Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics
Rick Brand
Rick Brand, a Newsday reporter for nearly three decades, writes about politics and government on Long Island.
The veteran reporter has covered a variety of assignments for Newsday in Washington, Albany and around the country and was part of the Long Island staff that won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.
During his career, Brand has been the paper’s lead reporter covering Suffolk county government, and spent three years as the paper’s beat reporter covering LILCO during the height of the controversy over the Shoreham nuclear power plant. He has also headed the paper’s East End bureau and even spent a summer doing a gossip column on the Hampton’s social whirl.
Brand had also worked several stints in Newsday’s Albany Bureau during the Carey and Cuomo administrations. He covered the upset victory of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, Long Island’s first woman congresswoman, and the 1997 U.S. Senate battle between Alfonse D'Amato and Chuck Schumer and part of the marathon Senate campaign that led to the election of Hillary Clinton.
Before joining Newsday, Brand, a graduate of St. Bonaventure University, worked as news editor of Suffolk Life Newspapers and as a reporter for the Long Island News and the Buffalo Courier Express.
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 »Haber would wage a third-party run, Liberal Party chairman says
Photo credit: Newsday / John Paraskevas
Nassau County Executive candidate Adam Haber will wage a third-party run if he loses the September Democratic primary, according to New York State Liberal Party Chairman Jack Olchin, who has endorsed the East Hills businessman.
Olchin said Haber promised him during an endorsement interview that he would remain in the county executive race and run on the Liberal line if he does not defeat former...
Read more »Gregory seeks update on inquiry into 17-month-old's death
Suffolk Legis. DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) has requested an update from State Police on the investigation of the body of a little boy found buried in his family’s Farmingdale backyard last October.
In a letter sent to State Police on Monday, Gregory, chairman of the county Legislature’s Human Services Committee, asked for more information on the progress of the case to “allay any concerns...
Read more »State Senate OKs Long Beach's bid to borrow $12 million
Photo credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa
State legislators gave final passage Monday to a bill to allow Long Beach to borrow $12 million to help recover from superstorm Sandy.
The State Senate, in a 56-0 vote, approved the measure, which would permit Long Beach to issue bonds to help it cover lingering debts. The Assembly passed the bill in April.
“The City of Long Beach was one of the most devastated areas affected by...
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