Colby Hamilton

By Innovation Trail's Zack Seward

The scene inside the former Dansville Middle School auditorium. (Zack Seward / WXXI)

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) held the first of four public hearings on hydrofracking Wednesday. More than 800 people descended on the vacant Dansville Middle School to rally both for and against the controversial natural gas drilling technique.

Anti-fracking advocates outnumbered pro-drilling voices by a roughly 80/20 split. Many pro-drilling speakers were booed by the crowd, while anti-drilling speakers earned hearty applause.

By WNYC's Alec Hamilton

The Brooklyn Republican Congressmen have issued statements in support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's crackdown on the OWS protesters. In a statement issued today, Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm told the protesters to "pack up their tents, buy a bar of soap, and head home."

These people have overstayed their welcome and it's time they get the heck
out of New York City. Between the filth, the smell, the incessant noise,
and threat to public safety, they have done nothing but cause a nuisance to
the people who work and live in Lower Manhattan. They've cost the city and
surrounding businesses millions of dollars, and it's time these people find
a more productive use of their time. New Yorkers have had ENOUGH!

The people I represent are the hard-working '99%' who simply want to go to
work, do their jobs, and get home to their families without being hassled
along the way.  They already face one of the longest commutes in the nation
without having to deal with this mob.  It is reprehensible for these
lowlifes to overrun the Staten Island Ferry or the subways to Brooklyn and
add further hours to the trip home.

I applaud the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg, and the NYPD under Commissioner
Kelly's leadership, in cleaning up Zuccotti Park and managing a potentially
violent and destructive situation. They have done a tremendous job!
However, it has been two months and now it's time for the OWS protesters to
pack up their tents, buy a bar of soap, and head home.

Grimm is not the only one who has Bloomberg's back. Congressional District Nine's own Republican Bob Turner released a statement supporting the police action as well. Rep. Peter King referred to the OWS protesters as "a bunch of low-life dirtbags" on the Imus in the Morning Show. "Here are people living in dirt and disease," he characterized them.  "You can have a legitimate cause, but you don't have to be living in dirt, drugs, sex, the whole bit."

It's not only Republicans backing the mayor. Queens City Council Democrat Peter Vallone, Jr. told NY1, "The police have every right to use the force that they deem necessary to arrest if people aren't cooperating."

And, of course, Governor Andrew Cuomo gave his approval. Cuomo said he supported the mayor's actions, but qualified it somewhat by continuing to say that he supports all the different strategies taken by different mayors across New York in dealing with OWS.

Yesterday the Department of Defense denied the state's request for a waiver from the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. The Act says that oversees voters must have enough time to vote in the primary elections in their states, which has meant New York's September primary is too close to the actual Election Day to satisfy the 45-day requirement for ballots to be sent out.

This new development will certainly be discussed at tomorrow's LATFOR meeting in Albany. A Federal judge will now likely rule early next month on when, exactly, the new primary date should be to comply with the military voting act. Republicans are arguing for August. Democrats want to see the primary in June.

As I've written earlier, the dates matter:

f the judge picks an earlier date, it makes things very difficult for Republicans. A June primary means districts need to be in place by the end of February. This means the lines will have to be introduced and voted on sooner rather than later.

...

Republicans hope for an August date, the thinking goes, because it means they’ll have more time to push the redistricting vote into budget negotiations. If they can do that, they might be able to use redistricting as leverage and force the Governor to abandon his veto threat in favor of a smooth budget process.

This is just one issue facing the committee tomorrow. The other big issue is prisoner reapportionment. There are rumors the Senate Republicans are going to say they can't completely agree with their Democratic counterparts in the Assembly on how to count prisoners. This wouldn't be surprising. It will buy the Republicans more time, as they want the judge in their case to overturn the law to make a decision before they commit to a process.

That being said, don't let the actions of LATFOR fool you. They're going through the motions. On both sides, maps have been drawn. It's just a matter of timing--when, and which maps to reveal.

The US District Attorney’s office in Manhattan today announced the arrest of another campaign donor who allegedly funneled illegal campaign funds into a 2013 mayoral contender John Liu's coffers. WNYC has confirmed through a Federal law enforcement source that the official in question is Comptroller Liu, who has been plagued by questions over irregular and potentially illegal fundraising activities.

