilla?
This video from HANYS -- the state's big hospital lobbying group -- gets a +1 for creativity (and use of Playmobil). But we also have to mark it down for giving the legislature artillery. If there's anything legislators don't need, it's a tank.
Also: don't people always sort of root for Godzilla?
(Thanks, M!)
Reaction to the legislative assault on salt
All this should probably taken with a grain of... well... you know.
As you might have heard, state assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn) has proposed a bill that would ban restaurants from using salt in the preparation of food.
That hasn't exactly gone over well. A quick spin around the table for reaction after the jump.
Also: a scan of Ortiz's other fun-filled legislation.
Take a good look
New York State's problems with political corruption came up during this past weekend's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me -- and the panel ended up cracking on Albany (at the 4:10 mark):
Paula Poundstone: It must sort of smart a bit when you realize how hard your worked to get there... Before someone runs for office in New York, they should probably make them go look at Albany...
Peter Sagal: See what they think...
Poundstone: Yeah, exactly...
Sagal: It'd be like a scare-straight program for potential politicians.
Poundstone will be able to get a good look for herself in April. She's playing the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall April 24.
We're guessing it won't hurt that badly.
[via @amymengel]
photo: Paula Poundstone
Embarrassed to be New Yorkers
David Paterson's favorability ratings since becoming governor, as tracked by the Siena poll
The Siena poll out today reports that 54 percent of respondents said they agree that "What's going on in Albany makes me embarrassed to call myself a New Yorker."
SRI also reports that 55 percent of those polled said they think David Paterson should serve out his term. That reverses a recent slide for Paterson across a handful of polls:
March 2: Marist reports 66 percent say Paterson should stay stay
March 3: Quinnipiac reports 61 percent say stay
March 5: Quinnipiac reports 46 percent say stay
March 8: Siena reports 55 percent say stay
Not that people are warming back up to David Paterson. This most recent Siena poll reports that Paterson's unfavorable rating is at its highest point (67 percent).
Here's the full listing of the poll results.
Save the Parks rally
That sign in the back puts it rather plainly.
B has posted a handful of photos from yesterday's Save the Parks rally outside the Capitol. Among them: one of Jack McEneny rocking the bullhorn.
Based on comments in reports from the rally, it sounds like legislators aren't too keen on the idea of closing down parks. Of course, who knows what's going to happen behind closed doors when/if the state budget comes together.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Thacher Park is on official closure list
+ The campaign for Thacher Park
photo: B
Reports: Ford's out of Senate race
Both the NY Post and NYT are reporting that Harold Ford has decided to not run against Kirsten Gillibrand for the US Senate.
From a NYT op/ed by Ford that will run in Tuesday's paper:
"I've examined this race in every possible way, and I keep returning to the same fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary -- a primary where the winner emerges weak-ened and the Republican strengthened."
A Siena poll out last week reported that KG led Ford 42-16 in a hypothetical primary matchup -- even though many voters statewide were less than certain about her overall candidacy.
So, who's up next?
The word going around of late has been that Mort Zuckerman -- the owner of the New York Daily News -- has been thinking about possibly running on the Republican line. Zuckerman has mainly been a supporter of Democrats -- but apparently he thinks a run as Republican could bypass a messy primary. [CityFile] [NYT] [OpenSecrets] [NYT]
Speed reading the coverage of David Paterson
In retrospect, not exactly a dream team.
We've read (too) much of the reaction to David Paterson's decision to exit the race for the governor.
Here are a bunch of the quick-scan highlights -- about lame duck status, Paterson's work habits, calls for resignation, the budget, Andrew Cuomo and... yet another SNL skit.
Paterson: I'm ending my campaign
David Paterson just officially announced that he's ending his campaign for re-election. "I'm being realistic about politics," the governor said.
Paterson touted his record after taking over for Eliot Spitzer -- on issues such as the budget and the reform of the Rockefeller drug laws. "I fought the good fight, I did what was hard and I put the people first."
The governor said he's "looking forward to a full investigation" of the allegations surrounding aide David Johnson. "I have never abused my office, not now, not ever. When the facts are revealed, the truth will prevail."
Paterson said he will serve out the "308 days" remaining in his term (you know, not that anyone is counting.)
NYT: Paterson called woman who was seeking protection from aide
The New York Times has published yet another story about David Paterson and his reportedly influential aide, David Johnson. And while the first story fell short of the hype, the one posted tonight raises significant and specific questions about Johnson -- and the governor:
Last fall, a woman went to court in the Bronx to testify that she had been violently assaulted by a top aide to Gov. David A. Paterson, and to seek a protective order against the man.
In the ensuing months, she returned to court twice to press her case, complaining that the State Police had been harassing her to drop it. The State Police, which had no jurisdiction in the matter, confirmed that the woman was visited by a member of the governor's personal security detail.
Then, just before she was due to return to court to seek a final protective order, the woman got a phone call from the governor, according to her lawyer. She failed to appear for her next hearing on Feb. 8, and as a result her case was dismissed.
Paterson released a statement tonight in response to the article. In it, Paterson says Johnson has been suspended without pay. He also says asking Andrew Cuomo to investigate the matter.
The full text is after the jump.
New York is waiting
Voters say they're still unsure about KG -- and even more unsure about Harold Ford.
Or, so it would seem from a Siena poll out this week.
The poll reports that voters continue to want someone other than David Paterson to be governor, continue to like Andrew Cuomo, continue to be unsure about Kirsten Gillibrand, and continue to think the state is headed in the wrong direction.
A few highlights after the jump.
Rove/Dean at UAlbany
The ASP reports that Karl Rove and Howard Dean will engage in a political mixed martial arts bout a debate at UAlbany as part of the school's World Within Reach Speaker Series. The event is scheduled for April 8.
Details aren't posted, yet. But if this event is like the Colin Powell speech (also part of this series), it could be a tough ticket to get for people not connected to UAlbany. We'll update as we find out more.
