Blue Spot

World Trade Center behind schedule, over budget | Reuters

NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - Rebuilding at the World Trade Center, site of the Sept. 11 attacks, is behind schedule and over budget, and major problems mean new cost estimates and timetable must be drawn up, officials said on Monday.

Firm projections for the planned memorial, museum, five skyscrapers and transit hub now will be issued by the end of September, New York Gov. David Paterson said.

And it is too soon to say whether the Freedom Tower, which would replace the Twin Towers in the Manhattan skyline, will have to be scaled back, the site's owner said.

The centerpiece of the rebuilding effort, the Freedom Tower had been due for completion in 2011. At 1,776 feet (541 metres) it would be the tallest building in the United States.

Paterson spoke to reporters after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that owns the site, issued a report he commissioned because he feared the projects would take longer and cost more than his predecessors predicted.

Only part of the memorial will be done by the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. That anniversary had been the previous deadline for unveiling the memorial featuring two reflecting pools marking the outlines of each of the Twin Towers.

However, developer Larry Silverstein said three adjacent skyscrapers on the 16-acre (6.5-hectare) site will be completed on time by 2012.

The project's $14 billion cost keeps rising as commodity prices soar and the 19 federal, state and city agencies that are all involved fail to solve logjams.

Labels: 9-11, Ground Zero, Local

DownWithTyranny!: IN CASE YOU'RE SICK OF HEARING WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE DCCC FROM ME, LET'S GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A TURN: MEET STEVE HARRISON

But the race we're here to look at today is the only in NY-13, the Staten Island/Brooklyn district being abandoned by the recently infamous Vito Fossella. A few days ago I heard from reliable sources that the grassroots candidate, Steve Harrison, was dropping out and that the DCCC had endorsed Michael McMahon. I had been following the race from afar and I smelled a rat immediately. The DCCC often will tell donors and Democratic interest groups and the media that there is no primary when they want to rally everyone around their own anointee. It just took me a few phone calls to find out that my instincts were correct and that, again, the spirit of Rahm was alive and kicking. Harrison hadn't only not quit the race, he had challenged McMahon to 5 debates. The part about the DCCC endorsing him, though... that was true.

Labels: Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

(Staten Island/Brooklyn) Democratic Congressional candidate Steve Harrison (NY13th CD Staten Island, Southwest Brooklyn), who in 2006 received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever under the district’s current configuration, is challenging September 9th primary opponent Councilman Michael McMahon to five debates, 3 in Staten Island and two in Brooklyn. The primary winner faces the eventual Republican nominee in November to replace incumbent Vito Fossella, who is not seeking re-election because of his recent scandals.

Harrison wants to begin debating his opponent as soon as possible.

"I'm ready to go today" said Harrison, "Mike told the Staten Advance that he wants to discuss the issues. So let's discuss. I've been discussing Congressional issues for over two years. have a website, campaign team and money in the bank. It will be interesting to hear what Mike says about National issues and why he voted for congestion pricing and the largest property tax hike in history and why, as a Democrat, he's vying for the Conservative party endorsement."

It's widely believed Harrison soundly defeated Fossella, who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines, in all five times they debated in 2006.

Labels: Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

The scandal-plagued, 5 term Republican Congressman from NY's 13th congressional district decides he will not be running for re-election. Clip is from NY Nightly News Channel 4 coverage. Democratic opponent Steve Harrison is interviewed.

Channel 7 mentioned Harrison in their coverage tonight but said that Democratic party insiders will probably try to push him to the side. They interviewed Democratic NYC Council member Mike McMahon who said he would like to throw his name in the ring.

Below is coverage from CBS 2's Don Dahler.

Labels: Fossella, Local, NY-13, Scandals, Steve Harrison

While Republican incumbent, Rep. Vito Fossella is contemplating his political future due to a recent scandal, Democrat Steve Harrison is fighting for the chance to serve NY-13.

(Staten Island/Brooklyn) Vito Fossella’s Democratic opponent for the Staten Island/Southwest Brooklyn based NY 13th Congressional District seat, Steve Harrison, has received a flurry of endorsements recently including a 2800+ person strong independent New York City group that’s part of a national grassroots network founded by Howard Dean. Other recent Harrison endorsements include two African American political leaders, a union president and Staten Island and Brooklyn district leaders.

