Spin Cycle

Thanks to the 4 p.m. start time, the 2 1/2-hour public hearing on helicopter noise and the typical penchant for long discussions, virtually every item Suffolk legislators voted on at Tuesday's meeting came after our deadline to make the print edition. So we present a few highlights from the session, which was held in Riverhead at the Suffolk County Community College Culinary Arts & Hospitality Center and concluded a few minutes after midnight.

-- The 25 percent fare hike for Davis Park ferries passed unanimously.

-- Lawmakers agreed, on a 12-6 vote, to suspend a rule that prohibits borrowing for items that will either last fewer than five years or cost less than $25,000. The rule has now been abandoned every year since 2002.

-- The proposal to add the Empire State Bank, which counts ex-Presiding Officer Paul Tonna as one of its directors, to the county's list of depositories passed with 13 votes in favor, three abstentions, one no vote and one recusal.

-- Legislators adopted a rule change that will allow the presiding officer to vote on committees without his presence counting in instances when a sitting member of the committee is absent.

-- New bills introduced included a proposal from Legis. Wayne Horsley (D-Lindenhurst) to reserve 5 percent of premium parking places at county buildings for hybrid vehicles.

Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) introduced a bill that would cap the amount of holdover time for appointed positions at 180 days -- a proposal that appears to be aimed specifically at Janet DeMarzo, the embattled social services commissioner whose reappointment County Executive Steve Levy withdrew last week.

And Legis. Brian Beedenbender (D-Centereach) offered a bill that would prohibit legislators from passing on a bill during roll call and then voting after hearing their colleagues' decision. Just a few minutes after we'd discussed this item with Beedenbender, Legis. Ricardo Montano (D-Central Islip) passed on a motion to extend the meeting past midnight, then voted to approve after he realized the matter had enough votes to pass.

Now Mother Jones reports on how McCain said he'd look for wise advice to Rep. John Lewis, left,the Georgia Democrat who's been a leading figure in the civil-rights movement. Fair enough: the Arizona senator likes to cross the partisan divide. Just one glitch: By Lewis' account, the two have no relationship. The Congressman says: , "Sen. McCain and I are colleagues in the US Congress, not confidantes. He does not consult me. And I do not consult him." Lewis last drew national attention when he crossed over from endorsing Hillary Clinton to backing Barack Obama during the primaries.

Are we dealing here with something from a cringe-inducing Larry David script?

If Evan Bayh becomes the Democrats' VP nominee, you might at best start hearing about how he's a son-of-a-Birch (sorry). But selection of that other "Joe," Biden, would instantly prompt the word "plagiarism" for his clean lift of British Labor Party Leader Neil Kinnock's speech and that, in turn, would kick off a recycling of the stories about Obama having snagged portions of speeches used by Massachussetts Gov. Deval Patrick, as described here.

Update: Some are reviving speculation that John McCain lifted a story from Solzhenitsyn.

Many are the riveting questions if Sen. John McCain picks Sen. Joe Lieberman as his running-mate (speculation stirred here). Does it make McCain the Sen. Al Gore of 2008? Does McCain therefore lose, grow a beard, gain weight, and start a foundation? Does Lieberman stand up at this convention, as he did at the other one, but this time give a whole new meaning to his tag line, "Only in America"? Does Lieberman continue to embrace the controversial Rev. Hagee -- as he did just a few weeks ago, and compare him to Moses -- now that McCain has renounced Hagee over the pastor's dicey comments?

Some of Hagee's printed quotes: "The Roman Catholic Church, which was supposed to carry the light of the gospel, plunged the world into the dark ages.

"[John Paul II] will be remembered for staring down Communism and embracing people of all faiths and colors. He will lovingly be remembered for his bold stand against abortion. (Lieberman is avowedly "pro-choice").

"When Hitler signed a treaty with the Vatican in Rome, he said "I am only continuing the work of the Catholic Church."

State Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) was dropped from the Working Families Party ballot line in the 7th S.D. when Justice Karen Murphy voided a chunk of his petition signatures. But for now, with the tax cap front and center in the Albany budget scramble, he need not reconcile his vote in favor (along with Long Island's 8 other senators) with the WFP’s fierce opposition to it. (Just for the record: Murphy, a Republican, was a $250 contributor to Sen. Dean Skelos’ campaign fund in 2005). Johnson was, however, on hand last week in Suffolk when rival Jimmy Dahroug dropped out and endorsed Brian Foley in the 3rd S.D., where Foley, pictured here in foreground, who has the WFP endorsement, said he agrees with the party platforms on most issues but backs the cap and other measures.