It looks like Rove and Dean have participated in a handful of these debates -- last fall at DePauw University and Penn State; and just a few days ago in Portland and at Colorado-Boulder. Politics Daily reports the Rove/Dean fee for Colorado was $56k.
(Thanks, Patrick!)
Rove photo via Wikipedia | Dean photo by Flickr user Mr Wright
Ford on the Colbert Report
Harold Ford was on the Colbert Report last night. As Colbert remarked: "Evidently six minutes at my interview table counts as New York State residency." Ford continued to assert that he's "always been pro-choice" -- and said that his view on a same-sex marriage is "a changed position."
Colbert also recommended that Ford make a helicopter touch-and-go visit to Schenectady.
Kirsten Gillibrand was also on TV last night -- she talked with Rachel Maddow about Don't Ask, Don't Tell (KG is pushing for the policy to be repealed). That video is embedded after the jump.
Also: A Marist poll out yesterday reports that Gillibrand leads Ford in a hypothetical primary 44-27 (25 percent were "unsure").
And get this: the Marist poll also reported that Chuck Schumer's approval rating is now below 50 percent for the first time 2001.
Earlier on AOA:
+ It's on
+ Describing the candidates
+ Does she sound like a senator?
+ The quick scan of Ford/Gillibrand
It's on
You kind of get the feeling that Kirsten Gillibrand had just about enough of all the Harold Ford stuff yesterday. After tweeting about his "parakeet" comment, she then proceeded to seek out the media in an effort to repeatedly slam Ford.
To the AP: Ford was "unable to convince Tennessee voters to trust him or put their vote in him, and now he's moved to New York and thinks he should be senator."
To the TU: "I don't know who he thinks I am, but I'm certainly not going to be pushed aside by him and a few of his banker buddies." (Ford is on leave from Bank of America/Merril Lynch.)
To the NY Daily News: "He waltzed into his father's congressional seat after failing the bar. And then he comes to New York City and joins a big bank, and is now running with a few banker buddies and thinks he should be in the US Senate."
To the New York Times: "For him to say he is an outsider and an independent is laughable."
To the NY Post: "All we know about him is his record, which is abysmal for New York."
In polls people keep saying they don't know enough or have no opinion about KG. If this keeps up, you gotta think that will change -- for better or worse.
By the way: there is someone who has officially announced a challenge to Gillibrand for the Democratic nomination -- though his mom seems concerned that he's spending too much on campaign buttons.
Oh, yeah: In that clip above, Stephen Colbert named Harold Ford "Alpha Dog of the Week," in part for "Lifting your leg on New Yorkers and telling us it's just egg cream."
On parakeets
At the Capitol yesterday in Albany, Harold Ford said this about Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer:
"Understand that you are not elected to the United States Senate to be a parakeet, or take instructions from the Democratic leadership."
To which Kirsten Gillibrand (or whoever tweets for her) responded around noon today via Twitter:
"Parakeet?" I wouldn't allow my 6 yr old to engage in this kind of namecalling. And HF thinks he should be Senator?
Presumably she also wanted to add: "I'm rubber and you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks on you" -- but, well, you know, Twitter limits you to 140 characters.
Ford is also on Twitter. Sadly, there have been no @ responses between the two. Yet.
By the way: Ford had an op/ed piece in NYT yesterday about how the Democrats could chart a "better course."
Earlier on AOA:
+ Describing the candidates
+ Does she sound like a senator?
+ The quick scan of Ford/Gillibrand
photo: Flickr user Young in Panama
Describing the candidates
We couldn't help but notice the juxtaposition in coverage of Harold Ford and Kirsten Gillibrand this past weekend.
From the New York Times:
Mr. Ford, a five-term congressman from Tennessee, has given himself until the end of February to decide whether to challenge Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand in New York's Democratic primary, but in the first week of a statewide tour, he is quickly revealing what kind of candidate he would be: an effortless retail politician, equally at ease in baroque restaurants and Baptist churches, who makes instant, Clinton-like connections with voters.
And from the New York Daily News:
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is turning herself into a leaner, meaner campaigning machine - showing a slimmer silhouette as a tough election battle looms.
Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) confirmed to the Daily News what observers have been noticing in recent months - she's dropped some pounds.
She declined to say how many, but outsiders are betting 15 to 20.
Let's just go on the record right now: we won't even think of voting for Harold Ford until we know how many calories he eats each day.
By the way: Ford is at the Capitol in Albany today and says he's strongly considering a challenge to Gillibrand for the Democratic nomination. [@kaitlynross1] [@WNYT]
Earlier on AOA:
+ Does she sound like a senator?
+ The quick scan of Ford/Gillibrand
Does she sound like a senator?
A Siena poll out this week reported that only 29 percent of respondents said they would like to vote for Kirsten Gillibrand for US Senate in November -- 45 percent said they preferred someone else. That's a trend that's pretty much held steady since KG was appointed to replace Hillary Clinton a year ago.
So why don't voters seem to warming to Gillibrand? The NYO's Reid Pillifant recently offered a theory that was new to us: it's KG's speaking voice. From his Pillifant's piece:
"Kirsten Gillibrand has what I would call a non-regional American young female's accent," wrote Dr. Bert Vaux, a sociolinguistics scholar at the University of Cambridge, who was asked by The Observer to analyze Ms. Gillibrand's public speaking. "Though I lack the phonetic expertise to put my finger on what exactly is involved in this, her voice quality is of the sort that is typically associated with pre-workforce-age white American females. Judging by the case of this woman, this speech pattern has now extended into higher age ranges."
Pillifant goes on to note that Harold Ford is an excellent public speaker. Here's Ford speaking at a MLK Day event this week (with Gillibrand in the background).
We always thought the KG/Tracy Flick comparison was cheap and wrong. But we have to admit that when we watched her "accept" the appointment last January, we thought: "It kind of sounds like she's running for student body president."
A few other bits about Gillibrand/Ford after the jump.
A quick scan of the Paterson budget
David Paterson at today's budget presentation.
