The New York Observer » Rory Lancman

Vito Lopez vs. Brooklyn’s ‘Gold Coast’

Tuesday's hearing on the 421-a Property Tax Exemption Program almost didn't happen.

"When we mailed out the notice and we reached out to a lot of people, there was almost no response," Vito Lopez, chairman of the state Assembly's housing committee, said. "So it's quite interesting."

At issue was whether 421-a, which gives tax breaks Read More

Defining the Outer Limits of Shilling

I left the Charter Revision Commission hearing last week before it got interesting.

When representatives from Citizens Union testified, they got some brushback from state lawmakers who thought the group was representing the mayor's interests, rather than the public.

"I'm just wondering what are the outer limits of Citizens Union's willingness to be a shill for Read More

Charter Review Commission Not a Slam-Dunk

I'm at the first Assembly hearing about the mayor's new Charter Revision Commission, which, based on opening remarks here, is being viewed skeptically.

The commission, which has been a long time coming, is going to review the law around term limits, among other issues. Assemblyman Dick Gottfried of Manhattan complained about the commission's power to Read More

‘What’s Next, Martial Law?’

ALBANY—The first reactions to David Paterson's "executive option proposal" are mostly not positive.

"What's next, martial law?" Assemblyman Rory Lancman, a Queens Democrat, asked.

Paterson's proposal would, temporarily, give him the power to make spending and revenue decisions to bridge a multi-billion dollar mid-year imbalance. Article VII of the State Constitution describes New Read More

In the Chaos, Senate Dems May See One Last Opportunity to Wrest Schools From the Mayor

ALBANY—As both sides of the State Senate leadership struggle inch closer to an operating agreement, Democrats are positioning themselves to take one last crack at diluting mayoral control of city schools.

Speaking to reporters after an extraordinary session that lasted just over three minutes, Senators Malcolm Smith and John Sampson, the leaders Read More

Lancman Predicts More Rough Going for Bloomberg’s Schools Agenda

ALBANY—As battle lines get drawn in the debate over mayoral control of public schools, Assemblyman Rory Lancman is advancing a bill that would treat the city's Department of Education like a city agency.

As it currently exists, Lancman said, the department is "very similar to a public authority," and his bill would require the Read More

Judicial-Nomination Reformers Question First Reform Measure

ALBANY—Even before Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman was confirmed last week, the State Senate held hearings about reforming the process by which nominations to the Court of Appeals happen.

And now there's a bill kicking around, introduced by Assemblyman Rory Lancman and supported by State Senator John Sampson, which would require the Commission on Read More

David Paterson Needs a Friend, Fast

ALBANY-A week before the process to appoint New York's junior U.S. senator reached its messy end, Governor David Paterson stood onstage at an event with Hillary Clinton and compared his experience in the state's highest office to a dirty movie.

"I've been governor for nine and a half months," Mr. Paterson jokingly told the crowd Read More

Bloomberg on Why He’s Raising Sales, Not Income Taxes

Michael Bloomberg hadn’t finished giving his preliminary budget presentation to reporters in City Hall when a key proposal in the plan—to raise sale taxes—got some resistance from Albany, courtesy of Assemblyman Rory Lancman.

He emails:

“The Governor's budget does unfairly hurt New York City and we need to fight to fix that, but the alternative shouldn't Read More

Silver at the Barricades Against an Energized, Press-Approved Newell

Paul Newell, dressed in a beige suit, his pockets stuffed with palm cards, was standing on the steps of St. Mary's Church on Grand Street Sunday afternoon, stopping any parishioner he could get in front of to tell them that he'd been endorsed by every daily newspaper in New York City.

Two blocks away, Read More

Lancman on David Paterson’s ‘Coming Out’ Moment

David Paterson is making a big deal out of the budget crisis not because the New York is in dire straights, but because he's “coming out” as governor, says Democratic Assemblyman Rory Lancman“There’s no crisis right now," he told me in an interview this afternoon. "There’s a $600 million shortfall that the governor, through some Read More

Lancman’s Advice for Obama’s Middle East Visit

Assemblyman Rory Lancman of Queens has plenty of advice for Barack Obama about his upcoming trip to the Middle East, where At about the 3:20 mark, Lancman says what's important “for a person running for president of the United States-- because they’re not running for prime minister of Israel--is to show they have a commitment Read More

Lancman’s Advice to Obama About Hebron

Assemblyman Rory Lancman of Queens sent a letter to Barack Obama asking him to “say loudly and clearly to the world” the words “Ani Yisraeli,” meaning "I am an Israeli."That unsolicited advice on “how to speak to my community” was sent by Lancman to Obama’s Washington office on June 29, in advance of Obama’s upcoming Read More

The Wrath of Bloomberg?

Now that the State Assembly has killed Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan, do its members fear any potential electoral consequences (as Kevin Sheekey suggested they should) from opposing a mayor with billions of dollars at his disposal?

They say no.

Democratic Assemblyman Jose Peralta of Queens said he thinks the mayor’s decisions on Read More

Libel Protection Act: ‘This law will give New York’s journalists, authors and press the protection and tools they need’

A press release from the offices of New York State Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens) and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) offers some hope to New York journalists committed to "fearlessly expos[ing] the truth about terrorism and its enablers."

Below, the full text heralding "Libel Terrorism Protection Act," which is an outgrowth Read More