New York State Assembly

Assemblyman Nelson Castro Resigns After Ratting Out Eric Stevenson (and Maybe Others)

There's a good chance this week will go down in New York City political history textbooks. And not for the best reasons. If you've watched the news (or Twitter) over the past three days, you've come across the Dan Holleran/Malcolm Smith story that involved bribing and mayoral rigging. Then, of cour ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced in NY Legislature [Updated with Commentary]

A bipartisan coalition has introduced a bill in the New York State Assembly and Senate simultaneously that would permit use of cannabis for medical purposes by patients who have been certified by a doctor. So far, 18 states have passed similar bills, including New Jersey.

Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced in NY Legislature [Updated with Commentary]

This guy hanging outside Broadway Panhandler is a shoo-in for a medical certification. A bipartisan coalition has introduced a bill in the New York State Assembly and Senate simultaneously that would permit use of cannabis for medical purposes by patients who have been certified by a doctor. So fa ... More >>

New York Becomes First State To Pass Gun Control Bill After Newtown

Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address was entitled 'New York Rising.' What happened yesterday in Albany might explain why. In a 104-to-43 vote, the New York State Assembly officially passed the NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act on Tuesday afternoon. Th ... More >>

Former Assemblyman Jimmy Meng to Cop Plea in Fruit-Basket Bribery Case

A fruit basket is a lovely way to show appreciation. But when it's filled with $80,000 in cash, and it's in "appreciation" of bribing prosecutors, it's not a gesture of gratitude, it's a felony.So goes the tragic tale of former Assemblyman Jimmy Meng -- the first Asian-American elected to the New Yo ... More >>

Vito Lopez Is Still An Assemblyman -- But Maybe Not For Long

Despite highly publicized accusations that he's a dirty, dirty old man, Democratic Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito "Gropez" Lopez won re-election to the Assembly on Tuesday. But the longtime pol dropped a bombshell on his supporters: this might be his last term -- in the Assembly, anyway."While I will con ... More >>

Sign (Toothless) Petition Calling For Shelly Silver's Resignation Right Here

Powerful Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver continues to catch heat for his coverup of sexual harassment allegations against his former pal, disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and now New York Republicans are circulating a petition calling for his resignation.Granted, it's only a petition -- ... More >>

Shelly Silver Off The Hook For (Taxpayer Funded) Coverup Of Vito Lopez Sex Scandal

Much to the dismay of the National Organization of Women, women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, Assembly candidate Frank Commisso Jr., and thousands of New Yorkers, we're sure, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is off the hook for his tax-payer funded coverup of allegations of sexual misconduct by hi ... More >>

Gloria Alred, NOW Have Shelly Silver In Sights Over Hush Money For Pervy Pal Vito Lopez

Isn't there an old saying about how it's seldom the crime but "always the coverup" that lands politicians in the hottest of water?Well, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver may want to revisit that adage, because it's his "coverup" of sexual harassment allegations against his old pal/current Assemblyman ... More >>

Accused Ex-Assemblyman Jimmy Meng Called Star Witness Against Him Just Minutes After Getting Released From Jail

Is this guy friggin' serious?!Just minutes after getting released from jail on $1 million bail yesterday afternoon, former Assemblyman Jimmy Meng -- who currently is charged with fraud in a somewhat hilarious faux-bribery case -- actually called the very witness who ratted him out to federal authori ... More >>

New Yorkers Escape The Nanny-State To Attend MMA Event. Sadly, They're Forced To Go To Jersey To Do It

Despite New York State's best efforts to regulate what consenting adults do in their spare time, New Yorkers are still flocking to mixed martial arts events. Unfortunately, they're forced to go to other states to do it -- MMA fighting has been banned in the Empire State since the mid-1990s. &nb ... More >>

New York Assembly Passes Bill To Establish DREAM Fund For Undocumented Kids To Go To College

Good news, DREAMers: the New York State Assembly passed a bill yesterday that would create a privately funded scholarship to help undocumented kids go to college.If it becomes law, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM, Fund Commission would enable people to solicit privat ... More >>

Domestic Violence Legislation Package: What You Need to Know

The New York State Assembly passed several domestic violence bills yesterday, which will soon be on their way to the Senate. If they make it through the rest of the legislative process, the measures would do everything from toughening penalties against repeat domestic violence offenders to keeping g ... More >>

The Shomrim: Gotham's Crusaders

They patrol Jewish neighborhoods with taxpayer money—but don't always clue in the police

Diaz Family Values

While Rubén Díaz Sr. lobs bombs against gay rights, son Rubén Jr. and lesbian granddaughter Erica run for cover

Greg Ball's All Atwitter at Gay-Marriage Bill: Upstate Senator Takes His Own Online Poll.

Here's what happened over the weekend with the gay-marriage bill, which the Assembly has already approved: Publicly, the bill has the support of 31 of the 32 senators it needs for passage. Though he was considered "leaning no," GOP senator Greg Ball (who represents all of Putnam County, northern ... More >>

New York State Assembly Passes Gay Marriage for a Fourth Time

​The New York State Assembly passed the Marriage Equality Bill yesterday, the fourth time that chamber of the state legislature has done so. The bill passed overwhelming, 80-63, but still, it had the lowest margin of victory the issue has ever had in the Assembly. (A number of "yes" votes had ... More >>

Tanning Ban for Minors Makes Headway in New York and New Jersey

​Insert Jersey Shore joke here. Soon, kids on the boardwalk may no longer be able to artificially bake in Jersey. The New Jersey Assembly Health Committee passed a proposal forbidding eager young "juiceheads" under the age of 18 from tanning via bed on Monday, and the full Jersey Assembly will ... More >>

The Last Jelly Pool Party, Featuring "SECRET SPECIAL GUESTS!", Is Back On

Last chance to do this, for real this time. Pic by Sam Horine.​Yes, the final Pool Party of a remarkably tumultuous year has been saved, set for this Sunday, August 29, rescued after an ugly few days of Jelly and the Open Space Alliance trading crabby press releases. The dialogue is still crab ... More >>

David Paterson Controversy Recalls Another Scandal-Plagued Governor (No, Not That One)

​While everyone still jaws about the allegedly forthcoming David Paterson scandal, the Bowery Boys look back to historical precedent for removal of a New York governor -- not to Eliot Spitzer, but to William Sulzer. The Boys' headline is "New York governor resigns in disgrace (in 1913)!" tho ... More >>

Family Affair: Feds Indict Arroyo Relative for Housing Scams

Just as all eyes were on the mighty state senator Pedro Espada Jr. and his many escapades, along comes some strong competition for Bronx Schemer of the Week Award.A freshly unsealed indictment this morning by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, based on a joint city-federal probe, charges ... More >>

Lee Bollinger's Triumph

Will President Ahmadinejad invite President Bollinger to speak in Tehran?

Close-Up on Egbertville, Staten Island

Council Races: Big Bucks for a Lonely Fight

Abject Lessons

Public Schools Accused of Skimping on HIV Education

Mugabe's Victims: Mostly Black

Charles Barron Calls It 'One of the Most Stable Countries in Africa'

No Rx Required

The Fight to Make Morning-After Pills Available Over the Counter

Nouveau Pitch

Selling Himself: What James E. Davis Does Best

Stiffed!

State Legislature Slices Waiters’ Minimum-Wage Raise

Good For The Gays?

A widening rift over the political direction of America's gay rights lobby