What's Under the Tree?

Many gifts were exchanged throughout the country as millions of people celebrated this holiday season. Many of these people, either due to conflicts in schedules or just because they felt like it, exchanged those gifts early. Politicians and other important figures are no exception. Sorry, some of the gifts are non-returnable!

Alan Hevesi:

Of course, Hevesi had to do some of the legwork to receive the gift. But all he had to do was admit to a felony and vacate the State Comptroller's office.

Eliot Spitzer: Alan Hevesi's head on a platter.

The "Day One" Express is now pushing full-steam ahead now that Hevesi's mess has been removed from the tracks. Spitzer will also have the opportunity to mold the future of the Comptroller's office. While it is possible that he will butt heads with Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver, it is also likely that Spitzer can use his momentum to sway enough representatives in the merged State Assembly (for the purposes of confirming a new Comptroller) to pass his choice and undermine Silver's power.

Sheldon Silver: Alan Hevesi's head on a platter.

Hevesi's resignation places Silver in a commanding position when the time comes to install a new Comptroller. The State Assembly and Senate will merge to confirm the potential Comptroller, with each representative on equal footing, regardless of the chamber of the Legislature in which they were elected to office. Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and his Senate Republicans are marginalized as Silver's Assembly Democrats consist of by far the largest faction.

This scenario gives Silver a path to reassert his power on the state government and prove that he is still very much a part of the Three Men in the Room.

The outcome of the selection will determine whether Spitzer or Silver is the victor and if they received the actual head on the platter, instead of the plastic fake.

Joe Bruno: An investigation into his ties with groups involved in horse racing and those that might have given him far too many perks in return for favors from the powerful Bruno.

From the Times' article:

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The trip, which included three aides to the senator and a veterinarian who has been close to Mr. Bruno for years, would become a catalyst for investigations into the business activities of Mr. Bruno, a thoroughbred enthusiast who has long raised horses on his farm in Brunswick, N.Y., northeast of Albany.

The trip to Kentucky was arranged by two officials at the Friends of New York Racing, a short-lived advocacy group formed by racing fans and executives intent on overhauling the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga tracks, the centerpiece of an industry that generates $1.4 billion a year in economic activity in New York State.

After producing a 20-page report in December 2005, the group dissolved this year amid infighting, with many of its top directors and staff members joining a consortium that is now vying for the state’s lucrative horseracing franchise.

In recent months, the advocacy group and one of its founding directors, Jared E. Abbruzzese, have emerged as central elements of separate investigations by the state lobbying commission and a federal grand jury.

The lobbying commission is examining whether Mr. Abbruzzese, a businessman and longtime friend of Senator Bruno’s, violated state law by giving free or discounted flights to the senator.

Federal authorities are examining, among other things, whether substantial payments by Mr. Abbruzzese to Mr. Bruno’s private consulting firm were part of an effort to influence the senator, who is likely to have a major say over who gets the racing franchise.

The authorities have also issued a subpoena to Wayne R. Barr Jr., a lawyer and business associate of Mr. Abbruzzese’s, who helped arrange Mr. Bruno’s trip to Kentucky.

The person behind the Friends of New York Racing was Timothy G. Smith, a former executive at the P.G.A. of America, the golf association, and at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

The new group was formed in late 2004 in response to the economic threat that video lottery terminals and casinos run by Indian tribes posed to the New York and national horse racing industries.

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The trip is referring to a trip to Lexington, Kentucky that included a visit to a racetrack and auction and concluded with a fundraiser for Bruno's Senate Republican majority.

Michael Bloomberg: A very good year.

Aside from the Sean Bell incident and the ten-day Queens blackout in the summer (two large asides), Michael Bloomberg has had a pretty good year. Whether he runs or not, the speculation that he would run an independent bid for the White House in 2008 is keeping him popular.

Democrat State Senator Efrain Gonzalez: An indictment to match the previous one.

Republican State Senator Mike Balboni: A nice job with the Spitzer administration.

New York Democrats: Not only do they receive much-needed aspirin to treat a case of Hevesitis, but they also have the chance to pick up Balboni's seat and move one closer towards taking the State Senate.

New York Republicans: Not a very good holiday for them. However, Governor Pataki's reign at the top is ending. With complaints that Pataki did not maintain a strong Republican Party in New York State that led to the trouncing of most Republican candidates around the state, this is a chance to clean house.

New York City Council: Pay Day!

New York Residents: More of the same in the state governemt? That's Mickey Carroll's prediction.

Residents Surrounding the Atlantic Yards: Not quite what a lot of you wanted.

The plan to build office towers, the arena for the New Jersey Nets basketball team, et cetera, cleared Shelly Silver's possible objection and can proceed.

President George W. Bush: Well, he did get his new Defense Secretary through....

The New Democratic Congress: Lots of work.

Unfinished spending bills will have to go through for the current fiscal year to keep the government running. The Democrats are talking about ending the rule of the earmark on Capitol Hill, but with the Republicans opting to punt, the Democrats will have some tough battles ahead as individual representatives will fight to keep their projects, whether they are worthy or not.

