By Hunter Walker 2/16 11:25pm

Speeches

John Liu

John Liu Gives His State of the City Address

Comptroller John Liu didn’t let the fundraising scandal that has dampened his mayoral ambitions stop him from outlining a sweeping vision for the economic future of the five boroughs in a State of the City address today at City College. After giving a “shout out” to Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin, Mr. Liu explained why the city economy is in a precarious position and unveiled his plans to improve New York’s financial outlook.

“Today, more than 250,000 new yorkers languish in unemployment. That is more than twice the number of unemployed this city had a few years ago,” Mr. Liu said in a prepared version of his speech that was distributed at the event. “Is it any wonder that people occupy parks clamoring for a better economic plan, when they are left jobless year after year?”

Mr. Liu’s proposals included plans to cut waste, reform the city pension fund, implement a progressive personal implement tax and draw educational institutions to New York. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/16 6:28pm

campaign mode

Rory Lancman at his press conference

Rory Lancman Continues Media Roll-Out, Shifts Focus to College Education

Queens Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who’s currently campaigning for Congress against GOP Rep.  Bob Turner, held a press conference today focusing on nuts and bolts of education policy and lambasting Republicans in Congress for failing to do enough. A source close to Mr. Lancman indicated today’s event was an attempt to draw contrast with Republicans (like his opponent, hint, hint) while at the same time focusing on a meat and potatoes sort of campaign.

“Students are graduating with the equivalent of a mortgage’s worth of debt, with no house to show for it,” Mr. Lancman said. “Our students deserve better, and Congress needs to stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/16 5:39pm

The Vallone Zone

Peter Vallone Jr. (Photo: New York City Council)

Peter Vallone Jr. Is Unapologetically Politically LINCorrect

Thanks to the ongoing contract dispute between Time Warner Cable and the ownership of the New York Knicks, Councilman and social media enthusiast Peter Vallone Jr. wasn’t able to watch Jeremy Lin play at his house last night. Despite missing the basketball game, Mr. Vallone didn’t lose his sense of humor and he posted a somewhat politically incorrect joke on his Facebook wall this morning.

“so since i cant see jeremy lin on cable because MSG wants a 53% increase, i did the next best thing and took my daughters to applebees last night and had the ‘sizzling asian’ special,” he wrote.

After some of his Facebook friends took umbrage at his remarks, Mr. Vallone refused to back down. He penned a defiant response on the site about an hour ago.

“to the few of you who thought my applebees post was insensitive, i’m sorry…that you have no sense of humor. please de-friend me (i need the space) so you are not traumatized by any future posts. you apparently have me confused with other politically correct electeds,”  Mr. Vallone wrote. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/16 5:02pm

education

(Photo: Getty)

Teacher Evaluation Deal: Details and Reactions

The details have emerged on the long-awaited deal between the teachers union and the state government for how to handle teacher evaluations, a decision the state said is necessary to secure $700 million in federal dollars. The new system will use 60% of a teacher’s score based on “rigorous performance measures” and 40% based on ”student achievement in state and local assessments.” The deal also streamlines the appeals process for teachers.

New York State and City’s top politicians quickly sent out a barrage of press releases applauding the decision, with the occasional swipe at Mayor Michael Bloomberg over school closures. Read More

By Matt Chaban 2/16 4:06pm

Best Laid Plans

Back to the streets. (HUD/Flickr)

Adolfo Carrion Leaves HUD to Help Save Cities on His Own

Friday was Adolfo Carrion’s last day working for the Obama administration. He had been ensconced for the past two years in a corner office on the 35th floor of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building downtown, serving as director of HUD Region 2, which is where The Observer met him a few weeks ago to discuss the president‘s flagging urban agenda.

Bronx paraphernalia filled the glass-line space. Near the doorway was a green highway sign, WELCOME TO THE BRONX. On a bookshelf behind his desk, beside family photos, books (Sonia Sotomayor’s biography, Thomas Friedman’s The World Is Flat) and hardhats of special significance, rested  a miniature subway sign for the 161st Street-Yankees Stadium stop. Along the wall stood a T.V. tuned to CNBC, framed newspaper clippings, and not one but two Yankees groundbreaking shovels, one of which had a bat for a handle. Pinstriped paraphernalia was everywhere, declaring the Manhattan-born, Bronx-bred politician’s on-field allegiance.

Mr. Carrion left the Bronx to go work for the administration, first on the campaign trail, then as the inaugural director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs. He left that position to come work at HUD, a move many saw as a demotion, though he insists it was always part of his plan. Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/16 3:58pm

Albany Will Always Love You

Karim Camara (Photo: Facebook)

Karim Camara Pushing For Assembly Resolution Honoring Whitney Houston

Karim Camara wants his colleagues in the State Assembly to pass a resolution honoring the late singer Whitney Houston.

“I think, when we look at the life that she led, and particularly how she, in the aftermath of 9/11, she raised a tremendous amount of funds for disaster relief and for the firefighters, the first responders. I think that connects her to New York,” Mr. Camara told The Politicker. “She was able to unite people around ethnic lines, racial lines, gender, age, you name it.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/16 3:36pm

linsanity

(Photo: Getty)

Sorry, Jeremy: Mayor Bloomberg Is Just Not That LINto You

After a press conference announcing a dean for the city’s new tech campus, Mayor Michael Bloomberg fielded multiple questions about his enthusiasm level for New York Knicks sensation, Jeremy Lin.

Mr. Bloomberg was hardly enthusiastic when asked whether he’s in the throes of the famous “Linsanity” gripping fans throughout the five boroughs.

“Do not own a sports team, that’s my only advice,” he concluded after comparing the Knicks most recent records to the Nets’.

The same reporter persistently asked Mr. Bloomberg about Linsanity later in the press conference. As she threw out the question for the second time, Mr. Bloomberg playfully quipped, “Way to go.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/16 3:25pm

The Quiet Man

Larry Seabrook (Photo: Facebook)

Larry Seabrook Doesn’t Want To Talk About His Trial

Federal prosecutors are preparing to retry Bronx Councilman Larry Seabrook in June on charges of bribery, money laundering and fraud after a mistrial in December. In the meantime, Mr. Seabrook doesn’t want to talk about the case against him.

“Oh, I’m not going to talk about that,” he told The Politicker after Comptroller and likely 2013 mayoral candidate John Liu’s State of the City address at City College today.

However, our conversation with Mr. Seabrook didn’t end there. Read More