Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics
Cuomo puts his stamp on state Democratic party
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo continued to put his stamp on the state Democratic Party and make the not-so-subtle argument that other party members can win this fall if they follow his lead. At the party’s organizational meeting, Cuomo installed Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and Assemb. Keith Wright (D-Manhattan) as the party’s new co-chairs, replacing Jay Jacobs, who will...
Nassau: Still no MTA pick, as Albany session nears end
By now, Nassau Executive Edward Mangano has managed to create a mysterious little jam at the intersection of mass transit and politics. Not only has he not submitted names for the county’s still-vacant seat on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, his office is even mum on when he might do so.
“No comment,” Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin said Thursday. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s office,...
Clash over campaign contributions at Suffolk union
Dan Farrell, president-elect of the Association of Municipal Employees, accuses exiting union boss Cheryl Felice of using union political contributions to try to land herself a new job after she leaves office July 1.
Farrell charged Felice got the union’s political action committee to authorize a $15,000 contribution to the Suffolk Democratic Committee only one day after the Democratic-controlled...
Dems to mull endorsing B'khaven highway supt. for judge
Democratic party officials will meet with Brookhaven's Democratic Highway Superintendent John Rouse this week about the possibility of backing him for county court judge, even though Republicans unilaterally backed him first, said Suffolk Democratic Chairman Richard Schaffer.
“Of course, theres a possibility of backing him,” said Schaffer, a day after the GOP convention Thursday night. ”He’s...
Suffolk Democrats may skip convening
Scratching for candidates to run this fall, Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer said he will meet with the party’s executive committee Thursday to determine if they should hold a county convention this year.
The party leader said he has only found candidates for two of six elected seats where he needs challengers to take on GOP incumbents. Without a fuller slate, Schaffer...
1st C.D.: Bishop uses Demos departure for Altschuler slap
This statement was just sent by a spokesman for Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton):
The congressman and his family wish George Demos and his future bride much happiness. The congressman and Mr. Demos disagree on nearly everything. The one thing they don't disagree on is outsourcer Randy Altschuler’s lack of credibility with Suffolk County voters. Randy Altschuler has so little regard for Suffolk...
Demos quits; Altschuler will get GOP nod in 1st C.D. (Updated)
George Demos withdrew today from the GOP race to run against Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton). More to come, as Randy Altschuler becomes the putative nominee. Here is his statement released to supporters, in full:
I wanted you to see the statement that Chrysa and I put out today. I hope you understand the decision we made and I thank you for all of your tremendous support. I hope we will have...
Buzz over N.Y. public-sector union role at DNC
The involvement of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office in shaping the New York convention delegation -- and a dispute over seats for public-sector unions with which he's chafed -- gets some exploration here by Haberman at Politico. ...
Senate hopeful Maragos: Cancel Facebook IPO
While one Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, attorney Wendy Long, stops on Long Island to meet with Suffolk Republicans and the Conservative Society for Action, rival candidate George Maragos, the GOP Nassau comptroller, has issued remarks on a subject central to his career: investment and finance. He called for the initial public offering for Facebook to be canceled based on reports about the...
Cuomo philosophy: Gov't competency is "step one"
In a pep-rally-style speech to the state Democratic Committee Thursday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo touted his record, outlined what he thinks is the party’s core difference from Republicans and said New York should give President Barack Obama the “best mandate in the United States of America.”
The most notable part of the address might have come when Cuomo summarized what he believes is the big-picture...
