At some level, it’s not exactly a huge surprise to learn that there are people in New York who can make certain kinds of tickets disappear. Doesn’t everyone know somebody who claims to know somebody who can take care of these annoyances?
It shouldn’t be that way, because it’s not fair–most of the time, anyway. Read More
Members of the Frick Museum’s board are in the process of identifying a new director to replace Anne L. Poulet, who will retire from the museum’s top job in the fall. As outlined in The Observer last week, the short list of candidates for Ms. Poulet’s job is truly impressive.
That’s good news for the Read More
Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District, recently announced the indictments of 11 individuals connected to three Internet poker companies that allegedly took in or laundered billions of dollars in illegal gambling schemes. The scope of the criminal activity was shocking: The government moved to close down more than 75 bank accounts that Read More
Governor Andrew Cuomo used a phrase the other day that ought to put a chill down the spine of every taxpayer. He said that the state was “functionally bankrupt.” The wording was not meant as a scare tactic. It was merely a statement of the obvious.
Unfortunately, not everybody got the point. Two of the Read More
If you have nice flowers in your neighborhood, or maybe some really spectacular shade trees, should you have to pay for the privilege?
You might think that you actually do pay for the flowers in a local park, or the trees that line your block. After all, you pay taxes for the upkeep of parks Read More
Amid revelations that foreclosures around the country have been improperly processed, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is stepping up an investigation of the cottage industry that foreclosures have become in New York. Mr. Schneiderman’s office recently issued subpoenas to a law firm that has handled about 40 percent of all foreclosures in the state. The Read More
While strange things have been known to happen in New York politics, one thing seems absolutely certain: The Dennis Walcott era at the Department of Education will be longer and better than the Cathie Black era.
Of course, that’s not saying much. Ms. Black managed to make a terrible mess of things in a short Read More
Anthony Weiner ought to consider the fate of a certain former governor of New York. His name is Eliot Spitzer, and he had a pretty high opinion of himself back in the day. He enjoyed issuing moral pronouncements about the behavior, ethics and other habits of mere mortals. One day, however, the world discovered Read More
If they were trapped in an elevator at a governors’ convention, Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie would have lots to discuss. Like how they closed yawning deficits without major tax increases–remarkable achievements. How they stood up to special interests to get their budgets passed. How they articulated their goals and rallied public opinion as they Read More
As The Observer‘s Maureen Tkacik noted two weeks ago, Mary Schapiro, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is a popular figure in Washington. She wins high marks for her integrity, hard work and decency–qualities that often are in short supply in public life.
And yet, for all the affection, Ms. Schapiro finds herself in Read More