Updated at 1:44 pm
The Paterson administration officially released its proposed 2010-2011 state budget today. David Paterson called the state's financial picture "lugubrious" and said his proposal was "a budget of necessity." He also criticized past budgets: "We can no longer afford this spending addiction."
A (relatively) quick scan of the proposed budget is after the jump. It includes items about a soda tax, wine in supermarkets, speed cameras, The Egg and ultimate fighting.
The quick scan of Ford/Gillibrand
We've put off writing about the potential Harold Ford challenge to Kirsten Gillibrand all week.
It's probably because whenever the story's come up, we've just thought, "Dude. Run. Don't run. Make-up your mind. All this non-campaigning campaigning is boring." (Maybe we're fatigued by Andrew Cuomo.)
So it goes. Here's the quick scan of the whole week of will-he-should-he-what-if...
Paterson enters the octagon
"Sources" tell NYDN that David Paterson will include a measure legalizing ultimate fighting in his proposed budget plan later this month.
Reps from the Ultimate Fighting Championship have been lobbying for legalization in NY the last few years -- and apparently Paterson sees this as a way to generate revenue. A Bronx assemblyman floated the same idea earlier this year.
Colonie assemblyman Bob Reilly has been one of the most outspoken critics of legalizing MMA. That prompted a UK paper to wonder if Reilly was "the most hated man in MMA."
photo: Flickr user Lee Brimelow
State of the State speed read
You could spend half an hour listening to David Paterson's State of the State speech from today... or you could skim through this quick scan version.
Poll: almost half of New Yorkers "disappointed" by same-sex marriage vote
So reports the Siena poll out today.
When asked if they were "pleased" or "disappointed" by the state Senate's rejection of the same-sex marriage vote, 47 percent of respondents said they were disappointed (41 percent said they were pleased).
The poll also asked people whether they would like to change the current system in which state legislators can have outside jobs (perhaps this question was prompted by the Joe Bruno trial). Sixty-three percent of respondents said they favored "changing the system" (31 percent said they favored keeping the same).
Of those people who said they wanted to change the system, 43 percent said they wanted legislators to "publicly disclose the size and source of their outside income." Twenty-six percent said they'd like to see legislators prohibited from having other jobs -- with no pay increase. And 23 percent say they'd like to see legislators prohibited from outside jobs -- but with a pay raise.
Here are the results broken down by demographic categories.
Speed reading the coverage of the Joe Bruno guilty verdict
We've sifted through the coverage of Joe Bruno's conviction on federal corruption charges.
Here are a bunch of the quick-scan highlights...
Speed reading the coverage of the state Senate same-sex marriage vote
Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson speaking before yesterday's vote.
Updated Thursday at 5:30 pm
We've sifted through the coverage of yesterday state Senate vote on the same-sex marriage bill. Here are a bunch of the quick-scan highlights, including details of a protest planned for tonight...
Inside The Capitol Press Room
The Editors were guests today on Susan Arbetter's new statewide public radio show, The Capitol Press Room. We talked about Upstate vs. Downstate, celebrity, the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and weltanschauung. The segment starts at the 43:00 mark.
It was great to see Susan in her radio "hut" in the press room (we'd call it cozy.) And, yes, it's been a while since the Editors were on live radio.
Election results highlights
The boards of elections for Albany, Saratoga, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties all have results from yesterday's election posted online.
Here's a quick scan of some of the notable results.
Cory Booker at Union
Cory Booker will be speaking at Union Wednesday night. The Newark, New Jersey mayor has become a star in political and media circles over the last decade. From a Time mag profile this past summer:
The Booker bio is irresistible -- and familiar: he arrived in Newark fresh out of Stanford, Oxford and Yale Law, passing up riches to save a poor city. He moved into a decrepit Newark public-housing project, which has since been torn down, and was elected to the Newark city council at age 29. In 2006, at 37, he became mayor. To his supporters, who include A+ listers like Oprah Winfrey, Bon Jovi and Brad Pitt, plus an élite cadre of Wall Street and Silicon Valley scions, Booker's self-sacrificial tale is heroic. To his critics, Booker is still a publicity-loving political opportunist, a permanent outsider using the citizens of Newark to jump-start bigger things for his career.
Booker recently got into a multimedia "fight" with Conan O'Brien after the TV host cracked that the city's health plan consisted of "a bus ticket out of Newark." Booker appeared with Conan on the Tonight Show last month to set things straight.
Booker's talk at Union is titled "How to Change the World with Your Bare Hands." It starts at 6:30 pm in the Nott Memorial.
photo: City of Newark
Answers from Nathan LeBron
Nathan LeBron
A couple of weeks ago we asked for your questions for Nathan LeBron, the Republican candidate for mayor of Albany.
We talked with LeBron at his headquarters on State Street in Albany, near what's left of the Wellington Hotel (the part about the Wellington is significant only because the thumping you'll occasionally hear in the background is the sound of it being torn down.)
After the jump you'll find the answers to your questions, and a few of ours. The video is arranged so that you can watch him answer each question individually.
Last week we posed some of your questions to Mayor Jerry Jennings. Those answers are coming soon. Earlier this year we spoke with Corey Ellis and Shawn Morris.
The Blue State Sarah Palin
That's how The New Republic describes former NY lieutenant governor Betsy McCaughey (she was Pataki's LG from 1995-1998):
What kind of person drives normally staid wonks, including her own ideological teammates, to such stinging public reproof? Part of it is obviously the nature of her commentary. But beyond that, there is something about McCaughey herself that drives her critics wild--and has throughout much of her career. Friends posit it's her disconcerting blend of brains, beauty, and confidence. Detractors chalk it up to her rank dishonesty, narcissism, and lack of shame. Whatever the cause, the passion McCaughey inflames is familiar. Looking over the sweep of McCaughey's life, from her swift political rise (and fall) to her humble roots, from her straight-talking persona, fierce will, and blinding confidence to her gift for self-dramatization, head-turning looks, and embrace of the gender card, one sees precursors of a more recent conservative phenom. Replace the East Coast researcher's political-outsider, stats-wielding, pointy-head shtick with a political-outsider, gun-toting, populist one, and a striking parallel emerges: Betsy McCaughey is, in essence, the blue-state Sarah Palin.