Democracy for New York City (DFNYC), which is part of a coalition of independent grassroots groups nationwide belonging to the Democracy for America” (DFA) network, has endorsed Harrison with an unprecedented 100 percent of the vote. DFA was founded by Democratic National Committee chair and former presidential candidate Howard Dean and is run by his brother Jim.

Organizer Tracy Denton says her organization will provide troops for Harrison.

"We are very excited to mobilize our volunteer base to help Steve Harrison, a solid Democrat who will not be afraid to stand up on the issues that matter."

She adds “As part of a national network of Democracy for America groups all across the country, we are seeing that voters want to return a Democratic majority to Congress, but not just any Democrats. They want to support Democratic candidates who will be strong enough to do what it takes to end this war in Iraq and bring our troops home. The future looks good for good Democrats like Steve Harrison."

Kelvin Alexander, co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement has endorsed Harrison because he will fight for those who can not fight for themselves.

“Steve has the energy, desire and passion to fight for those left out of by the system.”

Alexander founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement with Eric Adams, now a State Senator, in 1995. Kelvin is Adams’s chief of staff and is a former State Senate and Assembly candidate in Staten Island.

Harrison has recently received the endorsement of another Staten Island African American leader, Debi Rose, past president of the African American Political Association and an Obama delegate. Ms. Rose is a 2009 candidate to replace term limited City Councilman Mike McMahon. Rose came within 170 votes of defeating McMahon in the 2001 primary.

Other recent Harrison endorsements include John Strika, President of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 806, Marc Zink, Staten Island’s 61st Assembly District Leader and Joanne Seminara, 60th Assembly District Leader (Brooklyn/Staten Island).

Harrison says he received these endorsements because of his issue stances.

“I am proud of these endorsements. These groups and individuals endorsed me because of my opposition to the war in Iraq and support for civil liberties protection, universal, single-payer healthcare, a solid energy policy, fair trade, repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and ethics reform, all of which are in line with the thinking of the majority of Americans.”

Other Harrison endorsements include: The Democratic Advancement Political Action Committee (DAPAC), the Progressive Democrats of America, the Staten Island Democratic Association, the Democratic Organization of Richmond County, the American Heritage Democratic Organization, legendary feminist Gloria Steinem, former judge and Assembly member Frank Barbaro and 60th AD District Leader Ralph Perfetto.

Labels: endorsement, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

NY1: Politics

There may be more fallout from Congressman Vito Fossella's admission he fathered a daughter with a woman in Virginia.

The Daily News says congressional officials are looking into several of Fossella's overseas trips, including a January 2003 stay in France.

Though he was the only legislator authorized to go on the trip, billed as a "fact finding" mission to a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, the Daily News says the woman he fathered a child with is suspected of joining him. In early 2003, Laura Fay was an Air Force legislative liaison officer who often traveled with congressional delegations.

NY1 has reached out to Fossella's office for comment on the allegations, but so far have not heard back.

Labels: corruption, Fossella, Local, NY-13

N.Y. Rep. admits fathering child from affair - USATODAY.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Vito Fossella of New York acknowledged on Thursday that he fathered a child from an extramarital affair, answering questions that arose from his arrest on drunken driving charges last week.
"My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry," said Fossella, a Republican, who has three children with his wife in Staten Island, N.Y.

Fossella's private life came under scrutiny after he was arrested last week in the Virginia suburbs of Washington. Police said his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, and he could face a mandatory five days in jail if convicted.

When Fossella was pulled over, police said he told officers that he was going to see his daughter in the area. That prompted questions about who the daughter was.

"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a 3-year-old daughter," Fossella said in his statement. It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest.

The disclosure clouds Fossella's political future. He faced a surprisingly tough re-election challenge in 2006, and Democrats were hoping to unseat him this year.

"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind. Over the coming weeks and months, I will continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused," he said.

Fossella was elected to Congress in 1997 in a special election to replace Rep. Susan Molinari, who resigned. A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he also earned a law degree from Fordham University.

Fossella, 43, serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, GOP Hypocrisy, Local, NY-13

Vito Fossella's relationship with 'mystery woman' under scrutiny

This is the first look at the mystery woman whom Rep. Vito Fossella (R-S.I.) called for help after he was charged with drunken driving in Virginia.

