WFP MAYORAL FORUM - "I made every dime I have."

The WFP Mayoral forum was held Thursday night, July 3rd. I don't know how it was perceived on the webcast - whether you could hear the audience or not -- but there is no doubt that Tony Avella won.

However, I have unanswered questions about the Working Families Party. They injected themselves big time into the term limits debate last fall and were very opposed to the overturn of term limits, including getting involved in a lawsuit.

But then they endorsed Christine Quinn for another term. Quinn led the fight with Bloomberg to overturn the will of the people. Some people even think that the term limits question was not raised at the event because they made a deal with Bloomberg. Remember when Bloomberg said to a reporter "you are a disgrace" for bringing up the issue?

The WFP will make an endorsement vote on July 9th.

Bill Thompson had the nerve to call himself the "presumptive" nominee. And he will be if every registered Democrat goes to the polls in September for the primary and does the "politics as usual" thing and votes the way the Democratic political establishment is telling you to do.

These are some of the Twitter comments on the WFP site.

"So I think that Avela won the debate/forum - the reason being that any time you quote #the wire you win! "

" Cool forum WFP. Thanks for the opportunity. But if you endorse Bloomberg, then this city has gone to the dark age"

"Bloomberg is out of touch. Thompson seems a bit rehearsed. Avella rocked."

"Thompson was SO boring - he should run for senate."

"No Thompson, NYers aren't energized by you. Nice try though..."

"Did Thompson just call himself the presumptive nominee? That is some questionable messaging. "

"Thompson gives the same stump speech every time. "nuanced" is a bit of a stretch"

"thompson is going off the cuff, up is down"

Some articles: read comments after the article:

NY Daily News: Mayor Bloomberg defends massive campaign spending: "i made every dime I have."

NY Times: At Working Families Party Forum, Bloomberg Declines to Toe the Liberal Line

Live Blogging at Mayoral Forum in NYC

NYC Mayoral Forum live blog (start at the bottom)

PETULANT RICH KID AGAINST ETHICAL REFORMER (Tony Avella)

The media is mostly not our ideal of what they should be -- investigative reporters searching for the truth -- idealistic muckrakers. For many, it is a job - they go with the flow; reprinting press releases with a tweak here and there. The media, after all, is owned by corporate America - (or is it China) In truth, if any of them did have the courage to speak out against His Emporership Mayor Bloomberg, they would forever be banned from City Hall. And they would have no story - albeit a slanted one. This is democracy, kids. Face it.

When an underdog like Queens Council Member Tony Avella - a progressive with great ideas and courage - tries to make a difference, he is mostly ignored. He is called an "outlier." Instead, Bill Thompson, the pick of the Democratic machine – is the favored Democratic candidate. …. But by the machine and politicians, that is ... not the people ... and certainly not on the blogs that I have read.

So it came as a breath of fresh air when Bernie Mooney from the Examiner writes a blog titled "Bloomberg is a Petulant Rich Kid” criticizing the mayor for being out of touch with New Yorkers. If this petulant rich kid was such a financial genius – then why did Wall Street have such a serious meltdown? Why is unemployment so high in New York City. The man has been mayor for eight years after all. Why didn’t he see it coming and do his “magic.” And why are the schools in such bad shape. Ask any teacher!!! Why – because Bloomberg had no answers – that’s why. And because he controls the media, you hear what he wants you to hear.



Mooney on Tony Avella: “There is a dark horse. That dark horse is Tony Avella, a city councilman from Queens who is no fan of mayor Mike. He has even taken his council colleagues to task for kowtowing to Bloomberg’s whims. He is most definitely against the out of control development under Bloomberg’s terms. Frankly, I never heard of him until I picked up a copy of WG, Williamsburg Greenpoint News +Arts.”



While I am impressed that Mr. Mooney gets it right in his piece, my problem with him is that as a political writer he has never heard of Tony Avella. Tony has been in the council for eight years and has been a leader against the abuse of eminent domain and over development. He knows how the real estate industry has run this city into the ground -- and he wants you to know also. I knew who Tony was and I do not make a living writing about politics. Tony is undoubtedly the most progressive, courageous and independent thinker in the Council - never afraid of speaking out against corrupt Christine Quinn. One of the few with real ethics, he refused to accept a large raise, which the council voted for themselves. But don’t take my word for it – check out Tony’s web site – please get informed. Learn about the issues that affect the average New Yorker.

