Quinn's big speech, and her political comfort zone
Briefing: Quinn and Bloomberg. Spencer T. Tucker via flickr
8:34 am Feb. 11, 20131
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is delivering her State of the City Speech this afternoon, and appearing on NY1's "The Road to City Hall."
She'll be talking about substantive policy matters, in the context of her legislative plans for the coming year. But it's an important moment for her mayoral candidacy, representing yet another opportunity to separate herself from the less-powerful rivals she's more or less avoided engaging directly with.
She's acknowledging their presence in other ways, though. For example, she released a report describing a "squeeze" on the city's middle class, echoing the "two cities" themes of her Democratic mayoral opponents, particularly Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
At the same time, Quinn continues to resist a Paid Sick Leave bill, which is strongly supported by organized labor and by liberal pundits with national platforms, but strongly opposed by the mayor and business establishment she's cultivated as speaker.
Her position on that is unlikely to undergo major changes, unless and until the polls do.
Quote
"Cuomo loses his mojo" — Fred Dicker
Recommended
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said it's unrealistic for former comptroller Bill Thompson to promise to hire more cops. Thompson: "I’ll take fiscal advice from Bill de Blasio right after I take term-limit advice from Chris Quinn." [David Seifman]
Labor supporters of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn say the Paid Sick Leave fight should be postponed until 2014. Pushing it now "is more about the politics of the mayor's race." [Chris Bragg]
Former governor Eliot Spitzer's name is floated as a potential challenger to New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who is not well-funded or well-known but still has labor support. [Ken Lovett]
Three Democrats eyeing a challenge to Westchester County's Republican county executive Rob Astorino agreed not to challenge one another in a primary. [Elizabeth Ganga]
MSNBC host Chris Hayes criticized Quinn for not supporting Paid Sick Leave legislation. [Up with Chris]
Events
"Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is in Albany."
10 a.m. Mayor MIchael Bloombeg has a Q&A after making an announcement about the national effort to reduce sodium in pre-packaged food, in the Blue Room at City Hall. @MikeBloomberg
10 a.m. Public Advocate Bill de Blasio discusses his plan for universal pre-K and other early education initiatives, at the East Harlem Center, 130 East 101st Street, in Manhattan. @BilldeBlasio @ChildrensAidNYC #nyc2013
10 a.m. On Fred Dicker's show: Fracknation documentary maker Phelim McAleer and other guests. [Talk1300] @fud31 @FrackNation #frackingNY
10 a.m. On Brian Lehrer's show: Josh Stacher dicusses the Egyptian revolution; California's Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom on technology and government, Karen Tumulty on Washington news and the director of "5 Broken Cameras." [WNYC]
@BrianLehrer @Jstacher @GavinNewsom @kTumulty
Noon. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn delivers her State of the City speech, in the Council Chambers, in City Hall and will be live streamed here. @ChriscQuinn #SOTC2013
Noon. New Jersey lawmakers and environmentalists discuss their letter to Cuomo urging him to oppose fracking, in a conference call with reporters. Contact sgladstone@fwwatch.org for details. @ConnieWagner @NYAgainstFRACK @FoodAndWater @DelRiverKeeper #NJenviro #DontFrackNY
CORRECTION: This event was yesterday. 12:30 p.m. Democratic mayoral candidate Sal Albanese and others join striking school bus drivers as they march and demand a contract negotiation with the Bloomberg administration.
