The Chief-Leader captures some good vitriol at a recent UFT protest aimed at reversing Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to lay off thousands of teachers.
Democratic City Councilman James Sanders said "we need to take this surplus" and "make sure we save the teachers." The surplus, as I and other people have noted, don't really Read More
Since he won't be running for re-election to the City Council, Tony Avella is doing more than flirting with the idea of running for higher office.
Standing by the security gate by the West side of City Hall, Avella was overheard telling one labor official, "I think I'm going to run for a [State] Senate Read More
Here's a pair that's been long in the making:
Tony Avella and Charles Barron, two of the City Council's most discontented members, are proposing a "Democratic Reform Movement." Basically, the goal is to shift power away from the speaker's office to rank-and-file members. They make the case for, among other things, electing a black or Latino Read More
In a City Hall News story about Anthony Weiner, this line caught my attention: "he sends a note to everyone who loses a primary in New York City."
I contacted a couple of Democrats who've lost primaries to see if they'd heard from Weiner. Turns out, not many had. (One got a present, though.)Melinda Katz: Read More
Michael Bloomberg said he is looking to replace a dozen or more commissioners as he goes into his third term at City Hall, but those appointments, and other top positions in his administration, would have to be vetted in a public hearing by the City Council, according to a new bill introduced Read More
Somehow, Queens Republican Dan Halloran survived a lot of talk about his pre-Christian religious beliefs to capture Tony Avella's City Council seat last night.
Mr. Halloran, reported to be the "First Atheling" of a neo-heathen tribe, beat the Democratic nominee Kevin Kim 53 percent to 47 percent in a campaign marred by a number of Read More
After City Comptroller Bill Thompson said his work as the president of the Board of Education “paved the way” for mayoral control, his long-shot opponent in the mayoral primary, Councilman Tony Avella, said, “It led to mayoral control because you did such a terrible job.”
The line, fired off during the last televised debate of Read More
Michael Bloomberg and Mark Green ran against each other for mayor in 2001. This year, Green is vowing to act as a powerful watchdog over the next mayoral administration (i.e. Bloomberg’s) if elected as public advocate.
But the two of them are featured on the same piece of campaign literature in support of Read More
Here's the mayor talking about the type of candidate he says he isn't.
Last night, Bill Thompson and Tony Avella said they’d support David Paterson if he made it to a general election next year. At a press conference this morning, I asked Michael Bloomberg if he would, too.
“I don’t even know who is going to be running next year,” he said.”Right now, I’m worried about Read More
Castell also explains the ignore-Tony-Avella strategy that was on display last night.
“Michael Bloomberg is the incumbent," he said. "Michael Bloomberg is the person you’re Read More
Thompson also took a shot at the new Democratic Senate leader Pedro Read More
Here's the Avella campaign email that just went out, which, if nothing else, is Read More
The City Council approved the Bloomberg administration-backed rezoning of Coney Island on Wednesday afternoon in a 44-2-1 vote. While the city is still negotiating with the rezoned area’s main private landlord—Thor Equities’ Joe Sitt—the two long-opposed parties may be close to reaching a final deal.
The rezoning plan would turn vacant lots currently zoned Read More
Case in point: Bloomberg's spokesman Howard Wolfson and today's Marist poll. Here's Wolfson on the poll results: “We continue to be pleased with a double-digit lead over both of our opponents and Read More
