By Hunter Walker 11/04/11 9:14pm

suggested reading

Roundup: Giuliani Says Obama ‘Owns’ Occupy Wall Street; Santa Survives; Zuccotti Potties

Rudy Giuliani said President Obama is responsible for Occupy Wall Street and predicted the movement will “take his presidency down.”

Steve Ballone, a Democratic candidate for Suffolk County executive, saved Santa.

U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Senator Daniel Squadron, and Councilwoman Margaret Chin are thankful for the port-o-potties in Zuccotti Park.

According to new poll numbers, Governor Cuomo is surprisingly popular. Read More

By David Freedlander 11/01/11 2:25pm

#OccupyWallStreet

on October 31, 2011 in New York City.

Local Lawmakers Call for Crackdown at Occupy Wall Street

All four elected officials who represent the area around Zuccotti Park have written Mayor Mike Bloomberg asking him to enforce existing laws surrounding the Occupy Wall Street protests.

The lawmakers–Jerry Nadler on the federal level, Shelly Silver and Daniel Squadron in Albany, and Margaret Chin, the local City Councilmember– say they give their ”full support for the protesters’ First Amendment rights to speak and to assemble in Zuccotti Park. We sympathize with the movement’s message and we feel it is important that their voices be heard.” Read More

By David Freedlander 10/11/11 8:20pm

#OccupyWallStreet

Illustration By Dale Stephanos

Margaret In The Middle: Downtown Councilwoman Chin Struggles to Balance Constituent Concerns and Her Own Radical Past

Last week, the city’s labor unions joined the Occupy Wall Street protests in earnest, swelling the ranks of the demonstrators from a couple of hundred to tens of thousands. Before the scene was marred by a couple of sporadic outbursts of violence, a half-dozen or so members of the City Council stopped by Zuccotti Park to raise a fist and become among the first elected officials in New York City to officially declare solidarity with the demonstration.

Margaret Chin was not among them, despite being the city councilwoman who represents Lower Manhattan, including the areas “occupied.” Which was odd, because Ms. Chin is one the most liberal members of the New York City Council, a part of the “Progressive Caucus” and someone who has by her own reckoning marched on the financial district many, many times before, including a smaller, but highly publicized May 12 rally “to make big banks and millionaires pay.” Read More

By Azi Paybarah 5/27/11 2:17pm

Uncategorized

Responses to Cop Verdict

Although NYPD officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata were convicted of three counts of official misconduct, their acquittal on more serious rape charges is drawing  a lot of anger.

The City Council sent out a number of statements harshly criticizing the verdict.

City Council Speaker Quinn: “shocked and disappointed.”

Councilwoman Lappin: “saddened and dismayed.”

Councilwoman Mendez: “disappointing.”

Councilwoman Ferreras: “appalled…disheartened.”

Councilwoman Brewer: “destroys the trust between women and the police department.” Read More

By Meghan Keneally 4/27/11 3:21pm

Parking

IMG_0441

Abuses of Power: Fighting the Good Fight Against … Phony Parking Permits

As many as one in four parking placards currently used by motorists in New York City are fake, according to a new study by transportation advocates, and city lawmakers are latching onto the report to push for tougher enforcements.

Currently, there are 78,000 valid parking placards distributed by various authorities in the city. The president Read More

By Jeremy B. White 4/26/11 3:44pm

Knock It Off

Chin_Counterfeit_Presser

Chin to Knock-Off Buyers: Not in My Neighborhood

Tourists scouring Canal Street for cheap imitations of designer bags would face a police crackdown under legislation introduced today by Council Member Margaret Chin.

“Our laws are incomplete in that they only target the supply of these items and not the demand,” Chin said after introducing a bill that would make buying knock-offs a misdemeanor Read More