Xing Wu “Oliver” Pan is accused of contributing $16,000--far beyond the legal contribution limit--to Liu’s 2013 campaign through 20 “straw donors.” The donations would have been matched six-to-one by the city’s campaign finance matching system had they not been caught.

“As alleged, Oliver Pan engaged in a deliberate and flagrant attempt to subvert the campaign finance laws and manipulate the City’s matching fund system,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.

“I am saddened by what I read today. If it is true then the conduct was clearly wrong and my campaign was not told the truth,” Liu said in response to the allegations, via a spokesperson.

With another allegation of financial impropriety coming forth, political insiders are beginning to question not only Liu’s 2013 mayoral aspirations, but his ability to function as the city’s fiscal steward.

By Innovation Trail's Marie Cusick

Representatives from the natural gas drilling industry took questions from the public about hydrofracking in Geneva, N.Y. on Tuesday night. (Marie Cusick / WMHT)

Today the New York Department of Environmental Conservation begins tohold public hearings about its rules to govern hydrofracking. But yesterday marked a different kind of forum about fracking: a public meeting hosted by the natural gas industry.

Geneva, N.Y. was the sixth stop in a series of seven public meetings called "Fuel for Thought" hosted by New York's Independent Oil and Gas Association (IOGA), a trade group representing drilling companies. About 50 people turned out to a junior high school last night, as a panel of representatives from the drilling industry took the stage for a question and answer session about hydrofracking.

Liu's future political forecast looks cloudy. (Colby Hamilton / WNYC)

Standing next to the other city elected officials yesterday, New York City Comptroller John Liu didn't appear to be a man under siege. He was introduced by Working Families Party deputy director Bill Lipton at the press event before chastising the Mayor and lauding Occupy Wall Street.

But outside of the ring of liberal city officials and labor leaders, Comptroller Liu is facing serious questions about his fundraising activities, the likes of which could make his future political aspirations dead on arrival.

"We assume there will be a fair investigation of the allegations, and of course we would not comment on anything until that's done," said WFP spokesperson TJ Helmstetter. But it's uncertain how long political allies will be standing by Liu.

Liu's trouble really started back in July when a little-seen piece in Crain's pointed to some suspiciously large campaign contributions from supermarket workers. At the time, the Liu campaign pushed back, essentially suggesting the question was thinly-veiled racism, calling it "a ridiculous assumption."

But then the New York Times started poking into the campaign's finances. They found a number of major irregularities, including the possibility that some donors didn't even exist. Liu came on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show to defend his campaign, questioning how the Times conducted its reporting but vowing to get to the bottom of things. He later hired former New York State Attorney General Robert Adams to review his own fundraising efforts.

Earlier this week it was revealed that Federal authorities are now involved. Grand jury subpoenas have been issued to find out more information about a city contractor whose employees gave large donations to the campaign. The big question is whether or not that was their own money, or if funds were funneled through employees, which would potentially be a violation of Federal law.

Now, today, the Wall Street Journal is reporting more specifically that donations from donors connected to disgraced national Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu were not returned back in 2008

According to campaign records, Mr. Liu accepted a $500 donation from [actress Susan] Chilman on April 11, 2007. In the midst of the scandal surrounding Mr. Hsu, a number of politicians returned the contributions they received from Ms. Chilman, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and former Rep. Anthony Weiner. Mr. Liu did not.

In a recent interview with the Journal, Ms. Chilman said she isn't a supporter of Mr. Liu. She said she made the contribution solely at Mr. Hsu's behest and was reimbursed by him for it. "I don't know John Liu," she said.

The full extent of Mr. Hsu's influence on Mr. Liu's 2009 campaign is unknown, in part because Mr. Liu has yet to comply with city campaign finance laws that require the disclosure of bundlers, people such as Mr. Hsu who collect contributions for a political candidate from other people. Mr. Liu said he plans to disclose his bundlers but is awaiting the green light from the Campaign Finance Board; the board told the Journal on Tuesday that Mr. Liu is free to disclose immediately.

To add to this, the Comptroller's plan for a major overhaul of the city's pension system--announced alongside Mayor Michael Bloomberg--has come under fire since the plan was released.

How does all this add up for John Liu's mayoral ambitions?

"The mayoral race is out the window," said Hank Sheinkopf, a long-time Democratic political consultant. But Sheinkopf noted the question now is less about ambition and more about survival.

