TAP has a post up from Friday (thank you devtob) regarding a NYT story examining the relationship between NY mayor, Michael Bloomberg and our junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand. Being closer to the source, they were able to pick up nuances that I had missed.  Apparently, the potential contenders for Kirsten’s seat have all been encouraged by Bloomberg’s people.

Check this out:

The Times has always been close to Bloomberg, as is evident again in the story’s lede:

He gripes about her in private conversations with his aides and her colleagues on Capitol Hill. He has yet to take up her invitation to sit down for dinner. And his political team is constantly shopping for potential candidates to oust her.As New York experiences a tumultuous election season, one question is captivating political insiders: Why does Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg so dislike Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand?

The story never really answers that question, because to do so would mean bringing up the issue of Caroline Kennedy’s maladroit candidacy for the appointment.

The story recounts how Bloomberg and his minions have been advising/encouraging several potential Gillibrand challengers — former Bush/Cheney war-flack Dan Senor most lately, but also Long Island Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, Harold Ford, and fellow Manhattan billionaire Mortimer Zuckerman. (Manhattan Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s short-lived, but nasty, challenge is oddly unmentioned, though Bloomberg types worked on that, too.)

So, is this all because of Caroline Kennedy’s failed bid for the senate seat?  Is it really all about who the Mayor can keep under his thumb?  Is it all about controlling the vote of one senator from NY? I hate to think so, but, politics being what it is, it makes perfect sense.

Spitzer (glass houses, Eric?) Edwards, Rangel, Paterson, Massa.  Scandal after scandal is fast chipping away at any chance the Democratic Party may have had in maintaining a majority  in the state and federal governments.  Couple this with a Democratic Majority that believes vertebrae are best used for bending over backwards for corporate interest and this is what ensues…

From Swing State Project:

Just saw this in an email.  Shawn Hogan has decided DC is not for him, per Hornell’s Evening Tribune:

“After much consultation with family, friends and friendly political allies and prayerful contemplation, I have decided not to pursue the 29th District Congressional seat that will become vacant with the resignation of Congressman Eric Massa at p.m. this day,” said Hogan in a prepared news release.

“I choose not to run, not because I am afraid of the challenge, I still have a great desire to serve. However, the atmosphere in politics today is toxic, fueled by extremism on both sides of the isle.  Americans deserve and want leadership from our elected officials not 30 second sound bites and destructive behavior. We need honor and common sense in Washington and Albany,” said Hogan.

Looks like Hogan will not be our Hero.

The search goes on for a likely candidate to replace Eric Massa.  Any takers?

The Corning Leader reports this morning that David Koon has stepped up to the plate in lieu of Eric Massa’s run for a second term as NY’s 29th.

Assemblyman David Koon, D-Perinton, said Thursday he would be willing to run for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, D-Corning.

[snip]

Koon said the decision whether he runs ultimately lies with the Democratic chairmen of the eight counties in the 29th Congressional District. Cindy Emmer, Chemung County Democratic chairman, said the county chairmen will discuss possible candidates in a conference call today.

“I want to run,” Koon said. “I’ve told them, if you want me to run, I’m your man.”

Also in the running is Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan, who was personally asked by Massa to succeed him. Hogan serves as the Steuben County Democratic Chairman and was unavailable Thursday for comment.

Although an admirer of David’s, I would be ignoring the truth to believe that a Democrat from Monroe County could pull this off.  If we must lose Eric, then another candidate from the Southern Tier must take his place.

Eric chose wisely.  I’m behind Shawn

Well,  Just dialed into the Press Conference - there are 78 callers on and that was 5 mins ago  - just waiting for it to start.  I’m doing this live so forgive the typos I’ll try to correct them later.  hit refresh a lot.

Going on 10 mins late…

The Communications director (Jared Smith) just popped on and said they are running a little late- Massa will read a brief statement - No questions.

It starts - Massa’s statement (hurried typed summary)

Last December I had my 3rd cancer reoccurance scare.  Intense and personal experience.  Doctors said I can’t run at 100 miles an hour any longer -

There have been questions about harassment against staff.  Yes, I use salty language - but harassment?  No - those accusations are a symptom of what is wrong with Washington.  I can’t fight all the battles on what is wrong with Washington.

