Albany Hush Fund Cover Up, Press Containment Timeline
4/14/2013
Who is Vito Lopez Blackmailing?
And Running for City Council
Before Censure, a Hushed Settlement Against Assemblyman(NYT)
Albany Hush Fund Cover Up, Press Containment Timeline(True News)
3/11/2013
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Killing the Vito Lopez Monster
Media Almost Calls Vito A Child Molester as JCOPE and the Albany Ethic Committee Remains Silent . . . Is Lopez Blackmailing Someone?
Media Almost Calls Vito A Child Molester as JCOPE and the Albany Ethic Committee Remains Silent . . . Is Lopez Blackmailing Someone?
Revolting Assemblyman Vito Lopez dreamed of living in a place where he could legally bed underage girls: News source(NYDN)The beseiged 71-year-old former Brooklyn Democratic Party boss has been accused of sexually harassing interns in his Assembly office, even suggesting that one of his office hands dress sexier — like his former 14-year-old intern, according to sources. Last Friday, the publication ran, “EXCLUSIVE: Vito Lopez’s ogling of teen intern led to 911 calls by staffer and her mother.”
3/8/2013
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Vito Lopez Child Abuse?
Albany Uses the Media to Pound Lopez . . . Why Won't Albany Kick Him Out?
The intern was the daughter of Lopez crony Pamela Fisher, a Brooklyn judge whom Lopez helped put on the bench
Vito Lopez allegedly made comments about teen intern, who is daughter of Brooklyn Judge Pamela Fisher. Lopez also told one of his staffers, Chloe Rivera, that she should dress 'sexy' like the 14-year-old intern. A parent of one of Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s staffers called the police last year after the staffer alleged she saw Lopez ogling a 14-year old intern, but the police declined to file charges, the New York Daily News writes Police received a 911 call on July 16 last year from the concerned mom of 24-year-old
3/7/2013
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Stop Hush Pay for Group Lopez
3/6/2013
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Albany's Secret Ethics Dance
How to Cover the Speaker Ass and Get Vito Lopez for Hush Fund Scandal
3/3/2013
Paying Hush Money To Cover Up A Sexual Crime Is Accepted Morality in Albany's Culture
“There is a pervasive culture in Albany that upsets most New Yorkers, that their elected representatives don’t see this as a problem.”
Shel biz as usual
(NYP)‘Honored guest’ at prober’s fund-raiser Assembly Speaker. Sheldon
Silver yesterday defended his
decision to be featured as the “honored guest” at a fund-raiser for the
chairman of a legislative ethics panel reviewing Silver’s hush
settlement of Vito Lopez’s alleged sexual harassment of young staffers.
Government-watchdog groups say the timing of the fund-raiser is suspect
and gives the appearance that Lavine, rather than being an independent
monitor, is beholden to Silver.3/1/2013
Charles Lavine, the co-chairman of a commission reviewing a report on Vito Lopez’s sexual harassment case and Silver’s involvement in it, is holding a fund-raiser featuring Silver next week
Ethics Politics
Gropez-Shel prober is (fund-)raising doubts
(NYP) This is what passes for ethics in Albany: The co-chairman of a
commission reviewing a 58-page report on disgraced Assemblyman Vito
Lopez’s sexual harassment, and Speaker Sheldon Silver’s attempted
cover-up, is having a fund-raiser next week— featuring Silver as the
“honored guest.” Lavine also co-chairs the Legislative Ethics
Commission, which
received the Lopez report two weeks ago and will determine which
sanctions — if any — to order. Earlier in the week, Staten Island
District Attorney Dan Donovan asked the commission to put the report on
hold while his office continues a criminal investigation of the case.
Good-government
groups say having Silver headline the March 5 fund-raiser in Albany
will make any conclusion that the commission reaches appear biased.2/27/2013
Media Tries Again to Kill Lopez. So the NYP, NYT, NY Magazine On the Same Day Leak More Detail From JCOPE Report. . . Who Says the Media Does Not Work Together . . . But For Who and When?
Covers His Tracks
Gropez made women write him love notes(NYP) As his grip over one of the most powerful Democratic machines in New York was slipping away last summer, Assemblyman Vito Lopez tried to hang on to power by bullying women on his staff to help him whitewash a looming sex-harassment scandal. As soon as complaints against Lopez began to pile up, the assemblyman forced his reluctant female staffers to write fawning and admiring notes about him to create a paper trail that would “cover his tracks.” The letters, e-mails and text messages that were offered up as part of his defense during an ethics probe sang Lopez’s praises, saying how great he was and how eager the staffers were to work or travel with him, sources said. *Ethics Panel Report in Lopez’s Harassment Case Is Withheld The New York State ethics report is said to include descriptions of inappropriate touching by Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez of his female aides that go beyond what was known. * To Fight Scandal, Vito Lopez Allegedly Forced Staffers to Pen ...(NY Mag) *The special prosecutor investigating the sexual harassment scandal involving Assemblyman Vito Lopez has asked the Legislature not to release a state ethics commission report on Lopez, The New York Times writes: * To Fight Scandal, Vito Lopez Allegedly Forced Staffers to Pen Fawning Notes(NY Mag) * Staten Island D.A. Donovan seeks to delay release of report(SI Advance)
2/15/2013
Vito Lopez: I am Staying and I am Not Supporting Silver for SpeakerVito Lopez Has to Sit With the Freshmen(NY mag)
Assemblyman Vito Lopez declines to endorse Sheldon Silver as Speaker. Lopez was not in Albany last week for conference vote* Vito Lopez Says He's Staying Despite Sex Harassment Allegations and Health Issues (NYDN) “I won my district after a huge barrage of attacks on allegations,” he told reporters on the floor of the Assembly. “I have a strong mandate to come here and to represent the district. Would you like no one to represent them and me to resign?”* Lopez Won’t Say If He Supports Silver For Speaker(YNN) * Vito Lopez Says He Hasn’t Been Questioned in Harassment Probes(LoHud) * Vito agonistes: Assemblyman Lopez meets the press(TU) * Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez Returns to Albany After Scandal(NYT* Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez returns after sexual harassment case(NBC)
One Day Soon Lopez Will Be Making License Plates
Assemblyman Vito Lopez made his
first public appearance in Albany on Monday afternoon since news that he
allegedly harassed his former staff members broke this summer, taking
his seat on the floor of the Assembly. Lopez told reporters he intended
to finish out his two-year term, but would not step aside based on the
results of any ongoing investigations. *
Embattled Assemblyman Vito Lopez returned to work in Albany yesterday. He looked pale and tired, but remained combative as he railed about the sexual harassment charges lodged against him and vowed that he won’t back down because of them.
Embattled Assemblyman Vito Lopez returned to work in Albany yesterday. He looked pale and tired, but remained combative as he railed about the sexual harassment charges lodged against him and vowed that he won’t back down because of them.
The Beast Plays A Sympathy Card
He confirmed he has been thinking
about running for City Council, but said he is leaning against it
because of concerns about his health. "I don't want to walk away from
people I represent - I was elected in my district," he said. Lopez is
currently undergoing additional cancer treatments at Memorial
Sloan-Kettering, but he did not specify what kind of cancer. He has
suffered from leukemia and esophageal cancer in the past, had his
thyroid removed three years ago, and fought off a bout of pneumonia this
summer, when news about the sex scandal broke. *
Lopez was joined in Albany by his girlfriend, Angela Battaglia. He insisted none of his colleagues had been critical upon his return, and said he has been suffering “serious health problems.”
Zombie Vito Lopez Who is Keeping Him Alive?
Lopez would not comment
on any ongoing investigations, and shrugged off losing his parking
space, having his seat in the assembly moved, and his office downsized
by Speaker Shelly Silver amid the scandal, saying they were never
that important. "Why did I come here in the wake of intense
chemotherapy?" he said. "People thought I was crazy. But if you had a
job to do, what would you do?" Lopez missed a chance to cast his vote
for speaker last week, but said that even if he were there, he wouldn't
necessarily have voted for Silver. "That would have been a decision I
would have had to make at that time," said Lopez. "I believe in
something called due process." Lopez stayed in the chambers long after
the assembly recessed for the evening and caught up with several
Brooklyn colleagues, including Assemblyman Dov Hikind. (City and State)
Lopez was joined in Albany by his girlfriend, Angela Battaglia. He insisted none of his colleagues had been critical upon his return, and said he has been suffering “serious health problems.”
Zombie Vito Lopez Who is Keeping Him Alive?
1/14/2013
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Lopez Piggish Sexual Harasser?
Ethics Report Eviscerates Vito Lopez For Years Of 'Piggish' Behavior; Clears Sheldon Silver: Sources(NYDN)
Silver Gets Away Scott Free With the Hush Fund Cover Up
JCOPE says it's completed an investigation, intuitively related to sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez. Under state law, any findings regarding legislative employees must be adjudicated by the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Committee That body decides on appropriate punishment, if any. If it does nothing in 45 days, the report becomes public.JCOPE says it's completed an investigation, intuitively related to sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez.
More on the Hush Fund Cover Up(True News)
Silver spokesman says they're confident JCOPE found "no ethical or legal
violation" by speaker, urges ethics commission to release it* Sexual Harassment Case Against Lopez Sent to Legislature(NYT) “From what I know of the investigation,” Gerald B. Lefcourt, Mr. Lopez’s lawyer, “it’s the same old stuff that he’s already been disciplined for.” * The Joint Commission on Public Ethics
forwarded its report on the Assembly’s handling of Assemblyman Vito
Lopez’s sexual harassment allegations to two legislative panels, meaning
there is “substantial basis” that violations of state law occurred, the Times-Union reports
Gropez even 'ogled' a child: Accusation he made creepy comments on 14-year-old intern (NYP)
Gropez even 'ogled' a child: Accusation he made creepy comments on 14-year-old intern (NYP)
Vito Lopez has lobbied at DiMarzio's behest, to block the passing of A5488, Assemblywoman Marge Markey's Child Victims Act,
which DiMarzio opposes on the grounds that it would bankrupt Roman
Catholic dioceses. (The Child Victims Act will expand, slightly, the
statute of limitations for reporting incidents of sexual assault
perpetuated by adults against children.) Lopez et al have been
successful in preventing the passage of A5488, and Bishop DiMarzio has
expressed his appreciation by campaigning for Lopez's political protégés
within his diocese. * Eyes Are On State Ethics Commission's Handling Of Lopez Allegations(NY1)
Woman's Rights: RIP Activism
A Social Change In NYC Woman's Rights and the Power of the Speaker to Control the Ethics Board Allows Silver and others to Escape Blame for Lopez's Hush Fund
How the Hush Fund Cover Up Succeed Indicates A Different NYC
Is New York Still New York? NYC's women activist of the past would never allow government leaders with covering up sexual abuse. Not only has the city's physically changed, the political, social, emotions and character has also. The Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, who has admitted making mistakes in his handling of the harassment charges, does not face charges in the report, people with knowledge of the findings said. There was widespread doubt that the state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics would take any action against Mr. Silver, since his appointees to the commission’s board have effective veto power over its investigations. Silver had authorized a secret payment of $103,080 earlier in the summer to settle previous allegations by two other women against Mr. Lopez.
Former JCOPE Member Ravi Batra Lousy Job On Lopez
JCOPE, with its unbecoming speed and violation of normal
deference to criminal process, satisfied
external political goals while documenting its total lack of independence. An ethics commission cannot be a political
tool or satisfy
political goals as JCOPE continues to do, and take a
"bow" to the pre-arranged
applause of "palace puppies," like Dick Dadey, who
seek favors from people in
power. As a result, the public will now never hear the
accused answer questions the public could have gotten answered and caused real reform to
the epidemic that is power-based-sexual abuse that is Albany,
and has to settle for JCOPE having a political master.
4/5/2013
Daily News Says Release the JCOPE Report . . . A Corruption Investigation Blocking the Report Release Allows Vito Lopez to Run for City Council
Daily News Ignores Hush Fund Sexual Harassment Cover Up and Does An Editorial to Strength NYS Rape Laws
Rape is rape(NYDN Ed)New York’s unacceptably out-of-date rape law must be reformed, so no other woman in this state is ever forced to endure the cruel indignities of being told a rape is not a rape.
Official's switch-up on bill shocks rape survivor(NYDN) * A Manhattan rape victim was blindsided after state Sen. Catherine Young introduced a bill that dropped a
proposed change to the state’s rape laws to include forced anal and oral
sex, a day after the victim appeared with Young at a news conference,
the News reports:1/25/2013
Albany Hush Fund Cover Up Expands
Lopez Declines to Testify on Allegations That He Sexually Harassed Aides(NYT)The lawyer representing Vito J. Lopez, a lawmaker and former Brooklyn
Democratic chairman, advised him against testifying on inquiries into
reports that he had harassed aides. Per his lawyer’s advice, Assemblyman
Vito Lopez declined to testify in an investigation by the state ethics
commission into claims that he sexually harassed four former female
aides, because of a parallel criminal investigation * Lopez to decide on council run; Twitter account hacked(CrainsNY) “I will be evaluating whether I want to retire or whether I want to
continue in politics and run for the City Council,” Mr. Lopez said,
adding that he did not enjoy the cold weather in Albany. Previously, Mr.
Lopez has cited poor health as a reason he may not run for the council.* RT 1/24/2013
Lopez Sexual Harassment Case Effect Weberman's Sexual Harassment Case
Hynes attended Lopez’s picnic last summer at the Ridgewood-Bushwick
Senior Citizens Council — despite reports that the Lopez-founded
organization was under federal investigation. Not after he said at that event, “I know the difference between a crook and others. . . . So Vito is a good guy.”* Wright Replaces Lopez As Housing Chairman(YNN)
Lopez Refuses to Testify On Inquiries Into Reports That He Sexual Abused His Aids
Lopez Declines to Testify on Allegations That He Sexually Harassed Aides(NYT)The lawyer representing Vito J. Lopez, a lawmaker and former Brooklyn
Democratic chairman, advised him against testifying on inquiries into
reports that he had harassed aides.
