Steven Rubenstein

The oft-criticized legislators up in Albany must be enjoying the spectacle of the press training its fire on... the press.

The Times Union reported yesterday that the New York Bankers Association, a group that lobbies state lawmakers, paid the New York Post's veteran Albany man Fred Dicker for a speech earlier this month.

A spokesperson for the NYBA said that Dicker's speech on January 9 lasted about 30 minutes, and a spokesman for the Post said Dicker was paid $1,000. (The money has since been returned to the association with a request that it be donated to an Alzheimer's-related charity, according to Post spokesman Steven Rubenstein.)

Today, the Daily News gets in on the story, adding that "this is the third straight year the NYBA has been paying Dicker - without the knowledge of his boss, Post editor in chief Col Allan."

I'm guessing this isn't over.

-- Azi Paybarah

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The New York Post is calling the Hampton quits early this summer. Editor-in-chief Col Allen has pulled the Hamptons Diary, the paper's daily gossip column about East End elites. The column hasn't appeared since the July 4th weekend, and according to a source, the Post yanked the column to save money on renting a house for reporters covering the scene from Jet East and the Star Room and, well, famous people's lawns. Post spokesman Steven Rubenstein declined to comment on budget matters, but said the paper will only run the column on holidays and notable Hamptons weekends. He confirmed it will no longer appear as a daily column. "Hamptons Diary will run only on big occasions and big holidays when it's going to be appropriate," Mr. Rubenstein said. - Gabriel Sherman  read more »

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