Meet Alfred F. Kelly Jr, Super Man of Super Bowl 2014
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. isn't exactly a household name in New York, although he is a former president of American Express. Chances are, however, that New Yorkers (and New Jerseyans) will get to know Mr. Kelly a lot better over the next two years. That's because he has been named CEO of the region's Super Bowl Host Committee for Super Bowl XLVIII in... MORE»
We Let Go of the Workers, Now Let's Let Go of the Buildings
City government isn't what it used to be. Payrolls have been downsized; agencies have been consolidated. The need for vast amounts of office space in downtown Manhattan, therefore, has decreased. So what to do with all those city-owned buildings, many of them near City Hall? Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith has a remarkably clear idea: Sell... MORE»
Nix the Ticket-Fixers! Poor Parkers Should Pay Their Dues
At some level, it's not exactly a huge surprise to learn that there are people in New York who can make certain kinds of tickets disappear. Doesn't everyone know somebody who claims to know somebody who can take care of these annoyances? It shouldn't be that way, because it's not fair--most of the time, anyway. Of course, cops often write their share of bad or unfair tickets, especially when they're under pressure to meet monthly quotas, which, we are constantly assured, do not... MORE»
The Frick's New Director Will Need Some Dough
Members of the Frick Museum's board are in the process of identifying a new director to replace Anne L. Poulet, who will retire from the museum's top job in the fall. As outlined in The Observer last week, the short list of candidates for Ms. Poulet's job is truly... MORE»
Read It and Weep: The Case for Legalizing Online Gambling
Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District, recently announced the indictments of 11 individuals connected to three Internet poker companies that allegedly took in or laundered billions of dollars in illegal gambling schemes. The scope of the criminal activity was shocking: The government moved to close down more than 75 bank accounts that the companies in question used for their multibillion-dollar... MORE»
Governor, Stand Your Ground! No Raises for State Worker Unions
Governor Andrew Cuomo used a phrase the other day that ought to put a chill down the spine of every taxpayer. He said that the state was "functionally bankrupt." The wording was not meant as a scare tactic. It was merely a statement of the... MORE»
Property Owners Paying Extra for Petunias? Not In This Town
If you have nice flowers in your neighborhood, or maybe some really spectacular shade trees, should you have to pay for the privilege? You might think that you actually do pay for the flowers in a local park, or the trees that line your block. After all, you pay taxes for the upkeep of parks and community gardens and shade trees (if you don't pay taxes, well, April 15 is upon... MORE»
Foreclosure Investigations: Schneiderman Has Every Right to Pry
Amid revelations that foreclosures around the country have been improperly processed, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is stepping up an investigation of the cottage industry that foreclosures have become in New York. Mr. Schneiderman's office recently issued subpoenas to a law firm that has handled about 40 percent of all foreclosures in the state. The firm, Steven J. Baum, has represented large lending institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, seeking to foreclose on delinquent property owners.... MORE»
Welcoming the Dennis Walcott Era
While strange things have been known to happen in New York politics, one thing seems absolutely certain: The Dennis Walcott era at the Department of Education will be longer and better than the Cathie Black... MORE»
Don't Get Cocky, Weiner
Anthony Weiner ought to consider the fate of a certain former governor of New York. His name is Eliot Spitzer, and he had a pretty high opinion of himself back in the day. He enjoyed issuing moral pronouncements about the behavior, ethics and other habits of mere mortals. One day, however, the world discovered that Mr. Spitzer didn't think the rules applied to him. He quickly became an... MORE»
Cuomo and Christie: A Tale of Two Governors
If they were trapped in an elevator at a governors' convention, Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie would have lots to discuss. Like how they closed yawning deficits without major tax increases--remarkable achievements. How they stood up to special interests to get their budgets passed. How they articulated their goals and rallied public opinion as they made politically unpopular cuts. And how they are preparing the groundwork for further reforms in the political culture of their respective state... MORE»
Schapiro's S.E.C.: Too Big to Succeed?
As The Observer's Maureen Tkacik noted two weeks ago, Mary Schapiro, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is a popular figure in Washington. She wins high marks for her integrity, hard work and decency--qualities that often are in short supply in public... MORE»
For Geraldine Ferraro, a Pioneer
She was a New Yorker, of course, of the only-in kind, a feisty, confident woman who had no problem telling a vice president of the United States where to stick it. Geraldine Ferraro was a formidable woman and a historic political figure who won a victory a generation ago for every American woman who has ever been condescended to by a powerful... MORE»
Letting the Public Peek at Pensions: Props to You, Liu!
Transparency in government is a good thing, so we welcome City Comptroller John Liu's plan to allow unprecedented public access to the city's vast $113 billion pension system. Fund managers may not be so thrilled about this sort of transparency, but they'll have to get used to it as part of the price of doing business with the city's pension... MORE»
City Concerns Shouldn't Overshadow Albany's Budget Miracle
In a welcome break with tradition, state legislative leaders have agreed on a budget before, rather than months after, the start of the new fiscal year, on April 1. What's more, the budget they accepted actually cuts overall state spending. Do you believe in... MORE»
