City Hall - January 1, 2007 by City Hall News

Ray Kelly, below, and the 2009 election size each other up (Page 3), Gov. Eliot Spitzer faces mega-project decisions (Page 6)

January 2007

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The Balancing Act BY EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE

obody will be shocked if Hillary Clinton declares her presidential candidacy. Now that New Yorkers have twice elected her to do a job in the Senate, the question becomes real: how does a woman who will presumably need to be touching down in every corner of most states in the nation find time for the minutiae of legislative work?

INDEX: Planning begins for State Senate Campaign Committees Page 4

James Gennaro is In the Chair Page 9

Money Trail: Untangling the Campaign Finance Disclosures Page 13

Assembly Member Ivan Lafayette on Illegal Car Registration Page 15

Political Consultant Steve Kramer Heads to France Page 19

ANDREW SCHWARTZ PHOTOS

Vol. 1, No. 8

and new Rep. Yvette Clarke, above, discusses Congress and

Caribbean food (Page 18).

What will running for president mean for Hillary Clinton’s job in the Senate?

Like it or not, we are about to find out the answer. The most obvious way to judge a person’s commitment to her job is seeing how often she shows up to work. To date, Clinton has had an CONTINUED ON PAGE

DuaneCasting

Who Will Be the Latino Driving Force? Next stop: Winning statewide and citywide BY CARLA ZANONI rowing up, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión’s (D) parents held close to their culture. His house was filled with the sounds of Puerto Rican music and the scent of Puerto Rican food. But even deeper than his family’s love of the island, Carrión said, was the love of their new home. “To be American is really a philosophical passion,” Carrión said, one that hinges so importantly on the idea of personal freedom that the commitment to the adopted country “super-

sedes everything, including your love for a motherland.” In slightly more than one quarter of a decade, the Latino community has gone from inaugurating the first elected mayor of a large American city—Henry Cisneros in San Antonio—to being represented by approximately 5,000 Latino elected officials across the country. Back in 2005, when former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer (D) was running as the Democratic nominee against Michael Bloomberg (R) and Mexican-American candidate Antonio Villaraigosa was

running for mayor of Los Angeles, the Latino political landscape in America seemed hopeful. Villaraigosa won. Ferrer did not. Nonetheless, Latino politicians throughout New York look at Ferrer’s run as a stepping stone for future generations. CONTINUED ON PAGE

Top Latino Power List —Page 16

A new medium for state senator BY MATT SOLLARS n December, State Sen. Tom Duane (D-Manhattan) faced one of his greatest fears about a plan to put a waste transfer station at 59th Street in Hudson River Park.

CONTINUED ON PAGE

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ELECTION FORECAST : 2009

Commissioning the Commissioner The mayor’s race might be Kelly’s for the taking—if he decides to take it Analysts’ Corner

BY DANIEL WEISS AT COLUMBIA University Jan. 18, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly looked back at New York in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11. People expected the economy would suffer and the crime rate would climb. Instead, business has thrived and the already-low crime rate continued dropping. In his gruff New York accent, Kelly explained that this unprecedented reduction in crime had been achieved by flooding key areas with officers. Meanwhile, a counter-terrorism bureau formed in 2002 has grown to 1,000 officers stationed in New York and key cities around the world gathering firsthand information about terrorist tactics. He has been widely praised for his strategy—it even won him the French Legion of Honor Medal. Watching Kelly at the lectern of an ornate ballroom, dressed in a sharp black suit and red tie, the talk about his potential mayoral candidacy in 2009 seemed natural. Bloomberg will be forced out by term limits then, and many believe Kelly is the right man to be the mayor’s successor. Kelly does not seem to be one of them. After speaking about “Governing a Diverse City,” he reiterated that he was focused on being commissioner, and not

PEAKING

What will be Ray Kelly’s greatest strength if he runs for mayor in 2009? Joe Mercurio: “He’s been an enormously capable administrator in numerous public and private posts.”

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

Hank Sheinkopf: “He can point to the drop in crime and, in the post-9/11 world, the general sense of security that New Yorkers have.”

Everyone wants to know: will Ray Kelly run for mayor? thinking about running for mayor. “I don’t think about it,” he said. “I think about my job. I think about being police commissioner. It’s a full-time job.” Nor, he insists, does he have a time frame to start thinking about the election. “I have a time frame for showing up to work every day, that’s it,” he said, laughing. Scott Levenson, a Democratic political consultant with the Advance Group, takes Kelly at his word.

“Ray Kelly has had a history of jobs where he’s the chief executive officer for appointed positions,” Levenson said, “and that’s completely different from the messy, retail game of politics that Commissioner Kelly has not had to deal with before.” Still, the leap from New York City police commissioner to elected office has been made before. Theodore Roosevelt headed the city’s police force before being elected governor, vice president

What will be his greatest weakness? Mercurio: “Events not under his control could derail his candidacy, such as the recent police shooting.” Sheinkopf: “The police commissioner’s job may not be the best place from which to launch a campaign because anything can happen—not everything is under control.” Joseph Mercurio is a political consultant with National Political Services, Inc. Hank Sheinkopf is the president of Sheinkopf Communications.

and president. (Today Kelly sits at Roosevelt’s old desk and a portrait of his famed predecessor hangs on the wall.) CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Lactation Legislation on the Move New York officials are working to protect and promote breastfeeding BY CHARLOTTE EICHNA

HE CALLS HAVE NOT STOPPED

pouring in since Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s (D-Manhattan/Queens) office first began pushing for federal breastfeeding legislation in the late 1990s. There were stories about women getting booted from federal property or public places because they were breastfeeding, faulty breast pumps, moms losing jobs—or women who still worked, but who had trouble finding a place and time to pump their milk. “One woman told me that her coworkers would stand outside her door and moo,” Maloney said. In Maloney’s mind, it all added up to one thing. “Somewhere along the line,” she said, “breastfeeding went from a completely natural and pure thing to do to something that is truly a challenge and very difficult for women to do.” She is not the only local legislator who has noticed. In 2005 and 2006, State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn)

introduced a bill that would help working mothers who nurse, but it never moved out of committee. State Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) and his son, Assembly Member Ruben Diaz Jr. (D-Bronx), have also taken up the fight and introduced companion bills that would secure an employee’s right to express, or pump, breast milk at work. Assembly Member RoAnn M. Destito (D-Oneida) has a similar bill, and may support the Diaz initiative or seek Senate sponsorship for her legislation. And late last year, State Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) introduced a “Breastfeeding Bill of Rights,” which requires that new moms be informed of breastfeeding options before they deliver, as well as during their stay in and after they leave a hospital. The bill also bans formula providers from pressuring moms while they’re in a maternal healthcare facility. There is even a little activity at the city level. Bills in 2001 and 2002 recognized World Breastfeeding Week (in August), and in 2003 and 2004, the City Council introduced legislation encouraging Congress to act on pending breastfeeding legislation. “This is a problem,” explained Diaz

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan/Queens) rode the A train with other “lactivists” this past summer to mark World Breastfeeding Week. Sr., “that mothers are facing throughout the whole state.” New York falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to breastfeeding laws. Although there are not any workplace reg-

ulations, breastfeeding is protected in any public or private location here, according to a recent Congressional Research Service Report. Nursing is also exempted from CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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JAN UARY 2007

CITY HALL

Generals Picked, Battle Plans Made for Last Political Battleground Krueger out as Democrats retool for 2008—or maybe 2007 BY JOHN R.D. CELOCK

EMOCRATS

ARE

spinning that while Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton strolled to landslide victories in November over little-known GOP opponents, 2006 was not the year they planned on making the major push to retake the State Senate. Instead, they say, 2008 was their goal all along. State Sen. Liz Krueger (DManhattan) chaired the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee for the last two cycles. She said the party has a three-cycle plan with a goal of retaking the Senate in 2008. In 2006 the plan called for electing Andrea Stewart-Cousins in Westchester and retaining Sen. David Valesky, the top GOP target, in his Syracuse seat. “This was in recognition that non-presidential years are toughest for bottom of the ticket candidates,” Krueger said. A Democratic Senate majority could be closer than some expect, with the possibility of three special elections on Long Island causing a midterm switch. On Feb. 6, there will be the competitive special election between Craig Johnson and Maureen O’Connell to replace Republican Michael Balboni, who resigned to become Spitzer’s homeland security czar. Many observers believe that Balboni’s personal popularity kept the district, which has a slight Democratic edge in registration, in GOP hands. Though Lt. Gov. David Paterson admitted poaching Balboni for the Spitzer administration “certainly looked somewhat political,” he insisted that Balboni was picked purely on the basis of his credentials. He said that though he would like Democrats to gain a majority, he and Spitzer are not actively courting other Republican senators. However, though he declined to provide names or any other identifying characteristics, he said, “there are a lot of people asking us.” In addition to the Balboni seat, Kevin Wardally, a Democratic political consultant who is advising new State Senate minority leadership, said there have been reports that Sen. Owen Johnson and Sen. Caesar Trunzo in Suffolk County have been considering early retirement in 2007. Both Johnson and Trunzo were elected in 1972 and are among the State Senate’s older members. Both

but one year since the late 1930s. Democrats captured the Senate for a one-year term in 1964, following a temporary expansion of the Senate because of federal voting rights issues. In 1965, Republicans, lead by Minority Leader Earl Brydges (R-Niagara), recaptured the Senate and have maintained control of the chamber since. The narrow victory last year of State Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Queens) over Albert Baldeo caught many by surprise. Maltese blames the closeness of the race on the statewide political environment for 2006 with John Faso as the gubernatorial nominee and John Spencer as the Senate nominee. He does not see 2008 being a tough race for him or other Senate Republicans. “Who the hell thought John Sweeney would lose to a neophyte? Who thought Sue Kelly would lose, and look at the close race Reynolds had,” Maltese said, referring to the three members of Congress. “It’s practically a miracle with Spencer and Faso losing that we managed to lose one Senate seat.” Republican pollster John McLaughlin said long before the votes were counted, he had predicted a closer race for Maltese, with a coattails effect In picking up only Andrea from Spitzer and Stewart-Cousins’ seat while Clinton. He said he heading the campaign com- had advised Maltese mittee for the Democrats last of that fact and saw year, Liz Krueger did not quite the Democrats placchannel her inner Chuck ing more money into Schumer. Now three state the district. senators will take her place. Maltese said he hold seats was not warned by that Democrats are any advisors of a ILLUSTRATION BY likely to have good close race. Neither, SCOTT WILLIAMS chances to win. Krueger said, was she. If there are special elections in all three seats, and Maltese is in for a tougher fight in 2008, as City Democrats win all three seats, in 2007, the Senate would Council Member Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) has made be split 31-31. Lt. Gov. David Paterson’s tie breaking vote clear he is an all-but-certain candidate for the seat. would then give Democrats the majority. Addabbo said last year’s results helped influence him Wardally cautioned fellow Democrats about to decide to make the Senate race. Also important, he unchecked optimism. stressed, is looking for a new way to serve with term lim“I’m a political consultant, not a psychic,” Wardally its looming in 2009. said about the chances of Democrats picking up control With the encouragement of Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2007. “I don’t think we can win all three but we can (R), Addabbo briefly weighed a challenge to Maltese last win one or two. That would be a great win for year. He said he plans on sitting down with the mayor to Democrats in ‘07.” discuss next year. Baldeo has said he plans on running CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 The Senate has been controlled by Republicans for all

Senate Districts to Watch in 2007-08

7th Senate District (Nassau County) Vacant after resignation of Sen. Michael Balboni (R) The Feb. 6th special election between Democratic Nassau County Legislator Craig Johnson and Republican Nassau County Clerk Maureen O’Connell is the next premier race on the state’s political horizon.

3rd Senate District (Suffolk) Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R) First Elected: 1972 Trunzo has faced competitive races in 2004 and 2006 and following a fall late last year, is speculated to be considering early retirement in 2007. A Trunzo spokesman laughed off the speculation. 15th Senate District (Queens) Sen. Serphin Maltese (R) First Elected: 1988 4th Senate District (Suffolk) Maltese narrowly defeated political neoSen. Owen Johnson (R) phyte Albert Baldeo in 2006 and City First Elected: 1972 Johnson, one of the state’s most powerful Councilman Joseph Addabbo is planand longest serving senators, is specu- ning a race against Maltese in 2008, lated to be considering early retirement making this one of the city’s premier races next year. in 2007.

49th Senate District (Onondaga, Madison, Oneida, Cayuga and Oswego Counties) Sen. David Valesky (D) First Elected: 2004 The top GOP target of 2006, Valesky proved strong, easily fending off Assemblyman Jeff Brown. There have been reports that Tom Dadey---Valesky’s 2004 Conservative Party opponent who was passed over by Joe Bruno in 2006--is considering another race for the seat. 61st Senate District (Erie and Genesee Counties) Sen. Mary Lou Rath (R) First Elected: 1993 Rath, a member of one of Erie County’s most prominent political families, has been the subject of retirement rumors since 2002.