Shockingly, the major drug companies don’t seem to have gotten word that Barack Obama is a disguised left-of-Lenin agitator with a radical program bent on nationalizing their holdings -- rather than what the evidence would tell you: that he’s someone with whom many of those Washington oligarchs and their financiers might in the final analysis feel quite safe. After all, there must be some reason these companies are pouring three times as much into the campaign coffers of the Illinois senator, as told here by Justin Blum of Bloomberg News, than they are to Sen. John McCain.

Oh, right - maybe it's the fact that McCain teamed up with Sen. Charles Schumer in 2000 looking to make it easier to bring low-cost generic drugs to the market. That brought opposition from makers of brand-name pharmaceuticals. The news agency quotes a Princeton economist as saying “the betting would be that if McCain were in the White House the drug industry would not have the receptive ear” that they have had from George W. Bush.

How's this for some reverse spin: "McCain: Change from Bush we can believe in?"

(Photo from U.S. Department of Justice Web site, warning of oxycodone diversion)

Nassau lawmakers have put off until their Sept. 3rd meeting a vote on whether to increase fees for filing mortgage records and other paperwork with the county clerk’s office. But Legis. Denise Ford, who was identified as a possible swing-vote supporter of that measure, broke with fellow Republicans Monday night on another matter -- a $150 million environmental bond issue proposed by Democrats. Legis. David Mejias, seen as a potential Democratic dissident against the fee hikes, did not vote on the bonding because he does not sit on the relevant committees.

Bill Murphy

Gov. David A. Paterson and legislative leaders are still negotiating over his request for $600 million in cuts to this year’s budget – and there is no deal yet, he told reporters Tuesday.

But Paterson remained upbeat and hinted that lawmakers may need to extend their special session beyond today. "I’m confident the legislators will come up with a sound decision…I’d like it to be done today. I’m available for the rest of the week and so are the legislators."

James T. Madore

Continue reading "Deal on spending cuts elusive; Paterson pushes" »

Allen Cappelli, a former consultant to New York City builders and longtime Democratic strategist, has been tapped by Gov. David Paterson for the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, subject to state Senate confirmation. He'd replace the late Frank Powers, the GOP Congressional candidate from Staten Island whose sudden death in June roiled the political scene.

Dan Janison

Obama could announce a veep candidate by tomorrow, with the names Bayh, Kaine and Biden kicking around.

McCain draws money at a fundraiser, but one of its promoters, Ralph Reed, with political ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, reportedly did not show...

In Afghanistan, 10 French soldiers were killed in an ambush.

The Suffolk Legislature's bid to appeal the court rejection of its immigration-status bill for occupational licenses faced a deadline.

Nassau legislature narrows health-benefits requirements for county employees.

The other day, at the Saddleback Church forum, McCain reasserted his anti-abortion credentials -- despite some Clinton-turned-McCain backers' hopes otherwise -- while Obama reasserted that he favors abortion rights. Some video:

The Democratic majority in the Nassau County Legislature is pushing to get a $150 million environmental bond on the November ballot. After all, the Democrats say, the people’s voice should be heard on such an important item.

The proposal was voted out of several committees late Monday, but faces a tight deadline. It must go through the approval process and be filed with the county clerk by Sept. 5th to get on the Nov. 4th ballot.

Members of the legislature’s Republican minority all but sneered at Democratic protestation of the needs for a public hearing as the legislature adjourned shortly before 9 p.m. without setting a date for that public hearing, which will have to be sometime next week.

Legis. Edward Mangano (R-Bethpage), in photo at right, said that next week is the traditional week that parents — and some legislators are parents — take their kids away to college.

“A wise person would involve the other side of the aisle,” Mangano said.

Bill Murphy

Three Long Islanders are among the 24 legislative candidates who failed to file the required financial disclosure forms with the Legislative Ethics Commission, the commission said. They are:

John Zaher, of the Independence Party, who is challenging incumbent Assemb. Patricia Eddington (D-Medford) (who was ruled off the ballot for inadequate petitions).

Off-track betting worker Jeffrey Stark, a Democrat, who is challenging incumbent Assemb. James Conte (R-Huntington Station)

Former Roosevelt fire commissioner Darren Bryant, a Republican, who is challenging incumbent Assemb. Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead).

The disclosure papers were due July 18.

