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By virtue of the spelling of his last name, Queens State Senator Joseph Addabbo was the second person to answer the slow roll call vote on gay marriage yesterday, and Mr. Addabbo's "No" might have been the signal that the measure was going down, freeing other senators to vote against it without any fear that they'd be blamed for sinking the... READ MORE»
Here's a bit more about Joe Addabbo, who after a press conference about state legislation to do away with run-off elections in New York City, defended his vote against same-sex marriage.... READ MORE»
Incoming City Councilman Danny Dromm pointed out the irony that Hiram Monserrate, despite his recent legal trouble, was able to vote against the same-sex marriage bill. Dromm, whose Jackson Heights district overlaps with Monserrate's, told me: "Here's a guy who was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend, yet he takes a vote on whether two loving people have the right to... READ MORE»
They may be on the wrong side of history, but—at least for the near future—most of the New York state senators who voted down gay marriage on Wednesday will not pay a political... READ MORE»
Hiram Monserrate and Joe Addabbo are two of the eight Senate Democrats who voted against same-sex marriage yesterday. But while they were in the City Council, they twice voted in favor of extending rights to gay... READ MORE»
One of the city’s most powerful unions, 1199 SEIU, endorsed in two of the three February 24 special elections. On Staten Island, the health care group endorsed Debi Rose, the only woman in a crowded race that includes Ken Mitchell, formerly chief of staff to former councilman Mike... READ MORE»
Five City Council candidates filed petitions with the city Board of Elections to appear on the ballot for the special elections taking place on February 24. Since special elections are nonpartisan, candidates also had to create a party name on which to run. Here they are so far: In the 49th District on the North Shore of Staten Island, which was vacated by Mike... READ MORE»
Michael Bloomberg announced that Feb. 24 will be the date for special elections for the City Council seats being vacated by Hiram Monserrate, Joseph Addabbo and Mike McMahon. Monserrate and Addabbo, both of Queens, were elected to the State Senate. McMahon, of Staten Island, was elected to... READ MORE»
Yep, that’s Tom Ognibene, the Republican who ran a primary against Michael Bloomberg in 2005 (and more recently lost a City Council primary), at this morning's campaign kick-off event for Eric Ulrich, who is running for City... READ MORE»
Yesterday the largest union in the state, 1199 SEIU, endorsed Republican State Senator Serf Maltese of Queens, leaving Maltese's Democratic challenger, City Councilman Joe Addabbo, at something of a disadvantage. But the state’s second largest union, 32BJ, an affiliate of 1199 in the SEIU apparatus, just said they will support Addabbo. The communications director for 32BJ, Matt Nerzig, e-mailed yesterday to say the effort in support of Addabbo is “unmatched by any other union in this... READ MORE»
Republican State Senator Serf Maltese will be endorsed tomorrow by one of the state's most powerful unions, 1199 SEIU, according to a campaign media advisory. Democrats have considered Maltese's district a place where they could pick up another State Senate seat, since Maltese won his re-election two years ago with only a handful of votes, and he was running against a relatively unknown candidate. This year, his Democratic opponent, City Councilman Joe Addabbo, is providing... READ MORE»
The proposed change to the city’s term limit law may “sail” through the City Council, but it poses a complication for City Council members who are currently campaigning for higher office. If they support the change, they risk, at least theoretically, angering voters they’ll be facing very soon—and raising questions about their real level of interest the new offices they're running for.... READ MORE»
The State Senate campaign of City Councilman Joe Addabbo seized on the comments Michael Bloomberg made yesterday in defense of the 18.5 percent property-tax increase that the City Council approved in 2002. Addabbo's opponent, the Bloomberg-endorsed Republican incumbentSerf Maltese, criticized the vote in a recent mailer. In a statement just now, Addabbo spokeswoman Alexis Grenell said, "The Mayor and Maltese need to get their stories straight. Joe Addabbo is laser focused on the issues:... READ MORE»
Michael Bloomberg’s tax policy is giving his political allies a headache. At a breakfast in midtown last week, State Senate Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos tried to send a clear anti-tax-increase message to business leaders. “As I said before, the Senate is ready to do what’s appropriate to reduce spending, but we should not raise taxes, as some have indicated. In this fragile economy, it would be disastrous to raise taxes,” Skelos said. The speech, hosted by... READ MORE»
Democratic City Council members now challenging Republicans for State Senate seats are facing criticism over a 2002 vote to raise city property taxes by 18.5 percent. Michael Bloomberg supported the increase in property tax. At his press conference just now, I asked Bloomberg--who has been supportive of State Senate Republicans--if that's fair to criticize those lawmakers over the vote. “For doing what [are they being criticized]? Paying our fire fighters and police officers and improving our schools?... READ MORE»