Lopez Refuses to Testify On Inquiries Into Reports That He Sexual Abused His Aids
______________________________________ 1/21/2013
Vito Lopez Long Goodby
On September 19, 2010 the Headline of the NYP "The Only Thing I Have That's Worth Something is Politics. That How I Get the Money." Vito lopez
Troubled Assemblyman Vito Lopez has raised little campaign cash
since his sexual harrassment case broke. The Brooklyn Democrat, always a
prodigious fund-raiser, has taken in
just $6,000 in donations since a sexual harassment scandal broke in late
August and led to him being stripped of his leadership positions. He
hasn’t taken in a nickel since Sept. 1, but still boasts a
campaign account of more than $1 million — the fruit of better days. It
was later revealed that two others had accused Lopez of sex
harassment. In that case, Silver approved a private $103,000
taxpayer-funded settlement. Lopez kicked in another $32,000. Lopez, who
has denied the charges, decided not to run again for his
position as Brooklyn Democratic chairman. But he did run for reelection
to his Assembly seat against token Republican opposition and garnered
more than 90% of the vote.1/18/2013
Will The Collapse of Quinn Deal to Give Lopez A Council District, Forcing Vito to Stay in Albany Destroy Hush Silver?
Shel gets lawyer for Gropez probe
(NYP) ALBANY — Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has lawyered up for the probe
into his role in the Vito Lopez sex-harassment scandal, The Post has
learned. Silver paid $35,000 from his $3.2 million campaign account
to top-shelf Manhattan law firm Stroock, Stroock & Lavan last month
as the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics investigated his
approval of a secret sex-harassment settlement, records show.
Silver spent $35K in legal fees on Lopez probe(NYDN)
David Grandeau was long known as the Sheriff of State Street, a punctilious and merciless enforcer of New York's lobbying laws
1/13/2013
Vito Lopez: I am Staying and I am Not Supporting Silver for Speaker
One Day Soon Lopez Will Be Making License Plates
"My license plate number has gone from 20 to 137" - Assemblyman Vito Lopez on his diminished standing in
1/11/2013
Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez a no-show in Albany
(NYDN)Vito
Lopez returned to Albany where he make his first appearance at a legislative
session since he was stripped of his leadership posts in a sexual harassment
scandal last summer, but then turned around headed home Reporters were eagerly
anticipating an appearance from embattled Assemblyman Vito Lopez during the
State of State festivities at the Capitol this week. But Lopez made few public
outings, sticking to his cramped fifth-floor office on Tuesday.
Walking Dead Vito Lopez Who is Keeping Him Alive?
We spotted
Lopez on Tuesday afternoon in an elevator in the Legislative Office Building, where he joked about
his rough year, but he skipped a meeting attended by several Assembly members
on Tuesday evening, the chamber’s swearing-in ceremony, and Cuomo’s State of
the State address on Wednesday afternoon. Lopez’s office confirmed he left Albany that morning to go to a
doctor’s appointment in the city. The lawmaker avoided intense scrutiny from a
herd of testy Albany reporters and his anxious colleagues, including Republican
Assemblyman Steve Katz, who accused Speaker Sheldon Silver of “protecting sex offenders”
in a statement on the floor of the chamber before casting his ballot for
Minority Leader Brian Kolb. A spokesman for Silver said that Lopez informed the
clerk he would not be present for the speaker vote on Wednesday, joining
Assemblymen Marcos Crespo and Phil Steck as the only absentees.
Walking Dead Vito Lopez Who is Keeping Him Alive?
We spotted
Lopez on Tuesday afternoon in an elevator in the Legislative Office Building, where he joked about
his rough year, but he skipped a meeting attended by several Assembly members
on Tuesday evening, the chamber’s swearing-in ceremony, and Cuomo’s State of
the State address on Wednesday afternoon. Lopez’s office confirmed he left Albany that morning to go to a
doctor’s appointment in the city. The lawmaker avoided intense scrutiny from a
herd of testy Albany reporters and his anxious colleagues, including Republican
Assemblyman Steve Katz, who accused Speaker Sheldon Silver of “protecting sex offenders”
in a statement on the floor of the chamber before casting his ballot for
Minority Leader Brian Kolb. A spokesman for Silver said that Lopez informed the
clerk he would not be present for the speaker vote on Wednesday, joining
Assemblymen Marcos Crespo and Phil Steck as the only absentees.1/10/2013
Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez a no-show in Albany(NYDN)Vito Lopez returned to Albany where he make his first appearance at a legislative session since he was stripped of his leadership posts in a sexual harassment scandal last summer, but then turned around headed home
1/8/2013
Those Involve in the Hush Fund Don't Want Vito Lopez Around
Albany Hush Fund Cover Up, Press Containment Timeline(True News)
1/4/2013
A smaller office and crummy parking space await disgraced Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez when he returns to Albany(NYDN) After losing leadership posts, veteran pol embroiled in sex harassment scandal loses his trappings of power
10/26/2012
Not Only is Albany Cover Up the Sex Case the NYT has Done As Story on the Hush Funds Since August
Daily News 1 Stories Since August, NYP 1 Story
10/23/2012
The Media continues the hunt
of Vito Lopez but ignores other involved in the hush fund scandal . . .
If the big three gets rid of Vito the scandal dies with no media coverage
Vito Lopez Crony Over His Head In Worker's Comp System Adds to The high cost of Doing Business in NY
2007
reforms by Silver, Bruno and Spitzer have not fully delivered as
promised of lower payouts, putting yet another drag on the state’s
struggling economy. The 2007 reforms also put Lopez crony Jeffrey
Fenster a in charge of the comp system. When he was appointed in
January 2010 by then-Gov. David Paterson,
Fenster was a 29-year-old attorney just four years out of law school
working as a litigation associate with the Manhattan firm of Stroock
& Stroock & Lavan.
NY Business Are Force to Pay Corruption Tax In Addition to High Taxes
Here’s
what you get when you entrust the Workers’ Compensation Board to a
crony of Vito Lopez with no relevant experience: Premiums that are
spiraling upward again — putting New York’s workers’
comp system back among the very costliest in the country. Which is not
the place to be when you’re trying to attract investment, create jobs
and knock down a state unemployment rate of 8.9%. A national survey
released this month by the State of Oregon found that
New York’s average workers’ comp costs, of $2.82 per $100 of payroll,
are the fifth-highest in the country — 50% above the national norm and
up from 13th-costliest in 2010.
Lopez's Judge, Campaign Enforcer DWI Busted
Vito’s judge pal in DWI bust(NYP)
A Supreme Court judge and former top aide to disgraced Brooklyn
political boss Vito Lopez was busted for driving drunk near Albany, cops
said. Justice Carl Landicino was arrested at about 4 p.m. last
Thursday after he was spotted driving aggressively on I-87 in Colonie,
cops said. Before Landicino was elected to the bench last year, he was
counsel to the Brooklyn Democratic Party. One of Landicino’s jobs with
the party was to sue candidates Lopez wanted to keep off the ballot.* 
DWI for Landicino, longtime Lopez crony(NYDN)
DWI for Landicino, longtime Lopez crony(NYDN)Campaign 2012 NY1 Online: Allon Explains His Republican Run For Mayor * As expected, Rep. Joe Crowley, the head of the Queens Democratic Party, attended the launch of State Senator José Peralta‘s borough president campaign last night. The campaigns of both Mr. Peralta and former City Councilwoman Melinda Katz are now fully underway.* The Hotel Trades Council has been taking their endorsement of Republican Senator Marty Golden to heart, hitting the streets to organize on his behalf. * Potential 2013 NYC mayoral candidate (and still a Democrat) Sen. Malcolm Smith’s pitch to GOP leaders: “I went to school at Jesuit college, I’m a good guy.” * The New York League of Women Voters’ 2012 voting guide is now live.* NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has a long-standing – and personal – connection to the Washington, D.C.-based Mack/Crounse Group, which he has hired to advise him on his (so far unofficial) 2013 NYC mayoral campaign.* The Daily Freeman endorsed Gillibrand, calling Wendy Long’s pledge not to raise taxes proof that she’s “the wrong candidate.” * NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the frontrunner in the 2013 NYC mayor’s race, didn’t attend today’s hearing on one of her district’s hottest topics: Expansion of Chelsea Market. * Staten Island's Cusick picks up support of law enforcement (SI Advance) * Fight For The House: Fight For The House Focuses On Grimm Race(NY1)
10/19/2012
Setting the Table for A Pay Raise
Cuomo’s ‘secret’ pol offer(NYP) He suggested subjecting more state legislative records — like the
“secret,” taxpayer-funded $103,080 payment to settle sex-harassment
charges against Assemblyman Vito Lopez — to the same public
scrutiny as executive agency records. It’s part of his price for a
potential legislative pay raise, along with hiking the minimum wage,
decriminalizing minor pot possessions during stop-and-frisk procedures
and partial taxpayer financing of state elections. * Sunlight on Lobbying in Albany(NYT Ed) The
new ethics law should not be undermined by lobbying organizations that
don’t want to identify their major contributors. * Cuomo added FOIL reform
– specifically that the Legislature be subject to the law, which it now
is not – to the growing list of things he would like to see lawmakers
pass before they get a pay raise. * Brooklyn State Supreme Court Judge Carl Landicino, Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s former counsel, was arrested for driving drunk on the Northway near Colonie.GOP Candidates Continue to Hit Silver on the Lopez Hush Fund Sex Harrassment Payoff
Katz Knocks Silver As “Joe Paterno,” Settled Own Sexual Harassment Case(Politics on the Hudson)
10/18/2012
Senator Attacked Over Vito Lopez Sex Harassment And Silver Cover Up With Government Funds
It Took A Senate Debate Breaks NYC Media Cover Up of Albany Hush Scandal
The Media has not written about the Albany hush fund scandal in weeks. It took a debate to get an elected officials to say anything about the Albany sex scandla. Is everyone waiting to the must criticized JCOPE to report on the matter and end the problem by getting rid of the body (Vito) and a public flogging of Silver, AG and the comptroller. Oct 3 Vito Lopez told to lie low, Sep 27 Vito Lopez Sex Scandal Unravels 'Bear Mountain Compact' If Albany is going to get its pay raise then Vito Lopez has to be gone by the time the special session is called. That Could be why Lopez is looking at a council run.
Long Outspent 10 to 1 Uses Her 1 Debate to Connect the Albany Pay Hush Fund Off to the War on Women
Gillibrand Will Not Call For Silver to Resign, Waiting to Hear the Results of the Two Investigations
Senate debate: Kirsten
Gillibrand rips Sheldon Silver for using $100,000 in taxpayer money to
settle sexual harassment claims against Vito Lopez Gillibrand,
who made the comments during a televised Senate debate with Republican
challenger Wendy Long at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, is the
highest-ranking member of her party to criticize Silver for using public
money to settle the allegations. "Vito Lopez should have paid those fines himself," Gillibrand said. "Taxpayer money should not have been used." But Gillibrand stopped short of Long's call for Silver to resign over
the matter, saying she first wants to see the outcome of two
investigations. Gillibrand criticizes Silver during Senate debate (NYDN) * In Sole Debate, Senate Rivals Don't Agree on Much(NYT) * In Debate, Gillibrand, Long Tackle Jobs, Economy — And '50 Shades of Grey'(WSJ) * Long and Gillibrand clash on fracking, abortion(TU) * Gillibrand, Long Face Off In US Senate Debate(NY1)* Danny Hakim
@dannyhakim #Cuomo calls stories on "secret" Lopez settlement "worst case of reporting ever"* Republicans get the Senate debate they wanted, but so does Gillibrand(Capital) * Ulrich hits Addabbo for funding Vito Lopez's organization. #sd15
10/16/2012
10/15/2012
10/12/2012
Media Protects Silver By Not Investigating HushGate
Breaking: Quinn in Lopez Retreat New ‘Vito district’ unlikely (NYP) Council-map ‘redo’
Vito Lopez had better start looking for a real-estate agent if he intends to run for the City Council next year in the Brooklyn neighborhood he most covets. (Lopez controls a housing non profit, so he should have no problem finding a new apartment in the district, anyway he lives in Queens out of both districts) Sources said Council Speaker Christine Quinn wants to undo the map proposed by the Districting Commission that moved the embattled assemblyman’s home into the district represented by Councilwoman Diana Reyna.
No need to celebrate what a wonderful insterment of democracy the council redistricting commission is. There are dozens of other deals besides the blown Lopez district created because of political deals to elected Quinn that have not been outed. The press has not done it job. If de Blasio had not blased the Lopez district and gotten some of his follow along friends in Brooklyn to take up the issue, Quinn would have never back down. The Citizen Union and other goo goos who got invoved after the bloggers published stories about the sweatheart Lopez district were just trying to cover their ass. They proviced no leadership on the issue.
We Need to Know Who Besides Quinn Was Behind the Lopez Council District
Quinn Moves Quick to Drop Lopez Deal to Protect Her Lead
What Were Bloomberg's Poll Numbers in 2000?
Q Poll: 2013 Mayoral Runs By Joe Lhota, Adolfo Carrion Jr. Would Be Turkeys?(NYDN)
Lhota would lose to the Democratic nominee 60% to 9%, according to the Quinnipiac University poll.
Carrion would lose 62% to 11% if he ran on the Republican ticket.
Districting Commission kept maps hidden from its own commissioners(Queens Crap)
From Crains:Commissioners who unanimously approved new City Council district lines last week were not provided with maps showing last-minute tweaks until an hour before voting for them, one commissioner told The Insider. Former state Sen. Frank Padavan, a Republican member of the New York City Districting Commission, said the first time he saw last-minute changes that will stand for the next decade came at an hour-long meeting last Thursday — and that he now regrets his vote in favor of the lines at that meeting. Mr. Padavan said he had been unaware that the Broadway-Flushing neighborhood in Queens, which had been in Republican Councilman Dan Halloran’s district, had been split in two. “When the final drafts were presented [at the meeting] I just didn’t have all the details,” said Mr. Padavan. “It was just cut out and I didn’t notice.”
Press (Bloggers) Stonger Than Blackmail Threats
The press corp is incurious to the motive of creating a council district for Lopez and not take him out. Maybe They Can't?
Like Sammy the Bull Gravano Lopez has made so many dirty
deals with all the city power brokers in exchange for votes he can rat on any
one of them.