Laura Fay, wearing sunglasses and dressed in jogging clothes, refused to comment when she was approached over the weekend.

Fay is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and marathon runner. Public records show the divorcee owns a townhouse in Alexandria, Va. She also reportedly has a 3-year-old daughter.

Fossella aides continued to describe the two only as good friends. Fay picked up Fossella last Thursday morning, seven hours after he was arrested for running a red light 3 miles away from her townhouse.

In other developments:

*Watchdog groups questioned Fossella's use of campaign funds to pay a high-priced damage control expert.

*Fossella was one of only two members of Congress whose spouses were not on a list of attendees at a dinner party in Britain.

*Critics in his own party wondered whey he called Fay instead of his chief of staff, who also lives in Alexandria.

The Republican, facing reelection in November, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 - twice the legal limit, cops said, and hired damage consultant Susan Del Percio with money from his campaign war chest.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13

Rep. Fossella (R, NY-13) apologizes to his constituents of NY-13th CD for his DWI arrest in VA. Dem. Steve Harrison who ran against Fossella in 2006, and is now facing a challenge from Dem. Domenic Recchia, is featured in this clip as Fossella's main opponent. This could do wonders for Harrison's bid to take back the Democratic nomination.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

HillaryClinton.com - Media Release

The Clinton Campaign announced the support of four New York automatic delegates today, after the New York State Democratic Committee elected its automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

The automatic delegates include New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and New York Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo.

Labels: Election 2008, Hillary, Local, superdelegates

*Update: Fossella to address the media tomorrow afternoon.

Rep. Fossella Arrested on Charges of Driving While Intoxicated - washingtonpost.com

Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.) was arrested overnight in Alexandria and charged with driving while intoxicated, court records showed today.

Fossella is scheduled to appear in Alexandria General District Court on May 12 for an advisement hearing, the records said.

No other details were immediately available.

Late this afternoon, Fossella released a statement, saying, "Last night I made an error in judgment. As a parent, I know that taking even one drink of alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car is wrong. I apologize to my family and the constituents of the 13th Congressional District for embarrassing them, as well as myself."

Driving while intoxicated is a very serious charge. Over 17,000 people die every year as a result of such irresponsible and illegal action according to Mothers against Drunk Driving Only 2 days ago MADD held a luncheon at which I was represented. I stand shoulder to shoulder with MADD in its quest to rid our society of this scourge and I certainly hope that all candidates and elected officials from all parties and all places would do the same. As elected officials and potential elected officials we have an obligation to set an example for society. Lawmakers cannot expect the people to follow the laws if they themselves disregard them.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

Republican presidential candidate John McCain was in my old neighborhood, Bay Ridge, this afternoon to address small business owners, and court Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support.

Bloomberg introduced the Arizona senator before today's economic roundtable discussion.

While the mayor has not formally endorsed any presidential candidate, he has said he would support someone who worked to solve problems and avoided partisan politics -- something that McCain touched upon in his speech.

Labels: Bloomberg, Election 2008, Local, McCain

Go to http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/ for more info. See you there!

Labels: Election 2008, Grassroots, Local, Media

(Staten Island) Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison (NY 13th CD, Staten Island and Southwest Brooklyn) will lead a group of Staten Island and Brooklyn residents protesting Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan at a 2 pm April 3 press conference inside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

Harrison, who is running against Vito Fossella, New York City’s only House Republican, does not oppose congestion reduction in theory, just Bloomberg’s plan.

According to Harrison using the congestion pricing stick to force working and middle class drivers into already overcrowded trains, buses and ferries, while the limo taking CEOs targeted by the plan will continue to drive in because they can easily absorb the fees, is unfair. He prefers a carrot approach of improving service first to get people off the roads. “The Mayor’s plan puts the cart before the horse,” says Harrison.

The plan is billed as a green initiative with the contradictory goals of reducing pollution and improving public transportation. “These goals will allegedly be accomplished by charging a fee to drive in lower Manhattan. The theory is that the fee will force many drivers off the road and, at the same time, the collected fees will be used to finance public transit improvements,“ says Harrison.

