There is literally nothing we find more interesting than what current and former NYC mayors think about Occupy Wall Street. Obviously Mayor Bloomberg's bipolar responses to OWS have been well-documented, as he's wavered between damnation for any "class warfare" and respect for free speech. And Rudy Giuliani has made no secret of his hatred for “disgruntled bums” and “leftover hippies from the ’60s and ’70s.” Now, it's Ed Koch's turn to weigh in on OWS: "I’ve concluded the N.Y.P.D. acted superbly and made the people of the City of New York feel proud of the police officers’ professionalism under great provocation." more ›

Fresh from explaining what the U.S. is doing in Libya last night President Obama is in town today, messing with traffic and attending a $30,800-a-head DNC fundraising dinner at Red Rooster in Harlem with the likes of former mayor David Dinkins and Rep. Charles Rangel (and more). And apparently not everyone is happy about it—because people are always happy with everything presidents do, right? more ›

While Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) faces possible censure (aka public humiliation for numerous ethics violations, he has also expressed hope that his colleagues will consider that he did not intend to bring disgrace on the House or enrich himself personally. Many outside the Beltway think he should be censured and then some, but his friends rallied for him yesterday. Former mayor David Dinkins said at a Harlem church, "He does not deserve any further punishment." more ›

On NY1's "Road to City Hall" last night, former Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles Rangel and former NY Secretary of State Basil Paterson (yes, the Governor's dad), appeared to remember their friend and colleague Percy Sutton, the trailblazing lawyer turned politician turned media mogul who passed away last week. The four men, who became powerful in Harlem politics, were known as the "Gang of Four," and Dinkins, Rangel and Paterson credited Sutton. Dinkins said, "We three and others have always said everybody stands on somebody's shoulders. And we say that we stand on Percy's shoulders." more ›

After accusations that former Mayor Rudy Giuliani was race-baiting while touting Mayor Bloomberg for re-election , the incumbent candidate tried to address the issue. Bloomberg said, "I am phenomenally proud of our record of bringing people together from all neighborhoods and every community. And I think we’ve successfully resisted attempts to divide the city... For the past eight years, I’ve worked well with virtually everyone. I don’t point fingers. I try to lower the volume, the temperature, and not raise it. I’m not going to try to raise it now." more ›

If you're a local news junkie, you've probably seen TV spots from Public Advocate candidate Bill de Blasio around his Park Slope home that prominently featuring his family, who in case you missed it, include his African-American wife and their two children. Well, now his fellow City Councilman Charles Barron accuses him of pandering to the black community with campaign ads. more ›

After Governor Paterson has accused the media of racism as it details his political problems, more and more people are telling Paterson to stop. First it was President Obama—of course Paterson didn't pay any heed to that, later saying, "Part of what I feel is that one very successful minority is permissible, but when you see too many success stories, then some people get nervous,"—and other politicians and commentators. Now it's former NYC mayor David Dinkins, who says, "Definitely he should get off the racist thing. Right or wrong, it’s a fight you sure can’t win." more ›

In a sort of addendum to coverage of Lenox Terrace, the Harlem apartment building with well-know residents like Representative Charles Rangel and Governor Parterson who have rent-stabilized apartments, the NY Times points out that 215 East 68th Street has a lot of political starpower. Some tenants include former Mayor David Dinkins, former police commissioner Howard Safir, former fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen, and New York county clerk Norman Goodman (Dinkins, Goodman and Safir say they pay market rate--or "a lot" in--rent) and many say their friendship with the building owner Rudin Management helped get them. Back at Lenox Terrace, the Post breaks down the famous people who seem to be paying not very much for their apartments. more ›

After the stunning Giants' Super Bowl win, people cheered like they hadn't seen a Super Bowl victory in 17 years! Throughout the city, folks were stumbling onto streets, chanting the names of players and even getting arrested. more ›

Governor Spitzer may have identified himself as a steamroller in his attempts to accomplish certain executive tasks, but he's got nothing on the former federal prosecutor and Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. The NY Times has a colorful profile of the the former Mayor as a man who used his offices as bludgeons, crushing anyone who crossed him. more ›

All over the city, events were held to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. One of the biggest events was the Reverend Al Sharpton's annual forum at his National Action Network in Harlem, which attracted Governor Spitzer, Senator Schumer, former Mayor Dinkins and Mayor Bloomberg. more ›

On Sunday, the worldwide running community lost an institution: Vic Navarra, a FDNY lieutenant who organized the NYC Marathon's start for 26 years, died at his home in Staten Island. He was 55 and had been battling sinus cancer. more ›

Rudy Giuliani told the American public, via a sit-down with Katie Couric, that the story pointing out expenses for trips to the Hamptons - to see then-mistress Judi Nathan - were billed across a number of obscure city agencies was a "typical political hit job" and a "debate day dirty trick." He even called it a "false story," but Politco, the website that broke the story, pointed out neither Giuilani or his aides "have questioned... more ›

Mayor David Dinkins, who preceded Mayor Giuliani in office from 1990 to 1993, had his appendix removed in an emergency surgery Friday when it was determined that he was suffering from appendicitis. Dinkins was actually visiting his doctor for a routine flu shot, when he complained that he had a sharp pain in his side. A CAT scan revealed the inflamed and infected appendix--a condition that can be lethal if the vestigial organ bursts. more ›

Brooke Astor's funeral was held yesterday afternoon in midtown Manhattan, at Saint Thomas Church on 5th Ave. and 53rd St. The lineage and personal generosity of Mrs. Astor and the array of famous attendees at her funeral made it a widely covered news event. The New York Times reported that officiants at the funeral requested that all cell phones be turned off at the beginning of the service, although a Gawker correspondent pointed out that this did not stop the woman sitting next to him from allegedly loudly typing away on her BlackBerry throughout the service. more ›

