Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics
Cuomo OKs Sept. 13 primary
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has signed a law that moves the date for legislative primaries by two days, to avoid holding them on Sept. 11.
Legislative primaries in New York are usually held the second Tuesday of September. This year, that falls on Sept. 11. Instead, this year's primaries will be held on Thursday, Sept. 13.
“Moving the primary...
Senate OKs Suffolk traffic violations bureau
The New York State Senate passed a bill Monday that would allow Suffolk County to establish a Traffic Violations Bureau, enabling the county – rather than the state – to keep money generated by fines.
The Senate approved the measure 50-1. The state Assembly hasn’t yet acted on the bill.
Currently, fines generated in Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown and Brookhaven are split between...
6th SD: Cronin touts a union's support
The state Senate campaign of Ryan Cronin, a 31-year-old litigator with a background in Nassau Democratic politics, announced his endorsement by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, which represents supermarket employees employed by Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, Pathmark, King Kullen and Fairway.
Cronin, running for the first time, announced his candidacy late last year for the...
Schumer backs Kelly's tweak of FBI, whacks FBI's tweak of Kelly
Photo credit: Craig Ruttle
Before it gets too far in the rearview mirror, a note is in order about Sen. Charles Schumer's questioning of FBI Director Robert Mueller this past week, as detailed here.
Schumer backed up NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly's public criticism of the FBI for not having contacted his office on the latest shoe-bomber incident.
And yet, just a couple of months ago, Schumer criticized the public...
Slight changes in Cuomo poll numbers
There’s slightly good news and slightly bad news for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in the most recent Siena College poll.
On the down side, the Democrat’s favorability ratings dipped. Now at 68 percent, that’s the lowest since he took office. (Many governors would die for a 68).
Perhaps more importantly, 55 percent of New Yorkers say the state is on the right track. That ties the highest mark...
Suffolk term-limit case: A recusal, an intervenor, an inquiry
Three Suffolk officials, District Attorney Thomas Spota, County Clerk Judith Pascale, and Sheriff DeMarco, sued in February seeking to be declared exempt from the county’s term-limits law because they hold state-mandated jobs. The case was initially assigned to state Supreme Court Justice Hector Lasalle, but he recused himself, having worked with Spota. Acting Justice Ralph Gazzillo is expected...
Value of IDA's: Perspectives have long differed
Wading into a perennial debate topic — the public value of industrial development agencies — State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli called for legislation to better track their performance. He said in issuing an annual IDA review that a “limited correlation” exists between IDA’s granting more tax exemptions and creating more jobs.
“Obviously there are IDA’s out there bringing in business and helping...
Suffolk exec's golf outing slated for Nassau
Suffolk’s new county executive has sent out a mailing for the “Steve Bellone Invitational,” a political golf outing. But he is holding the $500-a-head event outside Suffolk borders — at the red course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale in Nassau County.
Bellone spokeswoman Vanessa Baird-Streeter noted that the site, a state facility close to Suffolk County, has a "great course"...
Bellone secretary, on layoff list, moves to Babylon IDA
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s $80,000 a year secretary, Geraldine Compitello, who was included on the layoff list, has left the county a week ago and is now working for the Babylon Industrial Development Agency.
Compitello, who was Bellone’s $60,000 a year secretary for six years in Babylon, exited May 11 only five months from the county and before the July 1 layoff date. Comptillo...
Son of ex-Suffolk public-works commish on layoff list
Among those on Suffolk’s list of 315 layoffs is the son of former Suffolk Public Works Commissioner Charles Bartha.
Bartha’s son, Charles, a $42,125 a year engineering aide, was one of several public works employees who testified at legislative committee last week about the department’s effort to restore nine jobs, where employees work on fulltime on state and federal aided propjects.
The...
