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By David Freedlander 2/09/12 3:13pm

ny9

Rory Lancman, on the left

Turner, Lancman Turn Attention To Orthodox Stronghold

 

Rory Lancman, on the left

The Daily News reported this morning something that we speculated earlier in the week–that Caroline McCarthy and Gary Ackerman’s congressional seats may be merged.

According to sources in Albany, this has led to an effort by Bob Turner to grab the Five Towns area, an enclave of Orthodox Jews currently represented by Ms. McCarthy.

Mr. Turner, you will recall, won election to the Brooklyn Queens Congressional seat held by Anthony Weiner by making an explicit play for the votes of religious Jews in a race that turned on President Barack Obama’s perceived weakness on Middle Eastern policy. Mr. Turner has in the months since winning election traveled to Israel and further courted the Jewish vote.  Read More

By Azi Paybarah 7/12/11 10:32pm

ny9

Rep. Ackerman, speaking at the Bayside Jewish Center in October 2010. (via Ackerman's flickr stream)

Ackerman Rebuffs Koch's Call to Make Weprin Race a Proxy for Obama's Israel Policy

Rep. Gary Ackerman endorsed fellow Democrat David Weprin for the NY-9 special election, and warned voters not to heed Ed Koch’s calls to make the race an outlet for voters frustrations over President Obama’s policies towards Israel.

“I can say as one of Israel’s strongest champions in Congress, that having David Weprin in Congress will be good for both the United States and the U.S-Israel relationship,” Ackerman, who represents parts of Queens and Nassau County, said in a statement released tonight. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 7/12/11 8:10am

ny9

Publisher Tom Allon is running for mayor.

Morning Read: Tom Allon Runs for Mayor, Michelle Paterson Writes a Book

Housing Duffy: Cuomo’s spokesman defends Lt. Governor’s use of campaign money for Albany housing costs. [Ken Lovette / Daily News, via Capital Tonight]

2013: Publisher running for mayor. “I know it’s an enormous leap…I’m a Cuomo Democrat.” [Jeremy Smerd and Shane Dixon / Crains]

2012: Democrat Chris Petsas running primary against Ken Levinson to take on Republican Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik. [Michael Valkys / Poughkeepsie Journal]

Books: David Paterson’s wife is writing a book. “It’s about getting thrown into being first lady. How the press treated us…He didn’t think he was up to it.” [Cindy Adams / NY Post]

NY9: Turner paid $16,000 in fines for bad bookkeeping. [Alison Gendar / Daily News]

NY9: Weprin always loved politics. “Politics is his life,” said Dromm. Would be only Orthodox Jew in the House. [Joshua Miller / Roll Call]

NY9: “Turner signaled that he’s trying to tie Weprin to President Barack Obama.” [Grace Rauh / NY1]

NY9: Local races in Queens, where Weprin and Turner are running. [Lisa Colangelo / Daily News]

NY9: Republican blog says “we have a real–all be it an outside–chance in this seat.” [Race42012.com]

NY9: Turner “sacrificial lamb.” [Thomas Tracy / Courier Life]

NY9: National GOP not pouring money into the race, citing 100,000 Democratic voter advantage. [Carl Campanile / NY Post]

Same-Sex Marriage: Hard to gauge financial boost it’ll bring to NY. [Margot Adler / NPR]

Redistricting: Advocates raise prisoner counting issue as legislators proceed with drawing lines. [Jimmy Vielkind / Times Union]

Redistricting: “victory on this front would further cement Cuomo’s national reputation as a reformer.” [Bill Hammond / Daily News]

Tourism: High-wire act over Niagara Falls awaiting Cuomo’s approval. [Mark Sheer / Niagara Gazette]

Jobs: Federal money went to create some public jobs that Cuomo is now looking to cut. [Rick Karlin / Times Union]

Taxes: Out-of-towners who own homes here and spend 183 or more days here may face NY taxes. [Craig Karmin / WSJ]

Tax Cap: Moody’s raises concerns. [Joe Spector / Democrat and Chronicle]

Bills: Bloomberg signs law boosting price for getting your car towed. Also, DOE to post info about students who leave or transfer schools. [Jill Colvin / DNA Info]

Cars: Bloomberg admin “curiously coy” on banning cars from parks. [Michael Grynbaum / New York Times]

Inactive: Embattled Assemblyman Boyland skipped 1/3 of meetings; hasn’t introduced a single bill. [Glenn Blain / Daily News]

Objections: Deputy Elections Commissioner Dan French is also a candidate. [Larry Hertz / Poughkeepsie Journal]

Community Service: Federal Probation Department probing Andy Stein’s activities. [Nicholas Rizzi and Erin Einhorn / Daily News]

State Fair: Cappucilli gushes about fair, then, pleads guilty to ripping off tax payers. [Terri Weaver / Post-Standard]

And Roger Stone’s tattoo distracts Oddo and Morano and their cars get ticketed.

By Azi Paybarah 7/11/11 4:11pm

ny9

Source: WFP for Weprin [Updated]

The labor-backed Working Families Party is endorsing Democrat David Weprin for the NY-9 congressional seat vacated by Anthony Weiner, according to a source.

Weprin, an Assemblyman from Queens, already has the backing the Democratic Parties in Queens and Brooklyn, along with the Independence Party. Last time around, the WFP helped the Democratic candidate add 3,332 votes.

An official announcement is expected soon, I’m told.

Update: Statements after the jump.

By Azi Paybarah 7/11/11 3:08pm

ny9

Ed Koch Sees NY-9 As Test of Obama's Support for Israel

Ed Koch raises the stakes on the special election in Queens and Brooklyn, saying an upset victory by Republicans would send a signal to the White House.

Koch emails:

If Jewish New Yorkers and others who support Israel were to turn away from the Democratic Party in that congressional election and elect the Republican candidate to Congress in 2011, it might very well cause President Obama to change his hostile position on the State of Israel and to reestablish the special relationship presidents before him had supported. His own reelection will be decided next year in 2012.

[skip]

If the Republican candidate runs on these four issues:  Israel, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in the 9th Congressional District, which will probably no longer exist after redistricting takes place in 2012, I believe that candidate would win.

By Azi Paybarah 7/11/11 2:59pm

ny9

Bob Turner, Republican candidate for NY-9, advocates for domestic drilling. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

Turner: Washington is 'Directionless' and 'Clueless;' 'Start Drilling'

Bob Turner is still refreshingly unpolished, despite having run for the NY-9 seat in 2010 and making his carefully orchestrated debut today.

“I can hardly believe the volunteers didn’t toss their signage after the last election. I had thrown mine out,” he said in his kick-off speech.

Turner is looking to drum up support by bashing the president and the federal government’s handling of the economy.  Read More

By Azi Paybarah 7/08/11 6:43am

ny9

David Weprin, at the Thomas Jefferson Club in Carnasie, Brooklyn, yesterday. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

David Weprin Explains His Progressive Record in Albany [Video]

David Weprin hasn’t served long in Albany — not even a full term, actually — but he’s been there long enough to stake out a record of supporting to major progressive causes: extending a surcharge on millionaires and legalizing same-sex marriage.

I asked Weprin last night about those two issues and how he thought they would play with voters in the Ninth Congressional District, which has more middle income and moderate voters than the northeastern Queens district he represents in the Assembly. Read More