Colby Hamilton

Mayor Bloomberg appointed the Department of Environmental Protection's deputy commissioner Carter Strickland, Jr. to the head post earlier today. The mayor's office praised Strickland's "nearly two decades of experience in environmental policy and law in the New York metropolitan region", calling him "instrumental in the development and implementation of the water, air and natural resource initiatives in PlaNYC, Mayor Bloomberg’s comprehensive sustainability plan, and was a principal architect of the City’s Green Infrastructure Plan."

“Over the last two years, DEP has risen to new heights – cutting costs while becoming a more efficient and effective agency and helping to drive the Administration’s ambitious sustainability agenda,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “He has the right experience and qualities to be an extremely successful commissioner, with great vision and understanding of the challenges of delivering a vital public service to nine million New Yorkers every day, while protecting their environment and quality of life.”

Strickland takes over for his former boss, Cas Halloway, who himself took over for former Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, who resigned earlier this month.

Councilmembers Rose, left, and Weprin with Speaker Quinn. (Colby Hamilton / WNYC)

The City Council passed a measure this afternoon that changes the way employers can use exemptions for employees' religious observance, ending a so-called 'turban ban' in the New York City Police Department.

Currently, employers can declare the accommodation of a religious practice or expression to be a hardship, allowing them to deny employment or positions. The new law will raise the bar for what is considered a hardship, giving religious individuals more protections and forcing employers to try harder to find accommodations.

“The point of this bill is to make sure that, in the five boroughs, people who have particular requirements, as it relates to their religious observance…have the legal ability to do that in work," Quinn said in a press conference before the vote. The bill covers religious practices, such as prayer, as well as the need to take time off or wear religiously mandated clothing.

  (Courtesy of the Comptroller's office)

Don't say he didn't warn us: Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli today released his monthly report on the state's finances and the news wasn't good. The state pulled in $351.5 million less than expected, essentially negating June's better-than-expected tax receipts.

“New York’s recovering economy is struggling to reach cruising altitude, and the turbulence from volatile financial markets, a lackluster job market, a struggling housing sector, and political brinksmanship in Washington is creating additional drag,” DiNapoli said in a statement.  “Each of these factors could impact results through the remainder of the fiscal year. We have to remain vigilant to keep our finances on track.  Our fiscal margins are very tight, and we could go off course very quickly.”

The state's General Fund ended July with a balance of $1.9 billion, just $9.4 million higher than projections. The state is pulling in 8.4 percent more than it did this time last year, according to the report.

  (Colby Hamilton / WNYC)

Another day, another endorsement. This time it's a statewide official backing Assemblyman David Weprin's campaign in the 9th Congressional District. Thomas DiNapoli is the latest Democratic elected official to come out in support of Weprin, following up on US Senator Charles Schumer's endorsement announcement yesterday.

“With our nation facing some of the greatest fiscal challenges in a generation, we need David Weprin’s financial and budgeting experience in Congress,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “I know David Weprin and I trust David Weprin. He is ready to make the tough decisions it will take to keep our fiscal house in order while protecting critical programs like Medicare.”

DiNapoli pointed to Weprin's time as head of the city council's powerful finance committee--something Weprin's opponent, Bob Turner, has used as a point of attacking. Turner's campaign has questioned Weprin's statements about the council's "slush fund" scandal, as well as his outside earnings while in the council.

In a new NY1/YNN-Marist poll about energy issues, New Yorkers show a wide-range of feelings about energy issues. No majority view on whether or not closing Indian Point was a good idea--49 percent are in favor of keeping it open--even as 51 percent of those polled think a nuclear catastrophe at the site is likely or somewhat likely to happen. Governor Cuomo has said he is in favor of closing the plant.

“After all these years, this remains a highly charged issue,” Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, said in a statement. “Governor Cuomo still has some convincing to do.”

New Yorkers are even more fractured when it comes to the issue of hydrofracking, with 37 percent of registered voters opposing hydrofracking, 33 percent supporting it, and nearly a third-- 30 percent--are unsure. According to the poll, 43 percent of Republicans support hydrofracking, which makes Senator Ball's growing opposition very interesting.

