Always outspoken Queens Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. is not at all happy about the proposed legislative lines for the Senate district in Astoria. Mr. Vallone weighed in on the potential District 12 map in a post on his Facebook page this evening:
"Holy crap they drew the Astoria Senate district into something that looks like a baby alien popping out of a stomach!!" Read More
With their overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers last night, the New York Giants put themselves in the Super Bowl and became the talk of the town. Local politicians were no exception. Their responses to the game included cheers, bewilderment and hatred for our Super Bowl opponents, the New England Patriots. Read More
Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams issued a statement expressing his support after a plainclothes detective was injured when a car crashed into him during a routine traffic stop in Flatbush. Councilman Williams has been a prominent critic of the NYPD, but he said this incident reminds New Yorker's that "officers routinely put themselves in potential harm's way to ensure the safety and security of our communities."
"I offer my prayers for a speedy recovery to the detective on his road to recovery, as well as to his family, friends and colleagues who may also dealing with shock over the nature of this incident," Councilman Williams said. "This is a terrible reminder that the NYPD does important yet dangerous work every single day." Read More
Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. defended Mayor Michael Bloomberg's policy of requiring food stamp applicants to submit fingerprints in a Facebook post this afternoon. Governor Andrew Cuomo said he wants to stop food stamp fingerprinting in his State of the State address Wednesday arguing that it deters some people from signing up for the program. Councilman Vallone took issue with the idea people feel stigmatized by fingerprinting.
"I was fingerprinted to be a prosecutor," wrote the Councilman, who worked for several years as an assistant district attorney. "I havent needed therapy at all to get over the stigma. Most city workers are fingerprinted." Read More
Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. was not amused by actress Ellen Barkin's anti-cop Tweets this week. Ms. Barkin sent a stream of posts criticizing the NYPD and Mayor Bloomberg after she saw police officers arresting Occupy Wall Street protesters while walking home on 13th Street and 6th Avenue in the wee hours of New Year's Day. Councilman Vallone responded to Ms. Barkin's Tweets with a post of his own on his Facebook page yesterday. "The NYPD anxiously awaits your apology. Twit," he wrote. Read More
The outspoken City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., of Astoria, takes to Facebook to discuss a feud that is, in some ways, hard to ignore.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said there is no "rhyme or reason" for how the City Council allocates millions of dollars in "member items," and that rich neighborhoods often get more money than poorer communities.
There is "no statistical relationship between a district's need and it's member allocation," Stringer said in a conference call this afternoon when his office released a review of data from the last four year.
The Manhattan Borough President said his staff look at nine of the country's largest cities and that none of them distribute as much money in as "arbitrary" manner. Read More
2012: Cuomo backs Obamanomics. [Ken Lovett / Daily News]
NY9: Queens to cave to Conservatives and back Bob Turner. [Liz Benjamin / Capital Tonight]
NY9: "This is going to be a real race. We have to take this seriously," said Weprin. [Grace Rauh / NY1]
NY9: "NY GOP should unite behind Bob Turner & redeem themselves from their dismal failures of the past." [Daniel Horowitz / Red State]
NY9: Conservative group of Orthodox Jews criticize Weprin for supporting same-sex marriage. [Community Guardians Group]
NY9: Weprin donors include "many boldfaced real estate names." [CJ Hughes / Real Deal]
Council: Vallone lost thousands in discretionary funding for upstaging and opposing Quinn's push to rename bridge after Koch. [Sally Goldenberg / NY Post]
Manhattan DA: Dershowitz criticizes Vance for 'stonewalling' on probe of sister-in-law's death. [Sabrina Ford / NY Post]
Layoffs: HHC can proceed with layoffs, appellate court rules, reversing lower court decision. [John Elligon / New York Times]
And Vito Lopez explains the need to take Republican Bob Turner seriously (and wages a beer on the race after the jump!). [Youtube] Read More
