Since he won't be running for re-election to the City Council, Tony Avella is doing more than flirting with the idea of running for higher office.
Standing by the security gate by the West side of City Hall, Avella was overheard telling one labor official, "I think I'm going to run for a [State] Senate Read More
ALBANY—Does anyone like this deficit deal? Anyone?
Below are the roll calls from the State Assembly, where a measure to offer amnesty to delinquent taxpayers passed with only two dissenters—Republicans Jim Hayes and Will Barclay. The two other bills comprising the deficit reduction plan passed 106-32, largely, though not completely, along party Read More
ALBANY—There were no major surprises, nothing was defeated, and the tweaked version of mayoral school control voted through the State Senate after two hours.
The main Assembly bill passed by a vote of 47 to 8; all four chapter amendments were approved by varying margins, with 15 senators opposing the creation of Read More
ALBANY—Apparently, in addition to the Assembly's school-control bill and the four chapter amendments to increase parental involvement, the State Senate passed a resolution today by a voice vote that will create a panel to oversee the public schools.
Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos and Senator Frank Padvan, a Republican from Queens who is Read More
Here’s a mailing from Swaranjit Singh, a Democrat running for David Weprin’s seat in Queens.
On the front there’s a photo of Democrat City Councilman Tony Avella. And on the back, and, if you look closely, is a photo that includes Republican State Senator Frank Padavan.
Also running for the Read More
ALBANY—When the State Senate returns on Wednesday, it will take up a school governance bill passed by the Assembly as well as a separate bill amending it. This means that the Assembly bill—which David Paterson has said he will sign—would become law, and any changes or input that some Senate Democrats hope to make will Read More
ALBANY—When the State Senate returns on Wednesday, it will take up a school governance bill passed by the Assembly as well as a separate bill amending it.
This means that the Assembly bill—which David Paterson has said he will sign—would become law, and any changes or input that some Senate Democrats Read More
ALBANY—Everyone expected that there would be legal action if David Paterson moved to enact bills passed during the coffee-run coup. Apparently that wasn't necessary to trigger a suit.
State Senator Darrel Aubertine, a Watertown Democrat, filed suit against several Assembly staffers for not performing what he asserts is a "ministerial" duty of Read More
ALBANY—Everyone expected that there would be legal action if David Paterson moved to enact bills passed during the coffee-run coup. Apparently that wasn't necessary to trigger a suit. State Senator Darrel Aubertine, a Watertown Democrat, filed suit against several Assembly staffers for not performing what he asserts is a "ministerial" duty of sending along the Read More
ALBANY—State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. is going home.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but definitely Saturday and for the rest of the weekend.
"I don't know yet. But Saturday I will not be here. Sunday is work. I'm preaching Sunday: You should come to my pulpit, Jimmy, oohhh," Diaz told me and other Read More
ALBANY—And that's it for Tuesday!
There was no legislative action and no surprise bipartisan deal—just the familiar bickering between the
ALBANY—Democrats in the still-hobbled State Senate are claiming not only that the legislation they passed earlier today is valid, but that they deserve credit for doing it.
"The rubber met the road today," said Senator John Sampson, whose title is "conference leader."
"We have a coalition. Thirty-one Democrats and one Republican: Senator Frank Read More
ALBANY—Here's a signed and sworn affidavit by State Senator Frank Padavan saying it is "absolutely fraudulent" to claim he can be counted present and voting on measures in the still-hobbled State Senate.
Padavan does admit to walking through the chamber, "to obtain a cup of coffee from the member's lounge," but said that Read More
ALBANY—David Paterson said he does not believe State Senator Frank Padavan should have been counted as present when he passed through the State Senate chamber earlier this afternoon, and as such will not sign any of the legislation Democrats are passing there.
"I've spoken to Senator Padavan, he says that he was walking Read More
ALBANY—Having gone through the active list of "vanilla" bills this morning, Democrats in the State Senate—claiming they have a 32-vote quorum—are going further.
Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democratic leader, called a meeting of the Rules Committee in the back of the chamber, where senators voted 80 more bills onto the active list. They're about Read More
