http://www.balconynewyork.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:20:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/02/03/bloomberg-silver-op-ed-new-york-must-finally-raise-the-minimum-wage/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/02/03/bloomberg-silver-op-ed-new-york-must-finally-raise-the-minimum-wage/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:59:04 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5494

By Michael Bloomberg And Sheldon Silver Thursday, February 2, 2012, 4:09 AM It’s time to raise the minimum wage. Over the past several years, the cost of living in New York — like nearly everywhere else — has gone up, but for New Yorkers at the bottom of the economic ladder, one thing has remained unchanged: the minimum wage.

Given today’s high cost of living, it is unrealistic to expect a working person, much less a family, to afford rent, groceries, clothing, heating, phone, transportation, child care — and be able to save for the future — on $290 a week. If the minimum wage does not allow someone to afford even the most minimal of expenses, the incentive to work is diminished.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/02/03/bloomberg-silver-op-ed-new-york-must-finally-raise-the-minimum-wage/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/dinapoli-replacing-defined-benefit-pension-with-401k-style-plan-%e2%80%98unacceptable%e2%80%99/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/dinapoli-replacing-defined-benefit-pension-with-401k-style-plan-%e2%80%98unacceptable%e2%80%99/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:53:46 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5456
DiNapoli’s comments came at a forum sponsored by the National Public Pension Coalition at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 2012.

According to a copy of the comptroller’s prepared remarks sent out by his press office, DiNapoli decried the “coordinated, sustained attacks by anti-pension advocates” that he says have “falsely cast public pensions as costly, unsustainable giveaways that are bankrupting states and localities.” ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/30/dinapoli-replacing-defined-benefit-pension-with-401k-style-plan-%e2%80%98unacceptable%e2%80%99/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/uft-ad-slams-bloombergs-record-on-education/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/uft-ad-slams-bloombergs-record-on-education/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:30:35 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5403

UFT Blasts Bloomberg On Teacher Evaluations

BY Celeste Katz

The city teachers union is blasting Mayor Bloomberg’s education record in a television attack ad that’s airing amid the tense standoff over teacher evaluations. Our Ben Chapman reports: More than eight million viewers are expected to see the union’s 30-second spot, which pulls no punches in its critique of the mayor’s education reforms. “Ten years as Mayor, and Mike Bloomberg still doesn’t get it,” begins the narrator’s criticism of Bloomberg’s record on schools, starting with his appointment of Cathie Black as schools chancellor. [Click through to view the ad.]]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/uft-ad-slams-bloombergs-record-on-education/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/public-pensions-are-not-the-enemy-by-afl-cio-president-mario-cilento/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/public-pensions-are-not-the-enemy-by-afl-cio-president-mario-cilento/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:53:18 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5397

Public pensions are not the enemy So why does Gov. Cuomo's plan vilify middle class retirement security?

By Mario Cilento / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Wednesday, January 25 2012, 4:24 AM We hear all the time about exorbitant public-sector pensions, which leads many to believe mistakenly that retired nurses, firefighters, teachers and others are wealthy. We don’t hear that the average benefit for a member in the largest plan in New York — the New York State and Local Retirement System — is $19,000 a year, or that 76% of these pensions are less than $30,000 a year.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/25/public-pensions-are-not-the-enemy-by-afl-cio-president-mario-cilento/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/06/rdswu-living-wage-gets-support-from-business/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/06/rdswu-living-wage-gets-support-from-business/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:27:24 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5200
Pressure is mounting on City Council Speaker Christine Quinn — a 2013 mayoral hopeful — to take a stand on a living-wage bill that would mandate higher pay for employees of companies receiving major city subsidies. A politically connected small-business owner with close ties to Mayor Bloomberg plans to announce his support for the bill today, while operatives working on the measure are engineering a ramped-up campaign to begin after Martin Luther King Day.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2012/01/06/rdswu-living-wage-gets-support-from-business/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/28/final-report-on-mandate-relief/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/28/final-report-on-mandate-relief/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:42:22 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5136
Jim Odato devoted his column this morning to the final report of the Mandate Relief Redesign Team, which issued its 70-page document, it seems, without all of the team members even knowing it was coming out.

