Not so many years ago, Martin Connor was the most powerful Democrat in the State Senate. And Mr. Connor, a respected lawyer and specialist in state election law, rarely faced primary challenges until recently.
But Mr. Connor, 63, the Senate’s longest-serving Democrat, who has been in office for 30 years, has in recent years faced primary opponents who have portrayed him as having done little to change a moribund culture in Albany.
His challenger this year, Daniel L. Squadron, has been a particularly forceful critic. And Mr. Squadron is backed by some powerful elected officials, including his former boss, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Indeed, Mr. Squadron’s challenge has provided an unexpected bit of drama in next Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 25th State Senate District, which includes portions of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan — a district in which winning the primary is usually tantamount to election.
Mr. Squadron, 28 &#...
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The prospect of Democratic control of the State Senate, which hangs in the balance by one seat, has encouraged Councilmember James Gennaro that it is the perfect time to challenge the incumbent Republican senator in his district in Queens, Frank Padavan . And if numbers alone are any prediction, that possibility could put him in office: Of nearly 7,000 newly registered voters in Senate District 11, Democrats outnumber Republicans 6-to-1 .
If the Democrats take the Senate, they will co... more
Don’t cut the cake just yet, guys. The New York Times reports :
N.Y. Democrats May Skip Gay Marriage Vote
ALBANY — After a pledge from New York Democratic leaders that their party would legalize same-sex marriage if they won control of the State Senate this year, money from gay rights supporters poured in from across the country, helping cinch a Democratic victory.
But now, party leaders have sent strong signals that they may not take up the issue during the 2009 legisla... more
New York Democratic leaders promised voters this year that their party would work diligently to legalize same-sex marriage if they won control of the State Senate. Monies from gay rights supporters and groups poured in from across the country, and the Democrats secured a healthy victory.
But this change may not happen overnight, or even during the 2009 legislative session as some of the parties leaders are suggesting it may be a good idea to hold off until 2011 before presenting this issue. ... more
A coalition of health groups will call Wednesday on state leaders to dig another $1.50 out of the pockets of smokers every time they buy a pack of cigarettes.
With New York facing a budget gap of some $5 billion, American Cancer Society activist Russell Sciandra predicted lawmakers will latch onto the idea of jacking up the cigarette excise tax.
With New York City already imposing its own $1.50 a pack tax and the state tax now at $1.50, the hike being sought by groups such as the A... more
Rents are going to rise unless officials undo a new policy for taxing property owners, the city’s top real estate assessor said Tuesday.
The new method, which began in January, shifts the bulk of the city’s property tax burden onto affordable, multi-unit dwellings in the outer boroughs, according to David Moog, who is also president of the assessors union.
“Overall, the boroughs and the poorer areas got soaked while the more affluent areas were cut a break,” Moog sai... more
The city is launching an advertising campaign discouraging New Yorkers from giving money, food, and clothing to homeless people and asking well-wishers to call 311 for help instead.
“Giving money to a panhandler may seem like you’re being compassionate,” Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday at City Hall. “But you’re really not helping that person long-term, and just keeping that person going in a life that is probably going to continue to spiral out of control.̶... more
Mayor Bloomberg ’s congestion pricing proposal is facing another obstacle after the speaker of the state Assembly, Sheldon Silver , announced yesterday that he would hold a hearing on how the revenues from the traffic tax would be spent.
Mr. Silver, along with two other Assembly Democrats, Herman Farrell Jr. and Richard Brodsky, both opponents of the congestion pricing plan, will hold a hearing tomorrow to examine the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ’s five-year capital p... more
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