Jeff Smith, a “recovering politician” from Missouri, imparts his wisdom about Anthony Weiner, changing political parties and campaign field operations.… [More]

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy met with Mayor Michael Bloomberg at City Hall on Wednesday, but he had a few things to say about Gov. Andrew Cuomo too. “I think he’s doing a great job,” Malloy said. “He’s working very hard, he’s assembled a good team on the gun control stuff. He shot out pretty quickly and did a lot of good work. I support him.” Malloy, a Democrat, also got a gun control bill through the state legislature this year but has dealt with far less corruption… [More]

“Being powerful is like being a lady,” mused the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. “If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” In Albany, as in every political arena, bluster is often mistaken for true power. Of course, even the perception that one has influence can yield genuine authority, but more often that not, those with true power in government are not the grandstanders but those who work dutifully, quietly and shrewdly behind the scenes to achieve their… [More]

The Partnership for New York City today is releasing its “NYC Jobs Blueprint,” an analysis of New York City’s economy that includes more than 30 recommendations outlining ways that that the public and private sectors can work together to keep New York City a “strong, inclusive city of opportunity” in coming years. Joining the Partnership will be Laurence Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren, and Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. The blueprint comes as the race for mayor of New York City is gaining… [More]

In the wake of the CityTime scandal, New York City officials have taken steps in recent years to increase oversight of outside contractors, including a joint transparency project with the city comptroller, a new city technology development corporation, and the passage of a law requiring a cost-benefit analysis before any outsourcing that could replace city workers. But for critics, still more changes are needed to prevent another debacle like CityTime, a computerized payroll system that went hundreds of millions of… [More]

When it comes to politics in New York City, residents of Bayside, Queens, are disillusioned and disengaged – and while a spate of arrests of elected officials and political operatives last week reinforced those feelings, the latest corruption allegations don’t appear to have done much to alter voters’ already cynical view of politicians. “Nobody’s shocked by that,” said an elderly black man who only gave his name as Bob. “It’s all about money. There’s something wrong with that.” Some locals… [More]

The key players and issues regarding transportation infrastructure.… [More]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg should ban the use of food stamps to buy sugary drinks.… [More]

Public health policies, like the soda size restrictions, typically face resistance, then acceptance once they work.… [More]

It’s the calm before the storm at W’s, early evening on a Saturday night, the eve of St. Patrick’s Day. Across the city, droves of drunken co-eds and 20-somethings booze their way from one pub to the next, part of what is now ostensibly a two-day drinking holiday, with no semblance of Irish heritage being honored outside of green attire. But W’s keeps it old-school—corned beef and cabbage on the menu, taps of beer flowing, and scores of locals slowly… [More]