I remain fully committed to help the families of the 29th through my term.

The statement was certainly more elegant than my summary.  He also said that he is announcing now so others can run.    I’m sure I’ll get it via email and will post it.

Bottom line - Per Massa, this is a health issue.

He took no questions - Press Conference over.

The Monroe County Legislature Democratic minority held a news conference where they unveiled a plan to basically cut the size of the Monroe County Legislature in half.  There are 29 seats and the Democratic proposal reduces that number to 15.  The Republican Majority will redraw the districts based on the 2010 census.

Via the D&C

Democrats, who hold 13 of 29 seats, claimed the proposal, which would reduce the legislature to 15 seats, would save $500,000 per year when lawmakers’ salaries, benefits and resources are calculated.

The legislature’s total budget is $2.1 million, which the Brooks administration classifies as a “mandated expense.” Rank-and-file lawmakers earn $18,000 per year, meaning that cutting 14 legislative seats would trim $252,000 in salaries alone.

Via press release from minority leader Harry Bronson’s office

The proposal will bring Monroe County in line with peer counties in terms of the number of constituents per legislative district. Currently there are about 25,000 people  living in each district, whereas Monroe’s peer counties average slightly more than 50,000 per district. After enactment, Monroe would have roughly 50,000 people living in each district. Upon voter approval in November 2010, this proposal would take effect on January 1, 2012, following the redistricting process.

Not that it is going to ever happen because

Republican Majority Leader Dan Quatro, R-Webster, called the proposal “a thinly veiled attempt” by Democrats to regain control of the legislature.

See Dan Quatro assumes that the secret plan depends on he the Republicans to redistrict themselves out of power.  Funny that.

If anything his comments once again highlights that the Republican majority does not engage the Democratic minority in County governance.

Nevertheless, what do you think of the proposal?

If the number of legislators is reduced the cost of governing is also reduced.  On the flip side, the number of constituents served per legislator is increased. There is a higher concentration of power I suppose.  Probably the cost ot get elected increases reducing the number of people who would/could run for office.

So good or bad idea?

After reading an article in the New York Times about Harold Ford Jr.’s most recent poll on himself and Gillibrand,  I want to ask Mr. Ford Jr. what he is waiting for.

Last Thursday, while in Rochester, Harold Ford Jr. had meetings with Mayor Bob Duffy and Assemblyman Joe Morelle.  As the D&C reported:

“Ford, 39, is not yet a candidate but he acted like one, meeting with Mayor Robert Duffy, shaking hands at Nick Tahou Hots and talking to reporters about the economy and taxes.

Following an afternoon meeting at City Hall, Ford said he supports Duffy’s effort to take control of the City School District. (snip) ‘The reason I’ve always been a supporter of reform efforts and alternative education models is that oftentimes kids find themselves trapped in settings that don’t work,’ he said.”

On Thursday night, he delivered the keynote address for the Black Students’ Union’s Black History Month celebration at the University of Rochester.  Despite how the event was advertised, Mr. Ford Jr. did more that just speak on civil rights, volunteerism, and students in leadership.  He sounded like a candidate running for office while talking about how to strengthen the American image and what he could potentially do for the state of New York.  He would not confirm a run for office but did say “I have to do what is right for New Yorkers.”  He discussed problems with education, health care, green jobs, medicare/medicaid, state spending and the fact that he would vote in favor of gay marriage if he were in a position where that may come up.  (Note: this is a change from his prior views and voting record.   For more, see his interview with the New York Times on Jan. 13, 2010.)

As a non-candidate, Harold Ford Jr. appears to be building support, taking sides on local political issues, and certainly speaking as if he were a candidate.  (For more see Stlo7’s post on “Harold Ford Visit to Rochester“)

I have a profound respect for most of those who choose to run for office.  It is a decision that requires a good deal of time, personal sacrifice, and courage to come before the public (and their scrutiny).  If Mr. Ford Jr. is truly passionate about representing the interests of New Yorkers as they need and deserve,  then it’s admirable that he would come here and run.  But as he remains non-committal, continues to spend money on polling and maintaining both homes in Memphis, TN, and New York City this feels more like a back- up career decision after he couldn’t win in his own state.

