Empire State Pride Agenda Releases First Round of Endorsements
By Mike Connery on 07/13/2010 @ 02:58 PM
Empire State Pride Agenda has announced their first round of candidate endorsements, and a number of New York Senate Dems candidates made the list, including Regina Calcaterra, Brian Foley, Tony Avella, Mike Gianaris, Mike Kaplowitz, Didi Barrett, and Dave Valesky.
Statement from Empire state Pride Agenda below:
New York, NY, July 13, 2010— The Empire State Pride Agenda, New York’s statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, has announced today its first round of endorsements for the 2010 Primary and General Elections. The 20 candidates endorsed have either been strong allies of the LGBT community in the New York State Legislature on issues at the top of the Pride Agenda’s public policy agenda, or have pledged their support on such issues including marriage equality for same-sex couples, ending legal discrimination against transgender New Yorkers and increasing funding for LGBT health and human services providers. The complete list of issues that candidates were questioned on can be seen on the Pride Agenda’s candidate questionnaire at:
http://prideagenda.org/Portals/0/campaigns/Pride%20Agenda%20State%20Legislative %20Candidate%20Questionnaire-2010.pdf.
“We view this election as a crucial step toward accomplishing our governmental priorities for New York’s LGBT community,” said Executive Director Ross Levi. “We need—and will only be endorsing—candidates who already are or will be unabashed legislative allies who demonstrate their support for LGBT equality and justice with complete clarity.”
Daily Campaign Roundup: Wilmot Fights For Schools
By Mike Connery on 06/29/2010 @ 02:45 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Mary Wilmot fights for mayoral control of schools while Republican James Alesi refuses to take stand. Tony Avella continues to stand up for Queens residents while Republican incumbent Frank Padavan is AWOL from Senate. Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins pushes more legislation through Senate.
- Democratic Candidate Mary Wilmot comes out in favor of mayoral control of schools - Wilmot announced yesterday that she is in favor of mayoral control of city schools. Such a bill is close to passage in the Senate. Her opponent, Republican James Alesi, has been too afraid to take a position on the issue yet. The time is now to stand up for the children of the Rochester City School District,” said Wilmot. “Our City School District children and their parents deserve better than the silence and indecision coming from Mr. Alesi’s office. … New York taxpayers spend $18,000 a year per student, we graduate only 46% of our incoming kids, … the silence is deafening, his year long indifference defends an unacceptable status quo.”
- Democratic Candidate Tony Avella slams Frank Padavan for missing budget session – Avella rightfully criticized Republican incumbent Padavan for opting to campaign in his district rather than travel to the Capitol for the Senate’s budget session. “Padavan’s Albany absence is a slap in the face to the hardworking taxpayers in our district,” Avella said. “When he should have been working to resolve the budget crisis and education funding, he was too worried about his own political future.”
Avella also has continued to receive press for leading a protest against MTA service cuts in Queens. One of the most controversial changes was with the Q15A, a new alternate route of the Q15 bus meant to pick up riders stranded by the elimination of the Q14. The route has now routed down a residential stretch of 10th Ave. that residents say is too narrow. - Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins pushes safe distance law through Senate - A bill sponsored by Sen. Stewart-Cousins requiring a requiring safe passing distance as a motorist passes a cyclist was passed by the Senate. The bill was introduced after Merrill Cassell was struck and killed by a Bee-Line bus Nov. 6, 2009, in Greenburgh. “The buffer zone is a reasonable and necessary safety precaution for cyclists that often need to maneuver around cracks, potholes or the hazards that cycling on our roads can present,” Stewart-Cousins said. “This legislation will serve to educate the public about the need for motor vehicles and bicyclists to share our roads safely.”
Democrats Help New Yorkers While GOP Helps Themselves
By Mike Connery on 06/28/2010 @ 11:45 AM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Regina Calcaterra fights for higher quality and lower tuition at SUNY schools. Tony Avella stands with Queens residents in protesting MTA service cuts. Democrat Edward O'Shea to run against Republican incumbent Michael Nozzolio. Steve Levy and Senate GOP still desperately plotting. Sens. Aubertine and Johnson passing comprehensive legislation that will help New Yorkers across the state.
