Philpotts Strikes Out Again in Court

Judge rejects ballot request in Brooklyn special election (Capital) A last-ditch effort to put an unlikely candidate on the ballot as the Democratic nominee in the 43rd Assembly District was dismissed by a judge in Brooklyn federal court. Guillermo Philpotts, a frequent candidate for local office, was chosen by the small group of Kings County Democratic committee members who reside within the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn. After winning the nomination in February—over the objections of the Kings County Democratic County Committee—Philpotts failed to secure the proper paperwork with the city Board of Elections, meaning he was left off of the ballot. The suit that Philpotts filed yesterday in federal district court in Brooklyn was not the first time he has sued the Board of Elections. Earlier this month, he submitted a motion to place his name on the ballot. That motion, which seemed hastily constructed and was riddled with typos, was dismissed the same day by a Brooklyn judge.

Look Who is Producing Philpotts 2nd Act

NY1 Said Last Night That They Did Not Know Who Was Paying Philpotts New High Priced Lawyer Mandelker

Odd Turns Continue in Special Assembly Election in 43rd District (NY1) A week from Tuesday, voters will go to the polls to fill a vacant state Assembly seat in Brooklyn. That race, in Crown Heights and Prospect Lefferts Gardens, has taken a number of odd turns, and they don't seem to be done yet. Guillermo Philpotts wants to halt the May 5 special election unless he's on the ballot. Through a quirk, he snagged the Democratic nomination over the local party's preferred candidate. Now, he suggests Brooklyn Democrats got even by not filing a key document. He says the board is violating his First Amendment rights by not notifying him in time "Access to the ballot is a First Amendment right. Speaking out in campaigns is a First Amendment right," said Lawrence Mandelker, Philpotts' attorney. There are four candidates on the ballot in the race, but only one showed up on time to a forum on Monday. She was Working Families Party nominee Diana Richardson. Patterson showed up later in the debate. Also in the race is Menachem Raitport of the Republican and Conservative lines, Shirley Patterson of the Independence Party and Geoffrey Davis of the Love Yourself line.

Philpotts Lawyer is Connected to WFP Which is Running A Candidate in the Election

Mandelker is the Attorney for WFP's Data and Field Which is at the Center of the Indictment of CM Rose

"Speaking outside of court, DFS attorney Lawrence Mandelker said that his evidence will prove that Ms. Rose actually paid on the "high end" of fair market value to DFS, and that the firm did no uncompensated work for the campaign." Rose campaign official says organizational 'dysfunction'led him to sign off on statement's accuracy (SI Advance)

Today the Media Protect the Corrupt Political Bosses, Ignaoring the Unfair Advantage Data and Field Gave Candidates in 2009, or PACs in 2013

Philpotts Has Stuck Out With the BOE . . .For A Brief Shining Moment Camelot

Bizarre Paperwork Error Will Mean No Democratic Nominee in Brooklyn Assembly Race(NYP) A chaotic nominating process for a special election in a Brooklyn Assembly district will result in no candidate appearing on the Democratic ballot line, sources say. The bizarre twist came after a perennial candidate and political outsider, Guillermo Philpotts, secured the Democratic nomination on Sunday—only to fail to submit the proper paperwork by 12 a.m. Tuesday. But rather than let Philpotts get on the ballot – and very likely win the Assembly seat – party leaders failed to file some necessary paperwork with the Board of Elections.

It Was Not the Mighty Brooklyn Democratic Machine That Beat Philpotts It Was Himself

Clueless vs Clueless

A Race to the Bottom Mr. Philpotts’ failure to submit the routine certificate of nomination to the Board of Elections will mean that he is not eligible to run as a Democrat. Instead, four candidates will compete on established third party ballot lines or newly-created lines, an extremely rare outcome for special elections in heavily Democratic New York City. Ms. Paterson filed to run on the Independence Party line and Diane Richardson, a former candidate for Democratic district leader, filed to run on the Working Families Party and Green Party lines. Geoffrey Davis, a Democratic district leader, filed to run on his own ballot line known as “Love Yourself.” Menachem Raitport will run on the Republican and Conservative party lines.

Michael Oliva ‏@olivamichael

@JerryGoldfeder @PrimeNewYork @errollouis Philpotts can file injunction under 82 sect 2 amds-factor4-Vote Rights Act: http://tinyurl.com/maaav2y

All the Bosses Men Could Not Deny Philpotts the Democratic Nomination

Gadfly Secures Democratic Nomination for Crown Heights Assembly Race (NYO) Democratic power brokers, past and present, couldn’t keep a political gadfly from running as a Democrat in a Brooklyn special election. In an embarrassment for the political establishment, Guillermo Philpotts, a perennial candidate for local office, secured the Democratic nomination for a Crown Heights Assembly race this afternoon, beating back a last ditch effort from ex-Democratic boss Clarence Norman to keep him off the ballot line, sources say. Mr. Philpotts, as the Observer reported Friday, was able to win the nomination because he controlled his Assembly District’s unusually small county committee.

More on Philpotts

Philpotts Has Stuck Out With the BOE . . .For A Brief Shining Moment Camelot

It Was Not the Mighty Brooklyn Democratic Machine That Beat Philpotts It Was Himself

Clueless vs Clueless

Michael Oliva ‏@olivamichael

@JerryGoldfeder @PrimeNewYork @errollouis Philpotts can file injunction under 82 sect 2 amds-factor4-Vote Rights Act: http://tinyurl.com/maaav2y

All the Bosses Men Could Not Deny Philpotts the Democratic Nomination

Local District Leaders Jesse Hamilton, the state senator who defeated Mr. Philpotts last year, and Shirley Patterson failed to stock the county committee, allowing Mr. Philpotts to place friends and family members in the position to nominate him. Typically, county committeemen in Brooklyn take direction from the county leader, Frank Seddio. Mr. Philpotts’ once unlikely victory followed an extended conversation with Mr. Norman in the backroom of the Rosa Parks Independent Democratic club headquarters in Crown Heights. Mr. Norman sought to convince Mr. Philpotts to instead back Ms. Patterson, sources say. Mr. Norman, who represented the district before Mr. Camara, was one of the city’s most influential power brokers before his 2005 convictions for financial malfeasance related to his campaign. He was found guilty in 2007 of selling judgeships to wealthy Democratic Party donors. He was paroled in 2011. After the backroom conversation failed, sources said that several members of the county organization in attendance attempted to convince Mr. Philpotts—who is recovering from surgery—to leave the meeting prematurely, without completing all the steps required to make himself the nominee. Had he “abandoned the meeting,” the county committee rules would have allowed Ms. Patterson to make herself the candidate to succeed Mr. Camara. However, one of the attorneys present kept Mr. Philpotts from departing, and he successfully made himself the Democratic candidate. Mr. Hamilton and a staffer from the office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams—both allies of the machine—and Brooklyn Democratic Party law chairman Frank Carone were present, as was Philpotts ally Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte. “There was a whole group of people hovering over Guillermo Philpotts, and they were trying to get him to give the nomination to Shirley Patterson,” one attendee told the Observer.

District leaders are usually responsible for getting county committee members on the primary ballot with other candidates. The 43rd Assembly District’s county committee is only 10 members large, far less than the dozens or hundreds-strong committees in other Brooklyn districts. After a successful 2012 fraud lawsuit in the neighboring 42nd District completely vacated the county committee, the county organization demanded that district leaders obtain letters of consent from county committee candidates before putting their names on petitions, sources say. Ms. Patterson and Mr. Hamilton—who served as district leader until January—apparently failed to collect these letters and thus left most of the committee slots unfilled. Ms. Patterson, Geoffrey Davis, the brother of former Councilman James Davis, and Diane Richardson, a candidate for district leader last year, are expected to run in the race on alternate ballot lines. The special election will be held May 5. * Upon arrival at themeeting, Borough President Eric Adams executive assistantIngrid Lewis-Martin and former Kings County Democratic Party Boss ClarenceNorman immediately cornered him in a back room. (Kings County Politics) The two then tried to convince Philpotts to back Democratic female District leader Shirley Patterson.“They literally tried to do a back room deal,” said Democratic male District Leader Geoffrey Davis, who is running for the seat on his own Love Yourself Party line. “We were supposed to start the meeting at two and they were back there for 20 minutes until I finally knocked on the door and said, ‘enough is enough’ and that it was up to him (Philpotts) to do what he wanted to do. He literally thanked me for getting him out of the room.” Regardless, Philpotts taking the Democratic Party nomination is a significant advantage to Davis, who like his later brother, City Councilman James E. Davis, is a fierce independent. Davis is well-known as a neighborhood activist with deep roots in the community, a solid ground game and enough petition signatures to get on the ballot.* Late Entry to Crown Heights Assembly RaceSnags Democratic Nomination (DNAINFO)

Although it is the voters who will be able to choose the ultimate winner, it will be the party bosses who will have the power to nominate the party candidates. Under New York State law there is no provision for a primary election to take place in special elections. Every enrolled party member should have the right to choose the party nominee in a special election. Providing a party boss with the power to handpick a nominee to run in a special election does not insure that all the voters will be able to choose the most qualified, independent, honest and responsive candidates. The ultimate winners will owe their seats to party leaders, not the people. Schedule Set For Special Elections(YNN) * Special Elections Set For May 5 * Camara Resigns, Officially (YNN) * Dan Janison notes Cuomo has never rushed to call special elections to fill vacant legislative posts. Last year, he allowed a dozen seats in the State Legislature to remain unoccupied until the November general election, so that some went without incumbents for an entire year.* Cuomo declared a vacancy in the Staten Island seat held by former Rep. Michael Grimm and set a special election for May 5, which will coincide with a vote to fill the seat of outgoing Assemblyman Karim Camara, the Observer reports: * Cuomo announced a special election for May 5 to fill theseat in Congress vacated by Michael Grimm (NYT)

