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Hughes: Labor’s Ready For A Fight
Sep 3rd - 2:10 pm
AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes sat down with me this afternoon for a “Capital Tonight” interview and insisted the labor movement will present a united front if AG Andrew Cuomo goes to war with the public employee unions next year, despite the fact that the federation endorsed his gubernatorial bid.
Hughes played down Cuomo’s effort to make a distinction between public and private unions, playing up his support of the trades, for example, while proposing a wage freeze, property tax cap and other policy initiatives that are not supported by the publics.
The AFL-CIO, as you’ll recall, was not united in its support of Cuomo when members met for their endorsement convention in Colonie last month.
NYSUT stayed on the sidelines, but also didn’t actively oppose the AG – a pragmatic approach, since it would have been very difficult, if not impossible, for Cuomo to get the AFL endorsement had NYSUT voted “no”.
Hughes said labor has experience dealing with governors who go on the warpath during tough economic times. (His interview with me will air in full at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. tonight).
“We’ve been through this a lot with different governors over the years,” Hughes said. “All of the governors that were governor when there was an economic downturn make these pronouncements. We’ve been with them through these things…and we know how to get through it, we’ve done it before.”
“From the city fiscal crisis in the 70s, through the previous governor Cuomo, Mario Cuomo’s problems in the late 80s, to George Pataki’s problems twice with downturns in the stock markets and then the 9/11 collapse. We’ve seen this happen. We know how to be helpful. We know how to get in it, and we we know how to preserve benefits, rights of working men and women, whether they’re public or private sector.”
Sampson’s AG (Updated)
Sep 3rd - 1:44 pm
Just how much does Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson support his colleague, Sen. Eric Schneiderman, in his statewide bid?
Well, as much as we here at CapTon hate to measure sentiment in money…$15,400 almost one month before the Sept. 14 primary is a great way to say “I love you” to your favorite AG candidate.
Sampson made just two transfers between the 32-day and 11-day pre-pimrary reports.
The other – $6,000 – went to Sen. Kevin Parker (whose assault case is now being handled by the office of the lone GOP AG candidate, Staten Island DA Dan Donovan, due to a connection in the Brooklyn DA’s office to his primary opponent, Wellington Sharpe).
One of Schneiderman’s primary opponents, Eric Dinallo, has suggested Schneiderman is too conflicted to investigate the Senate if he becomes AG due to his close relationship with Sampson and leadership role in the chamber, and so would have to recuse himself from any related cases.
Schneiderman has rejected that arguement saying it has no legal basis.
UPDATE: A reader reminds me that Sampson $40,000 on July 9.
So, Sampson is officially maxed out ($18,100 primary limit for statewide candidates and $37,800 general) – or darn close to it.
There’s also a bit of a discrepency between Sampson and Schneiderman’s reports. Sampson says he sent $15,400 to Schneiderman’s AG campaign on Aug. 12, but Schneiderman is reporting that as $15,900. Odd.
Blitzkrieg Begins
Sep 3rd - 1:19 pm
GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino has released new TV and radio ads for a last-minute media blitz that will remain on the air through the Sept. 14 primary, according to his campaign.
Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo wouldn’t reveal the size of the buy, but did say both are running statewide, and the TV spot is on broadcast and cable.
You can watch both of the ads on Paladino’s Web page. Here’s the radio script, just to give you a taste:
“(male voiceover): Are you mad as hell about the mess in Albany? New Yorkers pay the highest taxes. We get the wildest liberal spending, but we’re still losing jobs. One man has stepped forward to drive career politicians and their special interest buddies out of Albany. That’s outsider Carl Paladino for governor of New York.”
“He’s not a politician, he’s a successful Buffao CEO. Like many in the Tea Party movement, Carl’s under attack by the liberal elite because he’ll turn Albany upside down and take out the trash.”
The radio spot ends with Carl slamming “career politicians” to promise tax and spending cuts and don’t deliver.
His part cuts off at the very end, but I think you get the idea…it’s a not-so-subtle swipe at his primary opponent, Rick Lazio, a former Long Island congressman; and the Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner, AG Andrew Cuomo.
Skelos Dances On Dems’ Grave
Sep 3rd - 1:00 pm
CapTon’s Kaitlyn Ross caught up at the Capitol yesterday with Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, who couldn’t quite contain his pleasure at the troubles besetting the Democrats on his native Long Island at a time when the battle for control of the chamber is heating up.
Skelos called the “domestic violence” charges against Dave Mejias, whom the Democrats had hoped would oust GOP Sen. Kemp Hannon and help grow their majority, “troublesome” and “unfortunate,” but also insisted that Sen. Hannon would have run on his own record.”
The senator also took the Democrats to task for what he called Regina Calcaterra’s “invalid candidacy” saying her residency issues should have prevented her from running against Sen. Ken LaValle and likely would have – had the majority done its “homework.”
McCall, Thompson, Serrano, Gotbaum, Stringer, Nadler, Quinn, Dinkins…Schneiderman
Sep 3rd - 12:44 pm
Sen. Eric Schneiderman has released the third ad of his AG campaign, which, as I reported late last month, includes cameos by a number of high-profile Democrats, including former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall.
McCall’s effort on the Manhattan lawmaker’s behalf is noteworthy because, of course, he was the state’s first black major-party gubernatorial candidate and was challenged by AG Andrew Cuomo in a long-shot primary bid back in 2002. (Trailing badly in the polls, Cuomo dropped out one week before primary day).
Cuomo has yet to pick a favorite from among the five Democrats vying to replace him, but Schneiderman, with his history of service in the Senate and lengthy list of labor backers, is clearly not the AG’s first choice.
