Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
(D-Bronx), left, with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at a news conference on a
legislative ethics reform agreement in the Red Room at the Capitol on
Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Albany. Photo Credit:
AP / Mike Groll
Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics.
ALBANY
- ALBANY -- Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
Wednesday tried to pressure the Senate majority to accept their two-way
ethics bill, but Republican senators weren't caving.
During a closed-door session Wednesday, the Senate considered the proposal thrust upon them Tuesday. Talks are expected resume Thursday. Several Republicans said they didn't immediately dismiss the proposal, which may be a lynchpin to a state budget agreement.
But Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said, "It's a two-way (announcement) and you need three ways to get an agreement. We're going to have a strong ethics package, but it also has to include the executive branch."
Skelos also said he will continue to push to require unmarried domestic partners, including Cuomo's girlfriend, food TV star Sandra Lee, to submit financial disclosure forms as spouses of officials must. Cuomo's counsel said Wednesday that that issue is off the table because it "doesn't go to the source of the problem."
Under the partial deal, Cuomo and Heastie agreed to require lawmakers to identify their private law practice clients to avoid conflicts and prove legislators' per diem allowances are justified through electronic swipe cards. It also would deny pensions to any top state official convicted of felony corruption. Cuomo confirmed talks are also under way for his plan to create a commission to recommend a legislative pay raise, but he said it wasn't tied to the ethics agreement.
Some details emerged Wednesday. For example, the proposal would pave the way for a constitutional amendment to allow seizing the pensions of any legislators or top statewide officials convicted of corruption. But their spouses could still collect their share. That share would be determined by a court.
In addition, legislators acting as private lawyers would have to identify their clients, but a law firm colleague working with a client on a state issue wouldn't. The measure seeks to require legislators working "of counsel" to disclose clients they help even if the legislator is simply a "rainmaker" who attracts clients or advises his colleagues.
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"In most instances in private law firms, lawyers are
representing the interest of clients," said Cuomo's counsel, Alphonso
David. "So if the lawyer is drafting a memo, or representing someone in
court, or drafting a corporate agreement, that agreement goes to the
benefit of a client. The lawyer will have an obligation to disclose the
name of that client."
Heastie said the package will regain the trust of New Yorkers and "bring true reform and accountability into these halls."
"My priority this year is to restore trust with an ethics policy," Cuomo said. "We believe this is the most stringent ethics policy in the United States of America. And that is saying something."
The New York Public Interest Research Group disagreed.
"Despite the promises of significant reforms, the reported agreement seems to fall far short," said NYPIRG's Blair Horner. He said the plan relies too much on lawmakers voluntarily disclosing details of their outside income and too little on beefing up ethics enforcement.
Please join me in seeking an opinion from the highest authority. NY Const Art. 1, Sec. 3 is of no moment in Rome nor is it of any moment in NY.During a closed-door session Wednesday, the Senate considered the proposal thrust upon them Tuesday. Talks are expected resume Thursday. Several Republicans said they didn't immediately dismiss the proposal, which may be a lynchpin to a state budget agreement.
But Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said, "It's a two-way (announcement) and you need three ways to get an agreement. We're going to have a strong ethics package, but it also has to include the executive branch."
Skelos also said he will continue to push to require unmarried domestic partners, including Cuomo's girlfriend, food TV star Sandra Lee, to submit financial disclosure forms as spouses of officials must. Cuomo's counsel said Wednesday that that issue is off the table because it "doesn't go to the source of the problem."
Under the partial deal, Cuomo and Heastie agreed to require lawmakers to identify their private law practice clients to avoid conflicts and prove legislators' per diem allowances are justified through electronic swipe cards. It also would deny pensions to any top state official convicted of felony corruption. Cuomo confirmed talks are also under way for his plan to create a commission to recommend a legislative pay raise, but he said it wasn't tied to the ethics agreement.
Some details emerged Wednesday. For example, the proposal would pave the way for a constitutional amendment to allow seizing the pensions of any legislators or top statewide officials convicted of corruption. But their spouses could still collect their share. That share would be determined by a court.
