Same-sex marriage advocates, who have been coordinating their efforts with Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, announced they're bringing their Republican counterparts into the fold.
"We are thrilled to have Log Cabin Republicans join the coalition" said Brian Ellner of the Human Rights Campaign.
What impact they will have on Republicans--many of whom voted against the Read More
Earlier today, The Politicker published a report explaining how state Senator Shirley Huntley said she was mistakenly placed on a list of endorsers for Kathleen Rice.
"I have not made an endorsement of anyone," she said, although she added that she may make one in the future.
Well, that future appears to have arrived. Less than Read More
ALBANY—After receiving a standing ovation in Brooklyn during a "community conversation" there last week, David Paterson will travel this week to St. Albans for a similar forum.
These events represent Paterson trying to shore himself up with a critical constituency--African-Americans from the five boroughs. This event will be held at the St. Albans Read More
Incoming City Councilman Danny Dromm pointed out the irony that Hiram Monserrate, despite his recent legal trouble, was able to vote against the same-sex marriage bill.
Dromm, whose Jackson Heights district overlaps with Monserrate's, told me: "Here's a guy who was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend, yet he takes a vote on whether Read More
ALBANY—State Senator Shirley Huntley is making a floor speech against a bill re-authorizing mayoral control of schools, and just laid quite the smack on fellow Democrat Daniel Squadron, who is a co-sponsor of the bill and had spoken moments earlier.
"He seems to know a lot about schools and children, and it's amazing when Read More
Here's my attempt to document the making of an anti-Bloomberg press conference.
ALBANY—Democrats in the State Senate are wandering back into the chamber now to act on a series of local measures, but not school governance legislation. Yet.
Democrats have sent a memorandum of understanding saying they will act on the Assembly bill, which maintains the central thrust of mayoral control, if assurance is given Read More
ALBANY—School governance legislation is in trouble.
A meeting last night between Senator John Sampson, the Democratic conference leader, and Senators Bill Perkins and Shirley Huntley with Deputy Mayors Kevin Sheekey and Dennis Walcott did not go well, a Democratic source said. Depending on the outcome of a Democratic conference scheduled for noon, the Read More
ALBANY—Once again, we’re on Monserrate time.
Hiram Monserrate staffers had told reporters to expect an announcement from Monserrate at 11:30, in a conference on the third floor of the Capitol, that he had decided to rejoin the Democrats.
So far, nothing.
Democratic Senators Shirley Huntley and Diane Savino walked Read More
ALBANY—State Senator Bill Perkins is for gay marriage. Most of his constituents in his majority African-American district, if the polling on this issue is any indication, are not.
"There's no question that there are moments, in this case and other cases, where we have that thorny dilemma," Perkins said. "Many of us who are Read More
The race for the City Council seat in Queens that Leroy Comrie is vacating because of term limits in 2009 is turning contentious unusually early.
Running for the seat are Ruben Wills, executive chief of staff to Democratic state Senator Shirley Huntley, Brian Simon, chief of staff to Representative Greg Meeks, and Democratic operative Read More
Three days into the new administration, the Empire State Pride Agenda released its ranking of state lawmakers and their positions on gay marriage. The ranking shows some recent movement towards the pro- side in the Assembly, with a total 47 members who have now at least "indicated support", up from 35 when the group Read More
Yesterday, City Councilman Hiram Monserrate sent word that "66 votes separate" him from state Senator John Sabini in the Democratic primary for the 13th Senate district. That's "down from 208...rather than 208 votes as reported by the Board of Elections," Monserrate said. Sabini's people responded a few hours later saying, "Sabini's lead grows to Read More
For those of you still craving primary election drama, there are still a handful of elections that are at least technically undecided, where the margins of victory are smaller than the number of paper ballots still to be counted. Party favorite Alec Brook-Krasny beat Ari Kagan in Brooklyn's 64th Assembly District by 94 votes. I'm Read More
In Queens, incumbet state Senator Ada Smith is trailng challenger Shirley Huntley by 197 votes with 209 unopened absentee ballots to be counted, a source with knowledge of the race said.
