Who said it first?

With all the buzz swirling about Caroline Kennedy and her growing likelihood of being appointed to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate, we have to give ourselves a small pat on the back and remind whoever may be interested that we predicted it first. Our Not 4 Publication column of Dec. 4 (written Nov. 29) may have been the first place where Kennedy's name was thrown into the fray.

"However, we like the dark-horse pick of his first cousin, Carolyn Kennedy. An early Obama supporter and member of the Obama Veep selection panel, she had been mentioned for UN Ambassador. She is a New Yorker, a woman and extremely electable. She likely would bring to Paterson more positive publicity than any other on the list. The daughter of JFK emerged as a national figure during the Obama campaign and is the likely person to carry on the family’s Senate legacy with the illness to Uncle Teddy."

Velasquez Is Out

Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez today spoke with Governor David Paterson and informed him that she is not interested in being appointed to fill the vacancy in the U.S. Senate caused by Senator Hillary Clinton becoming the Secretary of State. Rep. Velázquez indicated that she has confidence that he will make his choice based on what will be best for New York State. For his part, the Governor asked her to join the committee that is advising him in the selection process.

“My friend Hillary Clinton has done an outstanding job for New York in the Senate, and will go on to be an exceptional Secretary of State. Our state is fortunate to have many capable, experienced individuals who would serve our state well as her replacement. While I have been proud and humbled to be considered, I have decided to stay as a senior member of the House of Representatives, Chair of the Small Business Committee, and Chair of the Hispanic Caucus.

Going forward, I will keep advocating for more Hispanics in statewide office. With Latinos making up over 16 percent of New York’s population, and that number expected to grow – increased representation, at all levels, is paramount to reflect the changing face of our state. Governor Paterson has my full backing as he makes his decision, and I will give my support and counsel to help our next Senator achieve success for New York.”

Mr. Smith Goes To Albany

This week's Not For Publication column details the rise, fall and ongoing negotiations being done by Sen. Malcolm Smith while a Page 3 story details the way the deal came together and fell apart. We keep expecting the story to change, so be sure to stay tuned.

Introducing Senator (fill in the blank)

With Hillary Clinton getting the nod as Barack Obama's Secretary of State, the question of who will replace her is at the forefront of political discussion. There is a wide field of possible contenders, as reported in this week's Not For Publication, and at least one name on the list, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, said she would be honored if chosen.

Too Many Votes?

According to NY1, Allison Padavan, a teacher in Spain who is also the daughter of State Sen. Frank Padavan, voted via absentee ballot, unsure if she was going to make it home in time to vote.
Well, she did, and voted a second time at her home polling place.
Though not illegal by Board of Elections standards, the voted-twice but only counted-once conundrum does add a new layer to the ongoing recount between Padavan the incumbent and Jim Gennaro, the Councilman vying to replace him.
As of the latest numbers, the difference between the contestants grants Padavan a lead of less than 500 with 8,000 affidavits and absentee ballots being counted.

Hiram Monserrate: Creating A New Politics

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER
Last week, Hiram Monserrate was the man of the hour.

He set the standard by which City Council members will be judged in having input over redevelopment projects in their districts.

Championing low income and affordable housing, the rights of property owners, Monserrate stood up to the Mayor and his high-power Willets Point redevelopment effort, his Queens front headed by Claire Shulman, and prevailed over what appeared to be an unyielding City Hall onslaught.

For months, they painted Monserrate as the renegade, the self-serving politico who was preventing Willets Point, the blighted area north of Shea Stadium dominated by junkyards and chop shops, from becoming a true neighborhood and contributing to the local economy.

Read the full article at the Queens Tribune.

Race To Replace Monserrate

Jose Eduardo Giraldo held his campaign kickoff party Nov. 20 at Extravaganza Night Club, 33-15 56th St. in Woodside.

Giraldo, a vice president at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Queens, is running to replace the seat being vacated by Corona Councilman Hiram Monserrate who was elected to the State Senate in November.

The field is shaping up. Monserrate's Chief of Staff Julissa Ferreras, Community Activist Francisco Moya and Carlos Pena have all filed with New York's Campaign Finance Board.

Inside The Board Of Elections: State Senate Votes Prompt Race Debate

By Lisa Fogarty
Nearly three weeks after Election Day, members of the Board of Elections, along with lawyers representing both Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) and Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), are still scrambling to determine the winner of the District 11 State Senate seat.

The process, which is usually a fairly quick one, has been dragged out, said George Gonzalez, deputy executive director of the New York City Board of Elections. And lawyers for the Queens Democratic Party and some Board of Election members are pointing fingers at the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

“They’re going through each ballot, disputing many of them,” Gonzalez said. “It’s delaying the process.”
To learn more, see the full article at the Queens Tribune

A Lively Night at CB12

Anybody who has ever been to a Community Board 12 meeting shouldn’t be surprised by any of its shenanigans. And November’s meeting, didn’t disappoint.

