As I travel across the state and listen to New Yorkers, there is no question how worried people are about the economy -- if the job they have today will be here tomorrow, if the job they lost is ever coming back, and how they are going to make ends meet and provide for their families. I share these concerns and I'm working each and every day to put New Yorkers back to work, support small businesses and grow our economy for the long term.
But what I also hear from people time and again is that they have very little faith that Congress is working to solve their problems. Frankly, when they look to Washington they see a lot of people who are more concerned about scoring cheap political points than improving their lives and solving their problems.
The fact is, New Yorkers feel they're not being heard, that too much business is happening behind closed doors and too often the system only benefits the special interests that have way too much power. That's why I am traveling the state during August recess to promote my transparency agenda and let New Yorkers know that making Washington work for you is one of my top priorities.
1. Make Federal Funding Requests Fully Transparent
2. Reduce Corporate Special Interest Influence on Elections
3. End Automatic Congressional Pay Raises
4. Ban Anonymous Holds on Legislation
I'm pleased to report that in late July, the first item on my agenda took a step forward when the Earmark Transparency Act -- which I wrote with Republicans Tom Coburn and John McCain, and Democrat Russ Feingold to create an easily searchable earmark database -- passed out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
"Hey, did you know that in the race for attorney general there's only one Democrat who's actually served as assistant AG? Only Eric Dinallo."
"Dinallo's prosecuted corruption and violence, so we know he's not going to back down to Albany, or the NRA. And as Spitzer's deputy, it was Dinallo who led the fight to hold Wall Street accountable - before it was cool."
"And only Dinallo took on big insurance and got health care for 400,000 New Yorkers. That's why the Daily News is endorsing Dinallo as the only one with the right experience for the job. For AG, go with Dinallo."
"Pedro's going to win. I'm going to win. And we're going to come back stronger, faster and better," said Diaz, who remains the only elected official to have endorsed Espada.
This is footage of Pedro's victory party in 2008:
If the two jokers in the 32nd and 33rd districts get re-elected, it will send a message to every member of the legislature that they can get away with anything. Imagine the legislature starts its first session in 2011 and the rest of Albany looks around and sees Pedro and Ruben with another 2-year term under their belts. What would the rest of them think? They would think the reform movement is a paper tiger and that the voters just don't care enough to hold any of them accountable. Is that really how we want to the future of Albany to play out?
Ruben Diaz and Sheldon Silver-supported Richard Brodsky came out yesterday as the only AG candidate to oppose the Park51 project, and threw in some old-fashioned Muslim-hating for good measure:
The mosque being built in that area is offensive to me
Well, as least I know who I don't want to be the next Attorney General.
Don't look now folks, but Charlie Ramos just scored a major endorsement in his progressive, reform-oriented campaign against Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. Today El Diario, the spanish-speaking paper of record in New York, endorsed Charlie in his bid for the State Senate. The endorsement focused more on Charlie's community involvement and record of civic engagement while noting that Diaz Sr. simply hasn't represented his constituents in the Bronx.
While the incumbent Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. has received attention for opposing marriage equality legislation, Ramos says that his votes against community interests and silence on notorious landlords are among the other issues that compelled him to run.
Diaz's narrow mindedness and grandstanding are inadequate for a district that deserves much more. The solid, consistent work of activists like Ramos would build up ample leaders and organizers poised to move a community forward.
Charlie's campaign isn't about only marriage equality (although civil rights for all is a critically important aspect of his platform and beliefs). This is a race about who can better serve the citizens of the 32nd Senate district. While Diaz Sr. has been fighting against all things marriage equality, his constituents have been struggling on issues such as job creation, affordable housing, and quality education. Charlie gets that, because he gets his fellow neighbors. Diaz Sr. is simply out of touch.
Disclosure: I am a proud volunteer for Charlie Ramos's campaign for State Senate.
NY-20 Rep. Scott Murphy represents the most Republican-by-registration district in New York, and like his NY-20 predecessor now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined the Blue Dog Coalition.
Though Murphy has supported all the major Obama/Democratic initiatives (stimulus bills, HCR, financial regulation, cap-and-trade, etc.), he is more sensitive to the concerns of small business owners and more concerned about trillion-dollar deficits than Democratic Members of Congress from, say, New York City.
So, he sounded out a senior House Republican about "getting our budget house in order" with a possible coalition of Republicans and moderate Democrats.
And was essentially told screw you, we're going to defeat people like you, take over the House, and deal with the budget our way next year.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz endorsed Gustavo Rivera for State Senate today, the latest endorsements for Rivera's surging campaign against scandal-ridden incumbent Senator Pedro Espada.
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. said: "It is time for change in Albany, and Gustavo Rivera will bring that change to the 33rd District. Gustavo Rivera is committed to reform, in both the Bronx and in Albany, and will fight for the people of his district, the Bronx and the entire State. Not only is Mr. Rivera a smart candidate with real ideas for improving the lives of his future constituents in areas such as housing, healthcare and quality of life issues, he is a true Democrat who--unlike the unfortunate incumbent Pedro Espada--will not abandon the shared principles of both his party and the voters who sent him to Albany. In Gustavo Rivera we have a bright, intelligent young man who shares my vision for a better Bronx for all 1.4 million of its residents, and together we will continue to work to make our neighborhoods great. I urge all voters in the 33rd District to join me in supporting Gustavo Rivera for State Senate."
Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said: "I endorse Gustavo Rivera. He will help bring much-needed reform to Albany, particularly the State Senate. As Assemblyman for the northwest Bronx, I know the urgent need for change in the 33rd senate district. Sadly, Pedro Espada is the poster child for what's wrong with Albany. Whether it's his role in the Republican coup, his consistent flouting of campaign finance laws, or his use of his position to block passage of desperately-needed pro-tenant legislation, it's clear that we must make a change. I would go so far as to say that it's a moral imperative that Senator Espada be defeated. Fortunately, the voters have an excellent alternative: Gustavo Rivera. He will be a true Democrat, committed to Democratic ideals. His skills as an educator, as a labor organizer for the Obama campaign, and his work for key elected officials give him the wealth of knowledge and experience that we need. I look forward to his being my partner in Albany, and I proudly and strongly endorse his candidacy."
"Ruben Diaz Jr. and Jeffrey Dinowitz have served the Bronx with distinction, fighting for living wage jobs, good schools, affordable housing and much more," said Gustavo Rivera. "I am honored to have the support of distinguished leaders like these for my campaign."
Notably absent from from the list of Rivera supporters is corrupt Bronx Boss Carl Heastie, but hopefully after Pedro loses, he will also lose his job. Regardless, Diaz Jr. and Dinowitz have enormous influence in the Bronx organization and hopefully they can put the boots on the ground that will back up this endorsement with real effect. I also want to note that when Dinowitz decided not to remove Pedro from the party, I was initially disappointed. But now that he moved past that decision, he no longer has to put on the appearance of impartiality and can become an effective Rivera partisan. If he rallies the troops and helps produce a Rivera victory, history will show that Dinowitz made a very wise decision.
The final thing to note here is that all the anti-Pedro eggs are in the Rivera basket. I hope Daniel Padernacht can see the writing on the wall and endorse Rivera for the good of our state and for the values I hope he believes in.
It appears voters have finally made the connection between the dysfunction in Albany and their own legislator that they keep sending there year after year:
Worst Score Ever for State Legislature
New York State voters disapprove 75 - 15 percent of the job the State Legislature is doing, matching the 76 - 16 percent disapproval from a June 23 Quinnipiac University poll for the worst overall net score ever. Voters say 55 - 31 percent that their local state senator should be voted out of office as part of an overall house-cleaning in Albany, the highest anti-incumbent score ever.
Poll after the jump
Their State Assembly member should go, too, voters say 53 - 33 percent, the highest anti- incumbent score for Assembly members as well.
"State legislators ought to be nervous. More than half of voters say that, to clean house in Albany, they'd even vote against their own senator or Assembly member. That sort of mass movement never has happened - but the Legislature overall gets terrible marks, and New Yorkers, overall, are unhappy with the state of the state," [director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute Maurice] Carroll said.
Luckily this year we have several quality challengers in both primaries general election matchups that can tap into this voter discontent. Additionally, we have a governor's race that will increase turnout and make the electorate less susceptible to special interests and party machinery. This year could very well be the perfect storm that sweeps the worst of the worst, Pedro and the Rev, out in the primary and several members of the GOP dead weight caucus in November. But we in the reform community will still have to do everything right, so I urge every reader here to get involved in a race that matters to you- even if it's only a few hours a week knocking on doors, in makes a huge difference.
Charlie Ramos is having a small-dollar fundraiser tonight. With less than 2 weeks until the primary, he can use all the help he can get in order to defeat one of the worst, most disgusting bigots in office in the entire country. You can RSVP here:
Come out and support Charlie Ramos in his efforts to defeat Ruben Diaz Sr. Diaz is the number one obstructionist for Equality in NY. Charlie can beat him, but he needs our help!
Besides being the strongest opponent of Marriage Equality in New York, Diaz claims that same-sex marriage will bring the end of the world.
In 2003, Diaz filed a lawsuit to stop the expansion of the Harvey Milk School, claiming th...at the school infringed upon the rights of heterosexual students.
Also, Diaz oppose the "Gay games" from coming to NY, claiming that doing so would lead to an increase in AIDS and a wider acceptance of homosexuality by young people.
DIAZ HAS TO GO!!!! Come show your support and give what you can. Do it for your Equality if nothing else :)
If you are unable to make the event, but still want to contribute to Equality, please visit Charlie's contribution page: https://secure.actblue.com/con...
Media Coverage of Dark Horse Challenge Intensifies
Breslin Accepts Challenge To Debate Martland
In the race between 14-year incumbent Assitant Majority Leader Neil Breslin and his primary challenger Luke Martland news has been constant and consistent in the past week. So much so that infrequent as-it-happens or after-the-fact updates are implausible.
So begins the SD-46 State of the Race 2010 series, much in the same manner I ran the series for the 2008 Democratic Primary for Congress in NY-21 two years ago. While this one isn't quite that big, and no political story around this area is this year, Albany County's primary for State Senator has taken center stage along other major local races.
