Azi Paybarah

author of The Empire blog

Azi Paybarah appears in the following:

Mail from Maloney

Monday, June 21, 2010

WNYC

Reshma Saujani isn't the only one sending out campaign mail in the 14th congressional district.

 

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Cuomo: 'I Did Experiment with Marijuana'

Monday, June 21, 2010

WNYC

As the Democratic candidates for attorney general debate who did -- and possibly didn't -- support the changes to the Rockefeller Drug Laws, the current attorney general said he used marijuana.

"I did experiment with marijuana when I was a youth," Andrew Cuomo. "In no way do I suggest that any young people should do any experimentation whatsoever."

Cuomo was speaking at a press conference this morning where he announced his latest effort to crack down on child pornography on social media sites.

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The Debate Debate in the AG Race

Monday, June 21, 2010

WNYC

One of the most important parts of any campaign is getting opponents to answer the questions you want them to. It’s the debate about the debate, if you will.

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Obama Club Backs Tasini Over Rangel

Monday, June 21, 2010

WNYC

The Barack Obama Democratic Club of Northern Manahttan voted to endorse Jonathan Tasini in the race for the seat currently held by Rep. Charlie Rangel, according to reliable gadfly Alan Flacks.

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Monday: Domino, Lewis, Open Data

Monday, June 21, 2010

WNYC

 

9:30 a.m. Diana Reyna speaks out about the development planned for the Domino Sugar Factory, on the City Hall steps.

10 a.m. Vito Lopez, Steve Levin and Joe Lentol speak out about the Domino Sugary Factory development plans, on the City Hall steps.

10 a.m. Fred Dicker talks to Stuart Appelbaum and Brendan Quinn.

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The Lede: Ravitch's Story, Meeks' Loans

Monday, June 21, 2010

WNYC

Dick Ravitch on This American Life.

Four murders in one night.

Eric Adams will run for mayor if Bill Thompson doesn't.

Montgomery on Cuomo's diversity: "I don't have signals from him yet that some of the issues central to communities of color are really on his radar yet."

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The Lede: Sampson Leaks, Floyd Deals

Friday, June 18, 2010

WNYC

Cuomo would cut the budget by eliminating government agencies.

Barone: "A Tea Party candidate? Some right-wing Republican? No, it's Andrew Cuomo, son of three-term Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo."

Cuomo spoke about cracking down on pension abuses.

The Post opposes Paterson's plan to tax insurance premiums.

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The Lede: Paterson's Deadline, Sampson's Meeting

Thursday, June 17, 2010

WNYC

NYT: "Despite what Mr. Paterson said, a new budget will almost certainly include borrowing

Paterson's June 28 budget deadline--and vow to oppose borrowing--"blindsided lawmakers."

Delen Goldberg: "Even if the most extreme cuts are adopted, that would leave a $6.6 billion deficit. Where will that money come from? Most likely, tax increases."

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Roundup: Murphy, Megna, Halloran

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

WNYC

Unspinnable realities,” determine Obama’s fate.

Sampson: “I like my tobacco bonds.”

Ravitch: “[N]obody’s asked for my opinion”

DiNapoli says the budget is late.

Bloomberg and Quinn yell at Albany for more money.

Halloran yells at (and films) a cop.

Parker’s fight bill advances.

Silver says borrowing isn’t needed.

Murphy: “I am proud to accept the endorsement of the Independence Party of New York.”

Port Chester breaks a barrier.

Pawlenty sticks a toe in early states.

And from Mark Green: “More recently, Mr. Bloomberg told a friend that he'd think about running for president as an independent in 2012 if he could break the 'political habit of voting by party.'"

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Bloomberg Gun Control Push Fails in Albany

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Every time a gun is fired, a shell casing is left behind. Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Albany on Tuesday to push a bill to put traceable codes on each of those shells. He came back empty-handed.

Comment

The Lede: For Independence, Probes and a Primary

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

WNYC

Vance's probe is focusing on the independence Party; Cuomo on the defensive.

State Board of Elections officlas are looking at the Independence Party also.

Tobacco may run a primary against McMahon, for the Independence Party nomination.

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Wednesday: Public Integrity

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

WNYC

Marathon man Phil Singer is a year older.

Congress continues deliberation on Rep. Barney Frank’s Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010.

Rep. Charlie Rangel introduces  a resolution recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

9 a.m. Michael Bloomberg presents an award to Friends of the High Line, at 10th Avenue and 16th Street.

9:30 a.m. Jessica Lappin, Karen Koslowitz and others discuss strengthening the enforcement of food vendor laws, on the steps of City Hall.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing about revoking food vendor permits for parking violations, on the 16th floor of 250 Broadway.

10 a.m. Joel Klein participates in a fitness demonstration, at 2100 Walton Avenue, in the Bronx.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing to identify buildings whose conditions trigger allergies and asthma, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing on a pilot program to eliminate mold and vermin conditions in housing units, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

10 a.m. The City Council holds a hearing on closing the gender wage gap, on the 14th floor of 250 Broadway.

10:30 a.m. The State Senate has a hearing on violent youths being released prematurely, at Hearing Room A in the LOB, in Albany. Live video here.

