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 »

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 Senate 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 State Senate 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 Senate – District 22

The Bay Ridge portion of the 22nd State Senate district, which stretches to Mill Basin.

Most of Bay Ridge is represented by the 22nd State Senate district. It covers much of the same ground as it did before, though there are some minor changes in the northeast corner of Bay Ridge (a few residents once represented in the 22nd district are now in the 23rd district). There are changes to the boundary in the eastern part of the district, as it now includes Manhattan Beach. The candidates on the ballot are:

Local Pols Push For Bay Ridge, Coney Island Ferries

By on July 30, 2012  News, Traffic & Transit
Jul 302012
 

Image source: The Eyes Of New York via Flickr.

Terrestrial forms of transportation have always proved a challenge in New York City. After all, a densely populated metropolis occupying several islands – in addition to the mainland United States, has often called for bridges, tunnels, and trams where other settlements could build simple overland roads.

However, as our aging transportation infrastructure struggles to keep up with population growth, New York – and Brooklyn’s – legacy as home to one of the world’s largest natural harbors, could prove a help rather than a hindrance in the quest for a more efficient and diversified mass transit system.

A bipartisan group of local elected officials, including Democrats such as State Senator Diane Savino, State Assemblymen Alec Brook-Krasny and Steve Cymbowitz, City Councilman Vincent Gentile, as well as Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, are calling for the very popular East River Ferry service to be expanded to Southern Brooklyn, as reported by Paula Katinas in a *moving* article for the Brooklyn Eagle. Continue reading »

Seven things I thought after finally watching part of a Brooklyn 11223 episode

By on April 25, 2012  Arts & Entertainment, Featured story
Apr 252012
 

Joey Lynn Tekulve, apparent antagonist in Oxygen's Brooklyn 11223. Photo: EJ Camp/Oxygen Media

1) I watched 20 minutes of an hour-long episode. I was just as uninterested as I thought I would be. I was far more captivated by the Chicago Blackhawks getting soundly beat in their playoff elimination game.

2) As you’re probably aware, Brooklyn 11223 revolves around two feuding women and their competing groups of friends. I think, as part of my emotional investment in the series, I was supposed to pick sides. And so I have: Joey Lynn stuck me as the ever-so-slightly less self-absorbed and manipulative wreck than Christine.

3) Of course, the whole concept is contrived and manufactured. It’s widely accepted that Joey Lynn and Christine are playing caricatures of themselves. Not like Jon And Kate Plus Eight – we weren’t supposed to take sides, but we did anyway when it turned out that both Jon and Kate were genuinely unlikable people.

4) As a non-viewer of reality TV, the only reason I watched any of this show was because of the Bay Ridge/Gravesend connection. And since most of the 20 minutes I watched took place at a bar in Manhattan, I can’t even comment on that. Continue reading »

After Brooklyn 11223 boycott call, area booksellers host signings by stars from Mob Wives, Jersey Shore

By on March 6, 2012  Arts & Entertainment
Mar 062012
 

Stars from Mob Wives and Jersey Shore - shows heavily criticized as local leaders called for a boycott of business that give support to Oxygen's Brooklyn 11223 - will be at signing events at two area booksellers.

Two weeks ago, Councilman Vincent Gentile rallied the community against upcoming Oxygen Network reality show Brooklyn 11223 (to be focused on Bay Ridge, despite the zip code mixup). The speakers at the press conference drew several comparisons between the upcoming show and established reality shows Mob Wives and Jersey Shore for their negative portrayal of women and Italian-Americans. State Senator Diane Savino and others went as far as to say that Brooklynites should boycott business that give support to the show, for instance, by allowing cameras to film cast members at their establishments.

It seems, however, that two of the area’s booksellers either did not get the message, do not support such a boycott, or are taking the narrow interpretation that the boycott applies only to Brooklyn 11223, and not its spiritual predecessors, as stars from both Mob Wives and Jersey Shore will be making book signing appearances here over the next few weeks. Continue reading »

Travel Channel adds new Brooklyn-based reality show as pols, businesswomen denounce ’11223′

By on March 1, 2012  Arts & Entertainment, Featured story
Mar 012012
 

On March 7, the Travel Channel will premiere it’s new show, Slice of Brooklyn, based on Brooklynite Tony Muia and his pizza-centric bus tours of the same name. The show is expected to follow Muia and his friends and family, as he runs his Brooklyn-centric bus tours to pizzerias Grimaldi’s and Spumoni Gardens, and to neighborhoods from Brooklyn Heights to Dyker Heights, all in the face of increasingly cutthroat competition from Manhattan-based corporate tours.

The Bensonhurst Bean ran a profile of Muia and the new show that paints an image of a positive TV show about area life in an entertainment environment that has been increasingly dominated by shows that have been more shock than awe, like Jersey Shore, Mob Wives, Russian Dolls, and now, The Show That Couldn’t Name Itself Too Good (emphasis mine):

“We’re not talking about the Jersey Shore or Brooklyn 11223 version of Brooklyn,” Muia told Bensonhurst Bean. “We’re the guys you still see in the neighborhood shopping on 18th Avenue, Bay Parkway, and 20th Avenue. In fact, I’m hoping the backlash of those shows helps us out.“

Yeah. Speaking of which. You didn’t think we’d mention this reality show without talking about THAT reality show, did you? Continue reading…

Redistricting: “A baby alien popping out of a stomach,” and other mild reactions

By on January 27, 2012  Featured story, Politics
Jan 272012
 

The proposed State Senate District 20 - covering Crown Heights, Sunset Park, and, um... a bunch of side streets between 4th and 5th Avenues.

The proposed Assembly and State Senate districts for elections beginning this November were released yesterday. No one was very happy, especially with the Senate districts.

Queens Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. called District 12 a “baby alien popping out of a stomach.”

Councilman Lew Fidler, who is running to replace Carl Kruger in a March 20 special election but has has district boundaries redrawn to put his house in Minority Leader John Sampson’s district in November, called the process “disgustingly partisan.”

Governor Cuomo, through a spokesman, promised a veto.

BK Southie, which earlier this week proposed eliminating eight Senate districts (citing general economic conditions and legislative dysfunction), is now suggesting we eliminate the State Senate altogether. OK, we’re just kidding this time, but seriously, District 20. Seriously.

As expected, a new, 63rd district has been proposed, a move largely seen as a move by Senate Republicans to protect their slim majority. Former Mayor Ed Koch complained, “I am disappointed in this result and in the dishonorable lawmakers who openly pledged to do things differently this year, and then reneged when it wasn’t to their political advantage,” specifically referring to a pledge made by legislators in both parties to his movement to allow for redistricting independent of the Assembly and Senate. The same Rochester Democrat & Chronicle article quoted a NYPIRG spokesman saying population deviations exceeded a 3% good-governance guideline in 50 of the 63 districts – only 19 of the 62 districts exceeded such guidelines 10 years ago.

If there’s a silver lining for Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, its that Senate Districts 22 and 23 – currently held by Republican Marty Golden and Democrat Diane Savino, respectively – aren’t gerrymandered… much more than they have been for the last ten years. Continue reading »