More about Special Elections

More About Congressman Grimm

Philpotts Shows Us That Political Parties Bosses Are Not Concerned About Voters, Neighborhoods Anymore

The Old Tammany Hall Welcomed All the Voters New The Machine Today Cares Only About Making Money, Using Lobbyists' Public Relations to Stay in Power, Not Organize, Serve Voters

The jerks at the Daily News are blaming a Gadfly Philpotts for taking advantage of a broken system, not the political leaders and lobbyists who have used a system that is no longer serving the voters but serving them in their efforts to control government to make money

Over the last few years the lobbyists started to make their way into the political system by offering party bosses campaign services and campaign funding which in the old Tammany days would have been done in the club house and by its members. In the old days hundreds of people worked in the clubhouse to put our mailings. Today a campaign consultant emails a mailing house with a flyer designed by his or her company and the mail goes out. The entire social structure of the community helping the machine and in return the machine helping the community and it residences is gone. The news lobbyists machine hang out is their beach houses or million dollar apartments and never meet anyone in the community they seek to elect someone in. The public who used to at least have a choice to elect their party leaders. The permanent government picks the Tammany's lobbyists cutting out the public completely * Yes Daily News the Special Election Without Requiring Primaries Law Sucks, But Philpotts Nomination is Not A Stunt, It Shows Us So Much More About A Broken Controlled Election System

The Daily News Blames A Gentile Gadfly, Not Party Bosses, Lobbyists and Permanent Government That Protect the Anti-Democratic Special Election Law

De-mock-racy in Brooklyn Assembly race (NYDN) For almost 40 years, Guillermo Philpotts has run in Brooklyn elections only to be spurned each time by voters. Now he plans to crown himself a member of the state Assembly. Don’t laugh. Philpotts could very well stage his own coronation in an anti-democratic stunt made possible by the state election law.

There’s a vacancy in a central Brooklyn district. Driven by a federal judge’s order, Gov. Cuomo called a special election for May. That enables the Democratic Party to name a candidate, all but ensuring the person’s election. Under provisions so arcane as to make your hair hurt, the power to select the lucky candidate rests not with county boss Frank Seddio but with local members of the party’s county committee. There are supposed to be nearly 300 such people. There are only 10, including Philpotts and friends. Thus he gets to put his own name on the Democratic ballot, and that should shoo him in. Let this debacle establish the Philpotts Principle: By act of Cuomo and the Legislature, legislative vacancies should be filled by quick primaries and general elections or by nonpartisan contests with all comers competing.

The Queens Boss Crowley Uses the Special Election Law to Stay in Power, to Use the Surrogate Court As Their Personal Cash Cow

In Special Elections Tammany Hall Rules

In the passed True News point out that if the governor called a special election to fill the Weiner seat one man corrupt Queens boss Joe Crowley would pick the next congressman from the 9th district. Today the NYT & Daily News called the party rules which go back to boss Tweed that allow one man rule undemocratic. The NYT did not get into why Albany does not want to change the party rules.

Incumbents get help when challengers pop up from Board of Elections which is controlled by the county leaders. Most time those the BOE makes sure challengers cannot make it passed what the NYT called "not great" NY political parties ballot access rules. The NYT also did not talk about how the same party rules give the party leaders control who become a Supreme Court Judge in the state. Or about all the corrupt coming out of party leaders selling access to their ballot lines * The NYT did say: "This scam is even worse in state races in New York. Citizens Union reported recently that a third of the Legislature was first anointed as candidates in these back-room, special-election deals. * Primaries Also Needed For Special Elections (1990)

Today's Queens Democratic machines still use the Surrogate Court (True News)

A Court, Not Votes, Sustains a Political Machine in Queens (NYT)

Surrogate's Court And Why It Should Go(True News)

Crowley The Cash Cow(Queens Politics)

Will A 71 Year Old Gadfly Take Down the Democratic Machine, the State Election Law

Sunday Update

De-mock-racy inBrooklyn Assembly race (NYDN)

Brooklyn Democratic Machine Breaks Down inFlatbush District (NYO) Why is Mr. Philpotts, and not the county machine, in control of who runs as a Democrat in the May 5 special election? The answer lies in the fact that Mr. Philpotts, regarded as a harmless gadfly in local political circles, had the foresight to stock the county committee of Mr. Camara’s 43rd Assembly District with a handful of family members and allies. Typically, county committeemen take direction from the county leader when the time comes to nominate a candidate in a special election to fill a vacancy. (New York State special elections have no primaries.) But when a county committee is only 10 members large–most county committees in Brooklyn Assembly Districts boast more than 100 members–and three, including Mr. Philpotts himself, have the surname Philpotts, the clout of the Brooklyn Democratic Party can only go so far. Four committee members appear to live in the same apartment building with people named Philpotts; another four live on the same side street.Mr. Philpotts could not be immediately reached for comment, but he told the blog Kings County Politics that he intended to seek the Democratic nomination.

Errol Louis in the Daily News had reported earlier this week that Mr. Philpotts was planning to deliver his votes to Shirley Patterson, a Democratic district leader. Mr. Seddio and his inner circle were blindsided. A source close to Mr. Seddio told the Observer that the candidate who wins the support of the county committee would have the party’s support, implying that efforts by Mr. Adams, the borough president and Senate predecessor of Mr. Hamilton, had failed to keep Mr. Philpotts from seeking the Democratic nomination. (Mr. Adams and Mr. Seddio work closely together.) Though the Democratic nomination in heavily Democratic districts is often tantamount to winning the election, Mr. Philpotts will not have a clear path to victory. Ms. Patterson will petition to run on the Independence Party line, sources say. Geoffrey Davis, the brother of former Brooklyn Councilman James Davis, is planning to run on his own party line. Diane Richardson, a former candidate for Democratic district leader, is a front-runner to receive the Working Families Party nod and is also looking to create her own ballot line.

Its the Philpotts Machine Now

According to thebylaws of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, the party’s choice will be made by a little-known committee of party members who live within the Assembly district. The committee, which in theory could have hundreds of members, currently has only 10 — all placed there by Guillermo Philpotts, a gadfly candidate who runs for office every few years, mounting failed bids for state Senate in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2014. (In some of his bids, Philpotts was bounced off the ballot; in others, he never showed up at candidate debates.) Sources tell me that Philpotts plans to hurriedly add new members to his handpicked committee, then deliver the Democratic nomination to Shirley Patterson, the area’s female district leader. Insiders say the deal has been blessed by state Sen. Jesse Hamilton (D-Brooklyn) and Borough President Eric Adams. Here again, voters might well have gone in a different direction. Democratic District leader Geoffrey Davis, longtime consultant Musa Moore and nonprofit manager Diana Richardson have all been gearing up for a primary election that will never happen.

Will A 71 yE

The Cannolis Coup d'etat

Philpotts is the Reforms the So Called Reforms are Opportunist

Brooklyn Boss at the CBID Reform Club

Weaken Democratic Machine, New Lobbyists Machine Race to the Bottom of Our Democracy

The Privatization of the Tammany Hall Machine

The Old Tammany Hall Machine was corrupt as corrupt as the lobbyists who have run today's New York's political system. But the machine of the Boss Tweed era was far more responsive to voters and the communities that it served. Terry Golway recent book explained how Tammany Hall depended on voter turnout for power. To get votes the old machine offered services, provided jobs and protected the neighborhood where their votes came from. Tammany Hall governing style was responsible for creating New York's strong Neighborhoods of old. Tammany leader George Washington Plunkitt — the man who coined the phrase “honest graft” — met with constituents and lesser Tammany officials in his district several times a week to find out who was happy with Tammany’s services and who required some special attention. Today's lobbyist's controlled private machine gain power by getting electing candidates and feeding them with campaign contributions from their clients who are looking for city contracts or zoning changes, they never meet the voters.

Lobbyists Political Consultants Have At First Worked Side by Side With Party Bosses to Cut Themselves Into Election System . . . They Are Now in the Process of Cutting Out Those Party Machines Who Brought Them In

Today's Lobbyist Private Political Machine did not replace the old Tammany Hall. It replaced political parties machine running on fumes, using the election low and decreasing voter's turnout to stay in power. The dumbing down of the press and the voting public and the end of organized political competition after the Eleanor Roosevelt who pushed out Tammany's de Sapio and the anti-Viet Nam reform movement, have left party bosses in power unchallenged.

