Support Grows For Speed Cameras In City Council, State Assembly Approves Budget Bill That Includes Pilot Program

By on March 15, 2013  Featured story, Politics
Mar 152013
 
A traffic enforcement camera (Image source: Wikipedia Commons).

A traffic enforcement camera (Image source: Wikipedia Commons).

Red light cameras have become a familiar presence on certain heavily-trafficked intersections of New York City. Now, in the aftermath of several gruesome and fatal crashes, both state and city officials are increasingly supporting the introduction of cameras to punish drivers who endanger others by speeding.

A recent experiment by local reporter Will Bredderman showed that many, if not most, Bay Ridge drivers speed – And data provided by the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives shows similarly high numbers of speeders in other neighborhoods.

And while traffic enforcement via candid camera has raised both ethical and legal questions, supporters of automated speed enforcement devices say they are crucial for improved public safety on city streets Continue reading »

And They’re Off: Councilman Recchia Enters 2014 Congressional Race Versus Grimm

By on February 18, 2013  Politics
Feb 182013
 
Domenic Recchia (second from left) with other City Councilmembers at the Masbia soup kitchen in 2011. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Domenic Recchia)

Domenic Recchia (second from right) with other City Councilmembers at the Masbia soup kitchen in 2011. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Domenic Recchia)

“When you play the game of thrones, you win, or you die.” Fans of the HBO television program or the Song Of Ice And Fire book series know well Cersei Lannister’s forecast for good guy/hero Ned Stark.

If the Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms were living in our world, she might point out that in the game of American politics, you play all the freakin’ time… and then you play some more. And keep playing. Win, lose, die, somebody is always running in the next election before the votes from the last one are counted.

And so it surprises no one that Congressman Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island/Bay Ridge) has drawn his first challenge to a third term, just three months after winning his second: City Councilmember Domenic Recchia announced his candidicy for Congress on Saturday through Tom Wrobleski of the Staten Island Advance.

Recchia, a Democrat, is a three-term Councilmember with a district centered primarily on Coney Island and Gravesend. He has serves as the Chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee since 2010. He is term-limited and not able to run for reelection to the City Council this November. Continue reading »

Golden Aide Eying Gentile’s City Council Seat

By on January 17, 2013  Politics
Jan 172013
 
(Image source: vincent desjardins via Flickr.

Image source: vincent desjardins via Flickr.

John Quaglione, State Senator Marty Golden’s deputy chief of staff, says he’s currently considering a run for City Council.

Home Reporter’s Denise Romano writes that the winner of a Republican/Conservative primary between Quaglione and his likely opponent Andy Sullivan would probably face Democrat Councilmember Vincent Gentile – who is expected to seek his third and final full term this fall.

For his part, Quaglione tells Home Reporter that he’s received a positive reaction from potential supporters, and is close to making a final decision as to whether he will run.

“I don’t have a decision yet, but am very close to one,” he told Romano. “We have been talking to some folks, friends, neighbors and people I have interacted with over the years in terms of fundraising and support with party leadership.”

The Golden and Gentile camps have had a long standing, if sometimes subdued, political rivalry going back at least to 2002- the year Golden defeated Gentile for his New York State Senate seat.

Election Results Show Golden Losing His Edge In Bay Ridge

By on January 4, 2013  Politics
Jan 042013
 
The 22nd State Senate district.

The 22nd State Senate district.

Is the so-called “Golden effect” waning in Southwest Brooklyn?

New York City political blog Room Eight recently published an analysis of November’s election results that show victorious Republican State Senator Marty Golden actually lost the two constituencies of the 22nd Senate District that fall entirely within Bay Ridge’s borders. Continue reading »

Opinion: State Senate Democrats Near-Assault Of Savino The Reason For The Breakaway Caucus?

By on December 10, 2012  Politics
Dec 102012
 

Image source: DonkeyHotey via Flickr.

Democrats in the New York State Senate have been particularly cranky toward the Independent Democratic Conference, a five-member caucus that includes Staten Island/Bay Ridge legislator Diane Savino, since the IDC announced a power-sharing coalition with the Republican caucus.

Senate Minority Leader John Sampson has gone as far as to say he would step down as head of the caucus and allow someone else to serve as Majority Leader if the IDC rejoined with the main Democratic conference. Other member of the mainline caucus have bitterly complained that, until recently, the IDC and its GOP power-sharing partner were all-white, betraying the Democratic commitment to racial diversity in leadership positions.

Oh, please.

Not to belittle the importance of racial diversity, but just as important as how you treat other races is how you treat women. And in that regard, the State Senate Democrats have an epic fail in their permanent record, with Savino herself being the target. Continue reading »

State Senate Announces ‘Unprecedented’ Power Sharing Deal Between GOP And Independent Dems

By on December 6, 2012  Featured story, Politics
Dec 062012
 

Image source: DonkeyHotey via Flickr.

In a surprise move during what the ever-informative Colin Campbell is describing as “a particularly wild week in Albany,” five members of the State Senate’s breakaway “Independent Democratic Conference” have decided to join Republicans in a “historic bipartisan partnership.”

The announcement reportedly led to protest by mainline Senate Democrats, who pointed to their party’s technical majority in the senate as more reflective of the “desire” of voters statewide – whom they insist “voted for Democratic control of the Senate and a progressive state government.” Continue reading »

House Ethics Committee Defers Grimm Investigation To Justice Department

By on November 28, 2012  Politics
Nov 282012
 

Then-candidate Michael Grimm in 2010. (Photo by Brian Hedden)

Now that the 2012 election is over, it’s time to start talking about 2016, am I right?

