Gubernatorial!

Reliable sources told Politicker that Councilman Domenic Recchia is facing pressure to campaign for Brooklyn Borough President instead of New York City Comptroller in 2013, and he's considering it. We asked Mr. Recchia about this in the afternoon, and he firmly stated his intention to campaign for comptroller and described the borough president rumors as "totally wrong," "totally wrong" and "totally wrong" at various points in our conversation.

Richard Stratton, the former editor of High Times magazine, said last July he would run for governor of New York. Today, he took the next logical step by forming a campaign committee for the job. Apparently he's meeting with Republican officials. Watch out Governor Andrew Cuomo!

Speaking of Mr. Cuomo, his new communications department hire, Allison Gollust, elicited this response from Politico's Dylan Byers tweeting Azi Paybarah's smart take on the move:  “2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016."

Council Speaker Christine Quinn isn't so interested in taxing the rich after all. She cited Mr. Cuomo's tax changes earlier this year, as well as the ongoing economic troubles of the country, for her rationale.

Ms. Quinn was also asked today if she was open to the business-friendly paid sick day amendments proposed by Councilman Dan Garodnick, and if she had any response to the ongoing efforts to pressure her to allow a vote on the bill. She answered, "No and no."

Former Councilwoman Melinda Katz's campaign for Queens Borough President kicks off tomorrow with Congressman Joe Crowley, and the press release announcing the event shows she's hired communications guru George Arzt.