Reshma Saujani’s campaign for public advocate is getting a boost from Silicon Valley, with contributions from some of high-tech’s biggest names.
Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg is among the contributors who will appear in filings the campaign expects to file today with the city’s Campaign Finance Board. Grammy-award winner John Legend also chipped in. Read More
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One of the most prominent Latinos in the Republican Party, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, addressed remarks about Latinos Mitt Romney was caught on tape making at a fundraiser during a press conference call today. The video of Mr. Romney sparked a massive firestorm after it was published by the liberal magazine Mother Jones, Mr. Rubio said he wasn’t bothered by the portion of the clip where the Republican presidential candidate said he would have a better chance of winning the election if he was Latino.
“Well, I think he meant it as a joke,” Mr. Rubio said with a laugh. “I think that’s how most reasonable people would take it.” Read More
Mitt Romney is feeling the heat in recent days after he was caught on video declaring that 47% of the country is “dependent upon government” and “believe that they are victims” because they do not pay federal income taxes. However, asked about it after a press conference today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg argued that more Americans should indeed be paying federal income taxes, even if it’s a tiny amount, and urged the press to ignore the entire “brouhaha.”
“I’ve always thought that everybody should file a tax return, and in fact an awful lot of people do that don’t pay taxes,” the billionaire mayor said, while defending the overall concept of higher tax rates for the rich. “But if you pay a dollar or at least file a return, I think it’s a good lesson that you are part of this society and you have a say and you have a responsibility and all of the great privileges that we have don’t come from nothing.” Read More
President Barack Obama, like his rival Mitt Romney, regularly visits New York City. Today, Mr. Obama is hosting a basketball fundraiser with Michael Jordan and other basketball stars. Annoyed that Mr. Obama is hosting yet another fundraiser while the economy still isn’t fixed, the New York State Republican Party sent out a press release letting everyone know that they’re not happy about it.
“ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER FUNDRAISER,” blared the title of the statement, with Chairman Ed Cox explaining, ”Once again, we’re happy to welcome President Obama back to New York, where unemployment in both New York City (9.6%) and New York State (8.9%) remains above the national average, for yet another swank, star-studded fundraiser for his reelection campaign.” Read More
Last night, Scarlett Johansson used her star power to host a packed fundraiser for Manhattan Borough President and likely mayoral contender Scott Stringer at the Maritime Hotel. In addition to the models and celebrities in attendance, there was also a small army of politicos, including former, current, and aspiring elected officials. Read More
Earlier today, New York City Comptroller John Liu’s campaign treasurer, Jenny Hou, was arrested by federal authorities and charged, among other things, with helping orchestrate a fundraising scheme to boost Mr. Liu’s mayoral campaign.
While the complaint against Ms. Hou involve interviews and emails, they also, somewhat amusingly, frequently quote her instant message chats. Thus phrases like “YUP!!!” and “THANK YOU!!!!! I’ll make you out a ck [check] today” appear throughout the otherwise bland document. Read More
New York City Comptroller John Liu, who is campaigning for Mayor in 2013, saw his campaign treasurer Jenny Hou arrested this morning on fraud charges by the FBI and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The charges represent the latest legal blow for Mr. Liu’s campaign. One of his chief fundraisers was arrested last November for orchestrating an illegal fundraising scheme.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Ms. Hou “is accused of participating in a scheme that used ‘straw donors’ to funnel to the Campaign large, illegal contributions that were well above the individual limit … with the intent to fraudulently increase the amount of matching funds provided.” Read More
President Barack Obama traveled to four fundraisers in New York City last night, but one of them stands out in particular. Giving his remarks at the historic Apollo Theater, President Obama briefly broke out into song.
“And to know that Reverend Al Green was here,” he began, before switching into musical cadence: “I-I-I’m, so in love with you.”
“Those guys didn’t think I was going to do it, I told you I was going to do it,” the President announced, waving his finger off to the side of the stage as the crowd cheered.
Watch the Associated Press video below: Read More
