Maxwell Eliot Stringer (Photo: Manhattan Borough President's Office)

Manhattan Borough President Stringer showed off pictures of his newborn son, Maxwell Eliot Stringer (left).

Congress narrowly avoided another shutdown.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu wants Trinity Church to let protesters occupy its vacant lot on Canal Street.

Former Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey owns the web site Bloomberg2012.com. 

Is Councilman Eric Ulrich the future of New York's Republican party?

Janet DeFiore, head of the controversial Joint Committee on Public Ethics, denied the group had its first meeting behind closed doors.

JCOPE's first public meeting is scheduled for December 20.

A group of Long Island high schoolers were suspended after mimicking Tim Tebow's infamous post-touchdown prayer pose in a school hallway.

The House Judiciary Committee postponed action on the controversial SOPA internet piracy bill.

Bill Clinton went back on his vow never to appear on Bill O'Reilly's show.

In the piece by former NYO staffer Nick Summer, Mr. Sheekey makes a pointed reference to the declining fortunes of the New York Times:

Other media outlets don’t have a cash cow anything like this. And BGov chairman Kevin Sheekey couldn’t help but rub it in, walking up to the terminal’s blinking prompt and challenging one guest: “Why don’t you look up the price of the New York Times Co.?”

And intriguingly for political junkies, Mr. Sheekey talks up Mayor Bloomberg's life when he leaves the confines of City Hall, something that is being bandied about in political circles today as evidence that the mayor is thinking of running for president again.

"City Hall holds him back. He stands to become something much larger after he leaves office,” says Sheekey. “Mike Bloomberg has the ability to be the best parts of Bill Clinton, Rupert Murdoch, and Bill Gates all rolled up into one.”

The main thrust of the article however is that Bloomberg L.P. is seriously considering making a play for The Financial Times.

The Mayor and the Newlyweds: Jonatham Mintz (left) and John Feinblatt, with daughters Maeve and Georgia. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

The first same-sex marriage officiated by a New York City Mayor took place at Gracie Mansion Sunday evening -- the first day New York State law allowed them to take place.

Jonathan Mintz, the commissioner for Consumer Affairs, entered from the eastern side of the balcony surrounding Gracie Mansion. John Feinblatt, a senior advisor to the mayor, entered from the western side of the balcony.

The ceremony was performed at the foot of the steps outside the building, with about 150 guests looking on, including: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, police commissioner Ray Kelly, former deputy mayors Kevin Sheekey (in a tie, for once), and Ed Skyler, along with dozens of reporters.

Bloomberg -- who is not known for being overly sentimental --  joked during the ceremony that he denied the couple's request for a day off tomorrow. "I’m so glad I asked to be part of it," Bloomberg said. The mayor kept his remarks centered on the couple getting married. Feinblatt and Mintz are top aides in his administration that have been together for 14 years and have two daughters.

"It’s taken New York State a long time to recognize what the two of you must have known instinctively," Bloomberg told the couple. "That two people who want to be together, and raise a family together...deserves to be recognized and commemorated equally under the eye of the law."

They exchanged rings, said "I do," and then the mayor said, triumphantly: "Therefore, by the powers vested in me by the State of New York, I pronounce you… married."

"It made us stronger and it made us better," said Quinn, who is openly gay and expects to marry her partner next year, after the ceremony. "We created a better city and state today."

And, following Jewish tradition, each groom ended the wedding by stomping on a water glass. "This custom has many interpretations," Bloomberg said.

Afterward, as the two men and their daughters embraced one another and retreated indoors briefly, the crowd disbursed and headed to a reception under the tents that had been erected on the property, overlooking the water. Before joining the crowd, Bloomberg walked up the steps and retrieved the broken glasses.

Below, are Mayor Bloomberg's prepared remarks from the ceremony.

Good evening and welcome to Gracie Mansion.

I want to warn everyone:  I’ve only officiated at two of these ceremonies before.  I’m going to do my best – but if I slip up, Maeve and Georgia, feel free to step in and tell me what I’m doing wrong.