Harrison continues, “The contradiction here is glaring. The green objectives of the plan and the revenue raising objectives work at cross purposes. Every commuter forced off the road is one less driver to pay the fee. If the fee is set high enough to drive cars off the road and commuters into trains and buses, revenues will go down because there will be fewer drivers to pay the fee. There will be insufficient funds to pay for transit improvements. On the other hand, if fees are set so low that revenues are maximized, traffic and emissions will continue unabated and the green objectives will fail.”

“There is simply no incentive to set the congestion pricing fee at a level that would significantly reduce traffic and emissions. On the contrary, fees must actually be set to encourage a certain minimum level of traffic in the congestion pricing zone to sustain the cash flow.”

The Bloomberg plan’s exemption from filing an environmental impact statement causes Harrison to question congestion proposal’s “greenness”. “Exempting this plan from an Environmental Impact Statement under SEQRA is unconscionable. If it is truly a green initiative it should go through a green process - SEQRA. The fact that those who support the initiative want it waived is a good indication that they fear the results of such a review. There is no study whatsoever to indicate what will happen to metropolitan area traffic patterns as a result of this major change.”

I would support a congestion reduction plan that accomplishes green objectives. This plan is not that plan.”

As solutions to encourage mass transit use, Harrison advocates creating high speed ferries in Staten Island and Brooklyn and extending the Westshore railway into Jersey. In the interim, he advocates expanding current ferry and bus schedules to encourage people to avoid driving into Manhattan. Harrison will also discuss his proposals to eliminate the Verrazano toll for Congressional District residents on both sides of the bridge and collect from non-district residents with boothless technology similar to what the congestion pricing plan will use.

Labels: congestion pricing, Local, Steve Harrison

'Killing Fields' survivor Dith Pran dies - Life- msnbc.com NEW YORK - Dith Pran, the Cambodian-born journalist whose harrowing tale of enslavement and eventual escape from that country's murderous Khmer Rouge revolutionaries in 1979 became the subject of the award-winning film "The Killing Fields," died Sunday, his former colleague said.

Dith, 65, died at a New Jersey hospital Sunday morning of pancreatic cancer, according to Sydney Schanberg, his former colleague at The New York Times. Dith had been diagnosed almost three months ago.

Labels: Journalists, Local, World news

Spitzer Gives State Of State Address | WBNG-TV Binghamton, NY | Local Top Stories

Governor Eliot Spitzer says New York is facing tough choices. But, he's not backing away from an agenda that will cost billions.

Walking into a joint session of the legislature, Governor Eliot Spitzer hoped to repair rifts and reinvigorate his vision. A vision to make New York the best place to live, work, and raise a family. "We can't abandon our ambition to pursue our goals at full throttle. On the other, we must adapt to the fiscal realities that are now upon us," says Spitzer.

Spitzer says it is time for the state to get real about property taxes. "From Mamaroneck to Binghamton, wherever I go I hear the same thing, property taxes are too high," says Spitzer.
But the Democratic Governor is not embracing Republican calls to provide billions more in school property tax relief. He says rebate checks won't solve the problem.

Instead, Spitzer is creating a commission to make recommendations for a property tax cap.
"A tax cap is a blunt instrument but it forces hard choices and discipline when nothing else has worked," says Spitzer.

Spitzer wants lawmakers to make a choice to invest in New York. 1 billion to revitalize Upstate. "Create an Upstate whose best days are not behind it but are yet ahead of it," says Spitzer. And create a 4 billion dollar endowment to fund higher education. "Higher Education funding must no longer be a budgetary pawn or yearly battle. It must be a permanent priority," says Spitzer.

Fully funding the Child Health Plus Insurance Program is on Spitzer's spending list.
He ended by reaching out to lawmakers after a year of tensions over Trooper Gate and Drivers Licenses. "We have work to do, a lot of work, for the people that sent us here," says Spitzer. Spitzer did not touch on how he wants to pay for his plans or where he sees making cuts. He did suggest the tapping into the value of the New York Lottery through private investment or other financing for the High Education Endowment.

Labels: Local, Spitzer

Stunned NY Mets fans after losing to Marlins and ending their season in embarrassment.

Labels: Local

Bruno: Stone will resign over threatening calls

That was fast.

In a just-released statement, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno called the Roger Stone phone call flap "a distraction from the real issues - the abuse of government power, political espionage and a cover-up of information," but said the consultant has agreed to "resign and end his relationship with us at our request."

