Now that disgraced State Senator Carl Kruger has been forced to retire from a life of, ahem, public service since pleading guilty to corruption charges, the race is on to seize his south Brooklyn district. In one corner, you have Democratic City Councilmember Lewis A. Fidler, who has not officially declared his intention to campaign for the job—though a party insider says he's got enough support to get the nomination. In the other corner, you have local Republican leader David Storobin, who, the Times reports, is "at the top of a very short list" for the nomination. Who are these guys? more ›

Hell of a day for former State Senator Carl Kruger yesterday: Appearing in court to plead guilty to federal corruption charges, the longtime Brooklyn politician repeatedly sobbed as he admitted his guilt. With his gynecologist companion at his side, Kruger, 62, broke down and cried, telling Judge Jed S. Rakoff, "I apologize if I’m a little emotional over this." Asked if he was mentally fit to plea, Kruger said, "Under the circumstances, yes, Your Honor." NY Times columnist Michael Powell filed a vivid account of the pitiful scene, which seems worthy of a Ralph Steadman portrait: more ›

State Senator Carl Kruger's 16 year career as a legislator will likely come to an ignominious end today, when the lawmaker is expected to plead guilty to charges of fraud and taking bribes. Kruger, a Democrat represented the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, and Midwood, could face up to 20 years in prison on fraud charges and a maximum sentence of five years for bribery conspiracy, the Times reports. And if Kruger pleads guilty to a felony, he automatically loses his job. more ›

State Assemblyman William Boyland was grinning and pumping his arms in the air after being acquitted of corruption charges in federal court yesterday. Boyland, who represent Brooklyn, had been indicted, along with powerful State Senator Carl Kruger, on charges of bribery and accepting money from hospital executives in exchange for state contracts. But a jury found Boyland not guilty and a juror told the Daily News that the feds “didn’t give us enough evidence to convict him and send him to jail." more ›

A former hospital CEO was convicted of bribing state officials yesterday. Jeffrey Rosen, who oversaw hospitals in Queens and Brooklyn, "was found guilty of funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars from his medical-care empire to two assemblyman and a state senator, who prosecutors say helped him win state loans and secure other favors from Albany," according to the Wall Street Journal. more ›

State Senator Carl Kruger has kept a relatively low profile since surrendering to federal authorities on corruption charges. Okay, he did change his long opposition to gay marriage by supporting the marriage equality bill, but the Post reports he's got bigger stuff on his mind—like resigning this summer and taking a plea deal with the feds. Why? A source claims, "The importance of his decision is so that he can negotiate better for his boyfriend." more ›

Until the day he was arrested and charged with money-laundering, gynecologist Michael Turano enjoyed one of the most coveted perks in NYC: an NYPD dashboard placard that for years allowed him to park for free anywhere in the city. According to official correspondence dug up by the NY Times, Turano and his brother Gerard (also a gynecologist) got the placards as favors though state senator Carl Kruger, who was recently accused of taking more than $1 million in bribes and using shell companies to launder the money with the help of Michael Turano, with whom he lives (along with Gerard and their elderly mother) in a garish McMansion in Mill Basin, Brooklyn. more ›

State Senator Carl Kruger is facing federal corruption charges accusing him of taking over $1 million in bribes and even though he's back to work (if that's what they do in Albany), there are questions about his relationship with the Turano family. The 61-year-old Democrat lists his sister's home as his residence, but he lives with divorcée Dorothy Turano, 73, and her two unmarried physician sons, Michael, 49, and Gerard, 47. The NY Times has a long, rather gothic feature about the Turanos, the bachelor lawmaker and the huge Mill Basin mansion once owned by a mobster. more ›

State Senator Carl Kruger, who was hit with federal corruption charges last week for allegedly taking over $1 million from lobbyists, developers, and health care consultants in exchange for turning Albany their way, was back in Albany yesterday. He said, "am here to represent the people of my district,... I am here to do my job, and that’s what I’m doing today," and referred to speculation about his relationship with a man he shares a house with (the man's mother and brother also live there), "I am not going to comment neither on the case nor my personal life." more ›