The New Private Lobbyists Tammany Hall is Even Less Transparent Than the Old Secret Party Boss System

There are very important campaign filing differences between de Sapio's Tammany Hall and today's lobbyists Tammany Hall. Old Tammany and today's political party leaders were required to file their all their expenses and how much money their received. The new lobbyists Private Tammany Hall uses money from their lobbyists clients in campaigns which are not required to be filed with the Board of Elections. They use the Data and Field model of charging their clients below costs, that the Working Families Party and others are under investigation for by the Staten Island DA's special prosecutor, and it is all legal for the new lobbyists political consultants. The political party machines are quired to file any money they spend with other clubs or political leaders that is used to elect their candidates. The new private lobbyists can hire other lobbyists or anyone else and is not required to file any financial report. In the 2013 elections there were over 200 incidents of 8 lobbyists either working with other or against each other

Brooklyn Democratic Boss Seddio

Election Law

The Privatization of the Tammany Hall Machine

Weaken Political Machines No Longer Control Voting, GainsControl of the Assembly

Soft Machine

Sampson Aide Lowe Sentence 3 Years Exposes the DSCC Corruption Consultant Network

Former Consultant to New York Democrats Is Sentenced to 3 Years in Fraud(NYT) Prosecutors said Melvin E. Lowe stole $100,000 from the New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee in an invoicing scheme with State Senator John L. Sampson. A former consultant to the New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee was sentenced to three years in federal prison on Friday for what prosecutors said was a conspiracy with State Senator John L. Sampson to steal $100,000 from the organization in an invoicing scheme. “Melvin Lowe’s corrupt actions were another example of a political figure in New York State putting his own personal greed ahead of the public’s trust,”Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. “I hope today’s sentence will send yet another powerful signal to any public official who questions the resolve of this office to root out corruption.” Prosecutors said Mr. Sampson approved the fake invoice after asking Mr. Lowe to make a covert payment to a political operative based in Queens who helped orchestrate the Democratic coup that brought Mr. Sampson to power. A payment of $20,000 was sent to the operative, Michael Nieves, a former political adviser to Senator Hiram Monserrate. Mr. Nieves has not been charged with wrongdoing. Mr. Sampson, who was re-elected in November, has not been charged in the case. He is under federal indictment on corruption charges in an unrelated case in which prosecutors contend that he lied about his ownership of a liquor store. A federal judge dismissed charges that he embezzled more than $400,000 from the sale of foreclosed homes. * Former Sampson aide gets 3 years in corruption case(NYP)* Consultant Melvin Lowe, one-time FCR lobbyist, gets three years for conspiracy in unrelated case(AYR) Lowe was found guilty of wire fraud, failing to file tax returns and other charges after a one-week trial in September. Federal prosecutors said Lowe earned $2.1 million in consulting fees between 2007 and 2012, including work for developer Forest City Ratner and their Ridge Hill development. The developer was not implicated in wrongdoing, but prosecutors said Lowe reported less than $25,000 in income from his consulting fees during those years. In early June 2010, Sampson asked LOWE to arrange for a covert payment of $20,000 to Michael Nieves, a Queens-based political operative who had previously worked for former New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate and who had helped engineer the resolution of the Senate coup that had brought Sampson to power. LOWE then arranged for a New Jersey-based political consultant to submit a false invoice to the DSCC for $100,000 in printing services. Sampson approved payment of the invoice and the DSCC sent $100,000 to the New Jersey-based consultant. LOWE instructed the consultant to send $20,000 of the proceeds to Nieves, $75,000 of the proceeds to LOWE's consulting company, and to keep $5,000 for himself. The jury heard evidence that LOWE and Senator Sampson had a close relationship of trust that included LOWE giving Sampson an envelope of cash.

More on Sampson

The NJ consultant not named in the U.S. Attorney press release was Cornerstone Managment run by, Michael Cohen And Elnatan Rudolph: NY Staffers, Well-Paid Consultants, NJ Candidates (City and State) Cohen, who hooked on with Sampson during his 2005 Brooklyn DA campaign, now worked as $88,000-a-year job as one of Sampson’s closest aides during that time. Cohen also served as a paid “consultant” for the Four Seasons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center—a well-known, for-profit organization in Sampson’s Brooklyn district that lobbies the Legislature for health care funding, according to Cohen’s ethics filings and the organization’s lobbying disclosure. (Rudolph also worked as a lobbyist for the Brooklyn nursing home in 2006, when he was on staff for Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf.).

Former Sampson aide not in complaint (CrainsNY) Michael Cohen, theformer district office chief of staff for Mr. Sampson, now works for the New York lobbying firmPitta Bishop Del Giorno and Giblin. (CrainsNY) A firm spokesman said that Mr. Cohen maintains that "Political Consultant #1" in the charges against Mr. Lowe unveiled this week was "not him." Mr. Cohen has hired prominent criminal defense lawyer Sanford Talkin, who declined to comment.* Judge: 3 years for political consultant in $100K scam * Judge: 3 years for political consultant in $100K scam (Lohud) A political consultant with ties to the Ridge Hill Development in Yonkers was sentenced to three years in federal prison Friday. Prosecutors said Michael Nieves, a political consultant, was brought in to help mediate the political feud. With Nieves’ personal finances in trouble, prosecutors said Sampson instructed Lowe “to take care of Nieves financially.” They said Lowe “was essentially acting as Sampson’s agent in Albany.” Lowe then arranged for the committee to pay Cornerstone Management Partners of Teaneck $100,000 for printing services. Most of the money went to Lowe, who then failed to pay the contractors he hired for the pool and basement work at his second home in Georgia.* Former NYS Democratic Senate Campaign CommitteeConsultant Jailed for Tax & Fraud Convictions(Lawfuel) * Mystery consultant in theft case identified (CrainsNY) The Daily News did not even know about the $20,000 given to Nieves illegally through Sampson, Lowe and Cornerstone Managment when they wrote this in 2010 * Sampson's Conflict (NYDN)

DA Hynes Put Brooklyn Boss Norman in Jail for the Same Thing That Gianaris's DSCC Did With Parkside This Year

Sampson Who the NYT Was Trying to Stop With Their Hynes Endorsement in 2005, Used Embezzled Court Money to Fund His DA Campaign

Sampson, 47, last month was accused of embezzling nearly $500,000 of escrow money that he was supposed to safeguard in the sale of foreclosed homes in Brooklyn while acting as a court-appointed referee.

Prosecutors say he used the money to finance his failed bid for Brooklyn district attorney in 2005. Federal prosecutors say that when Sampson learned he was being probed, he used a mole in Brooklyn’s federal court to help him thwart the investigation. He is the only minority candidate in the race, and his face and name bedeck glossy color posters from downtown Fulton Street to Starrett City. His handlers, who include political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, appear to be banking on a straight-out ethnic appeal to the borough's black voters, who make up 44 percent of the voting rolls.

Hynes Got Even With Former Brooklyn Norman for Running Sampson Against Him For DA in 2005

While Joe Hynes can hope for the residual goodwill of those who remember him as the prosecutor who won convictions in the vicious 1986 Howard Beach racial attack, as well as for steady declines in crime, he must also cope with the blowback from his multiple indictments of the borough's black Democratic county leader, Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr., charges that Hynes only sought after the Daily News editorial board repeatedly slammed him for failing to address corruption in the borough's courts. Norman never formally endorsed Sampson, but he's made no pretense about his preference. Norman Guilty of Extorting Judge - The New York Sun * Judgeships For Sale In New York? | Judicial Watch

If Boss Norman Was Sent to Jail For Coercing Candidates to Pay Thousands of Dollars AQ Favored Campaign Consultant Why Not Parkside and Gianaris

DSCC requirement to use Parkside for mailers reminiscent of Norman's requirement to use Lendler [UPDATED] (Progress Queens) Former Brooklyn Democratic Party chair Clarence Norman was indicted and later convicted for requiring judicial candidates to use party-favored political campaign vendors. Prosecutors said Mr. Norman had coerced two candidates for civil court judge to pay thousands of dollars to favored campaign consultants, or lose his organization’s support in the 2002 primary. In due course, Mr. Norman was found guilty in a jury trial of "coercion, grand larceny by extortion and attempted grand larceny by extortion" stemming from charges of having "coerced two candidates for civil court judge to pay thousands of dollars to favored campaign consultants, or lose his organization’s support in the 2002 primary," according to a 2007 report published by The New York Times.

.@NYSenateDems Email Show DSCC Leaned on Senate Candidates to Use the Parkside Group, Boss Norman was Convicted By Hynes for Forcing 3 Judges to Use His Vender

The DSCC Parkside Connection(YNN) Last month the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and its preferred consultant, The Parkside Group, took issue with a posting that candidates were leaned on to use Parkside in advance of the November elections. Senate Democrats lost just enough seats to ensure their minority status for at least the next two years. And while ultimately Democrats blame the “Republican Wave” for their losses, some losing candidates stepped forward to question the DSCC’s alliance with Parkside. Now comes an email chain we’ve obtained that could help illustrate the point. As background, the emails are between a staffer from the campaign of Democratic State Senate Candidate Brian Howard, who was running against Republican Kathy Marchione in the 43rd District, and a representative from the DSCC. The Howard Campaign, which was at a significant fundraising disadvantage, wanted to do a robocall to targeted voters. Howard was getting zero financial help from the DSCC. But the campaign was seeking information about voters in the district from Vote Builder, a database the DSCC controls that contains voter information from the New York State Board of Elections. That information about targeted voters can be customized, and it’s a valuable resource to all campaigns. In this case, the Howard camp needed help exporting the file to the company it had hired to do the robocall. A representative from the DSCC did not like that a company other than Parkside was hired, and said as much in this email chain from October. It’s between Joe Billick, representing the DSCC and a campaign staffer who has asked not to be identified. That staffer writes the first email.