In addition, legislators acting as private lawyers would have to identify their clients, but a law firm colleague working with a client on a state issue wouldn't. The measure seeks to require legislators working "of counsel" to disclose clients they help even if the legislator is simply a "rainmaker" who attracts clients or advises his colleagues.
Heastie said the package will regain the trust of New Yorkers and "bring true reform and accountability into these halls."
"My priority this year is to restore trust with an ethics policy," Cuomo said. "We believe this is the most stringent ethics policy in the United States of America. And that is saying something."
The New York Public Interest Research Group disagreed.
"Despite the promises of significant reforms, the reported agreement seems to fall far short," said NYPIRG's Blair Horner. He said the plan relies too much on lawmakers voluntarily disclosing details of their outside income and too little on beefing up ethics enforcement.
Dear H.E. Most Reverend Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano (202)-333-7121);http://apostolicnunciatureunitedstates.webstarts.com/) :
I am an employee of Nassau OTB, a New York public benefit corporation, that closes on Roman Catholic Easter Sunday and Palm Sunday in preference to the same holy days observed by members of the Eastern Orthodox Church on different Sundays. NY Const Art 1, Sec 3 precludes the State of New York from such religious preference. I am not a Christian and believe that people should be able to freely choose their days of work, prayer and/or betting on horses at Nassau OTB, a public benefit corporation. The New York State Lottery is open every day of the year and the slot machines in NY are open every day of the year. I would like to be able to work on days that others may observe as days of prayer. I acknowledge that the US is a Christian nation and the only religious holiday on the US federal calendar is Christmas.
Would the Church express its opinion on this matter to its member Governor Andrew Cuomo who is my Governor and charged with seeing that the laws of the State of NY are "faithfully" executed?
My contact information is set forth below along with a background article. More background material is available upon request.
Sincerely yours,
Nassau OTB Cashier
> LI Confidential > Stop scratching on holidays
Stop scratching on holidays
Published: June 1, 2012
Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
HI-
Thanks for the help. The item’s below. I’d be happy to mail you a copy, if you give me a mailing address.
Claude Solnik
(631) 913-4244
Long Island Business News
2150 Smithtown Ave.
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7348
even in Shelter Cove, California.
George Maragos joins the crusade and goes straight to to the top, can't get no higher, to see that Nassau OTB, a public benefit corporation, is open on Roman Catholic Palm Sunday and Easters in 2015 and forevermore.
Pope Francis' emissary to the US cannot express an opinion on retroactive raises, but he can tell the faithful what Rome has to say about religious preference and keeping people from doing as they please in NY as a matter of Vatican Law which outranks Republican and Democratic Party Leaders?
Nassau County Comptroller George
Maragos seen on Oct. 8, 2014. Photo Credit: Howard
Schnapp
Maragos, a Republican, moved to recoup more than $30,000 in retroactive raises already paid to five election board workers, who have close ties to top county Republican leaders. He also refused to grant similar retroactive raises to five Democratic appointees.
On Monday, the comptroller mailed certified letters to the five Republicans, whose pay hikes ranged from $3,000 a year to nearly $40,000 annually, saying that because of a "clerical error" his office had approved raises retroactive to July 1.
Data2014 Nassau County raisesDataSearch payroll data on Long Island After the county's financial control board lifted a three-year wage freeze last summer, Maragos had warned that he would not approve retroactive raises for appointees.
Maragos noted in his letters that outside legal counsel had found the state constitution bars retroactive wage increases to appointees as illegal gifts of public money. He directed the five to return the overpayments in a lump sum or in installments.
The letters went to:
Joseph V. Ra, son of Hempstead Town Attorney and Franklin Square Republican leader Joseph Ra. The younger Ra got a $10,000 raise as he was promoted from a $96,328 chief election officer to a $106,238-a-year deputy clerk.
Diane Alleyn, longtime secretary and assistant to Joseph Cairo[PRESIDENT OF NASSAU OTB], the North Valley Stream Republican leader who is Mondello's top lieutenant in the county party. Alleyn, an administrative aide, received a $5,000 raise to $120,409.
