When Councilmember Dennis Gallagher resigned in disgrace, it set up a special election for his seat. The district encompasses much of west-central Queens.

Under the rules, the special election is officially nonpartisan, and party affiliations are not listed on the ballot, but the party affiliations of the candidates are well known. Four candidates qualified for the ballot, two Republicans and two Democrats.

The Republicans are: Tom Ognibene, who held the seat in the 90s before being term-limited out; and Anthony Como (the party favorite), a City Board of Elections commissioner and aide to Serphin Maltese. Both have considerable baggage.

The Democrats are: Elizabeth Crowley, who ran in 2001 and is a cousin of Congressmember and Democratic county leader Joseph Crowley; and Charles Ober, president of the Ridgewood Democratic Club and a long-time community activist.  read more »

All the fun of ridiculing Mayor Bloomberg’s (all-fall-down) Building Department has subsided as yet another Crane collapse killed two, injured one, and damaged nearby buildings on East 91st Street Friday. (See also the NY Daily News excellent team report.). Ironically, (can I still use that word?) Mr.Bloomberg’s Building Dept. had just eased-up stringent rules requiring crane movements to be supervised by a DOB inspector . Dead at the scene was Donald Leo, 30, crane operator of Staten Island, who was in the cab as it fell. Sewer worker Ramadan Kurtaj, 27, of the Bronx and Kosovo, died in the hospital and a third was gravely injured. (For more on the lives of the fallen here is Lisa W. Foderaro's well researched follow-up.) "Union carpenter Simeon Alexis survived a gash to the chest," Newsday reported He was released from the hospital Saturday.

Update: The Manhattan DA's office is said to be investigating a possible crime in the crane collapse premised on the reuse of the cracked rotating plate (see below). More updates at the end of the post.

This was, of course, not the first crane trouble at this site and – in case you forgotten—not the first fatalities from falling structures like cranes around NYC In response to criticism Mr. Bloomberg suggested that perhaps the crane’s steel was defective, that construction was a dangerous job, that it wasn’t the DOB which had fallen down on the job, but the Contractor and finally, that the situation was “unacceptable and intolerable” --without explaining what he didn’t accept and what he wouldn’t tolerate.  read more »

Domestic workers have been working to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights since 2004. Take a stand, so the 200,000 NY women whose work helps make all else possible, don't have to wait another year.

11:00 am Rally and March from City Hall in Manhattan on Broadway South of Chambers to Union Square. Take the R/W to City Hall or 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge

This is one of the more wonderful events in NYC: The Housing Works Bookstore Street Sale Tens of thousands of books for $1. Some serious good buys for book lovers and dealers, some trash. Add Huge crowds, t-shirts, snacks, vintange clothing $20 for a large, carefully packed bag and you have a uniquely NY scene. See you there early.

Open Air Book Fair! Saturday, June 07, 2008 at 10:00 AM

We're making our Open Air Book Fair a twice-a-year experience so you can stock up for summer. Crosby Street between Prince and Houston will be filled with thousands of books, records and CDs for a dollar a piece, plus clothing, shoes and accessories from Housing Works Thrift Shops for $20 a bag.

One of the great challenges, it seems to me, of post-publication authorship is Book Tour; newly-launched authors traveling from early morning TV show to late-night talk-radio. One frozen-in-stone format has the author making general remarks & reading followed by friendly-critical reactions from well known colleagues, followed by questions and speeches from ill-informed, opinionated people like me. If you’re attracted to this ritual, three events on Tuesday may well be for you: two are free and one is $10.

*Robert Creamer, Listen to Your Mother: Stand Up Straight! How Progressives Can Win. will be at Demos, 220 Fifth Ave., 5th Floor
New York, NY (26th & 27th) from 12 Noon to 2PM. Creamer is a long-time leader and strategist and I have admired him from a distance (He’s from Chicago). He is, in my opinion, really worth learning from. Free

* David Sirota's The Uprising at The Strand, 828 Broadway (at 12th St.)  read more »

Have you ever noticed how sometimes a crucial issue in the Iraq war will go utterly unreported in the US press? Well, the barely-breathing Bush Administration has been negotiating with its Iraqi sock-puppets. What do they want? To stay in Iraq for a very long time with “broad authority to conduct combat operations and guarantee civilian contractors specific legal protections from Iraqi law, according to administration and military official” according to a NYTimes report in January (the last time the issue was noticed by the newspaper of record).