"The question is, can he run for reelection," Sheinkopf said. "If the revelations continue, that will also be very difficult because you can't have the city auditor audited by the federal prosecutor at the same time, with the potential for criminal indictment."

WNYC's Jim O'Grady has a report up on the contract talks that have begun between the MTA and the transit union. Things appear to be starting on a better foot between the new MTA chief, Joe Lhota, and the union.

Negotiations began with addresses by [Transport Workers Union Local 100 president John] Samuelsen and MTA executive Joe Lhota to a conference room packed with TWU members. Lhota started with a compliment: "My first message to you is that I know the MTA employees are our most valuable resource."

The remark was in some ways pro forma. But its reception by the workers — hearty roars filled the room — seemed to signal something new between the authority and the union: a measure of mutual respect. Samuelson said he never felt that from Lhota's predecessor, Jay Walder, who fought with the union and laid off 1,000 workers in 2009. When Walder announced his resignation this past July, the TWU constructed its official reaction around the phrase "good riddance."

Lhota, who started on Monday, shrewdly made his first act in office to join the union's call for aggressive prosecution of attacks on bus drivers. The union says someone assaults a bus driver an average of three times a week in New York. Lhota reiterated the stance at the Sheraton, to more applause. He then switched to the matter at hand and declared, "As we begin the collective bargaining process, you have my commitment that the MTA will listen to your demands and that we will negotiate in good faith."

It's assumed TWU will be asked for the same sort of wage freeze other unions throughout the state have been accepting. Samuelson has said his union will fight the freezes.

(L to R) Councilman James Sanders, Comptroller John Liu, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, and Councilman Jumaane Williams (Colby Hamilton / WNYC)

City and State elected officials stood with labor leaders outside the State Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan—near where the arrested Occupy Wall Street protesters are being processed—to decry Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s eviction of protesters early this morning in Zuccotti Park and affirm the status of the movement as far from over.

“Today is not the end. Today is in fact just the beginning,” Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer told those assembled.

“What happened this morning was wrong. It was unnecessary. It was provocative. And it will only create more conflict,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Other cities have managed to find a positive resolution, including looking at alternative sites [for the demonstrations]. The Mayor and his team never have done that. And that’s a mistake.”

We're talking to city, state and Federal officials to get their reactions to this morning's clearing of protesters from Zuccotti Park. We'll update as reactions come in.

3:55 pm

At long last, a statement from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn on the Mayor's actions last night:

As I have said from the very beginning, we must balance the protesters’ First Amendment rights with the rights of the residents, workers, and businesses of Lower Manhattan. We must protect the protestors' right to peaceful assembly and the local community's right to a safe and secure neighborhood.

Today’s actions include reports of excessive force by the NYPD, and reports of infringement of the rights of the press. If these reports are true, these actions are unacceptable. The Council will seek answers to questions surrounding these reports and clarifying information regarding the arrest and treatment of Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

In a spirit of cooperation, we must work to ensure that the protesters are allowed back into Zuccotti Park as soon as possible and are allowed to exercise their right to protest while not impeding on the rights of others.

1:35 pm

A joint statement from Manhattan State Senator Dan Squadron and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, whose district covers Zuccotti Park:

We agree that Zuccotti Park must be open and accessible to everyone – OWS, the public, law enforcement and first responders – and that it is critical to protect the health and safety of protesters and the community.

We have also been urging the City to have a zero tolerance policy on noise and sanitation violations, and to make the results of its enforcement public. But we must balance the core First Amendment rights of protesters and the other legitimate issues that have been raised.

The City’s actions to shut down OWS last night raise a number of serious civil liberties questions that must be answered.  Moving forward, how will the City respect the protesters’ rights to speech and assembly?  Why was press access limited, and why were some reporters’ credentials confiscated?  How will reported incidents of excessive force used by the police be addressed?

On the issue of Brookfield’s rules, we are very concerned that they were promulgated after the protesters arrived; the specific legal questions on this topic are being addressed where it is appropriate – in the courts.

Whatever the courts rule, the City’s actions here must not be a backdoor means of ending the free exercise of protesters’ rights. Irrespective of this incident, OWS is now bigger than Zuccotti Park, and no one has the power to silence this national movement.