Former US Congressman and Mayor of New York, Ed Koch decided not to support Governor Paterson, as far as we can tell.  Mastering political double-speak, this is what he said (as per New York Daily News, Feb 17):

“And I thought he was living last week in a Kafka-esque situation, where the tabloids were saying he did this, he did that and we base it on a story that the New York Times will run…and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to stand up for him.’”"And when I was asked by a reporter, ‘Are you for David?’ I said ‘yes.’ And she said, ‘Are you for him because of what he’s done?’ I said, ‘No. I am for him, in effect, out of sympathy for his being in a Kakfa-esque situation.’ You can’t do this to people, use rumors to destroy them…But I’m not really for him.”

So, the governor is in a “Kafkaesque” situation, therefore  Koch responds with a Kafkaesque statement?  Apparently Koch believes that Paterson will withdraw his candidacy.

“…I will not be with him when he makes his announcement. And I wish him well, but I believe he will step down no matter if he announces next week and that the pressures of the president and others will provide a position for him elsewhere, because as Carl makes the point, you have to worry about the party. And all these people think they’re gonna be dragged down.”

Koch must be listening to a different fellow than we heard speak on Saturday.  I believe that David Paterson’s closing statement went something like,

“I’m black, I’m blind and I’m still alive and running for governor of New York.”

Is that really subject to interpretation?

Welcome to another week that was on Rochesterturning.  The MCDC volunteer dinner is shut down, the Regional Market Authority might be, Governor Paterson was in town, and a proposal to dump fracking waste was denied.

Let’s get started.

Local Scene

Mayoral Control - MCDC volunteer dinner was a casualty of the  mayoral control of schools debate.  The teachers union with other union support planned a picket and after Monroe County Democratic Chairman Morelle canceled the dinner,  they held a Press Conference instead.   So, the next question is, will the Mayor or one of his events, like say the Mayors Ball, be the target of some action?

County Exec Brooks locks her self in the dressing room and disses the downtown theater proposal.  If only there were downtown development that includes an Arts Theater called RenSquare.   All that is missing is the feet stomping as she exists stage wrong.

The Genesee valley Regional Market Authority - should it stay, or should it go?   An Authority is a quasi governmental entity that has special powers or more specifically, plays by different rules.  In this case,  it is able to offer businesses below market property use rates.   Sounds great if you are a small business just getting started and all, but not all businesses in the market  are small start up businesses.    Maggie Brooks is against it, as expected, and we poke at some of the talking screaming points.

A view from the State

Katies Law:  Assemblyman Joe Morelle is sponsoring a bill to extract DNA samples if you are arrested (not convicted, just arrested).  Currently DNA samples are obtained if you are convicted.  Seems a wee bit unconstitutional.

Maggie Brooks endorses Rick Lazio for Governor - no kidding.   Speaking of Governor - Governor Paterson kicked off his campaign at stops across the State.  One of those stops was Rochester.  We were there and will have more as time permits.   The very short version is, there were few elected Democrats at the kick off - no Mayor for example, so not a lot of elected support which highlights a party rift.   Paterson was a powerful speaker and made a strong case for his reelection.

Now, assuming Cuomo tosses his hat in the Governor’s race  - who wants to be Attorney General?

Meanwhile, there is a plan to delay State tax refunds - a plan, if implemented, will surely backfire.

Frack that - Remember all that water that gets pumped into the ground to extract natrual gas?  The water surry with hazardous chemicals?  Well it has to go somewhere - and guess what? -What if it were put into an underground well near Keuka lake?   What could possibility go wrong?   Well, the application to do just that was withdrawn by an out of state energy concern.  This is a huge victory for the Residents of the 29th and Congressman Massa who listened to them.

Federal level

Who else wants to be U.S. Senator - Add Mort Zuckerman to the list for the seat currently occupied by Kirsten Gillibrand.  Meanwhile, Harold Ford came to Rochester to make his case.