What About the Pfizer Deal?
Is Bloomberg Silence on Lopez Be Caused By The Backroom Deals They Made
With Lopez on the Pfizer Site? And Other Deals? Quinn and Silver who tired to
be silent are not just scared of being caught with their past deals to protect
and serve Lopez, including the Pfizer Site deal. After helping to make Quinn speaker in 2005,
What Does know about the Council's Slush Fund Scandal of which he got millions
for his non profit which he used as his machine. Lopez helped pushed illegal
third term for Bloomberg and Christine Quinn?
* Vito Lopez Moves To Take Pfizer's Brooklyn Site By Eminent Domain * Four ways Vito Lopez reshaped New York | The New York World * Pfizer latest giant company to milk city for lucrative tax breaks - New ... * A Fight Grows In Brooklyn: Pfizer & Eminent Domain // Pharmalot * Loft Law Has Silver, Lopez Under Further Scrutiny(NY1) * No Land Grab: Eminent Domain Archives*Vito Power Stalls Broadway Triangle | Vito Lopez and his Hour-of ... (2010)* Assemblyman Vito Lopez made good on his secretly-recorded threat ... * Greenpoint Gazette:Broadway Triangle Opponents Square Off(2011) * Council Approves Controversial Broadway Triangle Plan: Gothamist(2009) * Passions Remain High as Child Victims Act Is Derailed After Bruising Fight (NYT)
NYP Joins the Fight to Demand That the Quinn Stop the Sweet Heart District By the Redistricting Committee She and the Mayor Control
Chris Quinn’s Vito problem(NYP Ed) New York City has its share of gerrymandered election districts —
like the one that was pinched and squeezed and pulled and teased to the
apparent advantage of a serial sexual harasser with eyes on a City
Council seat.
Council Speaker Chris Quinn is expected to approve new maps that would
slide Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s Brooklyn home into a more favorable
district — and put him in position to cruise to a seat on the council if
he runs next year. Lopez lives in the council’s 37th District,
but new maps approved last Friday would shift his home into the 34th
District, which he has a better chance to win in (he can move before
election day and run in the 34 District seat anyway under election law
rules). * "Lopez line" that has caused @ChrisCQuinn a headache was proposed by Councilman Erik Dilan
We wonder why the NYP left out of the editioral that Quinn was also
funding non profit machines Ridgewood Bushwick with $873,589 in member
items funds Lopez di$penser(NYP) * In 2006, when she was elected to become Speaker of the New
York City Council, Christine Quinn turned to help from Vito Lopez in Brooklyn,
for the votes of Brooklyn councilmembers, in an effort to thwart Bill De
Blasio, who (no surprise) failed in his campaign to become Speaker. Like then,
Speaker Quinn is now turning to extending favours to Mr. Lopez. Only now, what
is at stake is not the speakership, but the mayoralty. Quinn invited Lopez to her wedding.
Make A Call Lincoln to the NYT, Stop With the Traffic Reporst on Your Twitter . . . Use Your Position to Make Change
Mark Thompson testifies at London probe into BBC Centre Daily Times* NY Times CEO Mark Thompson in London for BBC testimony(Business Standard)
Quinn Who Still Funds Grope Vito Lopez Machine Says She Has Nothing to Do WithVito's District
Will Brooklyn Reformers Demand The Cannoli Friend Boss Seddio Demand Quinn Change the Lopez District?
The reformers who took Seddio's cannoli's when he visited their clubs whe he became the new boss of brooklyn, never understood how Seddio was still working with Lopez who still controlled Rabbi Neiderman powerful voting block so important to DA Hynes reelection. Lopez knows were a lot of bodies are buried that is why people like Bloomberg and Speaker Silver and many more fear him.
From True News 8/23/12
"Council Redistricting Corruption Silence"
Many of his fellow reformer felt that Citizens Union puppet general Dick Dadey sold out last year when he supported Albany's compromise to put off independent redistrict for 10 years. But nothing can compare to Dadey and the rest of the goo goos, editorial boards and reformers silence on the corruption going on with the city council redistricting operation.
Over 100 Days After True News Warned of Council District and the Creation of the Lopez District Did A few Pols and Progressives Attached to Them Take Notice
For starters the appointed council redistricting commission
is controlled by two people supporting Quinn for mayor in 2013. The
council speaker herself and her puppet master the mayor. Although the
redistricting commission work has just begun there are already reports
that county bosses Crowley and Lopez, ethic and minority leaders are
already dealing with Quinn operatives to cut districts favorable to them
or those they support in exchange for their endorsement for Quinn's
2013 mayoral bid.
Goo Goos and Reformers Who This Week Have Spoken Out Against the Lopez Deal Remain in Hiding of the Dozens of other deals Quinn made with the borough machines and local pols.
Redistricting Helps Incumbents and Those Connected to the Machines and ethnic groups
10/11/2012
Silver is Well Beyond Accountability to Voters
His District is Wired With Government $$$ and Jobs So He Can Out for More Taxes in the Highest Taxed State
Silver is for ‘rich’ tax hike(NYP) * Silver Supports Higher City Taxes for Wealthy (WSJ)Out Free Spending Legislature
The numbers crunchers at the Empire Center have released an update to their legislative spending database, showing that the Republican-led Senate and Democratic-controlled Assembly combined have spent $102 million in the last six-month reporting period that ended in March.Assemblyman Richard Gottfried was the highest in his chamber $488,359. The databases can be found here and here.
Women's Right Leaders Finally Go After Lopez and Sexual Harassment In Albany
10/6/2012
Replacing Ravi Batra
‘Gropez’ grillers’ new dog(NYP) The state ethics watchdog agency investigating scandal-scarred Assemblyman Vito Lopez is getting a new member. LaShann
DeArcy, a city Taxi and Limousine Commission appointee and a former
scheduler for Rep. Floyd Flake (D-Queens), will join the 14-member Joint
Commission on Public Ethics looking into tax funds that went to two
Lopez sex-harass accusers. Sources: City Official To Be Appointed To State's Joint Committee On Public Ethics(NY1) * Senate Minority Leader John Sampson Makes JCOPE Pick To ...(NYDN)'
10/5/2012
Not One NYC Newspaper Reports On It - Talk About Cover Up
Silver and His Pals Gave Vito Lopez Special Treatment On Sex Harassment Confidentiality11 Sexual Harassment Settlements Cost the State $5 Million(NYT) None of the cases, from 2008 to 2010, included confidentiality provisions, like the language included in the settlement involving Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez.
10/5/2012
State Paid at Least $5 Million to Settle 11 Sex Harassment Cases(NYT) None of the cases, from 2008 to 2010, included confidentiality provisions, like the language included in the settlement involving Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez.
Lopez is Not Disappearing From the Headlines Like His Fellow Lawmakers Have Hopped
150G for Vito att'y(NYP) Records
made public yesterday show the embattled Brooklyn assemblyman
sent $150,000 from his campaign account to Gerald Lefcourt, a
criminal-defense lawyer, on Sept. 5. Lopez has now paid him a total of
$239,703 from his campaign account — which still has $1,074,008 left. * Tarred Lawmaker Has an Easy Path(WSJ) Assemblyman Vito Lopez has refused to resign over sexual
harassment allegations, saying his fate should be decided by his
constituents. The embattled Brooklyn lawmaker has reasons to be
confident.Brooklyn Republicans acknowledge that
it is nearly impossible for Assemblyman Vito Lopez to lose his election
against his opponent, political neophyte Richy Garcia, next month *
The
GOP candidate quixotically campaigning against scandal-tarred
Assemblyman Vito Lopez no longer wants the job. “He seems like a genuine guy looking to help the community any way he can,” that candidate, Richy Garcia, said. Unless he is nominated for a judgeship, dies, or leaves the state, however, he’s going to be an option on the ballot.* Gropez Scandal Hits LI Airwaves(YNN) * Assemblyman Vito Lopez‘s GOP opponent, Richy Garcia, who couldn’t really get off the ballot even if he wanted to, apparently flip-flopped
on whether he would drop out of the campaign. He’s “back” in it. This
is basically a formality, however, as Mr. Lopez would be a formidable
foe in a Democratic primary. A general election in heavily Democratic
Bushwick? Fuhgettaboutit.
10/2/2012
The Hush $$$ Cover Up Continues
10/25/2012
Not Only is Albany Cover Up the Sex Case the NYT has Done As Story on the Hush Funds Since August
Daily News 1 Stories Since August, NYP 1 Story
Campagin 2012 NY1 Exclusive:
10/23/2012
The Media continues the hunt
of Vito Lopez but ignores other involved in the hush fund scandal . . .
If the big three gets rid of Vito the scandal dies with no media coverage
Vito Lopez Crony Over His Head In Worker's Comp System Adds to The high cost of Doing Business in NY
2007
reforms by Silver, Bruno and Spitzer have not fully delivered as
promised of lower payouts, putting yet another drag on the state’s
struggling economy. The 2007 reforms also put Lopez crony Jeffrey
Fenster a in charge of the comp system. When he was appointed in
January 2010 by then-Gov. David Paterson,
Fenster was a 29-year-old attorney just four years out of law school
working as a litigation associate with the Manhattan firm of Stroock
& Stroock & Lavan.
NY Business Are Force to Pay Corruption Tax In Addition to High Taxes
Here’s
what you get when you entrust the Workers’ Compensation Board to a
crony of Vito Lopez with no relevant experience: Premiums that are
spiraling upward again — putting New York’s workers’
comp system back among the very costliest in the country. Which is not
the place to be when you’re trying to attract investment, create jobs
and knock down a state unemployment rate of 8.9%. A national survey
released this month by the State of Oregon found that
New York’s average workers’ comp costs, of $2.82 per $100 of payroll,
are the fifth-highest in the country — 50% above the national norm and
up from 13th-costliest in 2010.
10/19/2012
Setting the Table for A Pay Raise
Cuomo’s ‘secret’ pol offer(NYP) He suggested subjecting more state legislative records — like the
“secret,” taxpayer-funded $103,080 payment to settle sex-harassment
charges against Assemblyman Vito Lopez — to the same public
scrutiny as executive agency records. It’s part of his price for a
potential legislative pay raise, along with hiking the minimum wage,
decriminalizing minor pot possessions during stop-and-frisk procedures
and partial taxpayer financing of state elections. * Sunlight on Lobbying in Albany(NYT Ed) The
new ethics law should not be undermined by lobbying organizations that
don’t want to identify their major contributors. * Cuomo added FOIL reform
– specifically that the Legislature be subject to the law, which it now
is not – to the growing list of things he would like to see lawmakers
pass before they get a pay raise. * Brooklyn State Supreme Court Judge Carl Landicino, Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s former counsel, was arrested for driving drunk on the Northway near Colonie.GOP Candidates Continue to Hit Silver on the Lopez Hush Fund Sex Harrassment Payoff
Katz Knocks Silver As “Joe Paterno,” Settled Own Sexual Harassment Case(Politics on the Hudson)
10/18/2012
Senator Attacked Over Vito Lopez Sex Harassment And Silver Cover Up With Government Funds
It Took A Senate Debate Breaks NYC Media Cover Up of Albany Hush Scandal
The Media has not written about the Albany hush fund scandal in weeks. It took a debate to get an elected officials to say anything about the Albany sex scandla. Is everyone waiting to the must criticized JCOPE to report on the matter and end the problem by getting rid of the body (Vito) and a public flogging of Silver, AG and the comptroller. Oct 3 Vito Lopez told to lie low, Sep 27 Vito Lopez Sex Scandal Unravels 'Bear Mountain Compact' If Albany is going to get its pay raise then Vito Lopez has to be gone by the time the special session is called. That Could be why Lopez is looking at a council run.
Long Outspent 10 to 1 Uses Her 1 Debate to Connect the Albany Pay Hush Fund Off to the War on Women
Gillibrand Will Not Call For Silver to Resign, Waiting to Hear the Results of the Two Investigations
Senate debate: Kirsten
Gillibrand rips Sheldon Silver for using $100,000 in taxpayer money to
settle sexual harassment claims against Vito Lopez Gillibrand,
who made the comments during a televised Senate debate with Republican
challenger Wendy Long at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, is the
highest-ranking member of her party to criticize Silver for using public
money to settle the allegations. "Vito Lopez should have paid those fines himself," Gillibrand said. "Taxpayer money should not have been used." But Gillibrand stopped short of Long's call for Silver to resign over
the matter, saying she first wants to see the outcome of two
investigations. Gillibrand criticizes Silver during Senate debate (NYDN) * In Sole Debate, Senate Rivals Don't Agree on Much(NYT) * In Debate, Gillibrand, Long Tackle Jobs, Economy — And '50 Shades of Grey'(WSJ) * Long and Gillibrand clash on fracking, abortion(TU) * Gillibrand, Long Face Off In US Senate Debate(NY1)* Danny Hakim
@dannyhakim #Cuomo calls stories on "secret" Lopez settlement "worst case of reporting ever"* Republicans get the Senate debate they wanted, but so does Gillibrand(Capital) * Ulrich hits Addabbo for funding Vito Lopez's organization. #sd15
Other Issues in the NY Senate Debate
10/16/2012
10/15/2012
10/12/2012
Media Protects Silver By Not Investigating HushGate
10/11/2012
Women's Right Leaders Finally Go After Lopez and Sexual Harassment In Albany
10/6/2012
Replacing Ravi Batra
‘Gropez’ grillers’ new dog(NYP) The state ethics watchdog agency investigating scandal-scarred Assemblyman Vito Lopez is getting a new member. LaShann
DeArcy, a city Taxi and Limousine Commission appointee and a former
scheduler for Rep. Floyd Flake (D-Queens), will join the 14-member Joint
Commission on Public Ethics looking into tax funds that went to two
Lopez sex-harass accusers. Sources: City Official To Be Appointed To State's Joint Committee On Public Ethics(NY1) * Senate Minority Leader John Sampson Makes JCOPE Pick To ...(NYDN)'
10/5/2012
8 Members of the NYS Assembly Are Interview By JCOPE and Not One NYC Newspaper Reports On It - Talk About Cover Up
Silver and His Pals Gave Vito Lopez Special Treatment On Sex Harassment Confidentiality11 Sexual Harassment Settlements Cost the State $5 Million(NYT) None of the cases, from 2008 to 2010, included confidentiality provisions, like the language included in the settlement involving Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez.