Link to the article and the FULL REPORT:]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/28/final-report-on-mandate-relief/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/27/democrats-may-say-no-dice-to-new-york-casinos-sheldon-silver-warns/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/27/democrats-may-say-no-dice-to-new-york-casinos-sheldon-silver-warns/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:56:16 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5102

Democrats may say no dice to New York casinos, Sheldon Silver warns Assembly Speaker supports idea, but can't guarantee bill will fly with Dems

BY Kenneth Lovett

ALBANY — The push to legalize casinos in New York is no sure bet to pass in the Assembly, the Daily News has learned. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) supports the idea, but he told the Daily News on Monday that he can’t guarantee such a bill would fly with his Democratic conference, which holds a majority in the chamber. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/27/democrats-may-say-no-dice-to-new-york-casinos-sheldon-silver-warns/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/27/a-living-wage-long-overdue-nyt-editorial/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/27/a-living-wage-long-overdue-nyt-editorial/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:26:52 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5090



A Living Wage, Long Overdue New York City provides hundreds of millions of dollars a year in taxpayer-financed subsidies to private developers. It is only right that the jobs created by those projects pay a decent wage. The Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, widely known as the living-wage bill, would nudge these employers in the right direction.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/27/a-living-wage-long-overdue-nyt-editorial/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/26/gov-cuomo-puts-full-tilt-casino-in-city-on-table/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/26/gov-cuomo-puts-full-tilt-casino-in-city-on-table/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:10:22 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=5113
EXCLUSIVE: In wide-ranging interview, Andy reflects on successes in his first year, and the "eye-catching" moves he wants to make in 2012

BY Kenneth Lovett

ALBANY — Looking back on a successful first year in office, Gov. Cuomo vowed to make “eye-catching” moves in 2012 — and for the first time said he is open to rolling the dice on a casino in New York City. “Do I support casino gaming at a New York City location? . . . Yes,” the governor told the Daily News in a year-end chat.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/12/26/gov-cuomo-puts-full-tilt-casino-in-city-on-table/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/11/11/seeking-a-cure-for-troubled-hospitals-in-brooklyn/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/11/11/seeking-a-cure-for-troubled-hospitals-in-brooklyn/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:25:57 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4998

by Nina Bernstein

When the pain in his groin was too great to bear, Ralph Hutchins, who works as a mover, headed to the crowded emergency room at the nearest hospital one recent Tuesday, his life at risk. Tanya Boynton, a mother of four who works 12-hour shifts, hobbled into another emergency room from a homeless shelter, afraid illness would end her job. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/11/11/seeking-a-cure-for-troubled-hospitals-in-brooklyn/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/10/31/afl-cio-pledges-campaign-to-stop-cuts-to-medicare-medicaid-social-security/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/10/31/afl-cio-pledges-campaign-to-stop-cuts-to-medicare-medicaid-social-security/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:57:34 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4951
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told reporters Monday that “we will run the campaign necessary” to defeat any Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security reductions proposed by joint deficit reduction panel. But he stopped short of saying the labor group won’t endorse members of Congress who vote for such cuts.

]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/10/31/afl-cio-pledges-campaign-to-stop-cuts-to-medicare-medicaid-social-security/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/10/26/dinapoli-forecasts-weaker-wall-street-outlook/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/10/26/dinapoli-forecasts-weaker-wall-street-outlook/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:40:20 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4944

Economic uncertainty due to the European sovereign debt crisis, a sluggish domestic economy, volatile stock markets, and regulatory changes are among the chief contributors to a weakened outlook for Wall Street profits, jobs and bonuses for 2011, according to an annual report on the securities industry released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/10/26/dinapoli-forecasts-weaker-wall-street-outlook/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/09/02/one-in-seven-new-yorkers-out-of-work-two-years-into-%e2%80%9crecovery%e2%80%9d/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/09/02/one-in-seven-new-yorkers-out-of-work-two-years-into-%e2%80%9crecovery%e2%80%9d/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:46:15 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4863