James T. Madore

Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith's communications director Curtis L. Taylor issued this statement:

“We are facing a $6 billion deficit, and again the Senate Republicans have decided to focus on something other than the needs of the people of New York State. This time it's a tournament. We have real issues on the table that need to be dealt with. Further, we were on the day in question at a golf outing. Rain forced us indoors. And like any good host it was important to entertain all guests. That is simply what occurred. And nothing else.

In the Senate, I have consistently supported the strong regulation of lobbyists, including increasing requirements for disclosure. For some of these same lobbyists to serve as a source and accuse me is absurd.
Certainly, there are interests who in the past have been responsible for millions going into Senate Republican coffers, who would strongly prefer to keep the status quo rather than break apart the partnership of do-nothing special interest Albany politics.

Come November, I am confident that the voters will focus on what is truly important and change and reform will rule the day. With regard to the comment Senator Skelos made calling me a “thug”, I think that demeans his position and has questionable overtones. I call on him to apologize.”

Here are comments verbatim from Skelos' exchange with WABC-TV reporter Dave Evans:

SENATOR SKELOS: You know just reading what I read in the paper, I think it borders on criminality. You can not threaten people to give contributions.

Certainly that is not the "change" I think people are looking for.

That's thuggery, and I think that's totally inappropriate to make those sorts of statements. Quid pro quo is a crime, you go to jail.

Reporter: Borders on criminality, should there be an investigation?

SENATOR SKELOS: I think that's something for the District Attorney, but to say you're going to punish if you don't contribute. That this is an IPO give now and it will be less than if you give in the future? Those type of statements are very troubling to me and certainly for a party that's saying they're for reform and change, I mean that's going back to the old Tammany Hall days.

UPDATE: Asked about the published reports, Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton), Skelos' deputy, told an Albany television station: "That’s what thugs do, they threaten people."

The State Senate’s top party leaders have begun slugging it out in public.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) today criticized Democratic leader Malcolm Smith for allegedly threatening lobbyists at a fundraiser last week. Smith, according to published reports based on anonymous sources, told the lobbyists it would be more expensive for them to curry favor with Democrats once they gain control of the Senate and to contribute now.

Asked about the reports, Skelos told a television reporter in Manhattan that Smith’s alleged behavior "borders on criminality. You cannot threaten people to give contributions.

"That’s thuggery and I think that’s totally inappropriate…Quid pro quo is a crime, you go to jail."

Smith demanded an apology and hinted that he considered Skelos’ comments racist. "I think that demeans his position and has questionable overtones. I call on him to apologize," said Smith.

However, he didn’t deny his comments to the lobbyists.

This isn’t the first time a Republican leader has disparaged Smith. Then-Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno once described Smith as being so close to Spitzer as being part of his anatomy.

Smith didn’t call for an apology then and Bruno didn’t give one.

James T. Madore

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has made his political career -- as he is sure to tell you -- by knowing every piece of geography, first in his Legislative and Assembly districts and now in the county.

Which makes his letter of Aug. 4 to Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan so puzzling. Levy writes to ask Nolan to address a constituent's concern that garbage is piling up outside the Bavarian Inn at Lake Ronkonkoma.

The lake has borders with Islip, Brookhaven and Smithtown, but the Bavarian Inn is decidedly in Smithtown.

"Theres no doubt that Steve Levy knows exactly where the lines are for those towns," Nolan said today. "I'm sure this is a staffer's error and I'm sure Steve will correct it."

Levy, as of this writing, has not returned our phone calls on the matter.

Reid J. Epstein

Now, completely without the knowledge of non-presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, the term-limited mayor of New York, his name has amazingly emerged on the ballot on the Green line in Virginia, according to this report. And it's attached to that of libertarian Republican Ron Paul. Now Bloomberg can either be a "spoiler" in a key state or have absolutely no impact at all. The odds are with number two, of course, by why stop typing Mike's name into presidential copy?....

UPDATE: Carey Campbell, head of the "Indy Greens" in that state, can move to withdraw Bloomberg's name if the mayor requests it. This is the response from Stu Loeser, the mayor's spokesman: "He hasn't made any decisions and hasn't had a chance to speak with Mr. Campbell yet. But this is a call for post-partisanship that Mayor Bloomberg hopes the major parties will hear." Well, that oughta clear things up nicely.

Dan Janison

With polls tight, the Dems are counting on a Kumbaya windup to the contentious primary season a week from Thursday with Obama, his former rivals, and 76,000 adoring voters at Denver's Invesco Stadium. We'll be looking for that love this week. Not a lot of it out there at the moment, from what we can see.