Now, many Iraqis are preparing to protest what they see as a surrender of national sovereignty and what I see as a Bush-Cheney end run around electoral defeat in November and Congressional opposition. The “Status of Forces Agreement” opposed by all but US Government bought & paid for “officials” provides a framework for Mr. McCain’s plan to keep Iraq occupied until our great-grandchildren retire.  read more »

The Democratic National Convention list of credentialed blogs was released. Perhaps based on the squeaky-wheel effect, both Liza's Culturekitchen and The Albany Project have been included. The full list is here . Hat-tip to Talk Left (also on the list).

It's been pointed out that the invitations to Culturekitchen and The Albany Project are lower-status "national" blog seats without the right to stay with the state delegation. As I see it, from a distance, however, its a whole lot better than nothing -- which is what I'd normally expect from party leaders.

From a press release from Jimmy Dahroug:

"Brian Foley's bid for the State Senate is not helpful to the voters in Brookhaven who supported him for supervisor. Brookhaven is in a state of crisis and our supervisor should not abandon us for another office only months into his term."
-Barry McCoy
Democratic State Committeeman
Brookhaven District Leader, Council 1

"As a Democratic foot soldier in Brookhaven, I urge Brian Foley to stay in Brookhaven and finish the job he started. We can win back the council majority and continue the fight for good government -- but only if Brian stays completely focused on his job in Brookhaven. We need him now more than ever."
-Jerry Gasowski,
Brookhaven Democratic Committee Member

"I supported Brian Foley in his bid to become Brookhaven Supervisor and I believe he should stay right here and finish the job he started."
-William Maddock
Brookhaven Democratic Committee Member

The statements above are from Democratic Committee members who believe Supervisor Brian Foley should end his last-minute bid for the state Senate and focus on the urgent needs of Brookhaven Town.  read more »

Governor Paterson has instructed state agencies to begin recognizing same-sex unions performed in other jurisdictions, domestic and foreign, in the state of New York.

In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere “should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union.”

The revisions are most likely to involve as many as 1,300 statutes and regulations in New York governing everything from joint filing of income tax returns to transferring fishing licenses between spouses. [Emph. added]

Think about that for a moment: everything from income tax returns to fishing licenses presently treats gay and straight New Yorkers differently. Think about that massive legal disability when next you see a republican election mailer complaining about the 'special rights' gay people supposedly seek.

The Staten Island Democratic Committee has decided to back City Council member Michael McMahon for the House seat being vacated by Vito Fossella. Chances are, the SI Dems' backing has a lot to do with the nearly $150K in his "McMahon for Staten Island" campaign account (not to be confused with "Committee to Elect Michael McMahon," his City Council campaign account).

While it makes sense for the SI Dems to back someone who lives on SI, McMahon will have to explain away his "yes" vote on congestion pricing -- something that would not have helped Staten Islanders. McMahon will also have to deal with the fact that Vito Lopez is also backing him. That probably won't help his campaign in Bay Ridge, where Steve Harrison is very strong, and it certainly won't make a noticeable difference on Staten Island. Of course, at least this time Lopez is backing someone who actually lives in the district.

It's going to be an interesting primary season.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Curtis Sliwa is making noise about running. Seriously!

Yes, the battle between Barack and Hillary is all too mesmerizing. But if you want real change right here at home, we need a Democratic State Senate. You can help advance that goal by dropping some dollars for this worthy cause.

The Capitol (D) Group, along with
Bill Lynch Associates
Cardozo Dems
Manhattan Young Dems
New Democratic Majority
and
Queens Young Dems

Invite You to a Special Evening in Support of the State Senate Campaign of Joe Addabbo

Thursday May 29, 2008
6-8pm
Red Sky Lounge

47 East 29th Street @ Park Ave. S

Requested Contribution: $50

Please RSVP and make a secure online contribution at

www.capitold.org

It's a worthy cause, and it'll be fun. So please join us Thursday night.

Once again let me remind people that judicial races are at least as important as any other local election. Judges determine the fates of citizens more directly than any other elected position. We need good judges and we need judges we can trust.

This is a follow-up diary to one I wrote earlier about the 1st Civil Court District in Brooklyn. This year a friend of mine (Devin Cohen) is running. His opponent is Roger Adler. Both are good, smart lawyers who are fully qualified to be judge. Adler has been practicing law longer than Devin, but Devin Cohen has more actual civil court experience. So it comes down to a question of temperment and trustworthiness. In my earlier article I addressed both issues. But I have found out more about Roger Adler, who claims to be a Democrat with progressive values, yet I discover that by far his largest contributions are to some of the most conservaitve organizations and politicians in NY State.  read more »

Per the Daily News, Team Obama expects to be able to declare victory next week with a majority of available delegates.

