Politics

Will Barack Obama Veto Tax Cuts?

Well, this is a mess... Remember yesterday, when Barack Obama called on Congress to extend Bush-era tax cuts for families making up to $250,000? Remember how Obama made the politically risky move of describing the economy as disappointing under his watch, using that as proof the country needs tax ... More >>

Barack Obama To Congress: Extend Tax Cuts for The Middle Class

Taking aim at trickle down fiscal policies and warning legislators not to hold the American economy "hostage," President Barack Obama demanded today that Congress extend Bush-era middle class tax cuts for a year. Addressing the nation from the White House's East Room, Obama implored Congress to "do ... More >>

Mike Bloomberg's Hot Dog Puns: So, Who Actually "Writes This Shit?"

Mayor Mike Bloomberg apparently found his pun-packed speech at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest weigh-in on Tuesday a bit too pun-y -- he interrupted his prepared statement to ask "who writes this shit?"

City Council Set To Override Bloomberg's Veto On Living Wage Bill

Nearly 100 New Yorkers from coalitions across the city stood on the steps of City Hall this afternoon to claim victory for the Living Wage Bill.The bill will require companies that receive $1 million in city subsidies to pay their employees a minimum wage of $10 -- $11.50 if the employee does not ... More >>

Failed War On Drugs Contributing To AIDS Epidemic: Report

The Global Commission on Drug Policy released a report this afternoon that shows how the failed "war on drugs" is contributing to the AIDS epidemic amongst intravenous drug users and their sexual partners (you can review the entire report below).The Commission, which is made up of the who's who of f ... More >>

ACT UP Did March for Single-Payer Health Care

In this week's Pride Issue feature "Does 'Gay Inc.' Believe in Free Speech?" we report about how the mainstream gay organizations, even the AIDS groups, were largely absent from Zuccotti Park in 2011 and were not advocating a single-payer option during 2010's raging health care debates. Reader Eust ... More >>

Selling a Newly Out Armed Forces

The Pentagon makes sure the public supports 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal

Senator Bill Perkins Actually Voted Against Ban On Spending Welfare Money On Cigs, Booze and Strippers

A bill that would ban spending welfare money on "sins" like cigarettes, booze, strippers and gambling sailed through the New York State Senate yesterday, which is no surprise. The fact that some legislators actually voted against the bill, however, is absolutely shocking.One of the few lawmakers to ... More >>

Melissa Mark-Viverito, Bill de Blasio Call on City To Retire Carriage Horses

Around fifty people gathered on the steps of City Hall this afternoon to demand the City Council test out a prototype electric car that they hope can replace horse-drawn carriages. That proposal, Intro. 86A, is sponsored in the City Council by Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. New Yorkers for Clean, Li ... 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 >>

Bad News, Impoverished Sinners: Lawmakers Want To Ban Buying Cigs And Booze With Welfare Money

As un-fucking-believable as it may sound, welfare recipients in New York currently are allowed to spend public-assistance money on things like cigarettes, booze, and strippers -- but hopefully not for long.A bill has been introduced in the state Senate that would ban welfare recipients from using pu ... More >>

Is Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Supersized Soda Ban Unconstitutional?

Talk about throwing around the c-word! The Constitution, that is. (Don't give us that look! What word did you think we meant?) Anyway, opponents of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's supersized soda ban might argue in court that the proposed measure is unconstitutional, citing the commerce clause as proof ... More >>

New Yorkers Are Systematically Screwed By "Public View" Marijuana Law. These Are Their Stories (Part Six)

In an effort to persuade New York lawmakers to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to decriminalize "public view" marijuana arrests, a drug policy group has started a video campaign to illustrate how people are getting screwed by a loophole in the Marijuana Reform Act, which (supposedly) decrim ... More >>

New Yorkers Are Systematically Screwed By "Public View" Marijuana Law. These Are Their Stories (Part Five)

In an effort to persuade New York lawmakers to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to decriminalize "public view" marijuana arrests, a drug policy group has started a video campaign to illustrate how people are getting screwed by a loophole in the Marijuana Reform Act, which (supposedly) decrim ... More >>

New Yorkers Are Systematically Screwed By "Public View" Marijuana Law. These Are Their Stories (Part Four)

In an effort to persuade New York lawmakers to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to decriminalize "public view" marijuana arrests, a drug policy group has started a video campaign to illustrate how people are getting screwed by a loophole in the Marijuana Reform Act, which (supposedly) decrim ... More >>

