AUDIO: NYC Elects 2013 Interview with Rabbi Yehuda Levin

Rabbi Yehuda Levin Spoke to NYC Elects at the sidelines of Rev. Erick Salgado's mayoral campaign kickoff at City Hall. 

George McDonald Sells Himself as "The Only Political Outsider In The Race."

Long shot mayoral candidate, George McDonald seized the only moment he might have gotten left to gain some traction in the Republican primary to paint himself as an outsider who'll clean up house, in wake of the latest corruption scandals.

"I stand by my statement to the New York Times. The fact is despite Senator Smith’s clear history of ethical lapses and blatant disregard for the law, Chairman Isaacs was one of Malcolm’s biggest early boosters," McDonald said in a statement as a rebuke to Manhattan GOP chair, Dan Isaacs's criticism of the DOE founder's comment to the NYT. "Moreover, in one of the wealthiest places in the world, Dan has somehow managed to oversee a local party bankrupt both ideologically and financially. But for the largesse of another billionaire benefactor, also running for Mayor, Dan wouldn’t have a party apparatus to run," he stingly added.

Councilman Eric Ulrich on The Spin Class: GOP Arrests "A Terrible Blow To The Party."

Councilman Greenfield Slams Mayoral Candidates Lhota and de Blasio over Discretionary Funds

Bloomberg Comes to Quinn's Defense: She Is A Person Of 'Enormous Integrity'

Mayor Bloomberg is coming to Speaker Christine Quinn's defense, as she's triying to bear attacks over the City Council’s discretionary funding policy. Quinn has “done an excellent job running the city,” said Bloomberg, according to Jennifer Fermino in the Daily News.  

Erick Salgado Kicks Off Mayoral Campaign: ”I Speak With An Accent, But I Don’t Think With An Accent.”

Surrounded by his wife Sonia and their six children, family members, leaders of the Hispanic, Russian and Orthodox community, Erick Salgado, a pastor from Brooklyn, kicked off  today his campaign for mayor at the steps of City Hall. long lines of supporters who were waiting to get in missed the main event as the clock kept ticking. 

A copy of the letter signed and authorized
 by leading rabbis of the Orthodox community,
as obtained by NYC Elects.

Joseph Hayon, a Jewish activist and  former Assembly candidate, read a letter signed and authorized by some of the leading rabbis in the Orthodox community in support of Salgado. "Mayoral candidate Erick Salgado is the only known candidate committed to fighting for morality and religious freedom for the jewish community," the letter reads. "Therefore, it is a 'mitzvah chiyuves' (religious obligation) to support his campaign. It further obligates any jew who is not registered to vote to do so, in order to vote for Mr. Salgado in the Democratic primary."

The letter was signed by: Rav Avrohom Yaakov Nelkelbaum, Rosh Yeshivas Mir; Rav Benheoil, Rav of Bnei Yosef and Rosh Yeshiva of Mikdash Melech; Rav Elyahu  Ben Haim, Rav of Yesodai Mahsad (5000 congregants) in Queens; Rav Shlomo Tzvi Stern, Debreziner Rav of BP; Rav Amram Klwin, Ungar Rav; Rav Moshe Green, Rosh Yeshiva of monsey and Rav Yisroel Neuman, Rosh Yeshiva Lakewood. 

"This letter inspired me to give the maximum contribution for matching fund to the Erick Salgado campaign," said Hayon, as he handed a check of $175 to the candidate.

McDonald Is A No Show As Republicans Sought To Overcome Hurdles At 'Spring Fling' Event

Republican mayoral candidates Joe Lhota and John Catsimatidis tried to put up a grin at a midtown fundraiser held on the heels of the arrest of officials linked to both leading GOP candidates for mayor. Their host, Manhattan GOP Chairman Dan Isaacs said the Wednesday reception should mark "a new beginning." 

Celeste Katz, who paid 10 bucks for the opportunity to mingle with the candidates, spoke separately to Lhota and Catsimatidis about the effect the arrests may have on their campaign.

Joe Lhota Done Debating Democrats: "They Really Need to Debate Each Other."

The Republican mayoral hopeful, Joe Lhota, has declined an invitation to participate in an April 9 forum hosted by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, telling The Insider that he won't participate in debates with the Democratic candidates until after the September primary. 

"So long as it's a multi-question, multi-issue forum—not single purpose like public safety and things that the Daily News and Metro IAF did—I'm not going to be in a debate with Democrats," Mr. Lhota said. "I'm only going to debates with Republicans until such time as we get through the primary process." 

EDITORIAL: Bill de Blasio Viciously Tree Climbing To Cease Discretionary Funds

This morning, Public Advocate and mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio called for a permanent end to the member items doled out by the City Council.De Blasio conceded that he distributed member items to organizations in his district during his eight years on the Council, but chose to focus instead on the time since he had graduated to public advocate."When I was in the City Council, people weren't going to jail," he said. "And the problem has gotten worse and worse."

"I do not think this is a reason to conclude that member items should not be given," Quinn responded today."In the case of Dan Halloran, this senior citizen group did nothing wrong," she continued. "Why should they become the victim of an alleged criminal's activities?"

Which brought us to take this opportunity and pen a call, on behalf of the various continents who might find this troubling, to Mr. de Blasio, in the form of a letter.

Dear Mr. de Blasio, 

While there's no doubt that the discretionary funds were abused by some of our corrupt lawmakers in a disgusting way that has betrayed the trust of the public with the abuse of power, nobody doubts that the reliance of communities, organizations and those in need on the City's funds is constructive in some measures that the Public advocate has been advocating about during his mayoral campaign. 

We certainly agree on the statement that "the discretionary funding system has led to bribery, political blackmail and a boatload of big legal bills paid for by taxpayers."Hence, those acts are largely driven by corrupted politicians who would seek any way to twist the system and are caught and charged at the end of the day. As the Speaker, Christine Quinn, rightly said today: "There are people in this world who are criminals, who steal things. They steal lots of things from lots of different places." 

There's nothing illegal with discretionary funds, or as we call it "member items". Nothing. The itemized spending has worked well to fund important local organizations that depend on City Council funds.
The idea that government should dictate the way of living, and more aggressively prevent constituents and those in need to get the necessary funds to carry on with their lives that their council member  brings home at the end of the day, is reprehensible. 

What is questionable, immoral if not illegal  is to coincide debt-defraying donations from donors who have maxed out at the same moment contributing to the campaign. And this has been reported as a 'stinking to high heaven' act, especially by the campaign of a candidate who has been a vocal advocate of campaign finance reform. 

Speaking about discretionary funds, would you, Mr. de Blasio, be straightforward to share with New York voters your share of discretionary funds you managed to recap in your last year as councilman?   

As Matthews 7:5 reads: "First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Don't lay your hands on our seniors, children and those in needs, Mr. de Blasio, in order to advance your own political distinct between yourself and Speaker Quinn, who recently dispatched an intensifying political problem by striking a compromise on paid sick leave. 

don't punish and penalize the innocent in form of a guardian reformer.

Quinn On the Defensive For Non Commitment and Defense of Term Limits Referendum Overturn

Another day, another forum. What has already become a routine for the mayoral candidates, as every forum moves on, with the news of the day dominating at least a substantial amount of the times, John Liu keeps shining while Christine Quinn's shine starts fading more and more.

At least in this candidates forum hosted by the Brooklyn Reform Coalition at St. Francis College, Ms. Quinn was on the defensive the entire debate, with short periods of boos and heckling interrupting her answers.