New York State Politics

Cuomo's Women's Equality Act Brings The A-Word To New York State Politics

In the video below, Governor Cuomo lays out his intentions for the Women's Equality Act - a plan that would focus on erasing specific gender biases in New York State law. Akin to the gun control bill passed in December, it's a landmark piece of legislation for the Cuomo administration and, per usual ... More >>

Along With Anti-Bribery Measures, Gov. Cuomo Proposes Election Reform

Might as well use this recent scenario to hit two birds with one stone. Last week, Governor Cuomo announced the Public Trust Act. The bill, which came in the wake of the scandals that rocked New York politics this month, would expand the powers given to state bribers to locate and detain those invo ... More >>

Cuomo Introduces "The Public Trust Act" After Last Week's Scandal Fest

Last week, New York government, on both a city and state level, bore witness to corruption in its purest form. In a matter of days, a mayoral rigging scheme was uncovered that involved City Council, the State Assembly and business interests. And then we found out about yet another hatched plan in ... 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 >>

With Compromise In Sight, Gov. Cuomo Talks Gun Control In State Of The State Address

In recent weeks, we've been following the Governor's actions regarding gun control quite closely. After the Newtown tragedy, Cuomo proposed a handful of measures to hopefully curb gun-related violence; one of which would be the strictest magazine clip ban in the nation. However, the momentum hit a w ... More >>

Mr. Cuomo Goes To Washington (To Beg For Cash)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's got a busy day ahead of him in Washington D.C. -- which includes meetings with White House officials, the House speaker, and the Senate majority leader -- where he'll make the case for New York's need for a $42 billion appropriation to help the state recover from Hur ... More >>

GOP Super PAC Gunning For Shelly Silver -- And Why It Won't Make A Bit Of Difference

A recently formed GOP Super PAC has Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver in its sights and says it will actively campaign -- and drop an estimated $1.5 million -- to see to it that he's not re-elected as Assembly speaker.The Super PAC -- which is being financially fueled by the group Americans for Real Ch ... More >>

NY GOP: Andrew Cuomo's Election Day Executive Order Disenfranchises Upstate Hurricane Relief Workers

Yesterday, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order allowing residents of "federally-declared disaster counties" to vote at any polling place they want.Included in the governor's order are relief workers who "reside in one of the federally declared disaster counties."Problem is, not all the r ... More >>

New York's Not Exactly "Open For Business": Report

Governor Andrew Cuomo earned a big, fat D in a recent grading of his fiscal policies by the Libertarian Cato Institute.This, of course, comes as the governor has declared New York "open for business."Cuomo's D  -- on a scale of A through F -- might have a little bit to do with a different group ... More >>

Senate Candidate/Former Assembly Staffer: "Nobody Listens" To Complaints Of Sexual Harassment In Silver's "Boys Club"

New York Post scribe Fred Dicker supposedly is the "dean of the Albany press corp." When he's not puckering up to the rump of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Dicker is pegged with the task of weeding out scandals and corruption at the highest levels of state government. That said, you'd think that if a forme ... More >>

New York GOP Owes Assemblyman Vito "Gropez" Lopez A Thank You For His Alleged Pervy-ness

New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox has issued three statements in the past 24 hours -- which is three more than he's issued in the past two weeks -- each of which references shamed Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez's pervy-ness.In each statement, Cox seems outraged that Lopez allegedly is a d ... More >>

Defying Silver: Assembly Wannabe Frank Commisso's Cojones Could Spell Political Suicide

Frank Commisso Jr. currently serves on the Albany Common Council representing the city's 15th Ward. He's also running for Assembly as a Democrat -- and may have just committed political suicide.Enter Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful politicians in New York, who currently is ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Cheerleader Fred Dicker Rushes To Gov's Rescue As Criticism Mounts Over Blackberry Use

Governor Andrew Cuomo has found a somewhat creative way around New York's public records laws: his Blackberry.Cuomo's use of Blackberry's BBN message system (and his refusal to use official state email) to communicate with staffers and other pols has come under fire by many (read: just about everyon ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Assembly -- But Don't Get Your Hopes Up, New York

