By Colin Campbell 2/11 7:10pm

Hawkeye Hypotheticals

Andrew Cuomo addressing reporters. (Photo: Livestream.com)

Andrew Cuomo Says Iowa Isn’t on His Mind

Environmental advocates just rolled out a full-page ad that will debut tomorrow taking Governor Andrew Cuomo to task over New York’s stance on the controversial natural gas drilling procedure known as “fracking.” However, the ad isn’t appearing in New York. Instead, it’s taking up a page in Iowa’s largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register, making it a seemingly obvious attempt to throw an early roadblock at Mr. Cuomo’s widely-expected presidential campaign in that state’s traditional “first in the nation” primary election.

“Governor Cuomo, America is looking to you,” the ad says. “Don’t allow a single fracked shale gas well in New York. This is your chance to be a national leader on climate. Your choice now will be remembered forever.”

Asked about the ad in a press conference touting the confirmation of his latest judicial nominee, Mr. Cuomo dismissed the possibility of Iowa being a concern to him. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/02/12 12:15pm

silly times

(Photo: Getty)

Cuomo Calls NYT Story on His Online Chats ‘Silly’

The New York Times reported yesterday on the released submissions to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s online chats where Mr. Cuomo answered only 16 questions out of hundreds, possibly avoiding some of the more sensitive topics from the list. Asked about the story on Fred Dicker’s radio show today, however, Mr. Cuomo didn’t exactly agree with that assessment.

“I think it’s a silly point,” he said bluntly.

In particular, Mr. Cuomo mocked the idea that he was avoiding questions over hydrofracking.

“Of course not, of course not!” he exclaimed of answering all of the questions on the subject. “When you do any situation like this, whether it’s a call-in radio or whatever it is, you get organized efforts that will ask the same question a hundred times a hundred different ways. Hydrofracking opponents are very well organized.” Read More

By David Freedlander 2/22/12 7:48am

suggested reading

Morning Read: SuperPACapalooza; Stop-And-Frisk Goes Political; Obama Sings The Blues

Two-dozen advocacy groups are forming a coalition designed to pressure would-be 2013 contenders on stop-and-frisk and police accountability.

The NYPD apparently spied on Muslims in Newark as well. When told of this fact, Mayor Corey Booker responded, “Wow.”

Mayor Bloomberg defended the NYPD’s spying of Muslim students.

The Daily News slams the president of Yale University for objecting to the practice, saying, “smart people can be pretty naive.”

The convention industry is skeptical about the proposed Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/10/12 11:47am

Frack to the Future

1RickSantorum

Rick Santorum Accuses Obama Of Attacking Hydrofracking

WASHINGTON — Rick Santorum called the anti hydrofracking is part of the left’s larger strategy of trying to “scare you into supporting radical ideas on the environment” during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference today.

“I come from Pennsylvania, we’re doing a little bit of that in Pennsylvania, thank God,” Mr. Santorum said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is currently working with the Department of Environmental Conservation to come up with rules to regulate and allow hydrofracking in New York after lifting a statewide ban on the controversial natural gas drilling technique last summer.

Mr. Santorum went on to accuse the Obama administration is “going after” the controversial natural gas drilling technique by trying to paint it as “a bogeyman.” Mr. Santorum didn’t explain exactly how President Obama, who expressed support for the procedure in his State of the Union address last month, is attacking hydrofracking. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/02/12 9:00am

Frack to the Future

Hydrofracking at an oil well site near Tioga, North Dakota. (Photo: Getty)

Potsdam Town Council Votes to Keep Control Over Hydrofracking

Several small New York towns are not sticking with Governor Cuomo’s plan to have the Department of Environmental Conservation decide how to regulate the controversial natural gas drilling procedure known as hydrofracking. Last week, the Town Council in Potsdam voted to keep local control of hydrofracking setting them up to join a legal battle against energy companies who have been lobbying to have the procedure legalized and want Albany to make the final call. Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/30/11 5:48pm

Frack and Forth

Hydrofracking at an oil well site near Tioga, North Dakota. (Photo: Getty)

Industry Friendly Group Calls Hydrofracking One of 'The Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares of 2011'

According to the American Council on Science and Health, the fuss over hydrofracking is unfounded. ACSH named the controversial natural gas drilling technique one of “the top ten unfounded health scares of 2011″ in a list published this week. “To deny Americans the possibility of plentiful, cheap, and safe natural gas because of hyper-precautionary fears about ‘toxic and carcinogenic’ chemicals from hydrofracking fluid seems terribly irresponsible,” read the ACSH report.

ACSH is a group of “physicians, scientists and policy advisors“who often take controversial positions supporting perceived environmental and health risks including fatty foods, pesticides and tobacco. Critics have called ACSH “a front” for industry because it has accepted contributions from corporarations including oil and gas companies. ACSH’s report on hydrofracking blamed opposition to the drilling technique on “alarmist” media coverage in the pages of the New York Times and the documentary “Gasland.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/16/11 5:08pm

Strongly Worded Letters

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Getty)

Health Care Workers Caution Cuomo On Hydrofracking

In a letter sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo and ten Albany legislators Monday, Communications Workers Union of America District 1 Health Care Coordinating Council Chair John Klein urged the lawmakers to prohibit the controversial natural gas drilling procedure known as hydrofracking in New York. In addition to communications workers, the CWA represents roughly 15,000 people working in the health care industry. “I am writing regarding concerns we have about the hydrofracking process and its potential impacts on human health and the environment,” Mr. Klein wrote. “As health care workers, we would be on the front line of any public health problems that result from hydrofracking.” Read More