NY Daily News
Tuesday, March 24th 2009, 1:44 AM
Just as the U.S. attorney has reportedly ended his two-year-long investigation into State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Assemblyman son Ruben Jr., state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has stepped in to take a look.
Cuomo's office may be picking the bones of the fed probe to see if any state charges might apply to either or both of the Diazes.
We're told Cuomo's people have been talking to some folks connected with the nonprofit Soundview Community in Action, which the Diazes founded, then defunded after its director, Ed Padilla, accused them of turning it into their personal political fiefdom.
Two weeks ago, the Diazes' lawyers told the Bronx Boro News that Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin's office informed them its investigation had been "terminated ... with no finding of wrongdoing."
Both Dassin and Cuomo's offices had no comment. As of deadline, also no comment from the Diaz camp.
Bronx GOP Mike-less
Mayor Bloomberg, who has raised the old "Ten bucks and a pint of Night Train" style of buying votes to new heights, was a no-show at Thursday's Bronx GOP fund-raiser.
The city's five GOP county leaders meet May 6 to pick a mayoral candidate, and Bloomberg is lusting for their ballot line.
It may wind up money over principle, since he could easily fill the cash-poor party's coffers. But ex-Dem Bloomie treated it like a cheatin' boyfriend, using it to get a party line, then dumping it to run independent.
Bronx Chair Jay Savino told us he's likely to support former City Council Minority Leader Tom Ognibene of Queens for mayor, pretty much a symbolic gesture.
"It's about policies and issues that the people we represent care about," said Savino.
One of the night's honorees, billionaire/mayoral wanna-be John Catsimatidis, had to bow out with a family emergency, but ex-Bronx Dem Party Boss Jose Rivera was at his table.
Meanwhile, campaign finance board filings show GOPer Anthony Ribustello, who's pushing a boulder up the hill running against Ruben Diaz Jr. for borough president, has raised $200 compared to $279,680 by Rubencito, who has spent $172,102 of it.
My name is Earl
Earl Brown, acting borough president until the April 21 election, now has - on the BP's Web site, www.bronxboropres.nyc.gov - his pix and bio posted.
Efrain boosting Ruth
Ex-State Sen. Efrain Gonzalez is hosting a fund-raiser for state Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson Friday at the Pelham/Split Rock Golf Course.
Efrain, who has been making the political rounds without a seeming care in the world, is due to go on federal trial in May, charged with pocketing funding to nonprofits.
Pedro's peeved
We're told state Sen. Pedro Espada isn't returning our calls because he's got his tail in a sling over that Wascally Wabbit nickname.
He didn't seem to mind before he became somewhat of a minor power in Albany. That thanks to the Three Amigos (Banditos) - Espada, Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr., and Brooklyn's Carl Kruger - shaking down Malcolm Smith in exchange for giving him a one-vote majority leadership.
But based on general opinion in Bronx political circles, we'll stick with the nickname - for now.
Odds on Maria
Maria Baez continues to have THE very worst unexcused attendance record in the City Council - among her many other faults.
But it looks like she has a lock on getting reelected to her west Bronx seat, since she needs only 1,500 votes to pull it off.
And with a verrrrrry crowded field of at least five challengers so far, they'll just be diluting the vote. God bless democracy.
Bill minus Adolfo
Adolfo Carrión's departure from the race for City Controller has hurt mayoral candidate Bill Thompson's quest for Latino votes, according to a piece by former Daily News Bronx bureau intern Andrew Hawkins in the current online City Hall News (www.cityhallnews.com/). The plan was for AC and Bill to link arms on the campaign trail, amigo and bro.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
GOVERNOR PATERSON APPOINTS JUSTICE LUIS A. GONZALEZ AS PRESIDING JUSTICE OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
For Immediate Release: March 24, 2009
Contact: Errol Cockfield Errol.Cockfield@chamber.state.ny.us 212.681.4640 518.474.8418
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the historic appointment of Justice Luis A. Gonzalez to serve as Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the First Judicial Department.
Justice Gonzalez has been an Associate Justice on the Appellate Division, First Department for the last seven years. He has held a variety of civil, criminal and administrative judicial posts. He was the Administrative Judge of the Bronx Supreme Court from January 1999 to March 2002. In 1998, he served on the Appellate Term, First Department, and from 1993 to 1997 was a Justice of the Supreme Court, Bronx County. He was an Acting Justice in that same court in 1992 and from 1987 to 1992 was a Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York. From 1985 to1986 he was in the Housing Part of the Civil Court, and prior to that was a Hearing Officer with the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. From 1980 to 1981 Mr. Gonzalez was General Counsel of the South Bronx Community Housing and Development Corporation and from 1978 to 1980 was General Counsel to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as legal counsel to the National Director. Mr. Gonzalez was in private practice from 1976 to 1978 and was an Investigator with the New York City Department of Investigation from 1975 to 1976.
Justice Gonzalez, who is the first Latino to be appointed to this position, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Mennonite University in 1968 and his Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law in 1975.
“Throughout his career, Justice Gonzalez has displayed the strength of character and profound respect for the law that makes him an outstanding choice,” said Governor Paterson. “Justice Gonzalez has a compelling and inspiring life story and I have no doubt that he will continue to serve New Yorkers with great distinction. He is a true leader”
Justice Luis A. Gonzalez said: “I am humbled and grateful to the Governor for entrusting in me the stewardship of the Appellate Division, First Department. I am committed and dedicated to preserving the preeminence that this court enjoys in the legal community. I am very much aware of the historical importance of this appointment and his trust and faith, I repeat, will always be appreciated.”
