ALBANY—It seems that Malcolm Smith and the Senate Democrats have come up with a plan that’s easy to hate. Transportation advocates, business groups and the governor are all taking shots at the Senate majority leader’s just-announced plan to address the M.T.A.’s budget shortfall. Near as I can tell, Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives struck first, Read More
ALBANY—It seems that Malcolm Smith and the Senate Democrats have come up with a plan that's easy to hate.
Transportation advocates, business groups and the governor are all taking shots at the Senate majority leader's just-announced plan to address the M.T.A.'s budget shortfall.
Near as I can tell, Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives Read More
ALBANY—The M.T.A. board just wrapped up a special board meeting in midtown Manhattan to emphasize that the March 25 deadline they set for a bailout from Albany to avoid implementing the “doomsday” budget is absolutely real.
Transit advocates—including the Empire State Transportation Alliance, which has also been lobbying in Albany—testified about the need to Read More
ALBANY—The M.T.A. board just
Transit advocates—including the Empire State Transportation Alliance, which has also been lobbying in Albany—testified about the need to act as quickly as possible as people holding signs urged action in the State Senate.
Yesterday, Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith accused the M.T.A. of "holding the public hostage" Read More
ALBANY—At the same time Dick Ravitch and members of the M.T.A. are set to meet with state senators, the chairman of the Finance Committee blasted the proposal to toll East River bridges as a "non-starter" and "an attack on our outer boroughs."
"A large percentage of outer-borough residents live in areas that are inaccessible to Read More
It was a rough two hours for MTA board commissioners this morning: tears and tongue lashings in public testimony followed a budget presentation that confirmed all of their worst fears.
“I think I speak for all the board members when I say, ‘Wow,’” said Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger after hearing the full slate of proposed Read More
Back in April, as I was trying to figure out how the hell to get out to Glendale for my interview with the Cash Giveaway King of Queens, Damon Hemmerdinger, development director for the Shops at Atlas Park, I asked his rep:
"Think ol’ Dale [Hemmerdinger, M.T.A. chairman and also Damon's father] can Read More
Queens shopping mall developer Damon Hemmerdinger is doing his part to boost sluggish retail sales.
The son of MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger is handing out $50 bills on Friday afternoon to patrons at his Atlas Park shopping center in Glendale.
Ironically, Manhattanites looking to cash in should be aware of Read More
Roger Stone doesn’t think much of the suggestion (based on my reading of a Weekly Standard story) that he had any role in drumming up a controversy over the fact that Eliot Spitzer’s father and MTA nominee Dale Hemmerdinger were members of the racially un-diverse Harmonie Club. Hemmerdinger’s membership became a contentious political Read More
A new Weekly Standard profile of Roger Stone has a suggestive nugget implying that he is still playing a quietly active role in a broad-based anti-Spitzer coalition:
From the story: Stone walks everywhere, abhorring cabs because they have lousy air conditioning and "sweating through a suit–that is the worst thing in the world." Read More