McCaughey has been at the center of the pundit slapfest over the Obama's Administration's effort to reform healthcare. Her comments on the plan to include end-of-life counseling benefits in Medicare were tagged with a "pants on fire" designation by Politifact.
That TNR piece by Michelle Cottle includes a bunch of interesting/weird/WTF?/seriously? bits about McCaughey's time as NY LG -- including a great quote from former Pataki spokesperson Zenia Mucha: "How do you describe someone who is too bizarre to describe?"
[via]
photo: CIRD/WikiCommons
Stop us if you've heard this before
So it goes.
The latest Siena poll is like a replay of the last few months:
+ People continue to have an unfavorable view of David Paterson (29/59 favorable/unfavorable)
+ People continue to prefer someone else as governor (71 percent)
+ Andrew Cuomo continues to hold a strong lead in the hypothetical gubernatorial race (52-39 over Rudy Giuliani)
+ And people continue to say they don't know enough about Kirsten Gillibrand (47 percent)
Here's something new: the poll has started asking people whether they think the state budget gap can be closed without new taxes or fees. Eighty percent of people said they didn't think that was going to happen.
By the way: Paterson said today that it's looking like the mid-year budget gap will be $3 billion.
State's high court affirms Ravitch appointment
Richard Ravitch and David Paterson back in July when the appointment was first announced.
New York State now has a lieutenant governor.
The state Court of Appeals (New York's highest court) ruled today that David Paterson did have the authority to appoint Richard Ravitch to the vacant job.
Writes Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman in the 4-3 majority decision:
The issue on this appeal is whether the Governor of the State of New York has the authority to fill a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant-Governor by appointment. We now hold that he does.
The decision goes on to argue that the post of lieutenant governor falls under "a catch-all" provision of state law that allows the governor to make appointments for positions that don't otherwise have rules laid out for their replacement (lieutenant governor being one of these jobs).
From the dissent, written by Judge Eugene Pigott:
Under the majority's rationale, the possibility exists that the citizens of this State will one day find themselves governed by a person who has never been subjected to scrutiny by the electorate, and who could in turn appoint his or her own unelected Lieutenant-Governor.
photo: ny.gov
Jennings wins Democratic mayoral primary, Joe Bruno takes a turn on the swings, plane headed for Saratoga crashes, dogs found shot
Jerry Jennings topped Corey Ellis in the Albany mayoral Democratic primary with 7,615 to 5,971 (that's 56 percent to 44 percent). At his victory party, Jennings told the crowd he "wasn't going to walk away from this city in a very challenging time." Ellis told supporters that he would "continue to fight for this city" and that "this fight is just beginning." Ellis also said problems at polling sites held down his vote total. [CBS6] [TU] [CapNews9]
In other Albany primary results: Carolyn McLaughlin beat Lenny Ricciuti for Common Council president, Kathy Sheehan won big over incumbent Betty Barnette for treasurer and Leif Engstrom holds a 225 vote lead over Darius Shahinfar for city auditor. [CapNews9] [TU]
The whole list of primary results: Albany County | Rensselaer County | Saratoga County | Schenectady County
As the jury selection process started for his federal trial, Joe Bruno took a turn on the swings at a new playground in Troy that was built with Bruno Bacon. [TU] [CapNews9]
The primary is near. Thanks goodness.
Today's haul.
The way to a primary voter's heart is through... their mailbox?
It seems the candidates think so. We've been deluged by campaign mailers recently -- we got six just today. @Mrs_Misanthrope reported getting eleven. We could probably wallpaper half the house with these things.
And if the flurry of campaign mailers wasn't annoying enough, it seems the candidates have bought robocalls in bulk this year.
Just make it stop. Please.
Rudy leaning toward run for governor, attorney accused of ripping off clients, Giants could be leaving for good, Rachel Alexandra will race at Saratoga, fire truck for sale
People "close" to Rudy Giuliani say the former NYC mayor is leaning toward a run for governor. Giuliani has apparently told "associates" that he'll make up his mind within the next two months. Giuliani trails Andrew Cuomo 53-40 in a hypothetical gubernatorial matchup, according to the latest Siena poll. [NYDN] [NYT] [AOA]
The head of the state Republican Party is stepping down. Giuliani apparently was one of the people who pushed him out, which is another reason observers think Rudy is planning a run for governor. [Daily Politics] [NYT]
The federal Department of Justice says New York State's four juvenile prisons routinely use excessive force on their residents. That approach has led to an "alarming" number of injuries, according to the DOJ report. [NYT] [TU]
A Saratoga Springs attorney was arrested yesterday on charges that he ripped off more than $400k from clients. Police say he took the money as part of two real estate transactions. The attorney has pled not guilty. [TU] [Saratogian] [Fox23]
A Colonie lawyer says he was fired from his job with state Senate Democrats after decided to run for town justice on the Republican ticket. [TU]
New Yorkers: let's start over
Where's the reboot button on this thing?
In the Siena poll release today, 54 percent of respondents said they wish they could throw out all the state legislators and start over. In fact, it sounds like New Yorker are longing for the good old days (which are apparently about the same time as Sterling Cooper's heyday).
From the poll....
Albany mayoral race: campaign expenditures
Apparently they're both fans of Dale Miller.
As promised, here are the sortable lists of expenditures for the campaigns of Jerry Jennings and Corey Ellis. If you see anything interesting or notable, please share in the comments.
We posted sortable lists of campaign contributors yesterday. (JVG noticed that DiCarlo's (the strip club) had made a contribution.)
We were able to break out these lists thanks to a package of campaign finance data put together by NYPIRG. That package, which includes data for candidates from Albany County, is available for download (it's an xls file). Thanks to NYPIRG for its help.
