Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Is It Jeff Klein Vs. Oliver Koppell or Jeff Klein Vs. Lorraine Coyle Koppell in the 34th State Senate race?
Having just watched the the 34th State Senate debate on New York 1, - I have to wonder just who is State Senator Jeff Klein running against. Is it former Councilman Oliver Koppell as the ballot will say or is it former 34th State Senate candidate Lorraine Coyle Koppell who lost to then State Senator Guy Velella in the year 2000. I come to that conclusion because this election seem to be a repeat of the 2000 election by many of the comments by candidate Oliver Koppell which I remember from his wife in 2000. Lorraine Coyle Koppell tried to portray then State Senator Guy Velella as the evil Republican much the same way Oliver Koppell is trying to do to Democratic State Senator Jeff Klein. Also Lorraine Coyle Koppell had her problem in Morris Park much the same way that Oliver Koppell is having.
The only real difference in this years election is that candidate Oliver Koppell does not know when to quit. He says that he has already won because Senator Klein and the IDC are returning to work with the Senate Democratic Conference as Senator Klein, Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, and many others have said. If Senator Klein goes back on his word as challenger Koppell says there will be another election in 2 years. It looks like the 2000 election all over since only the incumbent is running on his record, and the Koppell challenging the incumbent is saying vote for me I'm a Democrat.
As for the NY 1 debate candidate Koppell said that he knows the problems in Throggs Neck and Hunts Point not just Riverdale. Koppell had to apologize for a comment about the communities, saying that he meant the district set up. Senator Klein blasted Koppell for a lack of listening to his constituents about a proposed 11 story senior/criminally mentally ill building Klein said that one community opposed. Klein added that the building will now be for seniors only. The subject of the proposed 11 story medical center in Community Board 8 came up with Senator Klein saying that the law he and Assemblyman Dinowitz got passed has halted that. Klein added that it will be no larger than 6 stories with several stories of parking. After a few minutes of just what went on when Democrats had control of the state senate for 2 short years and the dysfunction Klein said went on, Koppell came back calling Klein the new Pedro Espada.
Senator Klein rattled off endorsement after endorsement from Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, and union after union, Koppell claimed that Klein got those endorsements by extortion for fear of continuing on with the Republican Senate Conference. Koppell called Klein the 'King of Pay to Play' and anti tennant, Klein responded with the legislation he had passed in Albany to protect homeowners and tennant's
This debate ended with Senator Klein calling Oliver Koppell the puppet of Mayor Bloomberg in helping Bloomberg repeal term limits in 2009 over the will of the voters. Klein added that Koppell's reason was that the voters were not sophisticated enough, and that Koppell believes people in the East Bronx are not broad minded. Koppell responded that he was not Bloombergs lap dog, he does not believe in term limits, and that he (Koppell) goes to Morris Park often to eat.
Con Edison Digging Again
You may be saying - What is an Express Bus doing on Johnson Avenue at the corner of West 235th Street. The answer is in the two photos below as Con Edison is digging a trench on the Henry Hudson Parkway northbound service road up to West 238th Street.
Left - The sign on the West 235th Street bus stop on the HHP northbound service road says that the bus is running on Johnson Avenue due to street repaving work.
Right - A different sign at West 238th Street bus stop on the HHP service road northbound just says that the buses are not stopping here.
However as you will see in the photos below Con Edison has marked off and even made a few cuts in the street where it thinks the new high pressure gas line should go, or do they? By the way the Public Service Commission issued a report that up to 70 percent of the Con Edison workers, and contracted workers are not fully trained in this construction work. Con Edison has had different contractors, and has had to redo some areas that some of the contracted workers did. Con Edison also has a special truck out to detect leaks in the high pressure gas lines where parts of streets have to be dug up again to repair inferior work by a contractor.
Left - You can see that the HHP service road by West 236th Street has already been marked off and even cut into.
Right - You can see the markings that by the West 238th Street entrance to the parkway, which will mean that this entrance will have to be closed for up to a month the way Con Edison has been working.
Left - Just how wide and where will Con Edison do their digging at this spot on the HHP service road.
Right - Con Edison has already cut one part of the street here, but their markings do not line up. Will the contractor for Con Edison have to redo their digging as has had to be done on some other streets.
Left - This is how this contractor has left this staging site, which will stay this way for over a month.
Right - These heavy gas pipes are just sitting at the curb with little protection right across the street from the busy Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. However these are common sites where ever Con Edison contractors are digging up the street to install the new high pressure gas lines.
Candice Giove Responds to Attack By Oliver Koppell at 34th State Senate Debate
At the 34th State Senate debate last night on the Bronxtalk television show candidate Oliver Koppell commented about Senator Jeff Klein's campaign spokesperson Ms. Candice Giove's previous work experience.