A bill that would legalize medical marijuana in New York passed in the Assembly yesterday, but don't go making up any ailments that qualify you for a weed prescription just yet; Governor Buzz Kill ain't gonna sign it -- even if it does find its way to his desk.The bill would legalize prescription we ... More >>

Why Is Albany So Corrupt? Harvard Study Blames Capital's Long-Distance Relationship With NYC

New York politics is corrupt for the same reason long distance relationships often don't work: The population is concentrated too far from the capital to keep an eye on it, so Albany cheats. At least that's according to Filipe R. Campante of Harvard and Quoc-Anh Do of the school of economics at Sin ... More >>

Cuomo's Plan To Decriminalize Weed In "Public View" Has Support Of Pretty Much Everyone

As we reported earlier, Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to make possession of marijuana even less illegal than it already is -- a move that apparently has the support of just about everyone.The governor's office put out a press release this afternoon announcing Cuomo's plan to make possessing weed in "p ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries In Rhode Island Could Be Open By Fall. New York Still Weighing The "Risks"

The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a revised bill yesterday that paves the way for the opening of three medical marijuana dispensaries that likely will be open by fall. Governor Andrew Cuomo's "progressive" New York, however, is still assessing the "risks" of legalizing prescription po ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Bill Headed For Another Assembly Vote (Calm Down, Stoners -- You're Not Getting Prescription Pot)

A bill that would legalize medical marijuana in New York has cleared the Health Committee and is headed to the Codes Committee where it will likely be approved and sent to the full Assembly for a vote.Don't get too excited, though, stoners -- even if the bill does pass in the Assembly (which it like ... More >>

David Paterson Nominated For MTA Gig; Paul McCartney To Blame

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that he's nominating disastrous former Governor David Paterson to serve on the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority -- and we have the "cute" Beatle to blame for Patterson's return to public life.Paterson will replace former Board member Nancy Shev ... More >>

Assembly Members Want To Criminalize Fake Weed (Real Weed Still De-Criminalized In New York)

Members of the New York state Assembly want to criminalize fake marijuana that's often sold at head shops and tobacco stores -- which seems hilarious considering real marijuana has been de-criminalized in the Empire State since 1977.Governor Andrew Cuomo already has banned synthetic marijuana (meani ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo's PR Flack Kept "File" On "Generally Snarky" Reporter

Andrew Cuomo cheerleader/New York Post state capitol bureau chief Fred Dicker may have the right idea with his incessant butt-smooching of his main-man Cuomo -- if you don't want the gov's office to keep a "file" on you, that is. An aide to the governor reportedly kept a "file" on a reporter who he ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Apologist Fred Dicker Rushes To Defend Gov's Flack's "File" On "Snarky" Reporter; Calls the Voice "Nasty"

Governor Andrew Cuomo's PR flack is under fire for a "file" he kept on a reporter who's often critical of Cuomo -- and now the gov's PR squad is running damage control.First stop -- as always -- Andrew Cuomo apologist/New York Post state capitol bureau chief Fred Dicker's radio show.It should be not ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Is Andrew Cuomo A Weed-Bully Or Is "Cuomo 2016" On His Mind?

As we reported yesterday, a bill will soon be introduced into the state Legislature that would legalize medical marijuana in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo, however, says he won't sign the bill -- despite overwhelming public support for prescription pot. It seems as though maybe -- just maybe -- th ... More >>

New York GOP Mum On Whether Rick Santorum Will Still Attend Party's Fancy ($1,000 A Plate) Dinner

The New York state Republican Party is holding its annual dinner next week, at which now-former presidential candidate Rick Santorum currently is scheduled to be a guest of honor. However, now that he's bailed on his campaign, it's unclear whether Santorum will actually show up -- and that's because ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo's Saying Nope To Medical Dope Actually Is "Encouraging" To Prescription Pot Advocates

An upcoming bill in the New York Legislature that would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes is getting no love from New York's gov -- Andrew Cuomo said yesterday that he still thinks the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to medical marijuana and that he wouldn't support the bill...this year ... More >>

