The post-Fourth of July fireworks continued with ex-Governor Paterson singing the praises of his successor (emphasis on success-or) Governor Cuomo on his radio show. It seemed odd (to some) that Paterson would praise the man who many political insiders say used President Obama to derail his election bid. To this day Paterson remains a really nice, but enigmatic, man. (DN)
The Daily News had to point out that indicted city Councilman Larry Seabrook recently apportioned council funds for an unlicensed after-school program headed by a former foe, but now ally, Johnnie Goff. (DN)
The RE/Max balloon will soon be hoisted by City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera says Politicker blogger Azi Paybarah. Apparently, CM Rivera has earned his real estate sales license and will soon be hawking properties for RE/Max Results in Throggs Neck. (NYO)
The WSJ reported Wednesday morning that ex-Governor Paterson will teach an NYU honors seminar on “The Teachable Art of Governing.” New York magazine poked fun at the state’s former chief executive with this witticism, “Those who cannot do, teach.” (Daily Intel)
The Daily News raised questions about Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron and his wife, Assemblywoman Inez Barron, earmarking $350,000 in taxpayer money to a nonprofit called Man Up! Inc. run by longtime aide Andre Mitchell. The News followed up the next day with a another story this time accusing Councilman Barron of steering a community benefits agreement to Man Up! By Thursday, Councilman Barron held a press conference where he defended his actions and defiantly said he would do so again.
City Comptroller John Liu took credit for the 20% rate of return earned by the NYC pension funds during his watch over the past 12 months ending June 30. Aaron Elstein of Crain’s threw a wet towel on Comptroller Liu’s claims. Elstein points out that the S&P stock index funds returned an even higher 31%. He cautioned out that city pension funds benefited from a very robust but volatile stock market. Pension funds across America saw their values rise also.
Queens Assemblywoman Grace Meng is drafting legislation — Caylee’s Law — making it a felony for a parent, guardian or responsible adult to fail to report a missing child.
Congressman Jose Serrano’s favorite South American leftist strong man has returned from Cuba after successful cancer treatment. So much for Obamacare! Viva Chavez!
Serrano & Chavez Unite For the South Bronx
In a article that would do Chavez proud, New York magazine declaimed that the city’s “wealth gap is 0.75 miles wide.” The article compares and contrasts the city’s poorest and wealthiest congressionial districts. Rep. Jose Serrano, who represents the benighted South Bronx and Carolyn Maloney, represents the glitzy Upper East Side and a portion of Queens. Serrano declined to assign blame for the economic disparity between his and Rep. Maloney’s district. The article is chock full of interesting socio-economic charts.
The week ended with yet another Daily News report on pork barrel spending by the City Council. This time the DN found that several Council members allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to schools that their children attend or employ relatives. Among those cited is Washington Heights Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez who gave $60,000 to the Gregorio Luperon High School which employs his sister.
