James Brennan | The New York Observer

Electeds Want Delay on M.T.A. Atlantic Yards Vote

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:29:30 -0400

A group of seven state and local elected officials are trying to thwart an M.T.A. board vote scheduled for Wednesday on the $4 billion Atlantic Yards project, seeking to delay the agency’s final approval for the project, which includes a new arena for the Nets in Brooklyn.

The officials’ consternation comes as the M.T.A. is expected to recommend a deal in which developer Forest City Ratner gives less upfront cash than it initially agreed...

Brennan Drops Out of City Comptroller Race

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:20:06 -0400

The city comptroller's race continues to shrink as Assemblyman Jim Brennan just announced he's out of the race.

Brennan, who's from Brooklyn, dropping off the ticket is a boon to City Councilman David Yassky, also from Brooklyn.

Another Brooklyn candidate, Simcha Felder, dropped out in June. That leaves Yassky competing most intensely for votes in Queens, where City Council members Melinda Katz and David Weprin are from. Another candidate, Adolfo Carrion, is from the Bronx.

Of...

Paterson Picks a Good Fight to Lose

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:40:01 -0400

As part of his crusade to reform the state's finances, Governor David Paterson outlined a proposal yesterday to cut an additional $1 billion from this year’s budget, plus $1.6 billion next year. Doing so put him at odds with fellow Democrats, and it's unlikely to turn into a legislative coup for the governor. How it will play politically, however, is a different story.

The governor's first dramatic warnings about the state budget, which...

Comptroller Candidate 2008 Fund-Raising Race: Carrion, Yassky, Weprin, Katz, Brennan

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:01:50 -0400

Campaign finance filings for the city comptroller race show candidates getting ready for what looks like it will be one of the more competitive 2009 races. (The latest filing period is January 12 to July 11, 2008.)

According to a search of donations for those candidates between those dates:

David Yassky--$463,575

David Weprin--$334,499

Melinda Katz--$206,154

Jim Brennan--$84,577

Adolfo Carrion’s campaign finance numbers are not posted yet on the Campaign Finance Board’s Web site, but...

Yassky's $500,000 Haul

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:41:20 -0400

Since campaign finance numbers for city candidates are due tomorrow, a few have begun releasing them, including two candidates in the competitive comptroller's race, David Yassky and Jim Brennan.

Yassky’s campaign said they raised almost $500,000 this period, from a total of 600 donors, bringing his cash-on-hand total to $1.25 million.

Jim Brennan’s campaign spokeswoman said he raised $104,000 this filing period, bringing his total raised to $507,000. The spokeswoman, Jill Harris,...

Yassky's 212 Fund-Raiser

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:38:25 -0400

Here's an invitation for a David Yassky fund-raiser tonight on the Upper West Side.

One of the event's hosts is Andrew Tomback, a long-time Yassky contributor who has also given some money to Eric Gioia and, once, back in the day, to Alan Hevesi.

Other notable names include John Alschuler, who has contributed to progressive Democrats like Mark Green and Ruth Messinger. Alschuler has also given money to another comptroller candidate, Melinda Katz ($250...

Suggesting Changes to Bill, Citizens Union Pushes for Congestion Pricing to Pass

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:27:42 -0400

Citizens Union, a group that promotes government openness and transparency, is urging state lawmakers to pass congestion pricing.

But they also have some changes they’d like to see in the final bill.

Like Bill Thompson, the group wants to eliminate the discount that drivers who pay a toll prior to entering the congestion pricing zone. (Both Citizens Union and Thompson support offsetting that discount by having the Port Authority contribute $1 billion to...

Assemblyman's Alternative Congestion Pricing Plan

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:02:50 -0400

Assemblyman Jim Brennan of Brooklyn, who is also running for city comptroller, introduced his own congestion pricing bill today. A spokesman, when asked, did not say whether he will support the plan as it is currently presented to lawmakers.

Brennan's new bill would ensure the program comes up for renewal in three years, and wouldn't allow the state to issue bonds against the program's future earning. Critics say allowing the bonds means the current...

Brooklyn Democrats Honor Yassky

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:21:35 -0400

A reader sent along this invitation for a May 1 awards dinner hosted by the Independent Neighborhood Democrats, a political club in Brooklyn. Among the honorees is the organization's councilman, David Yassky, who is also a candidate for city comptroller.

It's notable that the club is recognizing Yassky because, of the six likely candidates in 2009 comptroller race, half are from Brooklyn, and they are expected to battled fiercely for votes in the...

The Comptroller Race According to Sheinkopf

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:36:18 -0400

During an interview on The Perez Notes last night, Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf delivered a hypothetical negative ad against Coucilwoman Melinda Katz, one of the leading candidates for comptroller in 2009.