But unfortunately, the average New Yorker – even those who actually vote – do not have a clue who their Council Member is – or who hold all of the citywide offices. This is how scoundrels get into office because at election time –some of these same New Yorkers get “religion” and feel obliged to do their “civic duty” to vote. They will go to the booth and pick the first candidate – or just vote the party in which they are registered. And they think they did a good thing. Ask them who they voted for - or if they know anything bout these candidates and they cannot tell you. This is very frightening. This is why Bloomberg and the City Council were able to overturn term limits.... it is because YOU voted for the very council members who made deals with Quinn - you rub my back and we will rub yours.

If you want a better New York with a mayor who actually listens to you … it is within your power to make that change. Bloomberg is a tyrant. He does not deserve another term in office.

Council Member Tony Avella would be much needed progressive change for New York City. Let's give him (and us) a chance at real democracy!

WHAT WAS JOHN LIU THINKING????? SAME AS DAVID WEPRIN that's what.

So now John Liu wants to run for Comptroller. Whoop di do! I guess he saw that the office of Public Advocate was filling up fast and his ratings were in the toilet. As they should also be for the office of Comptroller.



NYC voters should expect that candidates running for the office of Comptroller be on the up and up and have a brain. They should have a pristine record of dealing with finances. That is - they should not be involved with any questionable goings on involving hiding things from the public, supporting fraudulent legislation and supporting legislation that would cost the tax payers money at the expense of a private questionable industry that only politicians and lobbyists support. What industry is that do you say ... well the carriage horse industry ... what else?!



GET THIS:



Council Member Liu recently signed on as a sponsor of Intro 653-A, the industry bill that would (among other things) provide the drivers with a rate increase, joining his cohort, David Weprin. Presently the drivers (officially and according to the law) make $34 for 1/2 hour and $10 for each additional 1/4 of an hour. They have not had a raise in 20 years (or so they would want you to think.)



Boo hoo.



The truth is that the industry took this matter into their own hands years ago and charge EXORBITANT rates through their web sites. Did you really think they wanted to wait for the City Council. There is no difference between booking a ride on the web sites and catching one at the hack line. The law applies to both. If you do not believe me, take a look at this web site for NY Tours. $173.95 for 40 minutes!!! Jumping Jehassafeffers .... when according to law, 40 minutes should be $34 for the first 1/2 hour and another $10 for each additional 1/4 hour. So it should be $44 tops. This is outrageous.



What is wrong with you, Mr. Liu and Mr. Weprin? Why are you supporting fraud? Please explain yourselves.



How will you handle the city's money? If it is anything like this, you should both get a job in the private sector -- try Wall Street. Neither of you deserve to be our Comptroller.



You think this is an anomaly you say? Well take a peek at these two other web sites: Gotham Carriages -- $98 for 40 minutes ... or Manhattan Carriage - they charge $40 for 17 minutes and ask you to call for the price for other rides. Hello! it is $34 for 1/2 hour. Doesn't anyone pay attention. Mr. Liu - Mr. Weprin - what gives with you two? Are you getting some hefty campaign contributions?



OK - now with the rest of this highly questionable legislation.



Take a look at #17-330-j. A bit hard to comprehend? This is what it really means: The ASPCA has been overseeing the carriage industry for like forever. They have peace officer status and can issue violations and tickets. They volunteer their services for free to the city. This bill would get rid of the ASPCA oversight along with any city agency and the police department -- notice the text in brackets that gets removed. Why -- well the ASPCA, one of the more conservative animal welfare organizations is in favor of a ban of the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City. Although they are not opposed in principle to horse-drawn carriages, they are for NYC because they say that there is NO WAY the industry can operate humanely. Why people like Liu and Weprin are not listening to an organization founded by Henry Bergh, horse advocate, is beyond my comprehension.



I happen to love the ASPCA. They are conservative and do not rush into things. They are solid and not extreme. When they take a position, I generally agree with it. They know about animals, animal issues and the NYC carriage industry. This responsibility should not be taken away from them and given to shady representatives of the carriage industry. Gee, maybe the Teamsters will get the contract.







The gist of this is that the industry would self regulate -- but who would pay for it? Well not them, that's for sure. The RFP would most likely be prepared by the Department of Consumer Affairs or Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ... a contract would be awarded .... and the cost would be picked up by NYC's tax payers. At the expense of what - closing a health clinic for people or a senior citizen center? Yes - that is exactly what will happen!