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Breastfeeding CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

state indecency laws. And in New York, breastfed children under 12 months can be kept in correctional facilities with incarcerated mothers—an unusual provision. But Florida was the first state to enact comprehensive breastfeeding laws in 1993, according to the report. Currently 38 states and Puerto Rico have some sort of legislation regarding breastfeeding on the books. Most protect a mother’s right to feed any place she’s legally permitted to be, although several states go further, exempting breastfeeding from indecency laws or protecting breastfeeding in the workplace. Women who live in states that lack specific breastfeeding laws may also be protected through local ordinances, or court regulations regarding jury duty. There are a lot of reasons behind the push to promote breastfeeding. Breastfed babies get important antibodies and tend to have healthier body compositions, says Dr. Andrew Racine, who heads up general pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. Breastfeeding moms can also get protection from osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. Social issues also come into play, as lower-income women generally have patchy health benefits and child rearing support at their jobs. New York State National Organization for Women President Marcia Pappas says there are even broader economic implications as well. Older women tend to live in pover-

Pumping Solutions for Political Moms oms with government jobs are also faced with the task of finding a place to breastfeed or express milk in the workplace. Members of Congress head to the Lindy Boggs room, named after the Louisiana representative who was elected to her husband’s seat following his death, according to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (DManhattan/Queens). Lobbyists, reporters and other non-elected officials can visit the nurse’s office. In Albany, State Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) says lobbying moms know that her office—and refrigerator—are pump-friendly. And in downtown Manhattan, Council members can retire to their private offices at 250 Broadway. Jessica Lappin, an East Side Council Member who is expecting a baby in March, said that the mayor controls the other half of the space at City Hall. “They’re sitting in a bull pen,” she said. “I would be a lot more worried, I think, if I worked on that side of the hall.” —Charlotte Eichna ceichna@manhattanmedia.com

ty once they retire, Pappas said, partly because they take off far more time to raise children, cutting into Social Security and retirement benefits. Legislators looking to address this issue will have to overcome a somewhat difficult barrier: culture. “For several generations, the message getting out there has been, ‘Formula good, breast in public not,’” Krueger said. At the same time, there is this “very strange world view about the purpose of the breast.” But New York’s status looks like it might change. At press time, State Sen. Diaz’s office said it had 10 co-sponsors for the pro-

posal. Krueger, who also signed on to Diaz’s bill, is currently looking for Assembly sponsors to support her legislation. They do not face any formal opposition, since there is not really a cogent anti-breastfeeding movement. Certainly the formula industry is leery of new legislation, as are employers, who worry about increased regulation, but those concerns mostly focus on money. “No one is against breastfeeding, necessarily,” Maloney said. “But some people just do not want to see it. They get squeamish about it.” Maloney, who in 1999 helped secure a woman’s right to nurse on federal proper-

JAN UARY 2007

ty, is now pushing for passage of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. The bill would, among other things, create a tax credit for employers who incurred costs making the workplace friendly for nursing moms, and set a performance standard for breast pumps. “It is long past time when we need to move beyond a patchwork of state laws,” Maloney said. “We need to reverse the fact that the United States has one of lowest breastfeeding rates in the industrialized world and one of the highest rates of infant mortality—and I would call that a national scandal.” ceichna@manhattanmedia.com

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Big Building Plans Raise Big Questions BY NEIL DEMAUSE STATE ASSEMBLY Speaker Sheldon Silver (DManhattan) gave the final state sign-off to Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards development in the waning days of December, one controversial mega-project came off of new Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s (D) desk. Yet the new governor still must decide the shape of a host of other major infrastructure projects that are in the works—and perhaps more vexingly, figure out how to pay for them. In his State of the State address, Spitzer singled out the Second Avenue subway and East Side Access as downstate priorities, alongside such projects as the expansion of Stewart Airport in Orange County and building a replacement for the 50year-old Tappan Zee Bridge. While the East Side Access project, which would allow LIRR trains into Grand Central, is largely in place, the Second Avenue subway has barely gotten out of the starting blocks after decades of planning. First conceived in 1929, the Second Avenue line was supposed to take up the passenger load of the Second and Third Avenue elevated trains when they were demolished in the 1940s and ‘50s. Instead, digging for the new line had barely begun before the 1970s fiscal crisis left the city with nothing but a few stretches of empty tunnel in East

HEN

INT. NO. 483 A local law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring notices relating to the rights of mobile phone consumers. Lead sponsor: Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum (D) Gotbaum introduced a bill after receiving several complaints from constituents about the lack of clarity in cell phone contracts. The bill would require cell phone dealerships to post in-store signs Bills on the burner notifying cusfor the Council tomers of any fees charged in addition to monthly usage fees. Researchers in the public advocate’s office found that on average cell phone dealers charge customers who are unaware of the policy up to $400 in cancellation fees, on top of the $150 to $240 cancellation fees charged by national cell phone service providers. Until the legislation is passed, Gotbaum is urging potential consumers to read the fine print of contracts. “It is very important to make sure that you read that contract very carefully,” she said. —Carla Zanoni

ON THE

AGENDA

Harlem. The number of riders on the Lexington Avenue IRT, meanwhile, has soared to unmanageable levels, with 30 percent of all subway riders now riding the 4, 5, or 6 line every day. Enough MTA bonds and federal funds have been pieced together to break ground on the first section of the Second Avenue line, a spur running north from 63rd Street to 96th Street that would allow Q trains to bring Upper East Siders to and from Lower Manhattan. Funding for the rest of the $17 billion project, though, remains a mystery. “The whole thing is $17 billion, a number so large as to make you go back into bed and curl up into a fetal position,” said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign, who served on Spitzer’s transportation issues transition team. “We’re supporters of Second Avenue, we always have been. But there’s also a compelling case that we not do what London did, which was while they built the new Jubilee Line, they let the Underground rot.” Replacing tracks and signals may have “less ribbon-cutting” to them, says Russianoff, but are just as vital to city commuters. Waiting in the wings for the new governor, meanwhile, is the mega-project likely to dwarf all others in terms of controversy: Moynihan Station, the plan to renovate the

EMILY ROSENBERG

Though he avoided Atlantic Yards decision, Spitzer still has mega-project odyssey ahead

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s prayers to sidestep the big development question in Brooklyn may have been answered, but there are other potential pitfalls. Farley Post Office building on Eighth Avenue to provide a new grand entrance for Penn Station. Though Silver used his role on the Public Authorities Control Board to stall the project last fall, Gov. George Pataki spent the last few days of his administration pushing for the project. Most observers agree that Spitzer will relaunch the project now that he is in charge. The new vision for Moynihan Station is likely to include the proposal to relocate Madison Square Garden to a new facility in the Farley Annex on the Ninth Avenue end of the post office block, free-

The End of the PACB? ov. Eliot Spitzer (D) declared that he is out to “transform” state government. One big question is what that means for the state’s public authorities. While the governor’s State of the State address singled out authorities as “entrenched in the status quo and insulated from accountability,” it is less clear what shape any reform might take. One anticipated target for change is the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), the three-member oversight body that was thrust into the spotlight when Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) used it to block Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s (R) plan to put a stadium for the Jets on Manhattan’s far West Side as the centerpiece of the 2012 Olympic bid. With the governor, Assembly speaker and State Senate majority leader as the only voting members, the PACB is widely seen as exemplifying the state’s much-attacked “three men in a room” governing tradition. That is how Bloomberg put it in his January State of the City address. “Let’s work with our partners in Albany to abolish the anti-democratic Public Authorities Control Board,” he exhorted the crowd. “Government

by three men in a room has turned New York State into a national symbol of government dysfunction.” Yet as Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer (D) notes, three men are at least better than none. “There’s plenty of things you could do to improve the way the PACB operates,” he said. “But at the moment it’s the only check there is against the power of public authorities.” Even if the PACB is left in place, one possible scenario would be for Alan Hevesi’s replacement as state comptroller to begin using more of that position’s power to audit the board’s decisions—especially if the job goes to Assembly Member Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester), who as chair of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions has long been Albany’s top authorities watchdog. Spitzer could also revive the independent oversight agency that was supposed to have been set up by legislation passed in 2005, but which was held up by former Gov. George Pataki (R). Spitzer has earned generally high marks for appointing actual experts (albeit well-connected ones) to run state authorities. Patrick Foye, the new

ing up the existing Garden site for office towers and a new above-ground Penn Station entrance on the east side of Eighth Avenue. This plan was first floated early last year but never made it into the original planning documents. It has drawn harsh criticism from some preservationists worried that a new sports arena will tower over the historic Farley building, squeezing out much of the public atrium that was planned for the block. Other Moynihan advocates, though, say that the growth of rail travel, coupled CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

downstate head of the Empire State Development Corporation (Spitzer has split the operation into upstate and downstate divisions), is a Conservative Party bigwig who previously ran the United Way of Long Island, rather than a top fundraiser for the gubernatorial campaign. At the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, new Executive Director and CEO Elliot “Lee” Sander founded both the Empire State Transportation Alliance and NYU’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management. He also ran the city Department of Transportation for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R). In 2001, Sander joined four other former transportation commissioners in calling for a long list of transit improvements, including a re-instituted commuter tax with the proceeds dedicated to transportation, and a cross-harbor rail tunnel. Neither of those projects has yet appeared on the public Spitzer agenda. “The state is a very powerful public partner. It can override local zoning, it can do anything it wants,” observed Municipal Art Society President Kent Barwick. “So it’s been a good tool for developers, but it hasn’t been a very vigorous or attentive partner in these public-private partnerships.” —Neil DeMause neil@demause.net

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APOSTLES OF PEACE

Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th successor of St. Peter, joining hands in solidarity with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the 269th successor of St. Andrew, the first called Apostle and the older brother of St. Peter, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, Istanbul, Turkey, November 30, 2006 during the historic Papal Visitation to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS OF AMERICA THANK POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HIS FELLOW APOSTLE OF PEACE, ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW. In this season of goodwill, we are thankful that two of the most revered spiritual leaders of the Christian world, Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at their historic meeting last month in Istanbul provided such a moving and powerful demonstration of the desperate need for peace and understanding in the world today. Their efforts to bring Christians closer together, to reach out to Moslems and to show that violence in the name of religion is violence against religion itself, proved that they are vital forces for peace and reconciliation between different faiths and cultures. We appreciate the support the Pope declared for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the second largest Christian communion in the world. The efforts the Pontiff made to relieve painful pressures on the Ecumenical Patriarchate exerted by misguided forces in Turkey who do not understand the great asset the Ecumenical Patriarchate is in the efforts of the Turkish people to achieve a place in the family of European nations. We call on the leaders of Turkey, our NATO ally, to prove that their country deserves recognition as an enlightened and compassionate nation - by ending the harassment of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, by recognizing his ecumenical status (as do all other countries), by recognizing with legal personality the Orthodox Church, as well as the Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian communions and Jewish community, by returning confiscated church property belonging to the Patriarchate, by respecting the right of Apostolic succession in the Orthodox Church and ending all interference in the selection of future Patriarchs, and by allowing the reopening of the Halki seminary, which has trained Orthodox clergy and religious leaders in Turkey and around the world for generations. We call on the President of the United States to show his commitment to religious freedom by doing everything in his power to convince the leaders of Turkey that it is in their countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best interests to end the discriminatory restrictions on the spiritual leader of 300 million Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. We call on you, Mr. President, to join Pope Benedict and many other religious and political leaders throughout the world who have raised their voices in support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which stands at the crossroads between the Christian West and the Moslem East and can be a crucial bridge between these two great faiths.

WE THANK THE FOLLOWING 73 U.S. SENATORS WHO DEMONSTRATED, IN THE SPIRIT OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS, THEIR SUPPORT OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE & FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEY: Daniel Akaka (HI) George Allen (VA)* Max Baucus (MT) Evan Bayh (IN) Robert Bennett (UT) Joe Biden (DE)* Jeff Bingaman (NM) Barbara Boxer (CA) Sam Brownback (KS) Norm Coleman (MN) Richard Burr (NC) Maria Cantwell (WA) Thomas Carper (DE)

Lincoln Chafee (RI) Hillary Clinton (NY) Norm Coleman (MN) Susan Collins (ME) Kent Conrad (ND) John Cornyn (TX) Mike Crapo (ID) Mark Dayton (MN) Mike DeWine (OH) Chris Dodd (CT) Elizabeth Dole (NC) Pete Domenici (NM) Byron Dorgan (ND)

Richard Durbin (IL) Mike Enzi (WY) Russ Feingold (WI) Dianne Feinstein (CA) Lindsey Graham (SC) Chuck Grassley (IA) Judd Gregg (NH) Chuck Hagel (NE) Tom Harkin (IA) James Inhofe (OK) Daniel Inouye (HI) Tim Johnson (SD) John Kerry (MA)

Ted Kennedy (MA) Herbert Kohl (WI) Mary Landrieu (LA) Frank Lautenberg (NJ) Patrick Leahy (VT) Carl Levin (MI) Joe Lieberman (CT) Blanche Lincoln (AR) Mel Martinez (FL) Bob Menendez (NJ) Barbara Mikulski (MD) Patty Murray (WA) Ben Nelson (NE)

Bill Nelson (FL) Barack Obama (IL) Mark Pryor (AR) Jack Reed (RI) Harry Reid (NV) Pat Roberts (KS) Jay Rockefeller (WV) Ken Salazar (CO) Rick Santorum (PA) Paul Sarbanes (MD)* Charles Schumer (NY) Jeff Sessions (AL) Gordon Smith (OR)