1:19 pm

Statement from the chair of the City Council's civil rights committee, Staten Island Councilwoman Debi Rose:

Last night, Freedom of Speech was attacked like a thief in the night. While I recognize the importance of the occupier's health and safety, I seriously question whether protesters were given ample time to vacate the park without creating a scene of pandemonium. The fact that Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez was injured during this process was indicative of the indiscriminate use of force. I stand by my friend and colleague, Ydanis Rodriquez and I also stand firmly on the side of the 99 percent!

1:15 pm

Statement from the chair of the City Council's public safety committee, Queens Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr.:

I support Mayor Bloomberg’s actions today in ending only the illegal aspects of what had clearly become an occupation which denied others their right to safe, clean streets. The protests can continue, within the reasonable restrictions set by the legislature and the courts.

12:43 pm

Manhattan Democratic Party chairman Assemblyman Keith Wright said he'd visited the encampment at least seven times and had found protesters who "weren't bothering anybody."

"It seemed clean. It seemed orderly," he said. "I think it was a power move by the mayor. I don't really quite understand why they cannot go back and camp out." He continued, saying the Mayor was "trying to get rid of the mosquito that's been buzzing in [Bloomberg's] ear."

12:33 pm

Statement from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer:

For many weeks, there has been a struggle to balance the protesters’ First Amendment freedoms and the health, sanitation, and safety concerns surrounding Zuccotti Park.  During this time, I have enjoyed a collaborative discourse with the Administration on this issue.  I want to thank in particular my colleagues in government including Deputy Mayor Wolfson.

Last night, the Administration acted to end the occupation of Zuccotti Park by forcible eviction, and I am greatly troubled by reports of unnecessary force against protestors and members of the media, including the use of “chokeholds” and pepper spray. I am also troubled by reports of media being forcibly kept away at a distance from these events. American foreign correspondents routinely put themselves in harm’s way to do their jobs, in some of the most brutal dictatorships in the world.  And their NYC colleagues deserve the freedom to make the same choice.  Zuccotti Park is not Tiananmen Square. I call for a full explanation of police behavior in this evacuation.

New York City has a duty to protect public safety, and it also has a duty to protect people’s freedom to voice concerns about economic justice that have struck a deep chord with millions of Americans. Surely our City can do both.

12:30 pm

Statement from Comptroller John Liu:

Going in and forcibly removing the protestors in the dead of night sends the wrong message. City Hall should have continued to talk with the protestors in the light of day if it wanted them removed, instead of evicting them in the middle of the night. There seems to be no compelling reason for this action at this time. The protestors have a right to be heard.

11:26 am

City Councilman Jumaane Williams was at Zuccotti Park this morning by 2 am, after hearing that Mayor Michael Bloomberg had ordered the clearing of protesters. "Just in time to see [City Councilman] Ydanis [Rodriguez] put in the paddywagon," Williams said. Rodriguez was arrested this morning along with more than a hundred other protesters.

"I think it's a very bad day for democracy. And I'm sorry that Bloomberg has his name all over it," the Councilman continued. He said the actions by the Mayor would serve to "galvanize" support for the Occupation, bringing more people in.

"People are going to get more energized now," he said.

11:18 am

Manhattan State Senator Liz Krueger:

I am very disturbed that the City's approach to dealing with the "health and fire safety" issues raised by the Zuccotti protest was a surprise ambush in the middle of the night. Physically forcing people out of the park or leaving them to face arrest, with no notice or warning, is not a commitment to civil rights and it certainly was not the right way to handle this situation.

11:13 am

Statement from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who has been supportive of the Occupation. Hoping to speak to him a bit more on this later.

Protecting public safety and quality of life for downtown residents, and guaranteeing free expression are not exclusive of one another. Mayor Bloomberg made a needlessly provocative and legally questionable decision to clear Zuccotti Park in the dead of night. That some media and observers were prevented from monitoring the action is deeply troubling.

I know of no one—protesters included—who desires a permanent occupation of lower Manhattan. But provocations under cover of darkness only escalate tensions in a situation that calls for mediation and dialogue. I call on the Mayor to find a sustainable resolution—as other cities have done—that allows for the exercise of free speech and assembly, with respect for the rights of all New Yorkers to peaceful enjoyment of our great city.

According to a Siena Research Institute poll released this morning, 66 percent of New York voters polled said the Occupy Wall Street protesters do not represent "the 99%"--meaning the vast majority of Americans not in the top one percent of earners. But that doesn't mean Bloomberg is going to be widely praised for booting the protesters this morning.

