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Roundup: 'SafeHouse'

Thu, 05 May 2011 17:11:35 -0400

President Obama Lays Wreathe at Ground Zero. Photo Credit: William Alatriste

White House: Netanyahu to visit on May 20. [JTA]

WikiLeaks: WSJ launches its own version. [wsjSafeHouse.com]

WikiLeaks: NYT and Guardian working on their own versions; WSJ passed at major WikiLeaks dump. [Joe Pompeo]

Ground Zero: "On one part, it feels like it was years ago, and on another part it feels like it was just yesterday" said Brooklyn fireman. [Manny Fernandez]

Ground Zero Arrest:...

2010 A Record Year for Lobbying Cash

Thu, 05 May 2011 16:47:12 -0400

Cue up "We're In The Money."

A new report out today from the Center on Public Integrity confirms what we all knew: Albany is awash in lobbyist cash.

Says CPI:

In 2010, $213.4 million was spent, up from $197.8 million the previous year. One of the largest increases came in the area of advertising. Clients reported spending $29,804,878 for advertising in 2010, compared to $6,167,701 in 2009.

There were 6,659 lobbyists representing 4,091 clients, compared to 5,887 lobbyists...

Should We Retire “Ground Zero”?

Thu, 05 May 2011 16:36:39 -0400

In his column today, the Post's Steve Cuozzo (the 100th most powerful man in real estate) suggested that New Yorkers retire the phrase "ground zero," and let the term become--like bin Laden and the chaos surrounding the WTC's reconstruction--a thing of the past.

"To stand at Church and Vesey streets," Cuozzo says, "is to witness a new Downtown being born."

After nearly a decade of false starts, delays, and general confusion, the city is...

Commercial Observer images 5-5-11

Thu, 05 May 2011 15:02:42 -0400

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A Letter from Village Voice Executive Editor Michael Lacey

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:53:35 -0400

The New York Observer's headline rather captured the quaint battiness of Kat Stoeffel's media column: "Village Voice Media Getting Down and Dirty with Escort Ads."

Getting down?

Really?

Stoeffel is the overly powdered aunt that haunts family holidays. At dinner, she's left her teeth in a glass of water on the bedside table. She'd like to chew your goose. But she's left to gum your bird while forgetting the grandkid's names.

Because she is neither competent nor engaging...

Village Voice Media Executive Mike Lacey Responds to 'The New York Observer'

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:52:59 -0400

Village Voice Media Executive Editor Michael Lacey declined to be interviewed for our story on his company last week, "Village Voice Media Getting Down and Dirty with Escort Ads," but he wrote us yesterday to submit a few corrections and provide a counternarrative. The full letter is linked below.

On one point, a correction is in order: We called Mr. Lacey CEO of Village Voice Media. Despite co-founding New Times with the current CEO Jim...

A Peptic Response from the Powdered Aunt

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:52:47 -0400

Village Voice Media executive editor Michael Lacey had some words for me regarding a piece I wrote, "Village Voice Media Getting Down and Dirty with Escort Ads." When he wasn't describing me as someone's senile, toothless auntie, he made a few criticisms that merit clarification.

He writes:

"Her dubious and fusty perspective ignores the fact that countless adult ads populate the web. In fact, thousands of adult ads merely changed categories within Craigslist itself." [...]

According to...

Chelsea Residents Finally Draw the Line at Large Glass Mutation

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:39:49 -0400

Neighborhood residents are speaking out against a budding plan by Chelsea Market owner Jamestown Properties to build towers atop the complex. Evidently, local penthouse owners (whose lives must be pretty rough) had to draw the line somewhere.

Jamestown's plan would stack two new multi-story spaces on top of the complex. Above the 10th Avenue side, the company would add an eight-story glass office building; and a 12-story boutique hotel would sit atop the east...

Extell's 20 West 47th Loses Diamond Maker to 580 Fifth

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:33:03 -0400

Gary Barnett has scored some big victories in the Diamond District of late, but in this case Extell's loss is the World Diamond Tower's gain.

Mr. Barnett, a former diamond dealer, bought 20 West 47th Street earlier this winter for $73 million in a judicial auction. But one of his diamond dealer tenants (a rare gem these days with the city's diamond industry struggling) has moved its headquarters to 580 Fifth Avenue. Nationally regarded diamond...

Obama at Ground Zero

Thu, 05 May 2011 13:14:46 -0400

Barack Obama laid a reef wreath at Ground Zero a moment ago. In visits to a fire house and police station, the president was accompanied by former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Obama took a moment to chat with Mayor Bloomberg, NY Governor Cuomo and NJ Governor Christie, at Ground Zero.

Fox 5's Greg Kelly [fixed], live at Ground Zero, said it was "remarkable to see the president here." His colleague, Dick Brennan, at one point said...