Brooklyn Boss Seddio's Innocents Projects

Frank SeddioThinks John Sampson Will Be Found Not Guilty(NYO 2014)

Mar 10, 2011 - “I don't know what will happen with Carl Kruger but anytime I have dealt with him he has been an honest broker,” Seddio said(Brooklyn Paper) * Frank Seddio resigned a judgeship while under investigation by the state's judicial watchdog agency Daily News asked Seddio to Release documents of his Investigation to Them in the Name of His New Push for transparency * Frank Seddio picks up George Arzt for his PR . Still, another lookat the complaint against Kruger suggests some shocking--at least to those who believe what they learned in civics class--behavior from a Senate staffer, apparently at the behest of "Senate Leader #1." * Who's that? Apparently Senator John Sampson (as identified in news coverage), who has had supporters use Forest City Ratner offices for a fundraiser. * That staffer was willing to essentially outsource government "pork" directly to Bender, letting the real estate executive allocate money "as he saw fit."(AYR)

Boss Seddio's Corruption is Named in the Kruger Indictment

NY Democrat Leaders Pick A Sock Puppet for Congress and Blame It On Outsiders

In trying to explain Domenic Recchia’s loss to indicted Rep. Michael Grimm, observers point to a campaign run by outsiders to Staten Island, a brutal night for Democrats and Recchia’s gaffes, the Observer reports:

Brooklyn Boss Seddio Who Gave Us Sock Puppet Recchia Does Not Even Vote

Top NY Dems have not voted in recent elections(NYP) The state Democratic Party needs to send menacing get-out-the-vote letters to a new group of slackers — its own leaders. A Post review of Board of Elections records found that Democratic Party brass — including state party Chairman David Paterson and Brooklyn Democratic leader Frank Seddio — didn’t vote in recent elections. The revelation comes a day after it was disclosed that the state Democratic Party sent threatening letters to a million voters warning it was going to monitor whether they voted on Tuesday. Party leaders could have used the same warning. Records show Paterson skipped last year’s Democratic runoff election for public advocate between Letitia James and Daniel Squadron. Paterson, who served as governor from 2008 to 2010, also didn’t vote in the 2005 race for mayor, when Mayor Michael Bloomberg defeated Democrat Fernando Ferrer, official records show. Soon after he became the Brooklyn Democratic leader, Seddio missed a chance in 2012 to pull the lever for President Obama. “Frank was managing several campaigns that day,” said Seddio spokesman George Arzt. “When he went to vote, the lines were extremely long and the waiting time was an hour and a half. He had to get back to campaign operations.”

How Come Brooklyn Boss Seddio Has Not Remove Lopez Who Refuses to Pay A $400,000 Fine Sexual Harassment As District Leader

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman wants ex-Assemblyman VitoLopez to pay up(NYDN) State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has asked an Albany court to force the serial groper to pay more than $400,000 for sexually harassing staff members. Schneiderman’s office filed paperwork in state Supreme Court late Thursday seeking an order compelling Lopez to pay a $330,000 fine levied against him in 2013, plus $72,600 in interest and penalties. According to the papers, Lopez did not respond to a letter sent by the attorney general’s office in July demanding payment. If Lopez still refuses to pay, the court could order the pervy pol's income garnished or put liens on his assets.

de Blasio Vs Brooklyn Boss Seddio In Brooklyn Endorsements, 52AD, 19SD, 20SD

Sampson When He Was A Senate Leader Had Over $1.5 in His Bank Account Today As He Faces A Hard Re-Election Under Indictment He Has $2000

Bill de Blasio gives endorsements to his underdog supporters(NYDN)

Four little-known candidates who backed Mayor de Blasio early in the mayoral campaign are getting his endorsement back for being 'true believers.' Flatbush district leader Rodneyse Bichotte alienated many people in her community last year when she backed Bill de Blasio for mayor over former Controller Bill Thompson.But the unpopular decision is paying off. Bichotte — now vying for an open Assembly seat in Brooklyn — is one of four little-known candidates Mayor de Blasio has chosen to endorse because they were early backers of his underdog campaign. This week, de Blasio is expected to endorse two morelongshots, sources said: Assembly candidate Pete Sikora, running in Brooklyn against district leader Jo Anne Simon; and Dell Smitherman, a former political coordinator for the powerful healthcare workers union 1199SEIU who is challenging State Sen. John Sampson. The mayor has also endorsed Rubain Dorancy — whose Haitian American Association for Political Action-PAC backed his mayoral bid early on — for an open Brooklyn Senate seat. And he also gave his nod of approval to Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn), who has been in the mayor’s camp since de Blasio served on the school board in 1999.* Cuomo endorses challenger to Sampson (Cuomo)

Brooklyn Boss Seddio's Innocents Projects

Frank SeddioThinks John Sampson Will Be Found Not Guilty(NYO 2014)

Mar 10, 2011 - “I don't know what will happen with Carl Kruger but anytime I have dealt with him he has been an honest broker,” Seddio said(Brooklyn Paper)

24-Hour Contribution Report for State Sen. John Sampson | NYS Board of Elections

As Brooklyn Boss Supports Indicted Sampson Reformers Close Their Eyes

SEDDIO BACKING SAMPSON: State Sen. John Sampson’s political future has looked bleak ever since he was indicted on multiple federal corruption charges, but a powerful segment of the Brooklyn Democratic establishment is doing all it can to keep him in office, City & State reports:

Frank Seddio resigned a judgeship while under investigation by the state's judicial watchdog agency

Daily News asked Seddio to Release documents of his Investigation to Them in the Name of His New Push for transparency Seddio - Many other people involved who Privacy should be kept. Never a decision made We are not going to release the documents. Would Seddio ask the panel to open the files? And, just as important, would Seddio open the documents before the regulars voted on whether to make him party chairman? This did seem in keeping with Seddio’s vow to bring transparency to party operations.First, the PR man said Seddio would release the file only after the vote for a new boss. Then, the PR man said Seddio had entirely ruled out going public because the documents refer to other people whose privacy could be infringed. Then, the PR man said Seddio would allow the Daily News to look at portions of the files with names blanked out, but no copying would be permitted. And he’d make the arrangements sometime after the vote.

Why Did the Daily News Leave Out the Name of Brooklyn Boss Seddio's PR Man?

First, the PR man said Seddio would release the file only after the vote for a new boss. Then, the PR man said Seddio had entirely ruled out going public because the documents refer to other people whose privacy could be infringed. Then, the PR man said Seddio would allow the Daily News to look at portions of the files with names blanked out, but no copying would be permitted. And he’d make the arrangements sometime after the vote. We’re not holding our breath. As the song goes, meet the new boss, same as the old boss.Frank Seddio picks up George Arzt for his push ... - * Capital New York One of George Arzt's clients is Extell, and Extell is the sponsor of the exclusive, luxury condo called One57 that is the target of an investigation for possible corruption. Extell has funneled approximately $75,000 in campaign contributions to Christine Quinn. According to this report, generated moments ago from the New York City Campaign Finance Board Web site, Mr. Arzt has contributed $90,500 in political donations to municipal candidates Judy Menin Manhattan BP race run by Belin Rosen and George Arzt can you find out who told her to hire Melvin Lowe Melvin Lowe Under Investigation Hired by Menin truenewsfromchangenyc.blogspot.com *Menin’s spokesman George Arzt confirmed that Lowe was hired by the campaign to assist with petitioning, and said campaign ended its relationship with Lowe “after a very brief period” just as the news of Huntley’s wiretap list broke. Arzt Gave almost $100,000 in campaign contributions to NY state candidates spread out over many years.* 2013-10-29 George Arzt - NYS Board of Elections Contributions - Disclosure.pdf George Arzt represents Excell One57 and dozens of other developers * George Arzt - NYC Lobbyist Search Result * More George Arzt is A Bad Guy * Extell George Arzt Moreland Commission * George Arzt Communications, Inc. - NYC Lobbyist Search Result

It's About What the Reformers Don't Know or Want to Know

New Brooklyn Boss Frank Seddio visited a reform club last week and told the members that there is no corruption in the Kings County courts, told them patronage is not a bad thing and promised more transparency, as he served them cannolis he brought for them. A couple of days before his visit the Daily News called his word worthless because he went back on his promised to release documents related to a state Commission on Judicial Conduct investigation of his conduct while running for Surrogate judge. The problem the reformers have with Seddio is that except for the Daily News warning the press has done very little to inform them who is the real Frank Seddio. There is a lot to be learned by investigating how Seddio used the machine and government to make $$$ and remain * ‏@bradlander I think Frank Seddio may be the first Brooklyn Democratic County Leader ever to attend #CBID annual dinner!* * THE HIGH COST OF LOW LIFES: The taxpayer money being spent to defend disgraced politicians like Vito Lopez could have been saved if Speaker Sheldon Silver had prioritized employee safety over the Assembly’s reputation, Alexis Grenell writes in City & State: * True News: Seddio: Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis

Are the People Who Brooklyn Boss Seddio Helped to Make A Speaker Planning to Dump Him?

Seddio Ended the Speakers Race By Turning His Back on his Fellow County Bosses and Going With the Progressives. Now the Progressives are Running Candidates All Over Brooklyn

Mutiny on the Cannolis

Hunger Games Meets Tammany Hall

Working Families Party Backs Challenger to Martin Dillan * Latrice Walker—an aide to Rep. Yvette Clarke with ties to Public Advocate Letitia James and disgraced ex-Assemblyman William Boylan—has entered the fray for Boyland’s former Brooklyn seat, the Observer reports: * De Blasio has refi ties to Dem boss key to Viverito bid | (NYP) *Brooklyn Dem Boss Seddio Wields Much Power at City Hall(Jewish Voice) * How Melissa Mark-Viverito Became Speaker -- NYMagBlasio managed to peel off Frank Seddio, the Brooklyn boss, and combine him with Mark-Viverito's progressive caucus backers in the council ...* The WFP has reportedly endorsed Democratic activist Debbie Medina in her primary challenge to six-term Brooklyn Sen. Martin Dilan.