Olympia Snowe (ME)* Arlen Specter (PA) Debbie Stabenow (MI) John Sununu (NH) Craig Thomas (WY) David Vitter (LA) George Voinovich (OH) John Warner (VA) Ron Wyden (OR) * Letter originators

SINCE 1936, 7,000 ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED BY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING CHURCHES, ORPHANAGES, CEMETERIES AND SCHOOLS, 1,500 IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE 300 MILLION ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ASK WHY THE FOLLOWING 27 UNITED STATES SENATORS HAVE NOT SIGNED ON FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND URGE THEM TO RECONSIDER THEIR POSITION: Lamar Alexander (TN) Wayne Allard (CO) Christopher Bond (MO) Jim Bunning (KY) Conrad Burns (MT)

Robert Byrd (WV) Saxby Chambliss (GE) Tom Coburn (OK) Thad Cochran (MS) Larry Craig (ID)

Jim DeMint (SC) John Ensign (NV) Bill Frist (TN) Orrin Hatch (UT) Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)

John Isakson (GA) Jim Jeffords (VT) Jon Kyl (AZ) Trent Lott (MS) Richard Lugar (IN)

John McCain (AZ) Mitch McConnell (KY) Lisa Murkowski (AK) Richard Shelby (AL) Ted Stevens (AK)

Jim Talent (MO) John Thune (SD)

TURKEY MUST UNDERSTAND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND ADMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION GO HAND IN HAND. ONE CANNOT OCCUR WITHOUT THE OTHER. Archon Anthony J. Limberakis, MD National Commander

Archon John A. Catsimatidis Chairman, Religious Freedom Committee

The Order of St. Andrew / Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America is comprised of the leading Orthodox Christians in the United States whose mission is to support and defend the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the first See of the Orthodox Christian Church comprised of 300 million faithful worldwide. www.archons.org

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VIEWPOINT

The Consequences of Ending Business as Usual Some frequently asked questions to consider with the beginning of the Spitzer era top thinker on things environmental has been Judy Enck. She is adored by most HO WILL THE NEW STATE environmentalists in New York but is comptroller be? known more as a policy person than an In the beginning, it looked administrator. From where I sit, she like Speaker Sheldon Silver would name would be perfect. But the Spitzer people the next comptroller, but Eliot Spitzer haven’t been calling and asking for my has already put his firm hand on things. advice. One of the arguSpitzer wanted the ments against the tough process opened to people new conflict of interest from outside the legislalaws that Spitzer has ture and got his way. If one imposed is that people of the many Assemblymen are reticent to jump who wants the office is through hoops for jobs not selected, it will that pay relatively litprove to be a humontle and impose what gous win for Spitzer, they see as drawho is desperately trying conian rules on Y LAN to get party and insider politics you when you HARTOCK out of the process. leave public So far, it looks like Silver is going out office. The down side to changing the of his way to do what Spitzer wants. “revolving door, gift and transparency” rules is that some major talents will want Why do so many statewide offinothing to do with government. But you cials come from Manhattan? can’t have it both ways. We need a set of I suppose it’s because that’s where the tough rules if we are to keep venality and action is. But believe me, when it comes corruption out of government. to picking a comptroller, it’s critical to remember that both Spitzer and Who will win the special State Lieutenant Governor Paterson are Senate election on Long Manhattanites. Shelly Silver comes from Island? Manhattan as well. Smart people like It seems that Spitzer has put all his Eliot Spitzer are looking for balance. might behind the Democratic candidate, Nassau County Legislator Craig Johnson. Who will be selected to become This is the end of business as usual, when the next Commissioner of the Democrats like Mario Cuomo didn’t seem Department of Environmental averse to a Republican State Senate that Conservation? could be blamed for the ills of the state. As I write this, the Spitzer team can’t Cuomo had very comfortable working relaseem to find anyone to run one of the tionships with Republican leaders Ralph state’s most important agencies. Spitzer’s

BY ALAN CHARTOCK

B A

Marino and Warren Anderson, both of whom at one time occupied the State Senate Majority Leader chair. Now Spitzer has put his all into the special election race, caused when he appointed Republican Long Island State Senator Michael Balboni to a top criminal justice line. Of course, there is some risk to expending this type of political capital. Spitzer knows that if Johnson loses he looks more vulnerable. He also knows that Joe Bruno is on the ropes already. If Bruno loses yet another seat, it will bring the Democrats that much closer to taking control of the State Senate. As a result, if they win, Bruno and the Senate Republicans are going to be a lot easier to handle. Spitzer is a guy who thinks things through. Plus, the Democrats have been regularly winning on Long Island. What’s more, this is the home territory of the State Republican Chairman, Joseph Mondello, a close compatriot of Bruno. The ambitious Dean Skelos, a young legislator from the same Long Island, is just one of the members of Bruno’s own conference after his scalp. If the elephants lose this one, there could be hell to pay. Is it really true that New York State has the most dysfunctional legislature in the country? Will someone please give me a break? The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU contributed to the perfect storm of reform by saying this. I really wonder whether these people or any of the people who are quoting them have ever seen the action in the Texas, Florida or Mississippi legislatures? My first job was running all

This is the end of business as usual, when Democrats like Mario Cuomo didn’t seem averse to a Republican State Senate that could be blamed for the ills of the state. over the country for the Eagleton Institute of Politics, helping to fix broken legislatures. Admittedly, it was a while ago, but trust me, New York with its professional staff and resources puts most other legislatures to shame when it comes to generating information about the executive branch and conducting investigations. It is interesting that when someone says something like this, everyone swallows it because they want to.

For more on Albany, it’s WAMC.org.

Alan Chartock is the president and CEO of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio and the executive publisher and project director of The Legislative Gazette

ELSEWHERE

THE Herald published a series 2006 Florida of investigative reports gubernatorial documenting flaws in election, both major Florida’s process of party candidates supclemency, which requires ported easing the road released felons to appear for felons to regain the before the governor and right to vote. No coincihis cabinet to appeal for dence this is a major their rights. A major issue in the Sunshine loophole resulted in State: Florida’s process thousands failing to of restoration has receive their chance to barred nearly a million regain their rights. By Mike Muller ex-felons from voting. The overall process That is the most in was said to be so cumthe nation—triple the amount of runner-up Virginia, bersome that it created a backlog of thousands more. In according to the Sentencing Project, an advocacy group. many cases, restoration was denied without explanaVoting in Florida received heavy scrutiny ever since the tion. Then-Gov. Jeb Bush’s (R) record of voting rights 2000 presidential election. The state’s handling of felon denials far outpaced anything in recent memory: 200,000 voting rights has been one of the major problem areas. since the beginning of his term. In 2001, the state settled a lawsuit alleging that it had Florida had 85,000 inmates in the last fiscal year. inaccurately kicked thousands of voters—65 percent of While new Gov. Charlie Crist (R) supports automatic whom were black—off the rolls in 2000, claiming that they restoration of voting rights for felons, the other members of were felons. Another lawsuit that year resulted in more the Clemency Board—whose votes are needed to enact a than 15,000 ex-felons regaining the right to vote after the rules change in lieu of a constitutional amendment—do not. state failed to inform them of and assist them with their New York ranks among the more lenient half of states right to apply for restoration. And in 2004, the Miami in treatment of felon’s voting rights. Once a felon is URING

Florida

Counting and Discounting the Incarcerated

released from prison or finished with parole, his rights are automatically restored. And if someone is sentenced to probation instead of prison, he retains his rights as well. In November 2006, the New York State Bar Association decided to support legislation granting parolees automatic restoration of their voting rights. The Bar Association report argued this would strengthen minority communities, “given the disproportionate numbers of minorities among those who are on parole.” The Bar Association also suggested distributing voter registration cards, provisional ballots and absentee ballots to those awaiting trial and in jail for nonfelony offenses, in an effort to enforce those New Yorkers’ rights under law. More than half of New York’s felons and parolees are from New York City. Felons are counted as part of the populations around their prisons—a 2006 Census Bureau study released last year determined it to be too cumbersome to count prisoners at their home of record. But only in Maine and Vermont are the incarcerated allowed to vote and thereby affect local elections. In New York, the Prison Policy Initiative advocacy group found seven upstate Senate districts that would not have enough residents to qualify without their inmate populations. michaeljm101@yahoo.com

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In Melding Environmental and Business Concerns, Gennaro Sees Green Queens Council member’s science background defines his focus on sustainability ply the city’s water. Expanding development in areas around reservoirs is makHEN HE WAS PURSUING HIS ing it increasingly difficult to protect the undergraduate degree in geology water, but Gennaro gave the city high at SUNY Stonybrook in the marks for its efforts. 1970’s, most of Council Member James “What we’ve done upstate to keep our Gennaro’s (D-Queens) classmates in that drinking water clean is a model that will field planned to work for oil companies. have a profound impact on watershed sciGennaro, however, had a different career ence and the management of water syspath in mind. tems the world over,” he said. “I structured my whole education Specifically, New York is the only city towards someday working on environmenin the country that has been able to maintal issues in government,” he recalled. tain a pristine water supply with a sizeIn addition to geology, Gennaro studied able population living close to it, Gennaro biology and other sciences to round out his said. Most cities are required by federal environmental education. After receiving law to filter water coming from reserhis bachelor’s degree, he enrolled in a masvoirs. However, New York City is not ter’s program in policy analysis and public required to filter water because the management, also at Stonybrook. That proupstate reservoirs are so clean. gram gave him the administrative training But protecting the water supply merely to apply his science background to public heads a long list of the city’s environmensector environmental work, he said. tal concerns. New York needs to become In 1982, Gennaro went to work for the a “sustainable” city, Gennaro said, by balOffice of Management and Budget, and then James Gennaro studied geology and public policy at SUNY, and now ancing development with environmental for the Commissioner of the Office of chairs the Council’s Environmental Protection Committee. protection—two things which could ultiGeneral Services. In 1990, he became a polmately complement one another. icy analyst for the Environmental Protection ent,” Gennaro said of his work heading the “The old notions about environmental protection Committee, a job that allowed him to help craft early Environmental Protection Committee. “I’m now holding being at odds with economic development are gone,” environmental legislation, including a 1991 alternative the gavel, but I used to sit right next to the guy who did.” he said. “People realize that environmental sustainabilfuels bill. Gennaro held that position until 2001, when Despite his years working on the committee, ity means not only a clean environment, but it means he was elected to City Council. Once there, he was Gennaro said his election to the Council had given him business, it means jobs.” appointed chair of the committee he spent more than a a new perspective on environmental issues in New York To promote sustainable development, the decade advising. City. The biggest challenge over the next decade, he Environmental Protection Committee recently passed CONTINUED ON PAGE 19 “My view of the room now is not that much differ- said, will be protecting the upstate reservoirs that sup-

BY JAMES CALDWELL

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almost impeccable attendance record in the Senate. She missed just five votes in the 107th Congress, 19 in the 108th and 16 in the 109th—absentee percentages of 0.8, 2.8 and 2.5 respectively. In the new session, she has already missed two of the 12 votes, but that counts the time she spent over Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend on a fact-finding mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, she found time to rack up quite a few frequent flyer miles over her first term, traveling the country to campaign for fellow Democrats and raise money for herself. That may be about to change. The increasingly frontloaded presidential primary and caucus schedule means that campaigning for the 2008 race will begin long before 2008 itself does. For the first time, Nevada and South Carolina will weigh in early, along with Iowa and New Hampshire. That will mean a lot of retail politics in a lot of different places, some of them five-hour flights from Clinton’s constituents and her Capitol Hill office. Running a campaign with direct voter contact may prove especially important for Clinton, argued Michael Tomasky, author of “Hillary’s Turn: Her Improbable, Victorious Senate Campaign.” Clinton’s single greatest electoral weakness, in Tomasky’s view, is how many people already know her and know what they think of her. “The way she won support in New York in 2000—and particularly upstate, where she did quite well—is she spent months and months and months going around meetings of citizens, sometimes in pretty small groups, and taking questions and pressing the flesh, and really doing retail politics in its classic sense,” Tomasky said. With the spread-out stops of presidential campaigns, candidates often hop from place to place on a jet, stopping only to give a stump speech before barreling down the runway again. “That’s a really different kind of campaigning, and it plays in my view to her comparative weakness rather than her comparative strength,” Tomasky said. A successful Clinton presidential campaign may therefore require as much time as possible at potlucks in Dubuque and carnivals in South Sumter—which means as little time as can be managed in Washington and New York.

