Results tagged “charlesschumer”

Senator Chuck Schumer held one of his famous Sunday press conferences yesterday, presumably before spending the rest of the day chilling with Jay-Z and Beyonce at the summer's last Pool Party. The presser was held three days after the National Transportation Safety Board recommended major changes to air traffic over the Hudson River—changes which Schumer says fall short. The senator told reporters that the current regulations are "a mess. There are countless handoffs, gaps and holes in the regulatory authority, and that only leads to trouble." Trouble like the fatal mid-air collision between a single-engine plane and a tour helicopter earlier this month. Schumer is demanding (once again) that the FAA monitor all flights below 1,000 feet (pilots currently use a "see and avoid" strategy), the creation of a pilot training program for commercial sightseeing operations, and fully staffed control towers at Teterboro Airport and at other area airports. Radical, right? The TSB report admitted that the absence of a supervisor from the Teterboro tower at the time of the crash enabled a controller to make a "nonbusiness" cell phone call, which infamously involved joking about barbecuing a dead cat—actually making the genre of dead pet jokes even more inappropriate than ever.

Count Senator Charles Schumer amongst those who want the space shuttle Atlantis to retire at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Following NASA's announcement that they will send three space shuttles to institutions around the country, the Intrepid put their name in the hat. It's now being reported that "Schumer said Sunday he is supporting the Intrepid's bid for a space shuttle and he has appealed to Vice President Joe Biden to make it happen." If it all goes down, the shuttle would be housed in a glass enclosure at the end of Pier 86 around 2012.

Senator Charles Schumer was sounding like a savior today for two agencies recently experiencing major budget woes: the Department of Education and the MTA. Schumer indicated that $1.8 billion of the stimulus bill that arrived in the Senate today should be heading toward city schools saying, "If they were to use that money to prevent massive layoffs of teachers, that would be the intention of what the money is for and that's a good thing." The mayor did not take any stimulus money toward education for granted in last Friday's "Doomsday budget." Schumer also proposed an amendment to the $819 billion stimulus package, calling for money going toward transit to nearly double the allocated amount to around $15 billion. While that money could not go toward the MTA's budget deficit that will likely lead to a fare increase, it could be used towards maintenance and new projects like the Second Avenue Subway.

The last time Chuck Schumer ran for reelection for his Senate seat in 2004, he was victorious by the widest margin in state history at 71% to 24%. Right now it appears that he could top that in his bid for reelection next year. With the mayor going for a third term, Giuliani and Lazio considering a shot at the state house and Peter King already eying the Senate seat now held by Kirsten Gillibrand, Republicans are essentially looking for a jobber to throw up against Chuck. When asked who might run, Conservative Party chief Mike Long said, "If you're trying to ask a 'gotcha' question, I guess you got me." One poli-sci professor described it, "You've got (Muhammad) Ali in one corner and a couple of guys from the high school gym in the other." But with the recent attention drawn to his lax standards for Wall Street before the economic crisis, GOP operative Roger Stone thinks Schumer should be considered more vulnerable saying, "He should be the poster child for the financial meltdown." The last time a Republican won a Senate race in New York was 1992.

The congresswoman whose last name begins with a soft "g" may have to become the senator who reconsiders her hard-lined history against gun control control advocates. That seems to be the one thing we've learned in the less than 48 hours since it was revealed that Representative Kirsten Gillibrand would be named to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate following the Caroline Kennedy fiasco.

Were you one of the 150,000 New Yorkers who came up on the short end of the stick in the statewide lottery drawing to determine who would get tickets to the inauguration next week? Well, Senator Schumer is giving you a second chance. Schumer is giving out another 100 tickets to President-elect Obama's swearing in on the 20th. Thus far, 128 winners have been selected from the city and another 91 from the surrounding areas—including one adorable 4-year-old girl. And for everyone who still can't find a way down to DC to celebrate in all of the festivities, we're still crossing our fingers for Central Park Jumbotrons.

We learn more today about Flatbush-born, "Blago-destroyer" US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. As a leader in going after terrorists since the 1993 WTC attack, he apparently can still recite from memory Osama Bin Laden's 1000-word fatwa declaring war against the US in 1998. Yet another colleague mentions, "He is a disorganized genius—if he didn't remember where things were, no one would ever find it in his office." And did you know that the Regis High School grad was one of People's "sexiest men alive" in 2005? As for his future following the traditional resignation of all US Attorneys at an administration change, Senator Schumer has strongly encouraged new Attorney General Eric Holder that Fitzgerald remain at his post. Schumer said, "(Fitzgerald) has a deserved reputation of being totally non-political and totally on the merits and a tough and strong prosecutor, and I think leaving it in his hands is exactly the right way to go."

