Please update your RSS reader by going to our feeds page. Click the RSS icon next to the categories/sections to obtain the new RSS feed URL.

Watching the city manager wobble between demands from five commissioners and its mayor has persuaded Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez to propose eliminating the city manager job and giving those powers to the mayor.

Here’s what we’re watching on Day 24 of the 2012 Legislature:

Florida lawmakers took the first step toward requiring online retailers to collect sales tax on items bought over the Internet.

The bill to bring three resort casinos to Florida may have to wait until next year to pass because sponsors don’t appear to have mustered enough votes to get it out of a crucial House committee.

By pitting dozens of incumbents against each other, the new map of the Florida House has set off political dominoes.

As two North Florida counties open the door for slot machines, bills moving in the Senate would clear the way for the games in Palm Beach, Brevard and Lee counties too

The leading Republican candidate in the U.S. Senate race in Florida, Rep. Connie Mack, got national media exposure stumping across the state for state GOP primary winner Mitt Romney.

Here’s what we’re watching on Day 23 of the 2012 Legislature:

With GOP Rep. Allen West changing congressional districts in 2012, the race for his current district may grow crowded in a hurry.

Mitt Romney won handily in the Nevada caucuses with the help of groups he has struggled to persuade before, including strong Tea Party supporters and very conservative voters.

The casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has relayed assurances that he will donate millions more toward defeating President Obama even if his candidate is not the nominee, associates said.

Few in the Republican field of presidential candidates would be carved into a Mount Rushmore of (intentionally) funny politicians.

Newt Gingrich’s record as speaker shows that his ties to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae run deeper and farther back than he has acknowledged.

Two dueling realities — an improving economy that remains very weak — create serious political risks for top advisers to President Obama and Mitt Romney.

As the number of Orthodox Jews in Nevada continues to grow, a special Republican caucus has been organized for Saturday night, and is expected to draw a few hundred Sabbath observers.

Suspicious of government initiatives, protesters linked to the Tea Party are denouncing all manner of measures they equate with a 1992 United Nations resolution, Agenda 21.

The moment a political campaign is assigned a Secret Service detail -- for Mitt Romney, it was Thursday -- tends to be a turning point, with a political downside as well as an upside.

With polls showing a double-digit lead over Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney met with business leaders in northern Nevada. Mr. Gingrich, meanwhile, cast himself as the insurgent spoiler at a Las Vegas rally.

The Daily News says teacher evaluation talks "seem doomed to fail."

Crain's calls for a minimum wage hike.

Mayor Bloomberg sat down with the Post's editorial board.

Said editorial board writes: "First there was “The Little Engine That Could” — and now there are the “Little Public Workers Who Won’t."

And continues to bombard the Associated Press.

John Liu met with campaign contributors on the job.

9/11 responders' checks are less than they expected.

The Daily News is cautiously optimistic and the Post is rather pessimistic on the jobs numbers.

Staten Island's life expectancy is lacking.

Headline: "Pimp their sentences, sez Qns. pol"

The media coverage of the Komen controversy might be biased.

On the presidential race:

Mitt Romney won Nevada.

His win cements his status as the leading candidate.

The turnout was disappointing.

Shock! Romney's support rises amongst those with higher incomes.

Ron Paul won the "Jewish Caucus."

Newt Gingrich vows to soldier on.

Councilman Robert Jackson is planning to run for borough president in 2013, and already a host of candidates are lining up to take his place for the Upper Manhattan council seat.

Among them are longtime Washington Heights politico Maria Luna, who last ran for this same seat in 1992, a current and a former district leader who squared off in a pitched electoral battle last year, an aide to neighborhood institution Charlie Rangel, two former challengers to Mr. Jackson, a community board vice chair and a 24-year-old City Council staffer from across town.

Legislative lines for the District, which currently includes Morningside Heights, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Central Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood, could shift before the race next year. In the meantime,  many of the aspiring heirs to Mr. Jackson's seat are watching each other and other local politicians before deciding what move to make.

Mr. Jackson originally entered the City Council in 2002. Mark Levine, a Democratic District Leader and founder of the Barack Obama Democratic Club, who was the runner-up to Mr. Jackson during his first race told The Politicker he's "definitely" going to try for the seat again--unless there's an opening in the State Senate.

