The Bronx’s Ransom

The Mayor has now begun calling community benefits agreements “ransom.” How much was that ransom, in the case of the Yankee Stadium deal? $54.75 million.

According to a copy of the “Participation and Labor Force Mitigation and Community Benefits Program Related to the Construction of the New Yankee Stadium,” helpfully Read More

The $171 Vote

Mike‘s spending, at $103 a vote — compared to Freddy‘s $19 votes — got a lot of attention today.

But the Mayor was not, it turns out, the least efficient politician this year.

That honor goes to Manhattan Borough President candidate Carlos Manzano who — with the taxpayers’ generous help — Read More

Campaign Finance

If you’re following Gifford Miller‘s dance with the campaign finance law on what qualifies as a “petitioning expense,” this ruling from the Campaign Finance Board this morning can’t be good news for the Speaker:

“September 2, 2005 — The New York City Campaign Finance Board yesterday determined that expenditures for petition-gathers who Read More