Is this who you really want for Comptroller? Liu or Weprin. Either they are stupid; they think we are stupid; or they don't care about this.



Can either David Yassky or Melissa Katz do a better job? Only the shadow knows ... but I think anyone who is outraged about what has happened on Wall Street should be just as outraged at this development and think twice before voting for these losers.



Oh BTW - did I mention that Speaker Christine Quinn, Queen of the Slush Fund scandal, is in closed door talks with the industry lobbyists? No? How could I forget? She supports the industry. Of course, no surprise there since her godfather was the late Tom Manton, Emperor of the Queens Democratic Party who "appointed" her speaker.



And you thought this was a democracy? Silly you.

"If it's hot, don't sit on it" department

"Consumers and voters are hungering for authenticity like never before."
--pollster John Zogby


It’s not that Mayor Michael Bloomberg doesn’t like people, it’s just that he prefers rich ones. How do we know this? He said so, last week! “If you make more money, you deserve more money," he explained during his weekly radio show. Similarly, his recent refusal to extend food stamp benefits to non-working, able-bodied adults reflects his position that work is the best way to escape poverty. (Fair enough. Still, remember, this is the mayor who in 2001 described asthma as a public health problem that comes from "not knowing how to clean." And the same mayor who explained last summer, "if it's hot, don't sit on it," in regard to scorching hot mats at city playgrounds. A real "people person.") He reserves his affection for investment bankers, traders and others who have lost jobs on Wall Street; they'll be the beneficiaries of his $45 million retraining program.

A recent New York Times editorial described Bloomberg's "tough love" stance on food stamps as "cramped." More like morally constipated, and his undemocratic power play over term limits demonstrates that he is bankrupt of integrity.

Is Bloomberg qualified to get the city out of its financial mess, or did he cause it? And how dearly will his term limits debacle cost him in the polls? We shall see.
Will people finally wake up and get real about electing a mayor? What about William C. Thompson and Anthony Weiner (who were described, along with Christine Quinn, in a Wall Street Journal editorial as "the political equivalent of "The Three Stooges")? What do we know about Tony Avella?
Photo credit: Smith/Daily News

TAMMANY HALL REVISITED

I don't even have to write this piece because Sally Goldenberg from the NY Post says it all. After you read this, please think about whether or not you want someone like Christine Quinn for mayor. She is expected to announce her candidacy at some point. It will mean more corruption, more pork barrel favoritism; more TAMMANY HALL and more politics as usual! It is unfortunate that Tony Avella's district has suffered from this favoritism because he has "defied her." His ethics stand out in a field of political hacks.

NEW YORK POST - July 4, 2008

QUINN PORKS A WALLOP

$$ FOR PALS; FOES STIFFED

By SALLY GOLDENBERG

Speaker Christine Quinn's friends on the City Council brought pounds of pork home to their districts - while neighborhoods represented by members on her enemies list often get beans, a review of this year's budget shows.

Her biggest victim was Tony Avella (D-Queens), whose "sins" were harshly criticizing her over the budget slush-fund scandal, voting against congestion pricing, which she pushed for, and running for mayor, a job she is expected to seek.

He got a mere $340,464 - the lowest of anyone on the council, which he said is "morally and ethically challenged."

Quinn insisted she's not doling out rewards and punishments. "There are many different factors that go into that decision making," she said.

Underscoring her point, Lew Fidler (D-Brooklyn), an opponent of congestion pricing but an overall ally of hers, topped the list with nearly $1.25 million.

Queens Democrat Eric Gioia, who has had several disputes with the speaker's office - though he voted for congestion pricing - got only $360,464.

The same amount went to Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), who opposed congestion pricing and blamed Quinn for the budget scandal and was angry she refused to name a Brooklyn street after radical Sonny Carson.

Two members - Michael McMahon (D-SI) and Domenic Recchia (D-Brooklyn), who decided at the 11th hour to vote for congestion pricing - each received whopping sums.

McMahon, who also defended Quinn after the scandal, got more than $1.2 million. He noted that he does well each year because he is Staten Island's sole Democrat on the council.

"The speaker never said to me, 'Look, if you vote for congestion pricing you'll get more money, or if you don't, you'll get less money,' " he said, but he acknowledged those who "continuously work with the leadership on issues . . . do well."

Recchia, who received more than $1.1 million, also voted at the last minute for congestion pricing, but said "there was no quid pro quo."