10/4/2012
State Paid at Least $5 Million to Settle 11 Sex Harassment Cases(NYT) None of the cases, from 2008 to 2010, included confidentiality provisions, like the language included in the settlement involving Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez.
Lopez is Not Disappearing From the Headlines Like His Fellow Lawmakers Have Hopped
150G for Vito att'y(NYP) Records
made public yesterday show the embattled Brooklyn assemblyman
sent $150,000 from his campaign account to Gerald Lefcourt, a
criminal-defense lawyer, on Sept. 5. Lopez has now paid him a total of
$239,703 from his campaign account — which still has $1,074,008 left. * Tarred Lawmaker Has an Easy Path(WSJ) Assemblyman Vito Lopez has refused to resign over sexual
harassment allegations, saying his fate should be decided by his
constituents. The embattled Brooklyn lawmaker has reasons to be
confident.Brooklyn Republicans acknowledge that
it is nearly impossible for Assemblyman Vito Lopez to lose his election
against his opponent, political neophyte Richy Garcia, next month *
The
GOP candidate quixotically campaigning against scandal-tarred
Assemblyman Vito Lopez no longer wants the job. “He seems like a genuine guy looking to help the community any way he can,” that candidate, Richy Garcia, said. Unless he is nominated for a judgeship, dies, or leaves the state, however, he’s going to be an option on the ballot.* Gropez Scandal Hits LI Airwaves(YNN) * Assemblyman Vito Lopez‘s GOP opponent, Richy Garcia, who couldn’t really get off the ballot even if he wanted to, apparently flip-flopped
on whether he would drop out of the campaign. He’s “back” in it. This
is basically a formality, however, as Mr. Lopez would be a formidable
foe in a Democratic primary. A general election in heavily Democratic
Bushwick? Fuhgettaboutit.
10/3/2012
Vito's Albany Friends Tell Him to Get Lost So They Can Get A Pay Raise
10/2/2012
The Hush $$$ Cover Up Continues
10/1/2012
Unlike Watergate where the Washington Post Drove the Story the Media Blackout in the Past Couple of Weeks of the Hush Money Lopez Story Has Allowed Albany to Dive the Story
Salary hikes for pols hinge on Silver probe(Dicker, NYP) The Joint Commission on Public Integrity’s investigation of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s “confidential” cash settlement with two women who accused Assemblyman Vito Lopez of Brooklyn of sexual harassment will likely wrap up before the Nov. 6 elections, The Post has learned. State lawmakers, sources said, want the probe finished by then to clear the way for a special legislative session right after the elections that could vote to grant lawmakers a much-anticipated pay raise.
A source close to JCOPE said the agency was working “full-bore’’ on the probe, which is designed, in part, to determine if Silver violated state ethics laws or criminal statutes in approving the $103,080 payment, which was not made public. Some key officials speculate that JCOPE will determine Silver’s settlement wasn’t illegal or even “secret’’ — as has been charged by critics — since aides to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reviewed portions of the settlement in advance.
NYT Does Not Talk About Their Conspicuous Silence on the Hush Gate Story After Breaking It. But does talk about a conspicuous silence from religious leaders who have regularly cooperated with him politically in Brooklyn, notably Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn * The Lopez mess has turned the spotlight back to the 2003 rape case against former Silver counsel Michael Boxley and the guidelines enacted in its aftermath to protect victims.
What About the Pfizer Deal? Is Bloomberg Silence on Lopez Connected to the Eminent Domain No Bid Deal He Made With Lopez on the Pfizer Site?
After Threats to Remover Her Bill to Eliminate the Statute of Limitations Assemblywoman Markey Was Hospitalized
9/27/2012
What Happens North of
Vito Lopez Sex Scandal Unravels 'Bear Mountain Compact' And Albany's Sordid Past(Huff Post) The accusations that emerged over the summer are hardly unusual in a state capital, especially Albany, which has such a rich history of sexual misconduct by lawmakers that it has its own, unwritten Las Vegas-like code: What happens north of Bear Mountain stays there.
9/26/2012
Silver for the GOP?
Help us polish off Silver: GOP(NYDN) State GOP Chairman Ed Cox blasted an email to party loyalists Tuesday
requesting donations ranging from $25 to $100 to help oust Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who is under fire for approving a $103,000 secret settlement with two women who accused Lopez of sexual harassment. *State GOP leaders are doing whatever they can to raise money off the scandal.9/24/2012
Less Than A Slap on the Wrist for Fake Silver Blogger
NY Assembly reprimands worker blogging for Silver (Fox 5) Silver spokesman Michael Whyland says the worker was formally reprimanded and lost his internet access.
Silver and Albany
It is All About Fooling the Public
Elected
officials, consultants and lobbyists have long been using fake
identifies to attack their opponents or praise themselves or their
employees. Before the internet it was just limited to campaign ads or
flayers. Today there are actual identities created to carry the
message. As local blogs are talking over the role of community
newspapers they are becoming like most local papers pushing one
candidate over the other. A 48-year-old male aide to Speaker
Shelly Silver is behind the alter ego, “Sophia Walker”, a female blogger
who defends Silver against allegations he improperly approved a sexual
harassment settlement
Male aide behind Silver’s fan ‘gal’
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has a strong female voice defending
him against allegations he improperly funneled hush money to two of
Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s sex-harassment accusers. The thing is, Silver’s
“female’’ supporter is a man — and he’s one of the powerful Democrat’s
own staffers.
Bill
Eggler, 48, a longtime legislative writer for Silver, is behind a
Web alter ego, “Sophia Walker,” who lashes out at anyone who dares
suggest his boss did anything wrong in orchestrating a secret $103,080
payout to the former Brooklyn Democratic Party leader’s accusers, The
Post has learned. One comment that “Sophia’’ posted on Sept. 5 to the
Albany Times
Union’s Capitol Confidential blog defends Silver’s handling of the
payout. “This entire affair is nothing more than election-year
scandal-mongering, all of which will fade away after the taxpayers foot
the bill for a costly, perfunctory and pointless investigation that will
find no significant wrongdoing on Silver’s part,” it reads. * Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver's female Facebook defender turns out to be a man
who works for him. http://nym.ag/Rc1lj9 * Shelly Silver's "Female" Cyber-Apologist Is Actually a Guy Named Bill(Village Voice)
9/21/2012
The Media Has Decided Not To Independently Investigate Albany's Sexual Abuse Scandal
Manhattan DA probes votes by Silver's children(NYDN) * Flashback: The executive director of Citizens Union said voting from an
address that is not the voter's residence is "illegal." [Capital New York] * Bizarre Postscript To 1990s Assembly Sex Harass Case(YNN)9/20/2012
Et Tu Tony
* About Cuomo’s Confidential Settlement(Politico)
9/19/2012
NYT Tries To Tie Cuomo Into to Silver Secrecy Problem
In a Discrimination Case, Cuomo Used a Confidentiality Clause, Documents Show(NYT) Records show that when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was attorney general, his
office reviewed a racial discrimination settlement that included a
secrecy clause. Cuomo, who criticized a secret Assembly
settlement, once authorized a racial discrimination case settlement
with a confidentiality clause when he was attorney general, according to
documents* Colin Campbell
@BKcolin Somebody as big as Vito goes down, the WHOLE building shakes. Sorry governor. "This settlement is completely different than the
Lopez matter on many levels, including the facts there were no elected
officials involved"
NYT Protects Silver
Cuomo has called for an investigation into the secret
settlement of sexual harassment claims against Lopez, but while he was attorney
general, his office authorized the settlement of a racial discrimination case
that included a confidentiality clause. More here.* A spokesman for Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver deemed the NYS GOP’s on-line petition calling on Silver
to resign for his role in the Lopez scandal “nothing more than election-year
politics.”
Cuomo Talks
Cuomo says confidentiality needed at JCOPE in order to
prevent possibly inaccurate accusations and damages.* Cuomo says there will
always be mistakes made in government and life. He says JCOPE is a
"dramatic improvement" over past ethics watchdogs.* Cuomo: "Who
the speaker is will be up to members of the Assembly." Says he still has
confidence in Silver.* Cuomo: Imagine A World Without JCOPE(NYO)* Camara Backs Seddio For Brooklyn Dem Chair(YNN)
Nick Confessore
9/18/2012
Media Control on the Right and Left is the Same
Assembly Releases Documents Listing Sexual Harassment Settlement(NYT) The move represented an effort by the Assembly to appear more
transparent as it grapples with criticism over its handling of a sexual
harassment scandal centered around one of its most prominent members,
Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, the Brooklyn Democratic chairman.
Previously, the Legislature had balked at releasing electronic records
detailing its expenditures. * axes for Vito Lopez hush cash OK (NYDN) * Assembly records show taxpayers also spent $2,400 to a California-based mediation firm in connection with a sexual harassment settlement involving Vito Lopez. 
Cox: Sign The Petition To Oust Silver(YNN)
Board of Elections votes down a motion to investigate Silver family apartment (Capital)
Albany ControlGate: It is Not Just A Media Cover Up, It is New Yorkers New Culture
NY Pols not long comment give there opinion on issues that can hurt power brokers. Bella would stop strangers on the street and tell them what she felt about ever issue and ever pol..Only the NYP and Daily News are advancing the Lopez Silver Hush Money Scandal Payoff. The NYT is protecting Silver. Elected officials including the mayoral candidates only comment on issues they consultants have deemed safe for them.
New York's Cover Up Culture Runs Deep
Today
elected officials come from government. Mostly from the staffs of
elected officials or community boards. The Days of activists like Abzug
running for offices are long gone. Woman's non profits funded by Albany
are also boxed in from pushing to get to the bottom of the Albany
sexual abuse hush fund cover up. With no real aggressive reporters like
Jack Newfield, Pete Hammill, Jimmy Breslin or Murray Kempton to demand
answers from hiding pols, New York is now known as the cover up city. A
long way from the Bella era when you know if you met a New Yorkers you
were going to get lectured on their opinions on the issues of the day.* Troy artist: Adam Lisberg MTA Spokesperson Example of Why Media Kills News Stories?
9/17/2012
DiNapoli Cover Up
DiNapoli said last month he had nothing to do with the $103,000 payout that settled the Gropez scandal — the serial sexual attacks perpetrated by Assemblyman Vito Lopez and the efforts of Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver to cover them up. But that was all baloney. DiNapoli’s office actually wrote portions of the settlement and advised Assembly lawyers throughout, according to internal e-mails released through a Freedom of Information Law request filed by The Post. DiNapoli was installed in his office by Shelly Silver in 2007. So when Silver told him to pony up the $103,000 settlement, DiNapoli did exactly that.
Breaking Assembly Releases Documents Listing Sexual Harassment Settlement(NYT)
A New York Post columnist asked: “Who watches Tom DiNapoli?”
Such deals (one hopes, anyway) are unique and should go straight to the top. * Speaker’s pet(NYP Ed) The Post scoff that it is “impossible to believe” State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was not aware of the details of Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s secret harassment settlement because DiNapoli wrote portions of it. * Sheldon Silver still has Assembly's 'strong backing' despite Vito Lopez scandal(Newsday)* NY can't tolerate Silver's inaction(TU) * City GOP targets Silver's kids(NYP) * 'Lopez' Special Prosecutor Can Scrutinize Silver RoleThe Chief-Leade
The cozy relationship between Sheldon Silver, the Met Council, and Bruce RatnerI know I'm late on this, but let's take another look at the cozy relationship between Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, and developer Forest City Ratner. There's nothing illegal, just another episode of the questionable one-hand-washes-the-other power configuration that seems so prevalent in the city and state. (Atlantic Yard Report)
Capitol Confidential
* Seiler: How can we replace Ravi Batra? (TU)
9/15/2012
Can Lopez Blackmail Silver Because He Has the Goods On Him On Real Estate Deals Like This One? What About the Pfizer Deal? Is Bloomberg Silence on Lopez Connected to the Eminent Domain No Bid Deal He Made With Lopez on the Pfizer Site?
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s children moved away — but still vote in dad’s elections(NYP)Did he really need the extra votes? Three of powerful Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver’s adult children remained registered to vote in
their father’s Lower East Side district long after moving out, The Post
has learned.Nothing Has Change In Albany Sexual Harassment Ways In Decades, Still the Bear Mountain Pac Rules
Silver's unspoken history of payoffs(NYP)When Speaker Sheldon Silver authorized $103,000 be paid to the
alleged sexual-harassment victims of Assemblyman Vito Lopez, his office
said the secret payout was the only one of its kind. It wasn’t.
In
1992 a young Assembly aide claimed she was harassed by her boss. Three
years later Speaker Silver arranged for a quiet $85,000 payment to make
it go away. At the center of the scandal was Charmian Neary, a petite, blond
assistant who worked for Manhattan Democratic Assemblyman Mark Alan
Siegel from January to July 1990.* Ex-Assemblyman Accused of Sexual Harassment - New York Times(1992) * The Big Apple: Bear Mountain Compact (Tappan Zee Bridge Rule)
"Albany is hardly the only place where men—and women—have trouble
understanding sexual harassment. But the capital has an acute problem
because, despite some progress, it remains a male bastion that has yet
to overcome its antiquated legacies.
There’s a Brigadoon quality to the state capital—without the charm. It’s
hasn’t quite entered the last third of the century. Indeed, not so long
ago the professional woman was a rarity in Albany. Many legislators
thought of women as pleasurable distractions, part-time companions
during their time away from home and family." Editorial Notebook; Old News from Albany By JOYCE PURNICK
* When Will We Have Three Women in a Room?(Tom Allon)
9/14/2012
9/13/2013
Memos show that aides to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli (above) were in on the Lopez deal.
