For the past few years, the officials have been warning that NYC's Off-Track Betting, or OTB, has been on the verge of going broke, whether it's former State Comptroller Alan Hevesi or City Comptroller William Thompson. OTB doesn't give the city any revenues and recently pinned its hopes on attracting more customers by making over OTB parlors and allowing bets to be placed online and by cell phone or Blackberry. more ›

State Ethics Commission, long time no see! It's been about eight months since you found State Comptroller Alan Hevesi had violated state law, and now you're back on the radar with an investigation into Governor Spitzer's administration's conduct regarding use of the state police to track State Senate Majority Joseph Bruno. more ›

Hours ago, former State Comptroller Alan Hevesi was fined $5,000 and sentenced to probation for "unlawful use of a state vehicle and driver" when he used his employees to drive his ill wife. The Times Union has an 18-minute video of the sentencing; reporter Rick Karlin noted that Albany County Court Judge Stephen Herrick said to the Queens Democrat, "Your fall from grace has been total and from a very great height…You are now the symbol, the icon, used by local and state reformers... Hopefully, your failure will serve as a deterrent." (See mugshot here) more ›

Yesterday, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced that the State will sue ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Keyspan and Phelps Dodge over a 17-million-gallon oil spill in Newtown Creek that has spread underneath Greenpoint over 100 acres. The spill was detected in 1978, when a Coast Guard pilot noticed an oil plume; oil seeped underground from ExxonMobil refinery and storage operations since the 1950s. Attorney General Cuomo said:

This is one of the worst environmental disasters in the nation, larger than the Exxon Valdez and slower in the cleanup. ExxonMobil must and will be held accountable. The toxic footprint of ExxonMobil is found all over this area. It is ExxonMobil’s oil that remains under the homes and businesses. And it is ExxonMobil that has dragged its feet and done as little as possible to address the dangers that it created.”

There's nothing like a State Comptroller -using- state- employees- to- chauffeur- his- wife scandal to make our own Police Commissioner stop having the po-po drive his wife around. Oh, yes: NYPD Confidential spoke with a few detectives about "Driving Mrs. Kelly", a practice that ended right when State Comptroller Alan Hevesi came under fire:

One detective said the detail drove Mrs. Kelly as many as three or four times a week. more ›

Here is part two of our semi-chronological look back at the top stories this past year (here is part one): more ›

We'd describe recently resigned State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's expression (and posture) as "Worst Day Ever." more ›

State Comptroller Alan Hevesi pleaded guilty to charges and resigned from office today. From the AP:

The plea ends an investigation by Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who had been presenting evidence against the Queens Democrat to a grand jury. Hevesi will serve no jail time, but will pay a $5,000 fine and agreed not to file any appeal. He also agreed not to take office on Jan. 1. Friday's agreement also heads off a process that could have ended in the Legislature removing Hevesi from office.

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Yesterday, Joseph Bruno, the NY State Senate's majority leader, revealed that the FBI was investigating him for his "outside business interests." Wow, is being investigated by the feds the new black for Republicans? Or is being investigation something most politicians need to go through (we're talking to you, Alan Hevesi!)? Republican Bruno called a press conference and told reporters, "I have nothing to hide. They are going into background over the past five or six years." more ›

- The NY Times reports that the Democratic party will decide on where the 2008 convention will be held either tomorrow or Monday. New York and Denver are the finalist cities; while Denver is attractive for its swing-state quality, NYC can guarantee better "financing, hotel rooms, entertainment space, logistical support and labor union cooperation." more ›

The NY Post uses its cover to claim Attorney General - and Governor-elect - Eliot Spitzer will release a damning report about State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's actions. Hevesi was re-elected this past November in spite of admitting that he use a state driver to chauffeur his wife, but Spitzer, who withdrew his support of Hevesi after a State Ethics Commission's report suggested that Hevesi did violate laws, has been leaning towards getting rid of Hevesi some way, somehow. Hevesi has repeatedly stated that he won't resign, but the Post says the AG's report will be "explosive" and a "'devastating indictment' of Hevesi's misuse of office," which could then lead the Albany Country DA to indict Hevesi on criminal charges. more ›

