Daily Campaign Roundup: Democrats Stand Up To Bullies
By Mike Connery on 06/23/2010 @ 02:45 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Democrats in Senate pass comprehensive anti-bullying legislation, while some Republicans object. Stachowski stands up for firefighters. Avella speaks out against Flushing Commons Project.
- Three lone Republicans oppose anti-bullying legislation in Senate - The Senate passed the Dignity For All bill yesterday, which will combat bias-based bullying, harassment and discrimination in the state's public schools. Amazingly, three Republicans - John DeFrancisco, George Maziarz, and Dale Volker - found themselves incapable of supporting schoolchildren and voted against the bill.
- Sen. William Stachowski helps Armor Volunteer Fire Company survive- Senator William Stachowski sponsored legislation that passed through the Senate which releases the Armor Volunteer Fire Company in Hamburg from the requirement that states that no more than forty-five percent of the company's members can be non-residents. “In this economic climate, it is very difficult for some volunteer fire companies to recruit new members to replace those who may have to move out of the district,” he said.
- Senate unanimously passed bill sponsored by Sen. David Valesky banning use of embalming fluid as a recreational drug - Senators voted to make it a misdemeanor yesterday to possess embalming with the intent to inhale it, ingest it or sell it to someone to do so. The vote was 61-0, and the legislation was sponsored by Sen. Valesky.
- Democratic Candidate Tony Avella speaking out against Flushing Commons Project - Tony Avella, running against Republican incumbent Frank Padavan in Queens- is leading a rally today opposing the Flushing Commons Project . Avella believes that the project will overwhelm an already dense downtown area. He explained: ”The project is way too large for the proposed location, and given that, and its history, the site may be a once and future graveyard for the Flushing community and the small businesses that make it such a unique destination for people all over the city.”
Republicans Vote to Shut New Yorkers Out of Their Parks During Memorial Day Weekend
By Mike Connery on 05/28/2010 @ 06:21 PM
As Senate Democrats voted to restore funding to our parks today, Republicans proved themselves once more to be the "Party of No," voting unanimously to reject the funding and putting the profits of polluters ahead of New Yorkers who deserve access to their parks.
What's more, Republicans voted against the economic well being of our state and its citizens. The parks system is an economic engine for New York, generating upwards of $1.9 billion in revenue and over 20,000 jobs across the state. When the parks close, those jobs and revenue go away, leaving areas more economically depressed. Here's a full accounting as to how park closures would affect different areas of the state:
Allegany Region – 1.9 million visitors, 860 jobs created and $62 million in related sales and output generated by Allegany, Lake Erie, Long Point and Midway state parks
Saratoga- Capital Region – 3.3 million visitors, 2,929 jobs created and $249 million in related sales and output generated at Saratoga Spa, Thacher, Grafton Lakes and Moreau Lake state parks to name just a few.
Central Region – 2.3 million visitors, 1,620 jobs created and $134 million in related sales and output generated by Glimmerglass, Green Lakes, Verona Beach, and Chenango Valley state parks to name just a few.
Finger Lakes Region – 3 million visitors, 1,776 jobs created and $141 million in related sales and output generated by Buttermilk Falls, Watkins Glen, Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake state parks to name just a few.
Genesee Region – 1.2 million visitors, 675 jobs created and $58 million in related sales and output generated by Letchworth, Darien Lakes, Silver Lake and Hamlin Beach state parks to name just a few.
Long Island Region – 19.9 million visitors, 3,992 jobs created and $410 million in related sales and output generated by Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Montauk Point and Caleb Smith state parks to name just a few.
New York City – 4.5 million visitors, 716 jobs created and $61 million in related sales and output generated by Roberto Clemente, Riverbank and Gantry Plaza state parks to name just a few.
Niagara Frontier Region - 10.3 million visitors, 4,701 jobs created and $569 million related sales and output generated by Niagara Falls, Evangola, Woodlawn Beach and Four Mile Creek state parks to name just a few.
Palisades Region – 4.4 million visitors, 1,052 jobs created and $94 million in related sales and output generated by Harriman, Minnewaska, Bear Mountain, and Rockland Lake state park.
Taconic Region – 3.1 million visitors, 957 jobs created and $102 million in related sales and output generated by Fahnestock, Hudson Highlands, Taconic and James Baird state parks to name just a few.
Thousand Islands Region – 1.7 million visitors, 882 jobs created and $63 million in related sales and output generated by Cumberland Bay, St. Lawrence, Wellesley Island and Westcott Beach state parks to name just a few.
There was one constituency that Republicans voted for today - polluters. GOP opposition to the measure was predicated upon higher fees imposed on New York’s producers of hazardous waste -- fees that are dedicated to cleaning up the environment.
Republicans have made their priorities clear. They're on the side of corporate polluters over the people of New York, the health of our state's economy, and the open spaces that make our state great. As New Yorkers head to their local parks this weekend to honor our veterans and picnic with their family, I think they would agree that the values displayed by Republicans today are not those of New York.
