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.
Weiner world, where you can't tell jokes from straight lines
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whose elected position makes him the top figure in the New York State Democratic Party, was asked Wednesday in Syracuse what he'd think if disgraced former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner were elected New York City mayor.
"Shame on us," he said.
Which sounds rational. But as soon as the remark got around, a key aide to the governor insisted the remark was...
Read more »Senate proposal: 5 casinos upstate, video slots on Long Island
Photo credit: Resorts World Casino
Countering a proposal by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Republicans put their weight behind a bill to authorize up to five new upstate casinos over the next four years and video slot machines at off-track betting facilities on Long Island.
The GOP's proposal, outlined in a bill unveiled Thursday, puts Long Island in play as lawmakers try to agree on gambling expansion proposals before the end...
Read more »Nassau GOP officially nominates Mangano for a second term
Photo credit: Albany Times Union
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano officially accepted the Republican nomination for a second term in office at the GOP convention Wednesday night, highlighting his record on taxes and job creation.
“We have the lowest unemployment in the region and the highest private sector job growth,” Mangano told a standing-room-only crowd at the Wisdom Lane School in Levittown, which gave the first-term...
Read more »Suozzi, Weitzman get Working Families endorsement
Photo credit: Ana Maria Rico
Nassau’s Working Families Party has endorsed Tom Suozzi for Nassau County executive and Howard Weitzman for county comptroller.
“Tom Suozzi and Howard Weitzman share our values and are committed to fighting for working families in Nassau County,” Lisa Tyson, a Working Families leader, said in a news release. “Their vision will make Nassau, once again, a great place to live, work and raise...
Read more »Five reasons wild-card Weiner's bizarre run is a first
Photo credit: Newsday
Disgraced ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner's entry into the Democratic mayoral primary goes beyond the calculations of your average nervy career politician. His strange new adventure is unique in several ways. Here's how:
CRAZY MONEY This year marks Weiner's last chance under city public financing rules to draw down a potential $1.5 million in taxpayer matching funds from the $4.3 million war chest...
Read more »Suozzi's catering advocacy targeted on new website
Reflecting some of the static he's received in the Democratic primary for county executive, Thomas Suozzi is targeted as "Tom the Tip Taker" on this new site, where he's been accused of siding with money against workers.
From Adam Haber, his challenger:
In his role at the law firm Harris Beach Tom Suozzi has been actively choosing to represent catering businesses that are attempting...
Read more »GOP's Mattera: No position in Smithtown supervisor contest
Republican legislative primary challenger Mario Mattera, who is also business agent for Plumber Local 200, clarified his position Wednesday on the re-election of Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, who is also facing a GOP primary.
He said his union is backing Vecchio in his primary against town board member Robert Creighton but he personally is taking no position in the race. Mattera said...
Read more »How Weiner's video to announce mayoral run falls short
Photo credit: Newsday
Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner — nowhere to be found in person — has, instead of facing the moment of announcement, released an introductory campaign video that in many ways combines a series of political-commercial clichés.
There’s the "just-a-middle-class kid" background that he trotted out eight years ago when he ran for mayor and lost in 2005. He’s sitting in front...
Read more »Poll: Quinn leads Dems, Weiner running 2nd
A new poll out today says City Council Speaker Christine Quinn continues to lead candidates for the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor.
The Quinnipiac University survey found Quinn with 25 percent, followed by former Congressman Anthony Weiner with 15 percent. Former city comptroller William Thompson and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio had 10 percent apiece.
Quinnipiac surveyed...
Read more »Silver says JCOPE thoroughly investigated his role in Lopez case
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver faced more grilling Tuesday over his role in approving the confidential settlement in the Vito Lopez scandal, going back and forth over whether he was the target of investigators.
In February, it became clear that the state ethics panel had centered its investigation on Lopez – who was accused of routinely groping and sexually harassing young female staffers...
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