Overcoming History ith so many senators from both parties mulling bids— eight are currently assumed to be in some stage of deliberation—Sen. Hillary Clinton may not be as dogged by what has become a common refrain in dime store political analysis: that sitting senators cannot win the presidency. Though 15 of the 42 men elected president were once senators, only Warren Harding and John Kennedy moved directly from the Senate to the White House. (In a bit of

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JAN UARY 2007

arguably meaningless trivia, both were dead within three years of being inaugurated.) Historically, senators lose party primaries and they lose general elections, which most attribute to long voting records which opponents can use to rake them over the coals, and a perception that they do a lot less of significance than governors. Never in American history have two incumbent senators faced each other as the major party nominees in a general election. But then again,

linton has been a powerful voice in the Capitol on national security issues, keeping military bases open and working with partners on both sides of the aisle to win major funding for New York interests. While officially focused full-time on the Senate during her first term, most agree she was an enormously effective senator—and surprisingly so. This is not necessarily contingent on attendance, but being there certainly helps. To see how things might change, one need look no further than the attendance record of John Kerry, the Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic nominee. For the Congressional session in the run-up to and during that race, Kerry missed 72.3 percent of the Senate votes. Kerry’s primary opponent and subsequent running mate, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, missed 45.2 percent. “Fortunately, while I was away from the Senate during some of the campaign, I never missed any critical votes,” Kerry wrote by email, reflecting on his experiences. “I left the campaign trail and flew to Washington a number of times when the margin of a vote was so close that my one vote would make the difference.” Back then, Republicans held a 51-49 seat advantage. Today, the Democrats control the chamber by the same narrow margin. Critical votes may come more often than a woman with a calendar of engagements in Iowa might want. What those critical votes will decide may also prove important. New York’s interests do not always align with the interests of other areas of the country where presidential candidates look to make an impact. Clinton could find her allegiances to her current job and the one she wants pitted against each other. New School University President Bob Kerrey, the former Nebraska senator who ran for the Democratic nomination in 1992, remembers the feeling of being torn. “There are moments when what you support for your home state is not good for the delegates you’re looking to sway,” he admitted. Issues of parochial interest like the Northeast Dairy Compact, which helps subsidize many local farmers, but is unpopular in Wisconsin, might force Clinton to take stances which leave either her constituents or portions of the national electorate unhappy, Kerrey said. Projects that are important to a region but lack major national relevance have come to be known as “bridges to nowhere” but, Kerrey argued, “oftentimes at the local level, they don’t feel like they’re ‘to nowhere’ at all.” For those who vote against these projects, Kerrey said, “that’s not going to win you delegates or electoral votes.” Clinton will be pressured on larger issues as well. The Iraq War was never hugely popular in New York, and is proving ever less so within the Democratic Party. As things stand, Clinton will soon vote on whether to authorize funding for the president’s proposed escalation of troop levels in Iraq, forcing her to either give de facto backing to the president’s plan, or risk being portrayed as unwilling to support the troops. Nonetheless, Kerrey warned, if the never before has the experience of bulk of her constituents disagree with being a senator been such a potential her positions on the war or other issues, asset, argued Bob Shrum, a veteran of that will take its toll back home. several presidential attempts and the “It’ll probably happen to Sen. Clinton senior adviser to Kerry’s 2004 camthat she’s going to become less popular paign. in New York,” he said. “Governors face a disadvantage ome conditions in Washington do in 2008 because they have to go out of favor her. With the Democrats contheir way to demonstrate ability with trolling the Senate, potentially issues of domestic security,” Shrum troublesome issues for prospective pressaid. idential candidates, like flag burning or Senators, on the other hand, have anti-gay marriage Constitutional amenddebated and decided domestic secuments, are less likely to reach the floor. rity down to the tiny nuances and And with at least five of his own party’s details. —Edward-Isaac Dovere senators likely to be running, Majority eidovere@manhattanmedia.com Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) will probably work toward an at least somewhat

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And If She Loses… T hough Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) seems almost certain to run for president in 2008, many are skeptical about whether she will win either the Democratic nomination or the general election. If she fails, Clinton would still have her job in the Senate to return to, with four years left before the end of her current term. There are 10 current senators who have run presidential campaigns at some point, however brief. An unsuccessful Clinton would likely return to the Senate with a better understanding not only of broader national concerns, but of intricate local ones as well. So seems to be the case for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the unsuccessful 2004 Democratic nominee. “Life on the campaign trail left me with a deeper understanding of the issues, people, and problems our nation faces, and I use that knowledge every day as a senator,” Kerry wrote over email. “It can only strengthen your case to be able to point to a broad and far-reaching experience like that when making the case for a cause.” While many Democratic senators

seemed to distance themselves from Kerry in the immediate aftermath of his loss, he has for the most part regained his stature within the Senate, an institution known for protecting its own. And though he has since occasionally generated more attention for himself than he might otherwise like— as when he fumbled a joke about the intelligence of the president a few days before last year’s midterm elections which was misinterpreted as a slight against the troops—Kerry has, for the most part, been able to slide back into his old role in the Senate. With the Senate’s new Democratic majority, he assumed the chairmanship of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee. “It helps in many ways, but I’m not going to kid you, nothing would have made a bigger difference than if we’d found a few more votes in Ohio to win the election two years ago,” he wrote. “But I think I’ve returned to the Senate a much more effective legislator.” An unsuccessful Clinton who lost a run for the presidency would be deeply attuned to all sorts of national concerns. That, according to Clinton campaign biographer Michael Tomasky,

“It helps in many ways, but I’m not going to kid you, nothing would have made a bigger difference than if we’d found a few more votes in Ohio to win the election two years ago,” wrote 2004 Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry. “But I think I’ve returned to the Senate a much more effective legislator.” might help move her toward a post he thinks would suit her well: Democratic leader in the Senate. After all, a presidential run in 2004 even had the power to transform Dennis Kucinich from a virtually unknown Ohio congressman to a much-discussed Democratic advocate

JAN UARY 2007

for peace and political player in his own right. “There’s a thing about being involved nationally which causes members [of Congress] to share their views with you in a way that otherwise they might not feel compelled to do,” Kucinich said, reflecting on his own experiences back in the House after the 2004 race. Kucinich said this led to natural coalition building, enabling him to do everything from preserving a NASA center in his district to being a more effective protestor of the Iraq War. He said he now understands where his colleagues come from, literally and figuratively, and they understand and know him. So though 2008 is generally agreed to be Clinton’s best, and perhaps only, shot at winning a presidential race, she will likely land on her feet—unless she goes down in a humiliating, clobbering defeat, or commits a horrible gaffe. “Even though you’ll have to live with the fact that a paragraph about your losing presidential campaign will be in your obituary,” explained Professor Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, “you can win by losing.” —Edward-Isaac Dovere eidovere@manhattanmedia.com

accommodating schedule overall. erful colleague to pick up some of the slack she will leave “Rationally, you would say, ‘Well, that person is going Clinton will also be able to make double use of her behind as she travels to events in Manchester, Reno and to be devoting thousands of hours to the presidential time at home. After a few hours tending to constituents beyond. She has a large staff to whom she already delegates candidacy, so they wouldn’t be doing the job as senain her district office, she will be able to skip out for vis- much of the grittier Senate business. As she goes national, tor,’” Sabato said. “That assumes that the senator really its to the many Democratic donors in the city. Along the these mini-substitute senators will increase their workload does the work, which is questionable in most cases, and way, she can stop by all the major television studios and accordingly, explained Larry Sabato, a professor at the that assumes that the work matters, which is questionnewsrooms a national candidate could ever want, all University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. So there may not able in most cases.” eidovere@manhattanmedia.com within just blocks of her Third Avenue office. be cause for concern at all. But as the presidential race heats up, Clinton may begin to understand the decision Bob Dole made in 1996, when · TAXES: Proposals to change the he resigned from the Senate to run alternative minimum tax are also against her husband. likely to be considered. Though undreds of issues are likely to anti-terrorism appropriations to many New Yorkers would see their Dole, who had been Gerald Ford’s come before Congress over the states have been in constant flux. tax burdens diminished by changing 1976 vice presidential running mate and 21 months between now and New York’s representatives in the threshold to qualify for this tax, the longest-serving Republican Senate the presidential election. Though Congress have all demanded more, most support keeping it in place. leader in history, ran three times for the Democrats control the Senate, they Clinton among them. But if that How this might affect Clinton’s decipresidency before securing the nominahave only a 51-49 majority, meaning means taking money away from sion-making process is unclear, tion that spring. Then he abruptly that Sen. Hillary Clinton could occa- police or fire departments in lower- though as a rule, presidential hopeannounced he was leaving to “seek the sionally find herself casting decisive risk areas in battleground primary or fuls look to cut taxes where they can. presidency with nothing to fall back on votes on issues that make her choose general election states, Clinton may but the judgment of the people, and between what is best for her con- have to adjust her Senate votes. nowhere to go but the White House or · FUNDING FORMULAS: These stituents and what is best for fanning home.” formulas, which affect everything her presidential prospects. Getting away from the contentious · FINANCE REGULATIONS from transportation appropriations debates about welfare reform then roilAND IMMIGRATION: Mayor to Medicaid funding, generally favor · UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE: Michael Bloomberg (R) announced in either rural or urban areas. ing Congress probably gave him some New Yorkers are generally in favor of his State of the City address that he encouragement, too. “It isn’t in voting in new laws,” creating a universal health care sys- and Sen. Charles Schumer (D) had said City Comptroller Bill Thompson Of course, at that point, Dole had tem, and Clinton has expressed sup- begun a joint initiative to open bor- (D), looking at where Congress can been in the Senate for 28 years. He had port for the idea as well. However, ders to highly skilled workers. They have the biggest impact locally. “It is been chair of the Republican National though, expressing her support too will also campaign to ease other reg- in some of the formulas that affect Committee, the vice presidential nomistrongly as she goes forward carries ulations they say hurt the financial New York State and New York City.” nee and was on his third presidential a political risk: a major political services industry in New York. run. He was 73. The presidential race A New York senator would likely embarrassment during her early was either going to be the cap to one of As the representative of New York, look to get more transportation money years as first lady was the defeat of Clinton would presumably join this for the state. A presidential candidate the longest and most distinguished the plan she helped create for her effort. But as a presidential candidate looking to rally voters in every corner careers in American politics or his gracehusband’s administration. ful swansong. Mostly, it was the latter. looking to assure people around the of the state might not. —Edward-Isaac Dovere But in her fellow New York senator, country that they will not be losing their eidovere@manhattanmedia.com · HOMELAND SECURITY: Federal jobs, Clinton may be in more of a bind. Chuck Schumer, now the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, Clinton has a pow-

A Minefield of Issues

JAN UARY 2007

Latinos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Now many look toward the current Bronx borough president as the next Latino hopeful. Though Carrión said he identifies with his Puerto Rican roots—he was born in New York to parents who had immigrated to the United States when they were in their late teens—he said he never gave his ethnic identity any thought until he was older. He and his friends spent their childhoods playing on the streets of the Baychester section of the Bronx, where he arrived in fourth grade after spending his early years on the Lower East Side. They became blood brothers, pricking their fingers with a needle, pressing the tips together and vowing to always be family. “Growing up on my block, my best friends were Italian, African American, Jewish and of course, me, a Puerto Rican kid,” Carrión said. “We never had a perception of race. It was later imposed on us.” To Carrión, the tendency to lump together and define people by race, color or language ultimately limits the potential of the community being lumped. “When people speak of Hispanics, they speak of many groups,” he said. “But if growing up, your reality was Puerto Rico, you grew up in a colony. If it was Dominican Republic, you grew up in an older, more established country. It’s that experience that really defines your reality.” Carrión said heritage and home inform a later reality for Latinos, “but it stands apart, which is a delicate balance.” ity Council Member Hiram Monserrate (D), who became the first Latino elected to public office in Queens, in 2001, said that “Latinos have a shared experience here in New York City, as well as a somewhat shared culture.” Monserrate added that in addition to that shared experience, Latinos overwhelmingly have a common faith in Christianity. But whereas the church has become a cornerstone of sorts for the black political community, the Latino political community has not been able to parlay common religion into a uniting force. Eldin Villafane, a former communications aide and advisor to Carrión currently working as a media relations consultant, said that whereas the civil rights movement has close ties to the black church, the Latino community is more disparate in nature. “We don’t have the equivalent of the Al Sharptons who have the pulse of the street,” he said. “We have many ministers, but they vary from devout Catholic to Pentecostal ministers. There is no one organizing force.” State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. (DBronx)—who is also a Pentecostal Christian minister—agreed. He said that the African-American church “has always been socially and politically educated,” and gave Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Jesse Jackson and Sharpton as

www.cityhallnews.com examples. Diaz said that unlike the black church, the Latino church has overwhelmingly been against mixing religion and politics. That many Christian faiths veer toward the Religious Right may result in a further division within the Latino community. Herman Badillo, the former congressman and Bronx borough president who was a Democratic mayoral candidate in 1977 and Republican mayoral candidate in 2001, said it is inevitable that more and more Latinos will follow his ideological transition in the future. Badillo, who described himself at the outset of his career as “probably the most liberal of them all,” said that in making the transition to more conservative politics, “I am again a trailblazer in that sense.” There is a growing sense in the Latino community that an issue or major event is needed to unify its political power. Some point to the collaborations protesting immigration reform proposals across the country during 2006 as providing a taste of Latino political potential. Whether Latino politicians can use the cause as cohesive glue remains unclear, but, some argue, it has already yielded benefits in New York. Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat, who was born in the Dominican Republic, (D-Manhattan) said there is a growing connection between the Asian and Latino immigrant communities in New York City. “There is a sense that as a new majority in the city that we must come together in order to move forward,” he said. Still, one of the greatest obstacles Latinos face is getting out their vote. There has yet to be a Latino elected statewide or citywide in New York. Although Latinos now make up nearly 30 percent of New York’s population, the number of voting citizens still lags behind other voting blocs, in part because less than half of the population is of voting age or has citizen status. In 2005, 80 percent of Latino voters voted for Ferrer, but less than 40 percent of all those eligible actually voted. Council Member Miguel Martinez (DManhattan) said that harnessing the power of the Latino vote is vital to getting Latino representation into areas heavily populated with Latinos. “All politics is local,” he said. “Unfortunately, in my district, if we didn’t have a large Hispanic population, I wouldn’t be a Council member. Martinez is banking on the idea that if Latinos get more involved in their home communities, they will begin to get more involved on a larger level. “If our people don’t come out and vote, we won’t get elected to higher office,” he said. Some see the dynamics at work in last year’s election of Melissa Mark Viverito to the City Council as a possible harbinger of things to come. In the Democratic primary for her East Harlem/South Bronx Council seat, Viverito won the backing of Sharpton and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Manhattan) despite the pres-

