Albany New York

Houdini Mehlman and His Bag of Gay Tricks

Adrian Margaret Brune | Posted 08.07.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Ken Mehlman, Lobbying, New York, Gay Marriage, Ken Mehlman Gay, LGBT Rights, Log Cabin Republicans, New York News
Adrian Margaret Brune

Today, Ken Mehlman is at the state capital in Albany trying to drum up support for gay marriage in NY. But he is not adding anything to the gay community; he is simply trying to pick up the pieces of his own mistakes.

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How Albany Kills Job Creation

Kathryn Wylde | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Kathy Wylde, Indian Point New York, Budget, Telecommunications, Health Insurance, Economic Growth, New York State Budget, Telecom, New York News
Kathryn Wylde

The only good way to end New York state's fiscal crisis is job creation and economic growth -- but much of state government doesn't seem to have gotten the message.

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Sex, Lies, Scandals and Governor David Paterson

John Robinson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Albany, Politics News, Lies, David Paterson, Sex, Governor, Scandal, New York, Eliot Spitzer, New York News
John Robinson

I am very disappointed in David Paterson. Our governor broke the rules he is supposed to uphold. More than that, he had an opportunity to be a leader...

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The Corrupt Spectacle of New York's State Government

Steven Cohen | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Governor David Paterson, Albany-New York, Tammany Hall, Corruption, Boss Tweed, New York Politics, New York News
Steven Cohen

The corrupt and dysfunctional environment in Albany does not excuse the abuse of power of which the governor, the state police and his top aide have been accused.

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N.Y. group asks caves nationwide to be closed due to bat deaths

NJ.com | NJ.com | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany-New York, Home News

ALBANY, N.Y. -- An advocacy group alarmed over the mass die-off of bats with white-nose syndrome asked the Department of Interior today to close a...

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Rudy Giuliani considers N.Y. Senate bid, despite pressure for Gov run

NJ.com | NJ.com | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany-New York, New York City-New York, Home News

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who many Republicans have been pushing to run for governor in 2010, is instead leaning m...

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Fatal fungus found in N.J. kills off 93 percent of N.Y. bat population

NJ.com | NJ.com | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany-New York, Home News

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Bat populations in caves struck by deadly white-nose syndrome have plunged by up to 93 percent, according to a survey of Northeast...

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N.Y. declares state of emergency due to rise in swine flu cases

NJ.com | NJ.com | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Morristown-New York, Albany-New York, Home News

Matt Rainey/The Star-LedgerEmployees of Morristown Memorial Hospital receive flu vaccinations on Sept. 17 at the hospital in Morristown. ALBANY, N...

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N.Y. Senate votes on gay marriage

NJ.com | NJ.com | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany-New York, Home News

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The state senate will take a long-awaited vote on a bill to legalize gay marriage. But the outcome of the vote today that could gi...

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Help Local Reporters in Haiti

Bronx News Network | Bronx News Network | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Brooklyn-New York, Albany-New York, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Home News

By now much of the world has learned about the catastrophic earthquake that happened in Haiti this week. I think everyone at the Bronx News Network w...

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NY may try to collect taxes on Indian cigarettes

AP | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany-New York, New York-New York, Home News

ALBANY, N.Y. — A deepening deficit has New York officials looking again at collecting taxes on cigarettes sold by Indian tribes to non-Indians.

The issue is also making unlikely allies of cigarette makers and anti-smoking interests who say taxation would limit illegal sales and keep cigarettes out of the hands of minors.

At stake is what the state, cigarette companies and a leading anti-smoking group say is $400 million or more in annual revenue. That almost equals a proposed midyear cut in school aid.

The Seneca Nation of Indians counters that its sales yield millions more in spinoff economic benefits to communities than the taxes would generate.

A budget hearing Tuesday will also address concerns the tax collections could lead to repeats of violence that marked past confrontations.

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Joe Bruno Guilty, NY Senate Rules Should Be Named Co-Conspirator

Brian Keeler | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Joe Bruno, NYS Senate, New York, Albany New York, Albany, New York Senate, New York News
Brian Keeler

Because there has been no threat to the power structure in Albany for so long, players left and right have learned to play the system, and the lawmakers have done nothing to upset the cart.

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Does Bloomberg Really Want to Save Mass Transit?

John Petro | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Congress, Mayor Bloomberg, The Bronx, Mass-Transit, New York State, New York City Capital Budget, Subway-7-Line, Kingsbridge Armory, New York Mass Transit, Related Companies, Albany-New York, New York City, Transportation, New York News
John Petro

If Mayor Bloomberg is keen to improve mass transit in New York City, he should begin by making a larger commitment from the city's huge capital budget.

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NY Lawmakers "Double Dipping": Take Pensions On Top Of Salary Pay

New York Times | DANNY HAKIM | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Retired Ny Lawmakers, Albany New York, Albany, Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, Retired New York Lawmakers, William Parment, New York Lawmakers, Ny Lawmakers, Haravey Weisenberg, Rhoda Jacobs, John Mceneny, Ny Lawmakers Double Dipping, John J. Mceneny, New York News

ALBANY -- When Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg retired last year, there were no sendoffs, no cakes and no serenades. In fact, no one even knew he had l...