"We are not going to let this incident become a distraction or to be used as an excuse to hamper people from getting at the truth," Bruno said. The investigations into the Executive Chamber are continuing. We hope that both District Attorney Soares and the Ethics Commission will conduct full and thorough investigations to get at the truth that the public demands."

Labels: Bruno, Local, Spitzer

Congress.org Vito is #365.
He's ranked 26th out of 29 NY representatives and 133rd in his party. The site uses the following criteria to determine the rank:

Our project team identified key characteristics of power. These characteristics were then measured and weighted to determine the relative power or potential power demonstrated by Members of Congress heading into 2007. We grouped those characteristics into three broad categories.

1) Position: How much power might the legislator wield through his/her position in the Congress by virtue of tenure, new committee assignments or new leadership position? This Power Category includes some new weightings for all committees, subcommittees, and leadership positions, taking into consideration the new majority or minority party status of the member.

2) Indirect Influence: How much power has the legislator demonstrated or may be capable of demonstrating to influence the congressional agenda or outcome of votes through the media or congressional caucuses.

3) Legislative Activity: How much power has the legislator demonstrate through the passage of legislation or shaping legislation through amendments thus far? The team eliminated from that data items which did not substantially change the bill or existing law. These included amendments dealing with technical changes or bills of a ceremonial or commemorative nature such as naming of post offices or other public buildings, or non-binding resolutions that expressed the "sense of the Congress."

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local

The Brooklyn Paper: Harrison to challenge Vito again

The campaign may only be a few hours old, but the gloves are already off.

Two years after Democrat Steve Harrison lost to Rep. Vito Fossella (R–Bay Ridge), the Bay Ridge lawyer is looking for another shot at the conservative law maker. He said this week that he would again be a candidate for the seat representing Bay Ridge and Staten Island.

He and Fossella have already begun to set the tone for the debate, and it looks like it is going to be war — literally.

Harrison plans on using the war in Iraq as his rallying cry to counter the hawkish Fossella.

“I am running because I believe we have to build a majority of Democrats in Congress to stop this ill-conceived war,” said Harrison. “I absolutely believe the war in Iraq was wrong, and I would prefer to not even use the term war on terror.”

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

wcbstv.com - Sharpton Leads Protest Over Derogatory Rap Lyrics

(AP) NEW YORK Protests were held in more than 20 cities Tuesday over the use of degrading lyrics by the music industry, the Rev. Al Sharpton said.

The so-called Day of Outrage, organized by Sharpton's National Action Network, included protests in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Richmond, Va., Jacksonville, Fla., and other cities.

Sharpton, who led a demonstration at the Motown Museum in Detroit, said, "I'm here in Motown in Detroit as a symbol of when music was not denigrating and was entertaining."

Sharpton announced an initiative in April to combat the use of words such as "nigga," "bitch" and "ho" in rap music.

He called Tuesday for the withdrawal of public funds from entertainment companies that "won't clean up their act."

Labels: African-American issues, Cultural issues, Local

Rudy's daughter likes Obama for prez -- amNY.com

Barack Obama hasn't adopted anyone, but he may have gained a daughter Monday.

Caroline Giuliani, Rudy's 17-year-old child, has embraced the Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate's politics, joining a Facebook group dedicated to his campaign.

The move will keep Rudy far away from any father of the year awards, according to one political analyst.

"It's the answer to the question, 'What kind of guy is Rudy Giuliani?'" said Douglas Muzzio, professor of public affairs at Baruch College.

"His children say, Not nice.' "

But the support -- and potential voter fall-out -- may be short-lived. After Slate.com first contacted Caroline Giuliani, an incoming Harvard University freshman, about her membership in the Facebook group "Barack Obama (one million strong for Barack)," Slate reported she left the group early Monday morning.

Later in the day, the Associated Press quoted a Giuliani spokeswoman saying that Caroline's interest in Obama wasn't an endorsement.

Either way, potential voters might equate the act with something beyond simple teenage curiosity or rebellion.

Labels: Election 2008, Giuliani, Local

Court ruling keeps heat on Bruno's pal-By Joe Mahoney-DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF A state appeals court gave the green light yesterday for further investigation of a horse-racing lobbyist who came under scrutiny for providing - what else - a plane ride to Senate GOP Leader Joe Bruno.