We've also put together a few notes based on the lists. They're also after the jump.
To the data...
Move over David Paterson
It appears that New Yorkers have found something they dislike even more than David Paterson: the state Senate.
The Siena poll out today reports that 74 percent of respondents had an unfavorable opinion about the state Senate. And 77 percent said that the statement "I'm angry that the Senators wasted more than a month of valuable time accomplishing nothing" best described the way they felt about the Senate mess.
Not surprisingly, Pedro Espada led the pack of disliked senators with a 46-11 unfavorable/favorable split.
The poll also asked whether people would like to see Democrats, Republicans or a coalition control the chamber -- 30 percent said Dems, 17 percent Republicans and 52 percent coalition. (Maybe there's needs to be a "none of the above" option.)
It would be interesting to a see the results of a question that asks people what they think about their individual state senator.
Not much has changed in state Senate, Gillibrand cut off at Sotomayor hearing, judge admonished for not getting work done, pair accused of using kid to aid burglaries
Now that the state Senate leadership mess has been resolved, the chamber can move on to the really important stuff: staffing budgets. Oh, and Pedro Espada says was made majority leader because senators "trust" that "I can lead that house." [AP/Troy Record] [CapNews9]
Already bolstered by the state Senate's "extraordinary" sessions, downtown Albany restaurants are pulling for a special session. [CapNews9] [TU]
Chuck Schumer (video) and Kirsten Gillibrand (video) introduced Sonia Sotomayor at her Supreme Court nomination hearing yesterday. KG went on so long that she had to be cut off by Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (the first gavel comes at 6:25 in her video). Gillibrand does have a reputation for being loquacious. [SchumerTube] [GillibrandTube] [TU] [NYT]
Joe Bruno has already spent more than $450k on lawyers this year as part of his defense against federal corruption charges. [Daily Politics]
CSEA members showed up at last night's Albany County Legislature meeting to protest the planned five-day furloughs of county workers. The union says workers found out about the furlough via the media. Albany County exec Mike Breslin says the county is facing a $20 million budget gap. [Fox23] [CBS6]
Everyone seems upset in Senate mess aftermath, Albany says sewer failure wasn't its fault, bar owners brought SLA with check of a box, rain leads to exploding cherries
David Paterson says the caucus switching that's been going on in the state Senate is "so blatantly quid pro quo that it borders on the boundaries of illegality." Jim Tedisco says that the recent mess has prompted him to work on introducing legislation in the Assembly that would allow elected officials to be recalled -- he singled out Pedro Espada for "selling his office." Roy McDonald says the legislature is "evolving into a branch of the New York City Council." And Neil Breslin says the recent events have him "less excited about being a senator." [AP/TU] [TU] [Fox23] [Saratogian] [AP/Troy Record]
Friday's special session of the state Senate was canceled and the body is next scheduled to meet on Wednesday. [PolitickerNY]
One thing the Senate ovethrow/unthrow didn't stop: big pay raises for a bunch of Senate staffers. [TU]
A hearing on the constitutionality of David Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch to the post of lieutenant governor has been scheduled for Wednesday. Even with the state Senate mess resolved, both Paterson and Ravitch say there's still a need for a lt governor. [AP/TU] [PolitickerNY]
Lawyers for Joe Bruno are arguing that his trial for "theft of honest services" should be delayed until the Supreme Court of the United State rules on a pair of similar cases. [TU]
They City of Albany has denied almost $300k in claims related to the flooding last August. The city says the deluge "exceeded all levels for which municipal storm sewers or municipal combined sewers are designed." [TU]
State Senate gets back to work, Biden in Clifton Park, Salvation Army says it didn't blow the whistle, chip fab has 20 year lifespan, good year for apples
The state Senate, with Pedro Espada caucusing with the Democrats, had a real session last night -- 135 bills were passed. The session was not without drama. Republicans held things up for about two hours because they said Democrats weren't supporting agreed-upon reforms -- Dean Skelos called Democrats "a bunch of phonies." The session got back on track shortly before midnight when both sides announced they had agreed to "a framework" for reform. [Biz Review] [TU] [AP/Daily Gazette] [Daily Politics]
The session also included Espada's installation as majority leader, though it wasn't by a vote because apparently some of the Democrats refused to directly vote for him. [Daily Politics]
David Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch to lieutenant governor is basically on hold until the courts review it. The first hearing is today. [TU]
Joe Biden touted the Obama Administration's stimulus program yesterday during his speech to about 600 people in Clifton Park. The VP announced that New York was getting another $275 million for unemployment insurance. And he said 6,800 jobs would be coming to the state. Among Biden's comments: he would never take the job of Mayor of Albany because it's too hard. (video from the event) [Post-Star] [Troy Record] [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Post-Star]
Yep. Right. Sure.
Pedro Espada explaining things Thursday afternoon
The state Senate Democrats -- now back in power after making a deal with Pedro Espada -- got together for a press conference this afternoon to talk about everything that went down. And we gotta say, some of their comments were almost unbelievable.
So here are eight quotes that made us go "What?! Seriously?!" Just a warning -- these comments may make your head explode.
Richard Ravitch, come on down...
You're the next contestant on the bizarre reality show that is New York State government. David Paterson just announced that he's appointing Richard Ravitch to the post of lieutenant governor.
Ravitch theoretically will now be able to cast a tie-breaking vote in the frozen state Senate (if quorum ever comes together). The key word is theoretically -- because Paterson's appointment will almost surely set off a flurry of lawsuits. If Ravitch's appointment holds, it would at the very least clear up some of the questions about the gubernatorial line of succession.
So who is this Ravitch guy? A quick primer after the jump.
