Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics
Bill would allow Nassau to borrow $305M for tax refunds
Photo credit: Howard Schnapp
Nassau County would get state permission to borrow $305 million to pay property-tax refunds, under a bill introduced last night by state Senate Republicans.
Under the bill, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano would just need a majority vote from the county legislature to issue bonds up to $305 million. It says he wouldn’t have to go through the Nassau Interim Finance Authority to obtain...
Read more »Nassau Coliseum bidder presents a vision for the site: Video
New York Sports & Entertainment, the smallest of the four developers bidding to redevelop the Nassau Coliseum, has posted its first advertisement promoting its vision for the property.
In the 2 minute and 30 second video, posted yesterday on You Tube, and shown below, company officials stand in front of the Uniondale arena and detail their plan to downsize the Coliseum to 8,000-10,000...
Read more »Deal would OK 2,000 video slot machines on Long Island
To recap the flurry of activity last night, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and lawmakers reached a deal on a gambling-expansion bill under which Long Island would get video-slot machine parlors holding up to 2,000 terminals.
Nassau and Suffolk counties would each get to build one facility hosting up to 1,000 machines. Here’s a link to more background.
The gambling bill also includes authorization...
Read more »NYC: Weiner hails mentor Schumer on immigration bill
Mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner on Monday night paid an unexpected compliment to his former mentor Sen. Charles Schumer, though the senator has repeatedly dodged questions about Weiner since the former Congressman announced his candidacy last month.
Weiner spoke at an Astoria, Queens, candidates’ forum that focused on technology policy, saying affordable housing and immigration reform would...
Read more »Montaukett Nation clears Senate hurdle
The state Senate gave final passage Tuesday to a bill that would create a pathway for the Montaukett Indian Nation to become a state-recognized tribe. The Senate approved the measure, 62-0, without debate.
The Assembly passed the measure last week, meaning it will now go to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for signature or veto.
Via Newsday's Mark Harrington, here's more background...
Read more »Counties' borrowing plan hits apparent dead end
A bid by Suffolk and Nassau counties to gain state permission to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to cover lingering debts is dead, a key lawmaker said Tuesday.
The proposal drew significant political opposition and state lawmakers said they could not reach an agreement on the initiative — which would have allowed each county to issue bonds up to $500 million. Backers...
Read more »Skelos 'optimistic' that Island will be included in gambling expansion
Photo credit: AP
The Legislature’s top Republican said Tuesday a proposal to allow video slots at off-track betting facilities on Long Island is very much alive as lawmakers try to finalize a casino bill at the State Capitol.
“I’m relatively optimistic,” Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said, referring to the Island being a part of New York’s plans to expand gambling. Skelos made the prediction...
Read more »NYC: Quinn aims to highlight post-Sandy efforts
Photo credit: Getty Images
Council Speaker Christine Quinn earned plaudits for being on the scene and trying to help during and after the destruction wrought by superstorm Sandy last fall. She's going with a commercial now with testimonials from Breezy Point residents.
...
Read more »NYC: Bloomberg and the 'kiss of death'
Photo credit: Getty Images
A little like the guys who used to sell Chesterfield cigarettes saying it soothed the T-zone, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has done some past salesmanship he'd probably just as soon forget. Remember the days when he used to go to baseball games with UFT president Randi Weingarten and both would testify to the mature cordiality of their relationship?
That was then, this is now. Bloomberg calls a...
Read more »Abortion proposal appeared unlikely from the start
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal to strengthen abortion rights basically hasn’t gone anywhere since Republicans declared it off limits in January.
Cuomo has proposed a state law that would keep in place current abortion rights under the landmark Roe v. Wade if the decision were ever reversed. No sooner than Cuomo proposed it did Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) say the Senate...
Read more »