New York's MMA Ban: Assemblyman Bob Reilly Says Fighting Can Cause Concussions

State lawmakers -- on both sides of the aisle -- are expected this month to reintroduce a bill that would lift New York's ban on mixed martial arts fights like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) -- but Assemblyman Bob Reilly's trying to piss on the parade. In a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo, ... More >>

New Yorkers Suspicious Of Andrew Cuomo's Shady Back-Room Deal-Making, Poll Shows

Andrew Cuomo, undoubtedly, is a pretty popular guy amongst New Yorkers (especially with New York Post state capital bureau chief Fred Dicker -- as we've chronicled, the guy just loves him). The gov currently boasts a 68-percent job approval rating, according to the latest poll. However, more than tw ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Ditches Pataki-Era Gun Law. Fred Dicker Gushes

​Governor Andrew Cuomo's ditched a controversial gun law put in place by ex-Governor George Pataki -- and, as you probably expected, Fred Dicker, the New York Post's state capital bureau chief/captain of the Cuomo rah-rah squad, got the "exclusive" on the story.Dicker, as you also might imagine, i ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Cheerleader Fred Dicker's Open To Suggestions On How To Stop Puckering Up For Gov's Rump

​New York Post state capital bureau chief/captain of the Andrew Cuomo cheerleading squad Fred Dicker asked us earlier this week what "tough questions" he should ask his pal Cuomo about the gov's new budget, which -- as Dicker swoons -- is expected to be on time for the second year in a row.Dicker ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Makes Media Rounds To Brag About (Expected) On-Time Budget. Fred Dicker Ready With The Softballs

​Governor Andrew Cuomo is making the media rounds today to tout what's expected to be New York's second annual on-time budget. First stop (of course): New York Post state capital bureau chief Fred Dicker's radio show -- and Dicker was ready...with a fresh bag of softballs.Throughout the course of ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Taps Bronx Assemblyman Peter Rivera (And Baggage That Comes With Him) For Top Labor Gig

​Governor Andrew Cuomo used the annual dinner for a non-profit group aimed at increasing the role of Hispanics in the public policy making process to announce that Democratic Bronx Assemblyman Peter Rivera is his pick to replace Colleen Gardner (a David Patterson holdover) as the commissioner of t ... More >>

Queer Rising Gets Arrested, Other LGBT Activists Pile on Cuomo Over Homeless Youth Funding in Budget

The activists over at Queer Rising, who got arrested again and again and again during the past couple of years fighting for marriage equality, took it to the streets yesterday and initiated their first encounter of 2012 with handcuffs in front of Governor Andrew Cuomo's midtown office. According ... More >>

Is New York's Marriage Equality Act In Legal Jeopardy of a Repeal?

​When the Marriage Equality Act passed in the New York State Senate on June 24, 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo quickly signed it into law. When it went into effect 30 days later, same-sex couples had the right to enter into civil marriages and receive the same legal protections afforded opposite- ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Shouldn't Think About Being President Yet, According to Poll

​Despite what he called an "unusually successful" legislative session, it's too early for Andrew Cuomo to be thinking about the United States presidency according to New Yorkers in a new poll. A Siena College survey found that 83% of locals said chatter about a national run in 2016 is prematur ... More >>

New York Post May Not Approve of Andrew Cuomo's High Approval Rating

​Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, while fair and balanced 99 percent of the time, occasionally allows some bias to creep into one of its many media outlets. Hard to believe, but if you look very close, you can find it. So let's play a game: Guess the News Corp. lede!