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Vito Lopez, Latino Leader? ssembly Member Vito Lopez (D-Brooklyn) represents one of the largest Latino districts in New York. Since he was first elected in 1984, he has distinguished himself as a Latino leader. While in office, Lopez founded Brooklyn Unidos, a leading Latino advocacy group headed by a coalition of Latino leaders. He also co-chairs the Assembly’s Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force. But Lopez’s Latino heritage has been occasionally questioned. Rumors that he changed his last name from Lopesiano or Lopesino to a more Spanish sounding last name are widespread. That he identifies with one-quarter of his heritage—his family is primarily Italian; his paternal grandfather was from Barcelona, Spain—has also been used by some to try to disqualify him from being identified as a Latino leader. As Henry Stern, former Parks Commissioner and current head of New York Civic, explained, “It’s a way to criticize him as an imposter.” But Stern said that does not exempt Lopez from public fallout. “Just as he had a right to identify himself with whatever ethnic group that holds a majority in his district,” he said, “the caucus has a right to

ence of a black candidate in the field. She is the first Latino to represent an area that has seen its Latino population expand enormously in recent years. Badillo took the idea one step further. He said that Latino politicians cannot only rely on other minority groups. He emphasized that Latinos must build stronger coalitions with white voters and white politicians as well. “You can only be elected if you have a coalition behind you, and that can’t be with just one group,” Badillo said. “Anglos reach out to the Latino community by speaking Spanish. We have to reach out to the Anglo community by addressing the needs of their community as well.” Marcelo Gaete is the senior director of programs for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). Reflecting on the differences between the 2005 mayoral races in Los Angeles and New York, he agreed that Villaraigosa won because his support crossed racial lines, garnering votes from 75 percent of African American, 60 percent of Caucasian, 50 percent of Asian and 80 percent of Latino voters. “He wasn’t a Hispanic candidate,” Gaete said. “He was the Los Angeles candidate.” n New York, where none of the three current citywide officials had ever before been elected to office before starting their first terms in 2002, and several recently elected local candidates

not accept him.” Lopez dismissed all such talk. “This is propaganda from a long time ago because I am a half-breed type,” Lopez said, claiming that other prominent local political figures have chosen to identify primarily with one portion of their ethnic heritage. “Denny Farrell is 70 percent Irish. Dennis Rivera took his mother’s maiden name. He’s 50 percent Irish, but nobody makes these distinctions. Names don’t get people elected for office.” Rumors of the name change appear unfounded. According to a copy of his birth certificate, reissued on Jan. 3 of this year, he was born Vito Lopez to Yolanda DeVito and Eric Lopez. Lopez, who chairs the Housing Committee and is the Brooklyn Democratic leader, believes “what you do is also as important as who you are.” Nonetheless, he thinks his Latino credential are secure. “Over a hundred years, the name Lopez has been in my family. That’s my history and that’s my roots. I am proud of those roots,” he said. “If the people had a problem with who I am, they wouldn’t vote for me.” —Carla Zanoni czanoni@manhattanmedia.com

came from the private sector, many expect that those without political experience will fare better in the 2008 state Legislature races and 2009 citywide and Council races. But finding candidates from outside clubs and community groups may erect new obstacles, since Latinos have also had trouble gaining rank in the private sector. “What does it say if we only look there?” said Villafane, the former Carrión aide. “Now they have to find their way through corporate America and political America?” And that is not the only problem. If rich political outsiders follow Bloomberg’s example and run by dumping money into their races, simply finding the right Latino candidate will not be enough. “What we need is a millionaire or billionaire Latino politician,” Diaz said, considering his colleagues in the State Senate and in other offices. “Give any Hispanic $100 million and that Hispanic will be able to run for president of the United States, not only mayor or governor.” The senator’s son, Assembly Member Ruben Diaz, Jr. (D-Bronx) said that while there are an increasing number of wealthy, financially successful Latinos, there is a resistance among the group to go into public office because it means taking a pay cut. “Many are now reaping the benefits of their hard labor,” he said. “They love that they now have lifestyles that were, durCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

CITY HALL

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Most recent contributions less expenses + approximate funds available to transfer from other accounts. This figure does not include matching funds, which have yet to be calculated. †

SOURCE: Campaign Finance Board As of 1/19/07

Candidates for Citywide or undeclared office

Office sought

Funds filed 1/17/2007

# of donors

Approximate Total Cash on Hand†

Tony Avella James F. Brennan David Weprin Adolfo Carrion, Jr. Bill de Blasio Simcha Felder Eric Gioia Betsy Gotbaum Melinda Katz G. Oliver Koppell John Liu Marty Markowitz Michael McMahon Christine Quinn Domenic Recchia Joel Rivera Helen Sears Scott M Stringer William Thompson, Jr. James Vacca Peter Vallone, Jr.

Mayor Comptroller Comptroller Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared

$72,040 $209,574 $978,011 $359,676 $119,971 $381,175 $726,618 $163,965 $668,002 $17,720 $1,002,771 $329,298 $120,986 $310,321 $89,054 $73,135 $10,000 $254,481 $1,092,949 $67,790 $169,690

312 929 603 498 206 165 1802 138 493 122 760 74 473 170 274 196 4 213 610 216 327

$67,332 $251,463 $889,149 $270,149 $80,683 $547,957 $919,611 $97,909 $856,934 $15,809 $874,952 $1,187,835 $70,005 $288,978 $90,517 $46,817 $113,332 $221,403 $2,519,461 $171,613 $199,949

Moynihan. So you need both spaces.” Other big local projects on Spitzer’s plate include the long-delayed redevelopment of Governors Island, and the Javits Convention Center expansion, which is already facing a half-billion-dollar budget hole. The Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) is also slated to use

borhoods and communities that have been overlooked in years past,” a hint that the ESDC may direct increased attention CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 to smaller projects in addition to the bigwith plans for the new Hudson Yards bang ones that have been its forte. office district on the Far West Side, make How all this would be paid for is anya larger project a necessity. one’s guess. Steel, fuel, and labor costs are “If you tore down Madison Square already through the roof, thanks in part to Garden and took the entire block and post-Katrina rebuilding along the Gulf Coast and Beijing’s massive construction efforts in advance of the 2008 Steel, fuel, and labor costs are already through the Olympics. Having a flood of new conroof, thanks in part to post-Katrina rebuilding along struction hit New York all at once is only expected to make matters worse. the Gulf Coast and Beijing’s massive construction One concern expressed by develefforts in advance of the 2008 Olympics. Having opment experts is that with Spitzer’s a flood of new construction hit New York all at administration trying to move ahead once is only expected to make matters worse. on so many fronts at once, private financiers will end up driving the state development priorities. The Tappan made it into a new Penn Station, it would its eminent-domain powers to clear the Zee Bridge project in particular appears to not be big enough for the level of rail traf- way for Columbia University’s controver- have leapt to the top of Spitzer’s agenda fic that we have today,” said Municipal sial expansion to the Harlem waterfront. thanks in part to its financing scheme: a Art Society President Kent Barwick. “And Furthermore, in his State of State speech, so-called “public-private partnership” in this is before we create a city of 40 mil- Spitzer indicated he would direct more which a private developer would commit lion commercial square feet west of state development funds to “those neigh- capital to the project and own the new

Mega-projects

Senate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

again in 2008. State Sen. Mary Lou Rath’s (R-Erie) husband fell ill and died several years ago, and speculation about her retirement has swirled for the last two election cycles. In addition, fellow Erie Republican State Sen. Dale Volker, the third longest-serving senator, has been reported to be considering retirement. Western New York political observers said that while both seats are considered safe Republican seats, the right kind of Democratic candidate could make them competitive. Krueger said she expects those seats to remain Republican if Rath and Volker retire, while insisting that Democrats will not cede upstate districts to the GOP.

Currently Democrats control four upstate Senate districts, including the Valesky seat, which covers a rural swath of Central New York. The other three are centered in urban areas of Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Albany. State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith maintains that he never expected to take the majority until 2008. “It’s important to be in the majority,” he said, describing it as a top priority. He is hopeful that political dynamics might align before the next scheduled election cycle, Smith said, and if they do, “I’m prepared to be majority leader.” In the meantime, he has changed the Democratic campaign structure. The job Krueger had heading the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee has been split into three, and she will not be continuing in any of the parts. State Sen. Jeff Klein (D-

Bronx/Westchester) will oversee fundraising, Sen. Diane Savino (DBrooklyn/Staten Island) will oversee recruitment and freshman Sen. Antoine Thompson (D-Buffalo) will oversee campaigns. This is similar to the structure State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Rensselaer) put in place for his party two years ago. Krueger said the decision to make a change at the campaign helm has nothing to do with her public support of Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D-Manhattan) for minority leader over Smith. She said the caucus has been working together well, and that she has a good working relationship with Smith. On the contrary, she said, she is eager to focus more of her energy and time on legislation, especially since “the fact that I am being replaced by three people shows how much work it is.” johncelock@aol.com

EMILY ROSENBERG

Untangling the Campaign Finance Disclosures

JAN UARY 2007

State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno currently has a decisive say over all major development projects in the state. bridge in exchange for receiving toll revenues. This would not only cut the state’s upfront bond costs, but also enable the private partner to gain tax benefits by depreciating the bridge over its lifespan. Since the state does not pay taxes, it cannot take advantage of this, which would mean effectively allowing hundreds of millions of dollars of costs to be pushed onto the federal treasury. Even aside from the ethics of using tax shelters to finance the state’s capital plan, some good-government types wonder if prioritizing development projects based on how well they can lure private backing is best for New York residents. But, some say, there are problems to guard against no matter how the projects come to life. “With budget constraints and the governor’s commitment to cutting state spending,” warned Dan Steinberg of the development-watch group Good Jobs New York, “it’s important to make sure that public policy isn’t dictated by the agenda of private parties.” neil@demause.net

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EDITORIAL cityhallnews.com

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Paying for Later, Playing Now? P lanning is a virtue. But planning should be a cause for concern when it can potentially undermine the spirit of a campaign finance system which has been a powerful, if flawed, enabler of good politics in this city. There has clearly been a great deal of planning from incumbent politicians in this city. The latest round of public disclosure filings arrived Jan. 16, and with them, an indication of who many of the major players in the 2009 races are likely to be. New York already limits the amount of money people can spend. But without limits—either official or self-imposed— on when money can start to be raised, the system will continue to contain a debilitating flaw. Though this is far from the only problem with the city’s public finance system, it should be high on the list of priorities as the system is rethought and tweaked in the years to come. This will become even more relevant as Gov. Eliot Spitzer leads the charge to institute a system for the whole state. By demonstrating their fundraising prowess for media fodder, these candidates help crystallize frontrunner perceptions for themselves. And just as importantly, by coming ever closer to the spending caps for their races, they position themselves to have the luxury of forcing their less prescient future opponents to play catch-up while they themselves are able to campaign full-time. Then there is the reality: almost everyone interested in actually winning elections raises money early, so a person who

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purge looks toward new offices, the advance fundraisers are helping ensure history does not repeat itself by scaring other contenders out of the field. Of course, the elections are still far enough away for industrious and entrepreneurial hopefuls to make up for lost time. There is certainly enough time for wealthy first-time candidates to folOver the last six months low Bloomberg’s lead and self-finance when this money was their ways into political relevance. That seems a far distance from the raised, all these people intentions of the people who crafted have had to offer donors this system. Perhaps a more important cause is the luster of the offices for concern is why these people are they already hold and receiving so many tens of thousands the potential to hold of dollars. Over the last six months more depending on the when this money was raised, all these outcomes of 2009. people have had to offer donors is the luster of the offices they already hold Or should they? and the potential to hold more depending Only one of the two dozen people who on the outcomes of 2009. filed new donations for non-City Council Potential and a Metrocard will get you races in January is not currently in office. onto the subway. More likely, these These are the political professionals, so it donors are backing prospective candiis only natural that these are the people dates for what they can get out of them who plan for races so far in advance. The now. What better way to ingratiate onecampaign finance system, however, was self to Council committee chairs than meant to help level the playing field, to pumping their public advocate or compbring new people into the political troller or borough president campaigns process—people who had not been full of cash? What better way to sway a involved for ages. Though each had some borough president on land use decisions degree of prior political involvement, nei- than supporting his mayoral dreams? ther Michael Bloomberg, Betsy Gotbaum The way things are, people do not nor Bill Thompson had ever held elected need to wait for elected officials to reach office before being first elected citywide new positions to begin pay for play. They in 2001. But now that this first crop of can get instant returns on the money they fresh talent from the post-term limits pay out now.