Here is Ms. Giove's reply --
"It's sad that Oliver Koppell's Women's Agenda includes putting down career choices of successful media professionals like myself. While it's true that I was one of five reporters who worked on an article about Sen. Klein, I have come to know the senator as a hardworking Democrat, who truly cares about each and every one of his constituents. I cannot say the same about Oliver Koppell, who I also covered as a reporter, and who has consistently insulted the intelligence of the people of New York. During Mr. Koppell's nasty campaign, I have also been the recipient of vicious emails from his wife, Lorraine Coyle Koppell, in an attempt to intimidate me from doing a job that I believe in.Shame on the Koppells."
Monday, August 25, 2014
Bronxtalk 34th State Senate Debate
It was the debate of the political season in the Bronx, that is the debate between incumbent State Senator Jeff Klein and challenger Oliver Koppell for the 34th State Senate seat. Above left to right are Bronxtalk host Gary Axelbank, challenger Oliver Koppell, and incumbent State Senator Jeff Klein. Candidate Koppell was asked a question about term limits, and why he voted to overturn the will of the voters of the city for a third term in office. Candidate Koppell answered that he does not believe in term limits, and then went into an attack on Senator Klein claiming that Senator Klein stopped important Democratic legislation such as the Dream Act, a higher minimum wage, and campaign finance reform by caucusing with the Republican Senate Conference.
Senator Klein responded that he had introduced that exact legislation that candidate Koppell was talking about, and that while the 5 members of the Independent Democratic Conference (that he heads) there were 2 Democratic senators that did not vote for it resulting in the failure of the legislation. Senator Klein then said that he supported the Democratic candidate Bill Thompson for mayor in 2009 while Councilman Oliver Koppell supported Republican candidate Mike Bloomberg for mayor.
Senator Klein brought up the proposed 11 story medical center in Community Board 8, saying that Councilman Koppell if he had rezoned the area properly could have prevented such a building proposal, and that he and Assemblyman Dinowitz had to have a state law enacted to halt the progress. Candidate Koppell was also slammed for supporting an 11 story project on Broadway in North Riverdale that would have 25 percent of the apartment for seniors go to criminally mentally disturbed occupants. Candidate Koppell answered by saying they have to go somewhere.
The back and forth continued with candidate Koppell throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Senator Klein, that is until the closing statements. During his closing statement candidate Koppell brought out a New York Post article from March 2012 claiming that Senator Klein had gamed the system. and possibly broke the law on tax breaks and failure to disclose income. Candidate Koppell then said that Ms. Candice Giove who wrote the article is now Senator Klein's campaign spokesperson.
Senator Klein in his closing statement said that the campaign of Oliver Koppell is all personal attacks, and no record to run on. Klein added that he is proud of his record, and what he has done as an elected official.
Host Gary Axelbank then thanked both Senator Jeff Klein and challenger Oliver Koppell for appearing. You can read a more comprehensive review of the debate in my column the Riverdale Report in the Bronx News or Parkchester News. To see the debate you can go to www.bronxnet.org and scroll down to the Bronxtalk 34th State Senate debate, or you can catch it in reruns all week on channel 67 Cablevision or 33 FIOS.
Allerton Avenue Festival Huge Success
Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj not only was the sponsor of the Allerton Avenue Festival, but in the photo above he also made sure that everything was set up correctly. The crowd estimated over 500 enjoyed the over 50 vendors, and informational booths that were set up, the entertainment, and the elected officials that were on hand.
As part of Team Gjonaj are new District Leaders from the 80th A.D. Marcos Sierra, and Andrea Siegel.
The ripe pineapples are set up at this booth waiting to be made into delicious drinks.
Birdman Taino Ray and his 2 macaws were a hit on the midway.
The local CERT team was on hand if needed.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Hundreds Attend Committee of 100 Democrats Free Community Barbecue
There was dancing on East 204th Street as the 10th Annual Committee of 100 Democrats Free Community Barbecue took place yesterday.
Above a photo of the crowd around the free food that was being given out to the attendees.
State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein chats with good friend, and Committee of 100 Democrats Chairman Ricky Martinez about the foot operation that has Martinez unable to stand on the foot for a while.
Senator Klein holds award given to him for his excellence in Leadership by the Committee of 100 Democrats as band members look on.
Behind Chairman Martinez right to left are Candidate for Governor Randy Credico, 33rd State Senate Write in candidate Jose Padilla Jr. and Mr. Jay.
This could be anyone of a number of elected officials, but it is a real clown who also did face painting as you see.