Once he Took Over for Boss Lopez in 2012, Seddio Began Reaching Out to Reforms and Progressives . . . He Even Brought the Cannolis to the Reform Clubs That He Spoke At

True News: Seddio: Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis * Brooklyn's new Democratic boss is Frank Seddio (Brooklyn Paper)

You Will Never Forget Seddio the Face of the Person Who is Your Last Hope

‏@CTLi

Interesting, so @WorkingFamilies backing primary challengers to non-IDC Dems, too? Trying to oust Sen. Dilan.

Guess Who Coming to the Brooklyn Democrat Dinner
Hon. William Boyland, Wait He is In Jail
More on Boyland's Corruption
Brooklyn Boss Seddio the Art at Winner At Losing

Seddio only had 4 Brooklyn councilmembers with him to vote against Mark-Viverito. He really did not deliver Brooklyn to the mayor's speakers candidate he just ran in front of a group that were marching against him and said forward. Seddio a constant loser on election day finally found a way to win join his opponents. Seddio lost the Brooklyn's DA race with Hynes and she supported Thompson in the general. Several of the councilmembers who endorsed Mark-Viverito were opposed by Seddio in the primary. Seddio lost for Crowley last year when Weprin lost the election to fill Weiner's seat. He also lost a state senate seat for his club member Fidler to a Russian candidate. When seddio back a Russian candidate for the first time this yeat that candidate lost.* Brooklyn’s Jewish Council MembersScore Big In Speaker’s Race Deal (yeshivaworld) * Seddio Betrays Crowley and Heastie; De Blasio Goes To War With County Chairs Over Mark-Viverito (Capital)* Inside Melissa Mark-Viverito’s Road to Victory(NYO) * De Blasio faced tough questions Thursday about the back-room deal-making that helped to put his ally Melissa Mark-Viverito in position to win the powerful post of City Council speaker. De Blasio said he offered nothing to the Brooklyn Democratic chairman, Frank Seddio, in return for Seddio switching sides and backing Mark-Viverito in the competitive race for speaker. Three sources, our Karni, Erin Durkin and Jennifer Fermino report, told the Daily News that it was their understanding some prominent Brooklyn pols were in line to get patronage jobs in the de Blasio administration as a result of Seddio supporting Mark-Viverito.

3/1/2013

Brooklyn Boss Seddio Will Play the Field Behind Closed Door Politics

This alows him to be all things to opposing groups and candidates. He is already helping more than one candidate in the mayor's race. No doubt he show up at whoever wins telling that candidate how much he helped him or her win. Bloombergian Brooklyn Boss Seddio Says He Will Stay Out of all Races But One (brooklyntheborough.com) * True News: Seddio: Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis

It is A Failure of Media and Reform that A Candidate With Gangemi Record is Running
And former Councilman John Gangemi declared a long-shot bid for Brooklyn Borough President:

Gangemi For Brooklyn BP Will Be Over Before It Starts

Meade Esposito Suprise Candidate for Judge Who Was Beaten By Margaret Cammer for Civil Court Judge in 1982 is Announced As A Candidate for Brooklyn BP By City and State

John Gangemi was a Republican Councilman at large. He nearly beat Carey for Congress in '72, was elected Councilman at Large in '73, got tossed off ballot for State Committee in '74, lost a State Committee race in '76. Then he became a Dem. His son Frank Gangemi was jailed for stealing from his father John's law firm. A 88 man who sued the Ganmemi's charged on the witness stand that the father nurtured his son's Gambling addiction.

The son who is in jail represented the Fulton Fish market in court, when Rudy Giuliani tried to evict them.

Former Councilman To Challenge Adams For Brooklyn Borough President(City and State)

John Gangemi: I’m Likely to Challenge Congressman Grimm(1/20/12 NYO)

GANGEMIS SETTLE SUIT - The Brooklyn Paper

Gangemi mob tie? - The Brooklyn Paper

WORK AT FULTON SWIMMING ALONG - NY Daily News

Frank Gangemi Talk Show

Former community board chair Julie Menin scored the endorsement of the the Arturo Schomburg Democratic Club Wednesday night in what Ms. Menin’s campaign said was the first club endorsement of the Manhattan borough president’s race. The backing is made more notable by group’s location in East Harlem–far outside Ms. Menin’s Downtown base.

Is this crazy enough to work? A candidate named Joel Rivera is running to replace veteran Councilman Joel Rivera. Given the fact that a lot of attention will be on the high-profile mayoral race, it would be reasonable to assume a number of voters will head to the polls with no idea Mr. Rivera is term-limited and it’s a different Mr. Rivera on the ballot. “I would launch a full-scale campaign telling people, ‘Don’t vote for the fake Joel Rivera,’” said one Bronx insider.

Possible Deputies Floated In Queens Borough President Race(City and State)

Spin Vs Reality of Corruption
You Choose the Future of Journalism

"An informed citizenry is the bulwark of a democracy." Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson though all it took was a free press to protect the American people from the power of government. He never considered the possibility of the pols and power brokers corrupting a free press. Local media has always been bias toward incumbents and power. The press protected pols by not covering up stories that would hurt them for years. The internet has forced pols and the power brokers to reach out to media experts.

Today political consultants are teaching pols how to use the internet, Facebook and twitter for spin and power. This comes at the same time as cut backs in newspapers and changing standards of what is acceptable in journalism. A mover always from serious investigative reporters to young journalist who can do no more than print fluff fed to them by pols and consultants. Master media spinners like George Artz playing the press for sucker for his clients like political boss Seddio. Who the real Frank Seddio and what he is really up to is lost in the Pasta sauce.

Sad Journalism Written By A Political Consultants and the Events They Set Up . . . ~~Reporters~~ Cheerleaders for Seddio

Frank Seddio Is Your Italian Grandmother(City and State) “You should use cold water with chicken cutlets,” says Frank Seddio, the new chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party. “You want to keep them fresh. You don’t want it to get too warm. You have to be careful with chicken. When you cook it, you can’t leave it out too long. Temperature is very important with chicken.” * The New Leader of Brooklyn's Democratic Party Hopes Cannoli Diplomacy Can Heal Old Wounds

Real Investigative Journalism (All Alone) by True News

Seddio: Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis(True News) The problem the reformers have with Seddio is that except for the Daily News warning the press has done very little to inform them who is the real Frank Seddio. There is a lot to be learned by investigating how Seddio used the machine and government to make $$$ and remain in power in a community with dramatic racial change and his loss of ability to deliver the vote.Moderator Mark Fertig asked Seddio and the other candidates running if Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano should be fired because of her involvement in the Kruger scandal. Seddio did not only answer the question but he called Fertig a very inappropriate name.It is clear from the guilty plea of Kruger and his lobbyist Lipsky that Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano was deeply involved in the Kruger corruption. Yet astonishly she still remains as chairman of that board. In 2007 when a BJ was chosen for that site with a different developer (the developer who the indictment said sent checks to Turaino house) Frank Seddio small business group changed their mind and accepted BJ’s at Canarsie Plaza. The Feds say Kruger partner Michael Dorothy son was delivered the bribe money shortly after the vote.

It's About What the Reformers Don't Know or Want to Know

New Brooklyn Boss Frank Seddio visited a reform club last week and told the members that there is no corruption in the Kings County courts, told them patronage is not a bad thing and promised more transparency, as he served them cannolis he brought for them. A couple of days before his visit the Daily News called his word worthless because he went back on his promised to release documents related to a state Commission on Judicial Conduct investigation of his conduct while running for Surrogate judge. The problem the reformers have with Seddio is that except for the Daily News warning the press has done very little to inform them who is the real Frank Seddio. There is a lot to be learned by investigating how Seddio used the machine and government to make $$$ and remain in power in a community with dramatic racial change and his loss of ability to deliver the vote.

But one reaction from Seddio at a candidates night forum back in February can give the reformers a lot of answer who they are dealing with. A question was asked by the moderator of Seddio who at that time already started his campaign for City Council in a special that he though would be held to replace Lew Filder who he and most everyone else expect at that time to win a race to replace the corrupt Frank Seddio Kruger friend. Moderator Mark Fertig asked Seddio and the other candidates running if Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano should be fired because of her involvement in the Kruger scandal. Seddio did not only answer the question but he called Fertig a very inappropriate name. In the movie the Godfather we learn more about who the real Godfather was after Peter Clemenza bumps off the Michael's driver, for conspiring with the Tattaglia family, when Clemenza says Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis(Video)

Turano Is Still Planning Board Manager After the Feds Called Her A Bag Woman for Kruger

It is clear from the guilty plea of Kruger and his lobbyist Lipsky that Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano was deeply involved in the Kruger corruption. Yet astonishly she still remains as chairman of that board. Dorothy Turano, Kruger's longtime companion, chief political partner and beneficiary, mother of his alleged domestic partner, and district manager of CB 18 for 22 years, has, at least so far, remains untouched. When questions were raised about her connections to the Kruger corruption Seddio cursed out the questioner. Was Seddio just being nice to a friend or protecting his own ass? Does Dorothy have the goods on Seddio? While we many never know because the feds seem to have move on after Kruger guilty plea and the Brooklyn DA would never touch anything connected to the TJ Club will might never know if it was only left to the prosecutors. It is now up the press and the reformers to find out why Turano is still in charge of Community Board 18. They can start with an important clue in the inditement of Kurger that connect Kruger, Dorothy Turano and Seddio in a scam that paid Kruger $472,500 in bribes.

Turano Changed Her Vote On Which Big Box Store She Wanted in Canarsie Plaza

From her perch at the community board, prosecutors suggest, Dorothy might have played her own small part in the Kruger corruption. The federal complaint states that another developer had put proposed a supermarket and home improvement store at the Canarsie Plaza site in 2004, but Turano shot it down, claiming, “Decisions are not made in this community unless they are presented to elected officials.”