OBSERVATION

What Kind of Education Will New York Buy? BY BILLY EASTON

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Mark Stinson

opted against it would be needlessly handicapping him or herself. So those who have stacked up all these dollars a full 32 months before the first primary votes are cast should be applauded for their smarts, for the serious consideration they are paying to the future of their political careers.

ver the past thirteen years, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit grew from a quixotic legal challenge by a handful of parents fed up with poorly resourced schools to a toptier issue in state politics. Did the entire issue of equitable school funding come tumbling down in November when the state Court of Appeals cut the courtordered new public education funding for New York City from between $4.7 and $5.63 billion to $1.93 billion? Absolutely not! In fact now, more than ever, is the time to demand high quality education for every child. That is why the Alliance for Quality Education, CFE and allies statewide launched our 100 Days to Educational Excellence Campaign. Day 1 of this campaign was Eliot Spitzer’s inauguration. Day 31, January 31 will be the date he issues his Executive Budget. Day 90, March 31 is the deadline for the Legislature to adopt a budget. And Day 100 is the deadline for Spitzer to sign or

veto that budget. What do we want by Day 100? We want the funds and reforms needed to see excellence become the standard for every child’s education. Throughout the election campaign, Eliot Spitzer said he would provide $4 to $6 billion a year in new education funds for New York City, with most of that coming from the state, but the city paying a share. He told The New York Times that the $4 to $6 billion would be part of a statewide package of up to $8.5 billion. We will know the exact figures when he issues his budget. The real measure is not only how much money is provided in the budget, but what kind of education the state will buy for the dollars. Spitzer reiterated central campaign themes during his State of the State when he committed to smaller class sizes, universal pre-kindergarten, improved teaching quality, especially in the neediest districts, and more class time for kids through after school programs and other reforms. He also committed to replace an arcane and unfair school aid formula with a transparent

formula that targets funding based upon student need. He is not merely going to turn money over to the NYC Department of Education, or other school districts, with no strings attached. He is going to hold districts accountable for implementing proven educational strategies such as class size reduction and he is going to hold them accountable to translate increased funding into significant increases in student achievement. That is good news to parents and students. We will sponsor a stream of events including town hall meetings, rallies, lobby days and direct pressure on legislators between now and Day 100. These events will culminate with a citywide yellow bus tour that makes stops at the offices of any of New York City’s own legislators who are not prepared to support full funding for New York City’s school children. After 13 years, we could truly have the funding and reforms our children need in just 100 days.

Billy Easton is the executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education.

CITY HALL

JAN UARY 2007

OP-ED

Out of State Plates Serve Up High Costs City loses up to $275 million annually by failing to crack down BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER IVAN C. LAFAYETTE uring the past four years I have personally spoken to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his top aides about the big problem out-of-state motor vehicle registrations are in New York City. New York City hasn’t done anything to help this or similar high profile auto-related issues. Fortunately, the New York State Commission of Investigation realized what a potentially big problem this is and began an investigation. They just released their report and the results are exactly what I forecast. Rate evasion, the practice of registering a vehicle in another state to take advantage of lower insurance rates and non-enforcement of other laws, is extremely costly to the city and state. I spoke to Mayor Bloomberg about using the availability of the Insurance Information and Enforcement System (IIES), a legislative initiative I sponsored, to allow police and parking agents to utilize their handheld scanners (which the mayor adopted as per my suggestion) to also identify scofflaws and whether an automobile has been stolen. The IIES program established a database to identify uninsured motor vehicles. Subsequent to this conversation, I met

JESSICA BALASCHAK

with then Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles Ray Martinez, his staff and New York City’s Finance Commissioner Martha Stark and staff, where it was determined that if the full potential of scanners were utilized, approximately $275 million in additional annual revenue could be raised for the city. That was three years ago, and the city has lost close to $1 billion in revenue. According to the Commission’s report,

when people don’t obey existing laws, both New York City and State are deprived of sales and use tax revenue imposed on automobile purchases, and the state and city also lose out on numerous fees such as license plate fees, title certificates, vehicle registrations as well as annual renewal fees. The Commission’s investigation also revealed that New York City is deprived of millions of dollars in uncollected parking and traffic violation fines.

Cut Property Tax, but Increase Rebate Too BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER VINCENT GENTILE n regard to property tax relief, Mayor Bloomberg had a golden opportunity in his State of the City speech to hit a home run for city homeowners. Yet, he managed to hit but a double in his proposal that rolls back the tax rate and merely extends the homeowner rebate. First, state law requires that the city must roll back the tax rate in an amount at least equal to the total cost of the rebate if the city wants the rebate extended. This means that the mayor’s proper decision to extend the rebate brings an automatic tax-rate rollback of approximately 2%. The mayor’s generosity therefore really extends to an additional 3%, a rather measly sum for homeowners in a city flush with revenue. Moreover, with property assessments going through the roof (pun intended), the 5% tax-rate rollback merely amounts to giving back to homeowners the additional amounts they are about to pay in increased assessments. In short, this rollback is a “wash” for homeowners and does not amount to a giveback as the city

promised. What will be a real boon for city property owners will be an increase in the homeowner rebate that I have proposed and that the mayor has overlooked. This rebate, unlike the across-the-board tax cut, focuses solely on the people who need it most – Class 1 and Class 2 property owners – those in one-, two-, and three-family homes, co-ops and condos. My plan calls for the same 5% acrossthe-board property tax rate cut, but also maximizes the property tax rebate we give out, tripling the rebate to approximately $1,200. Here’s how we can get it done: The calculations are fairly straightforward and involve the Retiree Health Benefits Trust Fund that received irrevocable funding of $1 billion through a 2006 budget modification and $1 billion irrevocable funding from the FY ’07 budget. In addition, in the FY ’07 miscellaneous budget, $1.4 billion is allocated for retiree health costs, also paid into the fund. This gives the fund a sum of $3.4 billion from which the FY ’07 expenditure for retiree health benefits is subtracted. That cost, according to the mayor’s four-year forecasting, is $1.4 billion (excluding supplemental welfare

benefits), leaving the fund with $2 billion as we head into FY ’08. The mayor’s forecasting puts the FY ’08 cost for retiree health costs (excluding supplemental benefits) at $1.5 billion, which can easily be covered by the $2 billion already deposited into the fund. Accordingly, the city should pay the retiree health benefits for FY ’08 from this fund and reallocate one half of the $1.5 billion that is in the FY ’08 miscellaneous budget for retiree health benefits. This will allow for an increase in the property tax rebate to $1200 per homeowner. This one-time increase in the rebate will be the real savings to the homeowner when combined with the mayor’s proposed tax cut. While the other tax-cutting proposals made by the mayor will be helpful to New Yorkers, I implore him to step up to the plate again in regard to the property tax, work with the Council, and give homeowners the real relief we promised them.

Vincent Gentile is a Democrat representing the Council’s 43rd district, encompassing Bay Ridge as well as parts of Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Borough Park in Brooklyn.

For many New Yorkers who do not want to pay for automobile insurance as they are required by law, illegal registration is the best way to avoid it completely. They register their cars in states that have lower insurance standards and also an inability to know when their insurance is dropped. This not only drives up New York insurance rates, but leaves car accident victims unable to collect what is properly owed them. The COI reported, in 2005, more than nine million parking summonses were issued in New York City. Of that number, 295,963 summonses were issued to 127,243 Pennsylvania registered vehicles. As of February 2006, 152,957 of those parking summonses remain outstanding. The sum of the total amount in unpaid fines due to the city is $14,314,776.05. Additionally, as of August 22, 2006, 181,976 parking violation summonses had been issued in New York City to 82,288 Pennsylvania registered vehicles, of which 111,398 remain outstanding. The total amount of unpaid fines due to New York City for these summonses is $9,635,004.21. These figures represent vehicles only registered in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania snapshot is more proof of how inefficient the city is in collecting the $275 million a year that was anticipated. This does not count the additional costs motorists have by paying higher insurance costs and higher local taxes. Not only are the costs significant, there is evidence that persons engaging in rate evasion are multiplying. I have been telling the mayor about this problem for years and he has done nothing. Meanwhile these illegal practices have continued to the obvious dismay of city residents.

Ivan Lafayette is a Democrat representing the 34th Assembly district, covering parts of Queens. He also serves as the deputy speaker of the Assembly.

welcomes submissions to the op-ed page. A piece should be maximum 650 words long, accompanied by the name and address of the author, and submitted via email to cityhall@manhattanmedia.com to be considered.

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JAN UARY 2007

The 20—or Is It 21?—Powerful Latino Faces, Families and Future Leaders of New York City

Ruben Diaz, Sr.

José M. Serrano

Adriano Espaillat

Carmen E. Arroyo

José Rivera

Adolfo Carrión

Gerson Borrero is a political columnist for El Diario/La Prensa. Norman Adler is a political consultant and president of Bolton-St. Johns, Inc. Both were asked to rank the people selected by the City Hall editorial board as the Latino leaders in politics in New York on a scale of one to ten, with ten as the highest. Political Clout within the Latino Community/Political Clout throughout New York as a whole PRISCILLA ALMODÓVAR, President and CEO of the New York State Housing Finance Agency ADLER: 2/5 BORRERO: 0.5/0.5 A former policy advisor and attorney for Spitzer while he was attorney general, Almodóvar has a history of managing complicated financial transactions. Assembly Member ADRIANO ESPAILLAT ADLER: 4/3 BORRERO: 2/2 In 1996, Adriano Espaillat became the first Dominican-American elected to a State House of Representatives in the United States. LUIS MIRANDA, JR., Principal partner in Mirram Global ADLER: 6/5 BORRERO: 2/2 The former head of the Health and Hospitals Corporation for Republican Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Miranda now gives Miran Consulting the first half of its name and much of its clout. Rep. JOSÉ E. SERRANO, New York State Senator JOSÉ M. SERRANO ADLER: 7/6 BORRERO: 4/3 José E. Serrano is the most senior Latino member of Congress. His son went from the City Council to the State Senate in 2004.

City Council Member HIRAM MONSERRATE ADLER: 5/3 BORRERO: 4/2 The son of Puerto Rican immigrants, Monserrate made history as the first Latino elected to public office in Queens and nearly won a 2006 Democratic primary against State Sen. John Sabini. Assembly Member CARMEN E. ARROYO and Council Member MARIA CARMEN ARROYO ADLER: 4/3 BORRERO: 3/3 In 1994, Arroyo, Sr. became the first and only Puerto Rican or Latino woman elected to the Assembly. Her daughter is the co-chair of the City Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus of the City Council. TONIO BURGOS, President of Tonio Burgos and Associates and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s top advisor ADLER: 3/6 BORRERO: 1/4 Longtime political aide to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, all around go-to-man in Latino politics. Assembly Member JOSÉ PERALTA ADLER: 3/3 BORRERO: 2/2 Born to Dominican Republic immigrant parents, Peralta is also direc-

Latinos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

ing their humble beginnings, not even in the realm of their dreams.” The Diazes agree that a system needs to be in place for candidates of ordinary means to campaign aggressively against

tor of the Commission on the Dignity for Immigrants at the New York City Labor Council. ROSANNA ROSADO, CEO/President of El Diario/La Prensa ADLER: 7/8 BORRERO: * Rosado heads the oldest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States. She co-chaired Spitzer’s transition team. ROBERTO RAMIREZ, Principal partner in Mirram Global ADLER: 5/7.4 BORRERO: 2/3 A former Bronx Democratic Party chairman, Ramirez is generally considered a major power broker within the Latino community and beyond. Ramirez was also part of the “Vieques Four.” Bronx Borough President ADOLFO CARRIÓN ADLER: 7/6 BORRERO: 3/3 Carrión is New York’s top ranking Latino elected official. Part of the “Vieques Four,” he is expected to run for mayor or comptroller in the 2009 election. State Senator MARTIN MALAVÉ DILAN, City Council Member ERIK MARTIN DILAN ADLER: 5/6 BORRERO: 1.5/1.5 Born to Puerto Rican immigrants, Sen. Dilan served on the City

a potential wave of wealthy, independent political suitors. With such a system, career politicians and political hopefuls might have a chance at entering office. And political dynasties, such as the Diaz family, may continue their legacies within the Latino political community.

