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Brooklyn's Back Bench

How Hakeem Jeffries Became the Barack of Brooklyn

Phraseology

Breaking: New York Is Not Wisconsin

Weiner Sells Israel to Progressives: Not An Occupier, Settlements Not in Palestinian Territory

Teacher Layoffs

Bloomberg and the Subjective Evaluation of Teachers

By Azi Paybarah | March 7, 2011 | 9:42 am

As he plans to lay off thousands of public school teachers, Mayor Bloomberg says he wants officials to decide which educators to keep and which to get rid of based on a new, "merit-based" evaluation system, not, as the current law mandates, based on seniority. But in an interview this weekend, Bloomberg described the new evaluation system as akin to what workers in the private sector face, which the mayor described as "subjective." The... MORE»

Parade Politics

Quinn: Some NYC Parades More Discriminatory Against LGBT Than U.S. Military

By Azi Paybarah | March 7, 2011 | 8:32 am

NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn says she won’t march in Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day parade anymore because, for the first time, they barred participation from LGBT parade-goers. Quinn, who is Irish and openly gay, made the announcement Sunday surrounded by NYC Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Stringer and others, before the start of the all-inclusive St. Patrick's Parade in Sunnyside... MORE»

Suggested Reading

Morning Read: Bloomberg Marches in Parades, Peter King Targeted

By Azi Paybarah | March 7, 2011 | 7:52 am

Parade Politics: "[P]arade organizers and police swarmed the group...when it started marching wearing rainbow pins." [Daily News] Parade Reception: Cat calls, explicates, rude hand gestures.... MORE»

Weiner Sells Israel to Progressives: Not An Occupier, Settlements Not in Palestinian Territory

By Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke and Reid Pillifant | March 4, 2011 | 5:03 pm

Anthony Weiner is trying hard to make Israel palatable to progressives. The outspoken congressman has long been one of that country's most ardent defenders in Congress. He has steadfastly pleaded its case through a series of damaging p.r. incidents--most recently, last year's deadly incident aboard the Mavi Marmara flotilla--and has frequently criticized President Obama for not being a staunch enough supporter of Israel's... MORE»

Suggested Reading

Roundup: Schumer's Candidate, Bellavia's Party

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 4:57 pm

Bill Keller: "If you’re a regular viewer of Fox News, you’re one of the most cynical people on planet Earth." [FishbowlNY] Recruiting Candidates: Schumer and Reid tried luring Ken Jennings into politics. [Daily... MORE»

Surveys

Surveying Property Taxes

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 3:24 pm

A reader from the Upper West Side emails: Yesterday I received 2 calls from Siena Research. The first looking for a man and since I wasn't a man, they didn't poll me. Second time they looked for a man of various ages then accepted me. Lots of questions about how bad real estate was in NY state. Then at the end, out of nowhere they asked if I was in favor of capping property taxes. There was another question about exceptions to property taxes and a third property tax related... MORE»

Slidehows

Alec Baldwin as Senator Dean Skelos

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 2:57 pm

Emily Atkin finds famous people who look like New York politicians. If there's any good (awful?) celebrity-politician lookalike combos, stick it in the comments... MORE»

Schooling

Brodsky Lands at N.Y.U.

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 2:07 pm

Richard Brodsky, a long-time Assemblyman who never hesitated to tell reporters how to cover the state capital, gets to shape the discussion at N.Y.U., as a senior fellow. Brodsky gave up his seat to run, unsuccessfully for attorney general last year. The notably anti-Albany sentiment on the campaign trail made his bid particularly challenging. But the fact that he lands a job outside any government office and fancy lobbying firm means his tendency to speak bluntly, will, probably, not be... MORE»

Electing Presidents

Debating the Electoral College System

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 1:38 pm

... MORE»

Preparation

DCCC Names Bishop, Owens Among List of Most Vulnerable Dems in '12

By David Freedlander | March 4, 2011 | 10:32 am

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee came out yesterday with a list of their most vulnerable incumbents and two Empire State congressmen made the list: Long Island's Tim Bishop, and Bill Owens of the North... MORE»

Bloomberg: Can't See Albany Finding Enough Money to 'Make a Difference'

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 10:01 am

Michael Bloomberg is trying to dispel the notion that his talk of laying off thousands of teachers was a hollow threat. "It's really hard to see how Albany can come up with enough money to make a difference," Bloomberg said on his radio show this morning. He's asking state lawmakers for at least $600 million for this year's budget. Aides note that the mayor's current budget - which calls for more than 4,000 teacher layoffs - is built on the presumption that he'll get that money from Albany. If not, there will be more layoffs, he... MORE»

Your Questions

#AskMike Anything

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 9:29 am

Debuting today on Michael Bloomberg's radio show this morning was a new feature that will allow anyone - anyone! - to ask the mayor a question. On twitter, just use the hashtag #AskMike. (It's not unlike the imperfect crowd-sourcing I've tried to do before heading to some of the mayor's press conferences.) Among the questions submitted, via Twitter: Frank Morano: "Will you consider appointing a Charter Revision Commission this year to study increasing local borough control of... MORE»

Suggested Reading

Morning Read: Cuomo's Agenda, Rangel's Cameo

By Azi Paybarah | March 4, 2011 | 9:10 am

Understanding Albany: "So what's going on in the sometimes-inscrutable speaker's head?" asks Vielkind. [Times Union] LIFO: Cuomo's move is to "prevent mass firings of teachers based only on seniority." [NY... MORE»

Feminism

The Punk Rocker and the Public Advocate Protest for Pap Smears

By Kat Stoeffel | March 3, 2011 | 5:39 pm

"Why are Republicans such dicks?" asked a pink cardboard phallus rising from the crowd at Foley Square in lower Manhattan on Saturday. Some 6,000 people had gathered to rally against the House Republicans' vote to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood. "It's great to see so many guys here," said Kathleen Hanna, front woman of Le Tigre and high priestess of the Riot Grrrl movement, a few minutes before she took the stage. Ms. Hanna has long advocated for women's rights in her lyrics and in her... MORE»

Suggested Reading

Roundup: Cuomo Shrugs, Schumer Faxes

By Azi Paybarah | March 3, 2011 | 4:46 pm

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks at the Citizens Budget Commission's Annual Dinner on March 2, 2011. The Chairman spoke about the challenges to state and local government... MORE»