This entry will wrap up the last seven days activity on the campaign trail, and there was quite a bit of movement on both ends. To start, I no longer have to link to Sen. Breslin's official State Senate page; his name in blue now takes you to the campaign website that finally appeared this past week. The biggest news for me is that now both candidates finally have my interview questions, and their answers will be forthcoming.
But the biggest news for the voters is the big debate about to happen between the two candidates. Shortly after Martland challenged Breslin to return insurance-industry related donations, Martland then took his moment in the spotlight to challenge Breslin to a debate too.
It's happening tomorrow. So that's the setup for what's happened up until now, and a little bit of what to expect to come.
For what transpired in between, click below the fold for the state of the race...
The controversy surrounding a proposed mosque near Ground Zero leaves New York State voters with conflicting opinions about religious freedom and the sensitivities of the families of 9/11 victims, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
By a 54 - 40 percent majority, voters agree "that because of American freedom of religion, Muslims have the right to build the mosque near Ground Zero," the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds. Another 7 percent are undecided.
The rest of the poll's findings are pretty predictable, especially after a month and more of the most ridiculous scaremongering. Basically the same spread quoted above (53% -39%) believe that the organizers should not be allowed to build at the site at all, 1st Amendment or not. And better than 7 in 10 New Yorkers believe that they should build the project somewhere else.
But this is the part that I find most troubling:
New York State voters say 71 - 22 percent that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo should investigate the financing of the mosque. Even Democrats say 65 - 25 percent that Cuomo should look into the mosque's financing.
Is that really a game we want to play, New York? Do we really want to start a precedent of the state investigating the funding of houses of worship?
Until a fire knocked out the LIRR track switching control system - a contraption of pulleys and levers installed sometime around 1920 - who would have guessed that one of Greater New York's primary transportation systems relied on technology installed at the time Al Capone was selling bootleg liquor?
LIRR President Helena Williams made upgrading the switches a priority when she took over in 2007. But where was the rest of LIRR management - and the elected officials responsible for overseeing this chronically mismanaged outfit?
Senator Dean Skelos can't evade responsibility for the management - or mismanagement - of the railroad. He controlled MTA capital spending from 1998 to 2008, and everyone knew he was the LIRR's principal go-to guy in Albany, collecting more than $62,000 in campaign contributions from unions, contractors and others doing business with the railroad.
But we never heard him sounding the alarm about the perilous state of the railroad's equipment. Maybe he didn't know - after all, he claims he didn't know anything about the rampant disability pension fraud at the LIRR, uncovered by a reporter's Freedom of Information request. You wouldn't expect the state's most connected and powerful senator (at the time) to know anything about the agency he oversees.
Sen. Skelos, the man who had veto power over MTA capital spending, should have spoken up loudly to upgrade the basic equipment we rely on to get to work and get home. And when the MTA pushed expensive mega-projects, like a new tunnel 10 stories under Manhattan, Sen. Skelos should have pushed back and said 'first things first'.
Why didn't he? Megaprojects cost mega-money, and those in line for the money hire Albany lobbyists to push their interests. New track switches aren't nearly as lucrative for the well-represented construction industry, or as sexy. But they will do a lot more to make sure we get where we're going on time, and cost a lot less overtime the next time the old pulleys and levers and baling wire system breaks down. Yet one more area, beyond our oppressive taxes, where Dean Skelos has failed us.
With more than a quarter century in Albany, his record is clear: Dean Skelos is guided solely by what is politically advantageous for Dean Skelos.
I'm George Sava, candidate for NY State Senate, Senate District 9, fighting to reduce property taxes, rebuild the economy and reform Albany.
On Sunday, September 12th, the Genesee County Democratic Committee is having a fundraising dinner featuring a unique theme: all local food from within 100 miles. The idea is an offshoot of a project begun in New York City with the idea of promoting meals made entirely with local ingredients, creating food that's fresher and that sustains local farming.
For our purposes, that includes a locally grown pig for roasting, Livingston County wine, side dishes, and desert being pumpkin and apple pies produced using fruit from Wyoming and Orleans counties. On top of that, the Genesee County Dems are proud to host as the guest of honor New York's next Lieutenant Governor, Mayor Bob Duffy.
The dinner runs from 4 to 8 PM on the 12th at Woody Acres on Neid Road in Le Roy. $25 per person, $45 for a couple, or $120 for a picnic table of six. Tickets can be reserved by contacting Lorie Longhany at (585) 409-5373, or geneseedems@gmail.com.
Nan Hayworth's campaign manager, John Hicks, along with other campaign notaries, admitted to misconduct on the witness stand Wednesday in regards to the handling of Independence Party petitions. Hayworth, a retired Mt. Kisco physician, is one of two potential Republican opponents to Democratic Congressman John Hall (NY-19) in November.
Two days into a court review of the petitions, Hicks admitted that allegations brought forth by Congressman's John Hall campaign were true, and that he didn't uphold the law "in the traditional sense" when gathering signatures for the Independence Party line.
