Tag: New York
Half of New York Lawmakers Might Be Corrupt
I hope it’s not half. I mean, there are a lot of people who go into public service and are in for the right reasons and to do the right thing. But it–it’s an unfortunate percentage.
— U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, quoted by the New York Observer, on the portion of New York state lawmakers who are corrupt.
Bully Boy: Staten Island GOP Rep. Michael Grimm Threatens Reporter Who Asked Him about Corruption Charges
Earlier this month Diana Durand, a Republican operative who raised donations for New York City GOP Rep. Michael Grimm, was arrested by federal officials and charged with donating nearly $10,000 to Grimm’s campaign via an interstate “donor swapping” scheme. The stress of the federal investigation has apparently gotten to Grimm, who threatened to NY1 reporter Michael Scotto after Scotto asked him about the scandal in a post-State of the Union interview last night.
Grimm at first walked away from the camera, but then returned to threaten Scotto after he had wrapped the live interview. The camera and Scotto’s microphone were still on, however, and Grimm’s verbal assault was captured on video and has been transcribed by NY1:
Odds Even Trump Will Run for NY Governor
50-50
Odds that Donald Trump will run for governor of New York, he told Fox News. Said Trump: “A group of people, a great group, a big group of people, over 50 just came in to my office and I was very honored by it. … So, they are talking to me. And I have given them certain ideas and certain parameters. And we will see what happens. But certainly it’s something I’m considering and I will make a decision pretty much by the end of the month or early February.”
Pastafarian Christopher Schaeffer Takes Oath of Office
Back in October, Christopher Schaeffer announced his candidacy for election to the Pomfret Town Board in New York. He was elected the following month and was sworn in Thursday.
Why is any of that relevant to the rest of you?
Because of how Schaeffer took his oath of office: With a strainer on his head as a representative of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster…
When the OBSERVER asked afterward why he wore a colander on his head, Schaeffer said he was a minister with an even more unique organization – the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
“It’s just a statement about religious freedom,” he said. “It’s a religion without any dogma.”
Weiner Doesn’t Miss the Press Scrum
You might be surprised to hear this, but I actually like it better this way.
— Anthony Weiner (D), quoted by BuzzFeed, on the very few reporters still covering his New York City mayoral race.
What’s His Name Who’s Running for NYC Mayor Claims He’s Not Boring
Most of the people I meet won’t walk away and say, ‘Wow, he put me to sleep.’ Almost nobody says that. People are still awake when I’m talking to them.
— New York City mayoral candidate Bill Thompson (D), quoted by the New York Times, countering the perception that he’s boring.
Flashback 2007: Black Homeowner Convicted of Second Degree Manslaughter after Shooting Trespassing White Teenager
If the confessed killer of a white teenager had been a black man, would it have taken 45 days — or 45 minutes — to charge him with a crime? Would it have sparked serious outrage if this African-American self-confessed killer had asserted on, say, MSNBC that he had no regrets about murdering his young white victim?
And now, in the wake of the jury verdict Saturday night, there is a new question. Would Zimmerman have been acquitted by a predominantly white jury in Sanford, Fla, if he had been black and his teenaged victim had been white?
We can only speculate about how the race reversal might have played out in Florida, but there is an analog to it from 2007 in a white enclave of suburban Long Island that suggests that the Zimmerman trial would have had a different outcome if the races had been reversed:
After New York: Over to You, California
As was noted here last week, repealing marriage equality in 2008 has already cost California businesses and local governments $750 million and could represent a loss of $2.5 billion over the next decade.
The sentiments in the photo above were reflected in the lead editorial on the Los Angeles Times op-ed page today:
Breaking News: Any Adult in New York Can Now Marry Any Other Adult They Love
A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York passed the state senate 33-29. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who proposed the legislation, is expected to sign it.
“New York has finally torn down the barrier that has prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted,” Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a written statement shortly after the vote.
With New York on board, that means there are 6 states down, and 44 to go.