Adjoa Gzifa filled two roles, chairwoman and referee.

A resident brought the long-standing complaint that inhabits many Southeast Queens neighborhoods; there is raw sewage in my basement.

James Hunter, a southeast Queens resident lambasted the board for not adequately advocating on behalf of the community.

Gzifa defended the board saying that the board didn’t have any money and “we do what we can do.”

Herlema Owens, another board member, went further and urged people to join the board and “get involved.”

The night was young and there was much to come.

Ladies from the 113th Avenue Block Association came to complain about a row of four houses in their community that could possible house homeless men and those in rehabilitation programs.
Crystal White, said the occupants of the four homes number about 40 men, who were snuck in the wee hours of the morning or waning evening hours.

“This is a block of women and children,” she said.

Yvonne Reddick, district manager for Board 12, said she was abreast of the situation. She said the operators of the houses are dubbed the 113th Ave. Corp, which receive federal funds and operate on private property. Other than community outrage, the 113th Avenue Block Association’s recourse might be minimal.

And the night dragged on.

If developers didn’t get the memo, listen up, unless you’re building a community center, renovating a library or building a school, the neighborhoods confined within the board’s boundaries want nothing you have to offer.

A development company looking to build two buildings in close proximity to Jamaica Avenue was met with a firm no.

A member of the board asked the owner, what would the community receive if they said yes. The owner faltered, he probably didn’t think that far ahead.

One of the buildings he proposed would be a 10 story residential building, with commercial property on the ground floor. Asked by a board member how many units would comprise the high rise, the owner hadn’t thought that far ahead. He said because of the economic downturn he wouldn’t be sure.

Stay tuned.

Friday Board of Elections Protest Canceled

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus Delegation will not be holding their protest Friday at the Board of Elections on Queens Blvd. Stay tuned for additional updates.

Barack's Coattails Cover A Bridge

At yesterday's Triborough Bridge renaming ceremony, the long shadow of President-elect Barack Obama covered nearly every speaker.

Hardly anyone resisted the urge to mention Robert F. Kennedy's eerily prescient remark made to Voice of America in 1968:

Things are moving so fast in race relations. A Negro could be President in 40 years. There is no question about it. In the next 40 years, a Negro can achieve the same position that my brother has.

Governor Patterson first mentioned it. And Kerry Kennedy echoed it.

Yet it didn't have the same effect on everyone. Former Mayor David Dinkins, the City's first black Mayor, could be seen wandering Astoria Park's parking lot, having fled as the pageantry was winding down.

Strange Days at the Queens Board of Elections

I'm guessing members of the Queens Board of Elections never thought their humble headquarters would become the borough's most popular watering hole.

The Gennaro-Padavan ongoing vote recount for the 11th District State Senate seat is causing quite a stir over on Queens Boulevard -- and for good reason. Many Democrats and activists are concerned after hearing reports of ballots being unfairly disputed by reps from the Queens County Republicans, some on the basis of race, they say.

Today, the New York State Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and voters staged a mid-day protest in front of the Board of Elections to urge members to count every vote.

And tomorrow -- same place, same time -- Assemblymember Darryl Towns of Brooklyn will lead a delegation from the Black, Puerto Rican and Asian Legislative Caucus to the Queens Board of Elections to observe the counting.

Assemblyman Peter Rivera, Assemblywoman-elect Grace Meng and State Sen. Martin Dilan are expected to attend.

When: Friday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m.
Where: Queens Board of Elections
126-06 Queens Blvd.
Kew Gardens, NY

Read the entire Tribune article to learn more

Latest on MTA Proposal to Cut Services

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) released its Final Proposed 2009 Budget and November Financial Plan for 2009-2012 on Thursday morning, unveiling a legion of proposed cutbacks to services – including several that will affect Queens.

"The budget presented today fulfills the MTA's responsibility to put forward a balanced budget for the coming year," said Elliot G. Sander, MTA Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. "While we attempted to identify the least harmful cuts possible, they will be painful and no one at the MTA is eager to implement them.”

Earlier this month, Sander announced that the agency was facing a $1.2 billion deficit in 2009 and would most likely need to make significant changes – raising fares and tolls or cutting services – to bridge the gap.

The biggest hits to Queens are the expected elimination of both the W Broadway Local Line, which starts at Whitehall Street and runs through downtown and midtown Manhattan and then Queens, making stops at Queensboro Plaza, 39th Avenue, 36th Avenue, Broadway and 31st Street, 30th Avenue, Astoria Boulevard and Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard; and the Z Line, an Express Train that runs through Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens and makes stops at 75th Street, Woodhaven Boulevard, 104th Street, 121st Street, Sutphin Boulevard and Jamaica Center.

Other proposed subway cuts include the halving of two lines: the G Line, which will cut service from Court Square to Forest Hills – eliminating every stop in Queens except for 21st Street/Jackson Avenue and Court Square; and the M Line, which will still make stops between Metropolitan Avenue and Broad Street and will not affect Queens commuters traveling to Manhattan. The Q Train will be extended to Astoria and the MTA will add J Local service.