Council for ten years before being elected to the State Senate. His son was elected to the Council in 2001. He is its second youngest member. Assembly Member VITO LOPEZ [see sidebar page 12]

ADLER: 7/8 BORRERO: 0.25/0.25 Chair of the Housing Committee and the new Brooklyn Democratic Leader, Lopez’s district is has one of the highest Latino concentrations of any in the state. GLADYS CARRIÓN, Head of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services ADLER: 3/2 BORRERO: 3/2 Before Spitzer picked her for this post, Carrión— no relation to the Bronx borough president—was the United Way of New York City senior vice president for community investment. State Assembly Member JOSÉ RIVERA, State Assembly Member NAOMI RIVERA, City Council Member JOÉL RIVERA ADLER: 6/8 BORRERO: 5/5 Puerto Rican-born Assembly Member Rivera is a New York Latino political icon who made his way from the Assembly to the City Council, then back to the Assembly. He was one of the “Vieques

Four.” His then 22-year-old son Joél made history as the youngest person ever elected to the Council. He was immediately appointed majority leader. Naomi Rivera is in her second term representing a neighboring Assembly district. Secretary of State LORRAINE CORTES-VASQUEZ ADLER: 0.5/2 BORRERO: 4/4 The former chief of staff to Roberto Ramirez and former president of the Hispanic Federation, Cortes-Vasquez is the highest ranking of the three Latinos Gov. Eliot Spitzer appointed in his administration. State Senator RUBEN DIAZ, Sr. and Assembly Member RUBEN DIAZ, JR. ADLER: 3/2 BORRERO: 5/4 Sen. Diaz was born in Puerto Rico and has served in the State Senate since 2001. His son is a member of the Assembly’s Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force and the Black/Puerto Rican and Asian Legislative Caucus. City Council Member DIANA REYNA ADLER: 4/4 BORRERO: 0/0 Born and raised in Brooklyn, Reyna is the first Latina of Dominican descent to be elected to office in New York State. She is the chair of the Council’s Rules, Privileges

State Sen. Jose M. Serrano (DManhattan/Bronx), whose father represents parts of the Bronx in Congress, said that if Latinos remain true to both their ethnic heritage and American culture, the tiles will fall into place. Achieving that fusion is the key to more common electoral success in the

& Elections Committee. 1199 SEIU President DENNIS RIVERA ADLER: 8/9 BORRERO: 4/6 Puerto Rican-born Rivera is the head of one of the most politically powerful health care workers’ unions. Support from this union is considered an essential component for most winning campaigns. LILLIAN RODRIGUEZ, President of the Hispanic Federation ADLER: 4/5 BORRERO: 1/1 Rodriguez has served as president for this membership organization that serves 85 Latino health and human service agencies in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Rep. NYDIA VELÁSQUEZ ADLER: 4/3 BORRERO: 0/0 Repeatedly named the most powerful Latina in New York politics today, Velasquez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House of Representatives. As the new chair of the Small Business Committee, she is the first Latino woman to lead a Congressional committee. *Borrero, laughing, opted not to rate Rosado. “You do realize she’s my boss,” he said. —Additional reporting by Matt Sollars

future, Serrano said. “Ultimately, what will put people over the top are ideas that are appealing,” he said. “If we slowly stop building coalitions based on ethnicity and start building them on strong ideas, then we will see more Latinos elected to higher office.” czanoni@manhattanmedia.com

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Duane-Casting

Manhattan state senator tries a new medium for constituent communications CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

While Duane was touring a Jersey City site similar to the one proposed for Manhattan, a large black rat skittered across his path. In the past, such an incident – and its potentially enormous impact on Duane’s opposition to the project – would have gone unnoticed by the public. Now, however, thanks to Duane’s new monthly podcast, anyone can hear his reaction that unscripted moment. “A rather large rat just ran across my foot, and I’m just glad I didn’t go ‘AAAYYYH!’” Duane said. “I just went ‘Ah!’… I think.” The podcast, which is simply a digital audio file, allows anyone to ride along with Duane on his fact-finding visit. Duane posted the 11-minute segment to his website, www.tomduane.com, in December and plans to produce a new one each month. Duane joins other prominent political podcasters like Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (D) and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (D) who have embraced the immediacy and intimacy of the format. Duane’s podcasting ambitions are decidedly more local than those potential 2008 presidential candidates, though. He said his podcast simply “is another way to bring information and education about the issues to the people of my district.” Adam Riff, Duane’s aide who first proposed and produced the podcast, said the

online format reaches “people who are curious about issues in the community but wouldn’t open a newsletter or attend a community board meeting.” The recording allows Duane’s constituents to hear for themselves the noise of a waste transfer station working at full throttle. A podcast also allows Duane to make his case directly on any given issue without having to rely on reporters. And even though the piece almost sounds like it could be on National Public Radio, Duane never hides his political agenda. That black rat, along with the powerful smells and noise he encountered in Jersey City, “totally reinforced my conviction that the Gansevoort Peninsula is not the place to build one of these waste transfer staILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT WILLIAMS tions,” Duane states in the podcast. For Riff, the segment allowed him to

Even though the piece almost sounds like it could be on National Public Radio, Duane never hides his political agenda. make use of his college radio experience. The whole segment took a few hours to put

together. But because the first podcast followed Duane on a visit he would have been making anyway, the senator’s schedule was hardly affected. Riff said additional voiceover work took only 10 or 15 minutes.

JAN UARY 2007

Not everything went smoothly, though. Riff’s recorder malfunctioned just as the rat made his appearance. A faintly audible ‘what happened?’ elicits Duane’s self-deprecating reaction to the rat encounter. Duane himself does not own an iPod. Even though podcasts can be listened to on computer, he relies on the younger members of his staff to listen to his podcasts. Response to Duane’s first podcast has been light so far. Duane cited one message from a constituent who found the waste facility piece “enlightening.” Nonetheless, Duane plans a new podcast every month for the foreseeable future. He anticipates addressing issues like same sex marriage, of which he is a strong proponent, and Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s (D) first 100 days in office. January’s podcast will be a personal essay on how Duane has succeeded as a Democrat in the Republican-controlled State Senate. Earlier this month, Duane was named the new floor leader under new Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens). “There’s a belief that when you’re a minority legislator you can’t get anything done, and my experience is quite the contrary,” Duane said. The format of the piece will be the exception to the rule: people who tune in for future podcasts should not expect to hear just Duane talking, he added. “Most of the podcasts will not just be my voice, but the voices of constituents,” he said, joking that even he sometimes tires of hearing himself talk. msollars@gmail.com

Tax Breaks Succeed in Reeling Movie Business to Big Apple Record number of shooting days in 2006 brings in $5 billion BY BECCA TUCKER 2006, NEW YORK CITY HOSTED a record 34,718 shooting days, including 276 movies. The city’s intangible cool factor has not been what has been luring producers. Nor has it been the huge talent pool, although more than a third of the actors in this country live in New York City, according to a recent report by Cornell University and the Fiscal Policy Institute. The reason is the tax break. The city’s $5 billion-a-year industry, which had already been declining from a high-point in 1998, took a considerable hit after 9/11. The year 2002 saw the fewest shooting days in a decade. To

buoy the sinking industry, the city’s “Made in N.Y.” program provided a tax break worth 15 percent of the movie’s production costs to filmmakers shooting at least 75 percent of their film in the city. The tax break has proven so appealing that producers started filming movies in the outer boroughs that are not scripted to take place in New York at all. Brooklyn substituted for much of Boston in Martin Scorcese’s “The Departed,” and though “Little Children” is supposed to take place in suburban Massachusetts, all the filming was done on Staten Island. The city’s production industry now employs 100,000 New Yorkers, and supports 4,000 production support business-

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es, like companies that provide theater space, lighting or crafts services. “I Am Legend,” which holds the title of largest movie shoot ever to happen in the city, employed 2,600 New Yorkers as production employees, extras and stand-ins. Many production assistants – a job which requires no specialized skill set – are young and looking to break into the industry. But not all the interns are assistantdirectors-to-be. Some are in it solely for the paycheck. James Hundley and Lloyd Francis, from Bedford-Stuyvesant and Canarsie, respectively, were in charge of parking for “The Visitor.” Every time a truck rolled up, one of them scurried to remove the orange cones and direct the driver. “They’ll take anybody,” says Hundley. So as long as you’re in the loop, whenever a movie comes to town “you know you’re going to get work.” The city’s brand new “Made in New York” Production Assistant Training Program trained 47 production assistants-to-be in

2006, 98 percent of them “people of color,” according to a press release from the Mayor’s Office of Film. From first-day interns to veteran union guys with headsets, every production assistant agrees that the hours are long and the pay sucks. Hundley and Francis make $125 a day, for a 12-hour shift. “It’s not much at all,” says Hundley. “I’m ashamed to say what I make.” Hundley says he works approximately half the days in a year. “Maybe a movie comes every three months, and commercials in between.” In the past couple months he’s worked on the set of “American Gangster,” “The Black Donnellys,” and a TV show that will be airing on NBC. When he is not working, Hundley says with a snort, “I sit home and collect unemployment.” At the moment though, there’s plenty of work. rtucker@manhattanmedia.com

JAN UARY 2007

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STEWED CHICKEN AND CARROT JUICE WITH The junior Congresswoman discusses the Clarke brand and being a ‘Tupperware sister’ BY CHARLOTTE EICHNA CLARKE EMERGED VICTORIOUS FROM a heated four-way primary to become the de facto winner of the general election to represent the 11th Congressional District, a historic seat created during the 1960s to increase minority representation. She fills the shoes of Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, and Major Owens, who held the seat since 1983. Clarke sat down at Mike’s International Restaurant, a popular Jamaican eatery in Brooklyn, to talk about life ahead in Washington, having Una Clarke as her mother and Council predecessor, mending fences with Chris Owens and what’s in her refrigerator.

VETTE

City Hall: Do you have any recommendations? Yvette Clarke: It’s all Caribbean. Spicy or non-spicy? CH: Spicy. YC: Okay. God bless you. You’re talking jerk-anything…or curried anything will have some nice spice in it. Everything else is just pretty much in a stewed type of form. That would be authentically Jamaican...

CITY HALL

Yvette Clarke

think that was part of it, and having had that as a foundation to serve in the Council. Being outspoken in the Council and being connected to the 40th Council District at just about every level gave me I think a competitive edge. CH: Do you think that those political family connections are a little unfair because someone else with talent but no name recognition might be kept out of public office? YC: No, because it’s a double-edged sword. In politics, people hate entitlement... I can remember running in ’01 for Council was a real challenge. There were some who would give me the benefit of the doubt because of my mom, and there were others who were like, ‘Under no circumstances—this woman has done nothing.’ And they just didn’t know me and the work that I—’cause I had actually been going down a career path of public service that I think rivaled anyone in that race. It added an extra support system that my mom was the Council Member before me, but I think that I had to prove that I was worthy of people’s support more so than other folks because of that…

ANDREW SCHWARTZ PHOTOS

[WAITRESS COMES. CLARKE ORDERS]

Yvette Clarke orders stewed chicken. YC: Stewed chicken, rice and beans, dark meat, creamy Italian—no?—oil and vinegar, okay, I’ll go with that. Waitress: Anything to drink? YC: Carrot juice, please.

A waitress at Mike’s International clears the table for lunch. CH: Your name came up in City Hall’s poll of who was the most fashionable Council Member. Can you describe your sense of style? YC: I would say, professional, urban, Caribbean female. I guess that’s the best way to say that. CH: When you go to Washington, will you take the New York edge off of it? YC: No, no. I am a representative, I am going to the House of Representatives and I understand decorum and certainly will look at all those protocols and bear that in mind… But I think it’s important that I bring my own personal flair, for lack of a better term. I enjoy wearing different things, things that are off the beaten path. CH: Well that is a cool jacket. YC: It was a birthday present. I was like, ‘This is hot! I can definitely work with this!’ CH: What was it about your campaign for Congress that voters responded to? YC: I think they responded to the Clarke brand—I’m just going to put it out there now because it’s pretty much the fact that there is a certain reverence for what my predecessor has done in this neck of the woods. For many, it’s a sense of pride. For others, it’s a sense of awe. For others, it’s like ‘That lady’s crazy!’ [Laughs]. I

CH: How is your relationship with outgoing Rep. Major Owens? You interned in his office in college, and then you challenged him for his seat. Your mom also challenged him, and he helped create Council District 40, which your mom represented. You recently defeated his son to become his successor in Congress. You guys have this very dramatic relationship. YC: You know, I never really looked at it from the drama perspective. But I guess from people looking in from the outside, you could assume a lot of drama is there. And you know what? At times there is drama. But I understand how to separate politics from government and governing. And so, to the extent that there were some corns mashed on, I’m trying to put the healing balm on those right now for the greater good of the community, which I think is really important once we get through the political season. CH: Would you consider yourself friends with Rep. Owens? YC: I wouldn’t say ‘friends’ just because I’ve always seen him more as an elder, so here we go into upbringing. In my household, your friends tend to be people in your generation… I would consider the Congressman certainly to be in an advisory capacity and someone whom I’ve had to associate with politically. I would consider Chris [Owens, Major Owens’ son] to be more of a friend. CH: Do you cook at all? YC: I haven’t in a very, very, very long time. I have to admit to that. CH: Are you a take-out kind of gal? YC: Oh man, take-out is the word for me. Take-out and luckily I have this great network, and they’re always cooking. I mean, I am the Tupperware sister. I will like show up at Aunt Pansy’s house, or Thanksgiving—it’s

like, ‘Keep the dressing!’…The microwave is my friend. CH: So what’s in your fridge now? Ten different Tupperware containers? YC: Right now I think I have a bucket of Kentucky that’s maybe about two days old; half a birthday cake from a birthday celebration I had in November so I think that’s done; and some Haitian cuisine: a Haitian clergy group honored me about a week ago, so that’s done, too. That’s about it. CH: You were the author of the Restroom Equity Act. Have you checked out the bathrooms in the Capitol yet? YC: What we’re going to find is historic landmark buildings, and what they’ve done to accommodate women obviously comes from a male perspective. Like the fact that—it was just brought to my attention and I haven’t had the opportunity to experience it personally myself—I was told that the Members’ only women’s bathroom, there are only two ways to get there from the floor. One is to go through the minority leader’s office. Or the other is to cut across Statuary Hall, which is like a tourist’s dream. The men’s bathroom, however, is like a few feet away from the floor. You don’t have to interact with all of the others in order to do your business and get back. CH: Have you ever used the men’s room because the women’s room line has been too long? YC: Yes, I have. And I’ve encouraged others to do the same. I’ve been a lookout. And I think we all have been socialized to do that, actually, to a certain degree. Some families may be a bit too hoity-toity to ever acquiesce to that, but bladder control is relative. ceichna@manhattanmedia.com

☞ To read more about Yvette Clarke’s views on

the Atlantic Yards development, goals for her first term, and thoughts on Al Sharpton’s leadership, visit www.cityhallnews.com.