State Senate break reportedly near, Biden coming to area, layoffs at the TU, mouthwash defense surfaces, liquor license denied because of Salvation Army
It's now been a month since the state Senate upheaval started. The two sides are reportedly nearing some sort of resolution. The Democrats known as "The Three Amigos" (that includes Pedro Espada, who's sided with the Republicans) are threatening to do something (it's not clear what) if there isn't a deal by Thursday. Two of the Amigos plus another senator walked out of the Dems' session yesterday -- and apparently other rank-and-file members are feeling "frisky." [Daily Politics] [PolitickerNY] [TU] [AP/Troy Record]
It does seem like something is up -- David Paterson has requested statewide TV time for 5 pm this evening. That's prompted speculation that he might try to dislodge the situation by appointing a lieutenant governor (which would, in turn, probably set off legal throwdown). [Daily Politics] [TU]
If it's any consolation, the senators' pay has been stopped. [NYDN]
Joe Biden will be in Clifton Park tomorrow to tout the federal stimulus effort. He'll be speaking at Shenendehowa High School. This will be the first Vice Presidential visit to the area since 2000. [TU] [WTEN] [Daily Gazette]
Plotting and scheming in the state Senate, vote on landfill delayed, Lake George beaches closed, bowling-spectator cop promoted
Today's forecast includes the possibility of severe weather this afternoon and evening. The chance of rain is 80 percent and conditions could include "penny size hail or greater and wind gusts 58 mph or stronger." [NWS] [NWS]
Monday in the state Senate: lots of talking and plotting, but little action. An Assemblyman and a few good government groups are saying that David Paterson could fix the situation by simply appointing a lieutenant governor, and thus giving the Senate a tie breaker. Republicans -- and AG Andrew Cuomo -- say Paterson can't do that. [TU] [NYDN] [Daily Politics]
On a different front, one of the senators has sued the Assembly in an attempt to get it to accept the bills "passed" by the Senate during last week's V8 quorum -- though David Paterson has said he won't the sign the bills even if the Assembly accepts them. [Daily Politics]
Another potential solution that bubbled to the surface yesterday was the idea of co-leadership of the Senate. But it seems the Democrats can't agree with each other, nevermind the Republicans, because many now despise Pedro Espada. And speaking of Espada, he was apparently plotting with the "four amigos" yesterday over lunch at Bongiourno's. [TU] [Daily Politics] [Daily Politics]
The Albany Common Council delayed its vote on the bonds that would fund the landfill expansion. Apparently there's some question as to whether there are enough vote to approve the debt. The landfill could be full as soon as the end of this year. [TU]
Pedro Espada's many characteristics
Pedro Espada -- one of the key players in the state Senate mess -- gets the cover story treatment in the most recent New York Mag.
Espada comes off as quite the multi-faceted character. He's described -- by others, himself, events -- as: a nihilist, scrappy, a fighter, a meticulous dresser, a guy who talks about himself in the third person, Evita-like, a thief, a villain, a score settler, charismatic, a shrewd political tactician, amoral, a self-aggrandizer, an outsider, self-reliant, needy, a contradiction, an opportunist, a scofflaw, and a tool.
State comptroller says he'll stop senators' pay, officials say fatal Schenectady fire was arson, Troy's Cannon Building could be closed, WTEN going up for auction
State comptroller Tom DiNapoli says he will withhold state senators' pay because of the Senate standoff. There's some question as to whether DiNapoli can legally do that -- and a spokesman for Senate Democrats has already said they'll sue if the comptroller actually goes through with it. [NYT] [NYDN] [TU]
There didn't appear to be an significant progress toward a resolution of the state Senate mess yesterday, though the two sides did talk. David Paterson asked the public for ideas about how to fix the situation. [Daily Politics] [Capitol Tonight]
One group that's made OK in all this: lawyers. [Capitol Tonight]
With another "extraordinary" session planned for tomorrow, senators were making Fourth of July plans. Among them: conjugal visits, fireworks at the ESP, laundry and reading "computer mail." [NYDN] [NYT]
Schenectady County DA Robert Carney says the fire that killed a 10-year-old girl in Schenectady last month was intentionally set by woman who was upset with the girl's mother. The woman has been charged with murder and arson. Carney says he doesn't think the woman intended to kill the child. The girl's mother was not home at the time of the fire -- she's been charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Three firefighters were injured while trying to save the girl. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Fox23] [CBS6]
Judge orders state Senate back to work, Paterson warns of another fiscal shortfall, trans-fat ban adjusted, police get DNA evidence from soda bottle
A state Supreme Court judge ordered the state Senate -- both caucuses -- into session today. The judge scolded senators for their behavior and said they risked appearing "rude, inconsiderate and egotistical." Democrats say they'll show up for the session (though they're promising not to take up anything controversial) and the Republicans have already filed an appeal. If the Senate doesn't take action a handful of measures will expire tonight, including sales tax extensions in many counties. [NYT] [Daily Politics] [NYDN] [TU]
If it seems like the Senate mess would put incumbents at risk of being thrown out of office... well, behold the power of pork. [TU]
At the NY Conference of Mayors meeting yesterday in Saratoga, David Paterson said that state tax revenues "may be down 35 percent this year from where they were projected." [Post-Star]
Police say two men were shot on Kent Street in Albany yesterday afternoon (map). Witness says four people jumped out of car, ran up to a porch and started shooting. [TU] [Fox23]
State Senate still stuck, Novello to do community service at Albany clinic, political spat over playground, Miss New York crowned, angry penguin in Waterford
The state Senate is still stuck. The two caucuses repeated their parallel in-and-out sessions over the weekend. David Paterson, who's suing the Senate over the quickie sessions, met with the Democratic caucus over the weekend -- though there aren't any details about whether they decided to hug it out or to continue hating each other. Yet another "extraordinary" session is planned for today. The two sides appear no closer to working out a power-sharing deal. [CapNews9] [Daily Politics] [AP/TU]
One of the background issues to the Senate mess is the 2010 redistricting. Demographers say population shifts are pointing toward a sizable Democratic majority -- though that depends on how districts are drawn. [NYT]