Obama's aides said Monday the freshman senator is "now just 49 delegates away" from clinching the nomination and making history as the first African-American Democratic nominee for President.

"We're very close now," David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, told the Daily News. "When the primaries end, I think, we'll be where we need to be. ... We'll be at the number we need to claim the nomination."

What comes next? The Washington Post and New York Times chart out possible courses for Senator Clinton; per Gallup, 61% of Democrats are confident we will win the Presidential election; and Rasmussen today has the race at 47% McCain, 44% Obama.

Almost there.

You may have forgotten but, almost six months ago, two work-place incidents resulted in three deaths:

At the Linden NJ industrial laundry “North East Linen,” on Dec. 1, 2007, Victor & Carlos Diaz, a truck driver and a laborer, died while cleaning a 20,000 gallon dilution tank without respiratory protection or supervision. (As I read the facts, their employer apparently knew about the violation of OSHA rules see prior reports, below).

In New York City, at the East 62nd Street, Solow Residential Tower, window washers Alcides & Edgar Moreno fell 47 storeys when the permanent scaffold from which they worked collapsed. Edgar Moreno was killed on the scene, but his brother Alcides, survived the fall.

For some earlier reports click here, here, here, and here

I remind you of these now somewhat ancient tragic tales because six months is the total time the Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration gives itself to investigate a case. Before six months, OSHA won’t comment. After six months, OSHA still may not comment, but enforcement actions, if any, will be announced. One outcome of this policy of silence is that people following the issues lose track of them. So here are three related updates: one hopeful, one business-as-usual for Mayor Bloomberg’s Buildings (all-fall-down) Dept., and one concrete proposal for improving OSHA criminal enforcement.  read more »

Ha. From The New York Times:

“We’re hurting,” said Guy V. Molinari, the former Staten Island borough president and dean of the island’s Republicans. “I think that the Congressional seat is probably the most coveted seat locally. And yet, with the vacancy approaching, those that we thought would be the leading candidates in this case, particularly the incumbent elected officials, are taking a pass.”

A week ago, Mr. Fossella announced that he would not seek a sixth full term in November. He was arrested on May 1 on charges of driving while intoxicated and admitted soon after that he had fathered a daughter, who is now 3, out of wedlock.

The 13th Congressional District, which includes all of Staten Island and portions of Brooklyn, is the only Congressional district in New York City with a Republican incumbent.

If Democrats mount a competent, well-funded challenge, this seat is ripe for the taking. The baseline stats are phenomenal: the PVI (partisan voting index) of the district is D +0.8%, demographics don't expressly disfavor a Democratic takeover, and the turnout numbers for the February 5th primary speak for themselves:

Democratic turnout, NY-13: 42,923
Republican turnout, NY-13: 17,275

A Democratic-leaning district, in a Presidential election year, featuring a disgraced incumbent, with a state republican party even more in shambles than the national organization. We can do this.

Today I received the summary of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats' (CBID) first endorsement meeting of the year. This first meeting covered the Presidential election and uncontested local elections.

CBID endorsed Barack Obama. This doesn't surprise anyone because CBID's territory overlaps two of the districts in NYC that voted for Barack Obama: CD 10 (Ed Towns' district) and CD 11 (Yvette Clarke's district). CBID did not endorse prior to the primary because their membership was split among several candidates, predominantly John Edwards and Barack Obama with some support for Dennis Kucinich and even a little for Hillary Clinton. But now that it has narrowed down to two candidates, they decided to take the plunge.  read more »

Yesterday I wrote the following about Hillary Rodham Clinton :

Shameless.

Despicable.

Unfit to be President of the United States.

My words hit the front pages of both Daily Kos and The Moderate Voice. By evening Keith Olbermann had the following to say about Hillary Clinton's latest "gaffe" :

The most important part of the transcript is after the jump :  read more »

Hillary Clinton:

My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.

Okay, deep breaths.

Hillary Clinton is an extraordinary human being and, as the first viable female candidate for the Presidency, has already stepped into history. If she had run a campaign distinguished by the competency she can obviously lay claim to in other areas, she would have had the Democratic nomination locked up months ago. However, she did not, and got blindsided by the biggest political phenomenon to hit American politics since Ronald Reagan. Not very many people understood just what it was that Barack Obama was building even a few short months ago; I certainly did not.  read more »

United For Peace & Justice's fundraising 15-Mile bike ride through upper Manhattan "Pedal for Peace" pushes off at 11AM at Central Park North (110th Street) & Adam Clayton Powell Bl'vd; Registration at 10 AM. Register online on or site.