The First Department Judicial Screening Committee submitted seven names, each a sitting member of the court, to the Governor, all of whom were deemed “highly qualified.” All of the seven candidates displayed integrity, independence, leadership, intellect, legal ability, judgment, temperament and experience.
Governor Paterson added: “I was presented with outstanding candidates from which to choose and I salute each of them. Justice Gonzalez will assume leadership of a very talented and tremendously significant court.”
Under the New York State Constitution and Judiciary Law, the Governor has the authority to appoint the Presiding Justice of each Appellate Division from among those who have been elected as Justices of the Supreme Court. The Governor’s appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation.
The annual salary for the Presiding Justice is $147,600.
Contact: Errol Cockfield Errol.Cockfield@chamber.state.ny.us 212.681.4640 518.474.8418
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the historic appointment of Justice Luis A. Gonzalez to serve as Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the First Judicial Department.
Justice Gonzalez has been an Associate Justice on the Appellate Division, First Department for the last seven years. He has held a variety of civil, criminal and administrative judicial posts. He was the Administrative Judge of the Bronx Supreme Court from January 1999 to March 2002. In 1998, he served on the Appellate Term, First Department, and from 1993 to 1997 was a Justice of the Supreme Court, Bronx County. He was an Acting Justice in that same court in 1992 and from 1987 to 1992 was a Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York. From 1985 to1986 he was in the Housing Part of the Civil Court, and prior to that was a Hearing Officer with the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. From 1980 to 1981 Mr. Gonzalez was General Counsel of the South Bronx Community Housing and Development Corporation and from 1978 to 1980 was General Counsel to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as legal counsel to the National Director. Mr. Gonzalez was in private practice from 1976 to 1978 and was an Investigator with the New York City Department of Investigation from 1975 to 1976.
Justice Gonzalez, who is the first Latino to be appointed to this position, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Mennonite University in 1968 and his Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law in 1975.
“Throughout his career, Justice Gonzalez has displayed the strength of character and profound respect for the law that makes him an outstanding choice,” said Governor Paterson. “Justice Gonzalez has a compelling and inspiring life story and I have no doubt that he will continue to serve New Yorkers with great distinction. He is a true leader”
Justice Luis A. Gonzalez said: “I am humbled and grateful to the Governor for entrusting in me the stewardship of the Appellate Division, First Department. I am committed and dedicated to preserving the preeminence that this court enjoys in the legal community. I am very much aware of the historical importance of this appointment and his trust and faith, I repeat, will always be appreciated.”
The First Department Judicial Screening Committee submitted seven names, each a sitting member of the court, to the Governor, all of whom were deemed “highly qualified.” All of the seven candidates displayed integrity, independence, leadership, intellect, legal ability, judgment, temperament and experience.
Governor Paterson added: “I was presented with outstanding candidates from which to choose and I salute each of them. Justice Gonzalez will assume leadership of a very talented and tremendously significant court.”
Under the New York State Constitution and Judiciary Law, the Governor has the authority to appoint the Presiding Justice of each Appellate Division from among those who have been elected as Justices of the Supreme Court. The Governor’s appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation.
The annual salary for the Presiding Justice is $147,600.
###
Monday, March 23, 2009
Increase Hispanic Judicial Appointments
El Diario-New York
Monday, March 23, 2009
When a New York judicial commission failed to nominate any Latinos or women for the position of chief judge, Governor David Paterson slammed the panel for not reflecting the diversity of the state. He now has a chance to move beyond words to action.
Paterson is soon expected to appoint a presiding justice for the Appellate Division, First Department of the state’s Supreme Court. A vacancy was created when Paterson selected Jonathan Lippman from the no-female, no-Hispanic slate to become head of the Court of Appeals.
The commission that put Lippman’s name on the table came under heavy fire for excluding Latina judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, who has served on the Court of Appeals since 1994. Paterson was also criticized for proceeding with an appointment instead of leaving Ciparick to act as interim chief judge. Lippman has more of a record as an administrator than as a jurist and has long had the political backing of New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Paterson is now in the process of interviewing four candidates to replace Lippman as presiding justice of the First Department. The candidates include two Hispanics and one woman.
The Appellate Division, First Department covers the Bronx and Manhattan. But out of its 18 judges, only two are from the Bronx. The county with the city’s largest Latino population is grossly underrepresented.
Both State Senator Ruben Diaz and Assemblyman Peter Rivera have demanded that Hispanics no longer be denied an opportunity to serve at all levels of the judiciary. And State Senator John Sampson, who heads the Senate’s judiciary committee, said the governor is also aware of the need for increased Bronx representation.
Paterson can begin to right a wrong. A Latino appointment from the Bronx would be a step in that direction.
Monday, March 23, 2009
When a New York judicial commission failed to nominate any Latinos or women for the position of chief judge, Governor David Paterson slammed the panel for not reflecting the diversity of the state. He now has a chance to move beyond words to action.
Paterson is soon expected to appoint a presiding justice for the Appellate Division, First Department of the state’s Supreme Court. A vacancy was created when Paterson selected Jonathan Lippman from the no-female, no-Hispanic slate to become head of the Court of Appeals.
The commission that put Lippman’s name on the table came under heavy fire for excluding Latina judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, who has served on the Court of Appeals since 1994. Paterson was also criticized for proceeding with an appointment instead of leaving Ciparick to act as interim chief judge. Lippman has more of a record as an administrator than as a jurist and has long had the political backing of New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Paterson is now in the process of interviewing four candidates to replace Lippman as presiding justice of the First Department. The candidates include two Hispanics and one woman.