“By two-to-one, voters say that the Occupy Wall Street movement does not represent 99 percent of Americans,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg. “When it comes to how voters feel about whether the people engaged in the movement should be allowed to occupy public parks around the clock, the answer is ‘yes.’ By a 57-40 percent margin, including a majority of Democrats, independents and voters from every region, New Yorkers believe that the demonstrators should be able to stay in the parks all day and all night."

Looking at the results more closely, there are some interesting results. There is a pervading sense that the Occupation suffers from a diversity problem. But that hasn't stopped it from being viewed more favorably by black and Latino voters than by white voters. Some 56 percent of Latino's polled, and 51 percent of black voters, had a favorable opinion of Occupy Wall Street. Only 42 percent of white voters did.

Early this morning police, by order of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, cleared the Occupy Wall Street encampment, citing health and fire concerns to the surrounding community. More than a hundred were arrested, according to the police.

"No right is absolute and with every right comes responsibilities," the Mayor said in a statement. "The First Amendment gives every New Yorker the right to speak out – but it does not give anyone the right to sleep in a park or otherwise take it over to the exclusion of others – nor does it permit anyone in our society to live outside the law."

The police began clearing the park at approximately 1 am. Later this morning a judge issued a temporary restraining order after the National Lawyers Guild and others asked for an injunction. The court said the city couldn't keep protesters and their belongings out of the park. There are reports the state's Supreme Court will rule later today on whether or not the temporary restraining order is maintained.

The live feed from the Occupiers is after the jump. As always, WNYC's newsroom has updates and a great photo slideshow of the events last night and this morning.

Reporters got a sneak peek at the construction that's been going on inside City Hall since 2008. The mayor's press office conducted a tour with Deputy Commissioner David Resnick of the Department of Design and Construction. Some City Hall staff have already moved back into the space, with the first full council hearing expected to be conducted on December 8. The final price tag: $123.8 million--nearly twice the initial expected cost. For a great backgrounder on the project, check out Javier Hernandez's Times piece back in June.

Senator Liz Krueger, right, and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, center, at the hearing last week. (Colby Hamilton / WNYC)

Last week's elections upstate elections were partially driven by the debate over hydrofracking. This week, the issue enters a new phase. As the Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation begins its last round of public hearings that will guide its recommendations on the controversial gas extraction process.

In a radio interview with Capitol Press Room's Susan Arbetter, Governor Andrew Cuomo stated in no uncertain terms that the new gaps in the budget wouldn't be resolved by extending the millionaires' tax.

"That's my position," Cuomo stated, eluding to his opposition to extending the tax without saying so directly. "Im trying to deal with the hole we have today."

That hole means an additional billion or so dollar gap in next year's budget, and a $350 million shortfall in this year's. The Governor said today's budget report numbers weren't set in stone, but that concrete steps would need to be taken soon. But, for now, he said things will be looked at as provisional.

"I am not taking any dramatic action on these numbers," Cuomo said.

Susan Arbetter's speaking with Governor Andrew Cuomo at 11:30 am today. You can be certain the worsening budget situation will be discussed. Click here for a live stream of the conversation.

The state's budget division just released its midyear fiscal report--two weeks later than expected--and as anticipated the reports doesn't have a lot of good news. Here's how the statement from the budget office characterized the situation:

Weak and unsettled economic conditions around the world -- illustrated by the Eurozone financial crisis, volatility in the financial markets, and persistently disappointing data on employment, consumer confidence, and income -- have darkened the State's fiscal outlook. The significant positive receipts results early in the fiscal year have been largely eroded as the economy weakened in the summer months. With the prospect of a weak bonus season on Wall Street, even more negative pressure is being placed on the State's receipts outlook.

Next year's budget gap has been revised upwards from about $2 billion to possibly as high as $3.5 billion. This is still nowhere near the $10 billion gap from last year, but it's not the direction anyone would like to see the State's finances headed.

Then there's a $350 million gap that's emerged this year. Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to the release, is looking to implement a plan for closing the gap. This could require breaking the legislature back to a special session. Either way, you can anticipate the calls for continuing to tax higher income earners to piggyback on this news.

The question is whether or not this report will be the thing that changes the Governor's mind. The report is after the jump.

Councilmember Williams, left, and Kirsten John Foye, right, at today's press conference. (Colby Hamilton / WNYC)

Councilman Jumaane Williams and Public Advocate aide Kirsten John Foy have that hesitancy in their voices that suggests they’re not entirely pleased. There’s definitely a “but” coming.