New Yorkers Are Systematically Screwed By "Public View" Marijuana Law. These Are Their Stories (Part Three)

In an effort to persuade New York lawmakers to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to decriminalize "public view" marijuana arrests, a drug policy group has started a video campaign to illustrate how people are getting screwed by a loophole in the Marijuana Reform Act, which (supposedly) decriminal ... More >>

New Yorkers Are Systematically Screwed By "Public View" Marijuana Law. These Are Their Stories (Part Two)

In an effort to persuade New York lawmakers to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to decriminalize "public view" marijuana arrests, a drug policy group has started a video campaign to illustrate how people are getting screwed by a loophole in the Marijuana Reform Act, which (supposedly) decrim ... More >>

Welcome Back, Jim Crow

New laws in dozens of states could take out Barack Obama this fall

New Yorkers Are Systematically Screwed By "Public View" Marijuana Law. These Are Their Stories (Part One)

In an effort to persuade New York lawmakers to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to decriminalize "public view" marijuana arrests, a drug policy group has started a video campaign to illustrate how people are getting screwed by a loophole in the Marijuana Reform Act, which supposedly decriminaliz ... 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 >>

U.N. Me

ACTA: So What's Up With Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Negotiations, Anyway?

So you might have been following CISPA, and might be aware of the SOPA/PIPA shitshow that took place in Congress earlier this year, but do you know about ACTA -- the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement? If not, don't sweat: We'll gladly get you up to speed. That's what we're here for! So what is ... More >>

Shocking Homophobic Incident In Michigan! Fight Back!

This just came in from this blog's own, beloved Gregory Moore: "Yesterday, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the YWCA of Kalamazoo presented their annual 'Women of Achievement' awards to five very deserving, accomplished women, all of whom were presented with a framed proclamation from the State of Michigan ... 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 >>

City Opposes Cuomo's Move to End Fingerprinting for Food Stamps, But Can't Do Much About it

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that he is ending a controversial policy that requires food stamp applicants to be fingerprinted -- a move that has pitted him squarely against Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The news today is also one that puts Bloomberg in direct opposition with City Council Speaker an ... More >>

Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story

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 >>

Obama Earns Coveted Ricky Martin Endorsement; New York GOP Irked By Prez Partying With Celebs

For anyone who takes their political cues from pop star Ricky Martin, the former Menudo member has thrown his support behind President Barack Obama in this year's election -- he's even throwing the president a pretty pricey fundraiser in New York tonight, which the state's Republican Party seems to ... More >>

The Voice Talks Gay Marriage and Race on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show [AUDIO]

After publishing our piece yesterday "5 Reasons Why Touré Is Wrong On Blacks, Gay Marriage and Obama," we had the chance to talk about the president's new support fo marriage equality with WNYC's Brian Lehrer. We took calls from black listeners and talked to Lehrer about the many reasons why we b ... More >>

In Stop-and-Frisk Debate, Mayor Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio Bad-Mouth Each Other

The debate over the NYPD's controversial stop-and-frisk policy is in full swing this week with a proposal from the public advocate prompting a badmouthing match between the mayor and the elected official who hopes to replace him in 2013. Yesterday, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, an expected mayor ... More >>

Bloomberg Budget Slashes Homeless Youth Funding By $7 Million: Advocates

Mayor Michael Bloomberg released his budget yesterday, and it's not a pretty read for children. According to Council Speaker Christine Quinn, it could axe 42,000 slots for childcare. Also, according to a press release from the Ali Forney Center, it will wreak havoc on the number of beds available f ... More >>

After Mounting Pressure, Mayor's Office Gives Out Hard Copies of 'Final' 9-1-1 Report

Today, the mayor's office gave out hard copies of the city's controversial 9-1-1 report to reporters that asked for it. The Voice stopped by City Hall late this afternoon to grab a copy of the 133-page consultant's report that examined the city's emergency response system. It has been a topic of m ... More >>

Mayor Releases New Budget With Childcare Cuts, Gets Very Annoyed at Reporters

Mayor Mike Bloomberg released his $68.7 billion executive budget proposal today and patted himself on the back for leading the city in a speedy recovery that's better than the rest of the country. The new budget for 2013 has no tax increases and relies on $6.2 billion in savings generated through de ... More >>