In 2010, Mr. Levine ran against former Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat in the race to replace Eric Schneiderman in the State Senate after Mr. Schneiderman became State Attorney General. Mr. Espaillat is planning to run for a seat in the House of Representatives if a majority Latino Congressional district is created in the area. If Mr. Espaillat does indeed abandon his Senate seat for a Congressional campaign, Mr. Levine said he'll bid for that rather than a spot in the Council.

"I feel like I would be in a good position. I have to wait to see how the final maps come out before committing, but that's the only thing that would pre-empt a Council run," Mr. Levine said.

Mr. Levine has worked closely with the Working Families Party and hopes to receive their endorsement in the race.

Sources familiar with the Northern Manhattan political scene say April Tyler is also considering a run for the seat. Ms. Tyler was a Democratic District leader from 1993 until last fall, when she was unseated in a dramatic electoral upset by a relative outsider, Marisol Alcantara. As of this writing, Ms. Tyler did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

Ms. Alcantara also might enter the race, though she said she's waiting to see how the lines are drawn.

"I'm not thinking about it right now, you know, I just got elected as a District Leader six months ago and I just got a job with the National Action Network," Ms. Alcantara said. "I'm just waiting to see what the deal is going to look like and I'm going to fundraise for my next District Leader race."

Ms. Luna, who has been described as a "political legend in Washington Heights," has been involved in uptown politics for nearly three decades. She became a District Leader in 1983 and unsuccessfully ran for the district seven Council seat in 1991 is also considering  a bid to succeed Mr. Jackson.

"I am considering, but seriously considering. I tried before in 1992, I didn't make it," Ms. Luna said. "The reason why I'm seriously considering it is because this is an open seat now, I think that there is an opportunity now, things are really a little more open for women. The second thing is that I think that I have the know-how, and the experience and the time served in our community."

Ms. Luna said she's being careful about making a final decision because it's a choice she wants to make "at the right time for me."

"The reason why I haven't openly announced is because of all the factors that come around when you announce this; a whole set of things that you need to do, like the fundraising and the process. It's not complicated, but it makes people a little more cautious," Ms. Luna said. "We'll see what happens, it's going to be interesting. It's a personal decision, I've been thinking about this for a long time."

Mr. Solano, who worked for then-Senator Hillary Clinton, former Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and former Speaker Gifford Miller prior to joining Mr. Rangel's district office, said he'll work for Ms. Luna's campaign if she decides to run. Otherwise, he'll be running for Mr. Jackson's seat himself. Mr. Solano thinks a lot of the other potential candidates are waiting to see what Ms. Luna decides to do.

"Maria Luna, she's considering running as well, and although she's saying that she might, she hasn't decided yet," Mr. Solano said. "So, if she gets in a lot of people are going to get out and work her campaign. I'm going to go work her campaign. So, we're just waiting."

One person who's definitely going to run for Mr. Jackson's old seat is Cheryl Pahaham, the departing vice chair of Community Board 12. Ms. Pahaham said she's attracted to the race because it's an open seat in a diverse and progressive district.

"It's an open seat, it's an interesting district, because it's not necessarily the kind of district is predetermined by the majority ethnic group," Ms. Pahaham said. "Another thing I really like about the district is that people are very progressive. There are people who love activism and they really want their political leaders to be active on their behalf."

Uptown insiders also say Julius Tajiddin, a community activist who previously ran for the District 7 Council seat in 2009, is considering trying again next year. As of this writing, Mr. Tajiddin has not responded to a request for comment on this story.

A final potential candidate for Mr. Jackson's old seat is Rakim Brooks, a 24-year-old aide to Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, who has said he's considering starting a Council campaign. Mr. Brooks declined to specify which district he plans to run in beyond saying he won't challenge his current boss, who represents the district adjacent to Mr. Jackson's. Since there aren't any other open seats in the area, speculation is Mr. Brooks is planning to enter the District 7 race.

Three primary election dates could create some crazy electoral scenarios.

Mayor Bloomberg supports giving money to Komen too.

Governor Cuomo's getting the big money.

Another candidate mulls the race for Suzi Oppenheimer's seat.