Run for the Hills - 10% of the GOP House Caucus is leaving.  5% of the Democratic caucus is leaving.    Bill Owens (D, NY-23) isn’t one of them, but if  conservative Doug Hoffman has is way - he will be.  Seems like Hoffman is pandering - saying no to entitlement cuts.  Do you believe him?

Health Care - there is a move a foot for the Public Option. How is that defined this time, because last time it wasn’t so public nor was it an option.

It was retro amateur hour from the Tom Reed campaign.  Publishing a Press Release linking Congressman Massa with the communist party policies - ergo Massa is a ____.   Reed’s actions are taken down by WETM-TV.

Meanwhile - Massa’s office kept their focus on constituents by keeping the lights on during the recent D.C.  snowstorm.

Quick Clicks

Bringing War home.  There is a cost of war - any war - and this movie shows it.

Praising the Kennedy family.

Wingnuts continues- Scarborough, Cannots, and Global Warming.

That’s it - see you next week…

Assuming Andrew Cuomo runs for governor who would run for AG?  the D&C had a article that covered the Democrats running or considering.  They are former Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo, Nassau DA Kathleeen Rice, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Sean Coffey, Sen. Eric Schneiderman or Denise O’Donnell.  Who got the most ink?  Well, Dinallo - comments about Rice were lost in the article in my opinion.  Have a look at the extracted content below.

Dinallo

Former Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo, who has raised $1.8 million, has told donors he will return their contributions if Cuomo stays put.

… Dinallo came in January, one of four visits to the Flower City since leaving the Paterson administration in July.

Dinallo, of New York City, became close with Monroe County Democratic Chairman Joseph Morelle through Morelle’s chairmanship of the Assembly Insurance Committee, though Morelle has not made an endorsement. By the end of next week, Dinallo will have met in person with 35 Democratic county chairs, according to a spokesman.
…
Dinallo worked in the attorney general’s office under Eliot Spitzer and in the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

Rice

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice was in Rochester last week, …

Rice has raised $1.4 million and has $2.4 million on hand.

…

On her trip last week, Rice said the “distinctions are very clear.”

“The choices are a wealthy corporate attorney, career Albany politicians and me, a career prosecutor,” she said.

Coffey and Schneiderman

Two other people exploring a run are Democrat Sean Coffey of Westchester County, a former corporate lawyer and assistant U.S. attorney, who has raised $1.7 million, and Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan, who has $1 million on hand.

Brodsky

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Westchester County, is another potential candidate and has $1.3 million on hand.

O’Donnell

Another possible Democratic candidate is Denise O’Donnell of Buffalo, commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services in Paterson’s administration. She campaigned for attorney general in 2006 but lost the endorsement to Cuomo.

Any opinions?  What do you want in an Attorney General?

It would appear that New York State is lousy with wannabe senate candidates.  Call me wet behind the ears, but I had never heard of Mort Zuckerman until I read this New York Post article.

The Senate seat in question is now held by David Paterson protégé — and Chuck Schumer hand puppet — Kirsten Gillibrand. She’s an upstate cipher whose sole qualification for the job is that Paterson appointed her to it when Hillary Rodham Clinton gave it up to join the Obama administration.

Zuckerman, on the other hand, is a heavyweight — an internationalist with a firm grasp on the challenges facing the nation in that realm, a fierce supporter of Israel at a time of grave peril for that embattled nation and an experienced businessman with a clear appreciation of how much damage anti-growth fiscal policies can do to America.

According to Wikipedia, although Mort is a Democrat, if he runs he may run as an independent or Republican in order to avoid a primary fight. (Not to mention, we could run out of room on the primary ballot)

Challenges-they’re not just for junior senators anymore.  Not only does Kirsten face a likely challenger in Harold Ford Jr, now Chuck has a left field challenger in the name of Phillip S Krone, a political consultant from Illinois.  from Swing State Project:

• NY-Sen: Speaking of random primary challenges, now Chuck Schumer is facing one too, from Phil Krone, an Illinois and/or Florida political consultant who was just involved in Dan Hynes’ unsuccessful campaign. Krone says he’ll dive in only if he can raise $10K in contributions before April 1; given the strangeness of his bid, even that seems kind of a high bar to reach.

