People that are really weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.
-- Dan Quayle (1947 - )
The problem with most political writers is that many of them seem to know more about what’s going on then most of the politicians or, for that matter, nearly all of the voters. The media manipulates the effluent that dutifully seeps out from the planted PR sources and some flows down through editorial boards that get some of their orders from the publishers.
Activists, Community Board members, political junkies, political club members, and bloggers, make up most of those who are interested in what’s going on inside the Halls of Government. For want of a better nom de guerre, they comprise a Political Class.
The recent term-limits gambit playing out in the City Council and City Hall is one of those rare moments when the Political Class can stand around scratching their heads, looking at each other with a look that says, “What were they thinking?”
Here we have a Mayor who is not yet fully out of the closet, writing checks to organizations to round up support for future wars, using the golden shackles and parachutes to bind people to his every whim – which has ranged from President, Vice President, Governor and Mayor, to Charitable Organization CEO – with every flunkie in earshot ready to drop their pants at his whim – now deciding that the law has to be changed and the voters wishes can be ignored. Is this for real?
Has Christine Quinn really been struck deaf, dumb and blind – to self-destruct in public – in order to be granted an annuity in order to run for an office that would become impossible to achieve after becoming Bloomberg’s sacrificial lamb?
A friend once said, 'before we sent the boys into Iraq – they better know more than we do about what’s really going on – or, this is just a suicide run.
There’d better be WMD’s over there or this is just crazy.'
Bloomberg and Quinn better know more than we can even conceive of – and their media pals better be a lot better than what is seeping out from under the cesspool cover – or this is going to kill both of them, despite any positive work that may have been done.
Quinn rolls over and pushes through a third term for Mayor Mike just as Slushgate is (curiously) ebbing in the media, Bloomberg reverses his stance on a third term just as his second term is about to end – and all of this dirty laundry is done in public. Do they think the voters are completely stupid?
Speaking of which --- subpoenas have been floating around according to some rumors. Unconfirmed reports have been surfacing that Jimmy McManus and possibly Ray Cline among others, have gotten, or will get, papers (neither of them are targets) – and may be asked to talk about the shenanigans suspected in the Nora Anderson matter. The press has been having a field day with rumors that Anderson is not going to make it through this with her newly won job in Surrogate Court intact – due in part to Oliva – her campaign manager -- and Bernie Cohen. Election law may be the source of the problem. The D.A’s office would not comment but it is known that there’s some trouble afoot. Mr. Tingling could not be reached but one can hear the “I told you so’s” already being mouthed.
Now that Quinn has apparently shot herself in the service of a rumored Deputy Mayoral position next year if she’s forced out of the Speaker’s job – we are back to the question of whether Berman and Derr will go ahead and challenge her -- now that term limits keep her in her seat. Hoylman won’t run if Quinn runs again since they are soul mates – leaving him without a race to run after Community Board Chair, so far – as he apparently won’t run against Gerson for fear of a replay of the last time he challenged Alan. While many downtown are still waiting for Gerson to do something, anything, any credible challenger would have a chance. Pete Gleason is running. Margaret Chin is running. Menin claims that she won’t run against Alan.
Derr will absolutely run because there is no other political option for her and, despite the fact that she has no experience, if Berman does not run, almost anyone could have a shot. Quinn has damaged herself to that degree. The Council may not re-appoint her Speaker if they have their way.
But, who knows, Mike might just write them all checks. That’s the state of our democracy. Pay them off!
If voters support any of these people, the only rational response is, as Lewis Black would say, “What the fuck were they thinking?”
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Walking Close to the Buildings
Too bad the only people who know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair.
-- George Burns (1896 - 1996)
During the Great Depression, there were a few rules that only those who lived through it would know about. Wall Street workers in those dark days, for example, were happy to work “Scotch” weeks – when not being paid for every week of work was accepted. It was better to have half a job than lose a whole one. There were other familiar words of advice that were not a joke.
People working on “the street” were told not to venture near the curb as they walked towards Broad Street. Looking up when crossing a street was advised.
When someone went out a window after reading the latest ticker tape, the arch of the falling body took them out to the curb, away from the sidewalk closest to the building. Those times are upon us again.
The worst period in the Depression, from a stock market point of view, actually did not arrive after the first round of major drops. A period of nearly a year elapsed after the initial calamity that brought everyone and everything to its knees.
The current scenario is playing itself out on Wall Street and Main Street – no matter whether you are a real estate investor, a shopkeeper, a member of the Town Board in the Hamptons, a City Council member in Manhattan – or, even if you managed to hold on to your Lehman Brothers job when Barclay’s picked up your ticket after the Bankruptcy.
The problem with watching the gyrations on Wall Street every day is that it has little to do with what is now in the cards for every one. No matter whether we see a capitulation, as it is called when a bottom is announced by the gurus, or whether we see a rally after all of the bad news is digested.
What ensues after that is already pre-ordained. It is starting to unfold now.
Mortgages under $500,000 are extremely difficult to obtain. What used to be called super-jumbos, million dollar plus loans which fueled the sale of Hamptons properties and Manhattan condos – are history.
The Southampton Press, for example, reported that:
‘As a sign of the worsening economy, Mr. Bishop noted that on Eastern Long Island there are at least 14 multimillion-homes being built where the owner of the home has stopped construction “because he doesn’t know what’s in his future. It’s not just about the 14 homes; it’s about all the construction workers that aren’t going to have jobs as a result.
….Families are having difficulty with the daily expenses and certainly with their housing costs as home values drop. And we know that this credit crisis that we are in the midst of cannot on its own correct. It sounds dire, but there is a risk that commerce could grind to a halt,” she said.’
Even buyers with perfect credit and huge amounts of cash find the process impossible to complete IF they can find a lender with such a product. And, yes, folks, the Europeans are leaving town in order to locate their accounts before their bank fails.
Villages and Towns, as well as Counties will struggle with budgets – and some will be forced to file for bankruptcy. That includes Southampton Town, East Hampton Town and Suffolk County. Dipping into the Community Preservation Fund (where Transfer Taxes from New Yorker home purchases went to buy open land) in order to pay local government employee salaries -- is a good indication of the severity of their financial situation. It is not a glowing picture despite the hostility demonstrated towards New Yorkers and investor-landlords.
Then, as the Hamptons properties become worth less than 50% of what they were “worth” two years ago, as credit lines evaporate, as home equity credit lines are withdrawn, as credit cards are cancelled by the lenders without notice, as car loans disappear -- forcing Ford and General Motors to be bought out –and potentially resulting in the wholesale repudiation of pensions in bankruptcy court – we may awaken to see the final Panic leg on Wall Street. That’s where the buck stops. In fact, that’s where everything stops.
-- George Burns (1896 - 1996)
During the Great Depression, there were a few rules that only those who lived through it would know about. Wall Street workers in those dark days, for example, were happy to work “Scotch” weeks – when not being paid for every week of work was accepted. It was better to have half a job than lose a whole one. There were other familiar words of advice that were not a joke.
People working on “the street” were told not to venture near the curb as they walked towards Broad Street. Looking up when crossing a street was advised.
When someone went out a window after reading the latest ticker tape, the arch of the falling body took them out to the curb, away from the sidewalk closest to the building. Those times are upon us again.
The worst period in the Depression, from a stock market point of view, actually did not arrive after the first round of major drops. A period of nearly a year elapsed after the initial calamity that brought everyone and everything to its knees.
The current scenario is playing itself out on Wall Street and Main Street – no matter whether you are a real estate investor, a shopkeeper, a member of the Town Board in the Hamptons, a City Council member in Manhattan – or, even if you managed to hold on to your Lehman Brothers job when Barclay’s picked up your ticket after the Bankruptcy.
The problem with watching the gyrations on Wall Street every day is that it has little to do with what is now in the cards for every one. No matter whether we see a capitulation, as it is called when a bottom is announced by the gurus, or whether we see a rally after all of the bad news is digested.
What ensues after that is already pre-ordained. It is starting to unfold now.
Mortgages under $500,000 are extremely difficult to obtain. What used to be called super-jumbos, million dollar plus loans which fueled the sale of Hamptons properties and Manhattan condos – are history.
The Southampton Press, for example, reported that:
‘As a sign of the worsening economy, Mr. Bishop noted that on Eastern Long Island there are at least 14 multimillion-homes being built where the owner of the home has stopped construction “because he doesn’t know what’s in his future. It’s not just about the 14 homes; it’s about all the construction workers that aren’t going to have jobs as a result.
….Families are having difficulty with the daily expenses and certainly with their housing costs as home values drop. And we know that this credit crisis that we are in the midst of cannot on its own correct. It sounds dire, but there is a risk that commerce could grind to a halt,” she said.’
Even buyers with perfect credit and huge amounts of cash find the process impossible to complete IF they can find a lender with such a product. And, yes, folks, the Europeans are leaving town in order to locate their accounts before their bank fails.
Villages and Towns, as well as Counties will struggle with budgets – and some will be forced to file for bankruptcy. That includes Southampton Town, East Hampton Town and Suffolk County. Dipping into the Community Preservation Fund (where Transfer Taxes from New Yorker home purchases went to buy open land) in order to pay local government employee salaries -- is a good indication of the severity of their financial situation. It is not a glowing picture despite the hostility demonstrated towards New Yorkers and investor-landlords.
Then, as the Hamptons properties become worth less than 50% of what they were “worth” two years ago, as credit lines evaporate, as home equity credit lines are withdrawn, as credit cards are cancelled by the lenders without notice, as car loans disappear -- forcing Ford and General Motors to be bought out –and potentially resulting in the wholesale repudiation of pensions in bankruptcy court – we may awaken to see the final Panic leg on Wall Street. That’s where the buck stops. In fact, that’s where everything stops.
When the Panic Leg finally resolves itself we will have arrived at the point where Manhattan landlords provide services in order to keep their rent-paying stabilized tenants.
It’s the point where coop and condo boards send out maintenance statements that double the fees to compensate for their deadbeat members – forcing a final round of foreclosures.
It is the point where some schools close, hospitals fail, houses and apartments are abandoned and political fundraisers are cancelled for lack of attendance and lack of money.
The Federal bailout and Paulson’s protection of his buddies at Goldman Sachs have made all of this possible. Whether Paulson leaves office in January, as he previously had indicated, he has taken care of Bush, Goldman Sachs and a few other well-placed friends.
It leaves behind the following problems which must play out before we reach that point, which have still not been addressed:
Credit default swaps which Warren Buffet, himself, divested his company of years ago – total an estimated value in excess of $800 Trillion dollars. That’s an amount approaching $1 Quadrillion dollars. If that blows up, even selling apples won’t help. And, by the way, JPMorgan Chase has several Trillion dollars worth of these little beauties lying around off of its balance sheet somewhere, ready to explode at the right moment;
The Hedge Fund implosion, which was blindsided by the SEC Short sale prohibition -- triggering redemptions that threaten that entire $2 Trillion dollar industry;
The Money Market Fund problem caused by The Reserve’s “breaking the buck” which resulted in a return of only 30-40 percent of the original cash paid out due to the failure of Lehman Brothers;
The rescue packages of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, which will cost another $100 Billion.
And, finally, the credit card debacle is slated to hit us in 2009 as American Express and Capital One (among others) play their part in another $1 Trillion dollar disaster. Of course, that amount is predicated upon those companies having told us the truth about the severity of the problem.
This comes upon the heels of our $3 Trillion dollar military expeditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. If ever the “King needs a war” -- (Iran), it’s now.
As illegal immigrants and Latinos in the Hamptons leave town due to lack of work and the unconstitutional terrorizing of women and children in their homes -- white Americans will need to double-up and triple-up in houses in order to survive. Living situations, formerly considered illegal, that have promulgated attacks on landlords and New Yorkers, will now be permitted. Many of them will be Code Enforcement police who will not be able to afford a place to live on their own. Housing violations will suddenly seem unimportant and what was once considered overcrowding – will become the norm.
In Manhattan, real estate agents who have touted the strong condo market will be looking for jobs as the “European investor” heads for his hometown to hide his devaluing Euros under the mattress.
Political ploys like Mayor Bloomberg running for a third term along with his sycophantic supplicants on the City Council – buying himself another term in office – is only the most obvious move as everything is suspended.
Cynical plays that presume to be managed for the good of the people will become more prevalent.
Morality, ethics and fair-play will be sorely tested.
It’s the point where coop and condo boards send out maintenance statements that double the fees to compensate for their deadbeat members – forcing a final round of foreclosures.
It is the point where some schools close, hospitals fail, houses and apartments are abandoned and political fundraisers are cancelled for lack of attendance and lack of money.
The Federal bailout and Paulson’s protection of his buddies at Goldman Sachs have made all of this possible. Whether Paulson leaves office in January, as he previously had indicated, he has taken care of Bush, Goldman Sachs and a few other well-placed friends.
It leaves behind the following problems which must play out before we reach that point, which have still not been addressed:
Credit default swaps which Warren Buffet, himself, divested his company of years ago – total an estimated value in excess of $800 Trillion dollars. That’s an amount approaching $1 Quadrillion dollars. If that blows up, even selling apples won’t help. And, by the way, JPMorgan Chase has several Trillion dollars worth of these little beauties lying around off of its balance sheet somewhere, ready to explode at the right moment;
The Hedge Fund implosion, which was blindsided by the SEC Short sale prohibition -- triggering redemptions that threaten that entire $2 Trillion dollar industry;
The Money Market Fund problem caused by The Reserve’s “breaking the buck” which resulted in a return of only 30-40 percent of the original cash paid out due to the failure of Lehman Brothers;
The rescue packages of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, which will cost another $100 Billion.
And, finally, the credit card debacle is slated to hit us in 2009 as American Express and Capital One (among others) play their part in another $1 Trillion dollar disaster. Of course, that amount is predicated upon those companies having told us the truth about the severity of the problem.
This comes upon the heels of our $3 Trillion dollar military expeditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. If ever the “King needs a war” -- (Iran), it’s now.
As illegal immigrants and Latinos in the Hamptons leave town due to lack of work and the unconstitutional terrorizing of women and children in their homes -- white Americans will need to double-up and triple-up in houses in order to survive. Living situations, formerly considered illegal, that have promulgated attacks on landlords and New Yorkers, will now be permitted. Many of them will be Code Enforcement police who will not be able to afford a place to live on their own. Housing violations will suddenly seem unimportant and what was once considered overcrowding – will become the norm.
In Manhattan, real estate agents who have touted the strong condo market will be looking for jobs as the “European investor” heads for his hometown to hide his devaluing Euros under the mattress.
Political ploys like Mayor Bloomberg running for a third term along with his sycophantic supplicants on the City Council – buying himself another term in office – is only the most obvious move as everything is suspended.
Cynical plays that presume to be managed for the good of the people will become more prevalent.
Morality, ethics and fair-play will be sorely tested.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
The October Surprise
Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane.
-- Philip K. Dick (1928 - 1982)
Those of you who have been anticipating regime change in lower Manhattan will be happy to know that 2009 will be the year that all bets are off. Flowing from the national political scene down to the City Council and Mayoral elections, big changes are coming our way.
Due to the financial problems on Wall Street and the difficult economic conflagration that is now clearly coming, there will be disruptions that are unexpected. However, all of our needs will be met by those who care deeply about us.
First of all, George Bush is now expected to run for a third term as President and will be announcing his plans shortly.
Due to the fact that we are at war on two fronts, are seriously considering an attack on Iran, and are facing the challenge by worldwide terrorism, it stands to reason that the continuation of our policies with a President who is familiar with our current positions, should be supported in his plans to run for a third term. Bush is also dealing with the disruption in our financial markets and a worldwide credit meltdown. Since he is precluded from running for a third term, and since holding a referendum on the issue is deemed unnecessary, the Republican caucus will handle this mere detail.
Bush has also held discussions with other leaders who also concerned with our well being.
Locally, in view of those same economic concerns, a special session of the City Council will be asked to confirm suspension of term limits which will maintain the status quo for most City Council members as well as Mayor Bloomberg. The Mayor is scheduled to formally announce his plans tomorrow -- when he will advise us that only he can save us from the economic storm about to hit. No doubt, he and Bush come from the same school of Republican Saviours.
The current Council members, displaying their typical hubris, have no personally vested interest in promulgating this mid-session change of heart. Roughly two-thirds of the City Council who would ordinarily have been forced to leave office, will now remain seated.
Fortunately, it will also be unnecessary for people to vote on this issue.
And, while Ron Lauder, the activist politician who has previously championed the rights of voters in deciding such changes in the past, he has now seen fit to support this third-term cause. It wasn't o.k. for Rudy, but for Mikey, sure, why not? Clearly, Murdoch of Newscorp and Ross of the Related Companies (of Pier 40 fame and Doctoroff’s buddy) having seen the "green" light, as well as a precipitous drop in their stock, has indicated the right path for Hi-Rise Mike to follow.
Apparently, business leaders will soon convince the reconstituted Mayor and the amenable City Council, that a voter referendum on this issue will be unnecessary.
If we are all lucky enough to have our Dear Leaders think and plan for us in these difficult times, we will not have to worry our pretty little heads about what is best for us. They really don’t need us meddling with their plans.
-- Philip K. Dick (1928 - 1982)
Those of you who have been anticipating regime change in lower Manhattan will be happy to know that 2009 will be the year that all bets are off. Flowing from the national political scene down to the City Council and Mayoral elections, big changes are coming our way.
Due to the financial problems on Wall Street and the difficult economic conflagration that is now clearly coming, there will be disruptions that are unexpected. However, all of our needs will be met by those who care deeply about us.
First of all, George Bush is now expected to run for a third term as President and will be announcing his plans shortly.
Due to the fact that we are at war on two fronts, are seriously considering an attack on Iran, and are facing the challenge by worldwide terrorism, it stands to reason that the continuation of our policies with a President who is familiar with our current positions, should be supported in his plans to run for a third term. Bush is also dealing with the disruption in our financial markets and a worldwide credit meltdown. Since he is precluded from running for a third term, and since holding a referendum on the issue is deemed unnecessary, the Republican caucus will handle this mere detail.
Bush has also held discussions with other leaders who also concerned with our well being.
Locally, in view of those same economic concerns, a special session of the City Council will be asked to confirm suspension of term limits which will maintain the status quo for most City Council members as well as Mayor Bloomberg. The Mayor is scheduled to formally announce his plans tomorrow -- when he will advise us that only he can save us from the economic storm about to hit. No doubt, he and Bush come from the same school of Republican Saviours.
The current Council members, displaying their typical hubris, have no personally vested interest in promulgating this mid-session change of heart. Roughly two-thirds of the City Council who would ordinarily have been forced to leave office, will now remain seated.
Fortunately, it will also be unnecessary for people to vote on this issue.
And, while Ron Lauder, the activist politician who has previously championed the rights of voters in deciding such changes in the past, he has now seen fit to support this third-term cause. It wasn't o.k. for Rudy, but for Mikey, sure, why not? Clearly, Murdoch of Newscorp and Ross of the Related Companies (of Pier 40 fame and Doctoroff’s buddy) having seen the "green" light, as well as a precipitous drop in their stock, has indicated the right path for Hi-Rise Mike to follow.
Apparently, business leaders will soon convince the reconstituted Mayor and the amenable City Council, that a voter referendum on this issue will be unnecessary.
If we are all lucky enough to have our Dear Leaders think and plan for us in these difficult times, we will not have to worry our pretty little heads about what is best for us. They really don’t need us meddling with their plans.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Politics of Depression
Politics: "The conduct of public affairs for private advantage."
--Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914)
Our Dear Leader, Hi-Rise Mike, is still playing with us over whether he plans to step down. Rudy did the same thing, using 9-11 and our perceived ability not to be able to do without him. He is severely misinformed, or perhaps just egotistical.
While numerous media plugs discuss his supposed popularity among the voters, many Downtown have put up with one development proposal after another – including his buddy’s Condo-Hotel (Trump SoHo) – a project that has destroyed a neighborhood as well as its re-zoning. Trump is still trying to add floors, even while the project is stalled.
Fortunately, although Quinn still has Bloomberg’s job in her sights, she has managed to pass legislation that, in spirit at least, does something that harassed tenants can hang their hats on. Provided, of course, that they can afford expensive legal counsel. Slushgate has started to fade in people’s minds.
We all recently learned that Hi-Rise Mike has been meeting with others who control what we think – Murdoch of News Corp and Zuckerman of the Daily News – to float the coordination of support for this third term as Mayor. The fine print of their meetings makes note of the fact that the current candidates are not generating enthusiasm among those moguls. For those who know the field of dreams for next year’s election, that means the front-runner Bill Thompson – with a second and third tier that includes Weiner and Quinn.
The Boys from Harvard have been groping for a way to prove that Mike is our man and should remain so with as arrogant a Press crew as one can imagine. So far, that has been falling on deaf ears.
The fact that our new Mayor told us from the beginning that where he goes and what he does is none of our business – was the tell as far as arrogance was concerned -- when he was first elected. His estate in Burmuda was the probable location of a weekend away from the helm. But, hey, I’m away for the weekend, it’s none of your business where I go. Koch or Guiliani would never have done that, come to think of it, neither would Bush.
A man of the people doesn’t hide out when he doesn’t want to be bothered. This is a public job, not just public when you feel like it.
Bill Thompson, the front-runner in the Mayoral election is a smart, able politician and was duly pissed-off when Mayor Mike started this “I know better what you need than you do” routine, recently.
What Thompson did not say, and what is increasingly a possibility, is that it may be just another form of political racism -- sugar-coated so as to be tolerated by the masses of liberals being duped by the money and the media control -- which obviously includes the Bloomberg media. For him and his media buddies to assume that Thompson is not every bit as competent as he is to run this city, is suspect to say the least.
So, as we sit back and watch the Depression overtake us, ponder some of these unspoken tidbits:
Coop and condo sales ARE tanking and prices are being dropped by people who are having a hard time paying maintenance fees. It is done more stealthily, but any broker who tells the truth will verify it. Six months ago, even HPD would tell you that coop and condo boards were starting to be investigated for not maintaining buildings – individual shareholders having had to call HPD to get the board to make routine repairs in common areas.
And, now that Wall Street is imploding, expect to see a wave of defaults and foreclosures—not to mention nearly 100,000 layoffs. Lehman Brothers employees managed to be picked up by Barclay’s (for the moment) but what no one is talking about is the massive loss of assets as stocks tank or become worthless, as in the case of Lehman. At the big firms, the cash for multi-million dollar properties (condos, coops, townhouses, developments) was not always arranged with mortgages. Many were financed with loans collateralized with stock pledges. Now that some of that stock is worthless, the loans can be called on that stock. Now, there’s a prescription for joy.
And, a word about our new savior, who has unlimited powers NOT subject review by the Courts. It’s very interesting to note that Lehman was allowed to fail and Goldman Sachs survived.
Lehman did not contribute to the Long Term Capital debacle – and many consider this payback. Barclay’s was interested in part of the Lehman operation and had been offering numbers approaching $5 Billion – and rumor has it that they were told to wait. They did – and bought if for $1.3 Billion only days later.
Paulson was the CEO of Goldman Sachs.
Think there is any correlation here?
Wait til you see what kind of sweet deals are cooked up with the RTC-styled maneuver now in the works.
"Somehow Lehman Brothers gets left on the sidelines," said Daniel Golden of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, who represents clients holding about $9 billion in bonds. "We believe this was a flawed sales process. It benefits Barclays and the federal government but not the creditors of this estate.
"The economic landscape seems to have changed over the last two days," he said. "Yet the debtors and the Fed seem determined that nothing get in the way of this transaction."
Had Lehman filed for Chapter 11 a week later than it had, its fate may have been different.
"This is a tragedy - maybe we missed the RTC by a week."
If they think Lehman was a tragedy, wait until the new RTC deal, christened Baillie Mae, gets moving.
--Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914)
Our Dear Leader, Hi-Rise Mike, is still playing with us over whether he plans to step down. Rudy did the same thing, using 9-11 and our perceived ability not to be able to do without him. He is severely misinformed, or perhaps just egotistical.
While numerous media plugs discuss his supposed popularity among the voters, many Downtown have put up with one development proposal after another – including his buddy’s Condo-Hotel (Trump SoHo) – a project that has destroyed a neighborhood as well as its re-zoning. Trump is still trying to add floors, even while the project is stalled.
Fortunately, although Quinn still has Bloomberg’s job in her sights, she has managed to pass legislation that, in spirit at least, does something that harassed tenants can hang their hats on. Provided, of course, that they can afford expensive legal counsel. Slushgate has started to fade in people’s minds.
We all recently learned that Hi-Rise Mike has been meeting with others who control what we think – Murdoch of News Corp and Zuckerman of the Daily News – to float the coordination of support for this third term as Mayor. The fine print of their meetings makes note of the fact that the current candidates are not generating enthusiasm among those moguls. For those who know the field of dreams for next year’s election, that means the front-runner Bill Thompson – with a second and third tier that includes Weiner and Quinn.
The Boys from Harvard have been groping for a way to prove that Mike is our man and should remain so with as arrogant a Press crew as one can imagine. So far, that has been falling on deaf ears.
The fact that our new Mayor told us from the beginning that where he goes and what he does is none of our business – was the tell as far as arrogance was concerned -- when he was first elected. His estate in Burmuda was the probable location of a weekend away from the helm. But, hey, I’m away for the weekend, it’s none of your business where I go. Koch or Guiliani would never have done that, come to think of it, neither would Bush.
A man of the people doesn’t hide out when he doesn’t want to be bothered. This is a public job, not just public when you feel like it.
Bill Thompson, the front-runner in the Mayoral election is a smart, able politician and was duly pissed-off when Mayor Mike started this “I know better what you need than you do” routine, recently.
What Thompson did not say, and what is increasingly a possibility, is that it may be just another form of political racism -- sugar-coated so as to be tolerated by the masses of liberals being duped by the money and the media control -- which obviously includes the Bloomberg media. For him and his media buddies to assume that Thompson is not every bit as competent as he is to run this city, is suspect to say the least.
So, as we sit back and watch the Depression overtake us, ponder some of these unspoken tidbits:
Coop and condo sales ARE tanking and prices are being dropped by people who are having a hard time paying maintenance fees. It is done more stealthily, but any broker who tells the truth will verify it. Six months ago, even HPD would tell you that coop and condo boards were starting to be investigated for not maintaining buildings – individual shareholders having had to call HPD to get the board to make routine repairs in common areas.
And, now that Wall Street is imploding, expect to see a wave of defaults and foreclosures—not to mention nearly 100,000 layoffs. Lehman Brothers employees managed to be picked up by Barclay’s (for the moment) but what no one is talking about is the massive loss of assets as stocks tank or become worthless, as in the case of Lehman. At the big firms, the cash for multi-million dollar properties (condos, coops, townhouses, developments) was not always arranged with mortgages. Many were financed with loans collateralized with stock pledges. Now that some of that stock is worthless, the loans can be called on that stock. Now, there’s a prescription for joy.
And, a word about our new savior, who has unlimited powers NOT subject review by the Courts. It’s very interesting to note that Lehman was allowed to fail and Goldman Sachs survived.
Lehman did not contribute to the Long Term Capital debacle – and many consider this payback. Barclay’s was interested in part of the Lehman operation and had been offering numbers approaching $5 Billion – and rumor has it that they were told to wait. They did – and bought if for $1.3 Billion only days later.
Paulson was the CEO of Goldman Sachs.
Think there is any correlation here?
Wait til you see what kind of sweet deals are cooked up with the RTC-styled maneuver now in the works.
"Somehow Lehman Brothers gets left on the sidelines," said Daniel Golden of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, who represents clients holding about $9 billion in bonds. "We believe this was a flawed sales process. It benefits Barclays and the federal government but not the creditors of this estate.
"The economic landscape seems to have changed over the last two days," he said. "Yet the debtors and the Fed seem determined that nothing get in the way of this transaction."
Had Lehman filed for Chapter 11 a week later than it had, its fate may have been different.
"This is a tragedy - maybe we missed the RTC by a week."
If they think Lehman was a tragedy, wait until the new RTC deal, christened Baillie Mae, gets moving.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Sparks Flying
Politics is just like show business. You have a hell of an opening, coast for a while, and then have a hell of a close.
-- Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)
Some of the current political races are becoming testier.
Pete Gleason is weighing his options for City Council in ‘09 and faces a field which currently includes Julie Menin, more remotely Kathryn Freed (inhibited we think due to financial constraints), Madeleine Wils, and Margaret Chin.
Gleason is seen as an emotional favorite to many in SoHo; Menin has the Board #1 faction and parts of Tribeca; Wils has an alternate slice of Tribeca and Board #1; and Chin has a strong field in Chinatown.
What Gleason has in popularity he lacks in cash. The reverse is true for Menin and Wils – although, slick as she is, Wils is preferred by many.
She’s smarter and knows how things work.
Chin has Chinatown but needs to reach out among others and lose the provincialism of a primarily Asian candidate.
The lay of the land has Wils as the favorite, were she to run at this point due to money and political savvy.
Gleason is seen as someone who can be trusted.
At a fundraiser held this Saturday, Bernie Cohen, former attorney and consultant for Nora Anderson’s Surrogate’s Court bid – a lucrative position – apparently took a swing at Eben Bronfman, Special Assistant to D.A. Bob Morgenthau. It connected.
Bronfman, who was holding his daughter’s hand at the time and was about to leave, caught the unexpected punch. Various obscenities accompanied the blow.
Apparently, Eben has been seen in the company of Anderson’s opponent (Milton Tingling) and he speculates that this was the reason for Cohen’s actions.
Bronfman, however, wasn’t amused that he received this “show of emotion” in front of 80 people.
It’s a hot July.
-- Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)
Some of the current political races are becoming testier.
Pete Gleason is weighing his options for City Council in ‘09 and faces a field which currently includes Julie Menin, more remotely Kathryn Freed (inhibited we think due to financial constraints), Madeleine Wils, and Margaret Chin.
Gleason is seen as an emotional favorite to many in SoHo; Menin has the Board #1 faction and parts of Tribeca; Wils has an alternate slice of Tribeca and Board #1; and Chin has a strong field in Chinatown.
What Gleason has in popularity he lacks in cash. The reverse is true for Menin and Wils – although, slick as she is, Wils is preferred by many.
She’s smarter and knows how things work.
Chin has Chinatown but needs to reach out among others and lose the provincialism of a primarily Asian candidate.
The lay of the land has Wils as the favorite, were she to run at this point due to money and political savvy.
Gleason is seen as someone who can be trusted.
At a fundraiser held this Saturday, Bernie Cohen, former attorney and consultant for Nora Anderson’s Surrogate’s Court bid – a lucrative position – apparently took a swing at Eben Bronfman, Special Assistant to D.A. Bob Morgenthau. It connected.
Bronfman, who was holding his daughter’s hand at the time and was about to leave, caught the unexpected punch. Various obscenities accompanied the blow.
Apparently, Eben has been seen in the company of Anderson’s opponent (Milton Tingling) and he speculates that this was the reason for Cohen’s actions.
Bronfman, however, wasn’t amused that he received this “show of emotion” in front of 80 people.
It’s a hot July.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Rumors & Politics
A recent survey was said to prove that the people we Americans most admire are our politicians and doctors. I don't believe it. They are simply the people we are most afraid of. And with the most reason.
-- Author Unknown
The problem with rumors is that sometimes they’re true. Enron is a good example. Bears Sterns is another. Politically, Spitzer is as good as any you’ll ever hear and for those of you who remember Donald Manes, there’s little to be said.
In this season of danger, euphemistically known as Primary season, few want to be on record for the battles that are occurring. Whispers, anonymous letters and fourth hand accusations that are unattributed are the coin of the realm.
Since, for better or worse, Manhattan is still a one-party town, the Democrats fight it out in September. Whoever survives the Primary usually wins in November.
This year there are a number of real races among the Democrats.
Daniel Squadron, for example, is running again Democratic incumbent Marty Connor, who for 30 years has not had a serious opponent. That has changed this year. Squadron managed to garner the endorsement of Downtown’s major, but embattled, Democratic political club, D.I.D., and is clearly now in the lead for the State Senate seat. While Squadron has raised significant money (reportedly over $425,000 thus far), his real success is in making headway without the overt support of his major political rabbi, Senator Schumer. Squadron actually traveled with Schumer and they wrote a book together.
Having to make one’s own political way in spite of a tremendous political asset in order to connect with the community and inspire a sense of commitment is not an easy task. Squadron seems to have accomplished this by virtue of his energy and persistence.
Bob Morgenthau has been one of the strongest forces for political power and social responsibility in the Manhattan justice system. Legendary stories about Bob as a Federal prosecutor, his advisory meetings with Suffolk County D.A.’s like Thomas Spota and his socially correct politics do not do justice to his power. His prosecutors and assistants, including Dan Castleman and Eben Bronfman, are polite and charming but deadly, if you’re on the wrong side of the conference table.
As a supporter of women’s rights and as a force for social justice he has managed to succeed in breaking new ground with John Doe indictments -- which maintain DNA material and prosecutorial integrity – thereby protecting the ability to prosecute a rapist beyond the usual statute of limitations.
His opponent for D.A. is likely Leslie Crocker Snyder, a former judge and investment banker. She garnered 40% of the vote in the last election and is expected to run again. While a threat, the piggy bank on Wall Street may dry up this time around. She had been in favor of the death penalty but apparently has relinquished that position.
Others who wish to take over once Bob Morgenthau has retired are Catherine Abate, who has been waiting for him to step aside for years – and there is newcomer Cyrus Vance, Jr., who has stated clearly that he will not run if Bob decides to run again. Bob is running again.
Another possible wild card candidate mentioned has been Jim McManus, District Leader and head of the McManus Midtown Democratic Club.
As unusual as that may seem, remember the D.A’s office is about knowing where the bones are buried and digging them up.
Bob knows how to dig them up and Jim likely knows where some of them are buried.
The City Council race for District one will soon become more interesting. While Julie Menin, Chair of Board #1 and her forces have zeroed in on Pete Gleason, her attention may be misplaced.
Gleason is the choice of many and is clearly preferred by registered voters North of Canal Street but money may become the issue. Menin’s war chest is supported by developers and husband Bruce Menin, reportedly with a family fortune in the hundreds of millions -- a daunting reality for opponents.
Margaret Chin, however, is the candidate to watch.
She is an activist who fervently puts her energy where her mouth is. No one works as hard as she does. And, while she represents the huge Chinese voter majority Downtown, she has gained popularity with those who do not like the idea of a political seat that is bought.
Chin’s detractors have tried to find an Achilles Heel and the best they’ve been able to come up with is the fact that as a young girl she was a member of the Communist Party. Move over Hollywood.
Ballotgate is heating up.
Apparently, Community Board #1 may be ripe for an investigation over a missing ballot. A recent election for assistant secretary, an Executive Committee position has created a little monster for all involved.
The rough details apparently are that during the balloting in a race between Community activist Marc Ameruso and his opponent, Board member named Lynn-Rudder -- one vote went missing. While the election was not a close one, the missing ballot is troubling for a few different reasons. First, it was Julie Menin’s vote, the Chair of the Board. Second, it indicates that someone is toying with the election process.
Rumors have circulated indicating that the motivation for the missing ballot is related to the fact that all election results at Community Boards are open and transparent. Ergo, anyone can review the results and figure out who voted for whom. In the past, these election results often indicate to either the winning or losing candidate who your friends really are.
Since Menin verbally promised her vote to Ameruso and since Lynn-Rudder is from the Menin camp (he is not), it is logical to assume that that particular missing ballot might be an embarrassment.
Whatever your politics are, however, there is no indication of where the missing Menin ballot went after being accepted by Pat Moore, one of her supporters and head of the Nominating Committee. Moore was also Menin’s entry for the D.I.D. election, which ended with Sean Sweeney being re-elected.
Ameruso discovered it the next day when he reviewed the results at the Board office and he then reported the fact.
Interestingly, he was then accused of committing the crime that he, himself discovered and reported. A little thin, even for political logic.
If nothing else, it elucidates the depth of political intrigue going on at Board #1 – and whether this needs an investigation by an outside entity (since rumor has it that two attorneys sit on the Executive Committee and are upset over this), remains to be seen.
Stringer is a political ally of Menin and depends upon the fundraising potential but he clearly takes his connection with the Community Boards very seriously. He may have to step aside and let a completely neutral body check this out if it does not quickly get resolved.
Somebody might want to suddenly find that missing ballot before it gets too messy. Perhaps it stuck to the bottom of someone’s coffee cup.
This is being reviewed at an emergency Executive Committee meeting next Monday at 6 pm at the Board office. Stay tuned rangers.
Apparently, D.I.D. is stabilizing after the failed Menin and David Reck orchestrated Putsch – but suddenly Julie Nadel (who had been elected Treasurer) was advised that she could not have a position on the H.R.P.T. and also serve as an officer in a political club. She received the Dear Julie letter from Connie Fishman, President of the Trust, stating that this was not permitted. Nadel, graciously dropped out of the D.I.D. position and District Leader Adam Silvera took over on an interim basis.
While the matter was handled quickly and efficiently, one wonders why this particular responsiveness occurred at this moment in time. Other H.R.P.T. members have enjoyed dual roles.
Nadel, however, has been one of the only critics on the H.R.P.T. Board that covets secrecy and she has been known to speak her mind on a number of controversial issues.
Nadel was also was involved in helping to arrange a Meet & Greet for Councilmember Eric Gioia, an announced candidate for Public Advocate in ‘09 – a position that Scott Stringer has not announced he is seeking – but is known to be considering. Stringer appoints three of the H.R.P.T. Board members.
Interesting.
-- Author Unknown
The problem with rumors is that sometimes they’re true. Enron is a good example. Bears Sterns is another. Politically, Spitzer is as good as any you’ll ever hear and for those of you who remember Donald Manes, there’s little to be said.
In this season of danger, euphemistically known as Primary season, few want to be on record for the battles that are occurring. Whispers, anonymous letters and fourth hand accusations that are unattributed are the coin of the realm.
Since, for better or worse, Manhattan is still a one-party town, the Democrats fight it out in September. Whoever survives the Primary usually wins in November.
This year there are a number of real races among the Democrats.
Daniel Squadron, for example, is running again Democratic incumbent Marty Connor, who for 30 years has not had a serious opponent. That has changed this year. Squadron managed to garner the endorsement of Downtown’s major, but embattled, Democratic political club, D.I.D., and is clearly now in the lead for the State Senate seat. While Squadron has raised significant money (reportedly over $425,000 thus far), his real success is in making headway without the overt support of his major political rabbi, Senator Schumer. Squadron actually traveled with Schumer and they wrote a book together.
Having to make one’s own political way in spite of a tremendous political asset in order to connect with the community and inspire a sense of commitment is not an easy task. Squadron seems to have accomplished this by virtue of his energy and persistence.
Bob Morgenthau has been one of the strongest forces for political power and social responsibility in the Manhattan justice system. Legendary stories about Bob as a Federal prosecutor, his advisory meetings with Suffolk County D.A.’s like Thomas Spota and his socially correct politics do not do justice to his power. His prosecutors and assistants, including Dan Castleman and Eben Bronfman, are polite and charming but deadly, if you’re on the wrong side of the conference table.
As a supporter of women’s rights and as a force for social justice he has managed to succeed in breaking new ground with John Doe indictments -- which maintain DNA material and prosecutorial integrity – thereby protecting the ability to prosecute a rapist beyond the usual statute of limitations.
His opponent for D.A. is likely Leslie Crocker Snyder, a former judge and investment banker. She garnered 40% of the vote in the last election and is expected to run again. While a threat, the piggy bank on Wall Street may dry up this time around. She had been in favor of the death penalty but apparently has relinquished that position.
Others who wish to take over once Bob Morgenthau has retired are Catherine Abate, who has been waiting for him to step aside for years – and there is newcomer Cyrus Vance, Jr., who has stated clearly that he will not run if Bob decides to run again. Bob is running again.
Another possible wild card candidate mentioned has been Jim McManus, District Leader and head of the McManus Midtown Democratic Club.
As unusual as that may seem, remember the D.A’s office is about knowing where the bones are buried and digging them up.
Bob knows how to dig them up and Jim likely knows where some of them are buried.
The City Council race for District one will soon become more interesting. While Julie Menin, Chair of Board #1 and her forces have zeroed in on Pete Gleason, her attention may be misplaced.
Gleason is the choice of many and is clearly preferred by registered voters North of Canal Street but money may become the issue. Menin’s war chest is supported by developers and husband Bruce Menin, reportedly with a family fortune in the hundreds of millions -- a daunting reality for opponents.
Margaret Chin, however, is the candidate to watch.
She is an activist who fervently puts her energy where her mouth is. No one works as hard as she does. And, while she represents the huge Chinese voter majority Downtown, she has gained popularity with those who do not like the idea of a political seat that is bought.
Chin’s detractors have tried to find an Achilles Heel and the best they’ve been able to come up with is the fact that as a young girl she was a member of the Communist Party. Move over Hollywood.
Ballotgate is heating up.
Apparently, Community Board #1 may be ripe for an investigation over a missing ballot. A recent election for assistant secretary, an Executive Committee position has created a little monster for all involved.
The rough details apparently are that during the balloting in a race between Community activist Marc Ameruso and his opponent, Board member named Lynn-Rudder -- one vote went missing. While the election was not a close one, the missing ballot is troubling for a few different reasons. First, it was Julie Menin’s vote, the Chair of the Board. Second, it indicates that someone is toying with the election process.
Rumors have circulated indicating that the motivation for the missing ballot is related to the fact that all election results at Community Boards are open and transparent. Ergo, anyone can review the results and figure out who voted for whom. In the past, these election results often indicate to either the winning or losing candidate who your friends really are.
Since Menin verbally promised her vote to Ameruso and since Lynn-Rudder is from the Menin camp (he is not), it is logical to assume that that particular missing ballot might be an embarrassment.
Whatever your politics are, however, there is no indication of where the missing Menin ballot went after being accepted by Pat Moore, one of her supporters and head of the Nominating Committee. Moore was also Menin’s entry for the D.I.D. election, which ended with Sean Sweeney being re-elected.
Ameruso discovered it the next day when he reviewed the results at the Board office and he then reported the fact.
Interestingly, he was then accused of committing the crime that he, himself discovered and reported. A little thin, even for political logic.
If nothing else, it elucidates the depth of political intrigue going on at Board #1 – and whether this needs an investigation by an outside entity (since rumor has it that two attorneys sit on the Executive Committee and are upset over this), remains to be seen.
Stringer is a political ally of Menin and depends upon the fundraising potential but he clearly takes his connection with the Community Boards very seriously. He may have to step aside and let a completely neutral body check this out if it does not quickly get resolved.
Somebody might want to suddenly find that missing ballot before it gets too messy. Perhaps it stuck to the bottom of someone’s coffee cup.
This is being reviewed at an emergency Executive Committee meeting next Monday at 6 pm at the Board office. Stay tuned rangers.
Apparently, D.I.D. is stabilizing after the failed Menin and David Reck orchestrated Putsch – but suddenly Julie Nadel (who had been elected Treasurer) was advised that she could not have a position on the H.R.P.T. and also serve as an officer in a political club. She received the Dear Julie letter from Connie Fishman, President of the Trust, stating that this was not permitted. Nadel, graciously dropped out of the D.I.D. position and District Leader Adam Silvera took over on an interim basis.
While the matter was handled quickly and efficiently, one wonders why this particular responsiveness occurred at this moment in time. Other H.R.P.T. members have enjoyed dual roles.
Nadel, however, has been one of the only critics on the H.R.P.T. Board that covets secrecy and she has been known to speak her mind on a number of controversial issues.
Nadel was also was involved in helping to arrange a Meet & Greet for Councilmember Eric Gioia, an announced candidate for Public Advocate in ‘09 – a position that Scott Stringer has not announced he is seeking – but is known to be considering. Stringer appoints three of the H.R.P.T. Board members.
Interesting.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Elitism
An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.
-- Simon Cameron (1799 - 1889)
Talk to any good lawyer and it’s likely that you will soon learn the difference between rational logic and legal logic.
While it makes perfect sense, for example, that someone who defrauded you out of a substantial amount of money should be instructed by the courts to refund you your loss – rules of evidence and legal precedent have a way of interfering. Even a crystal clear matter that no one, even the perpetrator, doubts as truth – can be shoved aside by the vagaries of that arcane legal logic. Political logic is far beyond even that abstruse common sense.
This also applies to the common sense with which the public devours information. It’s one of the reasons why Page Six has an avid audience. The fourth estate finds its raison d’etre at the feet of politicians’ lies.
But, more important, there are some realities that so fly so in the face of common sense, that one can simply smell the truth despite what the words say.
As the political landscape is evolving Downtown, it is clear that politics is now the domain of BIG money a/k/a Developers. And, in an attempt to insist that what we are seeing, in fact, is not what we are really seeing – we have an elitist PR logic that is being foisted upon us through the media. As this plays out, we are as W.C. Fields notes, one of the suckers that are born every minute. And, the politicians ARE there to take us every 59 seconds.
Numerous issues have erupted in this Democratic Town of ours in which the elected officials are making decisions based upon THEIR political realities and aspirations and are contrary to the wishes and desires of the community they are supposed to serve. It should not be lost upon us that big money is now needed to run a political campaign – especially, when you are term-limited and need to find that next big job.
Bloomberg, for example, with a smooth PR machine and a media company to boot, has managed to force us to believe that he’s a great Mayor. The Tell really came at the beginning when he took a vacation and refused to let anyone know where he was going -- it was none of our business. That should have tipped everyone off about where he was coming from, not where he was going.
Meanwhile, we've had major thrusts. We have had the West Side Stadium, Trump SoHo, Related’s Pier 40 plan, the Gansevoort Recycling and Garbage Depot, the DSNY garage and the raping and pillaging about to occur in the Village, Hudson Square and SoHo. We have lots of new hotels to invite even more hoards of visitors. Not ALL of the cash from the engine for New York City should be on the backs of Manhattan residents. That argument is lame and self-serving -- responsible zoning produces better income. Illegal signs produce income for the City too, but it severely reduces everyone's quality of life.
All of these issues come under the planning tutelage of the Mayor’s office, the City Council and the Community Boards.
There are public pronouncements, hearings, closed-door sessions and dialog between and among the elected officials. Not for the community, however.
But, lest we not be taken in by this – the fix is in. The money has been spread around – or promised – and the plan is in place.
Quinn wants money and support for her Mayoral run next year, Stringer has aspirations for higher office and wants the fealty of the Community Boards to keep that fundraising machine in place, Silver wants to hold on to his Speakership, Menin wants to arrive at City Council, and Mayor Mike wants to figure out what to buy with his next billion dollars – he’s currently negotiating to buy the remaining 20% of the media company back for $5 billion dollars. But, oh, that’s part of a blind trust – he has no control over a major media conglomerate and the money he doles out – now, does he?
nt, for example. Why do we now learn that part of one of our parks will be Melinda Katz, a candidate for Comptroller, in fact, makes no bones about taking as much money as she can get from developers.
But, while this process unfolds, one thing is clear – none of this has anything to do with what the voters want. It is the most insulting form of elitism.
It’s the “we know what’s best for you” form of governing.
Quinn needs to hold hearings, as to what happened with the Trump SoHo project, with the doors open. And, let all of the dirt out.
She should clearly indicate that she is not Mayor Mike’s subordinate.
The Trump SoHo travesty, for example, cries out for an investigation into how that little project got slipped through. Who were the real players?
Why have the City agencies been playing along with the Trump SoHo management to delay responses from the B.S.A. and Department of Buildings that permit the lawsuit filed by SoHo Alliance to linger? Stu Klein, the lawyer, may have a view on what that deal is about. Why should a city agency be in bed with a developer?
Yes, that’s the point – about the developers. The money is now trying to buy Manhattan – and hi-rise Mike is letting them.
Take the Parks Department, for example. Why do we now learn that part of one of our parks will be sold off to a developer for a restaurant?
Why is there a constant push to place advertising in our parks, usurp them for commercial uses, and make them testing grounds for commercial products?
Why do we find, belatedly, that the artificial turf that our children play on, can burn them if they play on it? Was the deal too good for Commissioner Benepe to resist, or was he instructed by Bloomberg to sign on the dotted line. How much development pressure is Mayor Mike placing on Benepe and why do the rumors tell us that Benepe is afraid to talk to anyone?
At 165 degrees, allowing a child to walk on the “grass” and burn their feet is criminal. Even if you’re afraid you’ll be fired and lose those golden shackles, allowing children to be burned is really not cool.
We also have to face the fact that the Community Boards are now under attack by the Mayor, who wants to strip what little power they have – by eliminating their input on matters that would interfere with development.
Stinger utilizes the Boards to further his political agenda by exerting his influence directly and indirectly – so as to make Board members aware that they serve at his pleasure. This is not conducive to community democracy. When you have people who, ostensibly, represent the wishes of the community in which they serve – and who are afraid to lose their membership or position in the community if they contradict or disagree with the power structure – you have nothing but palavering.
There is a real question, of course, as to whether the Community Boards represent the community at all. Elitism runs deep.
We need to move away from politicians and elected leaders who believe they know what is best for us and will do anything to achieve that result. Or, even direr, we need to expose the elitism which seeks to use money to
buy political office and then give us what they want us to have.
Fortunately, the economy will slow development pressure, lose Wall Street jobs and drop real estate values in Manhattan will have an effect upon these forces. We must do the rest.
Structural reform of the Community Boards is necessary, for example.
They no longer represent the people in our communities and are fast becoming political parties, which are mechanisms that propel people into political office.
A grassroots re-organization of the democratic process is now needed. A parallel universe is needed. Otherwise, like Alice we will continue to view democracy through the lookinglass.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Dealing in Garbage
Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.
-- Unknown
As complicated as politics can become, the smell was not simply coming from the Gansevoort Pier. The only accurate fact was that it is the location where the Department of Sanitation parks its trucks and operates a salt pile for those nostalgic years before global warming.
The settlement made a few years ago with Friends of Hudson River Park under the tutelage of Al Butzel called for DSNY to be off the pier by 2012 even though it has been stymied by community opposition and a lack of responsible planning. The UPS site on Spring Street where a 14 story garage and fuel depot has become the convenient, if not flawed solution – even when a location at block 675 in Board 4 was readily available. And, instead of it being a two district garage, it was enlarged so that it would be a three district garage. So much for logic.
But, what really wafted out from between the decaying compost was the decision by Shelly Silver to suddenly push through a change in the Hudson River Park Act in order to accommodate unseen forces with virtually no prior warning to the community. His closest allies, among them Deborah Glick and Dick Gottfried, were put in a difficult situation publicly after having fought the Gansevoort Recyling plan. What appears to have been a victory for anti- NIMBYism, however, is not sufficient for downtown to appreciate the role of our elected officials in this little morality play. The electeds downtown pandered to their own political aspirations and need for campaign funds. In other words, it was not simply their fear of the convenient cry of "racism" that forced this issue. It was worse than that. This is a deal that sells out the community.
Hi-rise Mike, Quinn, Stringer and Gerson all supported this plan because it was easy. Lots of money for campaigns, lots of ego (for the the Mayor and his Harvard Boys), all cooperating to send Silver a magic bullet. Vote for this, or else. This time it worked. The use of the racism card, which has worked for Lola, a downtown bar which the community did not want, is now followed by a development that is anathema to a community where pollution is the new commuter and tourist attraction.
As politics have changed downtown, where the power bases have begun to transform from political clubhouse to Community Boards -- and from independent political parties to developers with public relation firms – it’s the media perception of a politician that counts, not the voter’s opinion. It’s no longer a matter of appealing to the community. Reality doesn’t seem to count for very much – at least that seems to be the case if you are a politician.
Many activists who are also community board members, for example, now find themselves inquiring as to whether the Borough President approves of his or her point of view before being seen in public. Community Board Chairs or Committee Chairs now worry about whether their political point of view is in synch with the Borough President and whether they will be dumped even before their two year term is up if they disagree with the party line.
Council Members concern themselves with whether the Speaker agrees with their point of view on issues. They still worry about the pork barrel even though there is a Federal prosecutor watching them dig out the meat.
And, Speaker Quinn has to be worried about whether she will get financial support from the Mayor in return for her support or lack therof. Those $500,000 donation checks to non-profit organizations buy a lot of footwork no matter who later is empowered to call in for the chips.
Formerly powerful political clubs look to the Chair of the Community Boards as well as the Borough President, to assess who the rank and file should support – since many of the clubs have members on the Boards.
At a recent fundraiser for Eric Gioia who running for Public Advocate, an old veteran of the political wars, Ray Cline, showed up. In spite of his canny knowledge of downtown politics, a supporter of Maria Derr for City Council, he appears to not fear any powerful politician. His coming out for Gioia was noticed.
So, there is no surprise that Shelly Silver, who was instrumental in killing Bloomberg’s pet Congestion Pricing, the West Side Stadium, the sub rosa Related Pier 40 plan, and who was threatened with a very expensive campaign for his own re-election which Bloomberg vowed to fund – had to deliver --something. This appears to be it. There was even the threat that the old sexual harassment issue involving one of Silver's staffers from years ago was going to be dragged up again.
Whether Bloomberg can find a new job for himself, money is not his problem. It does, however, seem to be everyone else’s problem.
While no one will ever know just exactly how the deal was done, just locating the air fresheners in the room can tell you where the smell was coming from.
Then there’s the matter of compliant behavior on the part of everyone else.
Quinn has wanted Bloomberg’s support for a long time. She, too, needs the money for her mayoral campaign. And, Slushgate, receding somewhat, still leaves her with the need for the many contacts that can raise the necessary funds for a successful race. With the angst over the Feds subsiding and the media interest waning, large amounts of cash are still necessary to keep her in the running. There’s Weiner, Thompson and Republican John Catsimatidis out there to deal with. And, with a Gristede’s fortune, he has no cash problems and no negative press yet. And, lest we no forget, the Molinari's in Staten Island have decided who our last two mayors have been. They like Republicans.
So, Quinn’s support of Gansevoort is no surprise, despite pronouncements that Downtown should take its fair share of garbage – in spite of the fact that it was supposed to be a park. Glick is in a tough position since she is close to Silver. She has strongly come out against this plan. Arthur Schwartz, Chair of CB2 Waterfront Committee, who has young children, has again voiced his opposition. While he has a controversial political past, he apparently is not afraid of anyone and thinks the plan is a sell-out.
As far as racism is concerned, calling downtown liberals anti-African-American is not only phony but insulting. Will this be the new way to get things?
Unfortunatley, the simple charge begets the old indefensible logical form as in "when did you stop beating your wife?"
If you are against this, you are a racist? Will this be the new Jewish guilt that makes activists work and voters choose on the basis of the horrors of the past?
Do we now choose between being able to breathe or being called racists?
Shall we all lie down and let the garbage trucks roll over us and our children so that we are loved for our proven racial neutrality?
Thanks, guys. Maybe it IS time for a real Republican. Not a born-again Julie Menin who has apparently switched parties to run for City Council and not Hi-rise Mike who also did the switcheroo a few years back and wants to be Vice President, President, Governor, Mayor again, or, whatever else strikes his fancy this week and is now "Independent."
Just get out the checkbook and screw what the people want.
Then there's Stringer’s tacit and stated support of the garbage solution on Gansevoort which is based upon his desire to keep all options open and run in step with the money. His alliance with the Mayor and his close affiliation with Julie Menin who seeks to take the City Council seat currently held by Alan Gerson as well as control of D.I.D., the downtown political club, -- is a friendship with the Bruce Menin developer money. Rumors abound over Stringer’s desire to run for Public Advocate, remain where he is – or possibly take the position of his closest political ally, Congressman Jerry Nadler, once Jerry finds a more powerful slot (like Senator). The hope is that Hilary will move on and give Jerry his shot.
What also has rankled some activists who recently felt safe in opening their mouths – since the Community Boards have become the new center of political “power” – is that Stringer failed to hold a convocation of Boards in order to arrive at a community concensus solution on the waste situation, rather than just adhere to the Bloomberg message. Properly done, this would have ameliorated the racial undercurrents that make this NIMBYism so pernicious. So, instead of using his mandate in calling upon the Manhattan Boards to address this issue and try to work at a better solution – as well as other issues like affordable housing – he allowed his political agenda to be the guiding principle. Make nice with Uptown politicians, like powerful Inez Dickens, Denny Farrell, Charlie Rangel and Bill Thompson, and ignore Downtown.
It is clear that Community Board members should not also be members of a political party. The obligation should be solely to the residents whom they are supposed to represent. Political leaders should not be permitted to sit on the Board. The possibility for a commingling of obligations – either by the Boards becoming de facto political parties for the support of the Borough President – or, for the Boards to become elaborate, de facto, fundraising political machines – is a bad precedent. It is an invitation to an inbred cycle which leaves out the interests of the community.
With the politicization of the Community Boards, with the attempts at buying the votes and fealty of residents downtown with developer money and political fortunes – P.R. companies will soon be telling us how popular our elected officials are. Not asking us. The media-fed misconception of how popular Hi-Rise Mike is, for example, when many activists can't wait for him to go, speaks to the managed publicity.
And, recently, a multi-page spread appeared in the N.Y. Post describing the works of Board #1 Chair Julie Menin. Amazingly, this spontaneous interest in her work is timed to augment both the D.I.D. putsch and a City Council run.
Forget all the hard work in winning a park for us and our children.
Forget that we will be forced to breathe even more diesel fumes in a community with the highest rates of disease from particulates.
And, forget the fact that our elected officials should be working for us, not for themselves and their next elected office.
We have a bevy of “popular” elected officials.
According to whom?
Are the PR firms that now dictate policy in Washington, going to tell us who we should support downtown?
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Political Maneuvering
In America you can go on the air and kid the politicians, and the politicians can go on the air and kid the people.
--Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)
While Tom Duane keeps his media department spinning out updates on his career in a well-organized campaign, he is perched to enjoy some real power if the Dems finally take over the Senate. Though he has not lost any weight recently that does not seem to affect his popularity downtown. He's still one of the few politicians who gets a round of applause when he appears, before he speaks. It’s also hard to tell whether the former rancor between him and Senator Connor, the former Minority Leader of the Senate, is still aglow. Connor felt betrayed by Duane, who bolted during some crucial votes which would have allowed Connor to retain that post. It's hard to tell where that particular hatchet is buried.
Connor has also been recently upstaged by Daniel Squadron, a young, former aide to Chuck Schumer who traveled with the Senator for nearly two years and co-authored a book with him. Recently, a private fundraiser was held in SoHo for Squadron and, understandably, Connor is not happy that D.I.D. also voted to endorse Squadron for the re-election that he had planned on winning -- especially, since the potential control of the Senate makes everyone anxious over having real purse-strings available to them. While Squadron was not available for comment, the event no doubt went well since Schumer was hosting it.
Connor's re-election bid is in doubt now, considering the fact that in his last re-election bid with Ken Diamondstone opposing him, the contest was closer than expected. He had D.I.D. support in that race.
The Glickster, as Assembly Member Deborah Glick is affectionately known, appears to be running for re-election with no opposition. The rumor had been floated that Maria Derr would seek to unseat her in her uncle’s former seat (William Passannante), but now that Derr has been making the rounds for a run against Brad Hoylman and Andrew Berman for Christine Quinn’s City Council seat next year – that is no longer a problem. If Derr loses in that race, she may be back for a challenge later. For now, Glick is unopposed and appreciated in the Village.
Bob Morgenthau is kicking off his campaign for District Attorney next week and while he both older AND wiser, he remains a formidable adversary. His nemesis, Leslie Crocker Snyder, is expected to challenge him again so it should be an interesting contest. Unilike other D.A.'s, Morgenthau has organized a well-oiled team of prosecutors and has an impeccable record. Snyder will have an uphill battle trying to unseat someone who has been cognizant of civil rights as well as the safety of the community.
Brad Hoylman, someone who had been suspected of having no sense of humor has apparently shed his cape and appears to be quite personable lately. Some on Community Board #2, (where he is Chairman), actually have been amused by some of his comments. Out from under his Vice Chair, sub Rosa, persona, under previous Chair Maria Derr, we have someone who may present a real challenge to Andrew Berman in the City Council race next year. Hoylman's close relationship with Quinn may be helpful and Tom Duane is also known as a buddy.
Recently, he was sighted having lunch with John Sutter of the Villager and Hoylman appeared to be leaving in good spirits. Wonder if Lincoln Anderson would have some comments on that? Hoylman also gets points for meeting with Jim McManus and Carlos Manzano – two important political people who control the West Side. Derr has done the same. It should also not be lost on everyone that McManus snubbed Eliot Spitzer when he was running for Governor – and that did not play out well for Spitzer.
McManus is a close friend of Paterson, Rangel, Dickens and the powerful Uptown crowd.
Apparently, Scott Stringer can’t make up his mind about whether he wants 4 more years as BP or wants to throw his hat in the ring for Public Advocate.
While some feel that if he does not run next year for Public Advocate, he will face a vacuum when the second 4-year term as BP expires. Hyperactive politicians fear inactivity and being out of the public eye – and, therein lays the nervousness. While not making an announcement to run, he has been busy making his supplicants on the Community Boards aware that they work for him and not to stray. His connection to Julie Menin of Community Board #1 goes beyond City Council (for her race against Pete Gleason next year) and enters the realm of Big Money for campaigns. Bruce Menin has the cash.
City Councilmember Eric Gioia, meanwhile, has announced that he is in it and intends to win it. His campaign is starting in earnest and he has a well-oiled media organization. His forays downtown appear to be under way and we can expect to hear a great deal about his plans in the near future. It’s likely that he will be deflected from the Community Boards, however, while Stringer decides whether he will challenge Gioia.
We hear that some changes are planned for Community Board #2.
There is speculation that a few members who have recently been dropped from the Board may shortly be invited to join again.
Don’t be surprised if Phil Mouquinho, for example, Hudson Square activist and owner of P.J. Charlton’s soon re-appears on the Board.
It’s not only important what you do in politics; it’s just as important what you Don’t do. He has been a prolific and successful fundraiser – and has produced quite well in support of the DSNY Steering Committee.
Unlike some minor political activists who would benefit from an anger-management course, Phil is a friendly guy who always has a smile and handshake ready, even for political opponents. And, after being the good neighbor on the block for 50 years, he knows his politics.
With close friend Maria Derr, former Chair of Community Board #2, running for City Council as well, Phil is in good company.
Who knows, maybe Bob Rinaolo, former Chair of the Community Board #2 Business Committee and owner of The Garage and Senor Swankey’s – may decide that Florida is not enough to satisfy his needs.
The Mayor’s race is at a minor lull right now since Bloomberg’s media machine has him seeking a third term, running for Vice President, running for Governor, and finally, operating some sort of philanthropical entity. While he decides what he plans to do, not that we have anything to say about it, Quinn is wading through Slushgate.
Some downtown people say she is politically dead – others claim that she is tough enough to withstand the stiff breeze blowing over from the former Staten Island landfill, where all recent Mayors have drawn their support. Bill Thompson seems to have avoided any fallout from that particular dung heap and is poised to present the biggest challenge to a field that is otherwise limited to Weiner and Avella.
As Don Ameche said, Thing’s Change.
--Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)
While Tom Duane keeps his media department spinning out updates on his career in a well-organized campaign, he is perched to enjoy some real power if the Dems finally take over the Senate. Though he has not lost any weight recently that does not seem to affect his popularity downtown. He's still one of the few politicians who gets a round of applause when he appears, before he speaks. It’s also hard to tell whether the former rancor between him and Senator Connor, the former Minority Leader of the Senate, is still aglow. Connor felt betrayed by Duane, who bolted during some crucial votes which would have allowed Connor to retain that post. It's hard to tell where that particular hatchet is buried.
Connor has also been recently upstaged by Daniel Squadron, a young, former aide to Chuck Schumer who traveled with the Senator for nearly two years and co-authored a book with him. Recently, a private fundraiser was held in SoHo for Squadron and, understandably, Connor is not happy that D.I.D. also voted to endorse Squadron for the re-election that he had planned on winning -- especially, since the potential control of the Senate makes everyone anxious over having real purse-strings available to them. While Squadron was not available for comment, the event no doubt went well since Schumer was hosting it.
Connor's re-election bid is in doubt now, considering the fact that in his last re-election bid with Ken Diamondstone opposing him, the contest was closer than expected. He had D.I.D. support in that race.
The Glickster, as Assembly Member Deborah Glick is affectionately known, appears to be running for re-election with no opposition. The rumor had been floated that Maria Derr would seek to unseat her in her uncle’s former seat (William Passannante), but now that Derr has been making the rounds for a run against Brad Hoylman and Andrew Berman for Christine Quinn’s City Council seat next year – that is no longer a problem. If Derr loses in that race, she may be back for a challenge later. For now, Glick is unopposed and appreciated in the Village.
Bob Morgenthau is kicking off his campaign for District Attorney next week and while he both older AND wiser, he remains a formidable adversary. His nemesis, Leslie Crocker Snyder, is expected to challenge him again so it should be an interesting contest. Unilike other D.A.'s, Morgenthau has organized a well-oiled team of prosecutors and has an impeccable record. Snyder will have an uphill battle trying to unseat someone who has been cognizant of civil rights as well as the safety of the community.
Brad Hoylman, someone who had been suspected of having no sense of humor has apparently shed his cape and appears to be quite personable lately. Some on Community Board #2, (where he is Chairman), actually have been amused by some of his comments. Out from under his Vice Chair, sub Rosa, persona, under previous Chair Maria Derr, we have someone who may present a real challenge to Andrew Berman in the City Council race next year. Hoylman's close relationship with Quinn may be helpful and Tom Duane is also known as a buddy.
Recently, he was sighted having lunch with John Sutter of the Villager and Hoylman appeared to be leaving in good spirits. Wonder if Lincoln Anderson would have some comments on that? Hoylman also gets points for meeting with Jim McManus and Carlos Manzano – two important political people who control the West Side. Derr has done the same. It should also not be lost on everyone that McManus snubbed Eliot Spitzer when he was running for Governor – and that did not play out well for Spitzer.
McManus is a close friend of Paterson, Rangel, Dickens and the powerful Uptown crowd.
Apparently, Scott Stringer can’t make up his mind about whether he wants 4 more years as BP or wants to throw his hat in the ring for Public Advocate.
While some feel that if he does not run next year for Public Advocate, he will face a vacuum when the second 4-year term as BP expires. Hyperactive politicians fear inactivity and being out of the public eye – and, therein lays the nervousness. While not making an announcement to run, he has been busy making his supplicants on the Community Boards aware that they work for him and not to stray. His connection to Julie Menin of Community Board #1 goes beyond City Council (for her race against Pete Gleason next year) and enters the realm of Big Money for campaigns. Bruce Menin has the cash.
City Councilmember Eric Gioia, meanwhile, has announced that he is in it and intends to win it. His campaign is starting in earnest and he has a well-oiled media organization. His forays downtown appear to be under way and we can expect to hear a great deal about his plans in the near future. It’s likely that he will be deflected from the Community Boards, however, while Stringer decides whether he will challenge Gioia.
We hear that some changes are planned for Community Board #2.
There is speculation that a few members who have recently been dropped from the Board may shortly be invited to join again.
Don’t be surprised if Phil Mouquinho, for example, Hudson Square activist and owner of P.J. Charlton’s soon re-appears on the Board.
It’s not only important what you do in politics; it’s just as important what you Don’t do. He has been a prolific and successful fundraiser – and has produced quite well in support of the DSNY Steering Committee.
Unlike some minor political activists who would benefit from an anger-management course, Phil is a friendly guy who always has a smile and handshake ready, even for political opponents. And, after being the good neighbor on the block for 50 years, he knows his politics.
With close friend Maria Derr, former Chair of Community Board #2, running for City Council as well, Phil is in good company.
Who knows, maybe Bob Rinaolo, former Chair of the Community Board #2 Business Committee and owner of The Garage and Senor Swankey’s – may decide that Florida is not enough to satisfy his needs.
The Mayor’s race is at a minor lull right now since Bloomberg’s media machine has him seeking a third term, running for Vice President, running for Governor, and finally, operating some sort of philanthropical entity. While he decides what he plans to do, not that we have anything to say about it, Quinn is wading through Slushgate.
Some downtown people say she is politically dead – others claim that she is tough enough to withstand the stiff breeze blowing over from the former Staten Island landfill, where all recent Mayors have drawn their support. Bill Thompson seems to have avoided any fallout from that particular dung heap and is poised to present the biggest challenge to a field that is otherwise limited to Weiner and Avella.
As Don Ameche said, Thing’s Change.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Political Notes
It is inexcusable for scientists to torture animals; let them make their experiments on journalists and politicians.
--Henrik Ibsen (1828 - 1906)
The recent attempted coup at D.I.D., SoHo’s reform Democratic Party club, was finally resolved at Wednesday evening’s meeting. With the Meninites in high gear, led by David Reck, Julie Menin, Ian Dutton and Pat Morris, a subdued vote was cast without much in the way of histrionics. Although there were a few personal attacks that sought to cast current President Sean Sweeney in a negative light, for the most part the fully packed meeting was conducted civilly.
Of course, the vote cast, tells a different story. Sweeney was re-elected President by a large margin and both Jim Stratton and Marc Ameruso were elected as Vice Presidents while Julie Nadel garnered the vote for Treasurer. The fact that this slate won in its entirety was in itself a strong indication that whatever shortcomings may have been highlighted, the membership was not happy about the blitzkrieg attempt to take over the club. Whether D.I.D. members were more resentful that Julie Menin may have been intending to use the club for a Council race springboard, or were offended by a process whereby dissension with Sweeney’s Presidency was handled so rudely – is difficult to tell.
Sweeney has indicated that it has been difficult to handle the full time job of running the club and would welcome help in doing so.
Now, it appears, he has that help. Rumors of some serious further changes are now rife. Stay tuned.
With Quinn seeming to be gaining her footing once again, despite the Slushgate problems – many of which she inherited from Vallone and Miller – most people downtown are taking a wait and see approach to her impending mayoral bid. She and Duane, who is very popular, are aware of the need to be seen and heard by the residents. Duane actually receives applause before he speaks at many community meetings. Quinn is popular but has not made the attempt at being perceived as personable and warm. Politics aside, this could be her undoing. Bloomberg is not exactly Mr. Warmth, but those
With Quinn seeming to be gaining her footing once again, despite the $500,000 checks sent to various constituencies go a long way towards endearing one. Even the office staff of Harvard boys can be overlooked with that kind of gravy being spilled.
Those who see the train coming know that in addition to the rising star of Bill Thompson, Charley Rangel and, not the least of personas, Mr. Obama – we have Inez Dickens and Denny Farrell coming our way to a City Council near you.
The future seems to include Farrell resigning as County Leader and running for City Council, Dickens ascending to the Speaker’s post after Quinn and a Mr. Wright becoming County Leader.
Black leadership will be a breath of fresh air and flush out the racists, if there are any left.
While Bloomberg has stepped up his attacks on Paterson, looking for a spot he can grab since his White House initiatives have fallen on deaf ears – he might consider dropping that particular route to immortality. Challenging term-limits would even irritate his friends and give credence to the feeling that he adjusts his politics longings to the tune of ‘what’s available today?’ He also should not expect any help from downtown, where he has allowed development projects to be pushed through like Trump SoHo and the D.S.N.Y. garage in Hudson Square; allowed film crews to use us a back lot for Hollywood; and, sat back as our buildings have been festooned with billboards. Harvard Square and SoHo appear to have different political agendas.
--Henrik Ibsen (1828 - 1906)
The recent attempted coup at D.I.D., SoHo’s reform Democratic Party club, was finally resolved at Wednesday evening’s meeting. With the Meninites in high gear, led by David Reck, Julie Menin, Ian Dutton and Pat Morris, a subdued vote was cast without much in the way of histrionics. Although there were a few personal attacks that sought to cast current President Sean Sweeney in a negative light, for the most part the fully packed meeting was conducted civilly.
Of course, the vote cast, tells a different story. Sweeney was re-elected President by a large margin and both Jim Stratton and Marc Ameruso were elected as Vice Presidents while Julie Nadel garnered the vote for Treasurer. The fact that this slate won in its entirety was in itself a strong indication that whatever shortcomings may have been highlighted, the membership was not happy about the blitzkrieg attempt to take over the club. Whether D.I.D. members were more resentful that Julie Menin may have been intending to use the club for a Council race springboard, or were offended by a process whereby dissension with Sweeney’s Presidency was handled so rudely – is difficult to tell.
Sweeney has indicated that it has been difficult to handle the full time job of running the club and would welcome help in doing so.
Now, it appears, he has that help. Rumors of some serious further changes are now rife. Stay tuned.
With Quinn seeming to be gaining her footing once again, despite the Slushgate problems – many of which she inherited from Vallone and Miller – most people downtown are taking a wait and see approach to her impending mayoral bid. She and Duane, who is very popular, are aware of the need to be seen and heard by the residents. Duane actually receives applause before he speaks at many community meetings. Quinn is popular but has not made the attempt at being perceived as personable and warm. Politics aside, this could be her undoing. Bloomberg is not exactly Mr. Warmth, but those
With Quinn seeming to be gaining her footing once again, despite the $500,000 checks sent to various constituencies go a long way towards endearing one. Even the office staff of Harvard boys can be overlooked with that kind of gravy being spilled.
Those who see the train coming know that in addition to the rising star of Bill Thompson, Charley Rangel and, not the least of personas, Mr. Obama – we have Inez Dickens and Denny Farrell coming our way to a City Council near you.
The future seems to include Farrell resigning as County Leader and running for City Council, Dickens ascending to the Speaker’s post after Quinn and a Mr. Wright becoming County Leader.
Black leadership will be a breath of fresh air and flush out the racists, if there are any left.
While Bloomberg has stepped up his attacks on Paterson, looking for a spot he can grab since his White House initiatives have fallen on deaf ears – he might consider dropping that particular route to immortality. Challenging term-limits would even irritate his friends and give credence to the feeling that he adjusts his politics longings to the tune of ‘what’s available today?’ He also should not expect any help from downtown, where he has allowed development projects to be pushed through like Trump SoHo and the D.S.N.Y. garage in Hudson Square; allowed film crews to use us a back lot for Hollywood; and, sat back as our buildings have been festooned with billboards. Harvard Square and SoHo appear to have different political agendas.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Upsetting
Never believe anything until it has been officially denied
--Claud Cockburn
Last week at Downtown Independent Democrats, the new guy on the block became a contender for the Senate seat currently held by Martin Connor.
In a close race, by a margin of five votes, a former staffer for Chuck Schumer, Daniel Squadron, succeeded in gaining the endorsement from a club that is itself in flux. Connor had been endorsed by this club for many prior years, including during his last run against Ken Diamondstone.
Several of those who were asked their opinion as to why Squadron’s challenge appears to be gaining momentum had less to do with Connor and his nearly 40 years in office and more to do with campaigning style. His eagerness in seeking out community activists seems to have helped Squadron learn about what the current frustrations are and gain support. The connection to Schumer is a double-edged sword since some are not enamored with his former boss and Squadron does not seem to want to be elected based upon that association.
The D.I.D. saga continues with the two slates about to bring the attempted coup by the Julie Menin contingent – among those including Ian Dutton and David Reck of Community Board #2 – to the floor for a vote this Wednesday (June 4th). While Sean Sweeney faces Dutton for the Presidency, additional new candidates including Marc Ameruso for Vice President and Julie Nadel for Treasurer are supporting the Sweeney slate. Change is in the air, regardless of who wins the election.
The heat will rise as it always does and depending upon the results old wounds will heal or new heels will be wounded. Aside from the bad pun, the dubiousness of Club politics will either result in a broader platform under Menin’s run for City Council or set the stage for a change in the future make-up of D.I.D.
The most recent crane collapse, with a crash that actually was heard by residents downtown – loudly – is not unexpected by those who have been criticizing the Department of Buildings and the Mayor for years.
What no one seems to want to simply say is that the Department of Buildings is a corrupt city agency. It is not simply incompetence.
Not only do we have regulations for billboards and no enforcement to remove illegal signs; not only are tenants all too familiar with being ignored when making complaints over construction without permits; and, not only have D.O.B. inspectors been observed reviewing serious building violations in apartment dwellings with no effect – but, construction sites have been notoriously unsafe in several downtown communities.
The Mayor has completely ignored complaints about the Film Office and how communities have been turned into back lots. He has ignored the proliferation of illegal billboards. And, he has ignored the damage that residents have had to experience through the out of control development which seeks to morph Downtown into the vision that the “Boys from Harvard” have for SoHo and The Village. A more disconnected politician with great PR and lots of money is difficult to find.
"Self-certification,” has been the ticket for this abused process which allows architects and other company employees who are applying for permits, to fast-track their applications through the City bureaucracy. That particular idea started with Giuliani, however. And, is continued by the current Republican in sheeps clothing.
The results: huge, illegal billboards, unsafe buildings, and rampant landlord abuse. Lots of media including in taxis & video billboards - can you say Bloomberg?
When the Mayor said the situation was “unacceptable,” the response by downtown residents has been – “Are you kidding?”
How many construction workers have to die, how many billboards have to be plastered over Downtown, how many film shoots that disrupt our lives have to be permitted, and how many “Inspectors” have to slap the backs of landlords before he sees the real problem – or, having known about it for a long time – will he do anything about it? Don't hold your breath.
The current field of candidates running for Quinn’s seat in the “09 City Council is becoming almost as interesting as the Menin/Gleason/Freed? run when Gerson bites the dust.
Berman is well respected as Director of the Greenwich Village Society of Historic Preservation, Hoylman is Chair of Community Board #2 and Vice President of the Partnership for New York, and Derr is heir to the Passanante name and a stint as Chair of Community Board #2. Brian Ellner has also been mentioned.
No one is giving odds yet but they’re making the rounds.
Not only have they been attending the right fundraisers and parties (checks in hand) but they have also been seeking endorsements.
One major political power, Jim McManus of the Midtown Democratic Club, whose district encompasses Quinn’s Council seat, has already been contacted by both Hoylman and Derr – Berman, apparently, has yet to call.
Among the theories being bandied about by local political junkies is that Hoylman and Berman eat up each other’s constituencies and Derr takes the seat by default.
So much for theories.
Jim McManus and that club’s President, Carlos Manzano, who is a major Bloomberg EDC Executive in Latin Media, are both playing their cards close to the vest on any endorsement which would carry a great deal of weight in this election.
Since McManus owns a funeral home, there’s apparently a limit on what one can offer him in terms of new business incentives.
Note: Be sure to visit www.sohojournal.com to view the police sketch of the SoHo rapist – and keep your eyes peeled for the perpetrator. And, a thanks to the prompt, late-night notification by Grey Elam of the Speaker’s Office in getting this information out quickly to the community.
--Claud Cockburn
Last week at Downtown Independent Democrats, the new guy on the block became a contender for the Senate seat currently held by Martin Connor.
In a close race, by a margin of five votes, a former staffer for Chuck Schumer, Daniel Squadron, succeeded in gaining the endorsement from a club that is itself in flux. Connor had been endorsed by this club for many prior years, including during his last run against Ken Diamondstone.
Several of those who were asked their opinion as to why Squadron’s challenge appears to be gaining momentum had less to do with Connor and his nearly 40 years in office and more to do with campaigning style. His eagerness in seeking out community activists seems to have helped Squadron learn about what the current frustrations are and gain support. The connection to Schumer is a double-edged sword since some are not enamored with his former boss and Squadron does not seem to want to be elected based upon that association.
The D.I.D. saga continues with the two slates about to bring the attempted coup by the Julie Menin contingent – among those including Ian Dutton and David Reck of Community Board #2 – to the floor for a vote this Wednesday (June 4th). While Sean Sweeney faces Dutton for the Presidency, additional new candidates including Marc Ameruso for Vice President and Julie Nadel for Treasurer are supporting the Sweeney slate. Change is in the air, regardless of who wins the election.
The heat will rise as it always does and depending upon the results old wounds will heal or new heels will be wounded. Aside from the bad pun, the dubiousness of Club politics will either result in a broader platform under Menin’s run for City Council or set the stage for a change in the future make-up of D.I.D.
The most recent crane collapse, with a crash that actually was heard by residents downtown – loudly – is not unexpected by those who have been criticizing the Department of Buildings and the Mayor for years.
What no one seems to want to simply say is that the Department of Buildings is a corrupt city agency. It is not simply incompetence.
Not only do we have regulations for billboards and no enforcement to remove illegal signs; not only are tenants all too familiar with being ignored when making complaints over construction without permits; and, not only have D.O.B. inspectors been observed reviewing serious building violations in apartment dwellings with no effect – but, construction sites have been notoriously unsafe in several downtown communities.
The Mayor has completely ignored complaints about the Film Office and how communities have been turned into back lots. He has ignored the proliferation of illegal billboards. And, he has ignored the damage that residents have had to experience through the out of control development which seeks to morph Downtown into the vision that the “Boys from Harvard” have for SoHo and The Village. A more disconnected politician with great PR and lots of money is difficult to find.
"Self-certification,” has been the ticket for this abused process which allows architects and other company employees who are applying for permits, to fast-track their applications through the City bureaucracy. That particular idea started with Giuliani, however. And, is continued by the current Republican in sheeps clothing.
The results: huge, illegal billboards, unsafe buildings, and rampant landlord abuse. Lots of media including in taxis & video billboards - can you say Bloomberg?
When the Mayor said the situation was “unacceptable,” the response by downtown residents has been – “Are you kidding?”
How many construction workers have to die, how many billboards have to be plastered over Downtown, how many film shoots that disrupt our lives have to be permitted, and how many “Inspectors” have to slap the backs of landlords before he sees the real problem – or, having known about it for a long time – will he do anything about it? Don't hold your breath.
The current field of candidates running for Quinn’s seat in the “09 City Council is becoming almost as interesting as the Menin/Gleason/Freed? run when Gerson bites the dust.
Berman is well respected as Director of the Greenwich Village Society of Historic Preservation, Hoylman is Chair of Community Board #2 and Vice President of the Partnership for New York, and Derr is heir to the Passanante name and a stint as Chair of Community Board #2. Brian Ellner has also been mentioned.
No one is giving odds yet but they’re making the rounds.
Not only have they been attending the right fundraisers and parties (checks in hand) but they have also been seeking endorsements.
One major political power, Jim McManus of the Midtown Democratic Club, whose district encompasses Quinn’s Council seat, has already been contacted by both Hoylman and Derr – Berman, apparently, has yet to call.
Among the theories being bandied about by local political junkies is that Hoylman and Berman eat up each other’s constituencies and Derr takes the seat by default.
So much for theories.
Jim McManus and that club’s President, Carlos Manzano, who is a major Bloomberg EDC Executive in Latin Media, are both playing their cards close to the vest on any endorsement which would carry a great deal of weight in this election.
Since McManus owns a funeral home, there’s apparently a limit on what one can offer him in terms of new business incentives.
Note: Be sure to visit www.sohojournal.com to view the police sketch of the SoHo rapist – and keep your eyes peeled for the perpetrator. And, a thanks to the prompt, late-night notification by Grey Elam of the Speaker’s Office in getting this information out quickly to the community.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
A Matter of Opinion
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.
--Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
Reading Richard Johnson as his “insights” spill over onto the lives of politicians and supplicants who cringe in fear that his column will focus on their lives, reminds us all of the frailties of anyone who enters public life.
It’s bad enough being fried for misdeeds, it’s worse when someone is baked for simply being in the same room with a potential target.
Take the vagaries of simply being rich.
Donald Trump, of all people, claims that he was recently burned on a real estate deal in Israel no less. He loaned his name out for a 25 percent take on a real estate deal.
Apparently Crescent Heights Diamond took a few pages from the “Art of the Deal” by The Donald and he was signed up as the pedigree for a condo complex in Ramat Gan, Israel – his percentage was to ensure that the project had a certain panache and would sell well. But the developers flipped the project, along with Trump’s name and made a quick $40 million and moved on. The Donald is suing.
What makes this a delectable item for gossipmongers Downtown is the fact that Bruce Menin is one of the partner-developers.
Menin, husband of Julie Menin of Community Board #1, who aspires to the City Council when Alan Gerson is term-limited out next year, apparently has been doing deals with Trump.
While doing deals with Donald Trump is no sin, it certainly is relevant that there is an ongoing relationship, whether it is good or bad.
Trump SoHo is, and was, a symbolic rejection of the Downtown community. It was proposed against the objections of the community, Bloomberg, the City Council and the City agencies rammed it down the throats of the downtown community – and all of the electeds ran for the exits when the demonstrations and threats of lawsuits became obvious.
The Department of Buildings, the B.S.A and everyone in the Mayor’s Office, including Mikey himself, abandoned the community as this obscenity, Trump SoHo Hotel-Condo, despoiled Hudson Square and SoHo with its outsized 45 story end run around our zoning laws. Even with Peter Moore’s sale of air rights next door, had the development been condos only, no more than 20 stories could have been approved. As a hotel it would not have made financial sense. The jury is still out on whether there is financing in this market if the units are not purchased entirely by Europeans.
While the City Council and Speaker Quinn’s office acted quickly to place a Stop Work order on the project after accidents and a death occurred – the actions were too little and too late. The building continues this week.
What is important about this regurgitation of already stated facts is that Julie Menin distanced herself from any connection between Bruce and Donald. Bruce sold the land and it has been clearly explained that there is no connection between him and the project under construction. Considering the unpopularity of a building that is so objectionable to residents, it turns out to be good for Julie Menin’s City Council run. However, the continuing connection with Trump, as described this week in Page Six, certainly leaves everyone with a little bit of a hangover. Where does one involvement really end and any new one really begin?
Pete Gleason, the only announced candidate opposing Menin’s unannounced City Council candidacy, has been asking these questions for some time. This little factual leak leaves us with more questions than answers. Given that Menin has been accused of trying to take over the Downtown Independent Democrats, two people have declared that they will not vote for Menin: Pete and the Donald. That she was a Republican until a couple of years ago and switched sides for practical political matters after contributing to George Pataki's coffers, is another matter. These facts, however, are unsettling to SoHo residents who are experiencing some political aggression .
This week, in addition to important testimony given at the City Council, an important meeting took place among members of the Steering Committee, the group of community leaders who are objecting to the 14-story D.S.N.Y. garage proposed for Hudson Square. Apparently, they were treated to an impromptu and unsolicited opinion by D.I.D. District Leader David Reck, who is also President of the Friends of Hudson Square and leader of the “Charette,” envisioning a plan for that area’s future development.
As one of the leaders of the community, Chair of Community Board #2’s Zoning Committee and someone who helped organize this important group which has been working hard to suggest alternate sites for the garage to be built at Spring and Greenwich Streets, Reck stunned the members of the committee. He is rumored to have implied that some sort of deal had been, or would be made, with Sanitation in spite of the group's efforts. Sources who have reported about that meeting state that Reck also made comments implying that Steering Committee funds had been misused and that the Chair of Board #2, the Borough President’s Office, Speaker Quinn’s Office and the Mayor’s Office were all supporting a deal and that there was no point in continuing their effort. That the funds in question, which reportedly were released through Reck’s Friends of Hudson Square account left the group mystified. One member was described as ready to throw a punch.
Brad Hoylman of Board #2 and the Speaker’s Office were reached and claimed to have no knowledge of any deal over the D.S.N.Y. garage.
While there were members who confessed that they were confused by this sudden turn of events, Steering Committee members voiced their resolve in continuing their united efforts despite what appeared to be a philosophical defection.
It is difficult to tell what the motivation was for such an outburst by Reck.
Although it is always comforting (and often irrelevant) to be allied with winning politicians, to either be a sub Rosa or aboveboard emissary of the elected officials does not endear one to activists in the Downtown community. On the other hand, this could also have simply been a spontaneous effort to not be too optimistic about eventual success.
While the Chair of Community Board #2, Brad Hoylman, Speaker Chris Quinn, the Borough President Scott Stringer and the Mayor’s Office may have, in fact, been working together with D.S.N.Y. to make a deal in direct antipathy to the community (as politicians have been known to do) it is just as possible that this is all just pure speculation. Of course, to think that D.S.N.Y would push ahead with their plans in opposition to the Mayor’s wishes is, of course, absurd.
While Stringer has the power to drop anyone from the Community Board who even appears to be criticizing him, he has not shown himself to be insensitive to the community’s wishes. Right now he appears to be weighing a run for Public Advocate or four more years as Borough President. Several community activists have warned him not to waste his efforts on Public Advocate. It is a 2nd in command office after the Mayor, in name only. For most, it has been a dead end job.
Stringer, however, has been aligned in press reports with Julie Menin in her bid for City Council. Reck supports Menin and has previously supported Stringer, but no politician should deduce that it doesn’t matter if the community is unhappy. Money may buy alliances but does not necessarily win elections.
More important than money, especially in this case, is the fact that Downtown residents have a long memory and are willing to fight even if losing the battle seems guaranteed.
That is true with respect to Trump SoHo and with the D.S.N.Y garage – two projects that absolutely make the community crazy with anger. These projects for SoHo and Hudson Square are akin to the St.Vincent’s development in the Village. They are radioactive.
Any politician directly allied with either of them or is perceived as pushing them is shooting themselves in the head -- and will pay a political price now or later.
Brad Hoylman is smart enough to know that, Scott Stringer is smart enough to know that, and Speaker Quinn is smart enough to know that. The Mayor’s office is only smart to downplay the agenda because of their perceived arrogance of power.
--Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
Reading Richard Johnson as his “insights” spill over onto the lives of politicians and supplicants who cringe in fear that his column will focus on their lives, reminds us all of the frailties of anyone who enters public life.
It’s bad enough being fried for misdeeds, it’s worse when someone is baked for simply being in the same room with a potential target.
Take the vagaries of simply being rich.
Donald Trump, of all people, claims that he was recently burned on a real estate deal in Israel no less. He loaned his name out for a 25 percent take on a real estate deal.
Apparently Crescent Heights Diamond took a few pages from the “Art of the Deal” by The Donald and he was signed up as the pedigree for a condo complex in Ramat Gan, Israel – his percentage was to ensure that the project had a certain panache and would sell well. But the developers flipped the project, along with Trump’s name and made a quick $40 million and moved on. The Donald is suing.
What makes this a delectable item for gossipmongers Downtown is the fact that Bruce Menin is one of the partner-developers.
Menin, husband of Julie Menin of Community Board #1, who aspires to the City Council when Alan Gerson is term-limited out next year, apparently has been doing deals with Trump.
While doing deals with Donald Trump is no sin, it certainly is relevant that there is an ongoing relationship, whether it is good or bad.
Trump SoHo is, and was, a symbolic rejection of the Downtown community. It was proposed against the objections of the community, Bloomberg, the City Council and the City agencies rammed it down the throats of the downtown community – and all of the electeds ran for the exits when the demonstrations and threats of lawsuits became obvious.
The Department of Buildings, the B.S.A and everyone in the Mayor’s Office, including Mikey himself, abandoned the community as this obscenity, Trump SoHo Hotel-Condo, despoiled Hudson Square and SoHo with its outsized 45 story end run around our zoning laws. Even with Peter Moore’s sale of air rights next door, had the development been condos only, no more than 20 stories could have been approved. As a hotel it would not have made financial sense. The jury is still out on whether there is financing in this market if the units are not purchased entirely by Europeans.
While the City Council and Speaker Quinn’s office acted quickly to place a Stop Work order on the project after accidents and a death occurred – the actions were too little and too late. The building continues this week.
What is important about this regurgitation of already stated facts is that Julie Menin distanced herself from any connection between Bruce and Donald. Bruce sold the land and it has been clearly explained that there is no connection between him and the project under construction. Considering the unpopularity of a building that is so objectionable to residents, it turns out to be good for Julie Menin’s City Council run. However, the continuing connection with Trump, as described this week in Page Six, certainly leaves everyone with a little bit of a hangover. Where does one involvement really end and any new one really begin?
Pete Gleason, the only announced candidate opposing Menin’s unannounced City Council candidacy, has been asking these questions for some time. This little factual leak leaves us with more questions than answers. Given that Menin has been accused of trying to take over the Downtown Independent Democrats, two people have declared that they will not vote for Menin: Pete and the Donald. That she was a Republican until a couple of years ago and switched sides for practical political matters after contributing to George Pataki's coffers, is another matter. These facts, however, are unsettling to SoHo residents who are experiencing some political aggression .
This week, in addition to important testimony given at the City Council, an important meeting took place among members of the Steering Committee, the group of community leaders who are objecting to the 14-story D.S.N.Y. garage proposed for Hudson Square. Apparently, they were treated to an impromptu and unsolicited opinion by D.I.D. District Leader David Reck, who is also President of the Friends of Hudson Square and leader of the “Charette,” envisioning a plan for that area’s future development.
As one of the leaders of the community, Chair of Community Board #2’s Zoning Committee and someone who helped organize this important group which has been working hard to suggest alternate sites for the garage to be built at Spring and Greenwich Streets, Reck stunned the members of the committee. He is rumored to have implied that some sort of deal had been, or would be made, with Sanitation in spite of the group's efforts. Sources who have reported about that meeting state that Reck also made comments implying that Steering Committee funds had been misused and that the Chair of Board #2, the Borough President’s Office, Speaker Quinn’s Office and the Mayor’s Office were all supporting a deal and that there was no point in continuing their effort. That the funds in question, which reportedly were released through Reck’s Friends of Hudson Square account left the group mystified. One member was described as ready to throw a punch.
Brad Hoylman of Board #2 and the Speaker’s Office were reached and claimed to have no knowledge of any deal over the D.S.N.Y. garage.
While there were members who confessed that they were confused by this sudden turn of events, Steering Committee members voiced their resolve in continuing their united efforts despite what appeared to be a philosophical defection.
It is difficult to tell what the motivation was for such an outburst by Reck.
Although it is always comforting (and often irrelevant) to be allied with winning politicians, to either be a sub Rosa or aboveboard emissary of the elected officials does not endear one to activists in the Downtown community. On the other hand, this could also have simply been a spontaneous effort to not be too optimistic about eventual success.
While the Chair of Community Board #2, Brad Hoylman, Speaker Chris Quinn, the Borough President Scott Stringer and the Mayor’s Office may have, in fact, been working together with D.S.N.Y. to make a deal in direct antipathy to the community (as politicians have been known to do) it is just as possible that this is all just pure speculation. Of course, to think that D.S.N.Y would push ahead with their plans in opposition to the Mayor’s wishes is, of course, absurd.
While Stringer has the power to drop anyone from the Community Board who even appears to be criticizing him, he has not shown himself to be insensitive to the community’s wishes. Right now he appears to be weighing a run for Public Advocate or four more years as Borough President. Several community activists have warned him not to waste his efforts on Public Advocate. It is a 2nd in command office after the Mayor, in name only. For most, it has been a dead end job.
Stringer, however, has been aligned in press reports with Julie Menin in her bid for City Council. Reck supports Menin and has previously supported Stringer, but no politician should deduce that it doesn’t matter if the community is unhappy. Money may buy alliances but does not necessarily win elections.
More important than money, especially in this case, is the fact that Downtown residents have a long memory and are willing to fight even if losing the battle seems guaranteed.
That is true with respect to Trump SoHo and with the D.S.N.Y garage – two projects that absolutely make the community crazy with anger. These projects for SoHo and Hudson Square are akin to the St.Vincent’s development in the Village. They are radioactive.
Any politician directly allied with either of them or is perceived as pushing them is shooting themselves in the head -- and will pay a political price now or later.
Brad Hoylman is smart enough to know that, Scott Stringer is smart enough to know that, and Speaker Quinn is smart enough to know that. The Mayor’s office is only smart to downplay the agenda because of their perceived arrogance of power.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
SoHo Impolitic
I do not care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.
--Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)
You can observe a lot just by watching.
--Yogi Berra (1925 - )
Some of the rumors heard recently in SoHo, which are titillating to readers, are merely the confabulations of political junkies.
But, reality has consigned some of these tidbits to file 13.
Like the Police horse that galloped down Avenue of the Americas – unmounted – running the wrong way in traffic – with two officers running after it. They were too late to stop the horse from colliding with a van, which stunned the horse and destroyed one side of the van. The driver wasn’t too happy either. The horse continued on in traffic towards Canal Street with the two cops running after him. Imagine, if you will, sitting in traffic with a 2000 lb. animal heading towards you.
They don’t talk about that in the Police Blotter.
There also may be a few darker horses running the wrong way at D.I.D. as well. Of course, as J.F.K. said, “Politics is the only game for adults.”
The rancor continues at the Downtown Independent Democrats, where a recent meeting had the members of opposing camps sitting at opposite ends of the table at this most recent post-“coup” get-together. The emotional level was described as controlled hostility. The meeting was held at Phil Mouquinho’s bar on Charlton Street. Phil is a supporter of David Reck’s Hudson Square “Charrette” which also is related to the Steering Committee fighting the D.S.N.Y. 14 story garage and fueling depot. Reck is also a Menin supporter.
Whether this was “neutral” territory, considering the fact that most previous D.I.D. meetings had been held at Sweeney’s loft, is a question.
Handshakes offered in greeting were refused. That was the level of simmering animosity for those who are not able to play the game and remain civil.
Some resolution to the attempted but now delayed coup by the newly-formed “Meninites” is expected at the election in June – at which, it is rumored, Ian Dutton, the bike path guru, will be opposing Sean Sweeney for the Presidency. His candidacy replaces the sudden interest, and now, disinterest, by Pat Moore.
While cooler minds sit back and take a philosophical view of these Machiavellian proceedings, some of the old-timers are not pleased that a covert attempt at regime change took place at all.
While political clubs try to call a winner in the next City Council seat next year, Alan Gerson remains above the fray.
Whether Kathryn Freed bolts from chambers and make a run for her old job, the remaining known players are Julie Menin and Pete Gleason.
There is little question that Freed would win the election if she ran. But, in the event she does not, thus far only Gleason and Menin are considered contenders.
Menin has public recognition, created Wall Street Rising, is Chair of Community Board #1, and husband Bruce, who is a developer with big money. Her scorecard at Community Board #1 and modus operandi in the D.I.D. coup will impact on her political future downtown.
Gleason is persistent and likely would not run if Freed were a candidate but clearly relishes a contest with Menin.
His strength is not big money but has a strong base with firefighters, police, and unions.
The Quinn “Slushgate” situation clearly will affect her chances at a Mayoral bid. And, as far as a run for Comptroller is concerned, which had been bandied about, there might be a few looks askance at that idea – given the nature of the U.S. Attorney and Department of Investigation inquiries into financial improprieties at the City Council. Pork is highly fattening, and, some say addicting. It certainly is the coin of political deals and survival.
In Quinn’s defense, however, not nearly enough press has dwelled upon the fact that the slush funds apparently date to Speaker Vallone and Miller. And, the controversy about $600/hr. lawyers being paid out of government coffers – especially if the charges turn out to be “criminal” – is an absurdity.
The Federal government has unlimited deep pockets. For elected officials to have to pay for their own legal defense is tantamount to the prospect of caving in at every charge leveled by the U.S. Attorney.
Quinn has assured everyone that she is not a “Target.”
But, the truth is, no one ever knows whether they are targets in a broad “let’s see what we can find” kind of inquiry.
But, as Jim McManus, of the Midtown Democratic Club has said about Quinn’s predicament, “she’s got some problems right now, but she’ll survive. She’s tough.”
Postscript: Ray Kelly appears to be leading the pack of Mayoral candidates, even though he has repeatedly denied that he is either interested or planning to run. Those who know how to read tealeaves and follow breadcrumbs are repeating the same mantra on the path to Gracie Mansion. The only question is which party he will run with.
--Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)
You can observe a lot just by watching.
--Yogi Berra (1925 - )
Some of the rumors heard recently in SoHo, which are titillating to readers, are merely the confabulations of political junkies.
But, reality has consigned some of these tidbits to file 13.
Like the Police horse that galloped down Avenue of the Americas – unmounted – running the wrong way in traffic – with two officers running after it. They were too late to stop the horse from colliding with a van, which stunned the horse and destroyed one side of the van. The driver wasn’t too happy either. The horse continued on in traffic towards Canal Street with the two cops running after him. Imagine, if you will, sitting in traffic with a 2000 lb. animal heading towards you.
They don’t talk about that in the Police Blotter.
There also may be a few darker horses running the wrong way at D.I.D. as well. Of course, as J.F.K. said, “Politics is the only game for adults.”
The rancor continues at the Downtown Independent Democrats, where a recent meeting had the members of opposing camps sitting at opposite ends of the table at this most recent post-“coup” get-together. The emotional level was described as controlled hostility. The meeting was held at Phil Mouquinho’s bar on Charlton Street. Phil is a supporter of David Reck’s Hudson Square “Charrette” which also is related to the Steering Committee fighting the D.S.N.Y. 14 story garage and fueling depot. Reck is also a Menin supporter.
Whether this was “neutral” territory, considering the fact that most previous D.I.D. meetings had been held at Sweeney’s loft, is a question.
Handshakes offered in greeting were refused. That was the level of simmering animosity for those who are not able to play the game and remain civil.
Some resolution to the attempted but now delayed coup by the newly-formed “Meninites” is expected at the election in June – at which, it is rumored, Ian Dutton, the bike path guru, will be opposing Sean Sweeney for the Presidency. His candidacy replaces the sudden interest, and now, disinterest, by Pat Moore.
While cooler minds sit back and take a philosophical view of these Machiavellian proceedings, some of the old-timers are not pleased that a covert attempt at regime change took place at all.
While political clubs try to call a winner in the next City Council seat next year, Alan Gerson remains above the fray.
Whether Kathryn Freed bolts from chambers and make a run for her old job, the remaining known players are Julie Menin and Pete Gleason.
There is little question that Freed would win the election if she ran. But, in the event she does not, thus far only Gleason and Menin are considered contenders.
Menin has public recognition, created Wall Street Rising, is Chair of Community Board #1, and husband Bruce, who is a developer with big money. Her scorecard at Community Board #1 and modus operandi in the D.I.D. coup will impact on her political future downtown.
Gleason is persistent and likely would not run if Freed were a candidate but clearly relishes a contest with Menin.
His strength is not big money but has a strong base with firefighters, police, and unions.
The Quinn “Slushgate” situation clearly will affect her chances at a Mayoral bid. And, as far as a run for Comptroller is concerned, which had been bandied about, there might be a few looks askance at that idea – given the nature of the U.S. Attorney and Department of Investigation inquiries into financial improprieties at the City Council. Pork is highly fattening, and, some say addicting. It certainly is the coin of political deals and survival.
In Quinn’s defense, however, not nearly enough press has dwelled upon the fact that the slush funds apparently date to Speaker Vallone and Miller. And, the controversy about $600/hr. lawyers being paid out of government coffers – especially if the charges turn out to be “criminal” – is an absurdity.
The Federal government has unlimited deep pockets. For elected officials to have to pay for their own legal defense is tantamount to the prospect of caving in at every charge leveled by the U.S. Attorney.
Quinn has assured everyone that she is not a “Target.”
But, the truth is, no one ever knows whether they are targets in a broad “let’s see what we can find” kind of inquiry.
But, as Jim McManus, of the Midtown Democratic Club has said about Quinn’s predicament, “she’s got some problems right now, but she’ll survive. She’s tough.”
Postscript: Ray Kelly appears to be leading the pack of Mayoral candidates, even though he has repeatedly denied that he is either interested or planning to run. Those who know how to read tealeaves and follow breadcrumbs are repeating the same mantra on the path to Gracie Mansion. The only question is which party he will run with.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Putsch
In politics you must always keep running with the pack. The moment that you falter and they sense that you are injured, the rest will turn on you like wolves.
-- R. A. Butler (1902 - 1982)
While the consensus among politicians is that most political clubs are not all that relevant any longer, you would never know that by the seriousness of the apparent attempted coup at the Downtown Independent Democrats last week. Was Reform really on everyone’s mind?
With a suddenness that belies some serious planning, it was revealed that a few D.I.D. members claimed to be less than thrilled with Sean Sweeney as President and through the powerbase of Julie Menin, Chair of Community Board #1, there was a sudden attempt to install her nominee into the club hierarchy. Prior to this there had not been either a move like this or a contested election in 25 years. Of course, this could have also, ostensibly, paved the way for Menin to take over the club in the service of supporting her presumed City Council candidacy -- Alan Gerson’s current slot as Council Member which expires next year. He’s term-limited.
Several people spoke both for and against Sweeney, someone who has been a fixture of the Downtown political scene for well over a decade and someone who was (and is) closely associated with Kathryn Freed, former Council Member. Freed, who was term-limited out, ran and won as Civil Court Judge and Alan Gerson now holds her old seat.
Sweeney is, and was, a hard worker whose idiosyncratic methods both endeared him to and aggravated political junkies both in and out of the club.
His leadership at D.I.D. and the SoHo Alliance has been both a positive and negative lightning rod for accolades as well as criticism, depending upon one’s political views.
Menin’s attempted coup has created instability and doubt among those in SoHo since it currently is the only club with the fealty of SoHo artists and residents – people who are not from Greenwich Village or from Tribeca where Menin holds court as Chair of Community Board #1. The SoHo people are a specific breed of independent and are not always sympathetic to the Machiavellian “destroy-your-enemy” brand of politics. This putsch could succeed and yet alienate many members who view crafty political moves as successful power plays but poor prognosticators of political trust.
David Reck, a District Leader at D.I.D., wielded a degree of power in this melee and is rumored to have directed a number of critical and personal remarks in a speech about Sweeney’s Presidency. One member described Reck as having had "smoke coming out of his ears." Reck is Chair of Zoning and Housing at Community Board #2, is very involved with Hudson Square issues and is a supporter of Julie Menin.
The attempted coup, if it was one, using methods such as stacking the club and forcing the issue of leadership change with blitzkrieg speed and secrecy may succeed -- but the real issue is whether SoHo would follow. Or, would D.I.D. psychically and physically move to Tribeca leaving SoHo without a political center?
There is also the issue of whether Menin’s candidacy, ostensibly supported by Boro President Scott Stringer as the Downtown Express seems to believe, is an embrace of D.I.D. members and Community Board members like David Reck – or, is a repudiation of Sean Sweeney, whose hard work helped Stringer win the election. There is no soft landing in politics, for anyone.
What is unknown is whether this kind of nastiness is likely to aggravate Kathryn Freed enough to drop her judicial robes and get into the City Council race next year. There is no question that Freed would win that race. But, while Menin is not expected to go hungry anytime soon, Freed’s motivation has to consider the financial realities. Therein lies the rub.
One unknown factor, of course, is Pete Gleason who is persistent and motivated. He wants the Gerson seat next year but, as yet, is not believed to be a real threat to Menin. However, that could change.
The archaic system is now being tested and the relevancy of belonging to a club, which occasionally picks judges, endorses politicians running for office, and ostensibly supports its members in the community -- has passed, for the most part. Candidates go through the motions when they audition at club meetings because they don’t want to risk being accused of a slight --and club members and officers don’t want to let go of the appearance of control over their political environment. There is still this dated infrastructure but it has a questionable effect on local voters. It is an illusion among activists seeking to remain relevant.
However, most aspiring and already elected politicians well know that that game is winding down. It’s more of a tradition than a political necessity. It’s polite, but not essential to political success.
We no longer live in the era of Tammany Hall when jobs and political favors were doled out by the Clubs and where members of the community were protected.
-- R. A. Butler (1902 - 1982)
While the consensus among politicians is that most political clubs are not all that relevant any longer, you would never know that by the seriousness of the apparent attempted coup at the Downtown Independent Democrats last week. Was Reform really on everyone’s mind?
With a suddenness that belies some serious planning, it was revealed that a few D.I.D. members claimed to be less than thrilled with Sean Sweeney as President and through the powerbase of Julie Menin, Chair of Community Board #1, there was a sudden attempt to install her nominee into the club hierarchy. Prior to this there had not been either a move like this or a contested election in 25 years. Of course, this could have also, ostensibly, paved the way for Menin to take over the club in the service of supporting her presumed City Council candidacy -- Alan Gerson’s current slot as Council Member which expires next year. He’s term-limited.
Several people spoke both for and against Sweeney, someone who has been a fixture of the Downtown political scene for well over a decade and someone who was (and is) closely associated with Kathryn Freed, former Council Member. Freed, who was term-limited out, ran and won as Civil Court Judge and Alan Gerson now holds her old seat.
Sweeney is, and was, a hard worker whose idiosyncratic methods both endeared him to and aggravated political junkies both in and out of the club.
His leadership at D.I.D. and the SoHo Alliance has been both a positive and negative lightning rod for accolades as well as criticism, depending upon one’s political views.
Menin’s attempted coup has created instability and doubt among those in SoHo since it currently is the only club with the fealty of SoHo artists and residents – people who are not from Greenwich Village or from Tribeca where Menin holds court as Chair of Community Board #1. The SoHo people are a specific breed of independent and are not always sympathetic to the Machiavellian “destroy-your-enemy” brand of politics. This putsch could succeed and yet alienate many members who view crafty political moves as successful power plays but poor prognosticators of political trust.
David Reck, a District Leader at D.I.D., wielded a degree of power in this melee and is rumored to have directed a number of critical and personal remarks in a speech about Sweeney’s Presidency. One member described Reck as having had "smoke coming out of his ears." Reck is Chair of Zoning and Housing at Community Board #2, is very involved with Hudson Square issues and is a supporter of Julie Menin.
The attempted coup, if it was one, using methods such as stacking the club and forcing the issue of leadership change with blitzkrieg speed and secrecy may succeed -- but the real issue is whether SoHo would follow. Or, would D.I.D. psychically and physically move to Tribeca leaving SoHo without a political center?
There is also the issue of whether Menin’s candidacy, ostensibly supported by Boro President Scott Stringer as the Downtown Express seems to believe, is an embrace of D.I.D. members and Community Board members like David Reck – or, is a repudiation of Sean Sweeney, whose hard work helped Stringer win the election. There is no soft landing in politics, for anyone.
What is unknown is whether this kind of nastiness is likely to aggravate Kathryn Freed enough to drop her judicial robes and get into the City Council race next year. There is no question that Freed would win that race. But, while Menin is not expected to go hungry anytime soon, Freed’s motivation has to consider the financial realities. Therein lies the rub.
One unknown factor, of course, is Pete Gleason who is persistent and motivated. He wants the Gerson seat next year but, as yet, is not believed to be a real threat to Menin. However, that could change.
The archaic system is now being tested and the relevancy of belonging to a club, which occasionally picks judges, endorses politicians running for office, and ostensibly supports its members in the community -- has passed, for the most part. Candidates go through the motions when they audition at club meetings because they don’t want to risk being accused of a slight --and club members and officers don’t want to let go of the appearance of control over their political environment. There is still this dated infrastructure but it has a questionable effect on local voters. It is an illusion among activists seeking to remain relevant.
However, most aspiring and already elected politicians well know that that game is winding down. It’s more of a tradition than a political necessity. It’s polite, but not essential to political success.
We no longer live in the era of Tammany Hall when jobs and political favors were doled out by the Clubs and where members of the community were protected.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Indigestion Pricing
Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs that properly concern them.
-- Paul Valery
I don’t want any yes-man around me. I want everybody to tell me
the truth even if it costs them their jobs.
-- Samuel Goldwyn
While many politicians see the Mayor’s “Congestion Pricing” plan as inevitable, given the need to reduce pollution in Manhattan, there are dissenters who simply don’t want it.
It’s not rejected by some because they are the friends of AAA or because they love lung cancer.
It’s not a bad idea in theory; it’s just that its raison d’etre is a political idea for the most part. It’s not for our health; it’s for our budget. Shelly Silver is right in having resisted passing it in Albany. He lives Downtown too.
If Mayor Bloomberg, formerly a Republican and now an Independent, really wanted to quickly start the process of reducing pollution, especially in lower Manhattan – a quick phone call to the Molinari camp in Staten Island would get the ball rolling. They got him elected.
Nearly 15 years ago Guy, and then Susan effectively increased the pollution levels in lower Manhattan by multiples with a deal to eliminate two-way tolls on the Verazzano Bridge. Instead of traffic backing up on the Staten Island Expressway – far from residential properties – traffic overwhelmed downtown. Traffic from New Jersey and Staten Island stream into lower Manhattan free and leave via the Holland Tunnel, also free.
Trucks, buses, passenger cars and tractor-trailers – all blowing particulate heavy smoke into apartments and homes not 20 feet from the roadbed.
Why is it that this little matter cannot be reversed – by politicians in Staten Island -- who carried the mayoral election for both Rudy and then Mike?
Why is it that Mike doesn’t pick up the phone and make a deal to reverse that toll first? Before pressuring those in Manhattan to buy his plan?
It’s because it is not politically expedient.
So, as the reports in The Sun currently indicate, Mayor Mike is taking the matter “personally” and reportedly may try to help fund a challenge to Shelly Silver if he does not help push through Congestion Pricing.
Why the attempt at political coercion?
The M.T.A. is counting on the money for numerous deficiencies in its budget, the company that installs cameras (the method of enforcement for the plan and more Big Brother mentality) is drooling over the contract, and Mayor Mike wants a success before he leaves office. Real Estate tax income is also dropping and alternate sources of City income are needed.
Sales prices and sales volume for coops and condos are falling and the numbers of layoffs from financial markets will make tax receipts slimmer. Budget deficits of $6, $9 and $12 Billion over the next several years have been predicted.
And, of course, Obama may want to see some successes after the West Side Stadium and Pier 40 fiascos that Doctoroff handled before moving on to the golden shackles of Bloomberg media. The possible V.P. designation has been given some credence. It’s a sidelong way into the Presidency, which he has always wanted.
If Bloomberg is to be taken seriously about wanting to clear our air, the political move made FIRST, would show that he is serious about reducing the cancer, emphysema and asthma that has been killing people downtown. Not to mention the fact that police presence is a virtually non-existent and irate drivers racing to New Jersey have actually attacked pedestrians for having the gall to want to use a crosswalk with their baby carriages.
At worst, the number of passenger cars owned by those in lower Manhattan, who don’t drive every day, is a joke by comparison to the hundreds of thousands of free trips enjoyed by out of state vehicles befouling our air.
Unless, of course, this is just a PR campaign to show Bloomberg accomplished SOMETHING before leaving office.
It is unfortunate that the City Council rolled over and gave him what he wanted without weighing in on this issue. Quinn, who wants to be Mayor with Bloomberg’s help and access to his personal fortune of $14 Billion, pushed the plan through the City Council for him.
Of course, it remains to be seen how the U.S. Attorney’s investigation into the phony slush fund organizations, which Quinn and the Mayor now both have to deal with, will affect their credibility. She has blamed the oversight on her staff members who didn’t listen to her. Is that possible? While she may not be accused of being charismatic, it is hard to believe that any staff member (or even a City Council member for that matter) would not do what she told them to do. She’s tough.
Quinn denies using any of the money for political favors and Bloomberg denies knowing anything at all, even though he signed the budget where these funds were listed. Do you smell cover-up?
With a sharp tongue and irreverent wit, former Parks Commissioner, City Council member and current political blogger Henry Stern will no doubt comment on this moral quagmire – much as he did throughout the demise of Eliot Spitzer. You don’t want to piss off Henry Stern. He knows where those bones are buried.
As a side note, Stern’s review of Congestion Pricing is worth reading.
Apparently, Downtown gives us all a bad example of how a representative Democracy is supposed to work. Residents have most been told how it will be – not asked how they would like it to be. While there were a few meetings about this plan, it was a PR gambit from the beginning – replete with television ads. How many ads have been screened making a point of the Verazzano toll affect on health Downtown?
Councilman Alan Gerson was heavily lobbied in the Council to produce the Downtown vote and activists were consulted – but the decision was already made. Gerson has admitted that his vote was heavily lobbied for since it affected Downtown the most.
It is just a dog and pony show. Everyone knew the fix was in and Quinn wanted it done. The real question is why?
Shelly Silver, while criticized for holding the reigns of power close to his vest, should stand tough and reject this pig with lipstick for what it really is – a carefully cultivated con job. Money for the M.T.A. and a win for Mayor Mike. Nothing for Downtown.
Unless, of course, the Verazzano toll suddenly got reversed without requiring the mandatory “act of Congress” to vacate it. No one said the Molinaris were stupid. Now, that would show that Bloomberg really wants to clean up our air, wouldn’t it?
A non-issue has poked its ugly head into Downtown politics. Apparently, Andy Neale, of Community Board #1, has had some personal problems.
Unlike the rest of us, of course?
What was different about this piece, describing his relationship with his wife and goes into great detail about their problems, is that it apparently warranted a “news” article in the Downtown Express – one of the publications owned by John Sutter of The Villager.
If the new editorial policy of this chain of mini-newspapers is now intending to clear all of the skeletons out of everyone’s closets -- belonging to those people on the Community Boards, it is strongly suggested that that policy be reviewed for its wisdom – or, appropriateness. To work for nothing in furtherance of the community we live in is sufficient reason to leave personal lives out of the limelight.
-- Paul Valery
I don’t want any yes-man around me. I want everybody to tell me
the truth even if it costs them their jobs.
-- Samuel Goldwyn
While many politicians see the Mayor’s “Congestion Pricing” plan as inevitable, given the need to reduce pollution in Manhattan, there are dissenters who simply don’t want it.
It’s not rejected by some because they are the friends of AAA or because they love lung cancer.
It’s not a bad idea in theory; it’s just that its raison d’etre is a political idea for the most part. It’s not for our health; it’s for our budget. Shelly Silver is right in having resisted passing it in Albany. He lives Downtown too.
If Mayor Bloomberg, formerly a Republican and now an Independent, really wanted to quickly start the process of reducing pollution, especially in lower Manhattan – a quick phone call to the Molinari camp in Staten Island would get the ball rolling. They got him elected.
Nearly 15 years ago Guy, and then Susan effectively increased the pollution levels in lower Manhattan by multiples with a deal to eliminate two-way tolls on the Verazzano Bridge. Instead of traffic backing up on the Staten Island Expressway – far from residential properties – traffic overwhelmed downtown. Traffic from New Jersey and Staten Island stream into lower Manhattan free and leave via the Holland Tunnel, also free.
Trucks, buses, passenger cars and tractor-trailers – all blowing particulate heavy smoke into apartments and homes not 20 feet from the roadbed.
Why is it that this little matter cannot be reversed – by politicians in Staten Island -- who carried the mayoral election for both Rudy and then Mike?
Why is it that Mike doesn’t pick up the phone and make a deal to reverse that toll first? Before pressuring those in Manhattan to buy his plan?
It’s because it is not politically expedient.
So, as the reports in The Sun currently indicate, Mayor Mike is taking the matter “personally” and reportedly may try to help fund a challenge to Shelly Silver if he does not help push through Congestion Pricing.
Why the attempt at political coercion?
The M.T.A. is counting on the money for numerous deficiencies in its budget, the company that installs cameras (the method of enforcement for the plan and more Big Brother mentality) is drooling over the contract, and Mayor Mike wants a success before he leaves office. Real Estate tax income is also dropping and alternate sources of City income are needed.
Sales prices and sales volume for coops and condos are falling and the numbers of layoffs from financial markets will make tax receipts slimmer. Budget deficits of $6, $9 and $12 Billion over the next several years have been predicted.
And, of course, Obama may want to see some successes after the West Side Stadium and Pier 40 fiascos that Doctoroff handled before moving on to the golden shackles of Bloomberg media. The possible V.P. designation has been given some credence. It’s a sidelong way into the Presidency, which he has always wanted.
If Bloomberg is to be taken seriously about wanting to clear our air, the political move made FIRST, would show that he is serious about reducing the cancer, emphysema and asthma that has been killing people downtown. Not to mention the fact that police presence is a virtually non-existent and irate drivers racing to New Jersey have actually attacked pedestrians for having the gall to want to use a crosswalk with their baby carriages.
At worst, the number of passenger cars owned by those in lower Manhattan, who don’t drive every day, is a joke by comparison to the hundreds of thousands of free trips enjoyed by out of state vehicles befouling our air.
Unless, of course, this is just a PR campaign to show Bloomberg accomplished SOMETHING before leaving office.
It is unfortunate that the City Council rolled over and gave him what he wanted without weighing in on this issue. Quinn, who wants to be Mayor with Bloomberg’s help and access to his personal fortune of $14 Billion, pushed the plan through the City Council for him.
Of course, it remains to be seen how the U.S. Attorney’s investigation into the phony slush fund organizations, which Quinn and the Mayor now both have to deal with, will affect their credibility. She has blamed the oversight on her staff members who didn’t listen to her. Is that possible? While she may not be accused of being charismatic, it is hard to believe that any staff member (or even a City Council member for that matter) would not do what she told them to do. She’s tough.
Quinn denies using any of the money for political favors and Bloomberg denies knowing anything at all, even though he signed the budget where these funds were listed. Do you smell cover-up?
With a sharp tongue and irreverent wit, former Parks Commissioner, City Council member and current political blogger Henry Stern will no doubt comment on this moral quagmire – much as he did throughout the demise of Eliot Spitzer. You don’t want to piss off Henry Stern. He knows where those bones are buried.
As a side note, Stern’s review of Congestion Pricing is worth reading.
Apparently, Downtown gives us all a bad example of how a representative Democracy is supposed to work. Residents have most been told how it will be – not asked how they would like it to be. While there were a few meetings about this plan, it was a PR gambit from the beginning – replete with television ads. How many ads have been screened making a point of the Verazzano toll affect on health Downtown?
Councilman Alan Gerson was heavily lobbied in the Council to produce the Downtown vote and activists were consulted – but the decision was already made. Gerson has admitted that his vote was heavily lobbied for since it affected Downtown the most.
It is just a dog and pony show. Everyone knew the fix was in and Quinn wanted it done. The real question is why?
Shelly Silver, while criticized for holding the reigns of power close to his vest, should stand tough and reject this pig with lipstick for what it really is – a carefully cultivated con job. Money for the M.T.A. and a win for Mayor Mike. Nothing for Downtown.
Unless, of course, the Verazzano toll suddenly got reversed without requiring the mandatory “act of Congress” to vacate it. No one said the Molinaris were stupid. Now, that would show that Bloomberg really wants to clean up our air, wouldn’t it?
A non-issue has poked its ugly head into Downtown politics. Apparently, Andy Neale, of Community Board #1, has had some personal problems.
Unlike the rest of us, of course?
What was different about this piece, describing his relationship with his wife and goes into great detail about their problems, is that it apparently warranted a “news” article in the Downtown Express – one of the publications owned by John Sutter of The Villager.
If the new editorial policy of this chain of mini-newspapers is now intending to clear all of the skeletons out of everyone’s closets -- belonging to those people on the Community Boards, it is strongly suggested that that policy be reviewed for its wisdom – or, appropriateness. To work for nothing in furtherance of the community we live in is sufficient reason to leave personal lives out of the limelight.
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