Albany area businessman Jared Abbruzzese, a business associate of Bruno, was ordered by the Appellate Division to cough up records that could be used in a probe into suspected violations of the state lobbying law.

The midlevel appeals court ruled that the state Lobbying Commission had an "adequate basis" to subpoena the records pertaining to a December 2005 flight Bruno took from Schenectady to New York City in a plane owned by Abbruzzese, a lobbyist who had ties to a group seeking the state thoroughbred racing franchise.

The lobbying probe began before the current flap involving dirty tricks by aides to Gov. Spitzer against Bruno over the use of state aircraft.

It involves a ride Bruno got on a plane owned by Abbruzzese in December 2005 after then-Gov. George Pataki decided he couldn't use the state helicopter that day, officials said.Bruno has defended his involvement with Abbruzzese and paid for the flight out of his campaign fund.

Labels: Bruno, Local, Spitzer

What goes around ...Daily News Editorial Considering Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's incessant charges that Gov. Spitzer is hiding dark misdeeds, it was delicious that an appeals court issued a reminder yesterday that a Bruno pal is stonewalling an investigation into who paid for the senator to fly on a private jet.

The case has to do with Jared Abbruzzese, who has had financial, political and personal relationships with Bruno. He has hired Bruno as a consultant, donated heavily to Republicans and made corporate jets available to Bruno. Abbruzzese's wife also purchased land from a firm with Bruno ties.

Across the ledger, Bruno directed $500,000 in state grants to a company linked to Abbruzzese, the Associated Press reported. The senator has said everything was on the up and up.

Still, Bruno's ties to Abbruzzese are the reason the FBI is giving the majority leader the once-over. And the feds compelled the Lobbying Commission to subpoena Abbruzzese's flight records. He must now give them to a judge, the court ruled.

Whether the documents show wrongdoing remains to be seen, but it is clear that Bruno likes to get around by plane. Remember, his filching of rides to political events on a state helicopter is what started the so-called Eliot Mess. At least one of Spitzer's aides wanted to expose Bruno, but he, or they, crossed the line by having the cops keep tabs on the majority leader.

In a hugely dumb move, that aide and another ranking staffer declined to be questioned by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's probers. Instead, they submitted sworn statements, giving Bruno the opening to trumpet that Spitzer and everyone around him must "come clean."

And, of course, they must. Spitzer has denied knowledge of the affair, and he has said, belatedly, that he will answer questions under oath. That's good. And the Ethics Commission has begun a probe. That's good, too. And, although Cuomo found no criminality, the Albany district attorney is reviewing the facts. Good, again.

It's time for Bruno to give it a rest, and to come back to earth.

Labels: Bruno, Local, Spitzer

Spitzer signs medical rights, 911 bills -- amNY.com

N.Y. (AP) _ Gov. Eliot Spitzer has signed bills into law that will provide added consumer protections to people in the health care system and alert consumers about potential shortcomings of Internet phones.

One law broadens the rights of health care consumers, physicians and hospitals associated with managed care health plans and streamlines rules so medical decisions can be made and acted upon faster.

"This legislation secures important new rights for health care consumers, doctors and hospitals and represents the type of coordination among all stakeholders in the health care system that will be necessary in our march toward universal health coverage for all New Yorkers," said Governor Spitzer.

Labels: Local, Spitzer

Spitzer 'happy' to be grilled

SYRACUSE - With public pressure on him building, Gov. Spitzer said yesterday he now would "love to" testify for investigators looking into the dirty tricks scheme his aides ran against Senate GOP leader Joe Bruno.

"I'm happy to, I'm going to, look forward to it," Spitzer said during a visit to Syracuse. "If they call me, I'd love to. If they don't, I'd love to send them my statements because this is going to be clarified."

Spitzer was referring to the state Ethics Commission, which is considering a full-blown investigation into the scandal. Until yesterday, Spitzer and his office wouldn't discuss whether he would agree to answer their questions.

Labels: Local, Spitzer

Republican consultants on NY1 trying to convince New Yorkers that the Spitzer administration is over. What I want to know is why isn't anybody talking about Franco's helicopter fetish? Like the obstructionists they truly are, the GOP is halting progress once again.

Labels: Local, Spitzer

NYCLU: Public should see stop-and-frisk data - AM New York

Controversy over the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk tactics flared anew Wednesday when the New York Civil Liberties Union asked the department to release data the union deems necessary to better understand why officers stop people on the streets.