The Appellate Division, First Department covers the Bronx and Manhattan. But out of its 18 judges, only two are from the Bronx. The county with the city’s largest Latino population is grossly underrepresented.
Both State Senator Ruben Diaz and Assemblyman Peter Rivera have demanded that Hispanics no longer be denied an opportunity to serve at all levels of the judiciary. And State Senator John Sampson, who heads the Senate’s judiciary committee, said the governor is also aware of the need for increased Bronx representation.
Paterson can begin to right a wrong. A Latino appointment from the Bronx would be a step in that direction.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Dad and Son Diaz are Off U.S. Attorney's Hook
New York Daily News
Tuesday, March 17th 2009, 7:02 AM
While former Bronx Borough President/Obama urban policy czar Adolfo Carrion has been squirming under the investigative spotlight, the feds have reportedly dropped their two-year-long investigations into Assemblyman and BP candidate Ruben Diaz Jr. and his state senator dad, Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr.
Their lawyers tell us Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin's office told them the grand jury investigations were "terminated" with "no finding of wrongdoing."
A spokeswoman for Dassin said office policy is to neither confirm nor deny information in such matters.
As we previously reported exclusively, the feds were looking at the Diazes allegedly using workers at Soundview Community in Action for campaign work on nonprofit time and at potential voter registration fraud.
The Diazes cut SCA funding after director Ed Padilla charged them with using it as a political fiefdom. Reps. Jose Serrano, Joe Crowley, and Councilwoman Annabel Palma have kept it funded.
Ed's brother Ken Padilla is district leader in Assemblyman Peter Rivera's 76th A.D. and backed a challenger against Rubencito in his recent assembly race.
Then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer wrist-slapped Daddy Diaz in 2005, making him repay $5,000 in state and fed funds to SCA that he used to buy furniture for his district office as well as campaign loudspeakers.
El-i-ot, phone home
No, we're not talking about E.T., but Rep. Eliot Engel, who suffered the embarrassment last week of being outed on his questionable residency issue.
The state of Maryland rejected his request for a 7G tax break on his $1 million family manse there, though Engel claimed it was his official residence.
Guess that Bronx apartment on his voter registration is just his crash pad when he's working the campaign circuit.
Where's dat Wascal?
A lot of west Bronx constituents are wondering just when and where newly elected State Sen. Pedro (The Wascally Wabbit) Espada Jr. is finally going to open a district office.
His senate Web site lists his Albany phone number and a questionnaire asking for contact information - and if you're registered to vote.
News blogger Liz Benjamin recently reported Pedro is eying offices at 400 E. Fordham Road. We, however, have received no phone nibbles back from the Wabbit.
Chicken with pork
We asked the borough's three congressmen to give us the top earmarked item they inserted among the 8,500 in the new omnibus spending bill signed by President Obama, who was not all that happy with the pork-larded document.
But as of deadline, two of them basically chickened out on the pork-barrel items.
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-South Bronx) said in a statement: "All the projects that I fund are important and worthwhile. I would have trouble ranking their significance against one another because, in so many ways, they are all vital to our community."
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-North Bronx) didn't respond, and Rep. Joe Crowley (D-East Bronx) didn't give us his top money item.
One congressman's aide, whom we shall mercifully spare with anonymity, told us, "Problem is, one group sees how much another one's getting and they get pissy."
Those board appointments
Since Adolfo left all those open community board appointments hanging fire, folks are wondering what's next.
City Council members appoint half the members, leaving the BP the rest, for each of the 12 37-member boards, with the BP's office screening for a final okay.
It's not likely Acting BP Earl Brown will want to approve any of the reappointment and new appointment applications.
A source in Rubencito's camp said he's ready to review and approve them (though maybe not all) should he win the special election, rather than wait for the winner of the general November election (wonder who?) to take office in January.
Fox update
Councilman Larry (The Fox) Seabrook is still NOT running for boro prez, if anyone cares.
Grand Old Party
The Bronx Republican Party and chairman Jay Savino are throwing a "Spring Reception" Thursday at the Marina del Rey, honoring supermarket mogul and mayoral wanna-be John Catsimatidis. Be interesting to see if the Man Who Would Be King Bloomberg stops by.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com
Tuesday, March 17th 2009, 7:02 AM
While former Bronx Borough President/Obama urban policy czar Adolfo Carrion has been squirming under the investigative spotlight, the feds have reportedly dropped their two-year-long investigations into Assemblyman and BP candidate Ruben Diaz Jr. and his state senator dad, Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr.
Their lawyers tell us Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin's office told them the grand jury investigations were "terminated" with "no finding of wrongdoing."
A spokeswoman for Dassin said office policy is to neither confirm nor deny information in such matters.
As we previously reported exclusively, the feds were looking at the Diazes allegedly using workers at Soundview Community in Action for campaign work on nonprofit time and at potential voter registration fraud.
The Diazes cut SCA funding after director Ed Padilla charged them with using it as a political fiefdom. Reps. Jose Serrano, Joe Crowley, and Councilwoman Annabel Palma have kept it funded.
Ed's brother Ken Padilla is district leader in Assemblyman Peter Rivera's 76th A.D. and backed a challenger against Rubencito in his recent assembly race.
Then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer wrist-slapped Daddy Diaz in 2005, making him repay $5,000 in state and fed funds to SCA that he used to buy furniture for his district office as well as campaign loudspeakers.