State Comptroller Alan Hevesi released a report about the city's economy, noting that we had been benefiting from "a growing economy and sound management decisions made by the Mayor and the City Council over the past five years." Well, isn't that a little post-election political butt kissing? But the Mayor's budget was pretty cautious for the year. more ›

1. Uh-oh, missing City Council members, if you miss a meeting, you need a note from your doctor (or other documentation)
2. Curbed's monitoring of Gehry's IAC Building pays off: The windows are properly lined up.
3. Park Slopers are scared of raccoons, possibly to the point of not crossing the street for a non-fat latte
4. The Goya stolen as it was being transported from Ohio to NYC was recovered in NJ! No word if it's going to continue its journey to the Guggenheim
5. Julian Casablancas, Mets fan! On the post-season: "Can I just ask you: as a Mets fan, do you think leaving Heilman in there for the 9th inning was the right move?"
6. The FDNY rescued a 73 year old man from the 50-degree Hudson River water - he was "found in old pilings" near a Holland Tunnel ventilator tower
7. Kottke picks out his favorite of Chris Ware's four Thanksgiving-themed New Yorker covers (we like this one)
8. The probe into State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's actions is getting more power, but it's still unlikely a decision will be made before Pataki leaves office

Maybe the new badge of infamy is how quickly your story gets co-opted by a Law & Order show. Apparently the antics of former Attorney General candidate Jeanine Pirro and trouble-making husband Al will be dramatized for an episode of Criminal Intent that will air next year. The Post has details:

In the episode, a very Pirro-like politician has her eyes on becoming the first female mayor of New York. But her husband, who's described as "very charming with a checkered past," throws a monkey wrench into her hopes when he's suspected of murdering his wife's mentor, a respected judge. more ›

Despite of a record victory, Governor-elect Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has to face a big problem: What do to with State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who was found guilty of violating state law by the State Ethics Commission. The NY Times speaks with people involved with Spitzer's discussions (they are anonymous, of course) about the matter:

“While a personally painful decision, it’s an easy decision because the facts are clear,” said one person with knowledge of the governor’s thinking on the issue. “What would the drive for greater accountability and a higher ethical standard mean if you tolerated that level of abuse? He will move swiftly and aggressively to remove him.

The polls in New York close in a half hour, so the media won't be reporting returns until then. But it's still exciting and heartbreaking to watch the other states' elections returns. For starters, Bob Casey ousting Rick Santorum for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania? That's exciting. Heartbreaking would be reports of bugs and intimidation at the polls. more ›

Hilarious: The NY Times' election blog, The Empire Zone, reports that Chelsea Clinton's name wasn't found in the book of registered voters at the West 20th Street polling place: "The book containing her name was apparently forwarded to the wrong district, denying her the ability to enter a polling booth." D'oh! So she - and probably the other people in that book - had to fill out an "affidavit vote," ensuring that she would be able to participate in the democratic process. The Daily Politics found out that some Manhattan voters got old 2005 affidavit ballots - one for last year's Mayoral race. There's nothing like voting day in NYC! But at least potential voters aren't being threatened with arrest. more ›

Governor Pataki's office released a report saying there's enough evidence to recommend the removal of State Comptroller Alan Hevesi. Lawyer David Kelley wrote, "I do not feel that I am now in a position to advise you to proceed with a recommendation to the senate for the comptroller's removal...Considering the record as a whole, I believe there is a preponderance of evidence that the comptroller knowingly and intentionally violated New York's public officers law." more ›

Governor Pataki came back to New York (he cut a trip in Hungary short!) and announced that a former U.S. Attorney would investigate whether State Comptroller Alan Hevesi should be removed from office. Hello, caution! Pataki called having David Kelley (who previously prosecuted Martha Stewart in the Imclone case and is a registered Democrat) review the matter an "extra step" before possibly asking the Senate to remove Hevesi. From the NY Post:

