Results tagged “retirement”

After losing big to Bill deBlasio in last week's public advocate runoff election, Mark Green is saying that he is out of politics for good...again. Green says his defeat came down to two factors: "Turnout; the array of forces. Period." Always the gracious loser, he added, "I was surprised and disappointed that the other side's operation overwhelmed my record and optimism." Green says he will go back to writing and his work at Air America. His daughter told him now he can go back to what he's good at—with there now being one thing we can all safely rule out that is not.

ABC has announced that Charlie Gibson will retire in January, to be replaced by Diane Sawyer as anchor of the ABC World News evening broadcast. The two had worked together closely since reviving Good Morning America in 1998; Gibson left that program in 2006 to take over ABC World News after Bob Woodruff was injured in Iraq and the network decided to replace his co-anchor, Elizabeth Vargas. Sawyer has long sought the anchor chair, so this must be exciting for her, though ABC now has some big shoes to fill at GMA. In email to his staff, Gibson wrote, "I love this news department, and all who work in it, to the depths of my soul... I have received much comment, and quite a few emails and letters referring to the signoff Eddie Pinder convinced me to use—wishing that everyone has had a good day. But the proudest part for me has been saying '...for all of us at ABC News...', since those words signify in my mind that I have been in a position to speak for an entire news department that I consider second to none." And, after the jump, video of a very giddy Sawyer the day after President Obama's inauguration:

Oh Brett Favre, you just couldn't take seeing another quarterback celebrated on the back pages, could you? While the Mark Sanchez to the Jets honeymoon has barely gotten a chance to have its first pregnancy scare, the team announced last night that it's giving "retired" quarterback Brett Favre his full release upon his request. Of course we put retired in quotes because it was less than a year ago that Favre called off his first retirement and ended up coming to the Jets in a trade. The release gives him even more freedom than he had with the Packers a year ago when he had expressed interest in playing for the Vikings—a move Green Bay was not willing to accommodate. Could Favre unretire and head for the Land of 10,000 Lakes? In a statement, the quarterback said that "(GM Mike Tannenbaum and I) have been talking about this for a while. Nothing has changed. At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football." At this time. A source close to Favre told the News that he "wants to keep his options open." At least the release assures that he'll be somebody else's problem.

Deputy Mayor Ed Sklyer warned that the city's pension costs threaten the city's financial health. According to the NY Post, he told the Citizens Budget Commission, "Defined benefit plans such as what the city has were designed in an earlier generation and are not only obsolete but unaffordable. The private companies that have them, such as GM, are facing bankruptcy and bailouts. The city will be in the same position if we don't get these costs under control." Because of rising pension and health benefit costs, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson support a bill that would ask city employees to work for at least 25 years (instead of the current 20) and retire at a minimum age of 50 before reciving pensions. The Post notes, "Uniformed employees, such as cops, can now cash out at any age after serving 20 years," and a previous Post editorial said currently, "10,381 retired police officers under the age of 50 are collecting pensions that average $43,000 -- plus an annual "Christmas bonus" of $12,000 each.

The much beloved longtime public-address announcer for the Yankees, Bob Sheppard, officially retired today. His friend and agent Paul Doherty broke the news to the Times, telling them, “I think Bob just wants to take it easy and no longer have the pressure of, ‘Can he? Will he? Or won’t he?’" Sheppard is 98-years-old and has been introducing Bombers to the plate since 1951. Health problems have kept him sidelined for portions of the last few seasons—including last year's final Opening Day at the old Stadium. Doherty said, “I’m happy to say that Bob is still doing well enough to drive a car...Now on to him seeing his 100th birthday in a year and a half.” There is no word yet on who will replace Sheppard, other than it will not be previous backup Jim Hall. Sheppard's voice will still be heard in the new Yankee Stadium announcing Derek Jeter—the Yankee captain had previously asked Sheppard to record his introduction so that it could be used permanently.

ESPN reports that Jets quarterback Brett Favre "has instructed agent Bus Cook to inform the New York Jets Wednesday that he plans to retire." We're sure Woody Johnson liked finding about that by reading ESPN.com! After a lot of excitement about the legendary quarterback heading to Gang Green—and early dreams of heading to the Super Bowl—the season dissolved into recriminations and the firing of coach Eric Mangini. Favre sent an email to ESPN's Ed Werder: "Mike and Woody, as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding. My teammates -- Thomas and Kerry included -- were a pleasure to play with. Eric [Mangini] could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him. My time with the Jets was short, but I'm honored to be given that chance.'' So, now it's up to Kellen Clemens?

After over three decades at The Post and a 55-year-long career, right-wing "populist" reporter Steve Dunleavy bowed out today, explaining to readers that "when the bones get a bit creaky, you can't stay at the dance too long...I never spent a single hour at Columbia School of Journalism, except when I gave a lecture to journalism students - and I was about as popular as a fire hydrant at the Westchester dog show...Oh, yeah, I will miss those great cops and firefighters, the nutty judges and politicians and the criminal lawyers who were more colorful than an explosion in a paint factory." Here's video of Dunleavy telling the famous story of slashing his dad's tires to get a scoop.

While State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has denied his surprising decision not to seek re-election had anything to do with the FBI's investigation into his finances, the FBI hauled away a "massive volume" of Bruno's records, dating back to 1995. The Post says the FBI seized the documents hours before Bruno's Monday afternoon announcement.

A day after his stunning decision to leave the State Senate after 32 years, Majority Leader Joseph Bruno held a sentimental press conference. Capitol Confidential and Daily Politics has highlights from his remarks, like “Life decisions are never easy. And I’ve made a life decision. My life decision is to step back, and step out" and answering "I have news for you, we're all terminal here" when asked if he is terminally ill.

Saving his team plenty of uncertainty and resulting annoyance, Michael Strahan reportedly announced his retirement Monday. That means the team and the media are saved another dance in which the player hems and haws as he tries to avoid training camp while still collecting a high salary. Now, the Giants will move on with their talented and deep defensive line, anchored by Osi Umenyiora, and will avoid a major distraction when the team reports in July.

He may not be on a team this season, but Mike Piazza, the greatest offensive catcher in the history of baseball, announced his retirement today. Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 amateur draft, Piazza spent time with the Dodgers, Marlins, Padres, A's and eight seasons with the New York Mets. The 39-year-old Piazza retired with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs.

Philippe de Montebello, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for three decades, has announced his retirement; he’ll be leaving as soon as a successor is found. The 71-year-old French born Harvard graduate called it a “wrenching” decision but finally concluded that “to stay much further would be to skirt decency.”