By Ross Barkan 6/14 12:27pm

Appreciation

Shelly Silver in Albany. (Photo: Getty)

‘Thank God for Shelly Silver’: Speaker Receives a Little Love in Queens

At a Democratic club meeting in Queens last night, Councilman Danny Dromm said progressives should “thank God” for embattled Assembly Speaker Sheldon Speaker, not revile him.

“Thank God for Shelly Silver,” Mr. Dromm said to his group, the News Visions Democratic Club in Jackson Heights, when the discussion shifted to Albany politics. “A lot of conservative stuff that might have happened didn’t happen. I don’t know what his prospects are for the Assembly, but we’ll see.” Read More

By Jill Colvin 6/06 12:21pm

Survey Says

Andrew Cuomo. (Photo: Getty Images)

Cuomo to Parents: Don’t Worry, Your Daughters Are Safe in Albany

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was forced to try to assure parents that their daughters were safe working in Albany following  a “disturbing” poll out yesterday that found most New Yorkers wouldn’t want their daughters to intern in the State Legislature after former Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s sexual harassment scandal.

“I want people to know that you can send your daughter to Albany,” Mr. Cuomo said during an appearance on The Capitol Pressroom with Susan Arbetter this morning, where he was once again forced to weigh in on the scandal and its aftermath. Read More

By Jill Colvin 6/05 8:58am

Hide your children

Sheldon Silver. (Photo: Daniel Barry/Getty Images)

Poll: New Yorkers Don’t Want Daughters Interning for State Legislature

A slim majority of  New York voters think Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver should resign over his mishandling of the Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal, according to a new poll out Wednesday, which also found most parents want their daughters steering clear of Albany.

The Quinnipiac poll found that 51 percent of those surveyed think Mr. Silver should step down from office, versus just 22 percent who feel he should remain. The feeling was especially high among men, suburban voters and Republicans. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/20 6:07pm

Regrets

Sheldon Silver. (Photo: Getty Images)

An Apologetic Shelly Silver Tries to Fix Albany’s Sexual Harassment Problem

Facing growing calls for his resignation, Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver, surrounded by an army of loyal supporters, apologized for his handling of the Vito Lopez allegations and announced a series of reforms to ensure, he said, that such mistakes will never be made again.

“I want New Yorkers to know I care deeply about this institution and its employees, that I remain dedicated to our core commission of protecting those who are most in need of a strong and caring government,” Mr. Silver told reporters at a press conference in Albany hours after Mr. Lopez officially resigned. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/17 1:49pm

girl power

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. (Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)

Christine Quinn Launching ‘Women for Reynoso’ to Block Vito Lopez from Winning Council Seat

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is throwing her weight–and campaign resources–behind City Council candidate Antonio Reynoso in an effort to keep disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez from wining a seat on the council.

Ms. Quinn’s campaign announced the launch of a “Women for Reynoso” campaign Friday, which will “rally women throughout New York in support of Antonio Reynoso and to make sure that Vito Lopez’s career in government comes to an end.” Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/17 11:59am

Resignation

Vito Lopez. (Photo: NYS Assembly)

Vito Lopez to Resign From Assembly, Still Running For City Council

Disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez just announced that he will resign from the Assembly at the end of the legislative session–but still intends to run for City Council.

The announcement comes in the wake of a damning report released this week outlining his alleged sexual harassment of numerous young women who worked for him and a day after Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver said he would introduce a resolution seeking his expulsion. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/16 11:08pm

End Game

Speaker Sheldon Silver. (Photo: Getty)

Shelly Silver Suggests Expelling Vito Lopez From Assembly

Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver’s office released a statement late Thursday suggesting for the first time that disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez could be expelled from office following the damning Joint Commission on Public Ethics report.

Per the statement, Mr. Silver intends to introduce a resolution tomorrow asking the Assembly’s Ethics & Guidance Committee to “recommend appropriate sanctions including expulsion” against Mr. Lopez following the report, which detailed what City Council Speaker Christine Quinn described as “nauseating” conduct with young female staffers. Read More

By Jill Colvin 5/16 2:35pm

And Stay out!

Vito Lopez. (Photo: NYS Assembly)

Nauseated Christine Quinn Repeats Call For Vito Lopez Resignation, Holds Fire on Silver

Describing his conduct as “nauseating,” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn again called on disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez to resign from office, but held her fire when it came to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

A day after the release of a scathing report detailing Mr. Lopez’s alleged sexual harassment of numerous young female staffers, Ms. Quinn said Mr. Lopez had no business serving in elected office–much less running for the City Council–and urged New Yorkers to do anything they can to keep him out of City Hall. Read More

By Ross Barkan 4/17 5:29pm

Saying No to Vito

vito-lopez2

Vito Lopez Says He’s Unfazed by Planned Protest Against Him

His opponents have announced a protest outside of his first City Council fund-raiser tomorrow, but Assemblyman Vito Lopez told Politicker he’s not rattled by their efforts.

“It seems like they’re putting a lot of time and energy into preventing me from running, even though I haven’t yet decided to run,” Mr. Lopez, the ex-Brooklyn Democratic Party boss facing allegations that he repeatedly sexually harassed staffers, explained earlier today. “You wonder–they’re a reform group–why would they want to spend energy to prevent somebody from running in an election? That doesn’t seem like reform.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/10/12 12:18pm

when a secret is a 'secret'

shelly silver

Cuomo: Shelly Silver’s ‘Secret Deal’ With Vito Lopez Was Anything But

Governor Andrew Cuomo, as he is often wont to do when thorny issues plague Albany, went on New York Post columnist Fred Dicker’s radio show this morning, where he spent a decent amount of time defending Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver. Mr. Silver, of course, is currently in hot water for authorizing a confidential settlement that shelved sexual harassment claims against his powerful colleague Vito Lopez, only to see credible sexual harassment allegations later emerge to create much controversy around the initial deal. On Mr. Dicker’s show, Mr. Cuomo took umbrage with the use of the phrase “secret deal” to describe Mr. Silver’s move.

“Let the process run, I understand the appetite to further the story, but let the process run and let the facts come out,” he said, switching to a slow, mocking voice to describe newspaper headlines. “‘Secret Deal’ was the initial headline. ‘Sheldon Silver signs secret deal.’ Poetic, beautiful. Yeah, except it wasn’t true and it wasn’t accurate and it wasn’t right. It wasn’t a ‘secret deal.’” Read More