And an interesting new candidate looks at Maurice Hinchey's (disappearing?) district.

Shimon Gifter interviewed David Storobin.

More on Lew Fidler's Chuck Schumer endorsement.

Domenic Recchia has a problem with the principal of his old high school.

Muslim groups call on the Attorney General to investigate the NYPD.

Mayor Bloomberg is targeted by a Downtown Brooklyn business group's tweets.

City & State visits a jail.

Cablevision's Jimmy Dolan, unplugged.

On the presidential race:

Romney's going to win Nevada's caucuses tomorrow, do they matter?

POLITICO analyzes Mitt Romney's "Mormon firewall" helping him in states out West.

Newt Gingrich's Nevada campaign is stumping.

Ron Paul's Nevada momentum!!

Newt Gingrich thinks Komen shouldn't fund Planned Parenthood.

Romney does care about the very poor after all.

Rick Santorum fails to qualify for the Indiana ballot.

Forget the 2012 presidential race, what about 2016?

The Politicker recently noticed some amusing campaign committee spending, including former Rep. Eric Massa, who resigned under male-groping allegations, using his non-existent campaign to pay his wife, and a former state senator who's spending campaign money despite the tiny fact he's been deceased since 2005.

Now at least one State Senator is renewing her call for Albany to end spending by so-called "ghost campaigns" belonging to retired or deceased elected officials by passing a bill requiring inactive campaign committees to give their cash to charity, the state's general fund, the State University of New York, another committee, or back to the original contributors.

“Everyone knows our campaign finance laws need an overhaul, but this issue is particularly obvious and the solution should be a matter of bipartisan agreement," Senator Liz Krueger said in a statement.

"Politicians shouldn’t be able to keep hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign money hoarded years after their own careers end – it’s an invitation to corruption ... if they’re serious about turning over a new leaf, Senate Republicans should let this bill come to the floor."

Ms. Krueger additionally noted NYPIRG's report of these "ghost committees" continuing to proliferate in New York politics.

In 2011, the bill was voted down on a purely party-line vote in the Senate’s Elections Committee.

Senator Chuck Schumer had some fun the other day when he "mistakenly" confused the "Buffett Rule," President Barack Obama's tax proposal that the wealthy pay at least the same tax rate as the middle class, with presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

"So, it's a priority for us to act on some kind of Romney—I mean, Buffett Rule," he joked.

Mr. Romney, of course, is on the defense over his tax rate -- he only pays about a 14 percent tax rate on the tens of millions of dollars he earns each year. Mr. Schumer, who heads the Senate Democrats messaging efforts, was more than happy to remind voters of Mr. Romney's tax situation.

Politicker caught up to Mr. Schumer at a campaign event this afternoon and asked if "the Romney Rule" would be a phrase that would see continued use.

"The Romney—I mean, Buffett rule, is very important," he succinctly responded with a smile.

Watch Mr. Schumer crack the joke below:

Richard Becker, a Westchester cardiologist and county legislator sent out an email to supporters crowing that he is now the front-runner in the Democratic primary for the right to take on Nan Hayworth for the Hudson Valley congressional seat.

"Our campaign raised nearly $230,000 - four times as much as our nearest competitior, and it’s all thanks to you," Mr. Becker wrote. "Both the Journal News and the Times Herald Record were buzzing about our new front-runner status. I cannot thank you enough for your hard work and dedication that have gotten us this far."

Mr. Becker does appear to be crushing it in the fundraising race. His nearest competitor, Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander has raised $56,000 this year and had only $21,000 in the bank for a primary that could be as early as June. But neither of the newspapers he cites actually call him a front-runner. The Journal-News describes him only as "The Democrat who’s been campaigning longest" while the Times Herald Record describes him only as "a heart-specialist from Cortlandt."

And while his $230,000 is an impressive haul, it is nowhere near that of Ms. Hayworth, who collected $352,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011 and has $1.1 million on hand.

Full email below:

Just giving you a quick update on the campaign. Last week, I spoke to the Peekskill Democratic Committee right here in Westchester. Everyone in the room was buzzing with enthusiasm to support a strong Democratic Candidate to replace Tea Party Republican Nan Hayworth. Our message of focusing government on serving everyone equally, not just the privileged few, continues to resonate with the voters of the 19th Congressional District.

