State Sen. Dan Squadron’s campaign for public advocate continued to hum along today as he announced six endorsements from Albany’s lower legislative chamber: Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Brian Kavanagh, Micah Kellner, Dan Quart, Joan Millman and Nily Rozic. Read More
Democratic State Sen. Daniel Squadron called on his Democratic colleague, State Sen. Malcolm Smith, to resign after he was arrested this morning and accused of orchestrating bribery scheme to land himself in the Republican mayoral primary.
“The charges outlined in today’s complaint are simply shocking,” Mr. Squadron, who’s also a candidate for public advocate this year, said in a statement earlier today. “This is something that belongs in ‘House of Cards,’ not an election to decide who will run our city or any part of our government. Regardless of the outcome of the criminal charges filed against Senator Smith, he has lost the public trust — and he should resign.” Read More
When it comes to replacing outgoing Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand doesn’t have a favorite, but that doesn’t mean she lacks any political love to share around. Accordingly, Ms. Gillibrand is set to appear at fundraisers for all three of the leading Democratic candidates for the position: Councilwoman Tish James, former congressional candidate Reshma Saujani and State Senator Dan Squadron. The fundraisers for Ms. James and Ms. Saujani had already been rolled out, while Mr. Squadron’s campaign announced their own event earlier this afternoon.
“One of my favorite weekend activities with my wife and 20-month-old son is having dim sum in Chinatown,” Mr. Squadron wrote in an email to his supporters. Read More
At a Brooklyn Bowl fundraiser last night, State Senator Dan Squadron may have very well picked up his first endorsement from an elected official in his unannounced campaign for the Public Advocate’s Office: Assemblyman Micah Kellner. Bill de Blasio, the current inhabitant of that office, is widely expect to mount a campaign for mayor, leaving a vacancy behind him, and Mr. Kellner is openly backing him to fill that position.
“I am definitely urging him and encouraging him and trying to draft him to run for Public Advocate,” Mr. Kellner said, offering to head efforts to round up votes for Mr. Squadron on the Upper East Side. “We’re going to have a new mayor in 2014, and probably a new public advocate and we need somebody who’s smart enough to stand with the mayor when he or she is right, and we need someone who is strong enough to stand up to the mayor when he or she is wrong.” Read More
Reshma Saujani, a former aide to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, has formally registered a campaign committee that would allow her to campaign for Mr. de Blasio’s own position in 2013. Mr. de Blasio is expected to run for mayor, leaving the citywide position vacant for aspiring politicians.
Although the committee doesn’t specify exactly what office she is seeking, it’s been widely reported she’s most interested in the Public Advocate’s Office. Read More
Councilwoman Tish James looks to be firmly moving her campaign for the Public Advocate’s office forward. A reader forwarded a fundraising invitation directly stating her intentions to run for the seat in 2013.
“As I prepare to campaign for the anticipated vacancy in the Public Advocate’s Office, I am excited by the prospect of expanding my service to the people of our great City — but I need your help,” the letter reads.
Ms. James goes out to tout her record and suggest readers visit her new website, www.LetitiaJames2013.com. The website further extols her accomplishments in areas stretching from cultural arts to budgetary matters. Read More
The political fallout around the Occupy Wall Street eviction last night continues to rage as congressman Jerrod Nadler and state senator Daniel Squadron–both of whom represent the downtown area that includes Zuccotti Park–released a joint statement criticizing Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Read More
All four elected officials who represent the area around Zuccotti Park have written Mayor Mike Bloomberg asking him to enforce existing laws surrounding the Occupy Wall Street protests.
The lawmakers–Jerry Nadler on the federal level, Shelly Silver and Daniel Squadron in Albany, and Margaret Chin, the local City Councilmember– say they give their ”full support for the protesters’ First Amendment rights to speak and to assemble in Zuccotti Park. We sympathize with the movement’s message and we feel it is important that their voices be heard.” Read More
One more highlight from State Senator Dan Squadron’s forum on LGBT issues, now that same-sex marriage is legal in New York: the opening remarks by City Councilwoman Letitia James of Brooklyn.
“I stand strong with the LGBT community because they are a part of me and I am a part of them,” said James. Read More
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand emerged from the fight to abolish Don’t Ask Don’t Tell as arguably the upper chamber’s most ardent spokesperson for gay rights.
It also helped her get out from under the large shadow of the state’s ubiquitous senior senator, Chuck Schumer (who also supports the repeal but has focused more of his attention on the economy and the fiscal woes of the middle class).
At a LGBT-themed forum in Manhattan last night — her umpteenth event that day — Gillibrand quickly knocked down a question about Michele Bachmann’s plans to undo some recent gay rights victories on the federal level. Read More