- Democratic Candidate Regina Calcaterra assails opponent’s support of SUNY tuition hikes while fighting reform – Calcaterra criticized her opponent, 34-year Republican incumbent Ken LaValle, for fighting much-needed reforms throughout SUNY while being on record as supporting regular tuition hikes for students and their parents. "Before students and their parents have to pay one more additional dollar in tuition at SUNY, we need to institute major accounting and oversight reform throughout the entire state university system," she said. "Ken LaValle has it exactly backwards. He's fighting reforms even though he's previously said publicly he'd be OK if SUNY increased tuition on a regular basis."
- Democratic Candidate Tony Avella stands with Queens residents in protesting MTA service cuts – Avella is standing with the residents in Queens who are irate over the recent MTA service adjustments that severely effect the country’s service. One of the most controversial changes was with the Q15A, a new alternate route of the Q15 bus meant to pick up riders stranded by the elimination of the Q14. The route has now routed down a residential stretch of 10th Ave. that residents say is too narrow. Avella stood with dozens of Queens residents yesterday in front of one of the Q15A buses in a show of solidarity and support.
- Edward O’Shea to challenge 18-year Republican incumbent Michael Nozzolio in SD-54- O’Shea, the vice chairman of the Wayne County Democratic Committee, announced he is running against Nozzolio - only the third person to do so in the past 18 years. O'Shea is an English professor at the State University of New York at Oswego. "When our main government agency, our legislative body, is not working for us, that's a major problem," he said. "Senator Nozzolio has been in office for 18 years, and if he were a reform-minded person, he would've done something about this already."
- Steve Levy continues desperate political maneuvers, teams up with Senate GOP – Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, who left the Democratic party in a failed effort to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination, is now looking to remain politically relevant by working with incumbent GOP lawmakers, Liz Benjamin of Capital Tonight reports. As she writes: “The point here really isn’t what the party-switching county executive is calling for, but rather that he’s continuing to stand with the Republicans even after their county leaders rejected his effort to run on their line for governor.” Levy’s presence continues to be a potentially divisive issue for Republicans as he has not yet endorsed GOP candidate Rick Lazio, nor has he ruled out running on a third party line.
- Sen. Craig Johnson passes legislation that will improve quality of life for seniors, upgrade New York’s infrastructure- Sen. Johnson was successful in pushing two integral legislative packages through the Senate last week. Sen. Johnson passed a comprehensive legislative package that will expand and increase access to services for seniors on Long Island and across New York. “After a lifetime of hard work and providing for their families, our seniors deserve fundamental protections and services in order to continue to lead healthy and active lives,” he said. “My legislation would expand the opportunity for seniors to get the tax relief for which they are entitled. While more needs to be done, this package will help more seniors stay in their homes and in their communities.”
Sen. Johnson was also responsible for the passage of a comprehensive strategy to build safer roads and highways which will cut costs for municipalities and improve the quality of life for residents throughout the state. “This is a blueprint that will help Long Island and the rest of New York State plan better and plan smarter,” he said said. “I am proud of this legislative package, which will help make Long Island more pedestrian friendly, less congested and more environmentally sustainable.” - Sen, Darrell Aubertine fights to restore crucial agriculture funding and pushes local trade benefits for district – Sen. Aubertine continued to fight for the additional funding and support of local businesses in his district last week. Aubertine first made sure that the most recent budget moved around limited revenue for agriculture programs to better target essential programs, while also restoring key funding the governor’s budget would have omitted. “This budget agreement restores more than $2.5 million in local funding for agriculture and reprioritizes funding to help our state’s number one industry,” Sen. Aubertine said.
Also, a bill sponsored by Sen. Aubertine that would extend Foreign Trade Zone benefits from Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority's industrial park and port to businesses throughout St. Lawrence County passed the Senate last week. This was a step officials said would be required to argue for the change to the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Board, who makes the final decision. "We need to give our communities the ability to create and sustain jobs, and this legislation is part of a larger effort to grow the economy of St. Lawrence County," he said. - Sen. Brian Foley hosts forum to educate school administrators about addressing bullying – Sen. Foley hosted a forum for school administrators his school district to inform them on how to best address the issue of bullying within their schools. "Bullying is something that cannot be tolerated among our students, whether it occurs within the four walls of the school or within the limitless walls of the internet after school hours," said Foley. "The goal of today's event is to give school administrators the most up-to-date information about the known dangers and effects of bullying, the legal aspects of it and how administrators can best work with parents to address concerns.”
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.”
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.
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.
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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