“I haven’t written it yet," said Sheinkopf. "I’m going to write it write now. Somebody can steal this and do what they want with it:

"‘Melinda Katz wants to be comptroller of the city of New York. Her credentials? Well, she was the Land Use...

Two More Co-Chairs for Carrion

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:14:22 -0500

Adolfo Carrion just announced two more co-chairs for his city comptroller campaign: former city comptroller Elizabeth Holtzman and Merryl H. Tisch, chairperson of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.

Last month, Carrion rolled out two others: former state comptroller Carl McCall and business executive Leo Hindrey Jr.

Locking up the support of two former comptrollers gives Carrion, at least, a distinction among a field that also includes Melinda Katz, David Yassky, David Weprin, Simcha Felder and...

Brennan Weighs in With Fund-Raising Numbers, Will Count on Matching Funds

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:22:17 -0500

To the fund-raising numbers for comptroller candidates Adolfo Carrion, Melinda Katz, David Yassky, and David Weprin -- all hovering around the million dollar mark -- add a total for one more candidate.

Jim Brennan’s campaign announced just now that he’s raised $144,000 in this most recent fund-raising period, bringing his total amount of contributions up to $405,000, they said. That leaves him with $280,000 on hand, according to spokeswoman Linda Gross.

Brennan: Spitzer Will Delay CFE Funding, Seek $1 Billion in Healthcare Cuts

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 07:25:34 -0500

Democratic Assemblyman Jim Brennan spoke last night to the Stonewall Democratic Club in Manhattan as part of his campaign to become city comptroller.

Brennan predicted that to help close the looming five billion dollar state deficit, when Eliot Spitzer presents his budget in January, he will delay implementation of the provisions required by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court decision (which sends millions of dollars to New York City schools) for a...

Yassky for Comptroller

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:19:34 -0400

It's official: David Yassky is running for comptroller.

He filed paperwork with the Campaign Finance Board late last week and it just popped up on the CFB’s web site a few minutes ago.

Earlier, I noted the strategy will likely be to pick up support in his vote-rich section of Brooklyn and, since the race is full of outer borough candidates, scoop up the largely...

Simcha Felder Hires Again With an Eye on Comptroller Race

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:03:51 -0400

Councilman and all-but-announced city comptroller candidate Simcha Felder of Brooklyn hired another staffer: Eric Kuo, who will be the new new press person.

Kuo previously did press for Councilman Vincent Gentile, a Democrat in the conservative-leaning Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn (the same area that produced Democratic operatives George Fontas, Scott Gastel and Sam Cooper). He also worked for Councilman Oliver Koppell in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. (There are probably some notable operatives...

Yassky for Comptroller?

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:23:48 -0400

About that talk going around that City Councilman David Yassky of Brooklyn will enter the already-crowded City Comptroller’s race in 2009...

"I’m not trying to be coy about it," Yassky just told me. "I want to stay in government. I love this work. I think I’ll want to keep doing it after my term is over. And I think I’ll be in another election," but 2009 is "too far...

Some 2009 Numbers

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:42:40 -0400

The city Campaign Finance Board is putting out some numbers today filed by some familiar candidates for citywide office.

The first total after each name below represents net contributions over a six-month period that ended last week, and the second is net contributions for the entire cycle.

Bill Thompson: $745,573 [$3,169,394]

Christine Quinn: $1,073,614 [$1,383,935]

Tony Avella: $31,425 [$103,465]

Norman Siegel: $26,959 [$26,959]

James Brennan:...

Katz: I'm (Already) Running for Comptroller

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:24:23 -0400

Melinda Katz is going full steam ahead with her bid to be the next city comptroller in a race that, technically, doesn't happen until 2009.

“I’ve been in it for two or three months,” Katz, a Councilwoman from Queens, told me. She's already picked up a major endorsement from RWDSU, the union representing sales and retail workers, to be announced formally tomorrow.

And aside from process, Katz...

Opposed, Gently

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 09:17:04 -0500

Here is a letter from three Brooklyn Assembly members asking for changes in the design of the Atlantic Yards project, but stopping short of actually opposing it. Assembly members James Brennan, Joan Millman and Annette Robinson said the venture should be scaled down, with guaranteed affordable housing and more extensive disclosure of the project's finances.

"A delay of several months while concerns are incorporated into the Project will cause no harm to Atlantic Yards and major...

Mr. Asterisk

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 11:34:56 -0400

James Brennan Newsday has a helpful summary today about citywide candidates who have filed to raise funds for 2009. The list is led by City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., who has so far raised $519,000 as an undeclared candidate. Others who have raised money but have not declared the office they're seeking are Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz (about $83,800) and City Councilmen John Liu ($350,000), Peter Vallone Jr. ($232,000), Domenic Recchia Jr....