By Colin Campbell 2/10 6:24pm

suggested reading

Today's rally for a new Latino-majority district began with a prayer.

Roundup: Congressional Redistricting and CPAC

Police oversight legislation will be introduced soon in Albany.

Shelly Silver claims no Congressional lines have been drafted, a potential boon to Carolyn McCarthy, whose district was rumored to be on the chopping block.

The Center for Urban Research, with their cool mapping system, will be ready to display the results when they come out.

Ruben Diaz Jr. is fine with new Congressional seats in the Bronx, but wants them to be mostly in his borough. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/10 5:09pm

congressional elections

Charles Barron (Photo: Facebook)

Barron: Jeffries is Accepting ‘Blood Money’ From Police Union

At a heated debate last night between Councilman Charles Barron and Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, both of whom are attempting to unseat Brooklyn Congressman Ed Towns, Mr. Barron leveled a big charge against Mr. Jeffries over his campaign contributions from the Police Benevolent Association, calling them “blood money,” a phrase he repeated to The Politicker this afternoon.

“You can’t criticize stop-and-frisk while taking money from the PBA,” he said, chastising the NYPD for some of their controversial shootings.

Reached for a comment, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries didn’t take kindly to the harsh criticism. Read More

By David Freedlander 2/10 4:12pm

Abortion Politics

President Barack Obama

Catholic Bishops Reserve Judgment On Obama Contraception Compromise

Earlier today President Barack Obama announced a compromise on a feature of his health care bill that would prohibit religious institutions from denying their employees insurance coverage for birth control. Under the new plan, will be able to get free contraception directly from health insurance companies.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who helped spark the firestorm of protest on the matter, sent out a statement today announcing that they were “studying” the White House’s “movement on religious liberty.”

The release noted that it was “too soon to tell whether and how much improvement on core concerns.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/10 3:37pm

Dreidel Drama

The controversial Hanukkah card from "S.C. Team Santorum." (Photo: Facebook)

Santorum Campaign Disavows Controversial Hanukkah Card

WASHINGTON — Rick Santorum’s campaign manager, Michael Biundo, responded to the growing controversy over a Hanukkah card signed by “S.C. Team Santorum” inscribed with a New Testament bible verse that implies non-Christians will “walk in darkness.”

“It certainly wasn’t an authorized graphic that they sent out. I’m not even sure who did it, you know, the South Carolina office is not even–you know, not together at this point,” Mr. Biundo told The Politicker at the Conservative Political Action Conference today. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/10 3:11pm

youtube

Mark Murphy gets hit by a woman in a bikini. (Photo: YouTube)

Anonymous Videos Highlight Mark Murphy’s Acting Career

Staten Island Congressional candidate Mark Murphy, who had a brief acting career in California while working in finance, has only been in the race for a few weeks, but admittedly goofy opposition research is already beginning to leak out. Somebody has combed through Mr. Murphy’s movie filmography to grab the highlights and place them in a rather negative context.

For example, in one video, where Mr. Murphy’s brief role in a Dukes of Hazzard sequel involved him being physically struck by an actress, the YouTube clip is entitled “Failed Actor Mark Murphy Loses Fight with a Girl.”

“If Mark Murphy can survive meteorite attacks, ninja fighting women, and playing Jimmy Conners then he should be able to survive the shark-infested waters of Washington DC,” a source close to Mr. Murphy told The Politicker. “Mark was lucky enough to appear in a few B-movies which only means he is perfect for a race against a C-list congressman who could apparently be facing some D felonies. Just trying to keep it alphabetical. “ Read More

By David Freedlander 2/10 2:51pm

The AG

eric schneiderman

Schneiderman Sues EPA Over Soot

The Obama administration’s efforts to bring Eric Schneiderman into the fold do not seem to be deterring the New York attorney general.
Today Mr. Schneiderman filed a lawsuit along with 10 other states to compel the federal Environmental Protection Agency to revise national air quality standards for air pollution involving soot.
“Clean air is a public right, and standards that protect it are a necessity,” said Mr. Schneiderman said in a statement. “Every day, air pollution, from soot, risks the health of more than one-third of Americans, including our most vulnerable – children, the elderly and the sick.  These risks are simply unacceptable. The EPA must take prompt action to reduce pollution now, and safeguard the health of the public and the air we breathe.”
Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/10 1:21pm

redistricting

Adriano-Espaillat-Headshot

Pols: Dean Skelos Supports New Latino Congressional District

Maria Luna, a district leader in Washington Heights, announced at a press conference in the neighborhood this afternoon that Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos told Latino business leaders the night before that he was “optimistic” there would be a new Latino majority Congressional Seat in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx.

“Although he is a Republican, and I’m a Democrat, I thank you,” she said to crowd.

Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez confirmed Ms. Luna’s account in his own address to the crowd, telling them that Mr. Skelos was hopeful the new district would be created. Read More

By Kat Stoeffel 2/10 12:10pm

video

Greg Kelly’s Triumphant Return to Good Day New York

Greg Kelly was all smiles on Good Day New York this morning, the anchor's first broadcast since rape allegations against him were made public on January 25. The son of police commissioner Ray Kelly thanked Fox 5, his family, friends and viewers for their support during the "tough couple of weeks." The Manhattan district attorney's office dropped all charges on Tuesday. Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/10 11:47am

Frack to the Future

1RickSantorum

Rick Santorum Accuses Obama Of Attacking Hydrofracking

WASHINGTON — Rick Santorum called the anti hydrofracking is part of the left’s larger strategy of trying to “scare you into supporting radical ideas on the environment” during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference today.

“I come from Pennsylvania, we’re doing a little bit of that in Pennsylvania, thank God,” Mr. Santorum said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is currently working with the Department of Environmental Conservation to come up with rules to regulate and allow hydrofracking in New York after lifting a statewide ban on the controversial natural gas drilling technique last summer.

Mr. Santorum went on to accuse the Obama administration is “going after” the controversial natural gas drilling technique by trying to paint it as “a bogeyman.” Mr. Santorum didn’t explain exactly how President Obama, who expressed support for the procedure in his State of the Union address last month, is attacking hydrofracking. Read More

By David Freedlander 2/10 11:38am

2013

2009 Library Lions Benefit

Quinn Says City Will Be Better When Billionaires Aren’t In Charge [Video]

Council Speaker Christine Quinn appeared on “Good Day New York” this morning–on the same day that host Greg Kelly returned from an absence stemming from an investigation into a rape charge against him–and she was asked about a story in the New York Post by Sally Goldenberg.

The story was a recap of Ms. Quinn’s State of the City speech yesterday and said the address was reminder to ”voters she is a liberal Democrat and distancing herself from Mayor Bloomberg as she gears up for a competitive 2013 mayoral primary.”

Ms. Quinn disagreed with that characterization. Read More