New report documents New York’s continuing unemployment crisis in the context of the weak national economic recovery

New York (August 31, 2011): A new report released today by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) shows that two years into the “recovery” from the Great Recession of 2008-09, 1.4 million, or one in every seven, New York workers is unemployed, under-employed or has given up looking for work. Long-term unemployment is at record levels. Half of the unemployed have been out of work for more than six months and 29 percent have been jobless for a year or more.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/09/02/one-in-seven-new-yorkers-out-of-work-two-years-into-%e2%80%9crecovery%e2%80%9d/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/31/n-y-sues-feds-due-to-hydraulic-fracking-concerns/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/31/n-y-sues-feds-due-to-hydraulic-fracking-concerns/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:52:39 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4856

According to reports, the United States government will ask a federal judge to dismiss a New York lawsuit that seeks to force a comprehensive review of how natural gas extraction might affect the 9 million residents of the state. Sources say the U.S. plans to ask for dismissal because the state of New York cannot prove injury and has no right to sue federal agencies. Reportedly, U.S. attorneys are relying on the principle of sovereign immunity, which protects the U.S. from lawsuits unless it waives that right.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/31/n-y-sues-feds-due-to-hydraulic-fracking-concerns/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/17/warren-buffetts-tax-dodge/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/17/warren-buffetts-tax-dodge/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:14:38 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4834

OPINION

Barney Kilgore, the man who made the Wall Street Journal into a national publication, was once asked why so many rich people favored higher taxes. That's easy, he replied. They already have their money.

That insight is worth recalling amid the latest political duet from President Obama and Warren Buffett demanding higher taxes on "millionaires and billionaires." Mr. Buffett is repeating his now familiar argument this week, coinciding with Mr. Obama's Midwestern road trip on the economy. Since the media are treating Mr. Buffett as a tax oracle, let's take a closer look at some of the billionaire's intellectual tax dodges.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/17/warren-buffetts-tax-dodge/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/15/stop-coddling-the-super-rich/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/15/stop-coddling-the-super-rich/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:03:53 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4828
By WARREN E. BUFFETT

OUR leaders have asked for “shared sacrifice.” But when they did the asking, they spared me. I checked with my mega-rich friends to learn what pain they were expecting. They, too, were left untouched. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/15/stop-coddling-the-super-rich/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/09/the-great-mirthologist-why-hugh-carey-was-one-of-the-best-governors-ever/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/09/the-great-mirthologist-why-hugh-carey-was-one-of-the-best-governors-ever/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:24:46 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4808



tyle of politics. He called it “mirthology.” He applied it to one of his political heroes, Al Smith, the great New York governor in the 1920s who was quick with a disarming, humorous story or a witty comeback to a political attack.

Carey admired many things about Al Smith, but you got the sense, talking with him for even five minutes, that what he admired most was Smith’s sense of joy—F.D.R. famously called him “the happy warrior.” The guy loved politics and loved being around politicians. He loved telling stories.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/09/the-great-mirthologist-why-hugh-carey-was-one-of-the-best-governors-ever/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/08/former-gov-hugh-carey-has-died-at-age-92/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/08/former-gov-hugh-carey-has-died-at-age-92/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:26:54 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4805

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this morning that former Gov. Hugh Carey passed away this morning at his home in Shelter Island. Carey, the state’s 51st governor between 1975 and 1982, was 92.

Here’s the announcement from Carey’s family through Cuomo’s office:

HUGH L. CAREY

(April 11, 1919- August 7, 2011)

The Family of former Governor Hugh L .Carey announced today that the Governor passed away peacefully at his much loved summer home on Shelter Island, New York, early this morning. The Governor was surrounded by his loving family. He was 92 years of age.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/08/former-gov-hugh-carey-has-died-at-age-92/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/08/carey-was-indispensable-in-citys-70s-fiscal-crisis/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/08/carey-was-indispensable-in-citys-70s-fiscal-crisis/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:16:08 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4800 August 8, 2011

The obituaries for Governor Hugh L. Carey stress a major achievement, bringing fiscal responsibility to New York City government after the financial crisis of 1974 and 1975. Here are some facts about the situation at that time and Governor Carey's critical role.