The state comptroller's office has cancelled $3 million in state funding for Pedro Espada's Bronx health care company. The comptroller says Espada, the disputed Senate pro tem, neglected to report that his org owed back taxes. [TU]
Even though New York State pays some of the lowest unemployment benefits in the nation, the state's unemployment insurance fund will be $2 billion short by the end of the year. [TU]
Albany County will be furloughing employees one day per month over the next six months. County exec Mike Breslin says the plan will save $1.4 million (the county faces a $20.5 million budget gap). Breslin says he'll be taking part in the furlough. [TU] [Troy Record]
State senators agree to hate on David Paterson, landfill expansion gets official OK from DEC, Troy dog park becomes political squabble, Dino looking for big tax breaks, rabid fox alert, gastropub opening in Saratoga
The state Senate's two caucuses held separate, brief -- and pointless -- sessions yesterday. The two sides apparently are close to working out some sort of deal to share power -- and asked for more time to negotiate. David Paterson essentially told them to stuff it and called another "extraordinary" session for today. He also directed the state treasurer to withhold senators' per diems. [Daily Politics] [NYT] [PolitickerNY]
One thing senators of both sides can apparently agree on: they're annoyed with David Paterson. Brooklyn Dem Kevin Park even called Paterson a "coke snorting, staff-banging governor" (he later retracted his comment -- at least he didn't hit the governor). Paterson said it's not him versus the legislature, but rather "governance versus chaos." [Newsday] [PolitickerNY] [NYDN] [TU]
It looks like the Senate chaos has put the same-sex marriage bill on hold indefinitely. [AP/Daily Gazette]
Former state health commissioner Antonia Novello has pleaded guilty in the case that alleged she used her state employees as personal assistants. She's getting off with no jail time, but will have to do community service, pay $22,500 in restitution and pay a small fine. [TU] [AP/Daily Gazette]
A spokesman for Rick Lazio says the former Long Island congressman and US Senate candidate "fully intends" to run for Governor of New York. Lazio has called for New York to replace the Assembly and Senate with a unicameral legislature. [AP/TU] [Daily Politics]
A draft of the Albany Common Council's ghost ticket investigation report concludes that the "intent of the system itself was not bad ... it was the impropriety in how the benefit was granted that is a cause for concern." One version of the draft report also apparently includes sharp criticism of city treasurer Betty Barnette's office. [TU]
Paterson threatens state Senate, landfill expansion needs another permit, Troy dog park controversy, another pizza person mugged, gourmet market coming to Latham
The state Senate was in session for all of five minutes yesterday -- and the Republicans weren't even there. [Daily Politics]
David Paterson has called another "extraordinary" session for today. If senators don't show, he says he'll move to withhold their pay. He's also threatening to send the State Police after missing senators. A Brooklyn senator responded to Paterson's threats by calling him a "coward" who "will not be returning as governor." Leaders of both caucuses say their memberships will be at the Capitol today. [TU] [Daily Politics] [NYT] [Buffalo News]
A business run by Pedro Espada, one of the senators who set this whole circus in motion, owes almost $350k in back taxes. In 2007, Espada made almost $460k at the org, which gets funding from the state. [TU]
Even if the DEC approves the Albany landfill expansion, the project will still have to get the OK from the Army Corps of Engineers (though it won't stop the landfill from being piled higher). [TU]
Special state Senate session a disaster, landfill expansion could be approved soon, home prices holding steady, new music venue for Saratoga
Yesterday's special state Senate session was a mess. Among the absurdities: Democrats entered the chamber early in some sort of attempt to call "first!"; each side held its own concurrent session (with their own gavels) and tried to call the other out of order; no one knows if any of the voted-on bills were legally passed. [TU] [Daily Politics] [CapCon] [NYDN] [NYT]
David Paterson has called the Senate back for another session today -- with the same-sex marriage bill on the agenda. The inclusion of that bill could prompt Democrat Ruben Diaz Sr. to switch allegiance to the Republicans, giving them a majority. [Daily Politics]
Jerry Jennings' chief aide says the city's application to expand the Rapp Road landfill could be approved by the DEC as early as this week. At its current size, the landfill is projected to be full later this year -- six years ahead of schedule. Common Councilman -- and mayoral candidate -- Corey Ellis called for "a comprehensive audit of the Rapp Road landfill by a truly independent body" yesterday. [TU] [Ellis press release]
The median price for homes in the Capital Region more or less held steady last month compared to the same period last year -- though the number of transactions was down. Median prices were up in Schenectady County, flat in Albany County and down in Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. Homes priced under $200k are apparently selling well. [Daily Gazette] [GCAR/Post-Star] [TU]
Paterson calls special Senate session, twins die in accident, lottery winner allegedly sold crack, man accused of syruping gas tanks
David Paterson is calling the state Senate into special session this afternoon. Whether anything of actual substance will happen is uncertain, though -- in large part because it's not clear who will be running the chamber. Paterson can set the agenda -- and he's putting up 90 largely uncontroversial bills for consideration (he can't make the senators vote, though). When/if the bills are voted on, Paterson says he'll keep the Senate in session for bills related to "reform, fiscal discipline and also civil rights." One of those bills is probably the same-sex marriage bill, though Paterson didn't say that exactly -- probably because Democrat, and outspoken same-sex marriage opponent, Ruben Diaz has been threatening to switch parties if the bill is brought up. [TU] [NYDN] [Buffalo News] [Daily Politics] [PolitickerNY]
While the Senate drama lurched forward yesterday, the Assembly finished its session. [AP]
Twin teenage brothers died Sunday in Rensselaer County after the ATVs they were driving collided head-on. A teen girl was also seriously injured. The teens were not wearing helmets (the TU story says state law requires helmets, the Gazette story says it does not helmets are required). [TU] [Troy Record] [Daily Gazette]
Police say a Schenectady man stabbed his adult step daughter and her friend after the man got into an argument with his wife at a Father's Day party on Sunday. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
We're going the wrong way
Turn around.