El-i-ot, phone home
No, we're not talking about E.T., but Rep. Eliot Engel, who suffered the embarrassment last week of being outed on his questionable residency issue.
The state of Maryland rejected his request for a 7G tax break on his $1 million family manse there, though Engel claimed it was his official residence.
Guess that Bronx apartment on his voter registration is just his crash pad when he's working the campaign circuit.
Where's dat Wascal?
A lot of west Bronx constituents are wondering just when and where newly elected State Sen. Pedro (The Wascally Wabbit) Espada Jr. is finally going to open a district office.
His senate Web site lists his Albany phone number and a questionnaire asking for contact information - and if you're registered to vote.
News blogger Liz Benjamin recently reported Pedro is eying offices at 400 E. Fordham Road. We, however, have received no phone nibbles back from the Wabbit.
Chicken with pork
We asked the borough's three congressmen to give us the top earmarked item they inserted among the 8,500 in the new omnibus spending bill signed by President Obama, who was not all that happy with the pork-larded document.
But as of deadline, two of them basically chickened out on the pork-barrel items.
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-South Bronx) said in a statement: "All the projects that I fund are important and worthwhile. I would have trouble ranking their significance against one another because, in so many ways, they are all vital to our community."
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-North Bronx) didn't respond, and Rep. Joe Crowley (D-East Bronx) didn't give us his top money item.
One congressman's aide, whom we shall mercifully spare with anonymity, told us, "Problem is, one group sees how much another one's getting and they get pissy."
Those board appointments
Since Adolfo left all those open community board appointments hanging fire, folks are wondering what's next.
City Council members appoint half the members, leaving the BP the rest, for each of the 12 37-member boards, with the BP's office screening for a final okay.
It's not likely Acting BP Earl Brown will want to approve any of the reappointment and new appointment applications.
A source in Rubencito's camp said he's ready to review and approve them (though maybe not all) should he win the special election, rather than wait for the winner of the general November election (wonder who?) to take office in January.
Fox update
Councilman Larry (The Fox) Seabrook is still NOT running for boro prez, if anyone cares.
Grand Old Party
The Bronx Republican Party and chairman Jay Savino are throwing a "Spring Reception" Thursday at the Marina del Rey, honoring supermarket mogul and mayoral wanna-be John Catsimatidis. Be interesting to see if the Man Who Would Be King Bloomberg stops by.
rkappstatter@nydailynews.com
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Mayor Bloomberg Awaits OK from Department of Justice for Third Term Run
By Adam Lisberg
Daily News (March 15, 2009)
Mayor Bloomberg has wriggled free of every force that tried to block his bid for a third term, but he still hasn't heard from one body he can't sweet talk, bulldoze or buy off.
The Departmetn of Justice's section for voting rights must decide by Tuesday whether the October term limits extension will hurt minority voters.
If it does, every two-term incumbent in the November elections would be suddenly ineligible - sending Bloomberg and a boatload of other politicians on a retirement cruise.
The city Law Department filed 1,789 pages with Justice to make sure that doesn't happen, saying that "term limits by definition affect all candidates and their constituencies in precisely the same manner" without any racial overtones.
Norman Siegel and Randy Mastro - lawyers on the other side of the issue - sent their own sheaf of paper to Justice pointing out what should be glaringly obvious to anyone who looks at the City Council: Without term limits, incumbents stay in their seats.
"Since 1993, no minority candidate has ever unseated a white incumbent for any municipal office in New York City," Mastro said. "It's a textbook case of a civil rights violation."
Granted, white challengers also have a hard time ousting white incumbents, which is why we have term limits in the first place. And Mastro has already lost a separate lawsuit to block the term limits law.
He may be on to something, though. Three of New York's representatives in Congress - Ed Towns and Gregory Meeks, who are black, and Nydia Velazquez, who is Hispanic - have written Justice to say the law is discriminatory.
The funny thing is nobody quite knows whether their political pressure will help or hurt.
Career lawyers in Justice's voting rights section mutinied when they felt pressured by the Bush administration to slant their decisions his way.
They now report to a Democratic President and an attorney general who believe Justice should still oversee changes that affect the Voting Rights Act.
Bloomberg, meanwhile, never showed President Obama much electoral love on the campaign trail - and he acknowledged last week that he hasn't spoken to the President since before the inauguration.
But Justice lawyers may also feel newly empowered to ignore political pressure from all sides, whether from a mayor with plenty of Washington tentacles or from Congress members who see minority voting rights being in peril.
"There's always political pressure, but historically, the Justice Department has fought that," said Joseph Rich, who headed Justice's voting rights section from 1999 to 2005. "It should make no difference. They should be looking at whether this third term hurts black voters."
Daily News (March 15, 2009)
Mayor Bloomberg has wriggled free of every force that tried to block his bid for a third term, but he still hasn't heard from one body he can't sweet talk, bulldoze or buy off.
The Departmetn of Justice's section for voting rights must decide by Tuesday whether the October term limits extension will hurt minority voters.
If it does, every two-term incumbent in the November elections would be suddenly ineligible - sending Bloomberg and a boatload of other politicians on a retirement cruise.
The city Law Department filed 1,789 pages with Justice to make sure that doesn't happen, saying that "term limits by definition affect all candidates and their constituencies in precisely the same manner" without any racial overtones.
Norman Siegel and Randy Mastro - lawyers on the other side of the issue - sent their own sheaf of paper to Justice pointing out what should be glaringly obvious to anyone who looks at the City Council: Without term limits, incumbents stay in their seats.
