NEW THIS MORNING

NEW THIS MORNING: * The governors of New York and New Jersey are trying to wrest control from Mayor Michael Bloomberg of events and other decisions at the 9/11 Memorial, including the annual ceremony marking the terrorist attacks, the Wall Street Journal reports: http://on.wsj.com/LzcGUe * The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that New York City's taxi system complies with federal laws in a decision that rebuffs a class-action suit from disabled passengers, the New York Times writes: http://nyti.ms/NaIHC7 *Almost one-third of state school districts will spend their cash reserves in less than two years, according to a new survey, the Times-Union reports: http://bit.ly/Mb7rA0 * Bloomberg blasted the appeals judges who threw out a case against a Bronx teenager police arrested for possessing a loaded gun, the New York Post reports: http://nyp.st/MELqZ6 * Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes did not work to extradite an alleged pedophile for prosecution despite his promises to the contrary, according to newly released documents the Times examines: http://nyti.ms/OHmZNq * State Sen. Adriano Espillat's supporters want the Board of Election to investigate the slow pace of the election count that narrowed Rep. Charlie Rangel's lead to just over 1,000 votes, the Times reports: http://nyti.ms/MWCZrh * The City Council overrode three Bloomberg vetoes, approved an Upper West Side zoning measure and signed off on a $68.5-billion budget in its last session before summer, the Journal notes: http://on.wsj.com/ODYP58 * Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson will expand an NYPD ticket-fixing probe resulting in indictments against 16 officers to include seven local and federal police agencies, the Journal writes: http://on.wsj.com/KQwxTK * Police officers routinely downgrade crimes to lesser offenses and discourage victims from filling complaints to juke crime statistics, a new survey shows, but NYPD brass questioned the report's methodology, the Times writes: http://nyti.ms/MWCSf7 *Former Rep. Anthony Weiner discusses the politics and future of the Supreme Court's health care decision with the New York Observer but refuses to answer questions about his resignation: http://bit.ly/N7KdVv

NEW THIS MORNING

CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY COVERAGE: Our online primary polls have Grace Meng, Nydia Velázquez and Hakeem Jeffries leading their respective primary battles, while Charlie Rangel and Adriano Espaillat are locked in a tight race. For on-the-scenes coverage of the actual races, check for updates all day on The Notebook as we blog from Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan following the congressional primaries to their exciting conclusion: http://bit.ly/x3pOHj   NEW THIS MORNING: * Campaign officials and political consultants predicted low turnouts in primary elections for House seats and in the lone statewide primary, the New York Times writes: http://nyti.ms/MleKVd * Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council agreed on a $68.5 billion budget, restoring hundreds of millions of dollars in proposed cuts to after-school programs, fire service and libraries, the Wall Street Journal says: http://on.wsj.com/MNXQNM * As Bloomberg's third term comes to a close, City Hall is now starting to experience a phenomenon rarely seen in the "loyal pastures of Bloombergland": an exodus, the Times says: http://nyti.ms/LYYrhf * New York taxpayers shelled out nearly $2 million last year to cover late bill payments by the state government, a 38 percent increase from the prior year, the Post reports: http://nyp.st/MwXJ9N * Brian Kolb, the state Assembly's top Republican, called a possible post-election deal to raise lawmakers' pay in exchange for cutting their per-diem payments "extortion," the Post writes: http://nyp.st/MwXmvW * The state's plan for hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale might cause conflicts in municipalities where members of the town boards own land and could profit by leasing gas rights, the Democrat and Chronicle says: http://on.rocne.ws/My56Lo * Gov. Andrew Cuomo believes a property tax abatement for hundreds of thousands of condominium and co-op owners in New York City will be preserved, despite his rejection of its renewal, the Times writes: http://nyti.ms/LcDjji * A federal appeals court has returned to the New York state courts a dispute over whether the Shinnecock Indian tribe should be able to build a casino in the town of Southampton, the Times Union reports: http://bit.ly/LcGwiY

THE VENCEREMOS BRIGADE!

THE VENCEREMOS BRIGADE!  This summer 31 citizens are defying American law and going to Cuba as a civil disobedience!  Support these amazing folks!