On the Obama side, even a really nice guy like Jon Cooper, his Long Island chairman, is irritated by the deal to allow Hillary's name to be placed in nomination, a move he calls "a distraction."

"If this is what the die-hard Clinton supporters need to get past this and allow them to get behind Sen. Obama, then so be it," he said Friday. On the plus side, the drama....

Liz Moore

Continue reading "Catharsis watch: Still plenty of irritation to go around" »

Unlike 2004, when Suozzi angered some with his "Fix Albany" campaign, and Speaker Shelley Silver (D-Manhattan) retaliated by trying to bar Suozzi from the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Suozzi has Silver’s blessing this year and is a vice chairman of the state delegation going to Denver.

A staunch Hillary Clinton supporter during the recent Democratic primary race, Suozzi said he would not oppose having some kind of show of respect for her at the convention. “I like Sen. Clinton, and I’m going to look to her campaign people to see how they want to conduct the whole thing,” he said. “But both Senator Clinton and I will be voting for Senator Obama.”
Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, who's said to have raised more than $500,000 for Clinton’s campaign, is also a delegate to the convention.

Sid Cassese

Gov. David A. Paterson said Monday he plans to cast his ballot at next week’s Democratic National Convention for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, despite the fact that friend and presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton also will be nominated.

James T. Madore

Continue reading "Paterson will cast convention ballot for Obama" »

New Yorkers are divided over the single biggest issue they want the Governor and Legislature to address this week, according to a new Siena Research Institute poll released Monday morning. Property taxes, job creation and addressing the state’s budget deficit received 26 percent, 26 percent, and 24 percent support from registered voters polled.

Melissa Mansfield

Continue reading "Poll: NY'ers divided over tax, job and deficit priorities" »

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player?

1. Will Bower, a founder of a group that insists on nominating Hillary Clinton rather than Barack Obama at the Democratic convention, saying: “What we want... is to save the Democratic party from itself.”

2. Obama, agreeing to a symbolic roll-call vote with Clinton’s name before the convention, saying this “will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history.”

3. Rep. Bob Barr, Libertarian Party candidate, saying Sen. John McCain doesn’t show “he believes in dramatically shrinking the size and cost of the federal government.”

Since his rival, Assemb. Patricia Eddington of Medford (left), is an enrolled member of the Working Families Party, Dean T. Hough of Coram likes to tell Democratic voters he’s the only member of their party in the 3rd A.D. primary race.

One of his mailings is adorned with flags from Cuba, China and North Korea — and even suggests if Eddington gets her way, the right to vote would be taken away, as in a dictatorship, because she’s trying to push him off the ballot.

But defenders of Eddington, who caucuses with the Democrats, say Hough — who first signed up to be a Democrat in May — is merely fronting for Republicans and for Gershow Recycling, whose owners have been in a civic feud for years with Eddington and her husband, Legis. Jack Eddington.

“This guy is a Republican through and through,” asserts Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman.

Hough, 38, a lawyer, who’s been employed by his parents’ Village Dock Inc. company in Port Jefferson, denies it, along with Schaffer’s claim he’s tied to John Powell, the convicted former Suffolk GOP chairman. Hough acknowledges Gershow’s principals contributed to his campaign — but says he’s running because “I’ve got a family now and these political issues hit home as you get older... Unfortunately, a lot of Assembly people legislate to get re-elected and not necessarily for the good of people in the district.”

When asked about records that indicate he has yet to file disclosure statements that were required.....

Dan Janison

Continue reading "Candidate blasted as GOP front: Is he really a Democrat?" »

The Nassau County Legislature was expected to vote today on whether to increase fees for filing mortgage records and other paperwork with the county clerk’s office — a $7.2 million annual revenue boost for the county.

The nine-member Republican minority on the legislature opposes the increase, so County Executive Thomas Suozzi could need all 10 of his Democratic colleagues in the legislature to vote in favor.

Should one balk — likely suspect: David Mejias of Farmingdale (leftt) — Suozzi would need a Republican to break ranks — likely suspect: Denise Ford of Long Beach (right).

Ford said nothing about the proposed fees earlier this month when she appeared at a news conference with Suozzi about the county’s budget problems.

Bill Murphy

Gov. David A. Paterson announced agreement Sunday on a new contract with the State Police union, calling for wages to increase three percent in each of the first three years and 4 percent in the final year. The new pact covers a period beginning in March 2007, when the old one expired.

