Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics
Working Families Party leader takes a shot at Cuomo on bill*
Dan Cantor, executive director of the state Working Families Party, makes no secret of his opposition to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal to repeal the Wilson-Pakula law that would eliminate the ability of party officials to screen cross-endorsements and prevent what critics of the legislation call a "hijacking" of the line. Now Cantor has put out a tart fundraising letter appealing for...
Read more »Comedy and calamity made the agenda at NYC mayoral forum
The New York City mayoral candidates have met so many times before so many audiences that their five-borough road show resembles a local version of last year's marathon string of Republican presidential primary debates.
On Wednesday, a forum aimed at the so-called millennial generation, featuring a turnout largely of young, minority professionals, produced an unusual blend of comic banter...
Read more »Top court: Nassau Co. must pay MTA $26M after long-running lawsuit
Photo credit: Faye Murman
ALBANY -- New York's top court dismissed a Nassau County lawsuit Thursday against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, leaving the county on the hook for almost $26 million and sparking a war of words between two county executive candidates.
It's a tangled case that began in the Gulotta era of Nassau government and involved the fiscally strapped county getting a quick cash infusion --...
Read more »Nassau College faculty union backs Suozzi with a nod to Wink
Nassau Community College's full-time faculty union endorsed Tom Suozzi for county executive this week, becoming the first academic union to give the Democrat public support, union leaders said.
"We are confident that Tom Suozzi can, and will, lead this County to a brighter financial future while also placing a value on public sector employees," said Debra DeSanto, president of the...
Read more »Mangano touts record at GOP luncheon
County Executive Edward Mangano extolled his administration, especially its superstorm Sandy related-activity, at a luncheon of the Nassau County Federation of Republican Women in Williston Park on Wednesday.
“My administration has held the line on property taxes for three consecutive years while being faced with $100 million dollar increases in Medicaid and pension costs,” he said. “Our success...
Read more »Weitzman to Maragos: Release '12 fiscal results
Photo credit: Newsday, 2008 / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Former Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman is calling on Comptroller George Maragos to publicly release Nassau County's 2012 year-end fiscal results, a process traditionally done in February or early March.
Weitzman, a Democrat who is running to recapture the job he lost almost four years ago, said in a Tuesday news release that those results are used by bond rating agencies to evaluate...
Read more »Cuomo: We'll move 'very aggressively' to replace LIPA
Photo credit: News 12 Long Island
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday he would “aggressively” move to give a New Jersey utility nearly complete control of Long Island’s electric grid, intending to have some major pieces in place by the end of June.
Long Island lawmakers briefed on the governor’s plan said they generally support the idea, although one said the "very, very tight timetable" is a concern. They also are...
Read more »NY Ethics board threatens to release Lopez report
The state ethics panel declared Tuesday it would release its sexual-harassment allegations report involving Assemb. Vito Lopez in mid-May if lawmakers fail to release it themselves.
But the warning clashes with legislators’ promise to withhold the report until a special prosecutor determines whether criminal charges should be filed against the once-powerful Brooklyn politician.
The state...
Read more »Cuomo inks book deal after downplaying aspirations
Photo credit: Getty Images
A major publisher announced Tuesday it has signed Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to a book deal, just hours after he tried to downplay his presidential prospects.
HarperCollins said Cuomo’s book would be a “full and frank look at his public and private life” and “profound moments” of his term in office. It is slated to be published in 2014; terms weren’t disclosed.
“He will reveal the story of...
Read more »Islip GOP backs Musumeci over Greene
Islip Republicans have passed over former town board member Pamela Greene and instead named Anthony Musumeci to run for the open Eighth District legislative seat against the son of exiting Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook).
“Obviously, it was a difficult decision. Both screened fabulously,” said Frank Tantone, Islip Republican chairman. “But it was decided to go with the younger...
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