State Senator Ruben Diaz sent a special New Year’s-themed edition of his regular “What You Should Know” email newsletters this morning. In his year-end missive, Mr. Diaz took a series of shots at the State Senate with backhanded “political wishes” for the new IDC/GOP leadership coalition, “Uncle Tom” State Senator Malcolm Smith and State Senator Adriano Espaillat. Read More
In yet another one of the scandals beleaguering New York State politics in recent years, former State Senator Hiram Monserrate was sentenced to 24 months in prison today after pleading guilty in May to mail fraud charges.
Mr. Monserrate was convicted of misusing $109,000 in City Council grants to fund a failed State Senate campaign in 2006. A member of the City Council at the time, Mr. Monserrate directed the money to a group in his Queens district, the Latino Initiative for Better Resources and Empowerment.
Four congressional candidates have lost the Independence line.
NYT has some fun at Pharaoh Bloomberg/Christine Quinn’s expense.
Grace Meng raised $500 large.
Kirsten Gillibrand is getting behind Tish James’ Public Advocate campaign.
Hiram Monserrate faces up to 27 months in prison for his role in the City Council slush fund scandal. Read More
Manhattan State Senator Liz Krueger sent out a fundraising email earlier this week that features what may be called an “anti-Host Committee.”
On the space on the invite where it is usually listed which high rollers are putting it on, Ms. Krueger writes:
“Please do not join: The Koch Brothers, Karl Rove, Pedro Espada, Carl Paladino, Rudy Giuliani, Herman Cain, Eric Cantor, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, Michelle Bachmann, Pat Robertson, Rick Perry, Dean Skelos, Grover Norquist, Rand Paul, Glenn Beck, Ron Paul, Sarah Palin, Hiram Monserrate and all members of Rupert Murdoch’s family”
If nothing else, this invite shows what low esteem Sen. Krueger has for her former Senate Democratic colleagues Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada; this may be the first time the former Amigos have been included in the same breath as the Koch brothers and Sarah Palin. Read More
