PolitickerNY caught a seriously awkward moment at a City Council budget hearing between Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn) and city budget director Mark Page: "Letitia James: Mr. Page, how was your Mother’s Day? And how is your mother? Mark Page: You know, my mother has been dead and buried for 10 years, and if you get off that subject, that would be more polite. James: So, I assume your Mother’s Day was a fine day. Page: It was what it was." Yikes! You can also see the video here. James's and Page's apparent animosity may stem from a March exchange; the Post reported, "sparks flew as the discussion about tax policy grew testy, eventually devolving into all-out class warfare." (James said changes to day-care funding would impact single-parent households; she "demanded to know if Page came from a single-family home, as she did, he threatened to leave.") At today's hearing, Page was also grilled on the Bloomberg administration's proposal to re-institute the tax on clothing and shoes under $110. more ›

NBC New York got a hold of a memo from city budget director which asks the heads of city agencies to "prepare for thousands of layoffs... As many as 7,000 more jobs could be eliminated, City Hall sources said." more ›