The Morning Read: Friday, May 2, 2008

Spike Lee urges Jeremiah Wright to "shut up," and suggests that someone might be paying Barack Obama's former pastor to keep talking.

Adam Nagourney wonders if Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning the nomination have improved.

Top city officials will no longer have to reimburse the city for the cost of using government vehicles for personal or political trips.

A publisher in Queens joins Charles Barron in calling for Christine Quinn to be removed.

Michael Bloomberg said he may end some tax relief measures for homeowners if the fiscal climate here deteriorates.

He also said New Yorkers should “pray” Wall Street does well.

Educators are facing reduced city aid, too.

Some economic experts are skeptical of Bloomberg’s gloomy message about the city budget.

Bloomberg did take a surprisingly soft stand on the slush fund scandal at the City Council.

“The worst is yet to come” for state finances, according to David Paterson’s budget director.

Vito Fossella's drunk driving arrest shocks people in Staten Island.

Fossella was arrested in Virginia, during the final days of the state's "Alcohol Awareness Month."

Brooklyn Paper wonders if Fossella was behind the wheel of a taxpayer-funded car.

The arrest may hurt his reelection chances.

Amazon is suing to stop New York from collecting taxes on online purchases.

Fifty-four additional women accused Bloomberg L.P. of harassment, and more could be on the way, according to a lawyer for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The Sean Bell verdict may hurt Ray Kelly’s mayoral chances. (Doug Muzzio is sort of vindicated).

Clyde Haberman grapples with the political views of some outspoken clergy.

The woman who Dennis Gallagher sexually assaulted spoke at a local community meeting and asked not to be photographed.

Here’s a dispatch from the Libertarian Party meeting in Queens last week.

Ben Mussig explains a lot about Kevin Powell.

And here’s Tony Avella at a community meeting recently, taking aim at Dennis Gallagher.