Public Advocate Bill de Blasio appeared on Yetta Kurland’s radio show last night and used to occasion to encourage her listeners to volunteer for the congressional campaigns in New York State, particularly the contested Michael Grimm/Mark Murphy one in Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.

“Typically, as New Yorkers, we have to look elsewhere if we want to make a difference–to Ohio, or Pennsylvania or Florida,” he said. “This is a very interesting dynamic this year–so many of the contested House seats are in New York.”

This is undoubtedly true, with as many as 6 to 8 of the seats in the 27-member delegation being contested, as numerous stories have pointed out.  Read More

Diane Gordon, a State Assemblywoman who in 2008 was convicted of eight counts of receiving bribes and official misconduct, is trying to get back into politics.

After two years in prison,  Ms. Gordon filed petitions to challenge Inez Barron for her district leader post in East New York.

Ms. Gordon could not be reached for comment, a source with knowledge of the situation said that it is unclear if Ms. Gordon’s attempt to campaign for office would violate the terms of her parole, since she was sentenced to two-six years in prison in 2009.  Read More