Observer » Chris Quinn

The Independence Party Unites

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:33:11 -0400

Lenora Fulani is one of those people who no one can find anything nice to say about, so small wonder that four politicians--Betsy Gotbaum, Alan Hevesi, Jerrold Nadler and Chris Quinn --have joined hands (and followed in Scott Stinger's footsteps) to oppose $12.5 million in tax-free financing that the Bloomberg administration will consider at a public hearing tomorrow for a Fulani-affiliated nonprofit youth program, the All Stars Project. What makes this interesting is that Bloomberg has had trouble distancing himself from Fulani ("a virulent anti-Semite," according to Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum) or her mentor Fred Newman (the "figurehead of a cult that sexually exploits women"), although he did cop 74,000 votes from the Independence Party last year, which was once led by her and in which she is still influential.

-Matthew Schuerman

Felder’s Private Office

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:35:00 -0400

People toward the back of the City Council Chamber during the vote that made Chris Quinn speaker noticed an unexpected sight: Councilman Simcha Felder, a key Quinn supporter, slipping into the men's room at the back of the chamber just before the vote.

I called Felder to ask about this and he declined to comment -- -- he would only say he was happy Chris won -- but referred me to a Jewish Week item (scroll down) I'd missed: Apparently, the vote in Chris's favor was not 50 in favor (with one abstention), but actually 49 votes with an abstention and an absentee: Felder.

The Jewish Week reports that rabbinic authorities told Felder, an Orthodox Jew from Borough Park, that he could not vote for Quinn because she's a lesbian. But this didn't stop him from backing her, and playing a central role in the maneuverings that swung momentum decisively in her favor.

And, obviously, he didn't want to vote against her. Thus the flight to the bathroom.

In another context, you might call the logic Jesuitical.

Thoughts on Quinn

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 10:59:00 -0400

It's amazing how hard it was to notice, from inside, that Chris Quinn's elevation was a groundbreaking gay rights moment, in large part because she didn't play identity politics in her campaign for Speaker.

Two other bloggers' thoughts:

Henry Stern: "The selection of Christine Quinn as Speaker of the Council illustrates the enduring power of political leadership (bossism to its enemies), which has demonstrated greater strength than misogyny and homophobia combined."

And another cited on Wonkster wonders why New York cares: 'If Salt Lake City elects a lesbian, then let's by all means recognize it as big news.'"

Anonymous Reporter, On-Record Source

Tue, 03 Jan 2006 10:09:00 -0400

So here's an odd moment in the annals of journalism: A City Council Member, Lew Fidler of Brooklyn, gave an on-the-record cell phone interview to the anonymous blogger who's been covering the Speaker's race on this site.

"She was ... the term that was used most often -- in a positive way -- the lowest common denominator," he told his anonymous interlocutor of the Speaker-select, Chris Quinn.

I asked Fidler how he felt about giving an interview to an anonymous reporter. He said he didn't seem much problem with it.

"He called me," Fidler said. "I said, 'Oh my goodness, your phone number just came up on caller ID.' He said, 'No it didn't,' and I said, 'No, I'm just busting your balls.'"

"The blog was entertaining," Fidler added. And speaking to the blogger "wasn't the leap of faith. The leap of faith was when I sent my credit card information to them so I could buy T-shirts and mugs."