Jerry Kassar, the chair of the Brooklyn Conservative Party, is sticking by the interview process and the conversations the Conservative Party had with Rafael Espinal. Kassar says he spoke with Espinal, who made it clear to him "that positions on the [WFP] questionnaire are not his positions" and said that he himself was not the one who personally submitted the statements.

While Kassar said he understood there were "nuances" to the positions he took with the Conservatives, he was left with the impression that Espinal would be on their side in the Assembly. "For legislative purposes, I would consider him a pro-life candidate," Kassar said. "I believe he would have voted no on same-sex marriage, had he been up there [in the Assembly]."

Kassar said he spoke with Espinal about the issue before and after the vote.

Senator Ball, left, with anti-fracking activist/filmaker Josh Fox. (Courtesy of the Senator's office.)

Republican State Senator Greg Ball of Patterson just sent out a notice about his tour of Pennsylvania with anti-hydrofracking activist and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox.

“I want nothing more than to create jobs in New York. But I will not  roll out the red carpet for companies that are not willing to be held accountable,” Ball said in the statement. “I saw beautiful communities booming with economic activity. I also heard horror stories from families and farmers who’ve suffered health problems, lost livestock and seen a 90 percent devaluation of their homes and properties."

Ball's hosting a local forum on hydrofracking next week, and, with his Tea Party base of support, appears to be developing into an unlikely opponent of the natural gas drilling process.

Check out the long list of "tour findings" he says he expects to raise next week and in the debate about fracking in Albany:

When voter's head to the polls for next month's special election in the 54th Assembly district, they'll see three different candidates' names. One of those candidates, Rafael Espinal, will be the Democratic Party candidate. He'll also be the Conservative Party's candidate. Some people may wonder how that happened, considering how opposite the two parties are on a number of social and political issues.

Political blogger Nick Rizzo put the question to Brooklyn Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar. What had Espinal said to the Conservative Party that convinced them he shared their values?

Espinal met with the executive committee of the Brooklyn Conservative Party twice, and told them that he is anti-abortion. Furthermore, Kassar told me:

“We asked him about his position on same-sex marriage… He opposed same-sex marriage. This was before it passed, but he told us he would vote against it.”

According to Kassar, Espinal also “appreciates our concern about out-of-control spending."

That's not the tone he took with the Working Families Party, according to documents obtained by The Empire. Responding to two specific questions--which the Working Families Party confirmed were the responses received from the Espinal campaign--the candidate answered in the affirmative to both his willingness to defend abortion rights, as well as what appears to be hist support for same-sex marriage, stating:

Historically, minorities, people of color and women have not enjoyed the full protection of the law. Through heroic struggles for justice, full civil rights and equality before the law have gradually been extended to millions of people were once denied equal rights. The right to marry the person of one’s choice is a basic freedom. The extension of civil rights to gays and lesbians is in this honorable tradition. Marriage is one of society’s most important social institutions and is also a key economic benefit gays and lesbians shouldn’t be excluded from.

[NOTE: The questions and answers are in full below.]

It's official: US Senator Charles Schumer has endorsed Assemblyman David Weprin's campaign for congress, giving Weprin another strong pro-Israeli name to add to his list of supporters. From the release:

“It is vital we preserve Medicare and Social Security, and the only candidate for Congress who will do that is David Weprin,” said Senator Schumer. “David Weprin is someone we can count on to stand up for middle class Brooklyn and Queens families. He will fight against the reckless, extreme right-wing Republican policies that seek to reduce the deficit on the backs of working families and seniors, while protecting tax subsidies for Big Oil companies. As we work to close tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas, preserve and protect Medicare, and reform our government so it works more efficiently and effectively for everyone, we need a leader like David fighting for us.”

Schumer is the latest in a string of endorsements for Weprin that also includes Congressman Joe Crowley, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, New York City Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, and a host of other prominent elected officials.