State Senator Carl Kruger, the Brooklyn Democrat—and one-time Amigo— who represents neighborhoods including Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, and Midwood, will turn himself into federal authorities this morning and will be "processed on several charges." It's believed that he—and State Assemblyman William Boyland, lobbyist Richard Lipsky and two hospital executives—will face corruption charges related to what the Daily News calls a "long-running, broad-reaching bribery conspiracy." more ›

It isn't just the City Council, drivers and insurance companies who are fuming over the FDNY's proposed crash taxes. Folks in Albany are against it as well. Yesterday State Senator Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) introduced legislation to block the fees saying "it's not budgeting. It's a money grab." But the plan does have some backers (besides Mayor Bloomberg). more ›

After unveiling his $3 billion in budget cuts for this year (not to mention another $2 billion next) on Thursday, Governor Paterson is on the offensive, appearing on numerous radio and TV stations. Why the media blitz? Because some state lawmakers have complained about the cuts, leaving Paterson to fire back, "They can find all kinds of ways to spend money but never seem to be able to meet obligations." more ›

The NY State Legislature is meeting this afternoon to pass the MTA bailout the News calls "a slow-motion train wreck (that's) better than nothing." With no long term plans for capital funding and future hikes expected, Richard Ravitch (pictured), the man who got the bailout ball rolling, said, "I am disappointed that they didn't fund the five year plan. I'm disappointed they didn't do the tolls. But I'm thrilled they did something." The lack of East River tolls can be attributed to the maneuvering of the Gang of Three, one of whom (Sen. Carl Kruger) joked at a press conference, "Ravitch is supporting the plan that he opposed two months ago." Politicker NY says that no one laughed. The final push from Governor Paterson and Malcolm Smith was to promise $60 million to Long Island schools in order to get the last two Democratic holdouts on board with subjecting their constituents to the payroll tax that will largely fund the plan. Still, one local official on the Island told Newsday, "I'm very discouraged. I don't believe that Long Island's interests were well represented." more ›

With a May 1st deadline for Albany to get done in order to save commuters from the entire wrath of proposed MTA fare hikes and service cuts, Governor Paterson is continuing his aggressive push for legislators to take action. Yesterday he spoke in support of former MTA Commissioner Richard Ravitch and his rescue plan. Paterson said, “He brought back a plan that won the approval of every reasonable point of view from different sides. Except in Albany. It’s a different planet. As we like to point out, there is no gravity.” more ›

Part of the floor plan devoted to a new, 400-seat restaurant inside the historic Lundy’s space in Sheepshead Bay is what developers are calling an “ancillary use” gourmet foods market. The controversial Cherry Hill Market, the Buildings Department contends, is actually just a grocery store by another name. more ›

So that deal to share power between State Senate minority leader Malcolm Smith and the "Gang of Three" Senators is dead. Smith said this morning, "When we first started out, the discussion was about reform and changing the government," but now negotiations were suspended "effective immediately." City Room reports that someone asked Smith, "You really thought this was about reform?" Ha! more ›

After weeks of hold outs preventing the fate of the State Senate leadership to be announced, the parties have agreed to a Solomonic deal: The NY Times explains that Malcolm Smith, the former Senate minority leader, "would be elected president pro tempore, a constitutional office that makes him the chamber’s leader," while Senator-elect Ruben Espada Jr. "would be elected to what would be the subordinate post of majority leader and appointed vice chairman of the Rules Committee, which must approve all legislation that goes through the Senate." This is based on a handshake deal from Smith, Espada, Senator Ruben Diaz, and Senator Carl Kruger (the latter two also get big roles)--and it still needs to be approved. And rumor has it that the deal was reached partly because Smith agreed he wouldn't bring up same-sex marriage during the next session. more ›