Category Archives: 2017 Mayoral Race

MTA Police For Malliotakis



Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis received a third union endorsement today, as the MTA Police Benevolent Association endorsed her in a press conference at Grand Central Terminal.  Malliotakis’ two other endorsements are also police unions, the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association and the New York State Troopers PBA.

MTA PBA President Mike O’Meara cast their endorsement as choosing to side with Governor Cuomo in his continuing conflict with Mayor de Blasio, saying that Malliotakis “unlike Bill de Blasio truly cares about working with our governor to fix the problems that are affecting the MTA.”  He referenced the “homeless epidemic” and the untreated mental illness that many of the homeless people his members deal with on a daily basis suffer from, lauding Malliotakis as focused on addressing those issues.

Continue reading MTA Police For Malliotakis

Malliotakis Meets MPAC



Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis met this morning in Harlem with about 20 ministers from Mobilizing Preachers and Community, or MPAC.  (MPAC is a coalition of  ministers, but the attendees emphasized today that they were attending individually.)  Although she was welcomed and the group was very interested in hearing from her, she had a bumpy time.

Continue reading Malliotakis Meets MPAC

Dietl On Ballot Props



Independent mayoral candidate Bo Dietl is a no, an undecided and a not-yet-ready-to-decide on the three propositions that will appear on Tuesday’s ballot. Ballot proposition #1, whether to hold a state constitutional convention, has been widely discussed, but propositions #2, to allow for reductions or elimination of the pensions of public officers convicted of a felony related to their duties, and #3, to create a 250 acre land bank and to allow creation of bike paths and utility lines in the Adirondacks, have received far less attention. Dietl has previously declared his opposition to proposition #1.  We spoke Tuesday night at a candidate forum in Howard Beach. Continue reading Dietl On Ballot Props

Malliotakis Calls for CFB To Freeze de Blasio $



Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis today demanded that the Campaign Finance Board freeze any additional matching fund payments to incumbent Democrat Bill de Blasio.  Speaking at a press conference outside the office of the CFB Malliotakis referenced the recent testimony of Jona Rechnitz in the federal corruption trial of Norman Seabrook on his political contributions to de Blasio and, according to Rechnitz, the mayor’s responsiveness to his requests in exchange for those contributions.

Video:

Here is Malliotakis’ full press conference:

Malliotakis On Ballot Props



Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis is a no, a yes and a maybe on the three propositions that will appear on Tuesday’s ballot.  Ballot proposition #1, whether to hold a state constitutional convention, has been widely discussed, but propositions #2, to allow for reductions or elimination of the pensions of public officers convicted of a felony related to their duties, and #3, to create a 250 acre land bank and to allow creation of bike paths and utility lines in the Adirondacks, have received far less attention.  Malliotakis has previously declared her opposition to proposition #1.

Here’s what Malliotakis had to say today:

Sandy Fifth Anniversary



Mayor Bill de Blasio marked the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Sandy today with a Rockaway press conference and presentation on several resiliency projects.  de Blasio was joined at the Arverne YMCA by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, NYS Senator James Sanders, Council Member Donovan Richards, NYC Director of Resiliency Dan Zarelli, Director of the office of Housing Recovery Amy Peterson and Parks Commissioner Mitch Silver.

The mayor outlined seven projects that the City will move forward with, using surplus funding from the rebuilding of the Rockaway boardwalk.  The projects include several parks in the eastern part of Rockaway. Continue reading Sandy Fifth Anniversary

de Blasio Defends, Chapter 2



Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference today in which he defended himself for a second consecutive day against witness testimony in a federal corruption trial.  de Blasio spoke in the Arverne section of Rockaway, as part of a lengthy presentation and press conference marking the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and promoting the City’s ongoing rebuilding and resiliency efforts.  Mayor de Blasio held a press conference yesterday, following a Midwood synagogue visit, in which he similarly defended himself against that testimony.

de Blasio again cast the witness testifying in the trial of Norman Seabrook, Jona Rechnitz, as a “liar” and “convicted felon,” energetically rejecting the assertion that de Blasio committed any crime or legal but wrongful acts in return for Rechnitz’ campaign and political contributions.  de Blasio repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. Attorney’s office would have known all that Rechnitz has alleged, as he’s been cooperating with the U.S. Attorney, when the U.S. Attorney ended its investigation of de Blasio without bringing any charges.

Video:

Here is the full “off-topic” portion of the Q&A at today’s press conference.  All but one of the questions focused on Rechnitz’ testimony.

de Blasio Defends



Mayor Bill de Blasio held a short press conference this afternoon to defend himself against allegations made by a witness in the Norman Seabrook corruption trial.  Speaking outside the Young Israel of Avenue K synagogue in Midwood de Blasio repeatedly called that witness a liar and a convicted felon.  He defended his actions as proper and pointed to the investigations by the U.S. Attorney, which is also prosecuting Seabrook and had Jona Rechnitz testify, and the Manhattan District Attorney which concluded without any criminal charges against de Blasio or his staff.

Continue reading de Blasio Defends

Dietl Demands de Blasio Detention



Independent mayoral candidate and retired NYPD detective Bo Dietl demanded that Mayor Bill de Blasio be criminally charged in connection with campaign finance contributions from a witness testifying in the Norman Seabrook corruption trial.  The witness, Jonah Rechnitz, testified that he made large contributions to de Blasio’s campaign and an separate political committee in exchange for access to de Blasio and actions from him. Continue reading Dietl Demands de Blasio Detention

Malliotakis On 116th



Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis returned to East Harlem Friday morning, walking a few blocks on 116th Street and visiting a senior center.  She received a warm welcome from the few seniors present at the center and from the staff, but her walk was mostly walking.  Malliotakis called out hello to people as she walked across a lightly populated 116th Street, with a few  stopping to shake hands or take a palm card, others simply continued on their way. Continue reading Malliotakis On 116th