The Observer reported last week that at least six City Council members are considering a legislative mutiny against Speaker Christine Quinn, the front-runner for the Democratic Party’s mayoral nomination.
According to The Observer’s account, the rebellious politicians may defy the speaker’s wishes by bringing measures she opposes to a floor vote. One Read More
In order for his proposal to extend term limits to become law, Michael Bloomberg needs the support of 26 members of the City Council. At the moment, only 14 members are on record saying they will vote in favor of the bill. Five of the undecideds—Alan Gerson, Jessica Lappin, James Oddo, Helen Sears, and Peter Read More
Council members Simcha Felder and Peter Vallone Jr. are circulating a letter in support of re-instating the commuter tax.
The letter, sent to other council members, argues that reinstating the commuter tax and closing costly loophole in the state pension law are crucial to the city’s budget. "[T]he alternative," the letter says, is "further Read More
Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler released a list today of Michael Bloomberg’s member items — the City Council members’ projects that the mayor funded directly from 2003 to 2008.
The request came amid closer scrutiny of discretionary member-item allocation, which is being investigated by a U.S. prosecutor after fake names were found to have been inserted Read More
Christine Quinn took a shot at Albany lawmakers (none by name) for passing a bill she says will weaken the city’s soon-to-be enacted law requiring stores to recycle their plastic bags.
“Yet again, it’s Albany taking away our power,” Quinn said in a brief chat with reporters in City Hall. “I fail to understand Read More
Here’s a nifty example of extra-campaign profile-boosting for a couple of local office-seekers, in the form of an ad for the family law firm Vallone & Vallone, from the Queens Gazette.
For the record, that’s Peter Vallone, Jr. on the left, who’s running for Queens borough president; his brother Paul Vallone Read More
This morning, the Water Board voted to raise water rates. This afternoon, the City Council held a hearing about proposed cuts to higher education.
In this clip, Peter Vallone, Jr., speaking at the hearing, connects the two.
UPDATE: Bloomberg spokesman John Gallagher responds: "Essential city services cost money and the rate hike will cover Read More
Here’s Peter Vallone Jr. describing a yelling match he had with Michael Bloomberg outside City Hall just now over Bloomberg’s plan to open another power plant in Astoria.
“I said, ‘What happened to your fair-share doctrine? When it came to waste transfer stations, everybody was responsible for their own garbage.”
Councilman Leroy Comrie is taking a hard line against the police officers and officials involved in the Sean Bell shooting.
Speaking to reporters after a press conference in Jamaica, Comrie said the Police Department should “remove the lieutenant, the commanding officer, the head of the division. They all need to be, I think, fired." Read More
Leroy Comrie’s April 19 "Women for Comrie" fund-raiser for his bid for Queens borough president raised $10,000 from 200 attendees, according to Comrie aide Rance Huff.
Comrie will need the money to compete with better-funded rivals like Peter Vallone, Jr. (who held one of his fund-raisers in the mayor’s home).
Sharp-eyed readers will notice Read More