The request, in a letter to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, was made under terms of the Freedom of Information Act, and comes as the NYPD is close to releasing a study of its stop-and-frisk practices that was conducted by a company it hired, the nonprofit RAND Corp.

Labels: Civil Rights, Local

City acts to boost Brooklyn affordable housing - AM New York

The City Council approved new zoning regulations in four Brooklyn neighborhoods that will limit building heights and create incentives to build affordable housing.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg supported rezoning, which affects Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Dyker Heights and Fort Hamilton.

"These plans will catalyze growth on key corridors near transit hubs, fostering nearly 900 units of new housing and strengthening local retail activity," Bloomberg said. "At the same time, they protect the scale and character of these lower density neighborhoods."

Labels: Local

City blood bank supplies low - AM New York

City blood supplies have dropped to dangerously low levels, raising concern that hospitals do not have enough blood to cope with a major emergency, blood donation officials warn.

"We are down to a one-day supply in some of the critical areas like Type O Negative," said Robert L. Jones, president of the New York Blood Center. "When it gets down to that point hospitals feel like they don't have enough even for routine procedures."

Labels: Healthcare, Local

wcbstv.com - Transit Officials May Consider Subway Fare Hike

(AP) NEW YORK Mayor Michael Bloomberg raised hackles recently when he said of subway overcrowding, "So you stand next to people. Get real, this is New York."

Straphangers who thought they deserved sympathy for being packed in like sardines could get more bad news this week if transit officials vote to consider the system's first fare increase since 2003.

A Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman would not comment on published reports that the authority, which runs the nation's largest mass-transit system, will start the fare hike process on Wednesday when it takes up its four-year financial plan.

If an increase is on the agenda there won't be a decision until December. But the MTA board could decide Wednesday to schedule a series of public hearings on fare hikes for New York City Transit and the two commuter lines it runs, the Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road.

Labels: Local

Deal struck on new congest plan

ALBANY, N.Y. - A plan that could use tolls to cut Manhattan's choking traffic and air pollution while creating a potential national model to combat global warming was put back on track Thursday.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and legislative leaders agreed three days after a federal deadline passed on a way to keep the mayor's proposal in the running to become a national pilot program and to keep New York eligible for up to $500 million in federal funding.

The Manhattan toll proposal will now be taken up by a commission that will decide how to implement the overall plan, and whether it should keep Bloomberg's tolls of $8 for most drivers entering Manhattan. The state Legislature will ultimately have until March 31 to consider its recommendations.

Labels: Local

Labels: Local

1010 WINS - On-Air, Online, On Demand - An Oldie but Goodie Is Back: WCBS-FM Returns to Airwaves

"Above all else, it is an honor to bring CBS-FM back to New York," said Jennifer Donohue, Vice President and General Manager, WCBS-FM. "Having been a long time employee and personal fan of the station I truly understand what an emotional moment it was when New Yorkers had to say goodbye to their favorite radio station. We acknowledge and appreciate the loyal fan base who’ve never stopped asking for the format’s return, and now we’re thrilled to be back - better than before - with updated features, incredible on-air production, the best combination of legendary New York personalities, and of course hundreds of ‘The Greatest Hits Of All Time.’"

Labels: Local

Shelly snubs Mike's D.C. congest-price push

Powerful Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver refused to accompany Mayor Bloomberg to Washington today for a crucial lobbying effort on congestion pricing - with the deadline for federal dollars just six days away.

Silver, who has been cool to the idea of charging motorists $8 to enter the busiest section of Manhattan, turned down an invitation from City Hall to help press for as much as $530 million in federal aid.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno plans to make the trip, and an aide to Gov. Spitzer will join the mayor and Bruno in a meeting with federal officials.

Labels: Local

The pros & cons of proposed congestion pricing in Manhattan.

Labels: Global Warming, Local

Keith Olbermann talks to Wayne Barrett, author of Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11, about St. Rudy's latest error-filled speech.

Labels: Election 2008, Giuliani, Local

wcbstv.com - Thousands Attend Funeral For Brooklyn Firefighter

(CBS) BROOKLYN Thousands gathered at Saint Cecilia's Catholic Church in Brooklyn Tuesday for the