DiNapoli team in deep(NYP) Comptrol aides drafted Lopez ‘hu$h’ dealState Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office was extensively involved in drafting the secret $103,000 agreement to settle sexual-harassment claims filed against Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez, according to explosive new documents released yesterday. DiNapoli previously insisted that the confidential Lopez settlement — approved by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver — had not been brought to his personal attention by staffers. But correspondence between lawyers for the comptroller and Assembly speaker, released yesterday to the media, shows that DiNapoli’s staff was consulted about the harassment claims against Lopez on March 27 — more than two months before the settlement was reached. * Settlement Advice Revealed(WSJ) * State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s attorneys reviewed a secret $103,000 settlement to resolve sexual harassment allegations against Lopez two months before authorizing the payments, the Albany Times Union reports
In a statement yesterday, DiNapoli’s office defended its actions. “The
comptroller’s legal staff was not a party to the negotiations, nor did
it evaluate the merits of the settlement,” said DiNapoli spokesman Eric
Sumberg.
In a June 4 e-mail, DiNapoli’s assistant counsel, Mary Anne Tommaney,
sent Assembly lawyers proposed language for the settlement,
recommending that the deal with Lopez’s accusers should be paid as
“compensatory damages” for “emotional distress and pain and suffering
claimed by the employees” rather than as back pay or salary. In
her e-mails, Tommaney does not refer to Lopez or his accusers by name,
simply referring to the agreement as “resolving an employment dispute
involving two Assembly staff members.”
Only the NYP and Albany Times Union Reported On DiNmapoli Office Involvement in the Lopez Hush Money Scandal. NYT Silent
Yet another editorial board calls for changes at JCOPE.
Yet another editorial board calls for changes at JCOPE.
Judgment day for Silver: A spea
9/12/2012
Battleship Cuomo Fires Torpedo Subpoenas At 3 State Leaders. Is Shelly, Tom and Eric Ships Sunk?
Public Wants Cuomo to Clean Up Albany
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, not legislative leaders, should take the lead in cleaning up legislative corruption in the state, New York voters say 54 – 32 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released today * -Poll: Cuomo Right To Skip (Most Of) DNC(YNN)
Update
Embattled Legislator Seeks to Bolster Clout in Primaries(NYT)
Shelly Gave Vito What He Wants $$$ and Hush
Ethics panel issues Lopez-probe subpoenas, eyeing state bigs(NYP) Subpoenas are flying in the expanded ethics probe into Brooklyn
Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s alleged sexual harassment of women, as a state
panel investigates the roles played by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
and the offices of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman. * Assemblyman Vito Lopez demanded the
strict confidentiality clause for two women who accused him of sexual
harassment and received a $103,000 settlement from the Assembly, the Daily News’s Ken Lovett learns The question of who pushed for the strict gag-order clause could be a
central issue in determining the outcome of separate investigations into
the settlement being conducted by the state ethics commission and a
special prosecutor. * Poll: New Yorkers Have Figured Out Their Government Is Corrupt(NYO) * Deal With Vito Lopez Accusers Carried $20,000 Fine For Discussing Their Case(NYDN) 
NYP's Goodwin Pushes for the Moreland Act
Bums away, Andy!(Goodwin, NYP) Cuomo ruined everything. He piped up and threatened to unleash an army of diggers unless you investigate the whole sordid cover-up, including the roles of Silver, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. An investigation under the Moreland Act mostly would be public. Hearings with sworn testimony could expose new shenanigans that would shock and educate voters. Once appointed, its members would be independent. The process would not be limited by artificial boundaries and would be free to follow wrongdoing anywhere it leads. * Kolb Won’t Criticize Silver Over Lopez Scandal(YNN)
9/11/2012
Will the Head of Vito Be Enough Now?
Ethics panel adds Sheldon to Vito probe(NYP)NYP: Cuomo integrity "hanging in the balance" while JCOPE probes
"Vito-Lopez-Sheldon-Silver-Eric-Schneiderman-Tom-DiNapoli coverup
scandal"
The state Joint Commission on Public
Ethics voted to conduct a broader investigation into those involved in
Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s sex scandal, including Speaker Shelly Silver,
the attorney general and the state comptroller. The Post lauds Cuomo for pushing the
state ethics commission to widen its probe of Albany enablers in Lopez’s
harassment scandal but says his credibility remains “hanging in the
balance” * Newsday wants the state’s ethics law amended to reduce the ability of ethics commission members to veto a
probe and permit disclosure of probes underway when the incident is
public knowledge * Times Union: “Who’s more inscrutable, Bob Dylan or Ravi Batra?”
9/10/2012
Everyone Else Did It But Me . . . The Buck Stops Nowhere Generation
Before Cuomo or Silver take heat, they will make AG and/or Controller the fall
guy. Look at how NYT is already taking up that narrative. Aides to both Mr. Schneiderman and Mr. DiNapoli said that the top
lawyers who were sent drafts by the Assembly either did not open them,
did not fully read them or referred them to subordinates.
While it is not unusual for the state to pay money to settle legal
claims, the confidentiality language was unusual. But it appears there
was little or no discussion of that issue. * Silver: Moreland Commission ‘Academic Now’(YNN) * Cuomo Is Open to ‘Tweaks’ in Ethics Panel(NYT) * Video: JCOPE calls it a day(TU)
“My point was that in some ways, it was even worse, it was not a secret deal done by Sheldon Silver, which people would think was just Sheldon Silver signs a secret deal,” Mr. Cuomo countered. “It was a secret deal reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office and implemented by the Comptroller’s Office.” The host pointed out that now Mr. Cuomo was using the phrase “secret deal” that he was deriding just moments ago.
“My point was that in some ways, it was even worse, it was not a secret
deal done by Sheldon Silver, which people would think was just Sheldon
Silver signs a secret deal,” Mr. Cuomo countered. “It was a secret deal
reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office and implemented by the
Comptroller’s Office.”
After
Mr. Dicker repeated that the settlement was pretty much a “secret,” Mr.
Cuomo asked, “Was it a secret?” “It was in writing, the settlement
itself said it will remain confidential,” Mr. Dicker explained.“My point was that in some ways, it was even worse, it was not a secret deal done by Sheldon Silver, which people would think was just Sheldon Silver signs a secret deal,” Mr. Cuomo countered. “It was a secret deal reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office and implemented by the Comptroller’s Office.” The host pointed out that now Mr. Cuomo was using the phrase “secret deal” that he was deriding just moments ago.
Protecting Boss Vito Lopez & Silver
NYT "Both men are Democrats, and both are former legislators who served with Mr. Lopez and Mr.
Silver; Mr. DiNapoli was appointed comptroller in 2007 largely because of the support
of Mr. Silver." * NY ethics board meets amid sex harass scandal(Fox5) *
‘Vito Lopez vs. Bill Clinton(NYO) * JCOPE Debates The Merits Of Transparency(YNN)
Plausible Deniability
Mr. Schneiderman has said that his office played only an
informal role,and Mr. DiNapoli has said that his
office’s role was technical.
Both AG and Comptroller Office Could have
Stopped the Hush Money - Received 3 Drafts
"The offices of the attorney general and the comptroller received three draft copies of the settlements, but did not intervene to prevent the Assembly from using public money for the confidential settlement of sexual misconduct allegations against a powerful lawmaker." Both men
said they were unaware of the settlement until it was described in the news media, even though their staffs were told that the negotiation involved Ms. Allred on one side and Mr. Lopez, the Brooklyn Democratic chairman, on the other.The two offices were drawn into the Lopez
case when they were approached this year by Mr. Collins, a top counsel in
Mr. Silver’s office. Mr. Collins sought advice from Arlene R. Smoler, a top employment law expert in the attorney general’s office, and Nancy G. Groenwegen, Mr. DiNapoli’s general counsel. The lawyers had several conversations over a period of weeks.
Eccentric ex-JCOPE member Ravi Batra explained his weekend resignation from the ethics panel. Quote part of his 3,500 word letter:
“…Albany is lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
Schneiderman and DiNapoli Epstein's Mother Note 
Schneiderman and State Comptroller Tom
DiNapoli downplayed their roles in approving a confidential Assembly
settlement for sexual harassment charges against Assemblyman Lopez. Aides to Schneiderman and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said top lawyers
in their respective officials who were sent drafts of the Lopez
harassment settlement by the Assembly “either did not open them, did not
fully read them or referred them to subordinates.” Attorney General and Comptroller Play Down Their Roles in Settlement(NYT) Mr. Schneiderman and Mr. DiNapoli and their aides have sought, in
different ways, to describe their involvement in the Lopez settlement as
minimal: Mr. Schneiderman has said that his office played only an
informal role, and Mr. DiNapoli has said that his office’s role was
technical. 
Both
men said they were unaware of the settlement until it was described
in the news media, even though their staffs were told that the
negotiation involved Ms. Allred on one side and Mr. Lopez, the Brooklyn
Democratic chairman, on the other. Officials in Mr. DiNapoli’s
office said that Ms. Groenwegen never read
the e-mails sent to her, but instead passed them on to a subordinate,
and that neither she nor Mr. DiNapoli nor any members of his senior
staff learned of Mr. Lopez’s involvement until it was reported in the
news media, even though Mr. Lopez’s name was in the first sentence of
one of the e-mails sent by Mr. Collins.Mr. DiNapoli said that his office
processed hundreds of thousands of
payments every month, and that the Assembly settlement was just another
one described as related to “payments to a law firm” for what he called
“legal services.”“Certainly, we were not involved in the negotiation or
approval of the
settlement,” he said. “We end up being the last part of it and making
sure the details are in order from a technical perspective.” “I think
it’s important to keep in mind that the issue here is really
sexual harassment in the workplace,” Mr. DiNapoli added. “I sometimes
get concerned that talk about process confuses the fact that these are
serious allegations.”* Gloria Allred: "I have been receiving winks from some members of the delegation."
Why Do You Think Schneiderman Wants the Lopez Story Off the Front Page? . . . The Daily
News’s Ken Lovett Spins for the AG
AG Eric Schneiderman Says Assembly Can Move To Oust Vito Lopez Now(NYDN)
AG Schneiderman said the Assembly
has the power under state law to expel Vito Lopez over sexual harassment
allegations before a criminal conviction, which Silver is evaluating –
much the way the Senate did, with Schneiderman at the lead, before
expelling ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate.
The Reason People Get Excited Is Because They Know Scandal Produces Reform It Was Koch's Citisource Scandal that Led to Term Limits and Public Campaign Finance
ken lovett
@klnynewsCuomo: scandals tend to "excite and titilate in Albany."
The Reason People Get Excited Is Because They Know Scandal Produces Reform It Was Koch's Citisource Scandal that Led to Term Limits and Public Campaign Finance
ken lovett
In Typical NYT Fashion They Buried the
Lead in A Misleading Story
Sheldon Silver,the Assembly speaker and a Manhattan Democrat, signed
off on an agreement to settle the allegations for $135,000, mostly paid out
of a portion of the Assembly’s budget that is not publicly accounted for. Both sides agreed to keep the deal secret, and the Assembly did not refer the matter to its own ethics committee, which is responsible for investigating misconduct by lawmakers.
Only the TU's Odato Talks About the Resignation of Batra from JCOPE and His Charges Against the Ethics Commission
Cuomo takes out big stick(TU) Gov. Andrew Cuomo's threat of a Moreland Act investigation of the entire handling of sexual harassment accusations involving Assemblyman Vito Lopez
would allow the former attorney general to flex his prosecuto-rial
muscles again. The probe he is warning about could examine the actions
of Speaker Sheldon Silver
and the offices of the current attorney general and comptroller on
settling accusations against Lopez by two female accusers. In the
judgment of Ravi Batra,
Cuomo proposed to interfere with an ethics commission that is supposed
to investigate possible misdeeds of government employees — including
Cuomo — and must be free of outside influence. Batra said the panel must
be able to make its own decisions, good or bad, based on votes of
commissioners appointed by the Legislature and the governor.
At one point, Miranda an Assembly worker said her boss, whom she did not publicly name, regularly told her,
“Resistance is futile.” Albany's good-ol’-boy cultureJCOPE Ineffective Want Outside Investigation
“Vito Lopez is just a smoke screen and coverup for something much bigger,” blasted Senate hopeful Monica Arias Miranda. “Why are elected officials calling for Mr. Lopez’s resignation yet are not willing to say the same about the speaker, who is the one responsible for using $100,000 of tax-dollar money to hush the sexualharassment allegations?”* Ex-Assembly Staffer: Lopez Scandal The Tip Of The Iceberg(YNN)
9/8/2012
New Letter from Ravi Batra
"While I was at Jcope, I honored my fiduciary duty to
the public and served with idealism, albeit, informed by real life, to the point of
exhaustion so as to enhance the sacred honor of my special references, great
persons all, who vouched for me, friends and family, and for regular people
to again believe in "truth, justice and the American way!" Sorry if
believing in what is uniquely American may sound corny to some - maybe that's why we need
real public ethics.
The funny thing is that yesterday I and the Governor intersected
at the Moreland Act powers' square. I going north, to have restored on to
Jcope that which belongs to Jcope by law: actual in-fact independence so as
to be law abiding and have real jurisdiction over all who are so subject. The
Governor going south, to threaten any at Jcope who didn't do his bidding, no matter
any due process timetable, by threatening punishment if the matter was not
fast-tracked and his wishes obeyed.
complete agreement on two counts: 1. that integrity in
public service needs to
be restored by ferreting out anyone who may have done wrong
or who aided and
abetted in any cover up, including, payment of any hush
money or backidating
checks to pay for gifted-tickets; and 2. each appointing
authority is
responsible for the job done by the appointee. I for one
know for a fact, to the
point of moral and legal certainty, that I have brought
honor to the Senate
Without personal integrity, there can be no real public
ethics; only the farce
of appearing ethical.
I am however happy to be done with "purer than Caesar's
wife" requirement, exit
the goldfish bowl, capable to go to a bar association event
and return to an
ordinary private life made exceptional by American
exceptionalism."