Nancy Staab, secretary and assistant to Republican Elections Commissioner Louis Savinetti, received a $7,500 increase as she was promoted from administrative assistant to the $66,566-a-year Republican manager of accounts and special reports.
Administrative aide Wanda Foss, wife of a top Mondello committeemen in his West Levittown Republican club, who received a $3,000 raise, to $78,000 annually.
Foss declined to comment. The other four could not be reached.
Republican Elections Board counsel John Ryan said he will fight Maragos' directive. Ryan said the state constitution gives election commissioners sole discretion on how to spend their approved budgets.
Home New York State Unified Court System
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Attorney Detail
as of 03/19/2015
Registration Number: 4056230
ALPHONSO BOYMAH DAVID
OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR
633 3RD AVE FL 38
NEW YORK, NY 10017-6706
United States
(New York County)
(518) 486-1214
E-mail Address: ALPHONSO.DAVID@EXEC.NY.GOV
Year Admitted in NY: 2002
Appellate Division
Department of Admission: 3
Law School: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Registration Status: Currently registered
Next Registration: Aug 2016
Disciplinary History: No record of public discipline
The Detail Report above contains information that has been provided by the attorney listed, with the exception of REGISTRATION STATUS, which is generated from the OCA database. Every effort is made to insure the information in the database is accurate and up-to-date.
The good standing of an attorney and/or any information regarding disciplinary actions must be confirmed with the appropriate Appellate Division Department. Information on how to contact the Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court in New York is available at www.nycourts.gov/courts.
If the name of the attorney you are searching for does not appear, please try again with a different spelling. In addition, please be advised that attorneys listed in this database are listed by the name that corresponds to their name in the Appellate Division Admissions file. There are attorneys who currently use a name that differs from the name under which they were admitted. If you need additional information, please contact the NYS Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration Unit at 212-428-2800.
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Home New York State Unified Court System
Attorney
Search
Attorney
Registration
Registered
In-House Counsel
Search
In-House Counsel
Registration
Resources
E-Courts
Contact Us
Attorney Detail
as of 03/19/2015
Registration Number: 4056230
ALPHONSO BOYMAH DAVID
OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR
633 3RD AVE FL 38
NEW YORK, NY 10017-6706
United States
(New York County)
(518) 486-1214
E-mail Address: ALPHONSO.DAVID@EXEC.NY.GOV
Year Admitted in NY: 2002
Appellate Division
Department of Admission: 3
Law School: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Registration Status: Currently registered
Next Registration: Aug 2016
Disciplinary History: No record of public discipline
The Detail Report above contains information that has been provided by the attorney listed, with the exception of REGISTRATION STATUS, which is generated from the OCA database. Every effort is made to insure the information in the database is accurate and up-to-date.
The good standing of an attorney and/or any information regarding disciplinary actions must be confirmed with the appropriate Appellate Division Department. Information on how to contact the Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court in New York is available at www.nycourts.gov/courts.
If the name of the attorney you are searching for does not appear, please try again with a different spelling. In addition, please be advised that attorneys listed in this database are listed by the name that corresponds to their name in the Appellate Division Admissions file. There are attorneys who currently use a name that differs from the name under which they were admitted. If you need additional information, please contact the NYS Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration Unit at 212-428-2800.
Spin Cycle Long Island•Politics
Senate weighing 2-way deal on ethics bill
Updated March 18, 2015 8:28 PM
By MICHAEL GORMLEY michael.gormley@newsday.com
1 + -
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), left, with Gov. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), left, with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at a news conference on a legislative ethics reform agreement in the Red Room at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Albany. Photo Credit: AP / Mike Groll
Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics.
advertisement | advertise on newsday
ALBANY - ALBANY -- Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Wednesday tried to pressure the Senate majority to accept their two-way ethics bill, but Republican senators weren't caving.
During a closed-door session Wednesday, the Senate considered the proposal thrust upon them Tuesday. Talks are expected resume Thursday. Several Republicans said they didn't immediately dismiss the proposal, which may be a lynchpin to a state budget agreement.
advertisement | advertise on newsday
But Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said, "It's a two-way (announcement) and you need three ways to get an agreement. We're going to have a strong ethics package, but it also has to include the executive branch."