The Theater for The New City, 155 1st Ave., presents the 13th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts . (scroll down for schedule)
Friday, May 23rd, 6pm - 1am
Saturday, May 24th, 10am - 1am 10am - 6pm - OUTSIDE ON E. 10th STREET - Cultural Fair, Performances, Food, Vendors!
2pm - 5pm - INSIDE - Performances for Kids and by Kids
Sunday, May 25th, 6pm - 1am

Manhattan's melange of culture is most mixed on the Lower East Side. Come visit the Loisada Festival this Sunday. I plan to get there in the late afternoon. Look for the table of CODA, the neighborhood's left political-social action group which will be between 8th & 9th Streets (on C obviously).

Bloomberg News, citing CNN, reports that Team Clinton is supposedly talking to Team Obama about a joint ticket.

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is in formal talks with Senator Barack Obama's campaign about becoming his vice presidential running mate, CNN reported, without citing anyone specific.

The two Democratic campaigns are talking about ways for Clinton, from New York, to drop her bid for president that may include joining the Illinois senator's ticket, CNN reported. Talks are in a ``very preliminary'' stage and are described as ``difficult,'' the network said.

What's puzzling about this idea is this: support her, or not, but Hillary Clinton is a very shrewd and talented political savant. She has to know that the Vice Presidency has as much power and influence as the President sees fit to allocate to the office; certainly less than does, say, a Senate Majority Leader.

The most neglected part of electoral politics is the election of judges. And yet in many ways more people are affected by who gets elected judge than any other elected position. The ignorance most people have about judicial candidates means that more often than not political bosses can shove any political crony they want into our court system regardless of qualifications. Did you know that although there is a screening panel there is no requirement for someone to even have practiced law in order to be a judge. This was dramatically demonstrated in 2007 when the Brooklyn political machine, including Vito Lopez, Marty Markowitz and Dominic Recchia, supported Noach Dear, a known homophobe, for judge despite the fact that the NY Bar Assn had declared him unqualified and he had never practiced law in his life. So now Brooklyn has a useless, homophobic judge on the bench just because local politicians wanted to give him a political plum. Our courts deserve better.  read more »

People can be forgiven if they lose track of who exactly is running for which office in the newly fluid political environment of the state of New York.

In the Third Senatorial District, you have to assume that Jimmy Dahroug, the grassroots Democrat running against Caesar Trunzo, is tearing his hair out over a primary challenger that emerged last night, literally at the last minute. Per Albany Project, Brian Foley of Brookhaven declared for the seat last night at the Suffolk County Democratic Convention.

Speaker Sheldon Silver is getting challenged in the Democratic primary this year, itself an event of significance far beyond the borders of that district; now, of course, and perhaps due to a filtering down from the heights of the Presidential race, there's an irritating conversation going on as to which one of the two challengers, Paul Newell or Luke Henry, is more "electable".

In the Twenty-Fifth Senate District, we're seeing another generational contest between challenger Dan Squadron and incumbent Marty Connor, who for whichever reason seems to be a perennial target. There are many interesting things about the contrast between the two contenders, but chief among them is perhaps the hope-inducing interest in the State Senate among some really smart, young and energetic people now eyeing races against incumbents. If the Democrats retake the chamber, the Senate will instantly be transformed from a political backwater to the bleeding edge of New York political power, as far as Democrats are concerned. Squadron is many good things, not least among them a harbinger.  read more »

The big talked-about piece of the day, even at this early hour, is clearly The New York Times depiction of what it calls Détente in Albany, between a mild-mannered Governor Paterson and an ebullient Joe Bruno.

The shift is noticeable in many ways. Mr. Paterson waved through pork-barrel spending bills that provided $350 million apiece to Mr. Bruno’s Senate and to Assembly Democrats. Mr. Paterson’s predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, held up the legislation for months. Mr. Paterson has also abandoned Mr. Spitzer’s insistence that Republicans agree to legislation limiting campaign contributions.

He consults regularly with Mr. Bruno, whom Mr. Spitzer had stopped speaking to altogether, visiting his office to chat about legislation and talking on the telephone with him several times a week.

In doing so, Mr. Paterson has changed the tone in the capital from one of combat and animosity to one that is joshing and affectionate, a marked shift from Mr. Spitzer’s rough-and-tumble approach in trying to overhaul one of the nation’s most reform-resistant statehouses.

That's roughly as naked a description of Senate republicans' raison d'être as you're ever likely to encounter in a family newspaper. Give them their member items, and you'll be surprised how quickly the rancor quiets down.  read more »