News Wrap for Wednesday, July 29, 2009 (final post 4:30 p.m.)

From the Blogs:

The Daily Politics:

-Elizabeth Benjamin reports “a fair amount of scrambling going on today to convince Gov. David Paterson unions are not yet ready to abandon him en masse.”

-Mayor Bloomberg releases a statement expressing “deep sadness” about the death of former Sen. Olga Mendez.

-Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand hires Peter Hatch as her new state director.

-Attorney General Andrew Cuomo maintains “his only plan at this time is to run for re-election as attorney general - unless, of course, he decides to change careers altogether.”

-Mayor Bloomberg won’t say he wants to abolish the City’s pubic advocate’s office, but he’ll “think long and hard about it.”

-NYC Comptroll Bill Thompson insists he has “no interest at all” in the state Comptroller’s position.

-Democrat-turned-Republican former Rep. Herman Badillo endorses Mayor Bloomberg.

 Capitol Confidential:

-Casey Seiler reports another 14 wind power companies have signed on to AG Andrew Cuomo’s Wind Industry Ethics Code, designed to bring transparency to the industry.

-Seiler shares a list of potential Democratic candidates in the 23rd Congressional District special election to replace Rep. John McHugh.

-Jennifer A. Dlouhy reports Sen. Charles Schumer co-sponsors a bill forcing states to ban texting while driving or risk losing federal transportation dollars.

PolitickerNY: 

-Azi Paybarah shares a citywide campaign ad looking to hire a researcher.

-City Council Member Simcha Felder argues for the elimination of the public advocate’s office.

-Paybarah shares “the invite to Charlie Rangel’s August 11 birthday party fund-raiser.”

-Bloomberg campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson attempts a “side-by-side comparison” of Mayor Bloomberg and Bill Thompson’s “education legacy.”

-Jimmy Vielkind writes Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says he’s trying to “stay away from the politics” and “stay focused” on doing the job people elected him to do.

-Vielkind shares an affidavit from former governor Hugh Carey praising Richard Ravitch and supporting his appointment as lieutenant governor.

-Dan French is the “latest Democrat to remove his name from consideration to replace John McHugh in Congress.”

The Borrero Report:

-Gerson Borrero reports former state Senator Olga Mendez, 82, has died, losing her battle with cancer.

Albany Watch:

-Cara Matthews writes Governor Paterson goes on a “bill-signing state tour.”

NY Fiscal Watch:

-E.J. McMahon writes a state “universal single-payer plan would ‘save’ money only when compared (at just the right acute angle, of course) to other ‘universal’ coverage options, including individual health insurance mandates.”

Daily Intel:

-Dan Amira writes it probably doesn’t matter if the labor unions give David Paterson a “deadline” for their support, since “an approval rating in the twenties can only take you so far.”

PlanetAlbany:

-Bob Conner asks, “Is it hopelessly naive to think that a public official’s  stand on any issue could be based on anything but political calculation and expediency?”

The Wonkster:

-Courtney Gross and Dan Compitello describe last night’s debate for City Councilman David Yassky’s seat as a “smackdown.”

Runnin’ Scared:

-Roy Edroso writes mayoral candidate Tony Avella is “finally getting some press attention” but the media “portrays him as a madman.”

-Edroso thinks Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand “knows how the game is played.”

Meetings/Press Conferences:

-Governor David A. Paterson’s Executive Order 10 Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Task Force and the Council of Urban Professionals will host a panel presentation and professional networking event from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday July 30 at 26 Federal Plaza, (corner Broadway and Worth), NYC.

Press Releases:

-Preservation League of NYS: Governor David Paterson signs legislation greatly improving the NYS Rehabilitation Tax Credit program.

-Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood: Emergency Contraception is now available “over the counter” without a prescription to women ages 17 and older at local Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood health centers in Albany, Hudson and Troy, and a new EC product called Plan B One-Step will be available in August.

-NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo: AG Cuomo announces 16 companies representing the vast majority of wind energy activity in NYS have signed his Wind Industry Ethics Code, facilitating the development of renewable energy while helping assure that the industry is acting properly and within the law.

-NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli: The public can now do in-depth comparisons of how their
community is managing its money in contrast to other local governments on Open Book New York (www.openbooknewyork.com).

-Working Families Party: City Council member Gale Brewer along with the NYS Paid Family Leave Coalition and A Better Balance: The Work and Family Legal Center will announce the 2009 campaign launch for an Earned Paid Sick Time Bill covering private sector workers in New York City.

-Governor David A. Paterson: Gov. Paterson signs legislation to extend affordable housing program in Brookyn.