Governor David Paterson frequently uses humor to disarm his audiences (we were disarmed in September and he disarmed Stephen Colbert's crowd, too) but he made a splash with an important group of people last night: Members of the Gridiron Club, made up of Washington bureau chiefs of newspapers and networks.

Senator Charles Schumer will hold a lottery to determine which New Yorkers will get to attend the inauguration for President-elect Obama on January 20. Schumer's office has 350 tickets to give out of the 240,000 total. But don't get your hopes too high--over 100,000 requests have already come in. New Yorkers can enter the lottery by faxing the senator's office or registering on his website. The deadline is November 30 and the drawing will be held the first week of December. "The inauguration of a new president is always an exciting event. But I think we all realize that this year is special," Schumer said.

Still angry that a student accused of attacking a fellow student at Binghamton University is avoiding U.S. authorities by staying in Serbia, Senator Charles Schumer said the U.S. should withhold $50 million in aid to the county. However if Serbia turns over Miladin Kovacevic (pictured), it is welcome to the money.

Senator Charles Schumer believes that the oil bills for winter home heating will come as a shock to homeowners. Newsday reports that, based on his office's estimates, Long Island homeowners will have to bear a $966 increase while NYC residents will see a $720 jump. Schumer is working on a bill to help out low income families help cover the bills. The senior Senator from NY also defended his comments on IndyMac, disagreeing with regulators who think his discouraging remarks caused a run on the bank.

Senator Charles Schumer, longtime critic of area airports, seized upon a study that shows delayed flights mean $4.9 billion is lost in the local economy.

Governor Spitzer is facing opposition in his attempt to snuff out any Javits Center expansion by selling land surrounding the center to fill budget gaps. The administration still plans to renovate the convention center, but it will result in far less space than what was originally envisioned for the expansion, which would have cost between $1.8 billion and $3 billion. Senator Charles Schumer, Mayor Bloomberg and City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn oppose the land sale, which would effectively eliminate the possibility of any future expansion.

Last year we visited 1520 Sedgwick Avenue's past and uncertain future. The "Birthplace of Hip Hop" was, and still is, in danger of losing its lifeblood when the landlord (BSR Management) announced they wanted to abandon the Mitchell-Lama program. Essentially buying out of the program and leaving the doors open for a rent increase. Then things got worse when BSR made it clear they would be selling the building to a real estate mogul Mark Karasick, which was set to happen next month.

Just the kind of thing needed for everyone to continue questioning in the current air traffic control situation at area airports. Two planes almost collided on Sunday at JFK Airport. Senator Charles Schumer said that an air traffic controller said, "That was the closest I have ever seen two airplanes get together." According to the NY Times (also, see image at right), a "37-seat commuter jet" almost collided with a "Boeing 747 cargo jet on...

Democrats Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Dianne Feinstein joined nine Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee and approved the nomination of Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey to go to the full Senate. The vote was 11-8, the eight opposing votes from the remaining Democrats on the committee. His confirmation is expected next week. Mukasey - and his supporters - has faced criticism after not declaring waterboarding illegal. Schumer has an op-ed in today's NY Times...

It should come as no surprise, but New York's three major airports Laguardia, JFK, and Newark (in New Jersey) are the worst in the nation when it comes to on-time performance. The New York Post compiled a list of the ten worst flights when it comes to leaving or arriving in a timely manner. The absolute worst is Flight #588 from Miami to JFK, which fails to arrive on schedule 85% of the time, with an average delay of 62 minutes. The Post spoke to a number of late-arriving passengers who listed sick crew members, foul weather, and mechanical problems as reasons their flights were constantly behind. One man would have none of it though: "[the excuses] are not credible."

Senator Charles Schumer's latest crusade? Trying to keep the national Do Not Call registry list extended so New Yorkers and other Americans won't have to deal with re-registering.

Senator Charles Schumer issued another annual report card grading the Department of Homeland Security's efforts. The good news is that the grade is up from last year's C-minus. The bad news is that Schumer still gave it a C, noting, "Six years after 9/11, the progress the Department of Homeland Security has made in securing our country is shameful," and "When your kid comes home with a C on his report card on something vital, you're not very happy...That is not a grade we can be proud of."

This is some way to start off the week before Labor Day weekend: U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned. The NY Times reports, per a White House source, that Gonzales called President Bush (who was at his ranch in Crawford) on Friday to submit his resignation: "His decision was not immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch." Bush apparently accepted the resignation "grudgingly."

You may have many opinions of Senator Charles Schumer. A man who gives weekly press conferences by way of making the rounds on Sunday morning news shows, someone who will "put a bullet betweens the president's eyes," the senior Senator of New York, orchestrator of the Senate's shift back to the Democrats, husband of a recent Department of Transportation commissioner, imaginer of middle class couple the Baileys, cereal hog. But defender of hedge funds' and private equity firms' desire to keep their low tax rate? Who knew?