Chris Lee Could Be Replaced By Carl Paladino

​Christopher Lee, the New York representative who resigned yesterday amid a scandal over shirtless pictures, will be replaced between 30 and 45 days after Governor Andrew Cuomo calls for a special election. Rumors have already started as to who might run for the spot, including one that New Yorker ... More >>

Queens Pol Tony Seminerio, 75, Dies in a Federal Pen

​Former Queens assemblyman Tony Seminerio died today in a federal prison hospital in North Carolina where he was serving out the six-year fraud sentence he received in February. Seminerio, 75, had long been in poor health. Prior to his sentencing by federal Judge Naomi Buchwald for taking hund ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo Goes to Albany, Where Lobbyists Are Waiting

David Paterson Post Mortems Begin in Earnest

​The day after the election, the Times ran a comparative chart of the personal preferences of the outgoing and incoming governors. Asked how he relaxed at the Governor's Mansion in Albany, David Paterson said: "Reading in the family room." A few days earlier, Joe Fisch, the state's in ... More >>

New York Gubernatorial Candidate Makes Final Pre-Election Push With Local Constituents

According to photographic evidence provided by WNYCMedia.net, New York's Republican option for governor, Carl Paladino, partied with sexy wenches, a, er, "guy in blackface" (or maybe a burn victim/devil person/sexy post-op Jocelyn Wildenstein?), and a zombie for Halloween at West Seneca bar Potter's ... More >>

Carl Paladino Storms Off TV Over His Own Gillibrand "Little Girl" Comments

​Carl Paladino, the GOP candidate for governor of New York, went on a "TV tirade" on Plattsburgh's WCAX-TV, a local CBS affiliate, Friday evening when asked about calling Senator Kirsten Gillibrand a "little girl," according to the Buffalo News. (The News, Paladino's hometown paper, has alread ... More >>

Carl Paladino's Hometown Newspaper Endorses Andrew Cuomo

​Batty and bigoted Republican candidate for governor of New York, Carl Paladino, is trailing his opponent Andrew Cuomo by doubt-digits in the polls and suffered another blow Sunday when his hometown newspaper, the Buffalo News, endorsed Cuomo. "In the end, there is no choice for governor but A ... More >>

The Sick Looting of Home Health Care

A connected company's license to loot—at the expense of the taxpayers, elderly, and infirm

Carl Paladino vs. The Tea Party: No Love Lost

​Third party politics in New York is so byzantine most voters turn off when it comes up. But Rudy Giuliani wouldn't have been mayor without the now-defunct Liberal line and George Pataki's margin over Mario Cuomo in 1994 was provided by the State Conservative Party. So the swing this week ... More >>

Gov. David Paterson Coming to SNL Tonight

​"Fuck SNL and the whole cast," New York governor David Paterson rapped in his comeback single "Power," continuing, "Tell 'em David said they can kiss my whole ass." Now, after years of being somewhat mercilessly tortured by a Fred Armisen caricature (pictured) -- focused on the governor's bli ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo's Opportunity is Here: When Will He Endorse an A.G. Candidate?

​Andrew Cuomo will show us in the next few days if he has the balls to be a change agent as governor. His feud with Eliot Spitzer caught fire when Spitzer got stuck in neutral during Cuomo's 2006 primary race for attorney general against Mark Green, refusing to endorse Cuomo when it mattered. ... More >>

David Paterson: A Lame Duck, Sure, But Why the Lame Media Coverage?

The governor and David Johnson​It's a week since Judge Judith Kaye issued her 54-page report exonerating and damning Governor Paterson for his handling of a domestic violence case, and nothing has happened. That's news. Clemmie Harris, who admitted to Kaye that he tried to kill the complaint, ... More >>

Gov. Paterson Will Attempt to Resurrect His Soda Tax

poolie/Flickr​Governor Paterson won't take no for an answer: despite the fact his proposed soda tax was killed earlier this month by relentless lobbying and advertising from the beverage industry, he's planning to reintroduce the tax during a special legislative session on Wednesday.

Eric Schneiderman and the Bogus Issue of AG "Independence"

​In the only hotly contested statewide primary race, the buzzword is "independence." The theory, propagated by those unlikely to get Andrew Cuomo's support to replace him as attorney general, is that an endorsement from the probable next governor would compromise a law enforcement official wh ... More >>

Mike Bloomberg Draws Praise for the Same Budget Decisions That Reap Tabloid Ridicule for Shelly Silver

The recently passed Bloomberg and state legislative budgets each contained precisely the same, optimistic assumption that New York would get hundreds of millions of additional federal Medicaid funds even though the bill to provide the windfall was stalled in Congress. The Daily News said Bloomber ... More >>