"We want to make sure we go the extra mile of having a high degree of confidence that someone not involved in the political process has taken an independent look and determined that a strong legal case exists that the next step, the removal of Comptroller Hevesi, should be sought," Pataki said. more ›

As expected, Attorney General and gubernatorial front runner Eliot Spitzer withdrew his support of State Comptroller Alan Hevesi. Spitzer acknowledged the State Ethics Commission's findings about Hevesi's use of a state driver to chauffeur his wife, saying it did present "information that compromises Alan Hevesi’s ability to fulfill his responsibilities.” Additionally, Spitzer doesn't think Hevesi should continue as comptroller, even if he is re-elected! But it doesn't mean that Spitzer is endorsing Republican Chris Callaghan. more ›

During an election debate, State Comptroller Alan Hevesi said he would not resign after the State Ethics Commission found he violated state law by having a state driver chauffeur his wife. Hevesi made what the NY Times called "a spirited and at times emotional defense tha was alternately apologetic and defiant." He also continued to claim there were security threats against his wife - hence the need for a driver - threats the State Ethics Commission found to be non-existent. more ›

A number of politicians are calling for State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's resignation in the wake of the State Ethics Commission's report that asserted Hevesi lied about using a state driver for his wife's personal use. Naturally the Republicans are leading the chorus for resignation, but Attorney General and gubernatorial frontrunner Eliot Spitzer said he was evaluating whether to continue his support for Hevesi (who is running for re-election in less than two weeks). And if Spitzer rescinds his support, that could open the floodgates for other Democrats to do that same. State Democrats have been trying to figure out if they can remove him from the ballot, but to no avail. more ›

The Department of Buildings is launching a safety outreach campaign after a number of construction accidents in the past month. Some of the incidents: A few workers fell from scaffolding in separate incidents (one died), a worker was killed when a building he was working in collapsed, and part of a crane fell onto a street and hit a cab. The DOB will be reminding constractors to make sure their equipment complies with regulations as well as encouraging workers to speak out if they see dangerous work conditions (anonymously, if they must). more ›

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Faso was relentless when he went up against Attorney General, Democratic candidate and gubernatorial frontrunner Eliot Spitzer. Faso said that Spitzer doesn't "get" that New Yorkers pay too much in taxes and added, "Maybe it's because he doesn't pay any school taxes himself," because Spitzer comes from a rich family, lives in an apartment owned by his father and rents an house in Columbia County. Snap! Spitzer, though, said that 50% of Faso's proposed tax cuts would go to the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers; Spitzer even called Faso' plans "voodoo economics"!! more ›

Last night, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and former State Assembly Republican minority leader John Faso had their first gubernatorial debate. Both promised not to tax New York residents, though Faso wonder how Spitzer would be able to do that, with Spitzer's ambitious plans to cut taxes, give people more health coverage, and help school financing. Faso pointed out that Spitzer uses the private plane of a developer interested in bringing a casino to NY State, so Spitzer came back with Faso' rides on a state contractor's plane while in the Assembly. Note to all politicians: Book your own air travel. more ›

Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan is probably turning in his grave right now. Plans for the Moynihan Station have been "derailed" as plans to discuss it have been postponed. Officials had been hoping that the Public Authorities Control Board would approve the project this year, so it would happen under Governor Pataki's term. But with opposition to and many questions surrounding the project, the NY Times reports "the Pataki administration took the proposal off the table again yesterday rather than risk a vote against it." Hello, brinksmanship! more ›

Earlier this year, State Comptroller Alan Hevesi asked that the Department of Environmental Conservation not negotiate a settlement agreement with ExxonMobil about a 1978 oil spill of 17 million gallons (bigger than the Valdez spill) off Newtown Creek. And now, tests that the DEC performed show there are "elevated levels of the carcinogen benzene and the potentially combustible gas methane in the soil". Oh, dear. more ›

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Oh, snap. more ›