If you want to feel a little uncomfortable about how the Federal Aviation Administration is doing its job, read today's NY Times story about a near-miss at LaGuardia. Two weeks ago, a Comair Delta 50-seater and a Delta 737 were within a "few hundred feet" of colliding. A trainee had allowed the smaller plane to cross the runway, just as the 737 was descending to the very same one:

As the 737, Flight 1238, rolled down the runway at more than 150 miles per hour, an alarm flashed on a radar screen in the tower and someone realized a dire mistake had been made, according to details provided by officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the pilots’ and controllers’ unions. “No delay, no delay,” a controller shouted to the pilots of the regional jet, urging them to hurry across.

Continue reading "Planes Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close at Laguardia"

Chertoff but were unable to convince him to raise New York's anti-terror funding. Secretary Chertoff repeated said the he was not there to talk about money, but Spitzer says, "he knew we were going to raise" the issue. Yeah - if you're a federal official walking into a room with the Governor and Senators of a state that has been vocal about how the government has shortchanged it, you can guess what will be discussed.

Starrett City, the subsidized housing development in Brooklyn, was sold for $1.3 billion in February, but for the second time, the Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the deal. The February sale needed to be approved by HUD, because Starrett City is the country's largest subsidized development, and shortly after the sale was announced, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo got to work on blocking the sale.

As long as the air traffic controllers union is trying to get more controllers hired, we have a feeling we'll be hearing more stories like this one: According to the Post, there were five "near collisions" at NYC area airports last month. The head of the air traffic controllers union Phil Barbarello said, "Air travelers should be seriously concerned about their safety. The margin of safety is as low as I have ever seen, and I've been with the agency [FAA] for 23 years." Eek!

Fifth Avenue was packed with revelers and performers during the 50th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. Celebrities, like "King" Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, were out in force, as were the politicians, including Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Eliot Spitzer, Senator Charles Schumer, Representative Jose Serrano, and Puerto Rico governor Anibal Acevedo-Villa.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a North Fork Bank was robbed on Union St. in Queens, a Sovereign Bank on Ave. A in Manhattan was also robbed, and a stabbing on Chauncey St. in Brooklyn.
• A man and his cow return to New York City after 68 years (it's a different cow).
• Al Sharpton doubts that poor minorities would be let out of jail on request, and is upset that Paris Hilton is getting preferential treatment.
• A red Jeep Cherokee with Florida license plates rear-ended a silver sedan stopped at a red light on Queens Blvd. in Sunnyside, Queens, sending the latter car headlong into a group of pedestrians crossing the Blvd. at 46th St. Five people, four of them pedestrians, were injured and a 16-year-old boy will likely lose both of his legs. The Jeep driver fled the scene in his car.
• The cop shot four months ago, while sitting in an unmarked police van with two other officers, returned to work at the 78th Precinct this week. He has still not recuperated enough to return to full active duty, but it's reported that he's happy to be back at work.
• Criss Angel's Times Square encasing-himself-in-concrete stunt was dedicated to Cameron Diaz, who he described as beautiful, talented, and smart.
• Unable to find any children that hang out in bars, Charles Schumer vowed to block OTB terminals in drinking establishments to protect the college students, who he likened to children.
• Streetsblog reports that parking spaces in Williamsburg, Brooklyn are being eliminated to make way for bike parking.

The Daily News and Post both use the alleged JFK Airport terror plot - that would have involved blowing up the airport's fuel oil pipeline - to move papers: The cover of the Daily News teases an interview with a waitress who served an "alleged mastermind" (cover headline: "Evil Ate at Table Eight") while the Post wonders about the whereabouts of one of the alleged plotters (headline: "Invisible Man"). The story doesn't crack the NY Times' front page, though the Times' big story is how the plot was "less than mature" based on the criminal complaint. In fact, apparently two of the plotters were ambivalent, and the retired JFK worker allegedly involved, Russell Defreitas "appeared to possess little money, uncertain training and no known background in planning a terror attack," although he did dream of "of inflicting massive harm."

Finally, the stats to back up what we know: NYC area airports have had more delays so far this year than in 2006. New data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that delays have increased by 140.6% at JFK Airport, when comparing April 2007 to April 2006. The delays at LaGuardia are up by approxmiately 35% and delays at Newark are up by 21%.

Yesterday, Caroline Giuliani graduated from her private high school, and the tabloids were on hand to note the seating arrangement: Mother Donna Hanover, step-dad Ed Oster, and brother Andrew Giuliani were sitting near the front, while father Rudy Giuliani and step-mom Judi Nathan sat in the balcony.