Jay Savino

Possible mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis threw himself a 60th birthday party last night at the famous Rainbow Room.

My invitation must have been lost in the mail, but one attendee I spoke to said about 300 people showed up, and they included Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Representative Carolyn Maloney, and Republican county leaders Jay Savino of the Bronx, Craig Eaton of Brooklyn and Phil Ragusa of Queens. Republican State Senator Serf Maltese also attended.

Catsimatidis received proclamations from both David Paterson and Michael Bloomberg.

Hours before John McCain gave his convention speech, some actual non-presidential news broke: Democratic City Councilman Oliver Koppell of the Bronx said he’ll introduce a bill to extend term limits.

Term limits was a major topic of conversation in the last couple of weeks, but so far no there's been no action.

I was on the floor of the Xcel Center when I heard about Koppell's bill, and asked Bronx Republican County Leader Jay Savino for his thoughts.

He called it a “slap in the face” for voters, because they twice approved the current law, which allows city lawmakers two terms, in referendums in the 1990s. He also said any lawmaker that supports extending the limit is "self-interested.”

When another delegate asked if Savino wanted to soften his remarks, since it's totally possible that Michael Bloomberg will support Koppell's bill, Savino waved off the suggestion and turned away.

Pedro Espada Jr., the former Bronx state Senator, is considering forming an alliance with Bronx Republicans that could lead to his return to public office, according to two people briefed on the plans by Espada.

According to these sources, Espada, who is still a registered Democrat, would help recruit enough county Republican committee members to oust current Bronx GOP leader Jay Savino and install someone else.  read more »

That new borough-wide infrastructure would then help Espada run for elected office, like the Borough Presidency, which has been talked about recently.

Tomorrow, John Faso campaigns in the Bronx with state senate candidate Jay Savino and attends the Elmont South Republican Club Committee BBQ in Valley Stream.

The Manhattan Young Dems host the "Train for Change" free campaign training.

Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper host a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at their East Hampton home.

On Sunday, Wesley Clarke will also be in the Hamptons.

On Monday Sylvia Friedman, Brian Kavanagh, Esther Yang and Juan Pagan, candidates for the 74th Assembly District, will debate at St. Nicholas Church in the East Village.

—Nicole Brydson