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Sources: Congressman Ed Towns Looking to Run for District Leader

Back in the Game

Bill Thompson Named Head of Cuomo's MWBE Task Force

Off the Gridiron

Engel Says G.O.P. Cuts May Kill Football Season

Suggested Reading

Elsewhere: Adam Bradley, a Breastfeeding Fight and No More Bagels

By David Freedlander and Anila Alexander | February 18, 2011 | 6:33 pm

Facing domestic abuse charges and an ethics probe, White Plains mayor Adam Bradley is stepping down. New York G.O.P. may change winner-take-all primary... MORE»

Security

Victory! New York to Receive Increase in Anti-Terrorism Funding

By Anila Alexander | February 18, 2011 | 4:15 pm

Representatives Nita Lowey and Steve Israel announced today that an amendment has passed the House that would enable New York City to receive more anti-terrorism funding. Under the new amendment, grant recipients of the Urban Areas Security Initiative would be limited to 25 of the highest-risk cities in the nation. "I am pleased this amendment passed to ensure UASI grants benefit highest-risk cities and will work to ensure the Senate passes this provision and President Obama signs it into law," said... MORE»

Off the Gridiron

Engel Says G.O.P. Cuts May Kill Football Season

By David Freedlander | February 18, 2011 | 2:46 pm

Talk about raising the stakes: Bronx Democrat Eliot Engel says that thanks to the Republican Party there may now not be an NFL... MORE»

Proposals

New Gun Control Legislation Gains Momentum in House

By Anila Alexander | February 18, 2011 | 2:23 pm

Long Island congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy announced today that her campaign to ban high capacity ammunition magazines is gaining steam. "The nation is recognizing that these devices facilitate mass carnage and their availability is a threat to public safety," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy. "We can save lives and reduce injuries by restricting access to high-capacity magazines once again." ... MORE»

Pleas

Long Island Faith Leaders Ask King To Call Off Muslim Hearings

By David Freedlander | February 18, 2011 | 1:46 pm

Over 80 faith leaders from across Long Island sent a letter to Congressman Peter King yesterday urging him to call off the hearings on "Muslim radicalization" that he has planned for next month. They... MORE»

Settling In

Drug Bust! Schneiderman Settles Pharma-Fraud Suit

By Anila Alexander | February 18, 2011 | 12:48 pm

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is touting another clawback of taxpayer dollars today. In a press release, Schneiderman announced a $2.5 million dollar settlement in a case against Pharmacia Corporation, with the recovered funds going to Medicaid and the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage... MORE»

Rethinking

Rangel Hints That He May Not Run For Re-election After All [VIDEO]

By David Freedlander | February 18, 2011 | 11:49 am

Charle Rangel raised some eyebrows earlier this week when he announced that he would seek a 22nd term in Congress. Yesterday on "Good Day New York" he seemed less... MORE»

Nadler Tries to Defund War in Afghanistan

By David Freedlander | February 18, 2011 | 11:07 am

West Side Congressman Jerrold Nadler led an effort by House Democrats yesterday to end the war in Afghanistan by stripping funding for military operations there. The current budget earmarks $100 billion for the war there, despite the fact, as Nadler notes, there are believed to be fewer than 100 Al-Qaeda operatives. Nadler proposed cutting the budget figure to $10 billion, which is believed to be the amount necessary to safely withdraw troops... MORE»

Proposals

Bloomberg Enlists Fashionistas For Immigration Reform

By Anila Alexander | February 18, 2011 | 10:58 am

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is adding with some of the biggest names of the fashion world in his effort to enact immigration reform Along with Bloomberg, Diane von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta, and nine other industry bigwigs are pushing to end low allowances on visas and delays in processing, which ultimately lead to inconsistent work visas that raise costs for businesses. In an effort to save money, businesses have been moving production elsewhere, mainly overseas, at a reduced cost. ... MORE»

Suggested Reading

Morning Read: Keep Making Fat Jokes

By David Freedlander | February 18, 2011 | 8:08 am

Andrew Cuomo is expanding the scope of his office. Democrats have been quiet about the race to replace Chris Lee. Legislative leaders were noncommittal on Cuomo's independent redistricting... MORE»

Suggested Reading

Elsewhere: Under the Bus

By David Freedlander and Amanda Sterling | February 17, 2011 | 7:17 pm

The "Mayor Edward I. Koch Municipal Building"-does it roll off the tongue? Someone is seriously underestimating how well we know Bloomberg. ... MORE»

City Budget

Bloomberg Releases Preliminary Budget for FY12

By Amanda Sterling | February 17, 2011 | 4:55 pm

Mayor Bloomberg released his preliminary budget today which aims to close a $4.58 billion deficit without increasing taxes. Bloomberg's budget outlines a plan to soften the worst of the blows suffered from state funding cuts to education and city services. The plan increases education funding to compensate for some of the loss while relying on modest cuts to city-funded services, changes to the State budget, and a growing economy to make up the... MORE»

Back in the Game

Bill Thompson Named Head of Cuomo's MWBE Task Force

By David Freedlander | February 17, 2011 | 3:09 pm

Bill Thompson, who has been relatively quiet as the 2013 mayoral race creeps closer, has just been named to head a new task force named by Andrew Cuomo to expand minority and women owned business contracts with the... MORE»

In Their Own Words

Bloomberg Talks Emanuel, Economy and Quirky Drinking Habit with Time

By Amanda Sterling | February 17, 2011 | 2:07 pm

Could Bloomberg and Rahm Emanuel make a mayoral dynamic duo? Chicago may not have elected Rahm Emanuel mayor quite yet, but that isn't stopping Bloomberg: Hizzoner talked about his support for the former White House chief of staff to Time this week in an interview that also covered Madoff, gun control, and Bloomberg's odd drinking... MORE»

concrete thoughts

The Madness of City Property Taxes

By Robert Knakal | February 17, 2011 | 1:42 pm

About a month ago, the city's Department of Finance published the tentative assessment roll for fiscal year 2012 (July 2011-June 2012). Projected market values in the upcoming year increased by 3.75 percent to about $823.5 billion for New York City's more than one million properties. This statistic confirms what property owners have known for a very long time: The city will increasingly look to the real estate industry for a growing percentage of its revenue, regardless of the fairness of its tax... MORE»