Bill de Blasio: Release Your Staff Evaluations, Mr. Mayor

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is upping the ante on the debate over teacher evaluations by calling on the mayor to release evaluations of staffers from his office. De Blasio -- who is expected to run for mayor in 2013 and who frequently gets headlines for criticizing Bloomberg -- is rallying arou ... More >>

Former Aide of John Edwards Says He Feared for His Life; Secret Service Agent Identified; Newark Terminal Shut Down Due to Baby

A former campaign aide to John Edwards testified yesterday that in a conversation with the former presidential candidate in 2008, he feared for his life. Andrew Young has spent nearly four days on the stand in the federal corruption trial detailing his part in helping Edwards keep mistress Rielle Hu ... More >>

City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez Fires Spokesman, Left to Handle Controversy Without Him

In response to reports of his spokesperson's controversial past, City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez has fired staffer David Segal -- which seems to have only ignited further controversy. And now the Councilman, who represents parts of upper Manhattan, is left to handle the fallout from the news with ... More >>

Mike Bloomberg On Living Wage Disagreement With Christine Quinn: 'I'm Going to Her Wedding'

The ongoing disagreement between Mike Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn on living wage legislation isn't damaging their relationship, the mayor said today. Or at least, he's still planning on attending her upcoming wedding -- and doesn't think the controversial bills are going to ... More >>

Veto! Bloomberg Rejects Wage Bills, Says City Council Proposal Would Kill Jobs

As expected, Mayor Mike Bloomberg today vetoed the City Council's wage legislation, but unlike his past public comments on the matter, he didn't go so far as to compare the bills to Communism. Still, if the legislation passes, Bloomberg will sue. The proposals in question were the prevailing an ... More >>

Happy New York Republican Primary Day; GOPers Still Pretending Primary Matters, Which Is Adorable

Happy Republican primary day, New York! Now make sure and get out there and vote because your vote really (ahem) matters -- according to the New York State Republican Party, anyway. In reality, however, your vote means precisely nothing.The New York State Republican Party issued a press release last ... More >>

Gun Couture: Firearms Industry Gets 'Fashionable'

It's long been a big problem for the fashionable firearm owner: How to hide a handgun and look haute couture at the same time. Well, a report in today's New York Times has some great news for the tres chic ranks of the U.S.'s 7 million concealed carry permit holders. Clothing companies have start ... More >>

Scott Stringer Goes After Stop-and-Frisk, Does Not Criticize Ray Kelly In The Process

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who is expected to run for mayor, pushed forward his campaign against the NYPD's controversial stop-and-frisk policy with a press event this afternoon featuring Martin Luther King III. But as he continues his public appearances on the matter, Stringer see ... 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 >>

City Council Presses Dept. of Education Officials on Controversial Co-Location Policy

After fielding criticisms earlier this week about the city's policy of shutting down failing schools, Mayor Mike Bloomberg and the Department of Education took heat yesterday for the city's frequent practice of co-locating multiple schools in the same building. At an Education Committee hearing yes ... More >>

More Mayoral Hopefuls Weigh in on the Ray Kelly Rumors: He Has a Great Record!

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said today that if the Ray Kelly running for mayor rumors turn out to be true, the dynamics of the mayoral race would certainly change. And some candidates gearing up for their campaigns are probably afraid of that, Stringer, an expected contender himself, ... More >>

Christine Quinn Would Not Limit Mayor's Power in Schools, Thinks City Should Take Parents More Seriously

Though most expected candidates haven't even officially announced their campaigns for mayor, a big part of the race to replace Mayor Mike Bloomberg is already taking form in the area of education policy. This week, mayoral hopefuls have been offering their views on the current Administration's educa ... 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 >>

Bloomberg Unveils Plan for New Schools, Mum On Education Ideas of Mayoral Hopefuls

Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott to unveil the city's plan to open 54 new schools this fall -- which the mayor touted as an important step in the reform efforts he began when he took control of the school system at the start of his administration. ... More >>

Mike Bloomberg's The Latest Politico to Dodge Questions About Ray Kelly Running For Mayor

Mayor Mike Bloomberg is a big, big fan of Ray Kelly, but that doesn't mean he's going to publicly say that the city's police commissioner should step it up and run for mayor in 2013. It's not that Bloomberg doesn't like him -- it's just, you know, a hypothetical situation. And Bloomberg's never ta ... More >>