Politics | The New York Observer

Elsewhere: The Big Ugly

By David Freedlander and Reid Pillifant | January 31, 2011 | 6:15 pm

Carl Paladino declares himself the "bull in the China shop," and cryptically refuses to take a question from Karen Dewitt. Congressman Gary Ackerman wants President Obama to suspend aid to Egypt. A federal judge in Florida declared parts of the health care bill... MORE»

In The Kitchen

Sandra Lee Visits NYC Food Bank; Does Not Make a Tablescape

By Meghan Keneally | January 31, 2011 | 5:54 pm

"Semi Homemade" TV chef and de-facto first lady of New York State Sandra Lee continued her tour of the state's food banks today, stopping in the Upper East Side's Yorkville Common Pantry. And in keeping with her typical modus operandi, Lee avoided all questions that did not immediately pertain to the work of the food banks. All questions relating to her relationship with Gov. Andrew Cuomo were left unanswered or cut off by her press... MORE»

Reform Mafia

Koch Calls on Heroes to Back Redistricting Bill

By Amanda Sterling | January 31, 2011 | 4:01 pm

Former Mayor Ed Koch is urging his "Heroes of Reform"--the 138 state legislators who signed a good government pledge--to co-sponsor an independent redistricting bill by March 1st. The pledge was pushed aggressively during last year's campaign by Koch's reform group NY Uprising, which has championed independent redistricting as one of its chief... MORE»

Early Skirmishes

Hayworth, Buerkle Respond to DCCC Targeting

By Reid Pillifant | January 31, 2011 | 3:30 pm

There could be some awkwardness the next time the New York delegation gets together. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee--now headed by Long Island Representative Steve Israel--is out with its first 19 targets for 2012, and the list includes two of Israel's delegation-mates: upstate's Ann Marie Buerkle and the Hudson Valley's Nan... MORE»

Stockpiling

LGBT Lawmakers Raise for Quinn

By David Freedlander | January 31, 2011 | 12:54 pm

A reader passed along the following invite to a fundraiser this week for Council Speaker Christine Quinn at RDV, a night club in the Meatpacking District. It is worth noting that the event will be hosted by three of the city's most prominent gay lawmakers--city Councilmembers Danny Dromm and and Jimmy Van Bramer, and West Side Assembly member Danny O'Donnell--who will be joined by prominent LGBT activists, including country singer Chely Wright, Bravo star Andy Cohen and activist David... MORE»

Gun Control

Bloomberg Investigates Phoenix Gun Show

By Meghan Keneally | January 31, 2011 | 12:27 pm

This morning, as part of his ongoing quest to end the "gun show loophole," Mayor Bloomberg announced the results of an undercover investigation into the purchasing protocols at one Arizona show held shortly after the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle... MORE»

Home Inspections

Adams Tells Parents to 'Inspect What You Expect' [Video]

By Amanda Sterling | January 31, 2011 | 12:22 pm

Brooklyn state Senator Eric Adams, of "Stop the Sag" fame, has released a new YouTube video that educates parents on how to go through their children's rooms for guns, drugs, and other contraband. The video is part of a campaign against gun violence, and features Sen.... MORE»

Walmart Wars

Anti Wal-Mart Coalition Knocks Store for Association with 'Predatory' Jackson-Hewitt

By David Freedlander | January 31, 2011 | 10:16 am

A number of community groups that are trying to keep giant retailer Wal-Mart out of New York City are out with a release this morning slamming the superstore for their partnership with Jackson-Hewitt, a tax preparation coming expanding its footprint in Wal-Mart... MORE»

By the Numbers

Weiner To Take Health Care Fight to the Outer Boroughs

By Meghan Keneally | January 31, 2011 | 10:00 am

Rep. Anthony Weiner, who has become one of the leading national voices defends the Affordable Care Act, is taking the fight to the streets of Queens this morning, where he will highlight a report that will reveal the cost of the Republican efforts to repeal the bill. If the health care bill is repealed, as many Republicans hope to do, the Weiner Report says that as many as it 385,000 people in his Queens district will be left uninsured. Another affect of a potential repeal would be an increase to prescription drug... MORE»

Morning Read: Preparing and Speculating

By Meghan Keneally | January 31, 2011 | 9:44 am

Mayor Bloomberg is calling on Governor Cuomo to end the last in, first out policy as he braces for teacher layoffs that are looking... MORE»

Elsewhere: Pure Mindless Luck

By David Freedlander | January 28, 2011 | 6:01 pm

The line-up at CPAC. Tom DiNapoli made some staffing... MORE»

Changes

Mubarak Promises New Government Tomorrow [Watch]

By Aaron Gell | January 28, 2011 | 5:51 pm

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. After a long day in which thousands of Egyptians took to the streets to demand a new government, President Hosni Mubarak just appeared on television and promised to give it to them...sort of. Speaking on Al Jazeera, the long-serving president—who looks remarkably young for 82—said he would immediately dissolve the government (which he appointed) and have a whole new one up and running... MORE»

Globalization

Brooklyn Lawmaker Announces Plan to Attract More Islamic Investment

By David Freedlander | January 28, 2011 | 5:00 pm

Brooklyn State Senator Kevin Parker announced a bill today to create an alternative bond market that would be permissible under Islamic law by creating alternatives to the traditional interest-based bonds. Many Islamic societies use the alternative structure, known as "sukuk," since Islamic law prevents the securing of interest-bearing bonds. Parker argues that opening up New York to sukuk would open the state's bond market to a new kind of international... MORE»

Clubs

NY Tea Partiers Join 'Moderate' G.O.P. Caucus

By David Freedlander | January 28, 2011 | 3:28 pm

Staten Island's Michael Grimm and Nan Hayworth of the Hudson Valley were both propelled into office this year--and fended off primary challengers--behind the strength of local Tea Party... MORE»

Food Fight

Bloomberg Not Hungry for Trump to Take Over Tavern

By Matt Chaban | January 28, 2011 | 2:25 pm

Up until it closed more than a year ago, Tavern on the Green was one of the hottest restaurants in town. Sure, it was an inside joke for most New Yorkers (see: Requiem for a Dream), but still, up until the end, it was one of the, and often the, top-grossing restaurant in the country.... MORE»

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