By Colin Campbell 5/16 1:32pm

on the attack

Senator D'Amato in 1996. (Photo: Getty)

Christine Quinn’s Campaign Blasts Bill Thompson Over Al D’Amato

In what may be the most direct and harsh attack to emerge from her campaign so far, Council Speaker Christine Quinn took her Democratic rival Bill Thompson to task today for his cross-partisan support from former Senator Al D’Amato.

“Al D’Amato isn’t just anti-woman,” an email from Ms. Quinn’s campaign declared to supporters, “he is anti-choice, anti-Medicare, and anti-civil rights. He also had the dubious honor of being known as the most investigated Senator in New York history.” Read More

By Ross Barkan and Colin Campbell 4/03 4:44pm

Mo' Money Mo' Problems

(Photo: Getty)

Smith Scandal Highlights Waning Influence of County Political Parties

“That’s politics in New York,” the New York Post‘s cover blared in stark black-and-white ink this morning. “It’s all about the f–king money.”

The quote, allegedly made from Councilman Dan Halloran to a cooperating witness, was revealed yesterday as U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara unsealed charges not only against Mr. Halloran, but State Sen. Malcolm Smith and a small slew of other political figures in what Mr. Bharara called “a corridor of corruption stretching from Queens and the Bronx to Rockland County and all the way up to Albany itself.”

Specifically, Mr. Halloran is accused of “essentially quarterbacking” a scheme to secure Republican establishment support for Mr. Smith’s mayoral bid. Mr. Smith, a Democrat, would need the blessing of three of the five county Republican organizations to run on the GOP line, and he allegedly arranged for cash bribes in his attempt to do so. But, looking more broadly, the strange scandal also shines light on these county organizations and their few remaining powers in city politics. Read More

By Hunter Walker 7/03/12 7:52pm

Love Gov

Eliot Spitzer (Photo: Getty)

Eliot Spitzer Gets Another Media Gig

Former New York governor, Slate writer and Current TV host Eliot Spitzer is adding another media job to his resumé–contributor on NY1′s nightly chat fest Inside City Hall. Starting July 10, Mr. Spitzer will join former Mayor Ed Koch and ex-Senator Al D’Amato as one of the show’s “Wiseguys” who weigh in on hot political topics.

“I am delighted to be joining two of New York’s sharpest political minds to discuss the important issues of the day,” Mr. Spitzer said in a statement distributed by the local cable news network. Read More