Joseph Addabbo | The New York Observer

Addabbo Gets a Union of His Own

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:57:15 -0400

Yesterday the largest union in the state, 1199 SEIU, endorsed Republican State Senator Serf Maltese of Queens, leaving Maltese's Democratic challenger, City Councilman Joe Addabbo, at something of a disadvantage.

But the state’s second largest union, 32BJ, an affiliate of 1199 in the SEIU apparatus, just said they will support Addabbo.

The communications director for 32BJ, Matt Nerzig, e-mailed yesterday to say the effort in support of Addabbo is “unmatched by any other...

1199 SEIU Backs Republican Maltese

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:19:07 -0400

Republican State Senator Serf Maltese will be endorsed tomorrow by one of the state's most powerful unions, 1199 SEIU, according to a campaign media advisory.

Democrats have considered Maltese's district a place where they could pick up another State Senate seat, since Maltese won his re-election two years ago with only a handful of votes, and he was running against a relatively unknown candidate. This year, his Democratic opponent, City Councilman Joe Addabbo, is providing...

A Term-Limits Question for Councilmen Seeking Higher Office

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:24:22 -0400

The proposed change to the city’s term limit law may “sail” through the City Council, but it poses a complication for City Council members who are currently campaigning for higher office.

If they support the change, they risk, at least theoretically, angering voters they’ll be facing very soon—and raising questions about their real level of interest the new offices they're running for.

Democrat Mike McMahon, who is running a strong campaign for...

Addabbo Campaign Attacks Maltese Over Bloomberg's Defense of Taxes

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:05:24 -0400

The State Senate campaign of City Councilman Joe Addabbo seized on the comments Michael Bloomberg made yesterday in defense of the 18.5 percent property-tax increase that the City Council approved in 2002. Addabbo's opponent, the Bloomberg-endorsed Republican incumbentSerf Maltese, criticized the vote in a recent mailer.

In a statement just now, Addabbo spokeswoman Alexis Grenell said, "The Mayor and Maltese need to get their stories straight. Joe Addabbo is laser focused on the issues:...

Bloomberg's Taxes Complicate Life for Republican Allies

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:40:20 -0400

Michael Bloomberg’s tax policy is giving his political allies a headache.

At a breakfast in midtown last week, State Senate Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos tried to send a clear anti-tax-increase message to business leaders.

“As I said before, the Senate is ready to do what’s appropriate to reduce spending, but we should not raise taxes, as some have indicated. In this fragile economy, it would be disastrous to raise taxes,” Skelos said.

The speech, hosted by...

Bloomberg: What's Was Wrong With the Old Property-Tax Hike?

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:05:34 -0400

Democratic City Council members now challenging Republicans for State Senate seats are facing criticism over a 2002 vote to raise city property taxes by 18.5 percent.

Michael Bloomberg supported the increase in property tax.

At his press conference just now, I asked Bloomberg--who has been supportive of State Senate Republicans--if that's fair to criticize those lawmakers over the vote.

“For doing what [are they being criticized]? Paying our fire fighters and police officers and...

Maltese's Tax Attack

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:31:28 -0400

Here’s a mailing that voters in Serf Maltese’s State Senate district got this week, hitting his challenger, Council member Joe Addabbo, on the issue of taxes.

Addabbo campaign spokesman Alexis Grenell disputes the claim, and says that in fact Maltese voted against cutting the Personal Income Tax in 1995, which, she says, makes Maltese the tax-raiser in the race. Grenell also notes that the mailer doesn’t cite any sources for its calculations.

Local Debate Schedule: Maltese-Addabbo, Padavan-Gennaro

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:42:49 -0400

For those of you closely following the competitive State Senate races this year, here's a list I compiled of forums and debates in two of them.

Republican incumbent Serf Maltese versus Democrat Joe Addabbo (neck-and-neck in the latest poll):

-Thursday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. Junior High School 93, 4th Avenue and Madison Street, Ridgewood. Hosted by the Ridgewood Property Owners Association.

-Tuesday, October at 7:30 p.m. Christ Lutheran Church Community Center, 86th...

Poll Observations: Addabbo Not Beating 'Unknown,' Johnson Race Subject to Late Breaks

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:11:02 -0400

A couple of interesting observations I heard on today’s Siena poll of key State Senate races.

The first has to do with Republican incumbent Serf Maltese, who is currently running even with his Democratic challenger, Joe Addabbo. Consultant Joe Mercurio said he found that “surprising,” since that’s basically how Maltese’s 2006 race ended up, and that was against a challenger who was virtually unknown.

"I figured Addabbo would do better than an...

Nurses Union Shifts From Republican Maltese to Democrat Addabbo

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:52:10 -0400

Republican State Senator Serf Maltese, whose re-election campaign is being closely watched this year, announced today he was endorsed by the Public Employees Federation.

When asked for comment, a spokeswoman for Maltese’s Democratic opponent, Joe Addabbo, emailed a lengthy list of union endorsements --some which haven’t been publicly announced yet. That list includes the New York State Nurses Association, which Addabbo’s campaign said endorsed Maltese in 2006 in previous election years.

Ferrer Endorses Addabbo

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:51:56 -0400

Fernando Ferrer announced today he will endorse Joe Addabbo in the Democratic State Senate primary in Queens.

Addabbo, a term-limited City Councilman, is facing Albert Baldeo, who almost beat Republican incumbent Serf Maltese in 2006.

Democrats are paying a lot of attention to this race because it could affect the balance of power in Albany, where Senate Republicans are hanging onto a slim two-seat majority.

When Michael Bloomberg made a flurry of legislative endorsements last...

Addabbo is Ready to Run Against Maltese

Tue, 08 May 2007 15:22:05 -0400

Democratic Councilman Joe Addabbo is having a fund-raiser on May 24th for his not-yet-announced race for state Senate against Republican Serph Maltese.

Maltese is best known outside his Queens district for having one of the closest re-election campaigns last year. Democrats narrowly lost that race with candidate Albert Baldeo, who is vowing to run again.

Helping out Addabbo, according to this fund-raising email a reader forwarded, is Stuart Appelbaum of RWDSU, and other labor...

America's Mayor and First Responders

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 04:38:23 -0500

As the City Council meets today, there's one bill that Rudy Giuliani watchers may want to keep an eye on. Councilman Joe Addabbo, who chairs the labor committee, has a proposal that would require the Department of Health to issue an annual report on the health of first responders that are registered with the World Trade Center Health Registry. A medical study from the health department, depending upon how it turns out, could very possibly...