"Since 1993, no minority candidate has ever unseated a white incumbent for any municipal office in New York City," Mastro said. "It's a textbook case of a civil rights violation."
Granted, white challengers also have a hard time ousting white incumbents, which is why we have term limits in the first place. And Mastro has already lost a separate lawsuit to block the term limits law.
He may be on to something, though. Three of New York's representatives in Congress - Ed Towns and Gregory Meeks, who are black, and Nydia Velazquez, who is Hispanic - have written Justice to say the law is discriminatory.
The funny thing is nobody quite knows whether their political pressure will help or hurt.
Career lawyers in Justice's voting rights section mutinied when they felt pressured by the Bush administration to slant their decisions his way.
They now report to a Democratic President and an attorney general who believe Justice should still oversee changes that affect the Voting Rights Act.
Bloomberg, meanwhile, never showed President Obama much electoral love on the campaign trail - and he acknowledged last week that he hasn't spoken to the President since before the inauguration.
But Justice lawyers may also feel newly empowered to ignore political pressure from all sides, whether from a mayor with plenty of Washington tentacles or from Congress members who see minority voting rights being in peril.
"There's always political pressure, but historically, the Justice Department has fought that," said Joseph Rich, who headed Justice's voting rights section from 1999 to 2005. "It should make no difference. They should be looking at whether this third term hurts black voters."
Mayoral Challenger: Judge Wrong in Portchester Voting Rights Case
By Theresa Juva The Journal News (March 15, 2009)
PORT CHESTER, NY - Republican mayoral candidate Bill Villanova believes a federal judge was wrong in ruling that the village needs a new voting system and says, as mayor, he would lead trustees to fight the U.S. Justice Department if cumulative voting isn't approved.
"Judges are not always right," the Rye town deputy supervisor said. "It's the judge's interpretation of the law."
Trustee elections have been halted since 2006 after the Justice Department and one-time trustee candidate Cesar Ruiz sued Port Chester for violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965. U.S. District Judge Stephen C. Robinson ruled against the village last year and found that Hispanics had consistently backed certain candidates but failed to elect them in Port Chester's at-large voting system.
The Justice Department has pushed for a voting-district system, with six districts each represented by a trustee. Village officials have advocated cumulative voting, which would allow each voter to cast the same number of votes as open board seats, allowing them to vote multiple times for the same candidate.
Mayor Dennis Pilla and Villanova both support cumulative voting, but differ on how to handle the case if Robinson orders the village to create districts. Legal fees are reaching close to $1 million.
Villanova has said he would use private money to appeal both the remedy order and the original ruling.
"If you don't fight, you don't know if you are going to win," he said, adding that he doesn't think the village's at-large voting system violates the law.
Villanova argued that the political process has always been open to everyone, but that "political hacks" and "a few bad apples" corrupted it.
He also disagrees with how the village has been portrayed.
"The village of Port Chester is not a racist community," he said. "For the Department of Justice to think that the village of Port Chester is a racist community, that we don't embrace different cultures and religions ... the village of Port Chester is the snapshot of America."
Pilla said he respects the judge's original decision and doesn't favor appealing it. He accused Villanova of trying to attract "bigoted" voters to the polls.
"Basically, everybody who is an expert in the field agrees at this point that it is unwise to fight on liability," he said. "That's not to say I don't want to fight for the people of Port Chester. I think we deserve the remedy of our choice. I think we need to see how the judge rules."
Pilla also emphasized that elections need to resume as soon as possible.
"I'd rather avoid the six-district plan, but I don't want to hold up elections for three more years, and I don't want to drain the village coffers," he said.
The mayoral election is Wednesday.
PORT CHESTER, NY - Republican mayoral candidate Bill Villanova believes a federal judge was wrong in ruling that the village needs a new voting system and says, as mayor, he would lead trustees to fight the U.S. Justice Department if cumulative voting isn't approved.
"Judges are not always right," the Rye town deputy supervisor said. "It's the judge's interpretation of the law."
Trustee elections have been halted since 2006 after the Justice Department and one-time trustee candidate Cesar Ruiz sued Port Chester for violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965. U.S. District Judge Stephen C. Robinson ruled against the village last year and found that Hispanics had consistently backed certain candidates but failed to elect them in Port Chester's at-large voting system.
The Justice Department has pushed for a voting-district system, with six districts each represented by a trustee. Village officials have advocated cumulative voting, which would allow each voter to cast the same number of votes as open board seats, allowing them to vote multiple times for the same candidate.
Mayor Dennis Pilla and Villanova both support cumulative voting, but differ on how to handle the case if Robinson orders the village to create districts. Legal fees are reaching close to $1 million.
Villanova has said he would use private money to appeal both the remedy order and the original ruling.
"If you don't fight, you don't know if you are going to win," he said, adding that he doesn't think the village's at-large voting system violates the law.
Villanova argued that the political process has always been open to everyone, but that "political hacks" and "a few bad apples" corrupted it.
He also disagrees with how the village has been portrayed.
"The village of Port Chester is not a racist community," he said. "For the Department of Justice to think that the village of Port Chester is a racist community, that we don't embrace different cultures and religions ... the village of Port Chester is the snapshot of America."
Pilla said he respects the judge's original decision and doesn't favor appealing it. He accused Villanova of trying to attract "bigoted" voters to the polls.
