Category Archives: Anthony Weiner

Retrospective – Weiner Comments



Here are a couple of notable Anthony Weiner comments from May and June.

The first is Anthony Weiner addressing his sexting and resignation from Congress in his first campaign forum appearance.  In his comments at the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club on May 23, 2013, he is apologetic and contrite, but does not offer any detail or description of what it is that he is sorry about.  His strategy of contrition without description served him well until the recent revelations, but those revelations now make that strategy appear deceptive.

The second is his response to a Queens Tech Policy Forum question, where all candidates were asked about their choice of personal phone.  It’s of no real consequence, but in retrospect it is a curious answer.

A Queens View of the Mayor’s Race (Updated)



We spoke with New York State Senator Joe Addabbo about the mayor’s race, and particularly on how his constituents view the race.  Are his constituents paying attention to the race?  Do they have a clear favorite in the race?  How do they view Anthony Weiner?

Addabbo’s district covers most of Rockaway and runs north through Broad Channel, Howard Beach and Ozone Park to Middle Village, Maspeth, Ridgewood and Forest Hills.  Anthony Weiner’s congressional district overlapped with Addabbo’s district.

Update:

We also spoke with New York State Assembly Member Phillip Goldfeder about the mayor’s race and how his constituents view the race.

Goldfeder’s district covers most of Rockaway, Broad Channel, Howard Beach and Ozone Park.  Like Addabbo, his district overlaps with Anthony Weiner’s former congressional district.

Weiner’s Warm Welcome (Updated x 3)



On a sweltering July afternoon, Anthony Weiner walked the beach in Rockaway.  He received a warm welcome in his former congressional district, with many well-wishers pledging support.

Sipping Suds Seaside:

In our first report, we have a brief look at Weiner indulging in a few seaside sips of suds.

Update #1 – Weiner Discusses Rockaway Issues:

As Anthony Weiner finished his Rockaway beach walk, we asked his views on several issues impacting Rockaway.

Update #2 – Weiner Discusses 15 Years of Campaigning in Rockaway:

Anthony Weiner engaged in an extended discussion of Rockaway and his experience running in and representing Rockaway.  This report includes a discussion between Ruby Cramer of Buzzfeed.com and Anthony Weiner.  You can read Ruby’s report here.

Update #3 – Beach Walk

Here’s a look at the reception Weiner received from his former constituents.

Also, be sure to watch our coverage of Anthony Weiner’s call for a “Declaration of Independence from Albany”, here.

Weiner’s Declaration of Independence … From Albany (Updated)



In his “Declaration of Independence from Albany,”  Anthony Weiner focuses on an under-appreciated fact of government life: New York State government, Albany, determines what power and authority New York City government has and controls many government functions that are popularly perceived as city government functions.

Mayoral candidates have focused on certain aspects of Albany control, particularly around the MTA and the city school system.  Weiner goes further, however, addressing the overall system built on state control of the city and it’s legal authority.

Also, be sure to watch our coverage of Anthony Weiner’s afternoon of campaigning on the beach in Rockaway, here, and accepting the support of hot-dog eating champ Joey Chestnut, here.

Weiner Press Conference: City Independence, MTA Control & … Joey Chestnut



On July 3rd, Anthony Weiner held a press conference to discuss his “Declaration of Independence from Albany.”  As a political subdivision of New York State, New York City is, as a legal matter, a creation of the state government and only has rights and powers as granted by the state government.  In his campaign, Weiner is highlighting this under-known fact and seeking to galvanize a push for greater city autonomy.

In this first clip, we go off-topic to bring you Weiner’s reaction to a reporter’s statement that Weiner had received the support of six-time Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest champion Joey Chestnut.  Ross Barkan first broke the news at Politicker.com – we’re adding the video clip.

Mayoral Forum: Transportation Policy (Updated)



On June 19th, the University Transportation Research Center hosted a mayoral candidate forum focused on transportation policy.  The forum, at Baruch College, featured separate panels of Democratic and Republican candidates answering questions posed by a committee of experts.

Update:  In this report, we look at Anthony Weiner’s call for mayoral control of the MTA.

(In April, we spoke about this topic with John Liu, who offered a very different view.  Watch it here.)

In our first report, John Liu answers a question on the city’s capital budgeting and whether the Bloomberg administration’s current budget is realistic.

Queens Tech Policy Mayoral Forum (Updated x 2)



On June 17th, the Coalition for Queens, along with a number of other groups, hosted a Tech Policy Forum at the Museum of the Moving Image.

Update #2: – The “Most Important Question”

Candidates answer the “most important” questions – what phone and service provider do they use, and what is their favorite app?

Update:  Anthony Weiner and the SNAP Challenge

After the forum we spoke with Anthony Weiner about the SNAP, or Food Stamp, Challenge that he is participating in.  The challenge is to live for one week with all spending for food and meals limited to the average benefit amount for city residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  That’s about $31 per person.

We’ll start our report with this exciting snippet in which Anthony Weiner’s forum standing strategy is stymied.

Mayoral Forum: El Diario, Hispanic Federation & Hostos (Updated x 3)



Last night, El Diario, the Hispanic Federation and Hostos Community College hosted a mayoral forum with seven Democrats, two Republicans and one Independence Party candidate.  It was quite an evening.

Update #3:  Quinn v. de Blasio

In this excerpt, Christine Quinn and Bill de Blasio engage in a pointed discussion of their respective views of their accomplishments.

Update #2:  Weiner on his House Immigration Subcommittee Work

In this excerpt, Anthony Weiner is asked what he accomplished as a member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration.  He demonstrates his substantial speaking skills, giving a lengthy description of acting as “an advocate” and pledging to be “an advocate on immigration” just “as Mayor Bloomberg does on guns.” When pressed by the moderator on what he has to show from his time on that subcommittee, Weiner says that “every member of the Democratic caucus … didn’t get much done” during that time.  He does, however, assert that he “tilled the fields” and “fought really hard.”

Update:  O, Alma Mater, glorious …

In this brief excerpt, the candidates focus on their love for a particular high school.  Really.  Well worth watching.

In our initial report the candidates discuss the city’s solid waste disposal plan.  It’s a unique exchange in several ways.  First, more than any other forum or debate segment that I can recall, the candidates engage in a long and unusually involved discussion with each other.  Second, there are some clear personal frictions that emerge.  Finally, there are a few loopy moments.  All in all, this segment displays more candidate personalities more effectively than any other moment that I’ve seen so far in the campaign.