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POLITICS
Former DA Morgenthau Issues Statement Supporting Cyrus Vance (NYT)
There’s been speculation of a rift between the former and current Manhattan District Attorneys and now the former has issued a statement unequivocally supporting the current D.A. Cyrus Vance, who has lately come under fire for his handling of several high-profile cases, including the ongoing investigation surrounding Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Sources told the New York Times that Robert Morgenthau had been unhappy with the way Vance was running the office. But in his statement, he writes, “The most important attribute I looked for in hiring junior prosecutors was a strong ethical sense. The recent actions from the district attorney’s office show me that these attributes are alive and well at One Hogan Place.”

POLITICS
NJ Budget Battle Continues (The Star-Ledger)
Although a budget slashing funds to New Jersey cities was signed last Thursday, Gov. Christie’s office said Thursday, it would be willing to restore up to $139 million to some of the state’s poorest cities. NJ Democrats are trying to get their Republican colleagues to join them in a fight to override Christie’s vetoes of some state programs. Meanwhile, PolitiFact said one New Jersey pol’s assertion that the governor cut funding to help AIDS patients was “Mostly True”: “While Christie did cut or proposed to cut state funding for AIDS services, in two cases other funding sources will allow the same number of individuals receiving those services to be served.”

JUSTICE
“Erratic” Priest Highlights Issue of Legal Representation for Immigrants (NYT)
Immigrants trying to negotiate the byzantine immigration courts have long had to depend on volunteers to help, since they don’t need to have a lawyer. These volunteers don’t need to be lawyers -- just have some knowledge of the law -- and that’s where the Rev. Robert Vitaglione came in. The priest handled thousands of cases. At least he did until his “erratic” behavior cause officials to take his cases away from him. That only caused more problems, because they then had to scramble and find help for his clients. Experts say the courts should really just provide free legal representation to immigrants.

EDUCATION
No Do-Over of Flawed Regents Until June  (NYDN)
Despite finding that errors in an Algebra II/Trigonometry section of the Regents that were substantial enough to cause a failing grade, the city is saving money by not reissuing the exam until next June. Teachers identified three test questions with mistakes, though the Board of Education is disputing one of them. Parents say the delay is unacceptable because students will forget what they learned by then.

TRANSPORTATION
Panel Approves Traffic-Calming Plan for Atlantic Ave. (The Brooklyn Paper)
Residents have long complained that Atlantic Ave. near the entrance of Brooklyn Bridge Park is unsafe, but many contend the a plan to calm approved by a transportation committee isn’t enough.

REAL ESTATE
Manhattan Rents Spike Over Ten Percent   (WSJ)
A new report by residential brokerage firm Citi Habitats shows Manhattan rents on the rise, increasing 10.1% during the second quarter -- the biggest average increase in rent since the end of 2006. On average, one-bedroom apartments are renting for $2,672; two-bedrooms for $3,757; and three bedrooms up to  whopping $4,985. Highest overall rents were in SoHo/TriBeCa.

REAL ESTATE
Queens Democratic Party Boss Lives in... Virginia?  (NY Post)
The King of Queens, Rep. Joe Crowley, lives and sends his kids to school in the Arlington VA suburb of Washington DC, despite being a powerful Party boss in Queens. Crowley retains a house in Woodside Queens, but his neighbors there say they don’t know who he is.The law requires only that members of Congress inhabit their home state during elections, but Crowley’s position as Party boss gives him wide power over Queens politics and calls into question his residency decision.

REAL ESTATE
Councilmembers Pass the Pork to Their Kids’ Schools (NYDN)
Several councilmembers have directed discretionary spending to schools that their children attend or where family members work. The $49.6 million yearly pork funding recipients were disclosed as part of the budget release. Councilmembers Lander, Nelson, Recchia, and Rodriguez were among those who directed funds to institutions with family ties.