We are gathered here today in the presence of family and friends to witness the exchanging of marriage vows of John and Jonathan.

Today, John and Jonathan come together to officially pledge to live the rest of their lives as one.

The ancient ceremony in which they now participate -- and have asked us to share with them -- pre-dates recorded human history.

Today – in this city and in this state – history takes an important step forward by allowing every person to participate.

So as we now listen to the words and witness John and Jonathan enter into the oldest, most revered contract, let's pause for a moment and remember the importance of this to them, and to us. They wish to establish a union which is greater than the sum of its parts. And we are grateful that they are allowing us to take part in this truly momentous ceremony for them, and for us.

Maeve, Georgia… decades from now – when you are attending the weddings of your great-grandchildren – this occasion may come up. And I hope you will remember it this way:

On a beautiful summer evening, in New York City – two people, who loved each other dearly, came together in front of family and friends, and pledged their lives to each other. When all is said and done – that’s what tonight is all about.

That’s what this ceremony is about for every couple who are at this moment – making the exact same commitment to each other.   I’m so glad I asked to be part of it. And I’m glad Jonathan’s parents, Ruth and Sandy – and John’s step-mother, Lois – are here to share in this wonderful day – along with the members of their families.

But let’s not forget – there is quite a cheering section looking down from above – including John’s parents, Eugene and Marjorie.   Every one of us, John and Jonathan, wishes for you a love that makes both of you better people, that continues to give you joy, and that provides you with energy with which to face the responsibilities of your lives.  If you take care of each other – never stop listening – and never stop laughing – we know you will do just fine.

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for.

Do you, John, solemnly declare that you take Jonathan to be your spouse?

Do you promise to love, cherish, and keep him for as long as you both shall live?

As a symbol of your promise to Jonathan, please place the ring on his finger.

Do you, Jonathan, solemnly declare that you take John to be your spouse?

Do you promise to love, cherish, and keep him for as long as you both shall live?

As a symbol of your promise to John, please place the ring on his finger.

John, Jonathan, usually when the three of us are together, we are discussing the finer points of illegal guns or consumer fraud. I can’t tell you how nice this is for a change. And I can’t tell you how pleased I am that this day has finally come.

It’s taken New York State a long time to recognize what the two of you must have known instinctively:  that two people who want to be together, and raise a family together, and spend the rest of their lives together – have a relationship – and a beautiful family – that, in every way, deserves to be recognized and commemorated equally under the eye of the law.

Today, we are doing that. And today, surrounded by family and friends, you are making history. Not only for the obvious reasons. You are making another kind of history.  Equally important. You are writing the next chapter in your personal history – and that of your family.  By going through this ceremony, you are changing the future – for yourself, and for generations to follow.

When we look beyond the excitement and satisfaction of what today means to so many who fought for it to be possible. We come back to what today means to you, John – and you, Jonathan – and to your families – stretching back, and stretching forward, through the years. It’s such a simple thing… but with such incredible and profound meaning.

And now, to honor John and Jonathan –  a song from the musical “Cabaret” – sung by the great Joel Grey.

John and Jonathan, we wish for you all life’s blessings.

Inasmuch as you have consented to be united in the bonds of matrimony, and you have exchanged your wedding vows before all those present today.

Therefore, by the powers vested in me by the State of New York – I pronounce you… married.

And now – a great tradition:  the breaking of the glass. This custom has many interpretations – and since it is a Jewish custom – it has even more! But one that seems to fit today perfectly is that the broken glass is a reminder – a reminder that although the couple came together as a single union, the world – as a whole – is broken and needs mending.

I can’t think of two men who work harder to do just that. And that’s why the groom will now break the glass. In fact, today – you are in for a treat.

"I think at the time I was in favor of the extension," Allon said. "I didn't think it was a bad idea, even though the will of the people knocked it down, twice. I hate to say it but in retrospect, I think it was a mistake. And I think maybe even in his heart of hearts the mayor thinks it's a mistake."

