Feed

sheldon silver

1 By Hunter Walker 1/13 6:00pm

Foreign Affairs

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Getty)

Iran Divestment Act Becomes Law

Governor Cuomo signed the Iran Divestment Act today. The new law, which was passed by the State Legislature Tuesday, will bar businesses from signing or renewing state or local government contracts if they provide goods, services or credit worth $20 million or more to Iran’s energy sector. It was backed by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

"This new law ensures that companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector do not do business with the State of New York," Governor Cuomo said in a statement announcing the law's passage. "I thank Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver for their leadership and hard work on this important law." Read More

2 By Hunter Walker 1/11 11:42am

2016?

Cuomo.

King Cuomo: Governor Exalted Before State of the State

Governor Andrew Cuomo never tires of describing his first year in office as a transformative period for New York State government that saw Albany change from a hotbed of graft and gridlock into a model of bipartisan cooperation and good government. At his annual State of the State address last week, each element was perfectly calibrated to symbolically support that narrative.

Rather than giving the speech in the Assembly Chamber, Governor Cuomo moved the proceedings to the New York State Convention Center in the underground concourse below the Capitol. In an appearance on former Governor David Paterson’s radio show Monday, he confirmed the venue change was intended to send a message.

“I wanted to make a statement. The State of the State, as you know, is normally done in the Assembly Chamber,” Governor Cuomo said. “So, the Senate would come in and they would pack into that Assembly Chamber. And it was in the Capitol, it was basically to the Legislature with very few guests … because there were no seats—uncomfortable and you’re talking to a room full of politicians. I wanted to metaphorically, last year, bring the government outside of the Capitol and open the forum to the people.” Read More

25 By Hunter Walker 12:47pm

Schoolyard Showdown

Governor Cuomo (Photo: Getty)

Governor Cuomo: ‘Teacher Evaluation Is a Major Crisis For The State’

In his appearance on Fred Dicker's radio show today, Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed the controversy over teacher evaluations. Last week, State Education Commissioner John B. King announced suspended millions of dollars in funding from schools in the five boroughs and nine other districts around New York that missed a deadline to agree on plans for teacher evaluation programs. Governor Cuomo, who called for an education commission to come up with an evaluation plan in his State of the State address last week, described the situation with as a "major crisis for the state." Though he doesn't plan on personally getting involved in the tense negotiations on evaluations going on between local school districts and teacher's unions, Governor Cuomo said something has to give.

"This situation is not going away, we need the evaluations done because it's how we improve education. Second, we need an evaluation system, because it was the condition of the federal funding and it's not going to get better," Governor Cuomo said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/02/11 9:00am

suggested reading

Morning Read: Cuomo Goes Hollywood; Hevesi Staying Behind Bars

Governor Cuomo is headed to Los Angeles where Hollywood A-Listers are hosting his first out-of-state fundraiser to thank him for legalizing same sex marriage.

Former Comptroller Alan Hevesi was denied parole and will spend another year behind bars for his role in a pay-to-play pension fund corruption scandal.

Speaking of comptrollers, advisors for Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer reportedly hope he'll take advantage of John Liu's troubles and run for comptroller rather than entering the tougher mayoral race.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 11/22/11 11:34am

Finger Pointing

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Getty)

Governor Cuomo Won’t Play Supercommittee Blame Game

Governor Cuomo dodged repeated attempts to get him to pin responsibility for the failure of the supercommittee on President Obama this morning on Fred Dicker's radio show, "Live From the State Capitol." The governor has said the automatic cuts triggered by yesterday's collapse of the bipartisan Congressional debt reduction committee will cost New York billions, but he doesn't lay blame on his fellow Democrat in the White House.

"If you want to start pointing fingers," Governor Cuomo said, "You're going to need both hands in this case. It is a governmental failure." Read More

1 By Max Seddon 11/21/11 3:34pm

Hospital Drama

Sheldon Silver after his bike accident. (Photo: Stephen Crowley/New York Times)

Silver Keeps Surgery in the Family After Bike Fall

Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver - last seen sporting a set of bruises, stitches, and scabs all over his face after a bike fall - has checked into hospital for treatment on knee swelling caused by the same accident. The speaker was in Puerto Rico for the annual Somos el Futuro conference, where politicians schmooze with labor leaders and lobbyists ostensibly over Hispanic-related issues, earlier this month when he took a nasty spin after the bike he rented hit a San Juan pothole. Read More

1 By Hunter Walker 11/04/11 9:14pm

suggested reading

Roundup: Giuliani Says Obama ‘Owns’ Occupy Wall Street; Santa Survives; Zuccotti Potties

Rudy Giuliani said President Obama is responsible for Occupy Wall Street and predicted the movement will "take his presidency down."

Steve Ballone, a Democratic candidate for Suffolk County executive, saved Santa.

U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Senator Daniel Squadron, and Councilwoman Margaret Chin are thankful for the port-o-potties in Zuccotti Park.

According to new poll numbers, Governor Cuomo is surprisingly popular. Read More