Politics | The New York Observer

send a tip: politickerny@observer.com

Media

Dicker Strikes at Critic's Theory: 'Makes Glenn Beck Look Sober'

Dividing Lines

Jackson On Rodriguez & Espaillat: 'I Have Had Enough of Their Shit'

Features

The Long Decline of Richard Lipsky

Features

The Long Decline of Richard Lipsky

By David Freedlander | March 15, 2011 | 7:44 pm

Just after evening came to the city last Friday, Richard Lipsky appeared in the lobby of the Normandy on Riverside Drive. Gone was the Bluetooth headset that seemed welded to his ear as he conducted his business in the lobby of City Hall or the State Capitol. Gone, too, was the thick red leather-bound restaurant-reservation-style book that Mr. Lipsky used to keep appointments for the one-man lobbying shop that battered and bent governors, mayors and lawmakers on both sides of the... MORE»

Dividing Lines

Espaillat & Rodriguez Tell Jackson to Focus on Policy, Not Personalities

By David Freedlander | March 15, 2011 | 7:33 pm

Cool it, councilman, say both City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and State Senator Adriano Espaillat after Councilman Robert Jackson said the duo are smearing him as an anti-Dominican racist. "I feel sorry that my colleague drove the debate to this level," Rodriguez said. "He knows this is not the right approach to deal with differences that an elected official has with his... MORE»

Roundup: Bloomberg in Washington, Protesters in Albany

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 5:53 pm

Charlie Rangel: His tele-town hall meeting tonight at 6:30pm, streams live. [Rangel] Peter King Hearings: Round two, on "prison radicalization." [Ben... MORE»

Dividing Lines

Jackson On Rodriguez & Espaillat: 'I Have Had Enough of Their Shit'

By David Freedlander | March 15, 2011 | 5:14 pm

City Councilman Robert Jackson called me a moment ago to discuss his dispute with City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and State Senator Adriano Espaillat that flared into the open during a zoning subcommittee hearing earlier today. "When people go around saying I am anti-Dominican, I have a fucking problem with that," the Harlem pol said. "You've got a problem, come say it to my face. Don't try to make me look racist against Dominicans. I have done more for Dominicans in Upper Manhattan than any of them... MORE»

Visits

Rangel: Bloomberg 'Absolutely Our Nation's Leader' on Gun Control

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 5:08 pm

Mayor Bloomberg was in Washington D.C. today pushing for stronger gun-control laws. He also met with the New York delegation, where the delegation's dean, Charlie Rangel, said the mayor was well-received. Here's how Rangel described Bloomberg's advocacy: "Absolutely, our nation's leader on this effort." As for budget issues, Rangel said the mayor was slightly less... MORE»

Pictures

Caption Contest: Governor Cuomo

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 4:32 pm

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise finds Cuomo at a gas station. [h/t Liz... MORE»

Dividing Lines

Uptown Border Dispute Spills Out Into Open at Council Hearing

By David Freedlander | March 15, 2011 | 4:22 pm

A long-simmering dispute between two uptown City Councilmembers spilled into the open today as Robert Jackson of Harlem accused two Dominican lawmakers of attempting to turn Dominican residents of his district against... MORE»

Protesting

Protesting Cuomo, Without Cuomo

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 4:11 pm

... MORE»

Corruption

Brooklyn Lawyer Snagged in Corruption Probe, and Now, a Reality Show

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 3:23 pm

Political corruption in New York manages to grab even more of the spotlight, courtesy of Lifetime's Brighton Beach. Sheepshead... MORE»

Labor

Replacing Key Labor Figure Could Take Months

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 2:34 pm

A bit more on the Central Labor Council's efforts to replace President Jack Ahern, who departed yesterday after a rocky stewardship that saw his salary double and important allies flea. In resigning for what he called "personal differences" with other labor leaders, Ahern said things were in place for the organization to chose a slate of officials for delegates to vote on by the March 31... MORE»

Staffing Up

Restaffing the Public Corruption Unit

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 2:14 pm

US Attorney Preet Bharara announced he's promoting one of the lead attorneys who is prosecuting Councilman Larry Seabrook on corruption charges, as well as State Senator Carl Kruger, Assemblyman William Boyland and lobbyist Richard Lipsky in a wide-ranging bribery... MORE»

QUOTES

'The Defendant Is Not Robin Hood'

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 1:28 pm

"The defendant is not Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. He conceited this elaborate scheme because he needed the money to buy out his brother's share of the family home. The bottom line is the defendant sought to enrich himself at Mayor Bloomberg's expense and got caught when the newspapers started to investigate the mayor's donations to the Independence... MORE»

Bloomberg's World

When Bloomberg's Free Time Becomes a Poll Question

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 1:10 pm

Michael Bloomberg will probably dislike the poll that's coming out tomorrow, not because of what the respondents say, but because of what they were asked. Among the topics Quinnipiac has been polling about, according to their media advisory, is Bloomberg's "free time" which isn't an issue that has any upside for... MORE»

Media

Dicker Strikes at Critic's Theory: 'Makes Glenn Beck Look Sober'

By Azi Paybarah | March 15, 2011 | 11:41 am

New York Post state editor Fred Dicker doesn't think much of public radio host and newspaper publisher Alan Chartock, who yesterday accused Dicker of having an unholy alliance with the governor in some kind of agreement that included Dicker's publisher, Rupert Murdoch. "Chartock laid out a conspiracy theory so far-fetched it makes Glenn Beck look sober," Dicker said this morning. "This is something from the John Birch... MORE»