"Basically, everybody who is an expert in the field agrees at this point that it is unwise to fight on liability," he said. "That's not to say I don't want to fight for the people of Port Chester. I think we deserve the remedy of our choice. I think we need to see how the judge rules."
Pilla also emphasized that elections need to resume as soon as possible.
"I'd rather avoid the six-district plan, but I don't want to hold up elections for three more years, and I don't want to drain the village coffers," he said.
The mayoral election is Wednesday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Protest Assails Díaz for Opposing Bridge Tolls
March 12, 2009, 5:32 pm
By Mathew R. Warren
The New York Times City Room
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/protest-assails-diaz-for-opposing-bridge-tolls/?pagemode=print
About 30 protesters turned up outside the office of State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. to protest his opposition to East River bridge tolls.
In front of State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr.’s storefront office on East 172nd Street in the Bronx, some 30 people turned out Thursday afternoon to protest his refusal to support tolls on the East River bridges — a core element of a proposed financial rescue plan for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
They held up signs that read: “Toll Bridges to Save Mass Transit” and “Transit Equity for all Communities.” And they chanted: “Díaz: Don’t betray our trust, our people ride the bus,” and “It’s not fair to raise our fare.”
“I’m a true believer that the senator is going to do what’s right for his constituents,” said Anna Vincenty, 60, assistant director of Nos Quedamos, a Bronx community group that helped organize the protest. “It’s only a $2 toll, which is the same thing that we pay on the train or on a bus.”
(Other groups in the protest included Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice; Sustainable South Bronx; and The Point C.D.C., a community development corporation.)
The coalition of groups said that 67 percent of households in Mr. Díaz’s district have no access to cars and are dependent on mass transit, and that 140,000 of his constituents use mass transit each day.
Ms. Vincenty, who lives in Throgs Neck, said that even though she owns a car, she supports the toll because of how it would affect many of her neighbors, especially seniors.
“The people that are going to suffer the brunt of this will be our seniors,” said Ms. Vincenty.
Carl VanPutten, 76, a retired taxicab driver from the South Bronx, said that he takes the Bx4 bus, one of the lines threatened by the authority’s fiscal crisis, to get to his health-maintenance organization for check-ups and other medical appointments. He said he could take the subway but there are no elevators, making it difficult for him.
“Climbing the stairs to the subway which is above it is a problem because they don’t have elevators,” said Mr. VanPutten. “I take the bus, I get off right in front of it. I can go in and come back out.”
Mr. VanPutten added: “There’s a thousand of us, all seniors. I’m also a constituent of the senator. I have supported him, voted for him. I’m a native New Yorker who’s voted for over 50 years and I don’t miss any of the voting.”
Marta Rodriguez, 33, a Hunts Point resident said she and her two children depended on the Bx6 bus line.
“The 6 line is the only line that goes into Hunts Point and the service cut in that seems ridiculous to me,” said Ms. Rodriguez. “I know that most of us, especially in Hunts Point, where 23 percent of the people are unemployed right now, can not afford another fair hike.”
Ms. Rodriguez added, “I ask our representative: Please, please consider your people and not the people that drive cars because we’re the ones that need the buses, we’re the ones that need the trains and we’re the ones who vote for you when you need our vote.”
Inside the senator’s office, a staff member spoke to the protesters about Mr. Díaz’s position.
“A sufficient number of people in this community take taxis across the east river bridges and it will impact this community,” said Luis Perez, the staff member. “These cab drivers are not going to absorb that cost, that’s going to be passed on to the people who take the cab.”
Mr. Perez said Mr. Díaz would prefer to reinstate a commuter tax on suburban payrolls, rather than bridge tolls.
“People who work in New York City and make a living in New York City, why not make them pay for the services?” Mr. Perez asked. “Why should they go home then, upstate out of the city and get the benefit from the city and not pay for that.”
Mr. Perez added: “The biggest problem we have with the tolls is that the M.T.A. is refusing to open up its books. We don’t know how much money is in there. If the M.T.A. opened up its books I guarantee you we wouldn’t be having this discussion today.”
Regarding cuts to bus service that could hurt seniors Mr. Perez said: “If they were to do that, they’re going to have to at a minimum provide elevators or something for seniors to get up there. So we’re aware of that problem.”
By Mathew R. Warren
The New York Times City Room
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/protest-assails-diaz-for-opposing-bridge-tolls/?pagemode=print
About 30 protesters turned up outside the office of State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. to protest his opposition to East River bridge tolls.
In front of State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr.’s storefront office on East 172nd Street in the Bronx, some 30 people turned out Thursday afternoon to protest his refusal to support tolls on the East River bridges — a core element of a proposed financial rescue plan for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
They held up signs that read: “Toll Bridges to Save Mass Transit” and “Transit Equity for all Communities.” And they chanted: “Díaz: Don’t betray our trust, our people ride the bus,” and “It’s not fair to raise our fare.”
“I’m a true believer that the senator is going to do what’s right for his constituents,” said Anna Vincenty, 60, assistant director of Nos Quedamos, a Bronx community group that helped organize the protest. “It’s only a $2 toll, which is the same thing that we pay on the train or on a bus.”
(Other groups in the protest included Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice; Sustainable South Bronx; and The Point C.D.C., a community development corporation.)
The coalition of groups said that 67 percent of households in Mr. Díaz’s district have no access to cars and are dependent on mass transit, and that 140,000 of his constituents use mass transit each day.
Ms. Vincenty, who lives in Throgs Neck, said that even though she owns a car, she supports the toll because of how it would affect many of her neighbors, especially seniors.