Bill Thompson Endorses Tony Avella
By Mike Connery on 05/28/2010 @ 03:12 PM
Earlier today, former Comptroller and mayoral candidate Bill Thompson endorsed his former rival Tony Avella, calling him a strong and independent voice who will stand up to special interests and bring change to Albany. Avella is challenging 38 year incumbent Frank Padavan in Queens' 11th senate district.
Senate Class of 2010 Getting Positive Reaction
By Mike Connery on 05/27/2010 @ 01:01 PM
After their introduction to the New York Democratic political scene yesterday at the state convention, the members Senate Democrats Class of 2010 are receiving positive attention in the progressive blogosphere and from the state political press. Here's a sampling of the coverage thus far:
- The Albany Project loved the launch video, particularly the introduction by former City Councilman Tony Avella, who is challenging Frank Padavan in SD-11.
- Rochester Turning also loved the video, and was excited about the campaigns of Robin Wilt and Mary Wimot.
- Jimmy Vielkind chatted with Mary Wilmot and Susan Savage about their respective races.
- Celeste Katz posted our video, and provided coverage to all of our candidates.
- Finally, our candidates received a shout-out on the State of Politics blog.
If you haven't met the Class of 2010 yourself, be sure to check out the video and use our new battleground map to connect with their campaigns.
Change Albany Now: Senate Class of 2010
By Mike Connery on 05/26/2010 @ 05:01 PM
Earlier today at the State Party Convention, Senator Sampson introduced the Democratic Party, and all of New York, to the Senate Class of 2010. You can read his full remarks here (video coming soon).
As Senator Sampson noted in his address, these are the women and men in whom we are investing our hopes for the future. They are challenging Republican incumbents across New York State - from Monroe County all the way out to the tip of Long Island. They are running to Change Albany Now. But they need your help.
They need your help to get our candidates on the ballot. They need your help to staff the phone banks and stuff the mailers. They need your help to knock on doors and rally Democrats around this state.
And with your help, they'll win in November and bring real change to Albany.
Meet the Democratic Senate Class of 2010, and listen to their vision for a reformed New York. Then go out into your districts, recruit your friends and family, and help make that vision a reality.
Weekend Senate Update: Montgomery's Bill; Ball Gets Dropped; Bruno in Chains
By Mike Connery on 04/26/2010 @ 11:01 AM
Senator Joe Addabbo is hosting a hearing on campaign finance reform today from 10 - 1pm. Watch live:
- Velmanette Montgomery introduced legislation that would restore funding to successful community-based rehabilitation programs for low-risk juvenile offenders. The New York Times enthusiastically endorsed the bill in an op-ed this morning.
- Tea Bagger Greg Ball got caught lying to donors and the GOP is not happy.
- Senator Antoine Thompson hosted a jobs fair in Buffalo, and has another one in the works.
- LGBT advocate and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt endorsed the reelection of Democrat Bill Stachowski.
- Assembly Member Rory Lancman (25th Assembly District) announced his endorsement of former City Council Member Tony Avella for the New York State Senate (11th Senate District).
- Finally, the US Department of Justice filed a sentencing memo recommending that convicted felon and ex-Republican Leader Joe Bruno be locked away for more than 8 years. Read the sentencing memo here.
New York Senate Dems Hits Republicans on Taxes and Budget
By Mike Connery on 04/16/2010 @ 05:26 PM
Yesterday was tax day, and once again hard-working New Yorkers sent too much of their tax dollars to Albany.
While New Yorkers continue to pay more than their fair share, Republicans are sitting on the sidelines, running from decades-long record of taxing, spending and borrowing away the financial stability of our state. To add insult to injury, they are refusing to participate constructively in the current budget process, and trying to blame Democrats for their own mess.
New York Senate Dems are determined to hold Republicans accountable for these actions.
Today we launched a series of robocalls into the districts of 14 Republicans who are ducking and dodging their record on taxes while the people of New York foot the bill. Calls were placed into the districts of Dean Skelos, Steve Saland, Hugh Farley, Roy McDonald, Owen Johnson, Kemp Hannon, John DeFrancisco, Tom Libous, Joe Robach, Michael Ranzenhofer, Ken LaValle, James Alesi, Frank Padavan and Joe Griffo.
Voters in each of those districts received a call informing them of their Senator's record on the budget and taxes, and asking them to call and ask their Senator to work with Democrats to resolve our state's budget crisis.
You can listen to a few of those calls below:
Dean Skelos
Kemp Hannon
Owen Johnson
Senate Republicans bear the brunt of responsibility for landing us in our current fiscal straits. They owe it to their constituents, and to all New Yorkers, to engage in good faith negotiations to help fix their mess.
We're not going to let them run from their record any longer.
Ed Note - We're still in beta and working out the hiccups, and this post was accidentally deleted from our system on Monday April 19th. A new copy was uploaded on Tuesday April 20.
Taking on the Last Senate Republican in Queens
By Mike Connery on 04/16/2010 @ 09:26 AM
Two great press hits coming out of the Queens Courrier yesterday. The first is a wide-ranging profile of Tony Avella and his effort to unseat GOP incumbent Frank Padavan, He's In It To Make a Difference.