2:15 p.m. Activist Kerry Kennedy joins Assembly members Karim Camara, Cathy Nolan and Fracisco Moya to urge the New York State Senate to pass legislation protecting farm worker, in the LCA room in the State Capitol, in Albany. @KarimCamara @KerryKennedyRFK @RFKcenter @NYSUT @HispanicFed @NYSAFLCIO @NYSCatholicConf @NYCLU @DennisPoust #FarmBillNY
6:30 p.m. Bloomberg speaks at NYC Communities Emergency Response Team graduation, at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, 35-12 35th Avenue, in Astoria, Queens. @MikeBloomberg @NotifyNYC #CERTgrads
7 p.m. On "The Road to City Hall:" City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. @ChriscQuinn @RoadtoCityHall #nyc2013 #MiddleClassSqueeze #PaidSick #nyc2013
2013
A lengthy look at Joe Lhota's private sector resume. [Andrew Hawkins]
De Blasio is criticized by an editorial board for getting donations this year to pay for illegal poster fines in 2009. [Daily News]
Quinn is criticized for opposing a small rate hike by Con Ed, then later calling for power lines to be buried underground, which will cost the company money. [New York Post]
One editorial page says the Democratic mayoral candidates should back Bloomberg's housing plan in order to lower rent rates. [New York Post]
"Mark Levine sent a campaign e-mail blast to supporters noting the passing of his father, Marshal — with a solicitation pitch at the bottom." [Carl Campanile]
City Hall / City Council
WSJ's Power List, politics and government: 1) Chris Christie 2) Michael Bloomberg 3) Andrew Cuomo 4) Chuck Schumer 5) Ray Kelly 6) Christine Quinn 7) Eric Schneiderman 8) Prett Bharara 9) Joe Lhota 10) Sheldon Silver. [WSJ]
The City Council is spending $12,000 for a "dance party" in Albany, with legislators. [Candice Giove and Michael Gartland]
In another high-profile media hit, the Times looks at how NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly keeps track of a dizzying array of data. [Joseph Goldstein]
The City Council held a hearing on subway-related deaths, but far more people are killed in above-ground car and truck accidents. [Nicole Gelinas]
Quinn has a new report saying the middle class is getting squeezed. [Sally Goldenberg]
The Rockefeller family is on both sides of the Paid Sick Leave fight. [Chris Bragg]
Headline: "Bloomberg Brightens Emergency Weather Briefings with Eye-Catching Sweaters" [Jill Colvin]
Teen pregnancy rates are still too high, says one editorial board. [Daily News]
An editorial board criticizes Brooklyn College for kicking out four members of a Jewish organization from last week's BDS lecture. [Daily News]
Albany
"The Cuomo plan is not only bad economics. It's also bad politics." [Richard Brodsky]
Cuomo's plan could leave mentally ill New Yorkers with less supervision and potentially put the public in danger, warns an editorial page. [New York Post]
"Hydrofracking decision in New York this week? Don't count on it." [Glenn Coin]
Former state senator Shirley Huntley, and a "Person of Interest" in the Assembly spent public money pampering themselves, and Huntley's dog. [Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein]
Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi wants the state to spend $17 million to for new engines on LIRR freight locomotives which are more environmentally friendly. [Irving DeJohn]
Washington
Bloomberg tops the $1 million mark opposing a pro-gun Democrat in Illinois. [Maggie Haberman]
New details on Sen. Bob Menendez's efforts to help a big donor with a Dominican port security deal. [Eric Lipton and William Rashbaum]
The Times called for him to give up the gavel of the Foreign Relations Committee over the weekend. [New York Times]
Former congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle, still uncompromising. [Mark Weiner]
Chuck Schumer as New York's backyard oak tree. [David McCumber]
Front Pages
Good After Noon "WATSON" well it seems my efforts to run you for Governor has shaken Andrew "CESARE" Cuomo and the Albany establishment.
The comments and Fred Dickers story bears that out.
Albany is the Scandal Capital of The World and we need to make it The Nanotechnology Capital of The World.
There is only one way to do that and that way is the
"WATSON REVOLUTION"
The powers that be in Albany are shaking in there boots and the biggest among them seems to be in a DAZY.
Each day a new Scandal appears and another member of the Legislature is under investigation.
The Times Union the Albany paper of record took 28 months to discover that there was no review by Sampson and the Senate Democ"RATS" regarding AEG
I guess Casey was a sleep at the switch or so busy watch every word and censuring comments to posts.
But what about the other members of the "PRESS" they too were fast a sleep.
The are all part of the ALBANY BS From Buster to Bruno to Spitzer-Seiler, etc etc
In 2006 the Times Union along with the NY Daily News endorsed Alan Hevesi for Comptroller (BOY DID THE EDITORIAL BOARD HAVE EGG ON ITS FACE)
See "WATSON" we need to clean up ALBANY
You are you "ILK" are the only ones who can do it, the rest are all tied in to the ALBANY BS- Buster to Bruno to Spitzer-Seiler, etc etc
Run "WATSON" run for Governor and make Albany The Nanotechnology Capital of The World instead of what it is today and will remain The Scandal Capital of The World.
To the LCA invite "WATSON" to your show and have a LCA JEOPARDY
"WATSON" vs "The Big Four"
Lets see who knows the answers "WATSON" or The Big Four"
Then "WATSON" could challenge the "PRESS", now that would be a BLAST, and boy would you sell tickets.
Before there was the "Oracle of Delphi" there was Count Vampire J. Machiavelli
VJ Machiavelli
www.VJMachiavelli.blogspot.com
To The Moon, Mars, and Beyond