By Ross Barkan 6/04 3:02pm

The Fourth Estate

Anthony Weiner rides the train with some press. (Photo: Getty)

Bill Thompson Muses on Anthony Weiner’s Press Coverage

Riding in a van with reporters on his five borough tour yesterday, candidate Bill Thompson weighed in on the media storm that has engulfed Anthony Weiner since he jumped into the mayoral race two weeks ago.

“If anything, I didn’t know that CNN was interested in this election,” Mr. Thompson said with a smile. “It has created additional media attention–that it has done. I don’t know if it’s increased the attention on the public’s part but I know it has increased media attention,” he said. “Other than that, I don’t know that there is any real change.” Read More

By Ross Barkan 6/04 9:42am

thrill bill

Bill Thompson greets people outside of the Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn College subway station.

Bill Thompson Leaps Into Election Season With Pseudo-Campaign Launch

Bill Thompson’s mayoral campaign has watched rival after rival host high-profile campaign kick-offs with an entourage of press at every rinky-dink stop along the way. But Mr. Thompson, who announced his electoral plans over two years ago in a New York Times interview, couldn’t really do the same.

Yesterday, however, his campaign chose the next-best option: launching a carefully-scripted, five-borough tour that had the look and feel of an official kick-off. Read More

By Jill Colvin 6/04 9:06am

shots fired

Christine Quinn. (Photo: Getty Images)

Christine Quinn Accuses Opponents of Pandering on Wide Range of Issues

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn accused her opponents Tuesday of pandering to please voters when it comes to trash, policing and circumcision.

During a stop on WOR’s John Gambling show this morning, Ms. Quinn was asked again about her high-profile spat with former Comptroller Bill Thompson over the controversial Upper East Side waste transfer station. Ms. Quinn, who supports the project, drew attention when she used the words “environmental racism” in slamming Mr. Thompson, an opponent of the plan and the only African-American candidate in the mayor’s race. Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/03 10:37am

Trash Talk

(Photo: Thompson campaign)

Bill Thompson Demands Christine Quinn ‘Apologize to New Yorkers of Color’

Last week’s fiery “environmental racism” dispute between two mayoral campaigns doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

The alleged offense in question came when Council Speaker Christine Quinn was asked about one of her rivals, former Comptroller Bill Thompson, and his decision to oppose the controversial proposed waste transfer station on the Upper East Side. Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/31 3:44pm

Trash Talk

Christine Quinn. (Photo: Getty)

The Great Chris Quinn vs. Bill Thompson Garbage War of 2013 Rumbles Onwards

The rivalry between two mayoral contenders–Christine Quinn and Bill Thompson–is starting to reach a fevered pitch.

For the uninitiated, the spat began yesterday morning when Mr. Thompson, a former city comptroller, announced he opposed the controversial Upper East Side waste transfer station. Ms. Quinn, the City Council’s speaker and a key supporter of of the plan, reacted by declaring  Mr. Thompson was advocating the return of “the days of environmental racism.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/30 4:16pm

Trash Talk

Bill Thompson. (Photo: Getty)

Christine Quinn Says Bill Thompson Backs ‘Environmental Racism’

Earlier today, former Comptroller Bill Thompson came out against the Upper East Side waste transfer station, a hot-button issue that has aroused immense local tensions from residents who accuse it of being a bungled and dangerous project of the highest order. With his announcement, however, Mr. Thompson generated some of the harshest criticism he’s received thus far as he campaigns for mayor.

Mr. Thompson said he was staking out the position in order to protect children and public housing residents living near the East 91st Street site, but Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the race’s front-runner, who supports the station, tore into Mr. Thompson and accused him of supporting dumping Manhattan’s trash in poor neighborhoods of color. Read More

By Ross Barkan 5/28 11:31am

Numbers Game

weiner twitter

Marist Poll: Anthony Weiner’s Support Growing

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner, almost one week into his raucous mayoral campaign, is running a close second behind Council Speaker Christine Quinn, according to a Marist poll released today. Mr. Weiner polls at a relatively formidable 19 percent, while Ms. Quinn continues her slide, falling to 24 percent, her lowest percentage in a Marist poll yet.

Mr. Weiner increased from 15 to 19 percent since Marist last took their poll in April amid speculation that he would enter the race. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/27 4:28pm

Snubs

Christine Quinn (Photo: YouTube)

Education Advocates Slam Christine Quinn for Dropping Out of Debate

Organizers of a mayoral forum on education issues scheduled for tomorrow afternoon are fuming after City Council Speaker Christine Quinn pulled out at the last minute–allegedly, they charge, because she was worried she’d be subjected to attacks.

The debate, set up by the anti-Bloomberg group New Yorkers for Great Public Schools, which has been pushing for major changes in education policy in the next administration, is set to take place Tuesday afternoon at NYU. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/22 4:17pm

Phone tag

Anthony Weiner at a basketball game. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Not Everyone Is Returning Anthony Weiner’s Calls

After jumping late into a race they’ve been running in for months, ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner decided to break the ice with his now-Democratic rivals with a telephoned “hello” before they meet on the campaign trail.

“I’ve done a round of courtesy calls,” Mr. Weiner told Politicker during a telephone interview Wednesday–hours after formally launching his campaign for mayor. Read More