The Siena poll out today has some interesting -- if not necessarily surprising -- results.
People are still down on David Paterson (though marginally less so) -- but they've also turned against pretty much everyone else in state government (with one exception).
Paterson says he will force Senate into session, judge snagged in DWI sweep, bristling at being New York's pay toilet, vinyl records store opens in Schenectady
David Paterson says he will call the state Senate into special session tomorrow if the body doesn't get to work today. Said Paterson yesterday of all the drama: "Over the last couple of weeks, the senators' conduct has been laughable." Paterson says Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman would preside over the special session -- a provision that some say could be unconstitutional or create a conflict of interest. The session would focus on "emergency" issues such as the sale tax extension for some counties. Not on that list: same-sex marriage, though Paterson says he intends for the Senate to vote on the bill before the summer break. [TU] [NYDN] [PolitickerNY] [Daily Politics] [NYT]
Two things that might prompt Senators to start moving: they can't hook up their cronies with patronage jobs until the situation's resolved; and all their pork is currently locked in the barrel. [TU] [TU]
A man was stabbed to death in Schenectady Saturday morning. Police say they haven't identified a motive. [TU] [Fox23]
Police say an Albany County family court judge was snagged as part of the county-wide drunk driving sweep last Thursday. Green Island police say the judge tried to evade a checkpoint at the Troy-Green Island Bridge and led police on a short chase. [TU] [Troy Record]
The Albany Police Department is reportedly trying to fire two members of the force -- the detective accused of driving drunk through Albany into Bethlehem in February; and the sergeant who's been accused of trying to cover for the detective. [TU]
Senate is still stuck, big drug bust in Wilton, Alive at Five DWI crackdown planned, man accused of impersonating a cop, another local moose sighting
The state Senate is still borked. Local elected leaders are getting nervous because the Senate hasn't passed bills that would extend special sales taxes (this group includes Rensselaer and Columbia counties). Also held up: the new pension tier that was part of David Paterson's deal with the state worker unions. And the lid on the pork barrel is also shut. [TU] [CapNews9] [Buffalo News]
Republicans and Democrats are apparently trading ideas for power-sharing agreements. They're also starting to throw mud at each other. A sample exchange: Pork-throwing adulterer! Liar! [PolitickerNY] [NYP]
Pedro Espada, the lone Democrat in the Republican "coalition," has been reiterating his claim that his position as Senate pro tem gives him two votes -- not just in the event of a tie, but also to establish a quorum. An expert from the the Rockefeller Institute said Espada's claim "just might be correct." But the case law would seem to indicate otherwise. If Espada tries to act in this manner, the Democrats will almost certainly sue. [Daily Politics] [AP/Troy Record] [TU] [NYT]
The revised Schenectady schools budget did pass after all. A re-check of the numbers found a mistake that had resulted in almost 50 fewer "yes" votes. Had the budget not passed, the school district was going to impose an almost 16 percent tax increase as part of a contingency budget. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
Mad as hell! About something!
The Trump approach to government reform.
While the state Senate drama staggered on inside the Capitol yesterday, there as a sort of follow-up to the Tax Day "tea parties" going on outside.
The theme of the "March on Albany" was "We're Voting the Ins Out!" -- though it sounds like maybe the incumbents don't have much to worry about.
If anything, it seems like the protest was an expression of a generalized anger toward government.
B has posted a photo set with a bunch of pics from yesterday's protest.
photo: B
State Senate frozen with no end in sight, local orgs lack pandemic plans, abandoned high-end homes in Saratoga, DEC hoping for hot turtle action
The state Senate is basically frozen right now. Yesterday a judge dismissed the Democrats' suit seeking to void last week's takeover by the Republicans + Pedro Espada. The Republicans claimed victory and tried to go into session -- but with only 31 senators present, they couldn't form a quorum. [NYT] [Daily Politics]
David Paterson again called on the Senate to work out some sort of power sharing deal, perhaps bringing someone such as former chief judge Judith Kaye to preside over the chamber. He also said the line of succession to the governorship is in dispute. [TU]
If the state Senate ever does back into session, Espada is arguing that he should have two votes -- his regular vote plus one as acting lieutenant governor. Apparently there's no precedent for that, though. [NYP]
By the way: the Assembly has been working while all this has been going on. [Daily Politics]
State Senate paralyzed by drama, plane plucked from Mohawk, Albany sewers maxed out, moose on the loose
As had been rumored, Hiram Monserrate switched back to the Democratic caucus yesterday and now the state Senate is split 31-31. Result: no one knows what the hell is going on. The two parties discussed a power-sharing arrangement, but couldn't come up with a deal. They're now looking to the courts to settle things> -- and it sounds like the judiciary would really rather not do that. [NYT] [NYDN] [NYT]
The situation puts the state in a "constitutional crisis" as there's no clear way for the Senate to function. Also muddled: the line of succession to the governorship. [Buffalo News]
The Republicans + Democrat Pedro Espada showed up in the Senate chamber yesterday, but couldn't do anything official because they were one short of a quorum. Democrats are now threatening to sue Espada because, they say, he violated a court-issued injunction against acting as Senate pro tem. [Daily Politics] [CapNews9]
John Sampson, the new leader of the Senate Democrats, is being credited with bringing Monserrate back into the caucus. [TU]
A crew pulled the small private plane that crashed into the Mohawk near Glenville out of the river yesterday. The victims were also identified -- one was a former Bollywood actor turned real estate developer. Officials aren't sure what caused the crash. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
Senate drama twists again, small plane crashes into Mohawk, firefighters pull unconcisous girl from fire, Whole Foods reportedly scouting area
The state Senate drama took another twist over the weekend when Hiram Monserrate -- one of the Democratic switchers -- said he's returning to caucus with the Democrats. Apparently one of Monserrate's demands for returning to the Dems' caucus was that Malcolm Smith had to go as majority leader. Brooklyn senator John Sampson is reportedly going to take over as head of the Democratic caucus -- but Smith might stay