Morning Read: ‘How Is That Page-One News?’

Headline of the Day: “Michael Bloomberg Has Not Read the Widely-Read Story about Christine Quinn’s Temper.” Sign Up For Our

(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Getty)

Headline of the Day: “Michael Bloomberg Has Not Read the Widely-Read Story about Christine Quinn’s Temper.”

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In order to blunt the accusations of retaliation, Council Speaker Christine Quinn‘s office directed NY1 to allied colleagues. “She was good to me and to my district before I voted against the renaming of the bridge, and she has been good to me and my district after,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said, while Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras declared, “Usually men, when they get angry or frustrated, that’s viewed as a point of leadership. It’s showing your skills, showing your negotiation skills. And now, we’re questioning it as a woman. I think it’s shameful.”

And Councilman Jim Gennaro piled on with a letter to The New York Times: “I’m surprised because I’ve known Ms. Quinn professionally at the City Council for 22 years, and I have no idea what the article is talking about. In my thousands of interactions with her, in which she can be direct and emphatic but quite measured for the most part, I’ve never observed anything like what the anonymous sources say in this article. So City Hall is not ‘Mister Rogers Neighborhood.’ How is that page-one news?”

At 10 a.m. today, Ms. Quinn will announce a deal on paid sick day legislation, which The Times said happened because “it became clear that she might face a revolt in the City Council” as “advocates persuaded the usually timid members of the Council to try to circumvent Ms. Quinn and force a vote.” The announcement will be with Councilwoman Gale Brewer, New York Communities for Change, Make the Road New York, The Paid Sick Leave Coalition, A Better Balance and SEIU 32BJ.

One of Ms. Quinn’s mayoral rivals, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, sent out an email to his supporters decrying the deal moments ago. “For three years, Speaker Quinn did the bidding of Mayor Bloomberg and the big business lobby by single-handedly blocking paid sick leave,” his campaign manager, Bill Hyers, wrote. “Speaker Quinn has agreed to allow a vote on an incomplete version of paid sick leave. While something is better than nothing, the tragic truth is this weakened measure leaves over 300,000 New Yorkers behind.”

Councilman Charles Barron took to the Amsterdam News to back his own mayoral candidate, Comptroller John Liu. “The Black vote cannot be taken for granted by anyone,” Mr. Barron wrote, an indirect reference to the one black candidate in the race, former Comptroller Bill Thompson. “Liu will deliver more for our communities than any other candidate in the race for mayor in 2013. Let’s do the right thing for our people.” Mr. Barron touted Mr. Liu’s positions on policing, reparations, Kimani Gray and more.

 

Programming note: Like yesterday, there will be light blogging today as this reporter pursues a longer story. 

Morning Read: ‘How Is That Page-One News?’