Skelos also said he will continue to push to require unmarried domestic partners, including Cuomo's girlfriend, food TV star Sandra Lee, to submit financial disclosure forms as spouses of officials must. Cuomo's counsel said Wednesday that that issue is off the table because it "doesn't go to the source of the problem."
Under the partial deal, Cuomo and Heastie agreed to require lawmakers to identify their private law practice clients to avoid conflicts and prove legislators' per diem allowances are justified through electronic swipe cards. It also would deny pensions to any top state official convicted of felony corruption. Cuomo confirmed talks are also under way for his plan to create a commission to recommend a legislative pay raise, but he said it wasn't tied to the ethics agreement.
Some details emerged Wednesday. For example, the proposal would pave the way for a constitutional amendment to allow seizing the pensions of any legislators or top statewide officials convicted of corruption. But their spouses could still collect their share. That share would be determined by a court.
In addition, legislators acting as private lawyers would have to identify their clients, but a law firm colleague working with a client on a state issue wouldn't. The measure seeks to require legislators working "of counsel" to disclose clients they help even if the legislator is simply a "rainmaker" who attracts clients or advises his colleagues.
advertisement | advertise on newsday
"In most instances in private law firms, lawyers are representing the interest of clients," said Cuomo's counsel, Alphonso David. "So if the lawyer is drafting a memo, or representing someone in court, or drafting a corporate agreement, that agreement goes to the benefit of a client. The lawyer will have an obligation to disclose the name of that client."
Heastie said the package will regain the trust of New Yorkers and "bring true reform and accountability into these halls."
"My priority this year is to restore trust with an ethics policy," Cuomo said. "We believe this is the most stringent ethics policy in the United States of America. And that is saying something."
The New York Public Interest Research Group disagreed.
"Despite the promises of significant reforms, the reported agreement seems to fall far short," said NYPIRG's Blair Horner. He said the plan relies too much on lawmakers voluntarily disclosing details of their outside income and too little on beefing up ethics enforcement.
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Andrew Cuomo is as popular in NY as Nassau OTB is in Westbury.
What can you expect from a Governor who has not been educated to know that not everyone shares his religious beliefs. Nassau OTB, a public benefit corporation, must be open every day of the year without religious preference like the NY State Lottery and the slot machines in New York State.
Apparently Andrew Cuomo's law school professors skipped NY Const Art. 1, Sec. 3.
DEPEW, N.Y. -- Teachers, parents and students from the Lancaster and Depew school districts picketed Governor Andrew Cuomo's education reform agenda on Wednesday. They said the governor is holding school funding hostage in order to get the changes he wants.
"If your kids go to public school, you should care about this," CSEA Representative Dean Rogacki said.
"These are happening across the state. Collectively, educators and full school communities, parents and students are coming together and advocating for support of public schools," said Depew Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Rabey.
It may not just be parents and teachers in Western New York who are disappointed. A Quinnipiac poll shows Cuomo's approval rating is as low as it's ever been.
"Teachers are popular. People like their teachers and when you're challenging teachers, it's going to have repercussions," said Democratic political analyst Jack O'Donnell.
According to the poll, only 50 percent of New Yorkers approve of the job the governor's doing, while 39 percent disapprove.
"I think that the taxpayers are speaking in terms of their distastes for the governor's proposals on education and parents are concerned," said Lancaster Central Teachers Association Eric Przykuta.
O'Donnell said the numbers don't mean all that much to Cuomo. In his second term, he's made a point to challenge the teachers' union and even his own party at times.
"I think having a lot of folks out there makes for good TV and is sort of fun for the groups that are part of this," O'Donnell said. "It helps reinforce to them and to their own members and to their own believers sort of what they're doing. I'd be very surprised if this has much impact at all on what the governor does or what the governor wants to do."
Cuomo's detractors said they'll keep demonstrating as long as the public is paying attention.
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