Hevesi graft an open secret
Posted by Howard Koplowitz in Assembly, District 28, State Comptroller, Statewide Offices on April 28, 2011 | 1 Comment
Long before disgraced former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi was charged in October for his role in a pay-to-play scandal involving the state pension fund under his watch, a little-known treasurer of Saratoga County, J. Christopher Callaghan, knew something was up — and it was in plain sight. Callaghan, who ran on the Republican line against [...]
Avella to donate campaign funds to offset Lipsky cash
Posted by Connor Adams Sheets in District 11, State Senate on April 28, 2011 | No Comments
State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) said Tuesday he has planned since shortly after Richard Lipsky turned himself in to authorities March 10 on corruption charges to donate to charity an amount equal to the $3,000 in campaign contributions the lobbyist made to his 2010 campaign. Avella said he has also cut off all contact with [...]
Wills to propose renaming a street for late Tom White
Posted by Ivan Pereira in City Council, City Offices, District 28 on April 28, 2011 | No Comments
City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) has announced that he is working on a bill that would honor the life and work of his predecessor, Thomas White. A street renaming measure is in the works for somewhere in the southeast Queens neighborhoods where the former councilman lived, Wills said during last week’s Community Board 12 meeting. [...]
Koo fields questions both tough and touchy
Posted by Joe Anuta in City Council, City Offices, District 20 on April 28, 2011 | No Comments
Flushing residents got a rare opportunity to cut through the bureaucratic tape at a town-hall meeting hosted by City Councilman Peter Koo (R-Flushing) last Thursday and they held nothing back. Representatives from city agencies had to answer to problems affecting the entire neighborhood, a block or the living room in someone’s house. The queries ranged [...]
Gianaris pushes his clean-air bill
Posted by Rebecca Henely in District 12, State Senate on April 28, 2011 | No Comments
In celebration of Earth Day last week, state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) touted the pro-environment legislation he has recently introduced that would reduce emissions and crack down on polluters. “It’s been a priority of mine from the first day I was elected to the [state] Assembly,” Gianaris said. The senator said that since his district [...]
Flushing sign debate rages on
Posted by Connor Adams Sheets in Assembly, District 16, District 22, State Senate on April 21, 2011 | No Comments
The contentious debate over what to do about downtown Flushing businesses that do not have signs in English flared up again last week. An advisory board formed last year by state Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) to address the topic met Friday to speak with representatives of city agencies and discuss ideas for how to encourage [...]