Dated: 9/8/12
/s/
Ravi Batra
Private Citizen
No Wonder Why The NYT Have Few Readers in the Bronx
Twi$ted web of political nonprofits in Bx. - NYPOST.com * State ethics panel now investigating Bx. pol Naomi ... - New York Post * Bx. pol Naomi Rivera's brother Rodney lied in - New York Post * FBI joins probe of Bx. pol Rivera's boy-toy hiring - New York Post * Ex says Bx. pol Naomi Rivera 'squeezed' him out of ... - New York Post * Naomi's hire love is probed - New York Post * EXCLUSIVE: Bronx Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera ... - New York Post * EXCLUSIVE: Bronx Assemblywoman Naomi D ... - New York Post * Naomi Rivera publicly paid boyfriend—Editorial - NYPOST.com * 'Boy-toy' hire ire vs. pol - New York Post
9/7/2012
Operation Containment: NY Papers Downplay Batra Charges of Corruption Inside the State Ethics Commission JCOPE
"Also yesterday, JCOPE Commissioner Ravi Batra resigned after slamming his own panel as being “remote-controlled” by Cuomo’s minions. “I welcome a subpoena from a federal prosecutor or a Moreland Act-empowered special prosecutor to share my experiences and impressions about the reality of JCOPE in practice,” he told JCOPE Chair Janet DiFiore. Batra claimed he contacted “independent federal law enforcement almost a month ago” about “festering misconduct” at JCOPE. He cited “apparent illegal leaks” and “deception of commissioners” by a JCOPE staff dominated by former Cuomo aides." More heat on Silver
NYDN Reported "Josh Vlasto, a spokesman for Gov. Cuomo, downplayed reports that JCOPE had narrowed its probe as “rumors,” but also warned that the governor would appoint a separate investigative commission if JCOPE does not conduct a wider inquiry." Albany Times Union Reported Ravi Batra — who was Friday afternoon the object of a swipe by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on a radio interview — says he is stepping down from the organization."Cuomo was on former Gov David Paterson’s WOR talk show about an hour ago. He said “the behavior of an appointee is not something you’re proud of.” Cuomo was referring to Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson — who appointed Batra to JCOPE."Updated with letter: Ravi Batra resigns from JCOPE(TU) NBC reported On Friday, Batra said the secrecy the panel requires of commissioners may have become a cover for unspecified illegality. Batra's greatest battle was this summer when he, as usual alone, fought to require donors to the lobbying group the Committee to Save New York be divulged back to the effective date of a 2011 ethics law. The board instead set a date that allowed six- and seven-figure donors of $17 million to the pro-business lobbying group to remain secret. The lobbying was set up to conduct its unprecedented TV ad campaigns that promote Cuomo's achievements. Outspoken NY Ethics Board Member Quits in Protest(NBC) Politics on the Hudson “Confidentiality may have become a cloak for possible willful illegality operating with a ‘nod and a wink’ means of communication from within JCOPE to a chosen few for political gain and corrupt back-scratching,” he said. Uticaod.com Reported After Batra called for a federal probe of JCOPE, Cuomo criticized Batra and the lawmaker who appointed him, Senate Democratic leader John Sampson. Cuomo spoke in a radio interview.
The Daily News Limited the Batra Resignation to 2 Sentences
Ravi Batra Quits JCOPE
After Calling JCOPE A Puppet of the Pols
Calls It Controlgate
Calls for A Moreland Commission Before he Quits
"This is why, consistent with my confidentiality obligations, I notified
independent federal law enforcement almost a month ago, that Jcope needs
disinfectant sunshine because confidentiality may have become a cloak for
possible willful illegality operating with a "nod and a wink" means of
communication from within Jcope to a chosen few for political gain and
corrupt back-scratching."
"Recent events have been cascading into a crescendo where I feel
compelled to resign over principle. A concept that US Attorney Preet Bharara
announced upon taking his public oath of office and one I have previously
mentioned.I wish you well and hope that my resignation aids in focusing attention on the
need for proper policies and practices to effectuate honest and independent
ethics enforcement so as to actually restore public confidence in government and
public service. NY ethics board member wants fed probe of panel(WSJ)
I acknowledge the continuing confidentiality obligation as well as the 2-year
bar. I welcome a subpoena from a federal prosecutor or a Moreland Act-empowered
special prosecutor to share my experiences and impressions about the reality of
Jcope in practice, for then the confidentiality bar would no longer apply, and
public trust further enriched." I have tried to serve, to the best of my ability, so that everyday New Yorkers
knew that I was working overtime to honor our leaders' call to bring integrity
back to Albany.
That Vito Lopez's alleged conduct is unbecoming a gentleman is not an issue, but
even he is entitled to due process before the facts overwhelm him, and
separation of powers is still constitutionally worthy.
Indeed, just when New York is faced with press reported issues of serious breach
of public ethics raised by Vito Lopez's allegedly ungentlemanly behavior and
Jcope needs to be able to swing into maximum action with all its capability to
identify any and all breaches of the public trust, onsistent with its
independent authority and commission-voted judgment, Jcope may be
self-destructing with issues raised from apparent illegal leaks, deception of
commissioners by staff, legally false prior public pronouncements and inter
alia, operating in a manner that raises substantial concern that Jcope is being
remote-controlled by person or persons that are themselves subject to Jcope's
direct oversight and disinfectant jurisdiction; thereby making Jcope an unlawful
political tool, if the substantial concerns raised are true.
For lack of a better term what appears to be happening at Jcope is
"Controlgate," despite the horrible, yet instructive, lessons of NYS Public
Integrity Commission and Suffolk County's Ethics Commission documented by NYS
IG's Trooper-Gate Report and DA Tom Spota's released Grand Jury Report,
respectively.
Until Jcope itself isn't acting independently, exercising commission-voted
judgment and staff honoring their fiduciary duties imposed upon agents, given
the delegation of authority resolution, Jcope is unable to honor its critical
and vital statutory mandate to bring integrity back to Albany and beyond and
those who breach the Public Officers Law may be able to escape ethics-imposed
investigation and any referrals for criminal prosecution or punishment that
Jcope could have imposed. Instead, the issues of Controlgate could make Jcope
impotent, public ethics a farce and as a result undermine public confidence in
governance itself.
I therefore request our great Governor to appoint a truly independent special
prosecutor, pursuant to inter alia, Moreland Act authority, to address issues of
Controlgate and thereby restore public confidence in governmental
ethics-oversight regime and prevent it from being an unlawful political tool. * Cuomo spox, Batra issue eyebrow-raising JCOPE statements(Capital) * Governor Cuomo said, if true, JCOPE’s move is “unconscionable.” * Ravi Batra To JCOPE: Shape Up Or I Quit | New York Daily News * Updated with letter: Ravi Batra resigns from JCOPE(TU) *JCOPE Member Says “Au Revoir” And Resigns | Vote Up! | Vote Up ...(democratandchronicle.com/) * Governor Demands a Probe of Speaker(WSJ)
Is State Supreme Court Justice Fern Fisher New York's Judge john Sirica
Judge orders wider Assembly sex harassment probe A state judge on Friday ordered a special prosecutor to expand his probe
of a sexual harassment case in the state Assembly to include a secret
settlement using public money approved by Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver. * Judge orders wider Assembly sex harassment probe ...
Vito the Rat Could Take Down the Albany Mafia
That Vito Lopez's alleged conduct is unbecoming a gentleman is not an issue, but
even he is entitled to due process before the facts overwhelm him, and
separation of powers is still constitutionally worthy.
Indeed, just when New York is faced with press reported issues of serious breach
of public ethics raised by Vito Lopez's allegedly ungentlemanly behavior and
Jcope needs to be able to swing into maximum action with all its capability to
identify any and all breaches of the public trust, onsistent with its
independent authority and commission-voted judgment, Jcope may be
self-destructing with issues raised from apparent illegal leaks, deception of
commissioners by staff, legally false prior public pronouncements and inter
alia, operating in a manner that raises substantial concern that Jcope is being
remote-controlled by person or persons that are themselves subject to Jcope's
direct oversight and disinfectant jurisdiction; thereby making Jcope an unlawful
political tool, if the substantial concerns raised are true. For lack of a better term what appears to be happening at Jcope is
"Controlgate," despite the horrible, yet instructive, lessons of NYS Public
Integrity Commission and Suffolk County's Ethics Commission documented by NYS
IG's Trooper-Gate Report and DA Tom Spota's released Grand Jury Report,
respectively.
Until Jcope itself isn't acting independently, exercising commission-voted
judgment and staff honoring their fiduciary duties imposed upon agents, given
the delegation of authority resolution, Jcope is unable to honor its critical
and vital statutory mandate to bring integrity back to Albany and beyond and
those who breach the Public Officers Law may be able to escape ethics-imposed
investigation and any referrals for criminal prosecution or punishment that
Jcope could have imposed. Instead, the issues of Controlgate could make Jcope
impotent, public ethics a farce and as a result undermine public confidence in
governance itself.
I therefore request our great Governor to appoint a truly independent special
prosecutor, pursuant to inter alia, Moreland Act authority, to address issues of
Controlgate and thereby restore public confidence in governmental
ethics-oversight regime and prevent it from being an unlawful political tool. * Cuomo spox, Batra issue eyebrow-raising JCOPE statements(Capital) * Governor Cuomo said, if true, JCOPE’s move is “unconscionable.” * Ravi Batra To JCOPE: Shape Up Or I Quit | New York Daily News * Updated with letter: Ravi Batra resigns from JCOPE(TU) *JCOPE Member Says “Au Revoir” And Resigns | Vote Up! | Vote Up ...(democratandchronicle.com/) * Governor Demands a Probe of Speaker(WSJ)Is State Supreme Court Justice Fern Fisher New York's Judge john Sirica
Judge orders wider Assembly sex harassment probe A state judge on Friday ordered a special prosecutor to expand his probe
of a sexual harassment case in the state Assembly to include a secret
settlement using public money approved by Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver. * Judge orders wider Assembly sex harassment probe ...
Vito the Rat Could Take Down the Albany Mafia
Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano — 'The Bull" Becomes "The Rat' — Crime The Bull' Becomes 'The Rat'. Gotti explained away his words to the effect that he was just letting off steam. But Gravano knew there was more to it. Gotti then told ...
JCOPE Does A Schultz: When It Comes to Silver Hush $$$ They See Nothing
Ethics panel declines to probe Sheldon Silver over Lopez settlement(NYP) * New York Ethics Inquiry Won’t Look at Speaker’s Actions(NYT) The state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics will not probe Speaker Shelly Silver for his role in a sexual harassment settlement and instead focus on charges against Assemblyman Vito Lopez* Ethics Body Eyes Lopez(WSJ) * Plus: Sexual-harassment lawyer Gloria Allred, who represented the two women who received the secret settlement approved by Mr. Silver, said she had already received subpoenas from the commission. [Capitol Confidential] * Shelly Silver Off The Hook For (Taxpayer Funded) Coverup Of Vito Lopez Sex ...(Village Voice) * Good government groups questioned JCOPE’s curious decision to not focus on Shelly Silver in their probe of the Vito Lopez scandal.* Governor Cuomo said, if true, JCOPE’s move is “unconscionable.” * One member of the ethics panel, Ravi Batra, said this. * A judge ordered the prosecutorial probe to be expanded to Silver’s settlement. * Lopez’s downfall, a Shakespearean tragedy.
Judge Broadens Prosecutor’s Authority in Lopez Case(NYT) * Staten Island DA Donovan Takes Aim At Sheldon Silver(NYDN) * Sheldon Silver, John Sampson, Andrew Cuomo and Kevin Parker. Azi Paybarah(Capital) * Letter: Lopez and Silver should resign(Newsday) * Cuomo Threatens Broader Sex Harassment Investigation(NBC)
Remember When the NYT Uncovered Cover Ups By Pols Rather Than Enabling Them
As the Silver Cover Up Heat Up the NYT Distracts With An Editorial About Moonlighting Lawmakers
Not
even a call by the times for reform or more transparency so tax payer
hush money cannot be paid by pols to cover up sex abuse
New York’s Moonlighting Lawmakers (NYT) If we are serious about uprooting corruption in
Albany, the next step is to make service as a legislator a full-time job
and ban outside sources of employment and income for our public
officials.
Quick Hide Lopez's Body
Cuomo Threatens Special Prosecutor Today
Special Prosecutor's Probe Widens from Lopez Harassment to Silver Payout(WNYC)* Cuomo threatens broader sex harass investigation(WSJ)
We Need A New Seabury Commission to Clean Up Albany and Go After All of Vito Lopez's Corruption
The Moreland Act: Cuomo's Big Stick To Clean Up Albany
The Moreland Act
Cuomo's Big StickNo Faith in Government
The measure gives the Governor broad powers to investigate state departments and institutions, at his own option and with the help of experts, on the theory that he will recommend remedies to the Legislature. The most recent Moreland Act commissions were appointed in 1976, by Gov. Hugh L. Carey, to investigate nursing homes and in 1963, by Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, to investigate alcoholic-beverage control laws. Seabury Commission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia * JCOPE is holding a special meeting this week, probably to discuss this controversy. * Corruption Springs eternal: reining in NY’s shady pols(NYP) * The situation only strengthens Governor Cuomo’s hold on Albany.
If The Governor or Investigators Do Not Clean Up Albany the People Can At A Constitutional Convention in 2017
The woman-suffrage movement in New York City society leaders securing signatures to petitions to be presented to the constitutional convention - scene at Sherry's / / Clinedinst.
9/6/2012
The Fix in Vito Case Already DoneVito ‘payoff’ pols off the hook(NYP)Staten Island DA Dan Donovan’s office doesn’t have “the resources to do a full-scale forensic investigation of all the other players” with potential involvement in the Lopez scandal, said a source who was told of the probe. But the probe does not appear to be looking at the roles others in government may have played in arranging or approving a secret $103,800 settlement in an earlier claim of sex harassment by other Lopez staffers.
The Cover Up Starts
Ethics Inquiry Limited to Assemblyman Lopez, not Speaker(NYDN)Leadership Coup?
The Post’s Andrea Peyser calls Silver the “Joe Paterno of the state capital” for “coddling and enabling filthy sex fiends who infest the state legislature” and calls on him to step down:
* Critics Say Assemblyman Vito Lopez Is On Blatant Power(NYDN) * Top N.Y. Dems not eager to vilify Speaker Sheldon Silver (SI Advance)
GOP Moves Against Silver
NYP Says Cover Up of Conspires
The New York Times supports Eric Schneiderman’s investigation into Bain Capital and other private equity firms. While the Post thinks it’s all part of a “Gropez coverup.”
