ELECTION DAY!

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There’s a Bunch of Elections Thursday, Which Ones Should You Care About?

It’s Election Day in New York next Thursday! But instead of a titanic battle between ideologies–your Mitt Romneys vs. Barack Obamas, if you will–the options on the ballot will be little-noticed state legislative contests between candidates of the same party, often with few policy differences.

However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some exciting races happening. From “Who Gets Arrested for Raping a Grandmother?” to “Assemblywoman Caught Up in Sex Scandal with Two Young Men,” there’s been no shortage of nasty drama and mud slinging as voters head to the polls.

Here’s a breakdown of who’s running and why it might matter who wins. The list below focuses on Democratic races because the few Republican primaries in this staunchly blue city tend to have clear favorites or are taking place in such Democratic territory that the victor is reasonably likely to be irrelevant. Read More

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Hoylman Continues Amassing Establishment Support

Brad Holyman, a community board chair and candidate for retiring Manhattan State Senator Tom Duane’s seat this year, has not only received the backing of Mr. Duane, but today announced the support of multiple influential council members inside and outside of the district: Christine Quinn, Dan Garodnick, Margaret Chin, Rosie Mendez, Jessica Lappin, Danny Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer.

“Brad is the kind of progressive reformer our City needs in Albany,” Ms. Quinn declared in a statement released this morning. “He has a proven record on the issues that matter most to this City and is a true fighter on the issues that matter most to New Yorkers.” Read More

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Brad Hoylman (Photo: Facebook)

Brad Hoylman Makes It Official

It’s no surprise, but Brad Hoylman, the Chairperson of Community Board 2 in Greenwich Village, is formally a candidate for the State Senate district that Tom Duane is vacating this year.

“It’s official: I am running to be the next state senator,” Mr. Hoylman wrote in an email to supporters today. Read More

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Brad Hoylman (Photo: Facebook)

Brad Holyman Plows Ahead With State Senate Bid

It look likes retiring State Senator Tom Duane’s pick to replace him is definitely getting into the race. Brad Hoylman, the Chairperson of Community Board 2 in Manhattan, has formally registered a campaign committee for the seat.

“One of my closest friends is Brad Hoylman and I’ve made no secret at all of my fondness for him,” Mr. Duane said in an interview on Capital Tonight yesterday. “I haven’t officially made an endorsement but I would be very proud to have Brad Hoylman represent me in the district that I have been representing and I think he would share my values and fight as hard as I have been fighting.” Read More

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Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer wants Verizon to return $800,000 he said may have been obtained illegally. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

‘They Just Haven’t Sent the Check’: Stringer Urges Verizon to Pay NYC

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer sent a letter to Verizon urging them to repay New York City $800,000 in response to findings from a city investigator who said the major telecom company benefited from the illegal activity of one of their subordinates.

In his August 30th letter to Jim Gerace, president of of the New York Region for Verizon, Stringer said $800,000 was the “minimum” amount the company should repay, based on a report from Richard Condon, the special commissioner of investigations for New York City public schools. Read More

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In Wake of Marriage Comments, LGBT Community Wavers on Weprin

Earlier this week Upper West Side Sen. Tom Duane, the only openly LGBT member of the State Senate, told supporters that he was taking his name off as co-host of a fundraiser for  David Weprin in wake of comments the Assemblyman gave to an Orthodox Jewish news site in which he alleged that the State Senate vote to legalize same-sex marriage should be investigated due to procedural irregularities and “coercion.” Read More

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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

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Same-Sex Marriage Senators Take The Show on the Road

Diane Savino and Tom Duane, two of New York’s biggest backers for marriage equality, are headed to the Golden State in order to bask in the accolades of LGBT activists at the San Diego Pride Parade:

Writes the  San Diego Gay and Lesbian News website:

Two New York senators who played key political roles in passing their state’s marriage equality law on June 24 will be participating this weekend in San Diego LGBT Pride events… Read More