Tony Avella insists he hates politics, but that’s not stopping him from running for another elective office. “I’m not in it for the money or the ego,” Avella said. “I’m in it to make a difference.”
The former city councilman, who served the 19th District for two terms, is now seeking the 11th state Senate District seat, which has been held by Republican Frank Padavan for the last 38 years. He believes Padavan is part of why the state Legislature is dysfunctional and that it’s time for a change.
On why he's running, and the electoral math:
Known as a maverick in Democratic circles, Avella is in the enviable position now of being the fair-haired boy. “The Democrats need to maintain the majority in Albany,” he said. “I can have an influence because the voices for change aren’t loud enough.”
He believes Padavan has become entrenched because the district has been gerrymandered in his favor. “It will be a mini-mandate if I win,” Avella said, noting his former council district overlaps the Senate area, which he considers a plus.
For this race, the party sought him out to run. “They are embracing me,” he said. “It’s helpful for the Democrats to have a maverick and a reformer.”
In the last Padavan challenge, City Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) lost by only 480 votes, after a recount that lasted for several months. “Padavan insists it was close because of the Obama vote, but we have found a huge drop off of people who voted for Obama but not the others,” he said. “Voting a straight party line doesn’t exist like it used to. Some people voted for the president and left some of the others blank.”
On the issues:
Avella also believes there are a lot of other things that can be done in Albany that affect the city, especially schools. “We have narrowed the gap, but upstate schools still get too much money,” Avella said. “We also need to eliminate the huge amount of waste in the city school system and I think we can do it.”
He recommends firing bad teachers and that ones up for review be given a speedy trial by hiring more arbitrators.
Avella is also no fan of discretionary funds, whereby elected officials dole out money to favored groups. “These groups should apply directly to the budget in a grant application process, not to the elected official,” he said. “It would give an extra level of review.”
Avella favors retaining community boards, panels which Mayor Mike Bloomberg is widely believed to want discontinued or at least diminished in their authority. “Decentralization works,” Avella said. “People know best what’s going on in their neighborhoods.”
Avella indicated he is not about to change his persona in Albany. “I feel I can have an influence and make change,” he said. “If I have to be a pest, I will. That’s why I’m going to Albany. I want to get things done.”
The second article took a hard look at the electoral math in the Queens Senate District and wonders if this might be the year that the last GOP Senator in Queens finally falls -
In 2008, out of 95,000 votes cast - Padavan came within 480 votes of losing to Gennaro partially due to his disappointing voting record. This includes consistently voting to increase deficits, annual excessive spending twice to three times the rate of inflation, supporting several hundred million dollars worth of yearly member item pork barrel projects and participating in the adoption of 30 out of the past 36 budgets late during his term in office. Under Padavan and the former GOP Senate majority -- New York became number two nationally in debt. Each resident is responsible for $4,115 of the $60 billion total. State debt grew from $27 billion in 1995 to $60 billion today growing by billions more in future budgets. State public authorities debt is $72 billion. These combined liabilities plus interest total $196 billion dollars. The voting record for Padavan morphed from being a conservative Republican to RINO (Republicans In Name Only) GOP Senator. Avella may run to the right of Padavan making the case that he is the real fiscal conservative. In 2010, the odds of Padavan remaining in office will be heavily stacked against him. Even if Padavan were to survive in 2010, his current gerrymandered district would probably be redrawn making any attempt to run in 2012 mathematically impossible.
Both articles are worth a look and provide a great overview of what will be one of the most-watched races this cycle.
Avella Will Take on Padavan
By Mike Connery on 04/05/2010 @ 04:30 PM
Former city council member and mayoral candidate Tony Avella has announced that he will challenge Frank Padavan for control of New York's 11th Senate District in Queens.
“While I may not have always done what’s popular, I have always tried to do what’s right. It’s time we elect a State Senator who will look out for the interests of Queens families,” Avella said. He took the opportunity to point the finger at his opponent. “Frank Padavan has been part of the problem in Albany for 38 years. What we need now is a Senator who wants to be part of the solution. If elected, I’ll change the way Albany does business.”
Avella was flanked by other prominent Queens Democrats, including Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) and Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), who gave Avella their endorsement.
Avella, who represented the Bayside, Douglaston, Whitestone, College Point and North Flushing council district now represented by Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) from 2002-2009, first hinted at a potential challenge to Padavan in early December. Avella, known to be more conservative than most city Democrats, came out in support of same-sex marriage that same month after the State Senate rejected a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York State. Padavan joined all 30 Republicans in the chamber in voting “no” on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Avella took more steps toward a run in February.
Padavan squeaked back into office last term by the narrowest of margins, beating out Jim Gennaro by just a few hundred votes. Padavan is on the ropes, and Avella could be one of our best shots at picking up an extra seat this cycle.
Here's more on Avella's announcement from the local press:
- Queens Tribune: Avella Sets Sites on Padavan, State Senate
- Queens Courrier: Avella to Challenge Padavan for Senate
- Village Voice: Tony Avella Will Challenge Frank Padavan in State Senate Race
- Your Nabe: Avella Kicks Off Challenge to Padavan for Senate Seat
- City Hall News: The Recalibration of Tony Avella
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