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fightin' words

By Ross Barkan 1/18 11:49am

fightin' words

shafran

Austin Shafran Wastes Little Time Blasting ‘Morally Reprehensible’ Dan Halloran

Austin Shafran, who’s leaving his Cuomo Administration post today to run for the City Council, ripped into his potential opponent, GOP Councilman Dan Halloran, a self-described libertarian, for his positions on a whole host of topics ranging from gun control to federal aid in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

“Dan Halloran’s support for the radical NRA proposals clearly shows he is out of step with a community that cares about the safety of its children,” Mr. Shafran told Politicker this morning, alluding to what could become a dominant theme in one of the rare toss-up general election City Council races in New York City. “It was a watershed moment—you choose the political interests of the NRA over the public safety of our schools and children.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 12/17/12 2:16pm

fightin' words

New York's Mayor Bloomberg Speaks On Gun Violence

Bloomberg on Guns: ‘The Time for Talk Is Over’

Before a packed crowd of reporters earlier today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a phalanx of gun violence victims’ families held a press conference in order to rail against the federal government for their inaction in addressing shootings, especially in the wake of last Friday’s gruesome massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.

“The time for talk is over,” Mr. Bloomberg flatly declared. “Congress and the White House has to come up with something that stops this carnage no matter what the political ramifications are. Somehow or another, we’ve come to think that getting reelected is more important than saving lives. That political power is more important than saving lives. That partisan politics is more important than saving lives. Enough!” Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/25/12 9:07am

fightin' words

(Photo: Getty)

Bill de Blasio: Bloomberg Is ‘No Chris Christie’

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, a likely mayoral candidate in 2013, can now be counted as a firm critic of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s handling of Hurricane Sandy.

“You remember the recent diplomatic phrase, ‘leading from behind,’” Mr. de Blasio mused on Assemblyman Dov Hikind’s radio show last night. “I think many times the mayor was not exactly on the front line. He was no Chris Christie, let’s say that.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/02/12 11:14am

fightin' words

Vinnie Gentile (Photo: Facebook)

Gentile: Bloomberg Is Declaring ‘All-Out War on Children’

The typically mild-mannered Councilman Vinnie Gentile went to town on a particular cut Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed to the Out of School Time program in a sharply worded press release this morning, entitled with the phrase “Bloomberg is declaring war on children!”

The program, described by the city government as a free service providing “a mix of academic, recreational and cultural activities for young people (grades K-12) after school, during holidays and in the summer,” would reportedly be cut in about half with the proposed budget released in February, and advocates have been rallying since. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/12/12 4:08pm

fightin' words

Mark Murphy (Photo: Facebook)

Mark Murphy Lambasts Michael Grimm’s Vision for Tax Fairness

On Inside City Hall last night, Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney debated GOP Congressman Michael Grimm over taxes and the budget, and while Ms. Maloney contended the current tax system unfairly benefits the wealthy, Mr. Grimm agreed the system is unfair, but went in the opposite direction, saying, “47% of Americans don’t pay any federal taxes. To me, that’s unfair.” He added later that the tax system needs to “broaden the base” to help address the country’s revenue problem.

“The top 1% already pay 40% of all federal taxes, the top 10% pay already pay two thirds,” Mr. Grimm explained, contending efforts to raise taxes on the rich constitutes class warfare. “That’s more than any other industrialized nation in the world. So to say they’re not paying their fair share is just not true.”

In a statement today, however, Mr. Grimm’s Democratic opponent, Mark Murphy, took issue with Mr. Grimm’s tax plan, suggesting the Staten Island Republican is more interested in the economic well-being of “people who buy $1,000 bottles of champagne and lap dances at Scores” than hardworking New Yorkers. Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/19/12 11:44am

fightin' words

storobin

David Storobin: Lew Fidler Should ‘Come Back to Brooklyn’

David Storobin slammed his Democratic opponent, Councilman Lew Fidler, for spending too much time in Manhattan instead of in the State Senate district they are both hoping to represent.

“I understand that Lew Fidler’s radical progressive base lives far outside our district, and that he finds it impossible to get local support, but it is time to start campaigning in southern Brooklyn,” Mr. Storobin said in a release. Read More