“The people that are going to suffer the brunt of this will be our seniors,” said Ms. Vincenty.
Carl VanPutten, 76, a retired taxicab driver from the South Bronx, said that he takes the Bx4 bus, one of the lines threatened by the authority’s fiscal crisis, to get to his health-maintenance organization for check-ups and other medical appointments. He said he could take the subway but there are no elevators, making it difficult for him.
“Climbing the stairs to the subway which is above it is a problem because they don’t have elevators,” said Mr. VanPutten. “I take the bus, I get off right in front of it. I can go in and come back out.”
Mr. VanPutten added: “There’s a thousand of us, all seniors. I’m also a constituent of the senator. I have supported him, voted for him. I’m a native New Yorker who’s voted for over 50 years and I don’t miss any of the voting.”
Marta Rodriguez, 33, a Hunts Point resident said she and her two children depended on the Bx6 bus line.
“The 6 line is the only line that goes into Hunts Point and the service cut in that seems ridiculous to me,” said Ms. Rodriguez. “I know that most of us, especially in Hunts Point, where 23 percent of the people are unemployed right now, can not afford another fair hike.”
Ms. Rodriguez added, “I ask our representative: Please, please consider your people and not the people that drive cars because we’re the ones that need the buses, we’re the ones that need the trains and we’re the ones who vote for you when you need our vote.”
Inside the senator’s office, a staff member spoke to the protesters about Mr. Díaz’s position.
“A sufficient number of people in this community take taxis across the east river bridges and it will impact this community,” said Luis Perez, the staff member. “These cab drivers are not going to absorb that cost, that’s going to be passed on to the people who take the cab.”
Mr. Perez said Mr. Díaz would prefer to reinstate a commuter tax on suburban payrolls, rather than bridge tolls.
“People who work in New York City and make a living in New York City, why not make them pay for the services?” Mr. Perez asked. “Why should they go home then, upstate out of the city and get the benefit from the city and not pay for that.”
Mr. Perez added: “The biggest problem we have with the tolls is that the M.T.A. is refusing to open up its books. We don’t know how much money is in there. If the M.T.A. opened up its books I guarantee you we wouldn’t be having this discussion today.”
Regarding cuts to bus service that could hurt seniors Mr. Perez said: “If they were to do that, they’re going to have to at a minimum provide elevators or something for seniors to get up there. So we’re aware of that problem.”
Watchdog Group Calls for Investigation of Adolfo Carrion, Bronx Borough President Tapped as Obama's Urban Czar
By Greg B. Smith DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, March 12th 2009, 1:26 PM
A government watchdog group asked the U.S. attorney general's office Thursday to open a bribery investigation into White House urban czar Adolfo Carrión.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder in response to several Daily News reports about Carrión's dealings while he was Bronx borough president.
"If the era of pay-to-play politics is over, Adolfo Carrión did not get the message," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of the Democrat-leaning CREW.
The News' reported numerous developers made tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to Carrión around the same time he was considering approving their projects in the Bronx.
Carrión also hired an architect for one of the biggest projects to design a renovation of his home. The job was complete in February 2007, but Carrión has not paid the architect.
The White House has repeatedly declined to comment on the News' findings except to say Carrión should pay the bill, which is slightly over $3,600.
Crew asked Holder "to initiate an immediate investigation into pay-to-play allegations" outlined in The News.
"It appears Mr. Carrión routinely approved development projects in exchange for campaign contributions," Sloan said.
"In addition, Mr. Carrión personally benefitted by accepting free design work from an architect who needed his official assistance. This is exactly the kind of conduct that makes Americans skeptical of our politicians."
Thursday, March 12th 2009, 1:26 PM
A government watchdog group asked the U.S. attorney general's office Thursday to open a bribery investigation into White House urban czar Adolfo Carrión.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder in response to several Daily News reports about Carrión's dealings while he was Bronx borough president.
"If the era of pay-to-play politics is over, Adolfo Carrión did not get the message," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of the Democrat-leaning CREW.
The News' reported numerous developers made tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to Carrión around the same time he was considering approving their projects in the Bronx.
Carrión also hired an architect for one of the biggest projects to design a renovation of his home. The job was complete in February 2007, but Carrión has not paid the architect.
The White House has repeatedly declined to comment on the News' findings except to say Carrión should pay the bill, which is slightly over $3,600.
Crew asked Holder "to initiate an immediate investigation into pay-to-play allegations" outlined in The News.
"It appears Mr. Carrión routinely approved development projects in exchange for campaign contributions," Sloan said.
"In addition, Mr. Carrión personally benefitted by accepting free design work from an architect who needed his official assistance. This is exactly the kind of conduct that makes Americans skeptical of our politicians."
Monday, March 2, 2009
Solis in as Labor Secretary
President Obama finally has a labor secretary, leaving his picks at commerce and health and human services still to go to complete his cabinet.
The Senate late this afternoon voted 80-17 to confirm California congresswoman Hilda Solis at labor, two months after Obama nominated her. Her nomination was held up by Republican concerns over her pro-union activities, then by reports of tax liens against her husband's business.
Labor groups have been aggressively pushing for Solis, and immediately applauded her confirmation.
"The confirmation of Rep. Hilda Solis is a huge victory: finally Americans will have a Secretary of Labor who represents working people, not wealthy CEO’s. It is also a historic moment as Rep. Solis becomes the first Hispanic Secretary of Labor," AFL-CIO president John Sweeney said in a statement.