It's a mixed bag for Columbia today. The school was probably happy to find out that it ranked 9th in U.S News & World Report's latest top college ranking issues, but it's no fun to learn that its billion-dollar Manhattanville project was rejected by a community board committee. more ›

Rep. Charles Rangel spoke with WNBC newsman Gabe Pressman Friday evening for an interview that will air Sunday morning. He told Pressman that New Yorkers shouldn't favor Giuliani just because he's from their area or showed some type of leadership in the hours and days after 9/11/01. Rangel attributes Giuliani's positive impression as simply the product of filling a vacuum created by an absent-for-hours President Bush. While the Congressman appreciates that temporary performance, he hopes New Yorkers will recognize the larger impression he has of the current Republican candidate.

Rangel replied, "I don't think any federal prosecutor indicted more people that were subsequently acquitted than Giuliani. You know, he's a tough guy from the neighborhood that wants everyone to know how tough he is. He's the guy that calls the police to rally, cussing and fussing and bringing out the meanness in them as they drank beer and attacked David Dinkins. He polarized the city like no mayor's ever done."

Before we dive into the Times' weddings and celebrations announcements, we'd like to note that the Styles section has an article for guests thinking about buying tableware gifts for upcoming weddings. The article suggests buying colorful accessory plates and bowls for couples who may have registered for white-only dinnerware. We're fans of white-only dinnerware, because it's very versatile, it doesn't have to be too expensive, and it can be dressed up or down. If you should break a piece, you won't be too heartbroken because it shouldn't be too hard to replace. more ›

Columbia University's plan to expand its campus into Manhattanville has prompted much debate about the eminent domain, college's commitment to the neighborhood, and gentrification and its effects on the community. The NY Sun revealed last week that Columbia spent over $400,000 for lobbying between January and April of this year, a sign that the school is getting aggressive to make sure its plans come through. And yesterday, there was a NY Times Op-Ed by former Mayor David Dinkins, titled Don’t Fear Columbia, in support of the Manhattanville plan. Here's an excerpt:

Columbia University’s proposal to develop the old Manhattanville manufacturing zone of West Harlem over the next two decades is the perfect example of a change that will generate growth and benefit all... more ›

If there's one NY Times Weddings & Celebrations write-up you read this week, read the one for Claire Israel and Oren Silverstein. Not only did the couple get married at Cupid’s Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas (but they'll have another service in Brooklyn next month), they also described how their initial online courtship had its roadblocks:

When the couple met online in April 2005, Ms. Israel was as concerned about where Mr. Silverstein lived (New Jersey) as he was about who she lived with (her two cats). more ›

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Mayor Bloomberg has been denying that he will run for President in 2008, steadfastly maintaining that he will be Mayor for two full terms. Except yesterday, the billionaire mayor told Fox News "You never know", which instantly sprinkled fuel on the "Is he or isn't he running?" fire. more ›

Just in time for whenever Rudy Giuliani decides to announce he's running for President, The Smoking Gun has excerpts from his 1993 vulnerability study that offered rebuttals whenever certain charges were levied. For instance, the whole "marrying his second cousin" thing. Or avoiding military service. Or being racist. Clearly, the study helped some, as Giuliani did defeat Mayor David Dinkins.
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That look on the faces of former Mayors David Dinkins and Ed Koch comes "Listening to President Bush Speak." The President is in NYC today, speaking at Federal Hall downtown, giving a "State of the Economy" speech, and you can read about it here at the White House website. We'll update later with more of his specific remarks. more ›

The poor Intrepid. Months of planning (not to mention $250,000) were put into planning yesterday's move from Pier 86 on the West Side of Manhattan to Bayonne, NJ, where the aircraft carrier would be repaired and repainted. Former Navy officers who originally served on the Intrepid, as well as Senator Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Ed Koch and David Dinkins, were invited for the farewell ceremony. But the Intrepid only moved 15 feet before the tugboats gave up trying to pull her (one operator said, “I can’t think of anything else, except maybe dynamite"). more ›

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Ever since last week's many hour stoppage, Roosevelt Island tram officials have been trying to fix the machines. Only to find out that it's still not working, with the tram stalling twice during test runs. Con Ed emphasized that they had nothing to do with the stoppage - there were no power loads or surges found - and RI officials aren't sure when the investigation will be completed. Roosevelt Island residents are upset, saying that the tram is important for their daily lives because the F train gets too crowded (on the news, one person said that they have to wait for three or four trains before they can get on). But really, they are thinking, "Damn, the transit union still doesn't have a contract - if there's another strike and the tram is out of service, are we going to have to build rafts?" more ›

The Boys Choir of Harlem hasn't had a very easy time, especially after it was found that a guidance counselor molested 14 year old student, but now they need to leave their home at Madison Avenue and East 127th Street. The NY Times looks at the embattled organization, and its struggle to exist amid the financial problems and the Department of Education's allegations that it mishandled the program. The choir operates out of the city's public school, the Choir Academy of Harlem; the choir and city had run the school together. But now the DoE is evicting the choir, contending that its founder, Dr. Walter Turnbull, had not kept the DoE notified of various changes or hired appropriate new leaders, per an agreement. Turnbull argues that the DoE's bureaucracy is stacking the case against him, as well as being racist. Uh-oh, the r-word. Of course, the DoE denies that race had anything to do with their decision, and points to the $5 million in debt that choir is in. more ›

- A NJ couple won the huge MegaMillions jackpot; husband Harold Lerner says he'll buy a Checker cab (he grew up in Brooklyn) and give people free rides! more ›