At least, that’s the way it feels sometimes when reading news coverage, or especially watching cable TV news. Will Hillary run? Is Andrew Cuomo a viable candidate? Do Republicans still love Chris Christie? Since when did New York and New Jersey start hogging the potential Presidential limelight anyway?

But alas, there’s a lot more to how the government is run than speculating on who will become President over four years from now. Even beyond the national stuff like the fiscal cliff and filibuster reform, there’s movement at the local level, such as the leanings of Diane Savino and her Independent Democrat Conference in the State Senate, or the redistricting of City Council districts that may have an impact on 2013 municipal elections.

And of course, there’s also room to rehash stuff that happened in 2010.

WABC’s Sarah Wallace has reported on a newsworthy development in the probes of Staten Island/Bay Ridge Congressman Michael Grimm. Wallace reports that the House Ethics Committee has decided to defer an investigation into Grimm’s fundraising practices pending the conclusion of an ongoing probe by the Justice Department. Continue reading »

Balance Of State Senate Hinges On Savino, Independent Democrats

By on November 16, 2012  Politics
Nov 162012
 

State Senator Diane Savino (left) easily defeated her Republican challenger, Lisa Grey (right), and will now play a key role in determining whether Democrats or Republicans will have majority control of the State Senate in 2013 and 2014.

The November 6 election saw the Democratic party make gains in the State Senate – it currently holds a 31-30 edge over Republicans in the Legislature’s upper chamber, and Democratic candidates are leading in two additional races that have yet to be called.

However, newly-elected Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder has already stated his intention to caucus with the Republican leadership. So if Democrats hold onto their leads in the remaining two races, control of the chamber will depend on a group of four Democrats that broke away from their caucus last term – a group that includes State Senator Diane Savino.

Savino’s district covers parts of Staten Island, Coney Island, Bath Beach, and the northern part of Bay Ridge.

At the time of the split, Savino said, “Today, we’re declaring our independence. We can’t be part of leadership that is more intent on perks than policy.” Continue reading »

Local Bay Ridge Election Results

By on November 7, 2012  Featured story, Politics
Nov 072012
 

1:00am, November 7 – Declared winners in Bay Ridge so far are all incumbents – Representatives Michael Grimm and Jerry Nadler, State Senator Diane Savino, and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz.

1:30am, November 7 – State Senator Marty Golden and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis have also been declared winners in their reelection bids.

1:55am, November 7 – Alec Brook-Krasny is the winner in the 46th Assembly district. All area incumbents held onto their seats.

Incumbent candidates are noted with an asterisk. Declared winners are underlined, where applicable.

Results as of November 7, 8:00pm, via WABC:

Congress – District 11 (with 100% reporting)

Republican Congressman Michael Grimm (left) defeats Democratic challenger, Mark Murphy. (Grimm photo: Brian Hedden. Murphy photo via Facebook/Mark Murphy campaign).

  • *Michael Grimm (R, C) – 94,102 (52.8%)
  • Mark Murphy (D, WF) -82,401 (46.2%)
  • Henry Bardell (G) -1,782 (1%)

Congress – District 10 (with 98.8% reporting)

  • *Jerrold Nadler (D, WF) – 145,381 (80.7%)
  • Michael Chan (R, C) – 34,848 (19.3%)

NY Senate – District 22 (with 100% reporting)

Democrat Andrew Gounardes (left) is defeated by Republican incumbent Marty Golden (right). (Photos: Andrew Gounardes/Flickr and Erica Sherman)

  • *Martin Golden (R, C, I) – 35,720 (58.1%)
  • Andrew Gounardes (D, WF) – 25,761 (41.9%)

NY Senate – District 23 (with 100% reporting)

State Senator Diane Savino (left) defeats her Republican challenger, Lisa Grey (right).

  • *Diane Savino (D, WF, I) – 43,440 (76%)
  • Lisa Grey (R, C) – 13,682 (24%)

NY Assembly – District 64 (with 100% reporting)

Democrat John Mancuso (left) has lost to incumbent Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (right).

  • *Nicole Malliotakis (R, C, I) – 19,252 (61.7%)
  • John Mancuso (D, WF) – 11,965 (38.3%)

NY Assembly – District 46(with 100% reporting)

Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny (left) leads his Republican challenger, Tom McCarthy.

  • *Alec Brook-Krasny (D, WF) – 13,224 (58.7%)
  • Thomas McCarthy (R, C) – 8,882 (39.5%)
  • Patrick Dwyer (G) – 404 (1.8%)

NY Assembly – District 51 (with 84% reporting)

  • *Félix Ortiz (D) -14,759 (86.1%)
  • Henry Lallave (R) – 2,385 (13.9%)

State Assembly Redistricting: Who Are We Voting For Today?

By on November 6, 2012  Featured story, Politics
Nov 062012
 

Today is election day!

There have been a few changes to Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly districts since the last election. This article reviews the new boundaries for Congressional districts that cover Bay Ridge, and lists the candidates that have their names on the ballot (* indicates incumbent candidate). Remember, you can locate your polling site through the Board of Elections web site, or text NYCVOTES to 877877.

State Assembly – District 64

A portion of the 64th State Assembly District, which also includes parts of Staten Island.

A significant portion of northern Bay Ridge is represented by the 64th State Assembly District. Replacing the old 60th district, the 64th represents a little less of the neighborhood than it did before. Portions of the district also lie in Staten Island. The candidates on the ballot are:

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