Mayor Koch, who knew Governor Carey since they served in Congress thirty years ago, has written about Carey's achievements. Click here to read his commentary.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/08/carey-was-indispensable-in-citys-70s-fiscal-crisis/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/02/statement-robert-greenstein-president-on-new-debt-ceiling-agreement/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/02/statement-robert-greenstein-president-on-new-debt-ceiling-agreement/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:10:36 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4791



"The new debt ceiling agreement will achieve the essential goal of avoiding a potentially catastrophic default in the days ahead. But to say that the deal is likely to lead to highly unbalanced results would be an understatement. The deal places the nation on a disturbing policy course and sets what may become important precedents that are cause for serious concern.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/08/02/statement-robert-greenstein-president-on-new-debt-ceiling-agreement/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/29/a-union-plan-for-financing-construction/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/29/a-union-plan-for-financing-construction/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:33:30 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4734

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

The A.F.L.-C.I.O. said it would announce on Wednesday that it intends to work with pension fund managers to ensure that at least $10 billion in union pension money is made available in the next five years to finance infrastructure projects. Richard L. Trumka, president of the labor federation, will present the plan at a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in Chicago as part of organized labor’s effort to get the federal government, banks and money managers to do more to issue bonds or create other mechanisms to finance infrastructure projects. A.F.L.-C.I.O. officials said they planned to work with Deutsche Bank and other financial institutions in the hope of coming up with hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit large commercial buildings. Many building owners are hesitating to do such retrofits because they are highly leveraged and do not have the cash to make the investments. The A.F.L.-C.I.O. hopes its $10 billion will provide an incentive for banks and hedge funds to develop financing vehicles to make such projects happen. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/29/a-union-plan-for-financing-construction/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/27/the-power-bill/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/27/the-power-bill/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:01:33 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4680
by Jimmy Vielkind
Here’s a copy of the bill and its memo to resurrect Article X, which governs power plant siting in New York.

It also provides for on-bill financing, which is a corollary to the Green Jobs legislation passed two years ago. It allows homeowners who have benefited from subsidized retrofitting to pay for it — through the savings it causes — on their electrical bills. This is a big priority of the Working Families Party.

Legislators are expected to pass this sometime this evening.

Read the entire bill: Article X]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/27/the-power-bill/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/25/cuomo-likely-to-veto-bill-on-school-borrowing/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/25/cuomo-likely-to-veto-bill-on-school-borrowing/#comments Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:24:23 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4686

by Danny Hakim

ALBANY — State lawmakers on Friday approved a bill that would allow school districts to borrow as much as $1 billion without voter approval, but a spokesman for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said the measure would most likely be vetoed.]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/25/cuomo-likely-to-veto-bill-on-school-borrowing/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/14/cuomo-introduces-health-exchange-program-bill/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/14/cuomo-introduces-health-exchange-program-bill/#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:15:24 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4544

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has put out executive program bill No. 12, which would establish the governance structure and regulatory identity of a new health insurance exchange — an entity called for by the federal health care reform act. In recent weeks, advocates have stepped up their calls for New York to act to create its exchange, which will assist small businesses in securing insurance for their workers, in order to become eligible for the maximum amount of federal funds. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/14/cuomo-introduces-health-exchange-program-bill/feed/ 0 http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/10/pef-cautions-youth-facility-closures-risk-to-all/ http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/10/pef-cautions-youth-facility-closures-risk-to-all/#comments Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:04:00 +0000 kevin http://www.balconynewyork.com/?p=4503

Albany - The state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has announced a plan to close several, mostly upstate, juvenile facilties to cut costs, but with no apparent plan to address the needs of New York’s troubled youths. OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion has systematically emptied state juvenile facilities for the past several years, going as far as meeting with family court judges and urging them not to send youths to state facilities. “The public should be aware more than half of the youths in state juvenile facilities have special education needs and 67 percent have serious mental health needs,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. ]]> http://www.balconynewyork.com/2011/06/10/pef-cautions-youth-facility-closures-risk-to-all/feed/ 0