Saddam Hussein: Death.

The Fox News story and their picture from last night.


The New York Daily News.


The New York Times.


Obviously big news, especially given the timing, coming at dawn on the day of a Muslim holiday, Eid ul-Adha. Historic as it is, KipEsquire warns not to overindulge in any celebrations. Hussein's fate was sealed once he was captured. However, his death does mark the end of an era in Iraq (whether you believe the new one is a good one or not) and the healing from his tyrannical rule can begin.

These are but the many gifts, whether they're good or not, that were found under the tree for many of the people that affect our lives daily.

As it is still within the Twelve Days of Christmas, Merry Christmas to all, and to all, Happy Holidays. Sorry, Bill O'Reilly, there are more holidays out there.


Picture of the 2003 Christmas Tree at the Capitol.

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Councilman Lew Fidler's Holiday Bonus

"I am proud to be a member of the City Council, and if I could and I had to, I would do it for nothing. But I can't get Ithaca College to give my son room and board for nothing, I can't get Sunoco to give me free gas, and I can't get my mortgage company to waive my mortgage."

--Quote provided by Gotham Gazette, said in the November 15th New York City Council's "Stated Meeting." (The City Council Votes Itself a Raise)

"I am not in the luxurious position that Mayor Mike Bloomberg is in, to be able to do his job for $1 a year."

--Quote provided by The New York Times (Council Votes to Raise Pay of Top Officials, November 16, 2006)

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--City Councilman Lewis A. Fidler (D-46th Councilmanic District) on paying his bills by voting himself a $22,500 raise.

Because it's not like being a City Councilman is officially a part-time job and Councilman Fidler isn't also making between $90,000 and $260,000 above and beyond the Council salary and his stipend as Assistant Majority Leader...right?

Although this is already half a month old, with the coming of December and the holiday season (and Bill O'Reilly's horror that I used the word "holiday") upon us, this is an opportune time to revisit the hefty bonus the City Council voted for itself. Upon seeing the quote from the Gotham Gazette's report of the Stated Meeting, this is a good time to address Lew Fidler on his actions.

According to Citizens Union, states the Times, Fidler did indeed report an additional income that is between one and three times the base salary from the Council. Including the $15,000 stipend awarded by the Council, this means that Fidler made between $195,000 and $385,000. This is based on the previous base Council salary of $90,000. The new $112,500 base salary was retroactively applied to begin on November 1, 2006. With Fidler's stipend, his Council earnings alone, given a full year, would amount to $127,500.

A chart provided by Gotham Gazette shows Fidler's total income, including various other salaries and bank accounts and his Council salary and stipend, amounts to "at least $179,000" for 2004.

This does not mean that Fidler is sitting in the lap of luxury the way top athletes, executives, and Mayor Bloomberg enjoy. However, for Fidler to suggest that he is struggling with his bills and thus deserves a 25% raise on his part-time Council salary is in extremely poor taste and only makes him look like a man stuffing his pockets with no oversight, which, many would argue, he is.

Most of the residents in the 46th also struggle to make ends meet and ensure that their families are given the care they need. However, since they do not have the luxury of being able to vote for their own 25% raise just in time for holiday shopping, they have to find other ways to stretch their paychecks to pay their bills. Instead of arguing that he needs a pay raise, Fidler could have paid those bills by cutting expenses.

Fidler seems to have been in a position to be able to have saved for his son's education. However, if he was unable to do so, like many families, he could have looked for scholarships with his son or have taken loans to finance his son's education. The downside of the loans, as those who take them find out, is that they cost more money in the long run. This is the price for not being able to pay for college up front. But, it is a worthwhile investment, from someone that is currently taking heavy loans to finance an education.

Instead of paying Sunoco money for gas, Fidler can instead take mass transit, as many in the 46th do. He would find out that it is normally a pain in the ass to commute from most parts of the 46th to Manhattan as there is a lack of mass transit options available. The best options from the 46th are the several express buses formerly operated by the Command Bus Company, although the trip from deep within the district takes one hour or more one-way on most days. It would be a great incentive to lobby for an expansion of mass transit options for the people residing in the 46th Councilmanic District.

To pay for housing, assuming he has already taken advantage of the low mortgage rates in the years past, a move might be in order. Whether it is to a cheaper home or even to a rental, many people do have to move to cut back on expenses. It does not seem like Fidler would need to move into an apartment like the two-room postage-stamp sized apartment that I have, but such a move would mean savings on monthly expenses and also on property taxes.

When there's a will, there's a way, especially considering all of the options that Fidler could choose from given his combined incomes. I did intern for Fidler's office briefly and I still do consider him one of the finer members of the Council. I'm even disappointed that my apartment sits on the wrong side of the border cutting through this street and has locked me into Kendall Stewart's 45th District. However, this act and his less-than-classy comments are very disappointing, to say the least.

Since the act has already been done and there is no way to review and possibly revise, the only thing that Fidler must do now is to be a leader and to help his constituents and New York City residents reach a position where they can worry about paying bills on the level that he has to worry about them. Many people are truly struggling and much work remains to be done.

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