Morning Wrap for Thursday, July 30, 2009 (final post 9:30 a.m.)

From the Blogs:

The Editor’s View:

-Peter Pollak writes “the only (state government) reform that counts” would be one that allows legislative district lines to be “drawn with an eye of making districts more competitive instead of safer for incumbents.”

PolitickerNY:

-Steve Kornacki writes the “specific question” in the latest Quinnipiac poll might be to blame for Mayor Bloomberg’s shrinking lead over Bill Thompson.

-Jimmy Vielkind reports Governor David Paterson is “minimizing the consequences” of the labor-Democratic leader meeting in Kingston.

The Daily Politics: 

-Elizabeth Benjamin reports Gov. Paterson issues “a mild rebuke” for those focusing on elections, which are over a year away, and not more pressing things like the state’s budget.

Albany Watch:

-Cara Matthews reports Gov. Paterson signs bills boosting health coverage and giving historic-preservation tax credits.

-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver thinks “it is clearly in the best interests of New Yorkers to allow Mr. Ravitch to serve in the role” of lieutenant governor.

Capitol Confidential: 

-Irene Jay Liu shares a number of elected official’s statements honoring the late former state Senator Olga Mendez.

-Jay Liu thinks AG Andrew Cuomo’s “facial expression is a dead giveaway tell.”

-CSEA announces its endorsement of Kirsten Gillibrand for the U.S. Senate in 2010.

Room Eight:

-Gatemouth endorses Marty Markowitz in the Democratic party for Borough President and tells why.

NYC Council Watch:

-Seth Barron isn’t in favor of Mayor Bloomberg’s “vision of a revamped Coney Island as year-round tourist destination.”

Opinion:

-New York Times thinks New York’s new education commissioner David Steiner’s “experience gives him credibility in what should rightly become a review of teacher training and teacher certification across the state.”

-Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin calls the newly signed New York State Rehabilitation Tax Credit “a gain when factoring the impact of upgrading properties, such as constructions jobs, higher land values, a broader tax base and possible business expansion in the commercial buildings.”

-New York Daily News isn’t impressed with the $35 million to protect NYC mass transit Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is offering.

-New York Post bids president of the United Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten farewell writing she “did her job well.”

-The Post supports Councilmember Simcha Felder’s call to do away with the NYC public advocate office.

-Syracuse Post-Standard writes, “The man at the middle of all the Senate drama -- Pedro Espada -- is beginning to enjoy some of the fruits of his less-than-ethical summer adventure.”

-The Post-Standard thinks Sen. John DeFrancisco “defending the indefensible” should be “a losing proposition” for the public servant.

Meetings/Press Conferences:

-Governor David A. Paterson will be in NYC and Albany today.  He has no public schedule.

-SUNY Platsburgh: SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher will visit the SUNY Plattsburgh campus this Friday, July 31.

-NYS Office of General Services: The 2009 African American Family Day, with the theme “Celebrating the African Diaspora,” will take place on Saturday, August 1, from noon until 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany.

-A funeral mass for former NYS Senator Olga Mendez, who died Wednesday morning, will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 3, at the Church of the Holy Agony,1834 3rd Avenue, NYC.

Press Releases:

-NYS Conference of Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans: NYSCOP supports a managed care measure signed into law by Gov. Paterson, enhancing provider and consumer rights without exorbitantly increasing the cost of coverage.

-NYS Department of Environmental Conservation: A written examination for individuals interested in obtaining a license to use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals is scheduled for Friday, August 28 from 10 a.m. until noon at designated DEC regional offices.

-Governor David A. Paterson: Gov. Paterson directs flags on NYS government buildings be flown at half-staff on Thursday, July 30 in honor of Lance Corporal Jeremy Lasher of Oneida, who was killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province.

-Gov. Paterson signs three Governor’s Program bills that will make health insurance more affordable and improve access to health care for New Yorkers.

-Gov. Paterson is “deeply saddened” about the passing of former Senator Olga Méndez.

-NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo: AG Cuomo calls the Reunion Company’s decision to adopt his Wind Industry Ethics Code a “great step forward.”

-NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli: The $109.9 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund in June closed three transactions totaling about $155 million.