One of the key plans of Ed Koch's reform effort, NY Uprising, is taking redistricting power out of the hands of legislators by creating a non-partisan redistricting commission.
The way redistricting works now is that legislators, usually in the majority party, take out a map and a pen and decide who they will represent. Ending Read More
Michael Bloomberg went to Washington D.C. yesterday warning against over-regulating and taxing Wall Street, which he said would have a disproportionately impact New York City.This morning, he repeated his warning during a press conference in the Bronx about waterfront development. Also there were Rep. Jerry Nadler and Rep. Jose Serrano, who later told reporters Read More
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced she was endorsed by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.
Gotbaum said in a public statement, “Having known Kirsten since before she became a Congresswoman, I know she is very bright, capable and extremely hard-working. Kirsten learned quickly now that she represents the entire state and has adapted very well to her role. Read More
Former state senator Olga Mendez of East Harlem, whose 26-year career ended when she switched parties and tried running as a Republican, has died, according to an aide to the Bronx Democratic County leader Carl Heastie.
Mendez’s passing was first reported by Gerson Borrero.
Mendez was defeated in 2004 by Jose Serrano, who Read More
ALBANY—Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign announced today she had been endorsed by the leaders of 52 of the 62 Democratic county leaders in New York. Among the holdouts: the chairmen of all five boroughs of New York City.
I found Assemblyman Vito Lopez, also chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, on the floor Read More
According to Jose Serrano, Kirsten Gillibrand is going after the low-hanging fruit first.
In the days since Representative Steve Israel decided not to consider a primary against Gillibrand, following calls from President Barack Obama and Senator Chuck Schumer, other members of the New York Congressional delegation have quickly lined up in support Read More
ALBANY—Several Democrats in the State Senate are today sending
ALBANY—For all the rhetoric of urgency, it doesn't seem like lawmakers will have the stomach to support bridge tolls that Richard Ravitch recommended to bail out the M.T.A.
State Senator Martin Malave Dilan said he hasn't made up his mind on proposed tolls on bridges spanning the East and Harlem rivers, but his "inclination Read More
ALBANY—As legislators weigh implementing some or all of the recommendations of the Ravitch Commission--which was convened to find ways to rescue the M.T.A. from it's fiscal crisis-- one state senator says tolling the Harlem River bridges would be regressive.
"I hope that we can make a distinction between the East River and Harlem River. If Read More
"I didn't have a chance to read through all of it, Read More
"I did that last week," Serrano said. There Read More
“I’m surprised to find out that I’m the only New York City person to vote no,” said Mr. Serrano in a telephone conversation a few hours after he cast his vote. “I thought other Read More
DENVER—Referring to Clinton supporters' plans to place her name in nomination, Representative Jose Serrano of the Bronx just told me that the New York delegation is being put "in a very difficult situation by some angry folks who somehow want to make a statement that need not be made.”
Serrano, who was on 16th Street Read More
Liberal billionaire George Soros and members of his family have contributed a little more than $1 million into state campaign coffers since 2000, with nearly all of it going to help Democrats in the State Senate.Already this year, George, his son Robert, Robert’s wife, Melissa, and another son, Jonathan, contributed $199,500. George, Robert and Read More
Citizens Against Government Waste published its annual list of congressional earmarks (they actually call it the Congressional Pig Book list).Of course, what one person calls wasteful spending, another person calls bringing home the bacon, and now that Democrats are in the majority, New York was supposed to be getting more federal money.
The state made Read More