However, the biggest news came out yesterday with the latest FEC filings: our campaign raised nearly $230,000 - four times as much as our nearest competitior, and it’s all thanks to you. Both the Journal News and the Times Herald Record were buzzing about our new front-runner status. I cannot thank you enough for your hard work and dedication that have gotten us this far.

But we’re not done yet! First of all, Nan Hayworth has raised over $200,000 from PACs and special interest groups in an effort to silence your voice. Second, a federal judge ruled last week that our primary must be moved up to June 26th! That means our whole primary process has been moved forward, from petitioning to canvassing. So please, sign up now to volunteer.

The excitement about this campaign is catching on all over the district, and this latest news is really spreading fast. But I know we wouldn't be here without you. With your help, we are taking a stand against obstructionism and favoritism, and I know that if we keep pushing like this, together, we will win on election day.

Thank you for your strength and dedication.

- Richard

 

 

 

 

At a press conference announcing Senator Chuck Schumer's endorsement, Councilman Lew Fidler, who's campaigning for the New York State Senate, addressed the dust-up over his comments that his opponent, Republican David Storobin, has "ties to skinheads, and neo-Nazi groups and white supremacist group.”

"I want to answer that, and my campaign folks would probably tell me that I shouldn't," he began. "I never, ever, ever did, or would have, called David Storobin a neo-Nazi."

"I'm not so internet savvy ... I used the word 'ties' instead of 'links,'" he explained, adding that he "never once raised it in public," while Mr. Storobin "continues to raise it in public."

However, his campaign appeared to be strongly, and publicly, doubling down on the comments after they were made at a Brooklyn Young Democrats gathering. They sent out a press release earlier this week entitled, "Councilman Fidler’s Campaign Calls on Mr. Storobin to Come Clean on Ties to White Supremacist Websites."

"It was a response to a press conference that he held," Mr. Fidler responded when Politicker brought up the release.

"Again, he's responding to comments that I made to a group of young Democrats at a bar, where I thought we were in a private room," he added. "Look, if I was 25, I'm sure I would have used 'links' instead of 'ties,' I wish I was 25."

Watch the video of the exchange below:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pleased with the breast cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, reversing its controversial decision to stop giving Planned Parenthood grants for breast cancer screenings.

"While this has been a sad week for everyone that cares about women's health, I am glad that Susan G. Komen for the Cure has come to the right decision," Ms. Gillibrand said today.

Komen initially announced it would stop supporting breast health programs at Planned Parenthood this week because Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns was investigating Planned Parenthood to see if it uses federal money to fund abortions. Komen's decision led to days of intense backlash from politicians and voters who saw Mr. Stearns' investigation as politically motivated and felt the charity was bowing to pressure from the right wing.

Earlier today, Senator Gillibrand, sent a letter to supporters where she said she was calling on Komen to reverse their decision. Ms. Gillibrand also said she made a donation to Planned Parenthood and urged supporters to do the same.

"The radical right has been relentless in their efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which provides essential health care services to low-income women in need, including life-saving breast cancer screenings. When these extremists don’t succeed in getting laws changed in Congress, they resort to pressuring nonprofits such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure to stop funding Planned Parenthood," Senator Gillibrand wrote.

Though she is clearly happy with the Komen reversal, Ms. Gillibrand said the fight for women's healthcare is far from over.

"We must continue to stand strong against the attempts to roll back access to essential health care services for low-income women that are sure to continue," she said.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino are starring in a Super Bowl ad to promote their Mayors Against Illegal Guns campaign. The ad features both men clad in the jerseys of their city's respective teams talking about how they "don't agree" on sports or local cuisine.

"But we both support the second amendment," Mayor Menino says in the ad.

"And believe America must do more to keep guns out of the hands of criminals," Mayor Bloomberg adds.

Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Menino are the co-chairs of the campaign, which began in 2006 at a Gracie Mansion summit hosted by both mayors. Since then, the coalition has grown from an initial group of 15 mayors to include over 600 mayors.

Watch Mayor Bloomberg's Super Bowl ad below.