Other proposed changes include a fare and toll increase of 23 percent, which could raise subways fares to $2.50, an increase in Express Bus fare from $5.00 to $7.50, a 7.5 percent reduction in MTA staff (on top of previous 1.5 percent reduction) and the elimination of the Cross Bay Bridge Rebate Program, which affects commuters from Broad Channel and the Rockaways.

A final plan will be considered by the MTA Board at its Dec. 17 meeting and any changes would take affect in June 2009.

MTA Press Release

Iannece Kicks Off Campaign

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Reception House in Flushing former Community Board 11 Chair and Northeast Queens Civic Leader Jerry Iannece, officially kicked-off his campaign for City Council in the 19th Council District.

Among the many local residents and supporters in attendance were numerous civic leaders and local elected officials; including: Assemblywoman Ann Margaret Carrozza, Joseph Bechtold - President of the Jefferson Democratic Club, Thomas Bullaro & Joseph DiPietro of the Italian American Community, Warren Schreiber - President of the Bay Terrace Community Alliance, Mike Feiner - President of the Bayside Hills Civic Association, Bob Nobile - President of Little Neck Pines Civic Association, Chrissy Voskerichian - President of the 109 Pct Council, Rhea O’Gorman - President of the Station Road Civic Association, Steve Newman - CB 11 Chair, Phil Konigsberg -Vice Chair of CB 7, Frank Skala - President of the East Bayside Homeowners Association and Mike Neibauer - Head of the Queens Independence Party.

Van Bramer Kick-Off Party

Jimmy Van Bramer, a Democratic State Committeeman representing the 37th Assembly District in Queens County, will kick off his campaign for the New York City Council on Sunday, Nov. 23. The kickoff will take place at a fundraising house party from 2-4 p.m. at 39-19 46th Street.

Van Bramer is running to fill the open seat in the 26th Council District, which encompasses Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and parts of Astoria and Maspeth. Councilman Eric Gioia, who currently represents the 26th District, has announced that he is running for higher office and not for re-election to his current seat.

Anthony Weiner & A Silly Putty Economy

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

Wednesday morning, the day after the election, Anthony Weiner stopped by for a cup of coffee.

Actually, he was driving on the L.I.E. service road in a sound truck loudly thanking voters for returning him to Congress and decided there may be a free cup of coffee and some actual feedback inside.

It’s been a long time since I’ve interviewed him and since almost all of Wednesday’s discussion was on background or off-the-record, there’s little I can share with you. Except, Anthony is running for Mayor next year.

More follows after the jump. [Queens Tribune]

Bringing Back The Commuter Tax

Bloomberg Budget Director Mark Page today told a hearing of the Council Finance Committee that the administration intends to lobby the State Legislature to reinstate the Commuter tax stolen from the City in 1999. Estimates have the annual value of the tax as high as $700 million. Speaker Silver who was the Democratic architect of the '99 deal to give the money away has indicated willingness to support its reinstatement. The new Senate Democratic Majority is more likely to embrace such a reinstatement than the Bruno or Skelos (who sponsored the '99 repeal in the Senate) Republican team. The Queens folks responsible for giving away some 5 billion dollars in commuter tax revenue since 1999 in what may be the dumbest and ugliest deal in the history of the dysfunctional NYS Legislature and are still thrilling us with their Assembly work today are: Queens Assembly members Vivian Cook, Marge Markey, Cathy Nolan, Audrey Pheffer and Bill Scarborough. The Mayor will need some magic in dealing with Albany to reinstate the Commuter Tax. The City could sure use this one now.

Councilman James Sanders In Accident

Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) was in motor vehicle accident on Saturday afternoon. Sanders is currently in recovery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.
According to Sanders’ District Manager Donovan Richards, who was with the councilman at the time of the accident, they were returning from the Pocono Environmental Education Center in Pennsylvania. Richards, who sustained a head laceration, which required eight stitches, said the SUV traveling on Interstate 87 flipped over the median and rolled four times. He said the cause of the accident were slippery road conditions. A driver was also in the vehicle, but was uninjured.
Richards said they had to crawl out a window.
“The car was totaled,” Richards said. “I don’t know how we made it out.”
Michael Duncan, Sanders’ chief of staff said the councilman was released from the intensive care unit from Columbia Presbyterian.
“He is much better than we thought,” he said. Duncan went on to say that Sanders had no broken bones and hopes to be released in a matter of days.

Beating Danny's Dromm

In case you didn't know it, gay activist and district leader Danny Dromm is officially running for City Council in the seat currently held by Helen Sears. His new Web site highlights his career, talks about the issues and send links to his blog, which has entries running since July 2007.

The Discussion Begins

Suppose Senator Clinton Got a Cabinet Post ...

By JEREMY W. PETERS

Published: November 15, 2008

Word that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was a contender to become President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state set off speculation in New York about who could replace her. (New York Times)