Editorial

Silver's Courageous Concession Is a Breath of Fresh Air

Times like these should bring out the better instinct of our elected officials. Unfortunately, as we know, that’s not always the case. Some Republicans on Capitol Hill seem determined to shut down the federal government just to make a point. Some Democrats are demanding even higher taxes, especially on a group loosely defined as “rich.” Read More

Marshaled Plan

The 1948 Marshall Plan for Europe was approved with a four-year, $13 billion appropriation by Congress.

Lower Manhattan’s four-year Marshall Plan, apparently, will need a refill.

In one of the few actions that both the State Assembly and the Senate managed to take in the last month, the length of a major subsidy package aimed Read More

A Silver Lining

While the State Senate dithers, the State Assembly passes, and among the bits of legislation approved in the lower house in recent days was a bill that would extend mayoral control over the city’s public schools. Credit Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver of the Lower East Side for recognizing the importance of this measure and not Read More

Bloomberg Hosts Assembly Thursday Night

Michael Bloomberg will woo Assembly members at a dinner in Gracie Mansion Thursday.

An event for both the Assembly and the Senate is annual, but this year Bloomberg may have some specific goals in mind. Testifying in Albany today on Eliot Spitzer’s budget—which cuts $500 million in fund promised to the city—he made the Read More

Back to Albany?

The Assembly and state Senate are heading back to Albany on Thursday, according to a knowledgeable source. And Liz too! (added)

Since there is an agreement (sort of) on congestion pricing, and on campaign finance reform, expect some of that legislation to sail through both houses.

And maybe some Read More

Meeks on Hillary, Obama, Congestion Pricing, His Future

New York City Congressman Gregory Meeks has been calling Hillary Clinton "Madame President" for some time now, but he is "very proud" of her closest competitor, Barack Obama, seeing him as a great choice for president — in 2016.

In a long-ish interview, Meeks also implied that he sees himself as a Read More

Shelly Time

Here’s the crowded hallway behind the Assembly Chambers where (mostly) Democratic Assembly members are hanging out, grabbing food and beginning to file into the conference room now that Sheldon Silver has arrived.

They’re about to meet to try to reach consensus on how to approach the last four days of session.