“I am humbled to receive the support of Senator Schumer in my candidacy to represent the people of the Ninth Congressional District in Congress,” Weprin said. “Senator Schumer is one of our nation’s most trusted and successful advocates for working class families. I look forward to working with Senator Schumer to put New Yorkers back to work, protect Social Security and Medicare for middle class families and put our economy back on track.”

Turner with supporters upstate. (Courtesy of the Turner campaign.)

Bob Turner took a road trip last weekend to court members of the Orthodox Jewish community vacationing and visiting family in upstate New York, the Turner campaign said.

On Sunday, Turner fortuitously escaped the soaking here in the city as he traveled to Woodrige in Sullivan County to speak to potential supporters vacationing in the Catskills Mountains. Turner was accompanied by a campaign consultant, Jonathan Schenker, who is helping Turner navigate the Orthodox community.

"Much of the district, they go upstate in the summer, in the Orthodox community," Schenker said. "The men are up there for the weekend and the wives and the children up there for the week."

According to Schenker, Turner attended a house party with about ten supporters before hitting up the commercial strip in downtown Woodridge, where he was said to be well received at the local pizza shop. "They actually cheered," Schenker said. "It was a great feeling for me actually."

The three-hour tour (after a three hour drive up, followed by a three-plus hour drive back) in Sullivan ended with a visit to a local Orthodox camp connected to a Jewish center near the 9th Congressional District. Schenker said many of the in-district families send their children up during the summer. Turner visited with campers, their parents, and vacation homeowners up for the weekend.

"We gave up some things we could have done downstate because he felt it was important to be upstate," Schenker said. "It's a very big deal. He went to Sullivan County as a sign of commitment to the community."

(Courtsey of the Governor's office)

New York's still feeling good about Governor Cuomo continue, according to a new Siena Research poll, even as close to half of those polled feel the state's headed in the wrong direction.

Cuomo's favorability rating was at 69 percent, down slightly from 71 percent last month. His job performance remained unchanged from 58 percent approval in July.

"Sixty percent of Democrats, as well as 54 percent of Republicans and independents think Cuomo is doing an excellent or good job as Governor, as do a majority of voters from every region of the state," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. "Rich or poor, male or female, black or white, young or old, union member or not, it just doesn’t matter, New Yorkers view Cuomo favorably."

The same can't be said for the state as a whole, even as the pessimism of last year has ebbed. “When asked about the direction of the state, voters are nearly evenly divided with 44 percent saying the state is on the right track and 47 percent saying it’s headed in the wrong direction,” Greenberg said in the statement. “Last month was slightly more positive, however, a year ago two-thirds of voters said the state was headed in the wrong direction.”

This poll was conducted August by telephone calls to 1,008 New York State registered voter between August 9th and 14th. Overall, the poll has margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

  (Courtesy of the Governor's office)

Late last night, after a long day of counting, the membership of CSEA--the state's largest public employees union--ratified the contract, 60 percent to 40 percent, agreed to by its leadership and Governor Cuomo. The agreement is a big win for Cuomo, as it keeps state budget cost-cutting measures intact, while keeping the good will between the state and the union intact and avoiding layoffs. It was also a win for CSEA leadership, as the vote was essentially a vote of confidence on the part of the membership.

"This is a big, big win--a win for the union and a win for the people of the state," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "The union avoided layoffs and the state is financially stronger. I’m pleased that our approach of labor and management working together is vindicated. Mutual respect and honest negotiations work."

"These are not ordinary times and CSEA worked hard to reach an agreement that we believed would be in everyone’s best interest," CSEA President Danny Donohue was also quoted as saying. "CSEA members agree that this contract is reasonable and responsible for the long term and shows that CSEA members will do what is right for the good of all New Yorkers. The Governor’s leadership is helping move this state in the right direction."

The agreement means union members won't receive a pay raise until 2014, as well as series of health care reforms that the state says will save more than $1.2 billion over the course of the agreement.