Also appearing in the ad: Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins, Reps. José Serrano and Jerry Nadler, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, and former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson.
There’s also a kicker from Eric’s daughter, Catherine.
“In the past few weeks, momentum is building and it’s become increasingly clear that Eric Schneiderman is the best choice for attorney general,” said Schneiderman campaign spokesman James Freedland.
“Every day, more and more leading progressive New Yorkers are announcing their support for Eric’s campaign. With this new ad, New Yorkers can hear straight from the voices they know and trust about why Eric Schneiderman is the progressive champion we need as our next attorney general.”
They’re Mad As Hell
Sep 3rd - 12:08 pm
GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino just released this new video that features New Yorkers around the state (actually, I think mostly upstate) invoking his signature campaign slogan – compliments of Peter Finch and “Network,” of course.
Cox Out-Raises The Competition
Sep 3rd - 11:36 am
NY-1 GOP congressional candidate Chris Cox has had a rocky run to date, losing staffers and being forced to loan his own campaign $1 million to keep it afloat.
But Cox just posted a strong final fundraising report that shows he out-raised his two GOP opponents, Randy Altschuler and George Demos, in the final weeks of the pre-primary cycle.
From July 1 to Aug. 25, Cox raised $103,136, spent $689,366 and has $251,419 on hand. His contributors include his future parents-in-law, John and Margo Catsimatidis, Richard “Bo” Dietl, lobbyist Richard Lipsky, election attorney Lawrence Mandelker, and – get this – Dan Quayle.
Altschuler, who has loaned his own camapign $1.56 million, raised $57,509 during this period, spent $567,320 and has $1.3 million on hand.
Demos raised $33,280, spent $218,973 and has $118,231 on hand.
Cox’s self-congratulatory quote appears after the jump.
9/11 Family Members Defend 9/11 Anti-Mosque Rally
Sep 3rd - 11:14 am
A reader forwarded a very early-morning e-mail from Chief Jim Riches and Sally Regenhard, chair and vice chair (respectively) of the 9/11 Parents & Families of Firefighters & WTC Victims in defense of a rally planned on the upcoming anniversary of the Twin Towers’ attacks in opposition to the Park51 project.
The event is planned for the site of the proposed mosque and Islamic center, NOT at Gorund Zero itself, which is two blocks away, so as not to interfere with the official commemoration ceremonies.
Actually, the rally is scheduled to start upon the conclusion of the ceremony, which some of the family members will no doubt attend.
“While we respect the rights and opinions of others, we feel that no one should attempt to inhibit the expression of free speech for the large number of 9/11 family members who wish to participate in opposing the construction of this mosque and cultural center,” Riches and Regenhard wrote.
“This project represents a gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and disrespects the memory of all those who were murdered at the WTC both in 1993 and 2001.”
“We affirm that the 9/11 Anniversary is a very special and precious commemoration for all of us. However, we feel that by attending and participating in this rally, families can endeavor to ensure that the sacred ground will continue to be respected for posterity.”
“Many of our family members feel that they have a moral obligation to their loved ones to raise their voices as the world looks upon us and sees our plight.”
The full text of the e-mail and the list of supporters who signed onto it appears after the jump.
Tales From The Sausage Factory
Sep 3rd - 10:43 am
By request, I’m posting my CapTon interview from last night with former Assemblyman Dan Feldman and Poli. Sci. Prof. Gerald Benjamin (who also happens to be my dad) about their new book, “Tales From the Sausage Factor: Making Laws in New York State.”
The book, which came out this week, takes the unusual stance that the infamously dysfunctional state Legislature can actually work – and even does from time to time, albeit more so when Feldman was in office than these days (particularly in the Senate).
It’s remarkably readable for an academic book. And I’m not just saying that because one of the authors is my father. It’s also highly unusual to hear a defense of Albany at a time when anti-incumbent and anti-Legilature sentiment is at an all-time high.
Here And Now
Sep 3rd - 7:41 am
Earl! Earl! Earl! He’s headed our way to ruin the Labor Day weekend. (Or, maybe not).
A NY Times poll found, as previous public polls reported, that some two-thirds of New Yorkers want the mosque and Islamic center proposed for construction new Ground Zero moved to a different location.
An Egyptian-born businessman from Long Island who provided much of the $4.8 million needed to buy the building that will be demolished to make way for the mosque has a controversial history.
The Times says it’s “appalling to see New Yorkers who could lead us all away from mosque madness, who should know better, playing to people’s worst instincts” – and calls out Rudy Giuliani, Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino for doing just that.
The Syracuse Post-Standard supports AG Andrew Cuomo’s decision not to heed calls to investigate the mosque’s funding – such as it is.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver owns stock in 30 companies with business before the state, including Pepsi, Verizon and Cisco Systems, raising concerns about conflicts of interest from good government groups.
An ad that promotes Hillary Clinton for president in 2012 started running in New Orleans. It’s paid for by a dentist in Barack Obama’s hometown of Chicago and will also run here, in Washington, LA and maybe Houston.
The Rev. Al Sharpton is the latest Democrat scheduled to endorse Gustavo Rivera against Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. (Noon at WWRL’s studios; no link).
“You’ve got to believe he’s the favorite, and if you don’t, you’re underestimating a guy who should not be underestimated,” said Democratic consultant Scott Levenson of Espada.
Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson defends his rocky first session, insisting dysfunction existed before his party took the majority (which he’ll be happy to keep even by just one seat).
Dave Mejias’ arrest might have tanked the Democrats’ chances of maintaining control of the chamber.
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