The flashing billboard, affixed to the second story of a Duane Reade at 72nd and Broadway, has generated complaints from neighborhood residents who say that the sign is disruptively bright. The Department of Buildings ordered the pharmacy chain to take the billboard down last month after ruling that the illuminated sign did not comply with the neighborhood's regulations, and slapped the store with eight violations and over $6000 in fines.

"Duane Reade's $250,000 jumbotron is a constant reminder of the store's blatant disregard for the comfort and safety of the neighborhood," said Assembly member Linda Rosenthal, who is spearheading Sunday's protest. "Despite being issued eight notices of violation by the Department of Buildings for violating city zoning regulations and appeals by the community to take down the sign, the store refuses to remove it."

Store representatives plan to contest the violations, and seem to be leaving the sign up in the meantime.

"I think the sign should come down," said Councilmember Gale Brewer, who said she received a deluge of complaints from neighborhood residents when the sign first went up. "It's a quality of life issue.

On the street level, opinions differ about the new addition to neighborhood. Most people The Observer talked to felt indifferent towards the sign. Some hardly noticed it in the daylight until it was pointed out.

A marketer who declined to give his name thought that the people in the neighborhood were "ridiculous" for wanting to stage a protest.  "I mean, if it interfered with your sleep, sure, but it's still ridiculous," he said. "It's New York. People should be more bothered by the subway noise."

Yet some took the opportunity to voice their unhappiness with the sign.

"It's absolutely horrifying. It's out of character with the neighborhood. It's intrusive and it's extremely distracting at one of the most, where it's placed, at one of the most dangerous pedestrian intersections of New York," said an attorney who has lived in the neighborhood since 2001. "I will not shop at the Duane Reade on account of that sign."

Kasm Abu works at a kiosk directly across from the jumbotron. Glancing up at it, he says he hardly ever notices it. "Every day it's the same thing," he said with a shrug.

"There's no question about it," Rangel told Brother Bill from the Voice of Harlem. "This is not been the first time that we had heard that the Teabag Party--or the Tea Party--rather and some of the Republicans have wanted to drive the unions out of business."

Without unions, Rangel went on to say, America's middle class would not exist.

"At the end of the day, it's abundantly clear that management does not want unions at all, and I don't think they've made any bones about it," he said. "I think it's just as clear as you can see it."

When asked if there was a comparison between the protests in Wisconsin and the protests in Libya, Rangel said he understood the frustration people experienced in both countries when they could not provide for their families. According to Rangel, protests occur because "people have to use whatever limited tools they have to express themselves."

Listen to the full interview below:

Listen!

"This shouldn't be allowed to happen in America," said Ketny Jean-Francois, co-chair of the Board of Directors of Community Voices Heard.  "Our state government shouldn't be for sale. Rules and laws should be made in the interests of all the people of New York, not just the privileged few."

The report also points out that the CSNY had an influential stake in Andrew Cuomo's race to become governor. Cuomo received overall $25.6 million over two years, with over $1.8 coming from Committee members.

"It's clear the big money and big corporations affiliated with the Committee to Save New York are getting what they paid for when it comes to Governor Cuomo's agenda for New York," said Wanda Hernandez, a VOCAL leader and Board member.

According to its website, The Committee to Save NY stands for "fiscal sanity to state government in order to ensure that future generations of New Yorkers will have the opportunity to get a great education, find a good job or start a new business and prosper." Board members cover a wide spectrum of firms, including real estate, construction, and non-profits. 

The Executive Summary of the report is included below.

49537185 Cmte Scam NY Exec Summary Feb2011

New York G.O.P. may change winner-take-all primary rules.

Senate Republicans appeared to have overpopulated Democrat-heavy districts while underpopulating GOP-held districts in order to maximize their sphere of influence, Liz Benjamin reports.

Mayor Bloomberg is giving more city contracts to women and minority owned businesses.

Chris Christie vetoed a jobs creation bill that had considerable bipartisan support.

No more H&H bagels for New York! The famous company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

NYC Council Education Committee Chairman Robert Jackson is so angry at Cuomo's proposed education cuts that he is going to lead a protest this weekend.

Teachers are also protesting Cuomo's education cuts - on the airwaves.

Yet NYC Schools Chancellor Cathie Black has dismissed concerns from principals nervous about policy changes.

Another school district received praise from Andrew Cuomo for freezing salaries.

Stanford University may open an applied-science school in New York.

Labor unions are protesting possible cuts, most notably in Wisconsin.

Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs has gotten involved in the Palin-Obama breastfeeding tiff.

Nassau Country can postpone submitting a revised budget that was due originally due next Tuesday.

Robert Jackson is demanding an apology from Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy for saying the increases to the state's school funding formula were pushed through by "those who do not have the best interests of our students in mind."

January revenue was above projections, Tom DiNapoli reports.

Yes please! New York is willing to take the $2.5 billion high speed rail funding Florida turned down.

Nassau County officials shut down their crime lab following revelations that inaccurate measurements involving drug cases were known by police officials several months before a national accrediting agency placed it on probation.

Also in Nassau, officials are encouraging divorcing couples to seek mediation instead of going through the courts.

Little noticed item in the Bloomberg budget: a raise on parking meter rates.

David Paterson wants Eliot Spitzer's CNN gig.

