Spin Cycle

Occasionally it seems as if a police radio scanner would make a handy tool for tracking New York politics. A full roster of elected officials, former elected officials, their associates, and their appointees find themselves in legal trouble or under an investigative shadow. All these cases are likely to generate news in the months ahead.

NOTE: If someone relevant is omitted here, no slight was intended. Just let us know.

Brian McLaughlin — the former Queens Assemblyman and labor leader — was charged with ripping off $2.2 million from different sources, including campaign funds and even a Little League. Federal charges of embezzlement, fraud and bribery, filed nearly a year ago, are still pending. Part of the case involved renovations to his 13-room colonial house in Nissequogue.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, while engaged in a political war with rookie Gov. Eliot Spitzer, remains vexed by a federal probe that surfaced late last year involving his private business deals. No charges have been filed.

Also under extended review, of course, are the business activities of relatives and former aides of ex-state Comptroller Alan Hevesi....

A spokeswoman for Brian McLaughlin says he has not stepped aside as president of the New York City Central Labor Council amid reports he was implicated in a bid-rigging scam for the repair of city street lights, despite a mention to the contrary in a SpinCycle item two days ago.
“Brian is and fully remains the active President of the New York City Central Labor Council and continues to lead all Executive Board meetings and manage all issues and staff,” CLC spokeswoman Carolyn Daly said in a statement of the departing state Assemblyman.

The web site of the New York City Central Labor Council is slow to update. Its most recent “weekly update” is dated Dec. 16, 2005. But it might want to get rid of one the pictures that highlight a 2004 rally against President Bush outside the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden.

It shows former Democratic Assemb. Brian McLaughlin, who has since stepped aside as head of the CLC amid reports he was implicated in a bid-rigging scam for the repair of city street lights.

He is pictured with actor James Gandolfini, whose name is almost synonymous with the gangster he plays, Tony Soprano.

http://www.nycclc.org/labordayrally2004.asp

Bill Murphy

Rory Lancman, a member of Community Board 8 in Queens, who once tried to unseat Sen. Frank Padavan, was picked Monday by the Queens County Democratic Organization to run for the seat to be vacated by embattled Assemb. Brian McLaughlin, according to City Councilman Tony Avella.
“He’s very qualified and he’s got a strong commitment to his community,” Avella (D-Bayside) told Newsday’s Bryan Virasami. Avella has endorsed Lancman, said the activist has been seeking his support for a long time.
McLaughlin, whose other public role as head of the Central Labor Council has drawn investigation by federal officials, announced earlier this year that he will not seek re-election and will focus on his union post.