Yes, Williams said, he and Foy were both pleased that the police department had disciplined officers after a Labor Day weekend incident that saw Williams and Foy arrested. Yes, they were gratified the internal investigation vindicated their claims officers used excessive force—at one point Foy is seen in video of the incident being tossed to the ground—and that a supervising officer was also disciplined for not providing adequate supervision.

But.

“If it was not Kirsten and I, would the same thing have occurred,” Williams asked a wall of reporters on the steps of City Hall this afternoon. “We want to make sure this is connected to the broader police accountability movement. Just because there was some justice for us doesn’t mean that there is justice within the police accountability movement.”

Elected officials at every level in the state are pushing for better protections and opportunities for military veterans--recent and those who served awhile ago.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is launching a program to help returning veterans find worker easier.

Military veterans are highly trained, often in specialized skills that are in great demand in the public and private sectors. However, veterans' training is often unacknowledged when they pursue licenses, degrees, and certifications in the civilian workforce. Through the Governor's "Experience Counts" campaign, state agencies will now identify ways that New York can better recognize the skills and training that veterans possess.

"As our veterans return home to New York, we must do everything within our power to ease their transition back into civilian life," Governor Cuomo said. "That is precisely what the 'Experience Counts' campaign and the newly revitalized Council on Returning Veterans and Their Families have been set up to accomplish. With this campaign, we can give veterans the credit they deserve for their military training and ensure that the state government works efficiently and effectively on their behalf."

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman released a "guide to provide veterans and active duty military personnel information related to benefits, consumer protections and other legal issues."

“To honor the brave men and women who selflessly serve our country, we must do everything we can to ensure military families are protected here at home,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “From foreclosure protection to educational benefits to employment issues, veterans and active duty military personnel deserve to know the rights and benefits to which they are entitled. My office will continue to fight for those who have fought for us.”

State Senator Tony Avella is introducing legislation to help veterans get preferential housing treatment.

Under the current law veterans who served in the Vietnam War are afforded specific eligibility into public housing projects at income levels slightly higher than the income levels set for the general public. Avella’s bill will extend those provisions to encompass veterans who have served or are serving in the armed forces from September 14, 2001 through December 31, 2014--reflecting the period from the Joint Resolution authorizing the use of force against those responsible for the September 11th terrorist attacks.

“Today, just as we did in the Vietnam War Era, we are seeing more and more of our soldiers returning home having served our country through lengthy deployments in hostile theatres with nowhere to live,” stated Avella. “Making sure that each one of these heroes is ensured preference when applying for public housing is the least we can do to prevent them from finding themselves in difficult situations. We should feel obliged to look out for those who selflessly risked everything to ensure our safety.”

City Councilwoman Jessica Lappin is putting forth a resolution caling on the Congress to do more victims of sexual assault inside the military.

Thousands of women in uniform have been victims of sexual assault and harassment during their military service. But women suffering from this condition, known as military sexual trauma (MST), face serious barriers to receiving medical benefits. Council Member Lappin, Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, is calling on Congress to pass a federal law that would make treatment more accessible to these victims.

“Thousands of veterans are carrying invisible battle scars,” Lappin said. “We need to provide them with the help they need, so they can begin the healing process.”

I figured it's up on other blogs, and it's such an amazing piece of work from our friends at the Daily News, why not put it up?

EJ McMahon of the Manhattan Institute has an interesting op-ed in today's New York Post. He goes after Governor Andrew "The Government" Cuomo for blowing by a set of legally mandated budget reviews. Something's fishy about the whole thing for McMahon--and, to be honest, with many reporters--since the argument that volatility in European markets just doesn't make a lot of sense.

[The Division of the Budget] has coped with even more uncertainty in the recent past. In fall 2001, the budget agency under Gov. George Patakimanaged to issue a financial plan update less than 10 days after the attack on the World Trade Center. In the midst of a full-blown Wall Street panic in fall 2008, with David Paterson barely settled in the governor’s office, it issued its mid-year update two days early. In 2009, as stock-market volatility rose toward record highs, the mid-year report was right on schedule.

So what gives, Gov? In conversations with people involved in the budget process, some directly, there has been a calm reciting of the same reasons the governor has given for the delay. There was no reason, I was told, to be alarmed.