By Colin Campbell 10/19/12 1:05pm

What You Should Know

ruben diaz sr gov

Rubén Díaz Wishes Governor Cuomo Would Be Mocked ‘in Tweets’

Democratic State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr., known for his opposition to gay marriage and his outspoken “What You Should Know” press releases, sent out another one of his inimitable missives earlier this afternoon. It’s quite a doozy. In the statement, Mr. Díaz touched on all of his favorite topics; attacking Governor Andrew Cuomo, brandishing his socially conservative beliefs and advocating for increased minority representation in New York politics. Read More

By Reid Pillifant 7/24/11 9:02pm

same-sex marriage

huntley marriage

'What the Hell': Huntley Explains Her Marriage Vote, Predicts Democratic Senate

Two years after she voted against same-sex marriage, State Senator Shirley Huntley stood outside Governor Cuomo’s marriage party in Chelsea on Sunday afternoon and spoke frankly about why she changed her vote.

“I guess it just got to my heart,” she said, describing one young boy who was the child of some same-sex marriage advocates.

“I could see this child was well-reared, you could just tell,” she said. “I talked to a lot of people like that – him and other people who came – you know, and I said, what the hell.” Read More

By Reid Pillifant 7/24/11 7:00pm

same-sex marriage

cuomo celebration

A Few Swing Senators Come to Cuomo's Marriage Party

After leaning on a handful of State Senators to switch their stance on same-sex marriage, Governor Andrew Cuomo convinced a few of the former No votes to attend his marriage celebration in Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

“The governor invited me to come today,” explained Queens State Senator Shirley Huntley, on the sidewalk outside the Dream Hotel on West 16th Street. “I’ve known the governor a very long time. And he wanted me to be here, so I figured that I would.”

Huntley was one of four state senators who made it to the party, along with fellow Democrat Tom Duane, and two Republicans, James Alesi of Rochester and Stephen Saland of the Hudson Valley. All but Duane voted against the bill back in 2009. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 7/19/11 10:45am

same-sex marriage

N.O.M. is targeting Mark Grisanti and other State Senators.

N.O.M. Targets N.Y. Lawmakers

The National Organization for Marriage is sending out $150,000 worth of mailings targeting a handful of state senators who voted to legalize same-sex marriage, the group said.

Targets of the mailing are the Republicans who voted for it, and the Democrats who supported the bill this year after opposing it in 2009: Republican Senators Mark Grisanti, Roy McDonald, James Alesi and Stephen Saland, and Democratic Senators Shirley Huntley, Joseph Addabbo and Carl Kruger. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 7/13/11 5:27pm

same-sex marriage

Same-Sex Marriage Republican Has a Lot of Campaign Money

Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $10,300 to Mark Grisanti, a freshman Republican State Senator whose re-election was thrown into even greater uncertainty after he voted to legalize same-sex marriage. Tim Gill, head of the national LGBT advocacy group, the Gill Foundation, donated $10,000 to Grisanti’s campaign.

Overall, Grisanti, who represents a heavily Democratic district in Buffalo, raised $148,325 ($91,461 from individuals and the rest from corporations and unions). During this latest filing period, he spent just over $28,495.

Overall, Grisanti has $103,954.06 in the bank, a remarkable turnaround since he started this filing period with $2,106.11 in debt. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 6/28/11 4:21pm

same-sex marriage

(Azi Paybarah / Observer)

Who Lobbied Crucial Republican on Marriage? His Wife

The Republican lawmaker who cast the decisive 32nd vote to legalize same-sex marriage revealed who may have been one of the most influential lobbyists on that issue: his wife, Linda.

“My wife has been a long-time advocate for marriage equality,” said State Senator Saland, in an interview this afternoon with members of the Poughkeepsie Journal.

“Most of the groups who came to lobby me in favor,” said Saland, “were aware or were made aware by me that they had someone in my house — my wife of nearly 46 years — who was certainly lobbying me on behalf of marriage equality.” Read More

By Azi Paybarah 6/24/11 10:25pm

same-sex marriage

Bill To Legalize Gay Marriage Debated In New York State Senate

Andrew Cuomo Gets GOP to Pass Same-Sex Marriage [Updated]

New York will legalize same-sex marriage, becoming the sixth and largest state to do so, thanks to a carefully crafted amendment struck between a handful of Republicans and Governor Cuomo.

It’s a stunning turnaround for the freshman governor and Republican-led State Senate, whose members uniformly voted against the bill in 2009. The bill’s passage was sealed tonight when one of the longest serving Republicans, Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie, outlined the details of the amendment protecting religious organizations from having to recognize or provide services to gay couples. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 6/17/11 8:41am

suggested reading

New York Post via newseum.org

Morning Read: Weiner’s Good-Bye, Albany’s Final Days

Overtime: Not leaving Albany until tax cap, rent regs, are done. [Tom Precious / Buffalo News]

Opposing Same-Sex Marriage: “If we have to live with it,” Mr. Motley said, “we want the best protections we can get.” [Thomas Kaplan / New York Times]

Deciding Same-Sex Marriage: Lanza, Saland and Hanon met with Cuomo. [Jimmy Vielkind / Times Union]

Deciding Same-Sex Marriage: Key vote is Saland. [Nick Confessore and Danny Hakim / New York Times]

Influencing Same-Sex Marriage: Bloomberg’s checkbook looms large over GOP. [Brendan Scott / New York Post]

Stalling Same-Sex Marriage: Problems in the fine print. [Jacob Gershman / WSJ]

Influencing Same-Sex Marriage: Conservative tells GOP Grisanti it’ll be “difficult” to get party’s line if he supports marriage. [Robert McCarthy / Buffalo News]

Before Resigning: Weiner tried focusing staff and advisers on daily, weekly and monthly work goals. [Josh Margolin and Sally Goldenberg / New York Post]

After Resigning: Unnamed friends say Weiner may be a tv commentator. [Michael Saul / WSJ]

After Resigning: Huma and Weiner shop for food, head to Hamptons. [Jennifer Fermino and Emily Smith / New York Post]

Replacing Weiner: Editors fear Vito Lopez and Joe Crowley will pick the new congressman, instead of the votes. [Daily News]

Replacing Weiner: Instant lame-duck status. “Maybe this is finally Alec Baldwin’s opportunity.” [David Chen / New York Times]

Replacements: David Weprin, Jim Gennaro, Elizabeth Crowley, Rory Lancman, Peter Vallone Jr., Melinda Katz, Eric Gioia, Cody McCone, Bob Turner, Eric Ulrich, Andrew Sullivan. [Erin Einhorn / Daily News]

Replacements: Giuliani pushing Ulrich. [Sally Goldenberg and Carl Campanile / New York Post]