Kevin Powell gathered reporters at Junior’s Restaurant in Brooklyn this morning to respond to what he called unfair reminders of his admittedly violent past in recent columns by Daily News columnist Errol Louis.

Powell, who is running for Congress against Representative Ed Towns of Brooklyn and has admitted to and apologized for past incidents of violence against women, said that he would never to do it again, and added that recent events related to Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson and others have made it clear that public officials all need to be transparent about their shortcomings.

He noted he has Gloria Steinem's support. (Along with others, she is helping to organize a "Women for Powell" event in September.  read more »

It's not an easy thing to do in electoral politics, but Kevin Powell, who would like to unseat Representative Ed Towns of Brooklyn, is trying, once again, to make a break with his violent past, which includes numerous incidents of physical violence against women.

Tomorrow Powell is hosting a breakfast, billed as a "media meet-and-greet," at Junior's to respond to a recent column, by the Daily News' Errol Louis, titled "B'KLYN RACE NO PLACE FOR EX-ABUSERS." [UPDATE: It was pointed out to me that Louis has a more recent column on Powell as well]. The release, which just came out, notes that members of a group called Women for Kevin Powell will be in attendance.  read more »

Assemblyman Dov Hikind just emailed me a statement in response to an earlier statement from gay rights activist Alan Van Capelle slamming him for opposing same-sex marriage.

Capelle, responding to a column in the Daily News by Errol Louis, said, “I guess Errol Louis doesn't mind standing with Dov Hikind, and I don't think that's where most people want to stand.”

Hikind’s response: “If we authorize gay marriage in the state of New York, those who want to live and love incestuously will be five steps closer to achieving their goals as well.”

Hikind's full response is after the jump.  read more »

One of the more exciting conversational themes in Albany today is Errol Louis' column in the Daily News about gay marriage. In it, he writes that the effort to legalize gay marriage, which passed the state Assembly this week, has provided a template for efforts around the country to legalize polygamy and incest.

Gay marriage advocates have reacted furiously, with a number of them emailing and calling me to express their outrage.

Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said, “I found it absolutely disgusting.” Capelle pointed out that the sexual deviants Louis cites in his column are actually all straight people.

“So don't drag us down with the bottom of the heterosexual group,” he said.

Louis, when told of Van Capelle’s comments, emailed me to say, “One possible response is dismissive ‘disgust.’ A more serious strategy would be to craft an argument for why stable, consensual, adult same-sex relationships should be recognized by the state but stable, consensual, adult sibling sexual relationships should not.”

The full Van Capelle-Louis exchange is after the jump.  read more »

[UPDATE: Eugene's campaign manager called to say that neither newly elected Council member was sworn in today because the outcomes were not certified by the city's Board of Elections.]

Eugene's campaign manager, Joe Placide, told me yesterday that his candidate is still looking signed a lease February 1 for an apartment.

Hillary may lose the black vote, according to Errol Louis.

Spitzer may ignore recommendations from a Pataki-controlled committee in deciding who gets the state's horse racing franchise.

2009 mayoral candidates weigh in on a report that said state and local taxes in New York are higher than in most other major cities.

The Post editorial board's treatment of Hillary continues to trend away from benign. "If she was that close to the levers of power, how is it that she seems to have learned so little of what the responsibilities of office really are?"

Eliot Spitzer wants Sheldon Silver to disclose how much money he makes from his second job at a private law firm.

Errol Louis sees a problem with the Black, Puerto Rican, Latino and Asian Legislative Caucus not supporting a well-qualified African-American woman for state comptroller.

The Republicans' last oasis in Albany may be coming to an end, says Jay Gallagher.

Chuck Schumer said that voters might not be ready to elect a ticket that consists of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama because of the need for more balance.

A moment of "political reckoning for social conservatives" has arrived, says Patrick Healy.

And the state is relaunching an "I Love New York" campaign.

Errol Louis thinks the mayor needs to "dream bigger, talk louder and invest more political capital" if he wants to solve the city's poverty problem.

Faso also wants to cut income taxes for couples earning under $50,000 and individuals earnning under $25,000.

Andrew Cuomo and others rip Jeanine Pirro over the freed Westchester inmate she refused to help while she was D.A.

Charles Bagli can hardly believe that, "Now, at long last, finally, for sure, the new framework for rebuilding at ground zero is in place. A firm deal was approved yesterday. Really."

Columbia withdraws its invitation to Iran's President.

And one Brooklyn brownstone goes hot pink.

"It is fine to trade stocks, and play baseball, and broadcast soap operas and even write a newspaper column. But absolutely forbidden is the normal functioning of our democracy. And they say the terrorists haven't won."

Haberman also notes that next year's primary is on Sept. 11, 2007.

"On Sept. 11, 2001, immigration officials were using typewriters, the Federal Aviation Administration had only 12 names on its no-fly anti-terrorist list and the U.S. had just 33 armed air marshals, not one of whom was assigned to protect domestic flights."

After a singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" to show they are not partisan, Republicans and Democrats began "squabbling over the wording of a Sept. 11 resolution..."

Eliot Spitzer hopes a big win in the polls will help create "a significant foundation for reform."

Barron just told Errol Louis - who is managing the impressive feat this week of filling in for both Brian Lehrer and Ben Smith - that Towns' absence is "disrespectful," while Green said it shows "contempt for the democratic process itself."

Barron also attacked Towns, but offered a spirited defense of this guy.