After rejecting plans for a retail development at a vacant site in 2004, she and the board approved a similar proposal in March 2007. Within a few weeks, a developer Aaron Malinsky involved in the proposal began sending checks totaling $472,500 to Michael’s (Dorothy son) bank accounts. The Feds say a check was even delivered to Kruger house where Dorothy and her sons lived with the state senator. In 2004 Seddio represented small businesses at Canarsie Plaza who opposed building a Home Depot on that site. In 2007 he worked for and pushed for BJs according to Fertig.

In 2007 when a BJ was chosen for that site with a different developer (the developer who the indictment said sent checks to Turaino house) Frank Seddio small business group changed their mind and accepted BJ’s at Canarsie Plaza. The Feds say Kruger partner Michael Dorothy son was delivered the bribe money shortly after the vote. Fidler’s decision not to call for Turano’s ouster could provide an opportunity for further attacks by his GOP opponents, but Storobin has not returned a request for comment on Turano’s situation * Dorothy Turano, Kruger ally and partner, ducks and weaves at CB18 meeting Once the meeting ended, a beefy board member flanked Turano as local powerbroker Frank Seddio, who was Community Board 18’s district manager before becoming an Assemblyman, surrogate court judge and democratic district leader, led her to his car. * “I don’t know what will happen with Carl Kruger but anytime I have dealt with him he has been an honest broker,” Seddio said, adding that he would not turn his back on Kruger now. “I stand on the belief that you stand by your friends. If that is something that would hurt me so be it. I am not going to shrink away from people that I have a relationship with just because some one made an allegation.”

Fidler Kruger Dorothy Turano and Community Board 18 BJ

It clear from the guilty plea of Kruger and his lobbyist Lipsky that Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano was deeply involved in the Kruger corruption. Yet astonishly she still remains as chairman of that board. Dorothy Turano, Kruger's longtime companion, chief political partner and beneficiary, mother of his alleged domestic partner, and t district manager of CB 18 for 22 years, has, at least so far, remains untouched. When questions were raised about her connections to the Kruger corruption Filder said he did not want to get involved is pushing Dorothy out of her job. Was Fildler just being nice or protecting his ass? Does Dorothy have to goods on Fidler? While we many never know because the feds seem to have let most of those around Kruger go, there is one important clue in the inditement of Kurger that connect Kruger, Dorothy Turano and Fidler in a scam that paid Kruger $472,500 in bribes.* Pork Pig Fidler's Media Friends Put Lipstick On Him | Room Eight

Turano Who Changed Vote As Chairperson of Board 18 and Live Off of Kruger Bribes Is Still In Office Making Deals

Cult Reformers Watch the Election of A New Corruption Pope

Meade Esposito, Clarence Norman and Vito Lopez all left the job as Brooklyn Democratic Boss a little early because of law enforcement.

It is sad that those who call themselves reformers did not take the opportunity last night to set a real agenda of reform last night. It is sad that they did not look at how Seddio has benefited financially and personally from the machine. Seddio is very week in the main mission of any county leader that is to get out the vote. In the last year he lost a democratic congressional seat (in his own district) that has not been represented by the GOP in 100 years (Weprin vs. Turner), he lost the Fidler state senate race to GOP new guy on the block David Storobin. And last week he lost a civil court race in the brownstone belt to the reformers. Seddio is all smoke and mirrors, no power. So why no demands by the reformers beyond meaningless party rules changes.?

Meet the New Boss Same As the Old Boss

The new Brooklyn boss has been a longtime beneficiary of the powerful Brooklyn Democratic machine, which supported him for state assemblyman and later as surrogate court judge, a position he soon left during an investigation into thousands of dollars of donations he made to Democratic leaders and organizations before taking office. “Somewhere there are people who need a boogeyman — ‘Vito is coming’ — and I’m past that,” he told The Times. “I’m the good ghost.” Is it the new definition of the good guy who is keeping the deal between Vito Lopez, the Zalmen faction in Williamsburg, DA Hynes that covers up the sexual abuse problem exposed by the NYT. Only Charles Barron and his wife Inez voted against Seddio. Charles Barron speaking about respectibility at the County Committee meeting

No Demands Beyond Party Rules From the Reformers Led By Simon

For weeks the reformers have been trying to make a deal with new Boss Seddio if he agreed to a bunch of rule changes that have nothing to do with the real dictatorial corruption of the party office. District Leader Jo Anne Simon, only back out of a deal for a position to co-chair the Rules Committee because of strong opposition of some Central Brooklyn Independent Democratic members. Simon dropped her challenge to the party chairmanship. Simon only gave a general warning to Seddio to do the right thing. "Mr. Seddio make the Brooklyn party less opaque and more participatory, particularly as it goes about influencing choices for judges and legislative positions," Simon said “Frank has a lot of support.” Do the reformers believe in a special class of insiders who pick judges and elected officials and have access to the spoils of power if they are included in the mix.? Or do they do they want to open up the system to the average citizen? Before last night’s vote, both Seddio’s opponents – Assemblyman Karim Camara and District Leader Jo Anne Simon – conceded the race to the former assemblyman. (Simon and Chris Owens abstained from voting).

Gadfly Alan Flacks Has Reforms for Brooklyn Boss Seddio

Simon and the other reformers would have done more for reform if they demanded that Seddio support the 5 reforms being pushed by gadfly Alan Flacks:1. True campaign finance reform. 2. More term limits, but "long," that is, say four terms.3. No Gerrymandering.4. Emphasis on judicial reform
(selection). 5. Abolition of the judicial nominating convention (either direct election or appointment, but no middlemen/women) The Flacks Report

Other Reform Ideas To Open the Democratic Party to More People . . . It Not Only the GOP that Represses Voting and Participation

1. Prohibit state and federal elected officials from being elected to district leader positions (city elected officials already banned from party. positions, since the Koch Citisource scandal).
2. Term Limits for Part Positions (Some party leaders remain in office for decades).
3. Allow early voting for party positions on the internet (NY has the one of the lowest voting rates in the county. Early voting on the internet for party positions will lead to early voters for elective office on the voting method is proven).
4. No endorsement to any mayoral, council president or councilmember who does not pledge to end the corrupt practice of member items.
5. No endorsement to any candidate for state office that does not support public financing of all state offices including District Attorneys (city office)
6. No endorsement for any state candidate that does not support term limits for state offices.
7. No Endorsement for councilmenbers who accept Lulus
8. No Endorsement for any state office seeker who opposes reducing the amount of signatures to get on the ballot.
9. No Endorsement for any state official who accepts contributions for more than $2000
10. Establish a citywide DA to get around borough DAs who will not investigate the pols or political machines who get them into office and help they get reelected

Vito Lopez crony Frank Seddio takes job of disgraced Brooklyn Democratic Party boss (NY DN)

* Longtime Lopez Colleague Chosen to Lead Brooklyn Democrats(NYT) * Brooklyn Democrats Elect Seddio As New Leader(NY1) * New Brooklyn Dem Leader Promises Change(NBC) * Brooklyn Democrats Get New Leader(WNYC) * Who’s the Boss: Frank Seddio(NYC Informer) * Lopez out, Seddio in as county chairman (WABC) * New Brooklyn Dem Leader Promises Change(NBC) * Brooklyn’s new Democratic boss is Frank Seddio (Brooklyn Paper) * Who's the Boss: Frank Seddio(City and State) * Seddio to replace Lopez as Brooklyn Democratic leader (News12)*

Brooklyn's new Democratic boss is Frank Seddio(Brooklyn Daily

Frank R. Seddio to Take Over Disgraced Brooklyn Democratic Leader Vito J. Lopez(Vos Lz Neias)

The Twitters Report?

Of Those Twittering Only Pinny Ringel Asked the Question Why Brooklyn Democratic Bosses End Up Going Down In Shame. But he asked his twitter audience, not Seddio ‏@Pinnyringel

Why does every #Brooklyn Dem boss end up going down in shame with a scandal? Wonder how long Frank Seddio will last. #bkboss

The other twitters gave the vote @aaronshortstory: Sorry, three abstentions. 36-2-3. Azi Paybarah ‏@azipaybarahGave a pix of Seddio eating pic of new #bkBoss Frank Seddio @ a victory dinner @ his fav restaurant http://bit.ly/RzWAMV He also gave the DN story .@NYdailynews headline: "Vito Lopez crony Frank Seddio to take job of disgraced Brooklyn Democratic Party boss"

.@deBlasioNYC: "We must make good on this turning point by embracing a more inclusive, transparent and honest democratic process." #BKBoss

Daily News: Boss Seddio Should Stop Playing Santa and Dress As Pinocchio This Xmass

New Brooklyn Democratic boss Frank Seddio is not a man of his word(NYDN Ed) Pol broke promise to release details of probe of his campaign for surrogate judge The News calls incoming Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Frank Seddio a “weasel” for not releasing the details of the probe of his surrogate judge campaign after promising to do so:

From Daily News Editorial: Frank Seddio’s Word is Worthless

Before his election as Brooklyn Democratic leader, Seddio promised to release documents related to a state Commission on Judicial Conduct investigation of his conduct while running for Surrogate judge. The probe examined his improper transfers of tens of thousands of dollars in campaign funds to the likes of then-senator and now felon Carl Kruger and other buddies at the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club. Seddio resigned after 17 months in the job, ending the inquiry. We asked him to to make the confidential records public. First, he promised to release the documents after he became boss. Then he said he wouldn’t come clean, due to privacy of others. Then he said he would make redacted portions available, but only after he became boss. Finally, after he got the top party job, Seddio ruled out going public with the records. “We’re not going to release them,” he told Josh Robin on NY1’s “Inside City Hall” on Friday. Seddio’s dissembling was all too predictable. When we first starting asking about this mess in 2006, he insisted he had gotten an ethics opinion okaying the money transfers. That, too, was false. Obviously, he has plenty to hide. * Soon-to-be Assemblyman Walter Mosley, who will be representing current Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries district in Albany next year, will also have an elevated party position within Brooklyn Democratic organization. In a statement, Mr. Mosley praised thew new county boss, Frank Seddio, for giving him the opportunity.

Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Frank Seddio On NY1 Last Night Spins Crap

"I left the bench for my own personal reason, there was never any charges against me nor was I asked to step down. The complaint that I used my assembly campaign money to help other candidates had nothing to do with me stepping down" (NY1 Video) Seddio called for Lopez to step down from his assembly seat if the sexual harassment charges are proven. Apparently the 103,000 in government hush money deal put together by top state officials who don't remember their participation is not enough proff for Seddio of guilt. Vito Lopez expects to anoint a successor as Brooklyn party boss who has his own questionable history(NYDN Ed) Frank Seddio resigned a judgeship while under investigation by the state's judicial watchdog agency

The Complaint Against Seddio Followed A Daily News Editorial in 2006

After Seddio Was Appointed to the Newly Created Position of An Additional Surrogate Court Judge in Brooklyn by Vito Lopez From A Daily News Editorial (2006)
"They (rules of running for judge) bar judicial candidates like Seddio, who was an assemblyman until Dec. 31, from giving even a penny from their campaign treasuries to political candidates or to charities. The regs restricted Seddio instead to returning a kitty of $55,090 to his contributors. That, of course, is not what Seddio did. As previously disclosed here, he gave more than half of it, $31,500, to party pals and to the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club when he was seeking the organization's backing or securely ensconced as its official candidate. Lopez is moving to have his troops anoint Frank Seddio, a former assemblyman and surrogate judge, who resigned from the bench amid an investigation by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct. * B'klyn Judge Probed. Allegedly Gave Campaign Bucks To Pols (NYDN)

Seddio: "When I asked and decided to run for Surrogate it was late in the season long after those many of those donations were made."

On July 3, 2005 the NYT wrote: Bill to Alter (Surrogate) Court Is Assailed in Brooklyn The move by Albany was to reduce the influence of independent surrogate candidate Lopez Torres who was seen as a possible winner. Once the second position was created Seddio started to campaign against Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol the sponsor of the 2nd surrogate bill for the job.

The Following Seddio Contributions to Pols Were done after July3, 2005

On July 17^th 2007 $2000 to Friends of Richard Velasquez (Lopez candidate for Civil Court Judge) On September 2, 2005 Seddio again gave $2000 to Velasquez; On July 18th 2005 $10,000 to Alan Maisel (Assemblyman) On September 16^th 2005 Seddio again gave Maisel $3000; On October 15, 2005 Seddio gave $2000 to Friends of Carl Kruger; On August 8, 2005 Seddio gave $5000 to Thomas Jefferson Club On September 9^th 2005 he gave another $7500 to Thomas Jefferson Club; On September 1^st, 2005

Seddio gave $5,000 Knipel for Surrogate before his primary with Judge Lopez Torres; On September 6^th 2005 Seddio Gave $2000 Friends of Lew Filder IV and on December 20, 2005 $1000 to Millenium Development

Frank Seddio resigned a judgeship while under investigation by the state's judicial watchdog agency

Daily News asked Seddio to Release documents of his Investigation to Them in the Name of His New Push for transparency

Seddio - Many other people involved who Privacy should be kept. Never a decision made
We are not going to release the documents. Would Seddio ask the panel to open the files? And, just as important, would Seddio open the documents before the regulars voted on whether to make him party chairman? This did seem in keeping with Seddio’s vow to bring transparency to party operations.First, the PR man said Seddio would release the file only after the vote for a new boss. Then, the PR man said Seddio had entirely ruled out going public because the documents refer to other people whose privacy could be infringed. Then, the PR man said Seddio would allow the Daily News to look at portions of the files with names blanked out, but no copying would be permitted. And he’d make the arrangements sometime after the vote.

Saddio Said on NY1 He Would Not Release His Documents. Will See If He Let the Daily News See Them?

Daily News Forced Seddio to Resign Early From the Surrogate Court to Prevent Lopez From Picking the Next Surrogate

Frank, we hardly knew ya (NYDN Ed, 2007)
Diana Johnson Went On to Beat Lopez's Candidate ShawnDya L. Simpson (NY Times)

"There are fresh reports that, as we predicted, these are the last days of the very short judicial career of Brooklyn Surrogate Judge Frank Seddio. He is expected to quit the bench next week. Good riddance.
After we reported that Seddio had funneled campaign funds to buddies as he finagled the coveted judgeship from the Brooklyn Democratic machine, he became the subject of an investigation by the Commission on Judicial Conduct. He told pals he's quitting out of boredom, having taken office only last year. Right. Bright-side factor: As long as Seddio quits before July, Brooklyn boss Vito Lopez will not be able to hand-pick a replacement. Since this is the same Lopez who placed his own daughter and his girlfriend's brother on the bench last year, better that there will be a completely open primary, with voters choosing the new surrogate. But even better than that would be for the Legislature, which created Seddio's judgeship as part of a shady deal, to abolish the unneeded post. Seddio's departure removes only part of the stench."

NYP Calls Seddio Corrupt and Asks Where Are the Reformers
The Post is not impressed with Brooklyn’s newest Democratic Party Chairman, Frank Seddio

Seddio quit as surrogate court judge amid an inquiry by the Commission on Judicial Conduct into whether he inappropriately distributed thousands of dollars in campaign cash to political pals. Surrogate’s Court, which essentially oversees the execution of wills, is a fetid patronage swamp under the best of circumstances. So if Seddio is too grimy for that gig, he must be really grimy. But now, as party chairman, he has an iron grip on judicial selection in Brooklyn. Set a hack to pick a hack, we guess.Not that the Seddio selection defies Brooklyn tradition.

Only Barron and His Wife Inez Voted Against Seddio

There is Lopez, of course. And Lopez’s predecessor was Clarence Norman — himself convicted of, yes, misappropriating campaign funds for personal use. New day? Doesn’t seem that way: Despite his shady past, Seddio won by a vote of 36 county committee members to 2. Worse, what does it say about Brooklyn politics that the only members who think that there might be something just a little bit wrong with this picture — are the odious Councilman Charles Barron and his wife? As the song goes: “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”

Frank Seddio to Address CBID Reform Club

Koppel is Not the Only Member of Kruger Gang Out There: Dorothy Turano

It clear from the guilty plea of Kruger and his lobbyist Lipsky that Planning Board 18 manager Dorothy Turano was deeply involved in the Kruger corruption. Yet astonishly she still remains as chairman of that board. Dorothy Turano, Kruger's longtime companion, chief political partner and beneficiary, mother of his alleged domestic partner, and t district manager of CB 18 for 22 years, has, at least so far, remains untouched. When questions were raised about her connections to the Kruger corruption Filder said he did not want to get involved is pushing Dorothy out of her job. Was Fildler just being nice or protecting his ass? Does Dorothy have to goods on Fidler? While we many never know because the feds seem to have let most of those around Kruger go, there is one important clue in the inditement of Kurger that connect Kruger, Dorothy Turano and Fidler in a scam that paid Kruger $472,500 in bribes.

Turano Who Changed Vote As Chairperson of Board 18 and Live Off of Kruger Bribes Is Still In Office Making Deals

From her perch at the community board, prosecutors suggest, Dorothy might have played her own small part. After rejecting plans for a retail development at a vacant site in 2004, she and the board approved a similar proposal in March 2007. Within a few weeks, a developer involved in the proposal began sending checks totaling $472,500 to Michael’s bank accounts. In 2004 Kruger and Fidler both opposed building a Home Depot on that side. Even those the site was not in Fidler’s district. In 2007 when a BJ was chosen for that site with a different developer and Frank Seddio was hired as the lawyer for the BJ’s both Kruger and Fidler both approved of the project. Kruger partner Michael was delivered the bribe money shortly after the vote. The only person who can say what Fidler got for his cooperation is Dorothy Turano who job the councilman protects.

At its monthly meeting last week, Community Board 18 approved plans for a $65 million dollar shopping center, to be called Canarsie Plaza, at 8925 Avenue D near Remsen Avenue. Before construction begins, the mayor, the City Council and the Brooklyn borough president must approve the plan.

Turano hasn’t been charged, but U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s corruption probe continues — and investigators are looking into seizing Turano’s home, he said.
The district manager is featured prominently in the criminal complaint, where FBI investigators accuse her of advocating for developer Aaron Malinsky’s Canarsie Plaza, a project that Kruger was getting paid to promote.
The complaint states that another developer had put proposed a supermarket and home improvement store at the Canarsie Plaza site in 2004, but Turano shot it down, claiming, “Decisions are not made in this community unless they are presented to elected officials.”
A year later, Turano recommended that the board approve Malinsky’s proposal to build a shopping center at the site, which is now anchored by a BJ’s.