NEW THIS MORNING

NEW THIS MORNING: * Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was aware of the challenges coming into his second session, and tackled priorities like redistricting and the budget early to strengthen his hand with the Legislature, the New York Times reports: http://nyti.ms/LjHR5V * Cuomo may require an end to the abused "per diem" reimbursement system for state lawmakers and mandate relief measures in exchange for a legislative pay raise after this fall's elections, the Post's Fred Dicker writes: http://nyp.st/MuFQFJ * Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a major donor to state Senate Republicans, is driving some of them crazy with his "do-or-die" pressure on issues like teacher evaluation disclosure, the Daily News writes: http://nydn.us/KWWdiW * The state comptroller found that companies in the Bronx, Brooklyn and upstate misused or abused state funds for a $2 billion special education preschool program that relies heavily on private contractors, the Times writes: http://nyti.ms/LVrfak * More than 50,000 New York City homeowners are appealing their property tax assessments this year, a near record, as bills rise and profits from home sales plummets, the Post reports: http://nyp.st/MJdgTb * Lawsuits and interviews show the NYPD has an "anti-snitching culture" that makes it difficult for police officers to call the Internal Affairs Bureau about colleagues' corruption or misconduct, the Times says: http://nyti.ms/MuCBAX * Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and his fiancé, activist Sean Eldridge, are launching a campaign to push for publicly financed elections in coordination with Cuomo, the Times reports: http://nyti.ms/MuD0mZ * Jerry's, an unassuming diner near City Hall, has emerged as the "unofficial canteen for the city's political power brokers," the Wall Street Journal writes: http://on.wsj.com/MvbdQu

SummerStage: Safire / Lisette Melendez / DJ Lucho

SummerStage: Safire / Lisette Melendez / DJ Lucho

Date: June 27, 2012

Safire’s string of club hits helped make her one of Latin freestyle’s most popular female performers. She was discovered at an audition, where she won the chance to record the already-waiting single “Don’t Break My Heart” which became a club hit. Her follow-up single, “Let Me Be the One” further established her in the popular Freestyle genre. Safire’s self-titled album debut featured her two previous hits, plus the even more successful ballad, “Thinking of You.”

Lisette Melendez is a freestyle and Latin pop singer hailing from Spanish Harlem, New York City. With powerful and sultry vocals, these songs propelled her debut album, Together Forever to gold status. Best known for her hits, “Together Forever” and “A Day In My Life (Without You),” both of which were dance music hits, Melendez helped to popularize the Latin freestyle genre.

DJ Lucho’s early exposure to the harmonious rhythms of Latin music in his Harlem neighborhood nurtured an innate talent that propelled him to become one of the most gifted DJs and producers in the music industry. His interaction with different genres of music has allowed him to develop a unique and versatile style, which was guided by his deep appreciation for various cultures and their musical influences.

Start time: 7:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Soundview Park

SummerStage: Safire / Lisette Melendez / DJ Lucho
Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:00:04 GMT

A Guide To Enjoying City Island Like A True Clam Digger

A Guide To Enjoying City Island Like A True Clam Digger

Here are a few tips for enjoying New York City's enclave on the Long Island Sound that you've been too lazy to research. [ more › ]

A Guide To Enjoying City Island Like A True Clam Digger
Christopher Robbins
Thu, 21 Jun 2012 22:10:33 GMT

NEW THIS MORNING

NEW THIS MORNING: * Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared his marijuana proposal dead, stamped out by state Senate Republicans who saw decriminalization as a declaration that Albany was soft on crime, the New York Times writes: http://nyti.ms/NhGpFR * Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration is lobbying heavily to kill an effort by Governor Cuomo and unions to limit the release of individual teachers' evaluations, the Wall Street Journal reports: http://on.wsj.com/M2WZrk * High-profile players in New York City's restaurant and hospitality industries have joined forces to form a new lobbying group, citing frustrations with the city's health department, the Journal says: http://on.wsj.com/NQGYsE * A coalition of environmental groups plans to campaign against a proposal that Governor Cuomo is weighing to approve limited drilling for natural gas, the Times says: http://nyti.ms/LeFHKQ * Under a proposal gaining traction in Albany, New Yorker drivers may soon have to get used to cameras that record the speed of a passing car and issue violations automatically, the Times reports: http://nyti.ms/Pmtbab * The MTA's target to bring the Long Island Rail Road into Grand Central Terminal is now August 2019, a date that's already been pushed back several times, the New York Post writes: http://nyp.st/Me7NBA * With lawmakers set to leave town in two days, energy-infrastructure companies are making a last-minute push to lift the state's ban on storing liquefied natural gas, the Ithaca Journal reports: http://ithacajr.nl/LjUd2i