(Courtesy of the Governor's office)

The governor officially signed into law the ethics reforms hammered out the latest legislative session. While some critics were concerned the legislation does little to actually penalize ethics breaches, the governor's office said in a statement that the law provided "unprecedented transparency, strict disclosure requirements, and a strong independent monitor with broad oversight of New York State government."

"Today's signing is a major step forward in restoring the people's trust in government and changing the way Albany does business," Governor Cuomo was quoted saying in the statement. "This new ethics reform law brings an aggressive new approach to returning integrity to the halls of our Capitol."

When landmen sit down with property owners over an oil and gas lease, there can be a lot of money at stake. Some of these prospectors are more honest than others. WRVO's Emma Jacobs reports on kitchen table negotiations underway for natural gas drilling access in the region.

Ruth Tonachel says landmen were coming to her door several times a week at the height of northeast Pennsylvania's land rush. (Emma Jacobs / WRVO)

The front line of the controversial expansion of natural gas drilling isn't a meadow in Pennsylvania or New York. It's the kitchen table.

That's where landowners meet with landmen - the fleet of salesmen that gas companies use to convince landowners to sign drilling leases.

Meeting the landmen

Landmen began approaching Ruth Tonachel during the leasing rush that swept through northern Pennsylvania in 2007.

“When they first showed up in 2007,” she says, “there were people knocking on the door a couple times a week, calling constantly, stuff in the mail, phone messages, from all different companies. I mean it was hard to even sort out.”

Tonachel’s property has been in the family since 1790 so she was cautious about the idea of a drilling lease.

She speaks fondly of some of the many landmen she met with. Others did things she didn’t like, like the one she met with at a restaurant.

“He talked awhile about his background and how long he’d been in business and where he was from," she says. "Just chit chat friendly talk … I said 'well I can’t sign anything in a hurry', but he pulled out a whole set of leases all with our names on them.”

Landmen are often compared to fast-talking used car salesman. Tonachel's visitors repeatedly urged her to sign right then and there, claiming theirs was the best deal she'd ever get. When she didn’t sign, they’d come back with a different, better deal. Signing bonuses went from hundreds to thousands of dollars per acre.

But the landmen were putting more than just money on the table - some of them were serving up half-truths, misrepresentations, or outright lies.

Governor Andrew Cuomo today appears to be picking up where Mayor Bloomberg left off when it comes to banning smoking forever, everywhere, all the time.

The governor's office just sent out a notice that smoking is now banned on all outdoor MTA platforms--including the LIRR. This was already the case for MTA platforms in the city, of course.

"It is important that commuters are not unwillingly subject to the dangers of second-hand smoke while waiting on train platforms," the governor is quoted saying in a statement. "Exposure to second-hand smoke can lead to serious health problems for non-smokers and this law will make outdoor MTA train platforms, ticketing and boarding areas a cleaner, healthier place for all commuters."

The law is set to take affect in 90 days. State Senator Charles Fuschillo, a co-sponsor of the bill, called it "an important health initiative." Fuschillo also supported the anti-texting-while-driving bill the governor recently passed. The bill is set to take affect in 90 days.

The two candidates for the 9th Congressional District are releasing a flurry of campaign releases. Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin's campaign is out with a small business and job creation crib sheet. It's short on details--"Weprin will work to simplify the tax code, closing loopholes and lowering overall rates."--but points to the campaigns continued desire to make the race about the economy and federal entitlement protection. [See the campaign's one-sheeter after the jump.]

"Small businesses create the majority of Americas new jobs, employ about half of the nations private sector work force, and provide half of the nations nonfarm, private real gross domestic product (GDP), as well as a significant share of innovations. But small businesses have struggled to weather the economic downturn. Weprin believes that helping small businesses grow is essential to any comprehensive plan to improve the nations economy," the campaign said in its statement.

