By David Freedlander 8/18/11 4:46pm

9/11

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Firefighter Links Bloomberg Third Term, 9/11 Remembrance

Earlier this week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that 9/11 first responders would be excluded from the tenth anniversary ceremony in order to accommodate the families of the victims.

This isn’t sitting well with the cops and firefighters who rushed to the scene or worked down there for months afterward, and, in an interview on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” retired police officer Jim Ryder recalled the arm-twisting that needed to occur for the mayor to overthrow the city’s term limit law and wondered why he couldn’t do the same here. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 7/29/11 9:31am

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Obama and GW Bush to Attend 9/11 Anniversary Ceremony in NYC

Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama will be in New York City to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this morning.

And, for the first time, the names of people killed in the attacks that day in Washington DC and Pennsylvania will be read aloud at the Ground Zero ceremony. In the past, only those who died in New York City were included. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 5/06/11 8:54am

suggested reading

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Morning Read: Obama, Ground Zero and New Yorkers

2012: ‘Gangster politics.’ [Kimberly Strassel]

Obama NYC: “When we say we will never forget, we mean what we say,” the president told firemen in Midtown. [Mike Amon]

Obama NYC: “brief but somber visit.” [Alison Bowen]

Obama NYC: “a solemn conclusion to one of New York’s most emotional weeks since 9/11.” [Erik Ortiz]

Obama NYC: “the visit also served as Obama’s much-deserved victory lap.” [Andrea Peyser]

Obama NYC: “Nobody at ground zero seemed to begrudge the president his decision to visit now,” [Mark Landler]

Obama NYC: ” His silence was the best way to honor the victims.” [NY Times]

Obama NYC: Justin Beiber didn’t respond to teen who lost dad on 9/11, but Obama did. [Jeremy Olshan]

Obama NYC: Ten-year-old son of lost firemen met Obama; “I said he could have done something a little less harsh” about bin Laden. [Carl Campanile]

Obama NYC: The crowds. [NY Daily News]

Obama NYC: The drinks. [NY Post]

Ground Zero Arrest: 30-year-old Brooklyn musician says he was just joking when he was yelling, “Secret Service! Coming Through.” [NY Daily News]

Future Attacks: Bin Laden plotted attack for 9/11 anniversary. [Chuck Bennett and Josh Margolin]

Bin Laden Photos: “refusal to release more evidence that Osama is dead is allowing a great story to dissolve into a mystery.” [Peggy Noonan]

NY26: Cantor visit boosts Corwin; refers to “two Democrats” in the race in effort to marginalize Tea Party candidate Jack Davis. [Robert McCarthy]

NY26: Paul Ryan’s budget riles the race. [Raymond Hernandez]

Budget NYC: 16,000-child care slots will not be axed in Bloomberg’s budget. [Sally Goldenberg]

Budget NYC: How many teacher layoffs? [David Chen and Javier Hernandez]

Budget NYC: Don’t raid city reserves. [NY Post]

Same-sex Marriage: Bill and Chelsea Clinton push for it; Ruben Diaz opposes. [Glenn Blain]

Same-Sex Marriage: Bill Clinton did an “about-face” on the issue. [Brendan Scott]

Jeffrey Wiesenfeld: “I want to say something…The question is offensive. Before you even finish.” [Jim Dwyer]

Unions: “Insourcing.” [Jimmy Vielkind]

Consolidation: State Senator Martins tries slowing it down; potential fight with Cuomo. [Rick Karlin]

Pushing Lobbyists: Jack O’Donnell shoved off bar stool at 74 State Street. [Tom Precious]

Paying Lobbyists: “The state’s budget crisis proved to be a lucrative opportunity for the lobbying industry.” [Jacob Gershman]

Stock Exchange: Schumer reportedly backs the Germans’ bid. [Devlin Barrett]

By Azi Paybarah 5/05/11 5:11pm

suggested reading

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Roundup: ‘SafeHouse’

President Obama Lays Wreathe at Ground Zero. Photo Credit: William Alatriste

White House: Netanyahu to visit on May 20. [JTA]

WikiLeaks: WSJ launches its own version. [wsjSafeHouse.com]

WikiLeaks: NYT and Guardian working on their own versions; WSJ passed at major WikiLeaks dump. [Joe Pompeo]

Ground Zero: “On one part, it feels like it was years ago, and on another part it feels like it was just yesterday” said Brooklyn fireman. [Manny Fernandez]

Ground Zero Arrest: “The man was walking his bike toward the World Trade Center, saying ‘Secret Service, Secret Service… Coming through.’ ” [Bob Kappstatter]

Pics: Bloomberg directs Obama, Cuomo, Christie and Ground Zero. [Edward Reed]

Pics: Obama, wreath and uniformed officers, at Ground Zero. [Edward Reed]

Pics: Graphic images from bin Laden compound, after Seal invasion. [Reuters]

Same-Sex Marriage: Diaz doesn’t like El Diario’s support for it. [Jimmy Veilkind]

GOP Dinner: June 2 event postponed. [Liz Benjamin]

Lobbying Albany: $200 million in 2010. [Nick Reisman]

By Azi Paybarah 5/05/11 1:14pm

Presidential Visits

President Obama at Ground Zero

Obama at Ground Zero

Barack Obama laid a reef wreath at Ground Zero a moment ago. In visits to a fire house and police station, the president was accompanied by former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Obama took a moment to chat with Mayor Bloomberg, NY Governor Cuomo and NJ Governor Christie, at Ground Zero.

Fox 5′s Greg Kelly [fixed], live at Ground Zero, said it was “remarkable to see the president here.” His colleague, Dick Brennan, at one point said there has been “very little criticism of the president” for coming to the site today.

There’s great live-streaming happening over here, and comprehensive live-blogging here and here.

By Azi Paybarah 5/05/11 9:25am

media

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Front Pages: The Visit vs The (Non) Photos

Here are the papers from around the state.

The New York papers are somewhat split, with previewing Obama’s visit to Ground Zero, and carrying news about the White House decision to not release photos proving Osama bin Laden is dead.  The New York Post editorial board praises the non-release of the photos, and dedicates the front page to previewing the president’s visit. The Daily News editorail board also supports the photo decsionit, but makes that story their entire front page.

The most skeptical coverage easily goes to amNew York, with their ”Thanks but…” front page headline, which asks “where’s the photo?” and “are we less safe?”

I’m somewhat surprised that the further away from NYC you get, the smaller the stories are about Obama visit and bin Laden’s photo. Newsday, the paper that blankets Long Island, is back to worrying about Nassau county’s finances, giving only a bottom banner notice about the Ground Zero activities today. They do have a good, and local, 9/11-Obama-Ground Zero story, which, I think should have gotten bigger play. After Newsday’s Mike Amon iinquiries, the White House apologized to local man for sending him a letter addressed to “Dear 9/11 Family Member.”