A Political Advice Column By Jeff Smith… [More]

New York officials weigh in on real estate and land-use issues KEN ADAMS Commissioner, New York State Department of Economic Development Q: How successful has the state been in selling off unused real estate? KA: The Cuomo administration has taken a proactive role in leveraging vacant and underutilized state-owned properties into jobs and economic development assets that reflect the priorities of local communities. Our goal is to maximize the use of space, minimize costs and achieve significant savings for taxpayers.… [More]

Projected FY2013 deficits, actual FY2012 deficits, and proposed or planned cuts, as of March 2010 New York is in good company as it tries to close this year’s budget gap. Other states are cutting healthcare and education spending and some are mulling tax cuts to balance their budgets. In many states, though, the size of the deficit is starting to shrink. — jlentz@cityandstateny.com California: 2013: $8.4 billion deficit 2012: $23 billion deficit California Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget banks on a… [More]

Tumult in Harlem underscores storied neighborhood’s generational and ethnic divide Harlem is in turmoil. Again. Three Democratic candidates are lining up to run against Rep. Charlie Rangel, who himself is gearing up for his 21st reelection campaign. The Latino community in Northern Manhattan is up in arms over the possibility it might not get its own congressional district. And the Manhattan and Bronx Democratic parties are feuding over how best to divide the spoils of redistricting. In other words, more… [More]

New York immigrant groups push hard on scaled-back DREAM Act Not all dreams come true, or at least not right away. That’s why state lawmakers are including fewer of them in the New York DREAM Act, in the hopes that a narrower focus will bring more success in Albany. Introduced last year after the failure of a broader measure in Washington offering young illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, the state legislation would allow young illegal immigrants going to college… [More]

After gay marriage, a transformative coalition splinters into just another interest group As spring turned into summer last year, a battle over gay rights was brewing in New York City. This was not the years-long struggle to legalize same-sex marriage in the state, a clash being waged at the highest levels of government, with millions of dollars helping frame the issue as a civil rights battle that became a generational test of progressive values. Instead, it was a battle about… [More]

By Chris Bragg, Andrew J. Hawkins, Jon Lentz, Adam Lisberg and Laura Nahmias Say cheese! What is it about the Photography Club that turns smart kids dumb? Two club members got in hot water this year after they turned their lenses on themselves—and ended up expelled! The founding member was Chris Lee, who figured his camera phone would be a good way to share pictures of his pecs and meet interesting people down at the satellite campus in Washington. Who… [More]

* The runaway success of the governor’s tax plan has inspired the inevitable “Cuomo as VP” speculation. One Albany insider predicted there would be “increasing talk of his being a possible running mate for Obama” in the coming months. The scenario has Joe Biden replacing a retiring Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, allowing Obama to tap Cuomo as his 2012 running mate. The move could help Obama among blue-collar voters and white Catholics, SUNY-Albany prof and political consultant Bruce… [More]

A Mayor Dressed For Success…In Washington Ambitious people should be familiar with this piece of advice: “Dress for the job you want.” Perhaps that’s the spirit behind Mayor Michael Bloomberg giving what sounded like a presidential speech in Washington, D.C., last week. In earnest remarks to an earnest forum, full of economic insight and statistical detail, Bloomberg was a man trying to find a middle ground between Democrats and Republicans, both of whom he thinks are heading off a cliff.… [More]

Brooklyn Director, Rep. Michael Grimm Age: 39 Nick Curran’s experience as a staffer on Capitol Hill gives him a leg up in his work for Rep. Michael Grimm, but he’s quite happy to put that experience to use in New York City these days. In Washington, Curran was surrounded by other people in the political class. In Brooklyn, where he lives with his wife and two children, he is surrounded by regular people from all walks of life. “Everybody knows… [More]