The New York Observer » Domenic Recchia

Choosing the Finance Chair

Two City Council members told me that Michael Bloomberg is getting directly involved committee-chairmanship assignments, and making personal appeals pushing Domenic Recchia as finance chair. It could mean that the mayor is concerned that the Council he'll be negotiating with for the next four years won't be as friendly as the previous one.

Recchia endorsed Read More

Angling for Finance Chair: Fidler, Recchia and Felder

Last week, Crain's put out the names of two people from Brooklyn vying for the Finance Committee Chairmanship: Lew Fidler and Domenic Recchia.

There's apparently another name to add to the mix: Simcha Felder, who I'm told has sent word to the speaker that he's interested in the position.

The current Finance chairman is David Weprin, of Read More

Council Members on Term-Limits Fallout, Supporting Thompson

I ran around the City Council chambers chatting with members about the primary elections on Tuesday, the impact term limits may have had, and the upcoming mayor’s race. Here’s are some quick highlights:

Oliver Koppell, said, “I got 64 percent. Last time I got 76 percent. I think the difference was largely term limits. But Read More

Did Rock Center Wreck Ya? Call Recchia!

Domenic Recchia—the colorful councilman who speaks pure South Brooklynese—is headed to court this week to take on Jerry Speyer and his Tishman Speyer, titanic landlord of such trophies as Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building.

Sort of.

In addition to his day job representing the people of Gravesend and Bensonhurst, the aptly named Mr. Recchia, chairman of Read More

Details on the Coney Vote! City-Sitt Negotiations Continue; Four New Hotels Possible; $137 M. in Infrastructure

The City Council approved the Bloomberg administration-backed rezoning of Coney Island on Wednesday afternoon in a 44-2-1 vote. While the city is still negotiating with the rezoned area’s main private landlord—Thor Equities’ Joe Sitt—the two long-opposed parties may be close to reaching a final deal.

The rezoning plan would turn vacant lots currently zoned Read More

City Council Expected to Pass Coney Island Rezoning

Council members say Bloomberg-backed rezoning will pass today. Ten acres of parkland possible. Deal reached with Read More

Bloomberg’s Coney Plan Passes Council Committee

The Bloomberg administration is nearing the finish line in its attempt to push a planned revitalization of Coney Island through the City Council, as a key subcommittee and local Councilman Domenic Recchia voted in favor of the plan Tuesday.

Still, there are a few loose ends that could threaten its passage before the full Council Read More

Bloomberg’s Coney Plan Passes Hurdle

Still, there are a few loose ends that could threaten its passage before the full Council Read More

In Coney Island Fight, Recchia Backs Developer Joe Sitt Over Bloomberg

For years now, the Bloomberg administration has been pushing a plan to redevelop Coney Island, trying to ensure its approval in the City Council against resistance from the amusement district’s main landowner, Joe Sitt.

Now, as the Council approaches a vote on the plan in coming weeks, one major line of resistance is emerging: Domenic Read More

In Coney Island Fight, Recchia Backs Developer Joe Sitt Over Bloomberg

For years now, the Bloomberg administration has been pushing a plan to redevelop Coney Island, trying to ensure its approval in the City Council amid resistance from the amusement district’s main landowner, Joe Sitt. Now, as the Council approaches a vote on the plan in coming weeks, one major line of resistance is emerging: Domenic Read More

Bloomberg’s Coney Island Plan Heads to Council Amid Expensive Questions

The fate of the Bloomberg administration’s proposal to remake Coney Island is now in the hands of the City Council and area Councilman Domenic Recchia, who has been critical of key aspects of the plan.

The ambitious proposal, which was approved by the City Planning Commission on Wednesday, imagines hundreds of millions of dollars in Read More

Donating to the Public Advocate Candidates: A Kennedy, Two Ferrers, Three Liberal Writers and a Mogul

For Eric Gioia, there are signs of major institutional support coming from one Kennedy family member, a Schumer aide, and the new city clerk (who landed the job in no small part because of the Queens County Democratic Organization.)

Bill de Blasio got money from Fernando Ferrer and City Councilman Domenic Recchia, who Read More

The Next Coney Battle: Hundreds of Millions for Infrastructure

Thus far, between the freaks, the hunger strikes, the attacks via the media between city officials and a Brooklyn developer, the protesters brought in by the busloads to show up to an environmental scoping hearing (many of whom didn’t know where they were going), and the opposition by a civic group, Read More

Latest Coney Troubles: Unions, ‘Hundreds of Millions’ in Infrastructure

Thus far, between the freaks, the hunger strikes, the attacks via the media between city officials and a Brooklyn developer, the protestors brought in by the busloads to show up to an environmental scoping hearing (many of whom didn’t know where they were going), and the opposition by a civic group, Read More

Recchia Petitions Against Bloomberg Budget Cut

City Councilman Domenic Recchia, who helped lead Michael Bloomberg's effort to extend term limits, is now organizing to stop the mayor from rescinding the $400 property-tax rebate.

Here's Recchia's online petition--he's the first, and at the moment the only signature. The letter is short and to the point:

While we agree that tough Read More