Bob Turner's campaign, fresh off the announcement this morning that former mayor Rudy Giuliani has endorsed the campaign, is continuing to hammer Weprin over comments he made in support of Park51--the "Ground Zero mosque"--building an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site. The furor that the issue created seemed to have dissipated, but the Turner campaign--wisely--is trying to reignite in-district conservative indignation over the site of what one day may be an Islamic-based community center.

"If David Weprin can't recognize the placement of this mosque as an insult, then he needs to snap out of it," Turner campaign spokesman Bill O'Reilly said in a statement. "A majority of New Yorkers made it perfectly clear that building a mosque that close to Ground Zero so soon after 9/11 was disrespectful and hurtful, yet the developer and his questionable backers refused to budge. It begs the question 'Why?'"

The members of the state's largest union, the Civil Service Employees Association, have cast their ballots on the contract negotiated between the union's leadership and Governor Cuomo. If passed, the contract will be a big piece of the plug the governor's office is counting on for this year's $10 billion budget gap.

The contracts would freeze wage increases for the next three years, as well as mandatory unpaid time off and an increase in health care contributions. The results of the union's vote are expected later today.

  (Courtesy of the Turner campaign)

The Turner campaign announced the endorsement of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani this morning. This is now Turner's second former mayoral endorsement, the first coming from Democrat Ed Koch last month.

"Congress is in dire need of business leaders like Bob Turner, not another career politician," Mayor Giuliani was quoted as saying in a statement. "This country needs to start creating jobs again and Bob Turner has the national and international business know-how to help move us in that direction."

The endorsement of Giuliani--who still hasn't ruled out another potential presidential run--continues the momentum build Turner's campaign has had throughout the campaign. Turner's campaign release of an ad reviving the Ground Zero mosque controversy, while criticized in some circles, helped Turner control the tone and message of the campaign, putting his opponent, Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin, on the defensive.

NY-9 Candidate Bob Turner

Yesterday Salon's Justin Elliot analyzed the Turner campaign's decision to rehash the Ground Zero mosque controversy in the ad that's about to hit cable stations in Brooklyn and Queens. Elsewhere the decision has draw criticism, not just for being "embarrassing" but as a bad political move, as made evident by Carl Paladino's abysmal showing in the last gubernatorial race.

Elliot makes the argument that the decision to go with the ad is another pitch to the Jewish community in the district, and points to the Siena poll about Jewish support in this race compared to Obama's overall Jewish support in 2008. I read the Siena poll results differently and would point out that the Jewish population in the 9th is considerably more conservative than what you find in retirement communities in Florida or in suburban Boston. You have a large number of newly immigrated Russian-speaking Bukharian Jews who are, as one observer put it, still fighting the Cold War. They are added to an already conservative Orthodox community that leans Republican. Obama supporters they are not.

So while having 56 percent of likely Jewish voters supporting Weprin might not seem so hot, it's actually a pretty good showing. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if that number is higher in the next poll.

That being said, I don't think the Turner ad will move many Jewish voters. But what it could do--and this is far more likely to be why it's being aired--is whip up the Tea Party-esque sentiments in the southern part of the district. Special elections are much more like primaries than general elections. Taking a page from the Paladino campaign--who rode Tea Party enthusiasm to win the nomination--makes sense.

The Turner camp is hoping to fire-up folks in Brooklyn's Mill Basin and the Rockaway peninsula--the type of voters who helped propel Republican City Councilman Eric Ulrich to victory during the 2009 special election. In a game that's all about energizing your base, Turner's inflammatory ad is a smart move. He has continued to build up considerable momentum, from the Koch endorsement on, and is within surprising striking distance of his opponent. The campaign--and its ads--might not be pretty, but it's working.

The Uniformed Fireofficer's Association is not pleased with Bob Turner's 9/11-Ground Zero mosque-Obama-Weprin ad released yesterday, saying:

Robert Turners commercial is very insensitive. We object to anyone exploiting the pain of thousands of families who lost loved ones on 9/11 to score political points.

Expect more Weprin supporters to get lined up denouncing the ad which, if you missed it, is reposted below.

Send A Message from Bob Turner for Congress on Vimeo.