Loss for New Brooklyn Leader Seddio and the NYT?
NYT Endorsement for CIVIL COURT, BROOKLYN, FIRST DISTRICT This race pits Richard Montelione, an experienced litigator in private practice, against Lara Genovesi, the principal law clerk to Brooklyn’s supervising judge for matrimonial matters. Both candidates are qualified, but Ms. Genovesi’s steady professional manner and reputation for fairness stand out. We recommend Ms. Genovesi.

Vito County Leader Puppet is a Loser
Franks Seddio For Running and Losing the Campaign of Lara Genovesi for Civil Court Judge
Last week Seddio send a letter to members of is once powerful Thomas Jefferson Club asking for primary day volunteers for Genovesi for primary day * Lost in the hubbub of yesterday’s elections, the city’s campaign finance board issued a number of violations. Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez seemed to have accrued fines for improperly directing a campaign expenditure to Brooklyn’s likely next Democratic leader, Frank Seddio.

Surrogate Judges Seddio Leaves Under A Financial Scandal Cloud

In 2007, Seddio resigned from his cushy post on the bench as surrogate judge just 131 days into his 14-year term after intense scrutiny for alleged ethics violations being investigated by the Commission on Judicial Conduct in 2007. He gave more than half of $55,090 in unspent campaign money to party pals, in apparent violation of strict rules barring judges from giving campaign money to political candidates are charities, Lost in the hubbub of yesterday’s elections, the city’s campaign finance board issued a number of violations. Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez seemed to have accrued fines for improperly directing a campaign expenditure to Brooklyn’s likely next Democratic leader, Frank Seddio. * Is that the stink of corruption I smell in Brooklyn? - NY Daily News (2007, NYDN)

DN “Same As the Old Boss.”
The News bristles at former judge Frank Seddio, the presumptive favorite to be Brooklyn’s next Democratic Party Chairman, because the state’s judicial watchdog agency once investigated him, prompting his resignation

Vito Lopez expects to anoint a successor as Brooklyn party boss who has his own questionable history(NYDN Ed) Frank Seddio resigned a judgeship while under investigation by the state's judicial watchdog agency * Karim Camara Backs Frank Seddio to Lead Brooklyn Democrats(NYO) * A Brooklyn reader tells Azi Paybarah Vito Lopez’s all-but-certain replacement as party chairman, Frank Seddio, will “rule to be loved, not feared.”

Surrogate Judges Seddio Leaves Under A Financial Scandal Cloud

In 2007, Seddio resigned from his cushy post on the bench as surrogate judge just 131 days into his 14-year term after intense scrutiny for alleged ethics violations being investigated by the Commission on Judicial Conduct in 2007. He gave more than half of $55,090 in unspent campaign money to party pals, in apparent violation of strict rules barring judges from giving campaign money to political candidates are charities, Lost in the hubbub of yesterday’s elections, the city’s campaign finance board issued a number of violations. Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez seemed to have accrued fines for improperly directing a campaign expenditure to Brooklyn’s likely next Democratic leader, Frank Seddio. * Is that the stink of corruption I smell in Brooklyn? - NY Daily News (2007, NYDN)

Why the Daily News Leave Out the Name of the PR Man?

Thomas Jefferson Club Impotent . . . Where Have Your Gone Tony Genovese?

PS How many jerky mayoral candidate will still run to the Thomas Jefferson Club even after their candidate Weprin got blown out of the water last year? Perhaps Kruger before he goes to jail can give them some baby talk on how they were going to win. Or Filder can tell them the club is still a powerhouse and does not need to be helped with millions in government member item funds the same way Vito Lopez run his government funded machine. * Pork Pig Fidler’s Media Friends Put Lipstick On Him (True News) * Reading the tea leaves for the next Brooklyn election (Brooklyn Political Blog) * Why is the Press So in Love with Lew Fidler? (Press Loves Fidler) * It’s A Tie! Fidler And Storobin Both Declare Victory In Race For Kruger’s Seat(Sheephead Bites Video) * Fidler Narrows Gap With Storobin 38 votesStorobin (R) 10,260; Fidler (D): 10,222. Doesn't include paper!(Not all the machines are counted with this recount.

Thomas Jefferson Club Impotent

Sept 14, 2011 - PS How many jerky mayoral candidate will still run to the Thomas Jefferson Club even after their candidate Weprin got blown out of the water in their area? Perhaps Kruger can give them some baby talk on how they were going to win. Or Filder can tell them the club is still a powerhouse and does not need to be helped with millions in government funds the same way Vito Lopez is. * Pork Pig Fidler’s Media Friends Put Lipstick On Him (True News) * Reading the tea leaves for the next Brooklyn election (Brooklyn Political Blog) * Why is the Press So in Love with Lew Fidler? (Press Loves Fidler)

Kruger: A Calculating Crook

In Canarsie, all roads to power led through the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club. Located in a barn-looking building on a quiet block, “the T,” as members call it, is arguably the most powerful political club in the state. “There were all these big shots,” Kruger said about the time he first walked in. Stanley Fink, who became Speaker of the Assembly, was a member; so was Meade Esposito, the former bail bondsman and political boss of Brooklyn. Esposito was such a kingmaker that he was credited with swinging the ’77 mayoral election in Ed Koch’s favor, and once bragged that he was so powerful that he’d “made” 42 judges

New Brooklyn Democratic boss Frank Seddio is not a man of his word(NYDN)

Pol broke promise to release details of probe of his campaign for surrogate judge

Shocker Alert: NY Daily News Calls Frank Seddio a Liar(NYDN)

* B'klyn Judge Probed. Allegedly Gave Campaign Bucks To Pols (NYDN)

3/11/2013
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The Official Death of the Brooklyn
Reform Movement

Who Served the Cannolis

‏@bradlander

I think Frank Seddio may be the first Brooklyn Democratic County Leader ever to attend #CBID annual dinner!
More on Seddio

True News: Seddio: Leave the Gun Take the Cannolis (True News)

Refrom Revolution in Brooklyn(True News)

1/2/2013

True News Awards the Patty Hearst Stockholm syndrome Award to An Article in City and State about Hipsters Losing Power to the Orthodox Jews

A Dart to an article this week in City and State title RosaParks And Redistricting In Williamsburg by Alexis Grenell that blames the Orthodox Jews for blocking the hipsters of Williamsburg from willing a council seat and talking over the world. Beside the premise of her charges being totally wrong, comparing a bunch of rich kids (check out the rent in Williamsburg), who want power now to a saintly woman Ms. Parks who put her life in danger and worked her who life for civil rights is sick. The writer Grenell who is a political consultant has like Patty Hearst invented the fact that the Orthodox Jews put themselves into the 33^rd Council District to protect the man who has really block her friends political future.

The Hipsters of Williamsburg future has been kidnapped by Speaker Quinn who controls redistricitng and her partner Brooklyn Boss Frank Seddio who many of the Hipsters and those who used to be known as reformers have developed a close relationship with abandoning most of what the Brooklyn reform movement stood for. This Hipster friendship with Seddio who is rolling them for suckers, has not only lead to them losing a district leader position (Vito did that redistricting), a shot at picking up a council seat, but is also threatening to destroy a 40 year old Brooklyn reform movement that brought many qualified people into elective office and to judgeship's. There are lots of signs that Seddio is working closely with Lopez. Moving Lopez's house into a district he is looking to escape Albany from is the most obvious example how the two are still working together. There are many more unreform moves that both of them are making against the people of Brooklyn. Before you throw stones at the Jews blame yourself Ms. Grenell for being out played by you pal Boss Seddio and his pal Lopez. Also blame City and State for publishing your incorrect article.

No Demands Beyond Party Rules From the Reformers Led By Simon

Vito Lopez crony Frank Seddio takes job of disgraced Brooklyn Democratic Party boss (NY DN)

Brooklyn's new Democratic boss is Frank Seddio(Brooklyn Daily

Frank R. Seddio to Take Over Disgraced Brooklyn Democratic Leader Vito J. Lopez(Vos Lz Neias)

For a moment real journalism returned to New York

Now is the Time to Reform the Political Parties in NYC

The Last Person to Try to Reform New York's Political Machine was Senator Kennedy in the 60's

Calls for Lopez's Resignation(Gotham Gazette)

Lincoln Restler's Push Poll With No Transparency

Brooklyn councilman calls foe’s poll ‘gutter politics’(CrainsNY)

“What’s your opinion of Steve Levin?”
“What’s your opinion of Vito Lopez?”
“Did you know Councilman Levin was Vito Lopez’s chief of staff?”

These were the types of questions residents of Brooklyn’s 33rd Council District were asked in a recent poll commissioned by Lincoln Restler, the scrappy Brooklyn reformer expected to run against Councilman Steve Levin this year. The poll, which was first reported by OrthodoxPundit last week, seems to be an indication that Mr. Restler’s campaign is essentially underway.Mr. Restler confirmed that he paid for the poll. He would not say how much it cost. His state campaign account doesn’t report any spending on polling. He has yet to register a campaign account with the city’s Campaign Finance Board, which some insiders say could prove problematic because any significant expenditure triggers a requirement to file. “It’s gutter politics,” Mr. Levin said.
[UPDATE, 4:44 p.m.] Mr. Restler responded to Mr. Levin’s comments, as well as the implication that his poll could be in violation of city campaign finance rules. “I am not a candidate for office at this time and I’m simply exploring my options. It’s hypocritical that Steve has chosen to open his mouth about this but continues the months of silence on the disgusting sexual harassment allegations against his boss and mentor Vito Lopez.”* Mr. Restler Confirms Poll; May have Violated Law(http://orthodoxpundit.blogspot.com/)

Quinn Lopez and the Brooklyn Machine