Asked if the Paterson administration attempted to get some savings in contract talks because of next year’s looming budget deficit, spokesman Morgan Hooks said the union recognized the fiscal situation and withdrew some of its requests. "There was an understanding of what the state could and could not do," Hook said. "But I think the state also had an obligation to treat the PBA fairly."

The raises mirrors those given to members of the Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation.

Lawmakers who view the contract as a sign the state’s budget woes may not be as dire as Paterson as made out – should think again. "This contract agreement should not be interpreted by anybody as a sign that things are better than Governor Paterson has indicated they are," Hook said.

Lawmakers are due back in the Capitol Tuesday to consider $600 million in cuts to the current budget, which totals $122 billion.

James T. Madore

Stop calling Rep. Gary Ackerman a Queens Democrat.

The 20-year resident of Jamaica Estates has sold his house after waiting months for a buyer, for just over $1 million, less than the $1.3 million he’d asked, he said.

Ackerman bought a condo in Roslyn Heights about 9 miles away for $950,000 in December, records show. He said he and his wife wanted to downsize. “Rita was alone most of the week in a big old English Tudor,” said the 12th-term Democrat, who occupies a houseboat on the Potomac River when in Washington. “It was just too much house.” Ackerman stayed in his district, which runs from northeast Queens to Roslyn.

Janie Lorber

This could have come into play if things had gone otherwise, but of course, it is not to be...unless the Denver convention turns into one wild and crazy event as some Hillary-hypers would like.

Three aides to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy's on the PBA benefit fund walked out in protest last week after police union officials pressed for a vote that would give the fund's board chairman--PBA president Jeff Frayler-- the unilateral right to upgrade plane fares from coach or economy tickets for future conference trips.

Union officials say Levy and his aide twisted the incident out of proportion to to create a "cheap publicity stunt."

The walk-out last Wednesday was led by Levy's labor relations director Jeff Tempera, the fund board vice chairman who was acting as chair in Frayler's absence after a PBA board member Noel DiGerolamo put forward the proposal.

Tempera said he made several attempts to table the resolution or offer a compromise that would give the fund's union chairman and union chairman the joint power to permit changes, but the union board members refused.

"We drew a line in the sand," said Tempera, "We got up and said were out of here," adding there was "no way" the Levy administration would allow the union the power to okay first class travel on the taxpayers or allow any changes without management input. Later, Levy himself weighed in, saying, "This is just a terrible example of how piggish" some benefit funds can be. "Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered and Mr. DiGerolamo was oinking out of control."

Frayler, who was on vacation, countered the administration version of the incident is skewed and emphasized "First class will never be tolerated." Another former county union president, Dennis Prior of the Associations of Municipal Employees lost re-election after he upgraded a car rental to a Jaguar during a union convention in Florida in 1996.

The union leader said.....

Rick Brand

Continue reading "Levy aides storm out of Suffolk PBA fund board meeting" »

Nassau Industrial Development Agency Chairman Howard Fensterman has submitted his resignation to County Executive Thomas Suozzi, effective when a replacement is confirmed. Fensterman, a Lake Success lawyer, is better known for his fundraising prowess on behalf of Democratic politicians, including U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, than for his work at the economic-development agency.

Gov. David Paterson named Fensterman, who co-owns and represents nursing homes, to the New York State Public Health Council in June. Fensterman gave no reason in a resignation letter for leaving IDA. But in it, he did convey to Suozzi his belief that “history will record you as the greatest County Executive to have served in that capacity in the history of Nassau County.”

Celeste Hadrick

Obama meets on energy issues with T. Boone Pickens, who backed the "Swiftboating" of John Kerrry.

In California, McCain sticks to stock answers against an evangelical pastor's admonishment.

But a partisan commentator puts the appearance in the McCain column for the "gravity and poignancy" of his answers.

Close race intensifies, heading into the final two-and-a-half months.

Obama beats McCain in fundraising for the last month, $51 million to $27 million.

Evan Bayh, center of some VP speculation, slams McCain as too war-hungry, dissecting the candidate's "We are all Georgians" impulse.

McCain calls for greater volunteerism and sacrifice.

Sen. Clinton visits south Florida later in the week -- and Sen. Cardin urges her supporters to get on board with Obama.

Democratic keynoter Mark Warner, who's running for Virginia's open U.S. Senate seat, has been collecting big-time funds from Beltway lobbyists, leading one blogger to ask if this is "change we can believe in."

Minnesota's Pawlenty would have to "watch his tongue" as an attack dog if he becomes McCain's running mate, warns this analyst.

Obama ad whacks McCain on the economy. Video below: