Week in Review 1/9 - 1/13

Monday, 1/9
A fifth private bus line has been brought under the operation of the MTA. Mayor Bloomberg announced an agreement had been completed with Green Bus Lines, which operates 230 buses on 20 routes.

By removing competition in transportation, New Yorkers are now beholden to the whims of the bureacratic beast known as the MTA.

New York’s traffic safety laws are among the best in the nation but still fall short in key areas, an auto safety watchdog group said in a study. Just 16 states earned “green” ratings in the Advocates for HIghway and Auto Safety report.

New York City Council members start the new year with padding their “war chests” for future endeavors. This week launched various fundraising events for councilors such as Eric Gioia, Simcha Felder and Peter Vallone, Jr. Because councilors are term-limited out, many are looking at possible futures in higher office.

Tuesday, 1/10
Community Leader and local businessman, Frank Scala, was unanimously nominated last night by the Vince Albano Club members and district committee members as the republican candidate for the 74th Assembly District. Mr. Scala has been involved in the New York Republican Party for over forty years and has been active in the community for more than eight years. For more information, go here.

Bloomberg announced that he was promoting his communications director, Edward Skyler, to the post of deputy mayor for administration. Mr. Skyler will assist the mayor in managing departments, including the Police, Fire, Labor, OEM, Budget and Law Departments.

The State Legislature opened its 2006 session racing against the clock to keep thousands of convicted sex offenders living in communities from vanishing from the public registry. Right now, the senate and assembly cannot agree on a uniform bill. The senate wants lifetime registration for offenders, the assembly wants to wait for a standard set by Congress. The democrat-controlled assembly apparently does not believe in state sovereignty.

New Speaker to the City Council, Christine Quinn, said she will allow members the option to publicly debate proposed legislation, which rarely happened under Gifford Miller. A more open and democratic process should help the council with make the right decisions when voting on new legislation.

Wednesday, 1/11
It’s done. The famous 2nd Avenue Deli is officially closed by the owner, Jack Lebewohl, who wants new lease terms with the new building owner. The neighborhood fixture needs to renovate and wants to renegotiate a new lease after the eatery is brought to NYC code.

Governor Pataki will include money in his executive budget for education tax credits that would go to parents of students for all schools, not just public. Proponents of education tax credits say the credits would be less powerful than vouchers but would still give low-income families more choices about where to send their children to school. Opponents such as UFT say the tax credits would siphon money from the public school system.
http://www.nysun.com/article/25656

Thursday, 1/12
The mayor filled his top two slots of his communications team, his latest of second-term rearragements. James Anderson, associate commissioner of Dept of Homeless Services, will be the new communications director. Also, Stuart Loeser will be the mayor’s new press secretary. Previously, Loeser was a spokesman for Sen. Charles Schumer (D).

With the completion of the Judicial hearings for confirming Judge Samuel Alito, New Yorkers and all Americans learned what a vicious and partisan politician Senator Charles Schumer is. If you didn’t realize it already, the Democratic Party, the supposed “inclusive” party, has shown its true colors of hate by spitting venom at anyone who is not one of them. It’s all about abortion. If the democrats really believed in “the mainstream of America” then they wouldn’t fear Roe v. Wade being overturned. Why? Because the mainstream in each state, according to them, would legislate to legalize abortion. So what is their problem?

New Yorkers of all stripes should be familiar with Albany, Inc. If there is a reason to forget party loyalty and vote for a true reformer in the gubernatorial race, then this is the reason.

Once again, Rich “Goose” Gossage was snubbed from the baseball Hall of Fame. The grandfather of the closer role, the Goose was known as “The Stopper” in his day and would be brought in during any point of the game. Imagine Joe Torre bringing in Mariano Rivera in the sixth or seventh inning to complete games. On a regular basis. It’s a crime not to vote this man into the Hall of Fame. Comparing Gossage to relief pitchers from the 1970s to the present, there is no better man with a record such as his.

Friday, 1/13
Thomas Golisano and Thomas Suozzi set up committees to enter the New York Governors race. All is fair in love and war. Golisano recently switched his party registration to republican and will petition if not chosen as a candidate in the GOP convention. Suozzi has remained silent up until recently, since he recently won reelection for Nassau County Executive and wanted to keep his priorities in order. Now it seems the man who started the Fix Albany campaign two years ago will start pecking away at the party establishment, Eliot Spitzer.

Randalls Island could get a water park. The city’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee voted yesterday to clear negotiations for a proposed $168 million water park on the island. The current plan covers 26 acres of the island, including a 7 acre parcel for a year-round indoor beach club.