"The delay of Rep. Solis’s nomination for partisan and ideological reasons was overcome by the grassroots support of millions of Americans who are struggling and desperately need a secretary of labor who will be their voice," he added, calling her "uniquely qualified to help struggling families through these difficult economic times because she knows firsthand what they are going through."
"She grew up in a working class family and understands what programs our nation’s workers need the most. She will fight to improve skills development and job creation programs, including development of 'green collar' jobs," Sweeney added. "She will work to assure that workers get the pay they have earned and that they work in safe, healthy, and fair workplaces. She’s ready to address the retirement security crisis and will work hard to protect every worker from job discrimination, regardless of race, sex, veteran status, or disability."
"In the midst of this economic crisis – when thousands of jobs are lost every day – it is crucial to make the economy work for working people again. Americans need a plan to help put families back to work, back in their homes, and back on the path of prosperity. In addition to bold economic recovery plan, America’s workers need a strong Department of Labor," added Anna Burger, chairwoman of the Change to Win coalition.
“Hilda Solis is the right person to lead that charge. She has long been a champion of working families. She has fought for fair pay for women, health care for children, green jobs and the right for workers to have a voice in the workplace to improve wages, conditions and benefits. We applaud Congress for their confirmation of Hilda Solis as U.S. Secretary of Labor and look forward to working alongside her. We are confident that she will help restore the economy, rebuild the middle class and renew the American Dream for America’s workers.”
The Communications Workers of America, along with other unions, highlighted her support for a bill that would make it easier for workers to organize.“Secretary Solis has long been an effective voice for workers’ rights,” said CWA President Larry Cohen.
Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, which supports female candidates who back abortion rights, added her congratulations.
"Today, I congratulate Secretary Hilda Solis and wish her well as our new Secretary of Labor. Along with the thousands of EMILY’s List members who petitioned Senate Republicans standing in her way, I am heartened to see the Senate confirm Solis and put progress ahead of partisan politics. It is critical that the Department of Labor have a strong, intelligent, and effective leader like Secretary Solis to advocate for our nation’s workers during these tough economic times,” she said in a statement.
Tom Daschle withdrew at health and human services over tax problems, and though reports have suggested Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is in line for the appointment, Obama has yet to announce it.
As soon as Wednesday, Obama is expected to nominate former Washington Governor Gary Locke as his third try at Commerce. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrew over an investigation into state contracts, then Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire jilted Obama at the political altar, saying he had too many policy differences with the new Democratic president.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/02/solis_in_as_lab.html
The Senate late this afternoon voted 80-17 to confirm California congresswoman Hilda Solis at labor, two months after Obama nominated her. Her nomination was held up by Republican concerns over her pro-union activities, then by reports of tax liens against her husband's business.
Labor groups have been aggressively pushing for Solis, and immediately applauded her confirmation.
"The confirmation of Rep. Hilda Solis is a huge victory: finally Americans will have a Secretary of Labor who represents working people, not wealthy CEO’s. It is also a historic moment as Rep. Solis becomes the first Hispanic Secretary of Labor," AFL-CIO president John Sweeney said in a statement.
"The delay of Rep. Solis’s nomination for partisan and ideological reasons was overcome by the grassroots support of millions of Americans who are struggling and desperately need a secretary of labor who will be their voice," he added, calling her "uniquely qualified to help struggling families through these difficult economic times because she knows firsthand what they are going through."
"She grew up in a working class family and understands what programs our nation’s workers need the most. She will fight to improve skills development and job creation programs, including development of 'green collar' jobs," Sweeney added. "She will work to assure that workers get the pay they have earned and that they work in safe, healthy, and fair workplaces. She’s ready to address the retirement security crisis and will work hard to protect every worker from job discrimination, regardless of race, sex, veteran status, or disability."
"In the midst of this economic crisis – when thousands of jobs are lost every day – it is crucial to make the economy work for working people again. Americans need a plan to help put families back to work, back in their homes, and back on the path of prosperity. In addition to bold economic recovery plan, America’s workers need a strong Department of Labor," added Anna Burger, chairwoman of the Change to Win coalition.
“Hilda Solis is the right person to lead that charge. She has long been a champion of working families. She has fought for fair pay for women, health care for children, green jobs and the right for workers to have a voice in the workplace to improve wages, conditions and benefits. We applaud Congress for their confirmation of Hilda Solis as U.S. Secretary of Labor and look forward to working alongside her. We are confident that she will help restore the economy, rebuild the middle class and renew the American Dream for America’s workers.”
The Communications Workers of America, along with other unions, highlighted her support for a bill that would make it easier for workers to organize.“Secretary Solis has long been an effective voice for workers’ rights,” said CWA President Larry Cohen.
Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, which supports female candidates who back abortion rights, added her congratulations.
"Today, I congratulate Secretary Hilda Solis and wish her well as our new Secretary of Labor. Along with the thousands of EMILY’s List members who petitioned Senate Republicans standing in her way, I am heartened to see the Senate confirm Solis and put progress ahead of partisan politics. It is critical that the Department of Labor have a strong, intelligent, and effective leader like Secretary Solis to advocate for our nation’s workers during these tough economic times,” she said in a statement.
Tom Daschle withdrew at health and human services over tax problems, and though reports have suggested Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is in line for the appointment, Obama has yet to announce it.
As soon as Wednesday, Obama is expected to nominate former Washington Governor Gary Locke as his third try at Commerce. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrew over an investigation into state contracts, then Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire jilted Obama at the political altar, saying he had too many policy differences with the new Democratic president.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/02/solis_in_as_lab.html
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