Under the new amendment, grant recipients of the Urban Areas Security Initiative would be limited to 25 of the highest-risk cities in the nation.

"I am pleased this amendment passed to ensure UASI grants benefit highest-risk cities and will work to ensure the Senate passes this provision and President Obama signs it into law," said Lowey.

The USAI is a program that was established after 9/11 in an effort to "prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism."

While it originally only covered seven high-risk regions, including New York City and Los Angeles, the program eventually grew to cover 64 cities by 2010. The amount of money allocated by the federal government remained the same as the years went by, so each city received less and less money annually.

Yet a new resolution in the House of Representatives would possibly slash USAI funding to $87 million. New York was projected to lose around $15 million.

"New York should not lose vital prevention and preparedness funding to cities facing minimal risk.," said Lowey.

The new USAI amendment would cushion that loss.

"In reducing the number of eligible cities, the legislation facilitates the common sense application of scarce resources to where the threat is greatest," said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. 

"The nation is recognizing that these devices facilitate mass carnage and their availability is a threat to public safety," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy. "We can save lives and reduce injuries by restricting access to high-capacity magazines once again."

Since introducing HR308 a month ago, McCarthy has more than doubled the number of cosponsors for her bill, from 42 to 90.  According to a press release, McCarthy has implemented a two-tier plan to continue to gain support and momentum. As well as personally asking other house representatives to support the bill, she has also enlisted anti-gun advocates to initiate grassroots efforts on the bill's behalf.

"Every day another Congress member, another editorial board, another organization and another American fed up with gun violence is standing up to support a ban on high-capacity magazines," said Rep. McCarthy.

This isn't the first ant-gun legislation that has popped up after the Arizona shooting.

Days after the attack, 3rd district Rep. Peter King proposed a bill that would make it illegal for someone to carry a gun with 1,000 feet of federal officials. King has previously said he would support McCarthy's bill.

The current cosponsors are:

Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 1/18/2011
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 1/19/2011
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 1/18/2011
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 1/18/2011
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 1/18/2011
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 2/10/2011
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 1/24/2011
Rep Chu, Judy [CA-32] - 1/18/2011
Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] - 1/18/2011
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 1/18/2011
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 1/18/2011
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] - 1/18/2011
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 1/18/2011
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 2/10/2011
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 1/18/2011
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 1/26/2011
Rep Deutch, Theodore E. [FL-19] - 1/19/2011
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 1/20/2011
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] - 1/18/2011
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 1/18/2011
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 2/10/2011
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 1/18/2011
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 1/18/2011
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 2/10/2011
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 1/24/2011
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 2/10/2011
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 2/15/2011
Rep Garamendi, John [CA-10] - 2/15/2011
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 1/19/2011
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/26/2011
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 1/24/2011
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 1/18/2011
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 1/18/2011
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] - 1/18/2011
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 1/18/2011
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 1/18/2011
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 1/18/2011
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 1/18/2011
Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 1/18/2011
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 1/19/2011
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 1/18/2011
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 2/10/2011
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 1/19/2011
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 1/18/2011
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 1/18/2011
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 1/24/2011
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 1/18/2011
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 1/18/2011
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/20/2011
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 1/18/2011
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 1/18/2011
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 1/18/2011
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 1/18/2011
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 1/18/2011
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 2/10/2011
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 1/18/2011
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 2/10/2011
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] - 1/18/2011
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 2/10/2011
Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] - 1/18/2011
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 2/15/2011
Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5] - 1/18/2011
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 1/24/2011
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 1/20/2011
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 2/10/2011
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 1/20/2011
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 1/19/2011
Rep Schiff, Adam [CA-29] - 2/18/2011
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 2/18/2011
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 2/10/2011
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 1/18/2011
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 1/18/2011
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 1/24/2011
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 1/18/2011
Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] - 1/18/2011
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 2/15/2011
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 2/10/2011
Rep Tonko, Paul [NY-21] - 2/10/2011
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 2/10/2011
Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] - 2/10/2011
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 1/18/2011
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 1/18/2011
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 1/18/2011
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 1/18/2011
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 1/18/2011
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 1/18/2011

In a press release, Schneiderman announced a $2.5 million dollar settlement in a case against Pharmacia Corporation, with the recovered funds going to Medicaid and the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program.

Schneiderman accused Pharmacia Corporation of inflating the costs of drugs that were sold to state health programs. New York Medicaid, EPIC, and other health plans based their reimbursement rates on these inflated prices and ended up paying more money for some drugs than they should have.

The new attorney general has been aggressively targeting medical fraud, and in the past two months has recovered $1.6 million in a settlement with three different Medicaid providers, and $18 million in damages from the Young Adult Institute, Inc., which also promised to make reforms in their services.

Since coming to office, ­­­­­Schneiderman has launched the Taxpayer Protection Unit, a group that will "target corrupt contractors, pension con-artists, and large-scale tax cheats who rip-off New York State government and its taxpayers." The TPU is an add-on to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which had already investigated fraud under then-Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

"New York's taxpayers will no longer foot the bill when contractors inflate their prices to make an extra buck," said Schneiderman. "These are hard financial times for our state, and my office will do its part by uncovering every dishonestly claimed dollar, and holding those who take advantage of New York accountable."