You Had a Friend in Albany (Joseph Bruno?)

NY Times ^ | July 6, 2008 | MITCHELL L. MOSS

[neverdem]

LAST month, Joseph Bruno, the upstate Republican who was the New York State Senate majority leader for more than a decade, announced he was retiring amid speculation concerning a federal investigation of his outside business activities. Democrats in New York City were thrilled by the news — but they are about to find out that Mr. Bruno was their best friend in Albany, and life without him won’t be easy.

While New York City is the economic and cultural center of the Empire State, upstate and suburban legislators wield enormous control over the city’s ability to govern itself. That’s the result of a State Constitution drafted more than 100 years ago, when upstate Yankees didn’t trust the immigrants flowing into Manhattan and required the city’s officials to seek approval from Albany for essential responsibilities of municipal government.

But Mr. Bruno, although he hails from a rural district that includes Rensselaer and most of Saratoga Counties, also realized that the state could not survive without a strong and safe New York City, which accounts for more than half of the state’s personal income tax revenue despite being home to just 40 percent of the state’s population. As a...

--snip--

Since 2001, the homicide rate in New York City has gone down by almost 18 percent and rapes by more than 25 percent. Under the Bloomberg administration, the New York Police Department has put a new emphasis on getting illegal handguns off the streets. But it was Mr. Bruno who led the effort to impose the toughest penalties in the nation for those who carry a loaded illegal handgun. And, working closely with Mr. Bruno, Mayor Bloomberg overcame the Democratic Assembly’s traditional resistance to expanding the use of the state DNA databank, so that it now covers all felonies and many misdemeanors...

[neverdem]

But it was Mr. Bruno who led the effort to impose the toughest penalties in the nation for those who carry a loaded illegal handgun.

After Heller? We'll see.

[neverdem]

HELL ON WHEELS : BROOKLYN VAN WAS WIRED FOR CARNAGE

FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.

[NinoFan]

“And, working closely with Mr. Bruno, Mayor Bloomberg overcame the Democratic Assembly’s traditional resistance to expanding the use of the state DNA databank, so that it now covers all felonies and many misdemeanors.”

Interesting that the nyt supports this.

[neverdem]

Interesting that the nyt supports this.

I wouldn't bet on that. Op-Ed Contributors give guest opinions. They are not staff. Various conservatives and libertarians write there too for nominal renumeration.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[marktwain]

“While New York City is the economic and cultural center of the Empire State, upstate and suburban legislators wield enormous control over the city’s ability to govern itself. That’s the result of a State Constitution drafted more than 100 years ago, when upstate Yankees didn’t trust the immigrants flowing into Manhattan and required the city’s officials to seek approval from Albany for essential responsibilities of municipal government.”

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This is a very “loaded” paragraph. From what I have seen, NYC has more political power than any other city in the country, and is the “tail” that wags the NY State “dog”. How many cities have their own income tax? How many cities have their own concealed carry permit system, far different than State law?

Who wields more power in New York, the Governor or the Mayor of New York City? It is certainly not clear at all.

In my opinion, New York City has far too much political power, and violates the rights of its citizens regularly.

[printhead]

So the state could not survive without NYC? I think we’d do nicely w/o NYC and Albany. Let’s give it a chance.

[Sun]

Anybody know if the new majority leader (from Long Island), taking Bruno’s place, is pro-life?

My friend from L.I. THOUGHT he was, but wasn’t sure.

[neverdem]

Anybody know if the new majority leader (from Long Island), taking Bruno’s place, is pro-life?

My friend from L.I. THOUGHT he was, but wasn’t sure.

He(Skelos) favors the death penalty, opposes gay marriage and abortion rights, although he said he would not move to change current laws.

Mr. Skelos also clarified his position on other contentious issues. He said he is opposed to gay marriage, which the Assembly last year voted to legalize. He said he supports restoring the state's death penalty, and, on the issue of abortion, he's against partial-birth procedures and for parental notification requirements.

[Sun]

Thanks for the info. and link.

I’m glad Skelos opposes abortion, but wish he didn’t say he would not move to change current laws.

I can remember Bruno, on Fred Dicker’s radio show, saying something to the effect that sometimes Republicans need to be pro-”choice,” if they are to win, and Bruno is pro-life.

Politics stinks.

I think that Republicans are wrong that you can’t be a strong pro-lifer and win, though.

Former Senator Al D’Amato won in the 90’s, by the same number of votes cast on the NYS Right-to-Life line. Later he promoted pro-abortion Pataki, so the NYS Right-to-Life did not endorse D’Amato, and he LOST!

Former A.G. Vacco’s campaign manager unwisely told him not to seek the NYS Right-to-Life Party endorsement, and Vacco lost by the number of votes cast on the NYS Right-to-Life Party line.

My NY state senator is a pro-life, conservative.

Majority leader GOP Bruno is pro-life, but was weak as of late, imo.

Minority GOP leader Tedeski is a pro-life, conservative.

According to a poll that I read, pro-lifers will vote for a pro-life candidate, but pro-”choicers” will vote for other issues.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"How many cities have their own income tax? "

Lots. My own little town has their own income tax.