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JAN UARY 2007

IN THE TRENCHES

Former Maloney Policy Director Joins Nadler’s Office Drinkwater will work on issues below 14th Street, but vacation at medical mission in West Indies

NE OF THE NEWEST ADDITIONS

to Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s (DManhattan) office is Erin Drinkwater, the community representative for the area in Nadler’s district below 14th Street. Drinkwater, 27, has long been interested in advancing social issues. She got her start in New York City politics working as Sean Patrick Maloney’s policy director on his campaign for the Democratic nomination for attorney general last year. She met Maloney at a dinner where Maloney was being endorsed. “I liked what he had to say, so I went up and talked to him,” she said. Without any professional plans for the summer, Drinkwater said she would be interested in any opportunities with his campaign. The job with Maloney prepared her for her current role with Nadler, she said. “It prepared me in terms of gaining an initial understanding of the New York landscape in politics. There are differences with it being a statewide race, but it

allowed me to become familiar with key players in New York politics,” she said. After Maloney’s campaign ended in 2007, Drinkwater was looking for something to do in an off political year. A dean from The New School’s Milano School for Management and Urban Policy, where she is finishing a master’s, forwarded her a job posting from Nadler’s office. “It seemed like the perfect combination of my interests and also policy,” she recalled, so she submitted her résumé. She started in December. As the community representative, Drinkwater spends lots of time going to community meetings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies with Nadler. In addition, Drinkwater, who calls herself “queer,” handles any LGBT issues that come up in Nadler’s district. Recently, she had become involved in the Empire State Pride Agenda, and aims to organize student groups around LGBT issues that are broader than the gay marriage question. That issue, she believes, “doesn’t resonate with young people.” Now, she calls “the southeast corner of

Prospect Park” on Parkside Avenue in Brooklyn home, having moved to New York City originally for graduate school. Before that, she taught environmental education in northern New Jersey. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Growing up with Republican parents made for some interesting conversations about her being queer and being liberal, she recalled. Importantly, it helped her to defend why she believes what she does. Since the fall of 2002, Drinkwater has been volunteering with a medical mission that provides services in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. She worked in a clinic, taught English and, back when her Spanish was better, translated for doctors. One of the highlights was seeing a baby again that she once thought would die. “It makes you smile and know that something’s going right, at least for that minute,” she said. Her trips have ranged from 10 days to a month, and she hopes to go at least once this year—right now she is saving

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

BY COURTNEY MCLEOD

Erin Drinkwater was Sean Maloney's policy director before joining Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s office. up vacation days. As for the future, Drinkwater says she is content to stay where she is for now and continue making connections. As for a political office of her own, she says she does not have any intention of running— at least, not yet. “I like the behind the scenes thing,” she said. “But at the same time, who knows what will happen 10 years from now?”

Au Revoir, Steve Kramer In an off-year in politics, political consultant to try his hand at filmmaking in France

IS FRIENDS AFFECTIONATELY

call him only Kramer. New York politicians know him as a hardnosed political consultant and the go-toguy for get out the vote operations. But for the next six months, Steve Kramer will have a new title: producteur executive. As many of his fellow political consultants are enjoying some down time during the lull in American politics before the 2008 elections, Kramer is preparing to go France to produce a documentary on the French presidential elections. Because of the off-year in politics, Kramer can take a semi-hiatus from his company, Target Marketing USA, which boasts an impressive client list that includes Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) and over 60 members of Congress, among many others. Kramer’s company carries out phone and voice mail campaigns, focusing primarily on getting out the vote. With call centers in California, Virginia, and New York, Kramer is a political consultant with a national reach. Now with his documentary, Kramer is looking to go international. Titled “Democracy in France” after Alexis de Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America,” the film will use four different directors and include over 30 interviews with French politicians, labor and student group lead-

ers. The elections are scheduled for April 22, with a likely run-off to be held May 5. The film will be shot and produced exclusively in French and distributed in France and French-speaking countries. Kramer’s role on the film will be mainly operational—making sure that permits, rights and, especially, money are in place. One place he will not be is behind the camera. “I’m not the most creative guy you’re going to meet,” Kramer admitted, explaining his path to producing. “My entertainment friends have been reaching out to me for a number of years because they never have enough money.” Kramer claims that he is already halfway to his fundraising goal of $420,000, and says he is realistic about what a limited budget can produce. “We’re not looking to make ‘Titanic’,” he said. However, Kramer says this election promises to be “revolutionary” for France. Current President Jacques Chirac is expected to step aside, though he has not ruled out making another run. The field of candidates is expected to be crowded, but Kramer says he is particularly interested in one of them: Ségolène Royal, a female Socialist, whom he thinks might prefigure Sen. Hillary Clinton’s run for the presidency. He does not expect to do any consulting for French politicians. But he has not

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Gennaro MATT SOLLARS

BY MATT SOLLARS

Steve Kramer will be an executive producer of a documentary about the upcoming French presidential election. ruled the prospect out entirely. Jerry Skurnik, head of Prime New York, which has had a “symbiotic” relationship with Kramer for the last few years, said that the most disconcerting aspect of the project thus far for him were the daily visits from Kramer’s French tutor, with whom he has worked two hours a day for six weeks, in addition to using the language program Rosetta Stone. That is not the only thing that has Skurnik wondering. “I’m somewhat skeptical that a movie about French elections would be popular somewhere,” Skurnik said, though admitting, “I’m not a sophisticate. I watch a lot of crap.” msollars@gmail.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

legislation that sets aside $12 billion in city construction over the next ten years to be contracted to environmentally conscious builders. Creating a demand for sustainable development could transform the city, Gennaro said. “We could be the capital of the green products movement,” he said. “There’s no reason why that can’t happen.” The move toward environmentally conscious building got a boost in September, when Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) created the Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability. While Gennaro said he was encouraged by the mayor’s announcement of an ambitious environmental agenda, he also recognized that limited resources forced him to be realistic about his goals as chair for 2007. “You can’t get done everything you want to do,” he said. “Every year you ask yourself did you get as much done as you possibly could, and if you can say you did, you’ve got to be happy with that.” jamespcaldwell@gmail.com

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JAN UARY 2007

As Bloomberg Crafts Anti-Poverty Specifics, Optimism and Worries

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

Other cities likely to watch New York’s performance closely

Mayor Michael Bloomberg did not mention many anti-poverty specifics in his State of the City address, and seems to still be considering options for how his administration will respond to the poverty commission report. BY NEIL DEMAUSE MAYOR MICHAEL Bloomberg’s (R) Commission on Economic Opportunities issued its recommendations for fighting poverty last September, Bloomberg indicated that city agencies would have 60 days to come up with plans for implementing them.

HEN

Kelly CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

More recently, Lee P. Brown (D) went on to serve three terms as mayor of Houston. Brown was Mayor David Dinkins’ (D) police commissioner before Kelly’s first tour of duty in the job. “You have to deal with the diversity of the city, crisis management,” said Brown, reached by phone in Houston. “All the things that a police commissioner does serves well if one is to be the mayor of a city.” And as Dinkins noted, recent mayors have come from unexpected backgrounds. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) was a United States attorney before running for mayor. Michael Bloomberg (R) came from the world of private business. “Some people said that a businessperson wouldn’t make a good mayor,” Dinkins said. “Mike Bloomberg has proven them wrong.” Should Kelly choose to run, Levenson believes the former Marine and Kennedy School graduate—who is the only person in history to hold every rank in the police department—would be a formidable candidate. “Does Ray Kelly have a message to sell that could be packaged in a way that might be appealing to the city of New York and the voting public? Absolutely,”

Four months later, while the city has appointed a new poverty czar and announced funding goals, few other details have been made public. Back in December, Bloomberg announced the appointment of management consultant Veronica White to run his new Center for Economic Opportunity. He also committed to raising anti-poverty spending by $150 million, two-thirds of which would go to an “Innovation Fund” to finance new initiatives. While the mayor said the Center would ultimately oversee more than 30 programs to “increase opportunity,” only a handful have been even hinted at in public: a refundable state child-care tax credit (which would require state legislative approval), individual development accounts to help encourage savings, job training targeted to growth industries, and increased outreach to encourage poor people to apply for the earned income tax credit and fend off predatory lenders. While poverty experts cheered the mayor’s newfound commitment to aiding the needy, most are taking a wait-and-see attitude on the actual follow through. “I’m very, very happy about the dollar commitment,” said Bill de Blasio (DBrooklyn), chair of the Council’s General Welfare Committee. “The big outstanding

question is the detail of how it’s going to be implemented.” In particular, de Blasio hopes the mayor will devote more attention to increasing access to food stamps, which the poverty commission reported are only going to 72 percent of eligible New Yorkers. Last April, Bloomberg overruled his own aides and blocked an application for a federal waiver that would have allowed the city to provide the federally funded benefit to more New Yorkers. According to Joel Berg of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, 361,000 fewer city residents are receiving food stamps now than 11 years ago, despite continued high levels of need. In fact, Berg said, hunger has been notable for its absence from the mayor’s public statements, with Bloomberg instead focusing on improved food quality in lowincome neighborhoods. And while Berg declared himself “pretty thrilled” with many of the new initiatives, he was particularly interested in individual development accounts, which for the first time would allow New Yorkers to accumulate savings without losing food stamps and other benefits, though he worries that “hinted in the rhetoric is perhaps the assumption that poor people are poor because they just don’t know how to spend their own

he said. “Could Ray Kelly win? Absolutely.” No one is sure whether he would be a Democrat or Republican. A political chameleon, Kelly has been a police commissioner under Dinkins, a Democrat, and Bloomberg, a Republican. In between, he was an undersecretary in the Treasury Department in the administration of President Bill Clinton (D). He is reportedly registered to vote as an independent. Levenson says that Kelly would be competitive in a Democratic primary against likely candidates such as Rep. Anthony Weiner (Brooklyn/Queens) and Comptroller Bill Thompson, but would have an easier time in the less crowded Republican primary field. Ken Sherrill, professor of political science at Hunter College, is not so sure. Weiner and Thompson would have advantages due to their current offices and organizations, Sherrill said. Without the backing of the Democratic nomination, Kelly would be unable to raise the money necessary to compete. “Bloomberg had a huge fortune at his disposal that Ray Kelly doesn’t have,” Sherrill adds. “I don’t see who’s going to invest that kind of money in Ray Kelly.” Until recently, Kelly managed to maintain high approval ratings across racial and ethnic lines. Then came the late November police shooting of Sean Bell. The negative fallout from the shooting,

highlighted by City Council Member Charles Barron’s (D-Brooklyn) repeated calls for Kelly’s resignation, has taken a toll on the commissioner’s public approval ratings. A Quinnipiac University poll released Jan. 16 found that 52 percent of New Yorkers approved of the job Kelly was doing, down from 66 percent in July. Among blacks, it stood at just 32 percent and Hispanics 44 percent. To Republican political consultant Susan Del Percio, a partner in O’Reilly Strategic Communications, Kelly’s reaction to the incident exemplifies his professionalism. “He’s constantly been up front, quick to respond and quick to answer questions to the public,” she said. “And that’s part of the reason that he’s able to be so successful and to have the public’s trust.” Though she does not believe he will run, Del Percio said that if he does, “certainly his popularity and his outstanding work as police commissioner and his association with the Bloomberg Administration would be great strengths.” Whether that will hold over the next two and a half years, whether his public approval ratings will recover from the latest round of criticism. And whether he or any of it will factor into the 2009 election remains a question to which no one but Kelly knows the answer. And maybe not even him. dw2209@columbia.edu

money. Certainly financial education can help, but if you’re earning $14,000 a year and you’re paying $2,000 a month in rent, all the education in the world isn’t going to help your situation.” As soon as Bloomberg announces the specifics of his plan, de Blasio plans to hold public hearings on them. He voiced concern that a cross-agency program like Bloomberg’s presents some especially tricky challenges. “Look at our intelligence agencies at the federal level,” de Blasio said. “The minute you ask agencies to share and be creative and knock down turf walls, it’s difficult.” Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs, who oversees many of the agencies likely to be involved, did not return calls by press time for comment on how the Bloomberg administration was planning to facilitate the transition, or any of the other specifics planned. Mark Greenberg, director of the D.C.based Center for American Progress’ poverty task force, says with the U.S. Conference of Mayors preparing its own study of ways to combat poverty, other cities will likely be watching New York’s performance closely. neil@demause.net

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Assembly Member Richard Gottfried examines one option for a new touch screen voting machine at a public exhibition held in his district Jan. 11 at Fordham University Law School. The state is this year aiming to update its voting machines for the first time in decades, and already lags far behind most other states.