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NYC Left High and Dry

Ester Fuchs | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: NY Senate Coup, New York State Senate, Albany-New York, New York City, Home News
Ester Fuchs

NYC is the poster child for America's dysfunctional federalism. It makes no difference the magnitude of the crisis. We can be in the deepest recession since the great Depression and the City is held hostage to the unaccountable politics of Albany.

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The Albany Coup In Pictures (SLIDESHOW)

The Huffington Post | Dennis Tang | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, GOP Albany Coup, Slideshow, Governor David Paterson, New York, David Paterson, New York State Senate, Pedro Espada, New York State, New York News

The New York State Senate adjourned today for the summer, after one of the more absurd periods in its history. Take a look back on a month of political bedlam in Albany with this handy slideshow summary.

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Mayor Bloomberg's School Control Bill Is Stalled In Senate

New York Times | JEREMY W. PETERS | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Mayor Bloomberg School Control, Albany, School Control Bill, New York Senate, New York State Senate, New York City, Mayor Bloomberg, New York Mayor, New York School Control Bill, New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Mayor Bloomberg, New York News

ALBANY -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's efforts to renew his control of New York City's school system stalled on Wednesday as Senate Democrats insisted...

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Episcopal bishops OK prayer for gay couples

AP | MICHELLE RINDELS | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany-New York, Home News

Episcopal bishops authorized the church Wednesday to start drafting an official prayer for same-sex couples, another step toward acceptance of gay relationships that will deepen the rift between the denomination and its fellow Anglicans overseas.

The bishops voted 104-30 at the Episcopal General Convention to "collect and develop theological resources and liturgies" for blessing same-gender relationships, which would be considered at the next national meeting in 2012.

The resolution notes the growing number of states that allow gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships, and gave bishops in those regions discretion to provide a "generous pastoral response" to couples in local parishes.

Many Episcopal dioceses already allow clergy to bless same-sex couples but there is no official liturgy for the ceremonies in the denomination's Book of Prayer. The measure still needs the approval of the lay people and priest delegates at the assembly, which ends Friday.

"We certainly feel a deep need to be able to proclaim the love of God in the midst of a changing reality," said Suffragan Bishop James Curry of the Diocese of Connecticut, one of six states that are legalizing same-gender marriage.

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Sen. Espada To Return To Democrats

AP | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Pedro Espada Democrats, Albany, New York Senate, Senator Pedro Espada, New York State Senate, Albany Senate, Pedro Espada, Senator Espada, New York, Video, New York News

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York's Senate standoff ended Thursday as it started 31 days ago, with a freshman Democrat shifting the balance of power in th...

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Albany Senators Have Paychecks Withheld

New York Daily News | Kenneth Lovett and Glenn Blain | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Albany Coup, Albany, New York Senate, New York State, New York Senate Coup, New York State Senate, New York News

Thirty-one days into their stalemate, do-nothing warring state senators are having their salaries withheld Wednesday - for the first time since the in...

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Albany Chaos Could Lead To City Hiring Freeze

NBC New York | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Nyc Hiring Freeze, Albany, New York Senate, Hiring Freeze, New York, New York State Senate, New York City, Albany Chaos, New York-New York, New York City, New York News

Don't hire anyone! That's the message from City Hall to New York City agencies. Sponsored Topics: New York City - United States - New York - ...

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Today In HuffPost New York

Dan Collins | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Albany, New York Senate, New York City Food, New York State Senate, New York City, New York, New York City Dining, New York News
Dan Collins

There is nothing more depressing than realizing you weren't being cynical enough about politicians.

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Albany Nightmare

Barbara Bartoletti | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Albany, Politics, New York Senate, New York, New York City, New York News
Barbara Bartoletti

In Albany, dysfunction is a way of life, journalists, lobbyists and political pundits who walk the marble halls of the Capitol have learned over the decades how to menuver around this dysfunction.

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Unemployment Benefit Increase Campaign Sidetracked By Senate Chaos

New York Times | PATRICK McGEEHAN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Albany New York, Albany, Unemployment Benefits, Jobless Claim, New York Unemployment, Paterson Unemployment, Joblessness, Governor David Paterson, Jobless Benefits, David Patterson, New York, David Paterson, Nys Unemployment, New York News

A campaign to increase New York's unemployment benefits for the first time in a decade has been sidetracked by the political stalemate in Albany. Des...

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Rick Lazio Governor Run In New York Planned, AP Says

AP | RIK STEVENS | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Rick Lazio, Lazio, Rick Lazio Governor, Rick Lazio Running for Governor, Rick Lazio Governor Run, Rick Lazio Governor's Run, Albany-New York, New York City, Politics News

ALBANY, N.Y. — Republican Rick Lazio, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000, is planning to run for ...

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