Not A Word from the NYT About the Albany Scandal . . . With
the Bloggers and the New Found Balls of the NYDN and NYP The NYT Old
Way of Containing A Story to Help the Powerful is Not Working
9/5/2012
How Badly Will Lopez's Refusal to Leave Hurt Silver His Bag Man? Will Investigations And Exposure of the Real Albany Destroy Both Men? Establishment Moves to Kill Vito
PARTY’S OVER: Less than two weeks ago, Lopez and Speaker Sheldon Silver were among the two most powerful men in New York state politics. Now, a sexual harassment scandal that has dethroned the Brooklyn Democratic boss is weakening Silver, who has been untouchable in the Capitol for more than a decade(CNN) * The News says Silver shares responsibility with Lopez for the “debacle” because he has been unable to remove Lopez from office * Carl Paladino Calls on Silver to Resign(City and State) * Engel calls for Lopez to resign * Turner, Cox Unleash On Silver(YNN) * Albany DA joins Vito Lopez sex harass probe
The most important factor in politics is loyalty. The second most important is respect.” Lopez
Subpoenas to put the heat-o on Vito(NYP) * The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics voted to open a formal investigation into alleged sexual harassment claims against Lopez and will likely issue subpoenas in the probeLegislators Debate Expulsion in Sexual Harassment Case; Lopez Vows to Remain(NYT) * State Ethics Commission Meets About Lopez Case * The PEF endorsement list is out, and Lopez is on it.
What Does Lopez Have On Silver . . . Housing Deals?
9/4/2012
“I WILL NOT CAPITULATE TO THOSE SELF-SERVING TACTICS AND DEMANDS,” Lopez
said in his statement without mentioning Silver by name
If This Brooklyn Kingmaker Is Asking, Saying No Is Risky Option(NYT) State Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, now engulfed in accusations of sexual
harassment, demands loyalty, but some criticize what they called
heavy-handed tactics. * Legislators Debate Expulsion in Sexual Harassment Case; Lopez Vows to Remain(NYT) * Vito Lopez: Let My Constituents Decide If I Should Stay Or Go(NYDN) * Assemblyman Vito Lopez fires back at Speaker Sheldon Silver who said Lopez ... * Lopez Defiant On Calls to Resign(WSJ)
Not so fast, Shelly(NYP) Let’s not mince words: Lopez is a recidivist molester, a pig who should’ve packed it in long ago.
But the real scandal is the Silver-orchestrated,
publicly-funded coverup of Lopez’s sexual misconduct — the $100,000-plus
in damages secretly approved by the speaker and checked off on without
comment by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom
DiNapoli.They’re all Democrats, of course — convening now in
Charlotte, NC, to help fellow Democrats condemn the “Republican War on
Women.” Without a trace of irony. But Silver is the Assembly’s enabler. Pious public declarations
of the “Lopez must resign” sort — fully two weeks into the scandal —
are meant simply to change the subject.
Not good enough, Mr. Speaker. Not now.
Subpoenas to put the heat-o on Vito(NYP)
Not good enough, Mr. Speaker. Not now.
On July 21, 2004, the Brennan Center released The New York State Legislative Process: An Evaluation and Blueprint for Reform. The report concludes that New York's legislative bodies discourage rank-and-file lawmakers from participating fully in the legislative process and, in turn, deprive citizens of full representation in Albany. In New York State, representative democracy is alive in name more than reality * We’ve Still Got It! When It Comes to Corrupt Pols, New York Is Still Tops (NYO) * “For voters and taxpayers, the ultimate question is whether this scandal changes the way Albany conducts business,” Clyde Haberman wrote. “Or does it keep doing the same old — livin’ la Vito Lopez?”
Retro Silver Bruno BS
Including Hush Payments?
NYT It it Time for A Follow Up To Your 2004 Editorial on the Brennan Report . . . We know that NYU is to preoccupied buying Pols to get zoning clearances?
Albany A in Dysfunctional F in Turning Around the State's Economy and Creating Jobs
Silver's Response to Brennan Center Report Misses the Mark * Still Broken: New York State Legislative Reform 2008 Update ... * STILL BROKEN: NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE REFORM * Krueger Lauds Brennan Center Report - Liz Krueger(2006) * Brennan Report: NY Legislative Process Still Broken(2006) * The N.Y. Legislature is an embarrassment and must reform itself ...(NYDN 2009) * Study Presents New York State Senate with First Test on Reform ...(2009) * N.Y. Legislature Seen as Rife With Problems - Los Angeles Times(2004)
Silver Throws Lopez Under the Bus to Try to Save His Own Ass
9/1/2012
The Effects of Getting Caught Allred Handed
Silver to Lopez Resign Now
Breaking Cuomo wants investigation launched into activities of Vito LopezYNN
8/31/2012
NYP Hitman For Silver
Allred Smashing Silver For NYP Hit Job on the Victims
Today’s article in the New York Post is a litany of false and outrageous statements. First, Speaker Silver and other unnamed political sources targeted the women who complained, by implying falsely that they sought only financial gain and did not want an investigation, and then by releasing their names and what appeared to be out of context and misleading confidential settlement communications to the press. Now, the Speaker and others seem desperately to be trying to target their attorneys. It is time for Mr. Silver to stop his attempts to deflect responsibility for his and the Assembly’s own misconduct and to take a good, hard look in the mirror at the actual events that really occurred.
What Did They Know and When Did They Know ItWatergatge Howard Baker
The Sexual Bully in Albany(NYT Ed) Every day also brings new questions about which officials knew about this behavior and what, if anything, they did to stop it. What justification did Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have for agreeing to give $103,000 in taxpayer money to settle a harassment claim? Did the comptroller and the attorney general approve both the payout and the decision to hide it from the public? * Officials Briefed on Lopez Settlement(WSJ) Silver consulted extensively with the state Attorney General’s and State Comptroller’s offices before drafting the settlement, according to emails obtained on Thursday * AP: Vito Lopez sex harassment accusers sought $1.2M(Newsday) * Top legal advisers to Tom DiNapoli and Eric Schneiderman were briefed on the settlement’s financial details.* The New York Times and the Daily News weighed in with their own questions. * New York Times wants Speaker Silver to call for Assemblyman Vito Lopez to resign.
Brooklyn D.A. Calls for Special Prosecutor for Vito Lopez(NYO) * Special prosecutor appointed in probe of Lopez grope case(NYP)
Cuomo in the Cat Bird Seat As His Political Rivals Caught Up in A Sexual Harassment Scandal
Some are wondering what
Governor Cuomo is doing behind the scenes during this controversy. *
According to the WSJ, the Comptroller and Attorney General thoroughly reviewed
the six figure settlement with alleged sexuaas harassment victims back
in May. * Top legal aides for both Eric Schneiderman and Tom DiNapoli were briefed on the details of Vito Lopez’s settlement..
The Times reported the secret settlement from the Assembly’s $12 million account for “miscellaneous contractual services,” which can cover all manner of expenses. That such a fund even exists is a measure of the cronyism and corruption that have coddled all manner of misbehavior — both political and personal — in Albany. &The Daily News wonders if Albany is ignoring a culture of sexual harassment.* How @FakeShellySilver handled the scandal.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office has issued a statement
saying that it merely provided Mr. Silver with the usual advice and the
model agreements used when complaints against the state are settled.
Officials there contend that they knew nothing about a confidentiality
clause. Mr. Silver’s people say that the attorney general’s office was brought
along virtually every step of the way, and the trail of newly released
e-mails appears to back that up. * Bill Hammond
@NYDNHammond Schneiderman: OAG gave Assembly a model pre-litigation settlement agreement w/o confidentiality clause. #gropez *Schneiderman Blasts Secret Payment(YNN)
DiNapoli Cauth in Scandal
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli sign off on a $103,000 check without
asking what it was for? Mr. DiNapoli’s aides said the check was paid out
automatically by computer when it was requested by the Assembly’s
computer. Assembly aides said they called the comptroller’s office to
make sure they were using the right codes and proper methods for this
unusual fee.
“It appears that the Assembly speaker, in an effort to divert attention from the Assembly’s conduct, is attempting to blame the women who brought claims against Mr. Lopez and then agreed to a settlement.” Gloria Allred
Complaints Against Lopez & Silver Go To Ethics Board * Several State Offices Toiled Over Vito Lopez Sexual Harassment Settlement(NY Mag) * Ethics commission must get to the bottom of Lopez scandal(NYDN) * Staten Island DA Dan Donovan (a Republican) has been assigned to handle the Lopez case.
The Police Are Not the Only Ones With A Blue Wall
Vito Lopez staffers initially demanded $1.2 million hush payout: sources(NYP) Women staffers who accused Lopez of sexually harassing them originally
sought $1.2 million in damages, before Silver negotiated a $103,000
settlement after Allred threatened to air details of the incidents
It's time for City Councilwoman Diana Reyna, the former chief of staff for Vito Lopez, to speak up about the disgraced assemblyman (NYDN) Reyna's friends say Lopez made her life 'a living hell.' Sources identify two women who received $103,000 secret payout in Lopez's sexual harassment scandal
8/30/2012
Coverup must end in Vito Lopez sexual harassment cases (NYDN Ed) Speaker Sheldon Silver and others in Albany need to release all relevant info
The News demands Silver release all public information relating to Lopez’s sexual harassment settlement and any similar deals:The Vito Lopez scandal is getting, well, grosser by the minute. The Times spoke to five women who say they were harassed by Lopez while working for him. Among their allegations: He asked some women not to wear bras, referred to others as “well-endowed” and urged another to break up with her boyfriend. Lopez has denied the allegations.
Albany Pigs Go Way Beyond Member Item Pork
Disgraced pol Vito Lopez's fmr. chief-of-staff ID'd as sex-harass settler(NYP) Leah Hebert, 29, worked for more than a year in Lopez’s Brooklyn office
until she was terminated June 7 — the same day that an invoice for that
settlement was submitted to the Assembly, records show. One of the alleged victims who received
a share of the settlement is Lopez’s former chief of staff who worked
in his Brooklyn office for more than a year and whose salary was slashed
for unknown reasons in January *Women who worked for Vito Lopez are talkingCapital New York * One Vito Lopez aide left and went to work against him | Capital New York *E-mails: Vito Lopez sex harass accusers sought $1.2M(NYP)
For Aide Claims Lopez Was Sexually Hostile
“Vito doesn’t hire ugly girls,” Ms. Friot said
Women Employed by Lawmaker Describe Sexually Hostile Office(NYT) Lopez told some women not to wear bras to work. He requested they wear short skirts and high heels. He gave them cash to buy jewelry and complimented them on their figures, giving special attention to those he called “well endowed.” Five women who worked for Lopez said he made frequent sexual advances, requested they dress provocatively, and asked invasive personal questions in his office, and they feared reprisals if they complained * AP: Vito Lopez sex harassment accusers sought $1.2M (NewsDay) The records also show that Silver, accused by some of a cover-up to protect Lopez, had extensive help from outside the chamber in crafting the legal settlement that had been cloaked in a confidentiality agreement until Thursday. The records show Silver's counsel worked through three drafts of the settlement with staff from the Attorney General's Office and state Comptroller's Office.
The documents appear to show a larger role in the Assembly sex harassment settlement by the Attorney General's and Comptroller's offices than those offices previously stated. Spokesmen for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli have said lower-level workers had little say in the settlement and no power to question or stop it.
Everyday Was No Bra Day At Lopez's Office
Ms. Friot, 28, said that Mr. Lopez never directly harassed her but that
“there was a certain culture where behaviors like that were
permissible.” Another woman described “an atmosphere of intimidation,” an environment
where she and other former staff members said Mr. Lopez veered between
crude jokes and fierce tirades.* 2 Women Received $32,000 From Assemblyman, Beyond Money From State
Vito's Sock Puppet Seddio "What Harassment" " Changing of the Guard of What?
Lopez protégé Frank Seddio — the favorite to replace Lopez as Brooklyn
Democratic leader — yesterday expressed doubt that the alleged
harassment occurred, despite the settlement payout and the Assembly
committee’s censure vote. Frontrunner to take over Brooklyn Democratic Party Frank(NYDN) * Frank Seddio pitched himself as a changing of the guard. * “It’s kind of like running a marathon, where I’m coming in number one and she’s number 6,367,” he said of one of his rivals, Jo Anne Simon. * One pro-Seddio district leader was not amused by the Draft Karim Camara movement. * An anonymous Lopez foe connected Steve Levin to the issue.* No Consensus for Camara; Seddio Seems Set to Replace Vito Lopez (NYO) * Frank Seddio hired George Arzt to handle his communications effort. It’s an interesting contrast with Vito Lopez, who genuinely did not believe in the press.Even the local TV News is covering
Will Vito take Silver down with him?(WCBS) Female Employees of State Assemblyman Describe Harassment (NBC) The women's description
of a hostile and sexualized workplace comes amid outrage over a secret
$103,000 tax-payer funded settlement
Maloney Focusing On Silvers Reforms Not On What Happen
Silver the Bully? Where is the Woman Legislators Outrage Over the Sexual Harassment Payoffs
Feminist 'trailblazer' Maloney backs Silver's coverup(NYDN)'Feminist
trailblazer'
Carolyn Maloney praises Sheldon Silver for acting 'decisively' to punish
Vito Lopez, but makes no mention of $103G payout to make sexual
harassment case against Brooklyn Democrat go away Maloney’s endorsement
of Silver stands in contrast to her record as an advocate for women’s
issues * Carolyn Maloney Praises Sheldon Silver?(Artist) * NY Pols Walk Fine Line In Criticizing Shelly Silver Over Vito Lopez Scandal(NYDN)Silver's Damage Control BS
Silver the Payments Where "Both Legal and Ethical" . . . Legal? For sure. The Legislature writes all the rules — especially those that protect legislators
DiNapoli's "Legal Services" Bag Money
The Bear Mountain Pack Is Dead . . What Happens In Albany No Longer Stays in Albany
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
clarified the role the state’s top lawyer played in the six-figure
settlement. The spokesman said the office “received unsolicited
drafts of a settlement agreement, made one recommendation clarifying
that the Assembly was the employer, and provided a model prelitigation
settlement agreement, which included neither a confidentiality agreement
nor any monetary terms.” . . . Indeed, both Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller
Tom DiNapoli have had to answer questions over their own roles in the
burgeoning mess regarding the hush money secretly paid to Assemblyman
Vito Lopez’s first sexual-harassment victim. * DiNapoli’s Office Distances Itself From Lopez Scandal(YNN)* Bill Hammond
@NYDNHammond According to emails, DiNapoli's general counsel, Nancy Groenwegen, also received copies of the draft Lopez agreements.