11 a.m. David Paterson holds a meting with legislative leaders, in the Red Room of the Capitol, in Albany.

Noon. James Sanders, Liz Crowley, Steve Cassidy, Al Hagan and others rally to prevent fire house closures, at 1615 Central Avenue, in Far Rockaway.

1 p.m. The City Council holds a hearing about requiring the City Clerk to provide information about same-sex marriages, on the 14th floor of 250 Broadway.

1 p.m. The City Council has a hearing on Paterson’s Immigrant Pardon Board, on the 16th floor of 250 Broadway.

3 p.m. The City Council’s Progressive Caucus discusses “revenue raising options” for the city budget, on the steps of City Hall.

5:30 p.m. Dan Maffei is a guest speaker on an AARP telephone town hall.

6 p.m. Crowley has a fund-raiser at 63-98 Woodhaven Boulevard, in Queens.

6 p.m. The Charter Revision Commission holds a hearing on “public integrity” and takes expert testimony from several invited guests, at 160 Convent Avenue. Live video streaming here.

6:30 p.m. Brooklyn Young Republicans have their annual party, at 174 Smith Street.

8 p.m. Gustavo Rivera has a comedy fund-raiser at 240 West 54th Street.

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Bloomberg Gun Control Push Fails in Albany

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Every time a gun is fired, a shell casing is left behind. Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Albany on Tuesday to push a bill to put traceable codes on each of those shells. He came back empty-handed.

Bloomberg and gun control advocates want to require manufacturers ...

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Roundup: Bloomberg's Lobby, School Safety

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WNYC

Paterson: “I don’t think I should be setting up a layoff plan for the next governor to do.”

A homeless advocacy group wants a better definition for “disorderly conduct.”

Medina: “The city will spend an estimated $296 million on school safety, a $5.4 million increase. In 2008, the budget was roughly $204 million.”

Pillifant: “Mr. Barron seems to be the most outspoken among black leaders concerned about the diversity in Mr. Cuomo's camp.”

Bloomerg and the Hotel Trades team up against cheap hotels.

Cuomo's mom: "I am very happy but then I get sad, because I know he is going to have a lot of work to do and I know how he works"

NY Law Journal eyes the AG race.

Question-time legislation passed the state Senate.

Wendy Williams advice to NYS Senate: “If a gay person wants to get married they should be allowed to get married.”

Kerry Kennedy teams up with Pedro Espada, Jr.

Richard Brodsky takes on Google.

And pictured above is Michael Bloomberg, Dick Brown and Howard Wolfson who, among others, traveled to Albany lobbying (unsuccessfully) for gun-control legislation.

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Without Voting, Golden Blames Dems for Bill's Failure

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WNYC

State Senator Marty Golden wasn't in the chambers when the microstamping legislation was being voted on, but he doesn't want to be blamed for the bill's failure.

Golden, a Republican, said three Democrats were opposing the bill and that even if he did vote, the bill would not have passed.

Not that he was supporting it anyway.

In a brief telephone interview, Golden told me:

What happened with that is the Democrats voted the bill down -- three Democrats. I thought it was amazing that [Eric] Schneiderman was telling people he had the votes, put the bill up for a vote and not have the votes that he said he has, and that was [David] Valesky, [Darrel] Aurbertine and [Bill] Stachowski.

If those three Democrats voted for the bill, that bill would be law today.

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Malcolm Smith Wants Credit

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WNYC

State Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith wants some appreciation for his conference for their role in preventing a government shutdown yesterday.

From Smith:

The Majority Democrats have again answered the call and stepped up to provide leadership when it is most necessary.  We are pleased that we did the responsible thing by passing the budget extender.

Though the press has failed to report it this way, the Majority Democrats have been responsible public servants in fulfilling the sincere duties pledged to our constituents, and will continue to do so. We are committed to keeping the government up and running, and ready to effectively serve the citizens of New York.”

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Cuomo Has Confidence in Independence Party

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WNYC

One day after the Manhattan D.A. said the Independence Party isn’t cooperating with his investigation, Andrew Cuomo said he has “confidence” in the organization.

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Charities Under Investigation by NYS Attorney General

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WNYC

The director of a charitable group is accused of selling donated used cars and pocketing the money -- and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the fraudulent practice may be widespread.

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The Lede: Bloom-Burglar

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WNYC

John Haggerty fallout: "A footnote in the indictment said [NYS Independence] party officials kept 'a portion of the stolen funds.' "

A lawyer notes Bloomberg filed a statement with the Board of Elections saying he'll pay for campaign activities out of his campaign account, not his personal account.

The Manhattan DA "made clear that the grand jury was continuing to investigate the state Independence Party, which acted as a conduit for Bloomberg's money."

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Tuesday: Scott Murphy, Wendy Williams

Monday, June 14, 2010

WNYC

Rep. Scott Murphy (Green County Democrats/flickr)

10 a.m. Rep. Scott Murphy testifies about efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, in Washington. Testimony live here.

11 a.m. The City Council has a hearing on landmarks, at 250 Broadway, 16th ...

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