Nydia Velazquez
'Deal with it': New York Democrats (with business and labor) call for immigration reform without conditions
Before a City Council hearing on immigration reform this afternoon, a coalition of labor leaders, Democrats, and one New York business representative called on Congress to pass a reform bill without some of the preconditions currently being demanded by Republicans in Washington. More
Nadler, Serrano and Velazquez urge the White House not to deal on 'chained CPI'
A coalition of progressive groups and left-leaning lawmakers is trying to convince President Obama to take chained CPI out of the debate over sequestration cuts and a new budget deal.
In a blog post last night, the White House reiterated that president is still open to chained CPI, which would reduce Social Security payments over time by using a more nuanced formula to calculate inflation.
The White House calls it a cost-saving reform; liberals call it a cut, and one that they can't support.
"Voters across the political spectrum oppose cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits, and we must do whatever it takes to protect these vital benefits from cuts," wrote twenty lawmakers in a letter to the president. More
The surrogates: Schumer to Florida, Quinn to Philadelphia, Grimm to Staten Island
Andrew Cuomo is reportedly headed down to Florida tomorrow, weather permitting, to campaign for President Obama. Cuomo's is the most closely watched surrogacy in New York, but other elected officials are making travel plans too. Senator Chuck Schumer will be traveling to Florida later this month, at the request of the Obama campaign. More
'Any hipster that believes in justice': A call to Williamsburg's newcomers, and their landlords
For moment, the only thing standing between older and newer residents of Williamsburg was a dumpster. More
(2)Plotting Vito Lopez's downfall at a Velazquez event in Satmar Williamsburg
After winning a relatively hard-fought primary against an opponent who was backed by the Brooklyn Democratic organization, Rep. Nydia Velázquez went to Williamsburg to thank a critical part of her base. More
(4)Another challenger for Bronx-based assemblywoman Naomi Rivera
A reporter-turned-Democratic operative who worked on Bill Thompson's 2009 mayoral campaign is joining the race to oust Naomi Rivera, a Democratic Assemblywoman in the Bronx who already is facing a well-financed challenger. More
How a thumping win for Velazquez complicates Vito Lopez's grand plan
No one really expected Representative Nydia Velazquez to lose last night, in her first real primary challenge since being elected to Congress in 1992. More
(1)How much did the New York Times' endorsements matter in the congressional primaries?
Though the New York Times imprematur can be crucial in competitive local Democratic primaries, it doesn't appear to have played a meaningful role in any of yesterday's congressional races, in which three of the paper's five chosen candidates won. More
For Nydia Velazquez, vote Wēi Lái Tzí Kwáy Tzí
Nydia Velazquez didn't mention it to voters at her first stop in Chinatown this morning, but there's a bit of confusion over how her name appears in Mandarin on today's primary ballot. More
How Vito Lopez made Nydia Velazquez lose weight and gain a little Mandarin
On the corner of Henry and Rutgers Streets in Chinatown this morning, Representative Nydia Velazquez was practicing her limited Chinese.
"Ni hao! Ni hao!" she hollered at voters making their way toward the East Broadway stop on the F line, pressing them to take a palm card. More
(1)A familiar test for Vito Lopez
Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillbrand, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Governor Andrew Cuomo all endorsed Velazquez in the primary, demonstrating that they would rather cross a local county leader than abandon a scandal-free, reliable Democratic colleague. More
(1)With the legislative session over, Cuomo endorses Velazquez
In the first of what is reported to be a handful of congressional endorsements, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his support for incumbent Representative Nydia Velazquez this afternoon. More
(1)Schumer robocalls for 'true friend of Israel' Nydia Velazquez
Senator Chuck Schumer has recorded a robocall vouching for Nydia Velazquez's support for Israel.
Velazquez is facing her first tough primary in 20 years, from the Brooklyn Democratic organization-backed city councilman Erik Martin Dilan, who has criticized her for "apathy" toward Israel. More
Former Hispanic Caucus chair says Rubio would be Romney's Sarah Palin
Nydia Velazquez, the former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, doesn't think Mitt Romney's campaign really wants Marco Rubio, and doesn't think it would matter much to Latino voters even if they did. More
At long last, a Brooklyn boss goes for the knockout against Nydia Velazquez
Her meeting with Brooklyn's Democratic boss Vito Lopez had been a friendly one, as far as Nydia Velazquez knew.
It was 1992, the year she was first elected to Congress. Velazquez and Dennis Rivera, then the president of the health care workers union, 1199 SEIU, met with Lopez at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan to coordinate his support for her campaign. More
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