Quinn Raises Money On Independent Attack Ads

The new Normar in todays politics. Instead of dismissing an attack ad as being lousy and inaccurate, Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s raised the level of the ad by asking her supporters to boost her campaign war chest in order to fight back against these sorts of attacks. 

Growing Anxiety Of Post-Bloomberg Mayor Immune To Powerful Interests

The latest corruption scandals, has exacerbated those fears of many from a post-Bloomberg mayor immune to bribery or intimidation by powerful special interests. After 12 years of  a billionaire mayor, who had no outside interests to abide with, a less assertive manager would bring down New York to the level of a messy backroom deal-making government, Chris Bragg and Andrew Hawkins write in The Insider Blog.

Lhota Touts Thatcherist Legacy

“Margaret Thatcher was a 20th century visionary who understood the power of individual freedom versus the tyranny of government collectivism,” Mr. Lhota said in a statement released on the day the former british Prime minister passed away. 

“She was a loyal supporter and friend of the United States and her terms as prime minister were marked as the beginning of the resurgence of the economy of the United Kingdom,” he continued. “She will be missed. My prayers go out to her family and to our brothers and sisters in the United Kingdom.”

Rudy Pitches In For Brother Lhota: "Joe Is One of Us."

Celeste Katz has the invitation to an upcoming fundraiser for Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, on April 29, headlined by Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

First Anti-Quinn Ad Fills The Democratic Field With Smoke and Gun Shots

It has officially begun, when Christine Quinn is being painted as a moderate who's out of touch with progressive Democratic voters. A new outside campaign, by a coalition of left-leaning labor unions and Democratic activists who say they are not backing anyone in particular, has been launched Sunday night with the release of a 30 second TV ad scheduled to air on cable television stations like MSNBC and Bravo for three weeks, David Chen reports in the NY Times. 

The Jewish Vote 2013 #1 - How The Mayoral Candidates Are CourtingOrthodox Jewish Voters

(By Jacob Kornbluh). Over the past two decades, since 1993, New York City’s Jews have broken with their traditional Democratic voting pattern,  to back Republican mayoral candidates. Even in 2001, Mike Bloomberg, Giuliani’s successor roughly split the Jewish vote against fellow Jewish candidate Mark Green, not to mention his decisive victories in 2005 and 2009.

Where Is Thompson... Where Are You?

Since covering the mayoral race, we have gotten numerous calls from former Thompson supporters who have expressed disappointment in Bill Thompson's absence from major Jewish events.

Mr. Thompson's last visit to the Jewish community in Brooklyn, was at a closed event in the Avenue Plaza hotel's conference room, with the attendance of a dozen community leaders and operatives. However, Mr. Thompson was notably absent from the annual COJO of Flatbush legislative Breakfast, as from the JCC of Marine park breakfast a week earlier.

Lhota: 'Tsunami Of Sleaze' Wave Of Corruption Must End

GOP mayoral hopeful Joe Lhota started off the week with the attack on the Democratic frontrunner Christine Quinn for her oversight of member items in the city Council, and his opponent in the Republican party for contributing to the GOP counties. “I actually think Christine has handled member items in a way that’s quite inequitable,” Lhota said on the steps of City Hall this morning. “You shouldn't be using taxpayer money and ... doling it out in favors to friends.” he said. 

Lhota also proposed drastically reducing the amount of money – to $4,950 – that citywide candidates can give to political party committees, according to the Post. His GOP primary opponent, John Catsimatidis, has given $23,000 to the Queens Republican Party, which endorsed him in the race this year. 

“I don’t think there’s anything illegal at all” about the donations, Lhota said. “I actually think it’s the appearance of impropriety. There have been enough people saying, you know, so and so bought their endorsement, so and so bought their race.”

Lhota also wants term limits for state and county chairs in light of the charges, and he says those leaders should be barred from simultaneously holding elected office.He proposed that lawmakers with felony convictions for corruption be stripped of their pensions."This wave of corruption, what I call this tsunami of sleaze, has to come to an end," he said.

Catsimatidis Suggests Lhota Should Run For Comptroller

In an interview with Richard French Live's Dominic Carter, Republican mayoral candidate suggested that Joe Lhota should have run for comptroller, based on the experience he touts for his qualification. "Joe is a very fine person but he's a technocrat. Maybe he should run for comptroller. But me, I am a visionary. I am the only one running that has created tens of thousands of jobs," Catsimatidis said. "So Mr. Lhota is not more qualified?" Dominic Carter asked. "No, absolutely not," Catsimatidis responded. "I am qualified. he's [Lhota is] a fine man, but let him do what he's qualified for." 

Mr. Catsimatidis also took a jab at the Democratic frontrunner Christine Quinn."I am not sure New York is ready for Christine Quinn,." he said. 

Bronx Dem: Smith Scandal 'A Bloomberg Plot' To Block Minorities

A leading Bronx Democrat told Human Events that the scandal involving state Sen. Malcolm A. Smith (D.-Bronx) is non other than a distraction by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “This may be a case of entrapment by a political power base that does not want a popular African American leader to run for mayor, especially on the Republican Party line,” said Efrain Gonzalez III, a community activist from the Bronx.