Will the Investigates Limit Their Scope?
Which is why Cuomo set up JCOPE in the first place. He has clear operational control of the body — which, The Post reports, plans an investigation that will “focus on the process” by which the money was paid. That’s not nearly enough, of course. But such a probe would crack open Albany’s notoriously closed doors. Silver. Schneiderman. DiNapoli. What did they know, when did they know it and what did they do about it? * Two groups filed a formal complaint on Wednesday asking for the state ethics commission to investigate Speaker Shelly Silver’s handling of sexual harassment complaints against Lopez, the Wall Street Journal reports: * JCOPE called a “special meeting” on Sept. 4. No additional details were available, but speculation is this will mark the start of the investigation into the Assemblyman Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal.
Albany Pigs Go Way Beyond Member Items Pork
8/29/2012
1st Woman Who Claims Lopez Was Sexually Hostile
“Vito doesn’t hire ugly girls,” Ms. Friot said
Women Employed by Lawmaker Describe Sexually Hostile Office(NYT) Lopez told some women not to wear bras to work. He requested they wear short skirts and high heels. He gave them cash to buy jewelry and complimented them on their figures, giving special attention to those he called “well endowed.”
Everyday Was No Bra Day At Lopez's Office
Ms. Friot, 28, said that Mr. Lopez never directly harassed her but that
“there was a certain culture where behaviors like that were
permissible.” Another woman described “an atmosphere of intimidation,” an environment
where she and other former staff members said Mr. Lopez veered between
crude jokes and fierce tirades.* 2 Women Received $32,000 From Assemblyman, Beyond Money From State
What Silver Says, What Silver Mean
Mad magazine used to have a recurring feature called what they say what they mean, in which they had two comic strips. The first one was what they person says. The second strip explained what that person really meant. Three days ago a Silver spokesman said, "that the only situation where a complaint isn’t referred to the ethics committee is when a victim asks for personal privacy. (WNYC) Yesterday afternoon a statement Tuesday from Gloria Allred, an attorney for the woman, said they have “never requested or instead that a legislative committee or other body not proceed with an investigation.” After Allred statement Silver was caught lying and decided to confess to save his job. * Assembly Speaker Under Fire For Lopez Actions (NY1)
The Bear Mountain Pack Is Dead . . What Happens In Albany No Longer Stays in Albany
Makes shocking confession on Vito deal(NYP) Makes shocking confession on Vito deal. A state ethics committee created by Gov. Cuomo has launched a
potentially damning probe into the six-figure Assembly payout to two of
Vito Lopez’s alleged sex-harassment victims — a deal Speaker Sheldon
Silver now admits he green-lighted, sources said yesterday. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics
has launched a probe into the Assembly’s $103,080 settlement for Lopez’s
harassment claim, which did not appear before the ethics committee,
according to sources* Some candidates are still seeking to tie their opponent’s to Lopez’s woes.
Cuomo’s on the case(NYP Ed) Cuomo yesterday took effective custody of the Sheldon Silver-Vito Lopez
sexual-harassment scandal — urging his hand-tooled Joint Commission on
Public Ethics to work its way to the bottom of Albany’s latest bubbling
cesspool. * ssembly Speaker Admits Fault in Lopez Scandal(NYT) * Speaker Admits Mistake(WSJ) * Embattled Assemblyman Out As Brooklyn Democratic Chair(NY1) * Vito Lopez will give up his Bklyn Dem chairmanship(NYDN) *Silver must come clean (NYDN Ed) Probe of $103K payout 2 Vito Lopez victim will "focus
on the process", i.e. Sheldon Silver's role * Gloria Allred joined the chorus of criticism on Vito Lopez’s taxpayer-funded settlement.
Weiner Confession Failed to Save Him, Will Silver's Mea Copa
Silver the Bully?
Feminist 'trailblazer' Maloney backs Silver's coverup(NYDN)'Feminist
trailblazer'
Carolyn Maloney praises Sheldon Silver for acting 'decisively' to punish
Vito Lopez, but makes no mention of $103G payout to make sexual
harassment case against Brooklyn Democrat go away Maloney’s endorsement
of Silver stands in contrast to her record as an advocate for women’s
issues,
Fake Sheldon Silver
Cuomo Looks to Place Karim As His Brooklyn Boss, Vito Wants Seddio
A former judge and civil rights lawyer lead crowded pack(NYDN) Council candidate and former judge Frank Seddio is one of the leading candidates to replace Lopez, who said he would not seek re-election as chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party next month*
8/28/2012
 |
| The King is Dead |
Lopez Will Not Run For ReElection As Party Chair Breaking .
That Was Fast: Vito Lopez Announces His Exit(NYO) * Lopez Resigns As Brooklyn Dem Chair(YNN) * The letter that led to Vito Lopez's (partial) resignation * Lopez to Yield Party Leadership Role(NYT) * Vito Lopez announces resignation from Brooklyn Democratic Chairman position(NYP) * Vito Lopez Gives Up On Staying Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman(NYDN) *Five Facts About Frank Seddio, a Leading Candidate to Replace Vito Lopez(NYO) * Embattled Assemblyman Out As Brooklyn Democratic Chair(NY1) * Silver Says Confidential Settlement Was ‘Wrong,’ Transparency-Wise(Albany Watch)
Karim Camara Being Recruited As “Reform” Brooklyn Party Leader
Silver admits he was wrong in handling Lopez sex harassment case(NYP) * Assembly Speaker Admits Fault in Lopez Scandal(NYT) * Sheldon Silver feeling heat in wake of Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal(Newsday)* Silver: Assembly will open up sex harassment casesGlens Falls Post-Star
* Silver admits secret settlement was a bad ideaAlbany Times Union
Karim Camara Being Recruited As “Reform” Brooklyn Party Leader
What Silver Says Is He Made A Mistake
What Silver Meant is I got Cauth
* Silver admits secret settlement was a bad ideaAlbany Times Union
"The charges made
against me are unfair and untrue. Never did I intentionally touch or attempt to
kiss the complainants." Vito Lopez
Why You Pay the Hush Money Ass Hole?
Silver Lopez New York's Joe Paterno Sandusky
Albany's Blue Wall of Silence: No Outrage By Members
Lopez, as sketchy a pol as they come, now turns out to be a serial molester. And Silver has been an enabler — and, effectively, his paymaster. Vito Lopez needs to go. Shelly Silver needs to come clean. Now. .
Bloomberg Doing His Best Sargent Schultz "I know Nothing"On Lopez
.
A spokesman for Silver’s office said that the only situation where a complaint isn’t referred to the ethics committee is when a victim asks for privacy. (WNYC)
Gloria Allred Not True
A statement Tuesday from Gloria Allred, an attorney for the woman, said they have “never requested or instead that a legislative committee or other body not proceed with an investigation.”
The DN editorial board says: Spill the Vito Lopez secrets
Gevalt. The Senate is a mess. The press should focus on this... RT
John Liu is the Only Mayoral Candidate Who Has Not Demanded That Lopez Resign.
Liu
is also the one responsible to find out if Lopez's Bushwick non profit
paid part or the hush money. We need an independent auditor
Albany's Crime Culture
“All I know is what I’ve read in the newspapers,” said the man who so famously tracks the fall of every sparrow in the Empire State. To his credit, Cuomo did call for Lopez’s resignation from the Assembly."NYP * “Albany’s enforcement mechanisms — supposedly bolstered by Cuomo — broke down badly when it came to Lopez,” Bill Hammond opined.* Cuomo on the use of taxpayer dollars to settle a sexual harassment claim: “Well that happens all the time, right? You have a car accident. The state driver was negligent, the state pays damages. So the state often pays for damages of public officials.”* New York Ethics: Corruption Crackdowns Rising In State(Huff Post) * Gov: Pols wanna raise for THIS? (NYDN)
Four Ways Vito Lopez reshaped New York The New York World
1. Hello hipsters, bye-bye business * 2. Costly tax breaks for real estate developers 3. Grants for the grassroots 4. Big money for Brooklyn8/27/2012
 |
| Silver Pays Hush Money Nobody Notices |
Lopez Circle His Machine Wagons to Fight Cuomo
Cuomo: Vamoose, Vito!(NYP) * Cuomo Calls for Resignation of Brooklyn Assemblyman(NYT) * Cuomo Calls on Vito Lopez to Step Down(WSJ) * Cuomo joins chorus calling for Lopez to resign(NYDN) * "instructed [Vito] Lopez that she wud no longer b required 2 show up 4 work but would remain on his payroll" http://nydn.us/NVCYmC * Lopez had several attractive interns with short stints at his office:(NYDN) * Would
private-sector version of alleged harasser Vito Lopez get "fired in a
heartbeat" (as per Daily News)? Maybe not if it's Forest City and Jim
Stuckey(Atlantic Yards Reports) * Even the establishment-friendly Thomas Jefferson club, headed by Frank Seddio, is set to urge Lopez to step aside.* "I agree with the governor. he should resign"--GOP 
Lopez: Charges ‘Unfair And Untrue…No Intention Of Resigning’(YNN)
* Which Races Are Most Affected by Vito Lopez’s Implosion?(NYO) * Robinson, Simon Floated as Next Brooklyn Dem Chair if Lopez is Ousted(YNN) * Onetime Vito Lopez supporter predicts a shutout in Brooklyn(Capital) * Harassment Charges--Not Corruption Probes--Do Most Damage To ...(NYDN) * Bill Thompson and Kirsten Gillibrand piled on the Vito Lopez scandal. * Cuomo declined to comment on reports that Shelly Silver shelved a previous sexual harassment allegation against Lopez. * Betty-Ann Canizio, a district leader who was previously a big supporter of Lopez, declared, ”I can’t condone a predator. As much as I like him, I can’t.”8/25/2012
Yesterday Was St Valentine's Day for the Lopez Gang,Today is St Valentine's Day for the Silver Gang
Breaking Big
Albany Armageddon The Horror of It All
Breaking Sunday NYT Sunday Before Censure, a Hushed Settlement Against Assemblyman(NYT) The previous accusation against Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, who is also the head of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, was settled earlier this year at least in part with public funds, a confidentiality agreement and a mandatory sexual harassment workshop
Silver Settled A Lopez Sexual Harassment Case With Gloria Allred - Calling Geraldo
"Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver quietly settled at least one sexual harassment accusation against a powerful Brooklyn assemblyman before censuring him on Friday for sexually harassing two other female employees, people with knowledge of the agreement said." NYT
Vito Lopez Refused To Testify In Sexual Harrassment Case(NYDN) * Times: Assembly Speaker Settled Previous Harassment Claim Against Vito Lopez
*** How Many Other Sexual Harassment Cover-Ups? Where is JCOPE?
‘political death’ of lopez(NYP) * Lawmaker Is Censured Over Sexual Harassment(NYT) * Lawmaker Censured on Sexual Harassment(WSJ) * Vito Lopez, Powerful Brooklyn Democrat, Faces Sexual Harassment Claims(WSJ) * Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez Slammed for Sexual Harassment(NY Mag)NY Daily News Says Vito Must Go Legislature is no place for a sexual predator Brooklyn boss Vito Lopez must disprove sex charges or quit * ‘Horndog’ Vito staffers: Always dress down!(NYP) * Vito Lopez faces cascade of calls to resign after sex harass(NYDN) * Living in a Post-Vito World(Prospect Heights Patch) * Angelo Falcón took a look at the post-Vito Lopez era and what it means for Latino politics.* Times: Assembly Speaker Settled Previous Harassment Claim Against Vito Lopez(NY1) * Cuomo Calls for Censured Brooklyn Assemblyman to Resign(NYT)
*
Cuomo joins chorus calling for Lopez to resignNYDN) * Sheldon Silver Actually Settled Other Sexual Harassment Case Against Vito Lopez (Gothamist)
Leading From Behind
Cuomo calls for Vito Lopez to resign in wake of censure for sexually harassing female staffers(NYP) * Gov. Cuomo has added his voice to a group of influential elected officials calling on Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez to resign following his censure for sexually harassing two former female staffers * Gov. Cuomo calls for resignation of Assemblyman Vito Lopez: Governor Andrew Cuomo has joined other lawmakers in ...
8/24/2012
Vito Lopez Losing Housing Committee After Sexual Harassment Allegations(NYO)
New York - Powerful Assemblyman Vito Lopez Loses Post In Sex Harassment Case
Vito Lopez, powerful Brooklyn assemblyman, stripped of leadership post after committee finds he sexually harassed 2 employees
Several likely 2013 NYC mayoral contenders – Manhattan BP Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, publisher Tom Allon, and Council Speaker Chris Quinn – were quick with calls for Lopez to resign. A state Democratic Party spokesman had no comment. Nothing from Cuomo, either…yet. * Assemblyman Vito Lopez Removed From Housing Committee Chairmanship Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations [UPDATED] * Vito Lopez, Powerful Brooklyn Democrat, Faces Sexual Harassment Claims(WSJ) * Naomis next, Shelly(NYP)
Albany's Stealth Member Items Pork
NY state Senate funding $31M pork-barrel 'member-item' spending despite pledge(NYP)
Pols are quietly pigging out on $31 million worth of new pet projects
— despite a 2010 pledge that pork-barrel spending was done for good,
the Post has learned. The new spending is hidden in the budget as
state Dormitory Authority grants — and they fund everything from buying
cars and washing machines for nonprofits to designing pedestrian plazas
and sprucing up community centers. Since the authority issues bonds,
future taxpayers will pay for the pork — plus interest. The Jamaica
Business Resource Center is getting $100,000 to spruce up its building,
courtesy of Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Queens). The Spanish Language
Repertory Company in Chelsea, which already
received $250,000 this year for a translation system that rivals the one
at the Metropolitan Opera, is getting another $250,000 for unspecified
purposes. Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) is the sponsor.
posted by Journalist @ 3:22 PM
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