Allon, who declared that he was running for mayor earlier this week, has a very different kind of profile, and a very different kind of record, than most of his would-be opponents in 2013.

As the publisher of Manhattan Media, he has overseen a slew of political and lifestyle publications throughout the city, making his candidacy something of a surprise to the political establishment.  But, Allon said, he "jumped in with two feet" when he decided to run as a "Cuomo Democrat."

Allon, 49, sat down with the Observer in a Starbucks (tall latte, no sugar) at 29th and Parke Avenue South for a wide-ranging interview Wednesday morning. A few blocks away, one of his newspapers was holding an event where journalists were discussing Governor Cuomo's first legislative session. Allon did not attend.

Yesterday's announcement by Allon was a carefully-timed debut. It was also one of the first days for more established candidates to declare how much money they had raised in the latest campaign finance reporting period. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn leads the pack with $1.32 million raised and $4 million in the bank. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer raised $655,000 this period and has $2.4 million on hand. Both supported the extension of term limits.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and City Comptroller John Liu -- who both opposed the extension -- did not publicly declare how much money they had on hand after this filing period. De Blasio's campaign said they raised $675,000 in this last filing.

Allon has begun meeting with consultants and prospective donors for the last few weeks and said he was confident he could raise money for a credible campaign by the next disclosure period on January 15, 2012.

"I've already gotten people to verbally commit to me hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Allon. "And I just started asking people for their support three weeks ago."

This would be the first foray into politics for the media executive, who said the editorial pages of his newspaper don't always reflect his own policy positions.

"I come from the editorial side of things and up until recently, and always had my finger in the pie, editorially," he said. "But really, most of my day, I'd say 95 percent of my time is spent on business and management."

In 2006, "a number of my editors wanted to endorse Mark Green in the primary and I overruled them and said Andrew Cuomo was a better candidate," Allon said. "That's one I that can point to where I think I called it right."

Allon's candidacy presents some tricky issues for himself and his staff.

"I'll occasionally write editorials and I'll continue to occasionally write editorials, as long as they're not related to the mayor's race," he said. The parameters for Allons' role at the paper were spelled out in a memo sent to Manhattan Media employees yesterday, after he broke the news in an interview with Crain's Business Insider.

Allon is presenting himself as a business-friendly Democrat with progressive social values, who could gobble up large swaths of support among major blocs of Democratic primary voters.

Allon would be only the second Jewish candidate in the race, along with Stringer. Allon speaks Yiddish and Hebrew and is the son of Holocaust survivors. His companies have business relationships with the Amsterdam News, a prominent weekly newspaper based in Harlem focusing on African-American issues.

As a former high school English teacher with two of his three children in public school, Allon is making education a key issue. He said he would seek to rename the Department of Education the Department of Educational Services, and create a 311-like hotline for parents to get information about their schools.

He would offer tax incentives for developers to build new school facilities, and is generally opposed to co-locating charter schools in public school buildings.

On last-in first out, Allon is "generally against it, in principle…It really takes years for somebody to become a good teacher." Allon said he also opposed grading teachers based on student performance.

"I don't' think teaching is a quantifiable thing, is something that is measurable based on statistic," he said.

As for the mayor's third term, Allon said it's not that third terms are "cursed," making quote marks with his fingers. It's that the bold thinkers who often join a new administration tend to leave over time.

"He lost some really strong people after his second term," Allon said. For example, "If Ed Skyler was Deputy Mayor in December, we wouldn't have had a snow emergency." And "I think Kevin [Sheekey, a Deputy Mayor] would have been able to push the mayor back and say 'Cathie Black? Come on. What are you thinking?'"

Some have scoffed at Allon's intent to run.

Kathy Wylde, head of the business group, the Partnership for New York City, dismissed Allon, saying simply, "Tom who?"

Allon, though, insists he is serious about the race. "The president was a community organizer and I've been a community publisher," he said.

After the interview, Allon left for a meeting with a fundraiser.