New this Morning

* Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a last-minute bid just before midnight Monday to salvage a possible deal with teachers unions and lawmakers to limit the public disclosure of teacher evaluations, the Wall Street Journal writes: http://on.wsj.com/Li9tg3 * Facing resistance from the Republican-controlled Senate, a proposal by Gov. Cuomo to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana appeared near defeat on Monday, the New York Times says: http://nyti.ms/M9e0yD * Nicholas Spano, who spent nearly three decades representing Westchester County as a state senator and assemblyman, was sentenced on Monday to a year and a day in jail for tax evasion, the Times writes: http://nyti.ms/Mowgo9 * A proposal for a power line under parts of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain to deliver electricity to New York City has created an odd alliance between the Sierra Club and energy companies, the Journal writes: http://on.wsj.com/KJakIr * Lawmakers could vote as soon as Wednesday on the creation of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, a new watchdog agency, the Times-Union reports: http://bit.ly/Mo7vbJ * The state Legislature is expected to pass a bill to encourage organ donation by expanding the donor options on driver's license applications, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle writes: http://on.rocne.ws/KQd4yZ * Eight protesters with Occupy Wall Street have been convicted of misdemeanor trespassing a month after the Zuccotti Park encampment was dismantled, the Times-Union says: http://bit.ly/MCFrmr * The Cuomo administration and the union representing state prison guards have reached a tentative contract agreement, the Times-Union writes: http://bit.ly/NcM2VM * In NY-19, Democratic primary foes Julian Schreibman and Joel Tyner, who are vying for the chance to challenge Rep. Chris Gibson, faced off in their only debate, the Times-Union reports: http://bit.ly/NcFma3   ************

Clyde Williams

Clyde Williams, one of a handful of Democratic candidates running in the Congressional district spanning northern Manhattan and the South Bronx, has been largely overlooked in the press with much of the attention going to longtime incumbent Rep. Charlie Rangel and to another challenger, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat. But this weekend Williams, who used to head the Democratic National Committee, landed a key endorsement from the New York Times, which wrote that he "understands the area's diverse needs and has plans for job creation, education and tax reform." Williams said the endorsement made clear that he is "the one candidate in the race with fresh ideas for the future – and the skills and experience to turn them into a reality." "While my opponents debate each others' ethics, I focus squarely on what matters to people – jobs, education, housing," he continued. "This race is about progress towards the future, not the politics of the past." The Times also endorsed candidates in four more Democratic Congressional primaries, giving the nod to Richard Becker in the 18th Congressional District, to Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries in the 8th, to Rep. Nydia Velázquez in the 7th and to Assemblywoman Grace Meng in the 6th.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Pacman Jones Ordered to Pay $11 Million for 2007

Pacman Jones Ordered to Pay $11 Million for 2007 Strip Club Shooting *NFL knucklehead Adam "Pacman" Jones has got a new problem to deal with. Jones has been ordered to pay roughly $11 MILLION in damages to the victims of a 2007 strip club shooting in Las Vegas, according to TMZ. Pacman, who was with the Tennessee Titans at the time,  was sued by Aaron Cudworth and [...] Read More