Out of state candidates taking on sitting New York senators in primaries seems to be the trendy thing to do.  The way this guy is trying to raise campaign funds,

I am seriously thinking of embarking on this project. But only if I get at least $10,000 in contributions by April 1. 2010 (April Fool’s Day appropriately). Checks or money orders from individuals can be no more than $25 or they will be returned. Corporate of labor checks can be of any size. I don’t have an internet site yet, so please send them to:

Philip S. Krone

180 N. LaSalle Street

Suite 3000

Chicago, Illinois 60601

If I don’t run, all the checks will be returned with a mass produced thank you, but no phony ‘personalized’ salutation or signature.

I can’t imagine anyone actually contributing.  So,what is this guys motivation?  I read the whole announcement in the Chicago Daily Observer, and I still don’t get it.  Will a primary force Schumer to address issues that he wouldn’t normally have to?  I could buy that if he were from NY.

My guess is he doesn’t even show up as a blip on Schumer’s radar screen.

Just when you thought that it was safe to go back in the water…,

you may get hit with another teabag. A life long Resident of Buffalo and CEO of Ellicott Development, Carl Paladino, is thinking about answering that bugle call.  From Swing State Project:

• NY-Gov: I can’t see this being of any interest unless something goes seriously wrong and we somehow wind up with a David Paterson/Rick Lazio matchup and we need to shunt off some right-wing votes to get Paterson over the hump. But now there’s a teabagger-linked rich guy, Buffalo real estate developer Carl Paladino, saying that he’s considering a gubernatorial run, and that he “would go in as a pure independent.”

I had thought the Tea Party would have been long over by now.  Come-on, haven’t they burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away, already?!

My only response to this is (and this is coming from a long time Paterson supporter.): Run, Andrew, run!

Pedro Espada, the downstate N.Y. Senator and last man standing in the Gang of Four  Three  Two One stand-off last year, says that Attorney General Cuomo is picking on him for political reasons and and engaging in prosecutorial misconduct.

What’s the problem? Espada is CEO of a non-profit chain of health clinics, and contracted its cleaning services to a for-profit company he owns. There is also a question about whether the entities secretly covered some of his campaign expenses, a violation of NY campaign law. A hearing is scheduled next week.

The office says in court papers that it has found evidence of potential fraud, violations of state election law, state law regarding nonprofit groups and state labor law, as well as potential tax liabilities. The investigation by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo is focused on Mr. Espada’s role as chief executive of the Soundview HealthCare Network, a Bronx-based group of tax-exempt health clinics.

The court filing says that Soundview has a contract with a for-profit management company, Soundview Management Enterprises L.L.C., that is controlled by Mr. Espada, allowing him “effectively to siphon off and otherwise divert money from Soundview for Mr. Espada’s own personal and political benefit.”

Evidence collected by Mr. Cuomo’s office, the filing says, suggests that money paid by Soundview to the management company was also used to “pay Mr. Espada’s campaign expenses, including printing, campaign office rent and personnel costs.”

Espada has a long track record as a self-serving opportunist. His campaign committee has been cited numerous times for violations and failure to file reports. Last year he was the pivotal player who held up the state’s businesses for weeks  in the attempt to bring Republicans to back to power in the NY Senate. Espada switched from Democrat to Republican and back again.

Possible side effects of this combination include, but are not limited to (according to SwingStateProject):

• NY-Sen-B: One other Research 2000 poll to talk about: they looked at the Democratic primary in New York, and find about what everyone else has found. Kirsten Gillibrand leads ex-Rep. Harold Ford Jr. by a 41-27 margin (with 3 for Jonathan Tasini), looking solid but still with a ton of undecideds. This also exists merely at the level of rumor, but with the potential presence of Ford scrambling things for the ever-so-briefly-thought-to-be-safe Gillibrand, sources say that Democratic Rep. Steve Israel (who got dissuaded from a primary challenge) and Republican ex-Gov. George Pataki (who hasn’t sounded interested until now) are both giving the race a little more consideration.

As Adrain pointed out in the comments to my last post, Ford cannot present as a populist, but George Pataki sure could.  This bears being watched closely.