News Wrap for Tuesday, July 28, 2009 (final post 4:40 p.m.)

From the Blogs:

The Editor’s View:

-Peter Pollak recommends Power Ambition Glory, a study of ancient leaders written by Steve Forbes and John Prevas, as a summer read for current and future CEOs — and politicians. 

The Daily Politics:

-Elizabeth Benjamin reports the NYC Board of Elections rules: Councilman Bill de Blasio is “restored to the ballot in the public advocate race.”

-SEIU 1199 releases its endorsements with “a few notable exceptions.”

-Two NYC comptroller candidates, councilmen David Yassky and Join Liu “stood side-by-side this morning and sang each other’s praises” while announcing legislation allowing bike riders to park indoors.

-Q pollster Mickey Carroll believes the mayoral race between Bloomberg and Comptroller Bill Thompson has “tightened” for reasons other than the mayor being “saddled with the word ‘Republican’.”

-The state Senate begins a “staffing shake-up.”

Capitol Confidential:

-Casey Seiler shares amounts awarded to police departments across NYS from the COPS Hiring Recovery Program funds.

-State Senator Liz Krueger introduces a bill that, if passed, would “profoundly change the way alcohol is sold in New York.”

-Irene Jay Liu shares who’s in and who’s out in Senate-power positions.

PolitickerNY: 

-Azi Paybarah reports Mayor Bloomberg is “frustrated” about the NYPD not getting federal stimulus funds, but says, “In some senses it’s a compliment we got left out.”

-City Councilman Robert Jackson of Manhattan is also having some trouble with the city Board of Elections and ballot lines.

-Bill de Blasio is back on the ballot as a NYC public advocate candidate.

-Pollster Peter Feld doesn’t think today’s Quinnipiac poll should be hyped as a major shift in the City’s mayoral race.

-Unite Here endorse city comptroller candidate John Liu and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association endorse Melinda Katz.

-Mayor Bloomberg’s campaign blames Bloomberg’s shrinking lead over Comptroller Bill Thompson on the word “Republican.”

-Jimmy Vielkind writes John Alvarez, a real estate broker from Hannibal and an Army reservist currently serving in Iraq, is “hoping to get into the race” to replace Congressman John McHugh on the Conservative line.

-“Democratic elders” meet in Kingston and say their meeting is “not about David Paterson or the 2010 ticket.”

-Katherine Jose writes of New York women’s groups for and against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Carolyn Maloney. 

NY Fiscal Watch:

-Nicole Gelinas writes NYC’s labor force growth is “good news” for the city’s financial recovery and incentive for fixing the city’s cost structure.

-Gelinas thinks NYC should put more focus on reforming City and state pension benefits to increase funds for transit and it’s police force, rather than rely on federal funds the City is “continually short-changed” on.

Daily Intel:

-Erica Orden questions the effects of New York City relying on public-private parks partnerships.

-Chris Rovzar writes Lee Landor, now-former press secretary to Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer, was “forced to resign over” Facebook posts allegedly calling Henry Louis Gates “a racist,” President Obama “O-dumb-a,” and saying racial profiling exists “for good reason.”

-According to Rovzar, the NYPD isn’t receiving federal stimulus funds because “New York has a low crime rate, a large police force, and a well-managed budget.”

Runnin’ Scared:

-Tom Robbins reports Congressman Charlie Rangel “hammered hard” at Mayor Bloomberg for seeking a third term.

Meetings/Press Conferences:

-President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York William C. Dudley will address members of the Association for a Better New York at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Grand Hyatt New York, Manhattan Ballroom, 42nd Street at Park Avenue, Manhattan.

Press Releases:

-NYS Thruway Authority: A pavement rehabilitation project along I-190 (Niagara Thruway) in Grand Island will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29 and continue through Wednesday, August 5, weather permitting.

-Business Council of NYS: New York’s per-pupil spending in 2006-2007 was the highest in the nation, 65 percent above the national average, according to data released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

-NYS Department of Labor: The Labor Department is continuing to collaborate with trainers, workers, the New York Racing Association (NYRA), and advocates to improve the conditions of backstretch workers at Saratoga and other race courses in the state.

-NYS Department of Environmental Conservation: An Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued for the Lower Hudson Valley region of New York State for Tuesday, July 28 in effect until 11 p.m.

-NYS Insurance Department: Insurance regulators from NY and China sign a cooperation arrangement ensuring the prudent conduct of insurer obligations on the part of many of the world’s largest insurance businesses.

-NYS Higher Education Services Corporation: New York’s commitment to college students continues to be unsurpassed - providing the most need-based grant dollars per undergraduate student for the 2007-2008 academic year, and over the past ten years, according to a national survey by the National Association of State Grant and Aid Programs.

-NYS Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo: The state attorney general’s office has sent cease-and-desist letters to over 100 companies demanding they immediately stop selling imitation toy guns that are easily confused with real weapons in New York State.

-State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli: Three health care providers, Nanuet Medial Services, Albany Multi-Medicine Group and TotalCare Medical PC, overcharged the NYS Health Insurance Program $1.3 million.

-The Council of the City of New York: City officials gathered today on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge to celebrate the expected passage of the Bicycle Access Bill.

-The NYC Council launches a new web-based legislative research tool designed to meet the ever-increasing demand for open access to public records — http://legistar.council.nyc.gov.