EVENTS

Uptown Festival of New Plays (Thursday, through June 24) This four-day playwright festival, hosted by Morris-Jumel Mansion in partnership with the People's Theater Project, will showcase works in progress inspired by the Washington Heights neighborhood. The opening reception on Thursday begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a performance of "An Alien in Inwood," written by Kimberly Barrante. Performances are followed by a discussion with the playwright, director and actors. Admission is pay what you can. Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace, at Sylvan Terrace, Washington Heights, (212) 923-8008, morrisjumel.org.   Wave Hill: Father's Day T-Shirts, Tour and Exhibit (Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday) Inspired by Father's Day, "T's for Dad and Me," is a family activity in which participants can sketch summer scenery onto T-shirts with fabric markers as they walk through the nature center, on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. To 1 p.m. On Saturday, starting at 11 a.m., Deirdre La Porte, a guide at Wave Hill, will lead a history walk through the gardens. Gallery tours of the exhibition, "Tending Toward the Untamed: Artists Respond to the Wild Garden," featuring painting, photography, animation and sculpture, take place on Saturdays and Tuesdays at 2 p.m. (Tours through Aug. 18.) West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Riverdale, the Bronx, (718) 549-3200, wavehill.org; events are free with admission to the grounds: $8, $4 for students and 65+, $2 for children 6 to 18, and free for children under 6 and members. Free on Saturday and Tuesday until noon.   Cathedral Music: 'Drums of Illumination: Sacred Drumming in a Sacred Space' (Saturday) This music program features drumming, trance dances and chants from three cultural traditions: Southern Italian, American Indian and Afro Brazilian. The musicians include the vocalist Alessandra Belloni, who also directs this collaborative work; the drummer Sergio Bellotti, the percussionist Davi Vieira; and the Silvercloud Singers and Dancers. At 8 p.m., Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, at 112th Street, Morningside Heights, (212) 316-7490, stjohndivine.org; $25, but reservations are required.   New Haarlem Arts Theater: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' (Friday through July 8) This play, written by August Wilson and directed by Eugene Nesmith, explores the blues and race relations in America. Friday, Saturday and Thursday at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday a 2 p.m., Aaron Davis Hall, Theater B, 135th Street and Convent Avenue, Harlem, (212) 868-4444, newhaarlemartstheatre.org; $30, $25 for 60+, $15 for students, $10 with CUNY ID.   Spanish Harlem Salsa Tour (daily) This tour focuses on the neighborhood's cultural roots and includes stops at botanicas and the homes of noted musicians. Led by Jose Obando, an ethnomusicologist, the tour meets at 10 a.m. And 6 p.m. On the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 110th Street; $25; reservations,lubonacorp@yahoo.com.

NEW THIS MORNING

NEW THIS MORNING: * Three Republican candidates are vying to run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in November, but few New Yorkers seem to be paying attention to the June 26 primary, the New York Times says: http://nyti.ms/LoDwAS * Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state teachers-union leaders have struck a deal that would only allow parents to see evaluations of their own children's current teachers at meetings with school principals. The governor has signaled that he will veto any bill that diverges from that plan, the Post says: http://nyp.st/LQ0XWz * New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has been notably silent about the controversial Chelsea Market project in her district, which pits the business interests supporting her mayoral run against the activists who propelled Quinn to prominence, the Times reports: http://nyti.ms/MaSRST * After funding cutbacks ended a New York City rental-assistance program called Advantage earlier this year, hundreds of recipients—most of them children—have returned to the homeless shelter system, the Wall Street Journal reports: http://on.wsj.com/KGlCZi * A federal judge in Manhattan raised questions about aspects of the government's corruption case against New York City Councilman Larry Seabrook, saying the government's theory of how Seabrook received kickbacks from a non-profit was unclear, the Times writes: http://nyti.ms/L8VTLK * Rep. Eliot Engel took out a six-figure mortgage from a major campaign contributor rather than a bank, a move that would require clearance from the House Ethics committee: http://nydn.us/NCWqr2 * Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue is eligible to receive three different pensions worth more than $130,000, the Post writes: http://nyp.st/LpdXQ2   ************

Father's Day Event

Father's Day Event

Date: June 16, 2012

All children from the public will be invited to make Father’s Day cards. Children will be given supplies to decorate a Father’s Day card for their father. We will also have a father & child hot shot contest.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 860-5544

Location: Hunts Point Recreation Center

Father's Day Event
Fri, 15 Jun 2012 04:00:07 GMT

Transportation officials nix Sheridan Expressway removal

Transportation officials nix Sheridan Expressway removal

The Bloomberg administration has quietly decided to oppose the closure of the Sheridan Expressway, sparking road rage among Bronx activists who want to replace it with parks and housing, they announced last week.

Transportation officials nix Sheridan Expressway removal
DANIEL BEEKMAN
Mon, 11 Jun 2012 10:00:49 GMT