The State "Legislative Task Force On Demographic Research And Reappointment" unveiled its proposed maps for redrawn State Senate and Assembly districts this week, and people are pissed. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has vowed to veto it, calling it "hyperpartisan," and a chorus of minority groups have slammed the Gerrymandering, which would redraw district lines along absurd, circuitous routes to exclude voters who might oppose the incumbent. In Rochester, for instance, blacks make up 42 percent of the population, but predominantly black communities would be split among three Senate districts, making it unlikely for a black candidate to win in any of them. Minority leaders across the state are incensed. more ›

The cost of jumping a turnstile could soon be much higher. Yesterday the State Senate passed a bill which would allow the MTA to raise the current maximum fine for farebeaters from $100 to $500 and the penalty for not paying from $50 to $100. Suddenly an unlimited Metrocard looks affordable? more ›

Now that disgraced State Senator Carl Kruger has been forced to retire from a life of, ahem, public service since pleading guilty to corruption charges, the race is on to seize his south Brooklyn district. In one corner, you have Democratic City Councilmember Lewis A. Fidler, who has not officially declared his intention to campaign for the job—though a party insider says he's got enough support to get the nomination. In the other corner, you have local Republican leader David Storobin, who, the Times reports, is "at the top of a very short list" for the nomination. Who are these guys? more ›

Hell of a day for former State Senator Carl Kruger yesterday: Appearing in court to plead guilty to federal corruption charges, the longtime Brooklyn politician repeatedly sobbed as he admitted his guilt. With his gynecologist companion at his side, Kruger, 62, broke down and cried, telling Judge Jed S. Rakoff, "I apologize if I’m a little emotional over this." Asked if he was mentally fit to plea, Kruger said, "Under the circumstances, yes, Your Honor." NY Times columnist Michael Powell filed a vivid account of the pitiful scene, which seems worthy of a Ralph Steadman portrait: more ›

To thank four Republican State Senators who agreed to vote for gay marriage, wealthy mover-and-shakers are holding a big fundraiser in Manhattan tonight "expected to raise about $1.25 million to help finance their re-election bids next year," according to the NY Times. One of the wealthy donors who promised to support the Republicans is Mayor Bloomberg, who already contributed $10,300 each to Mark Grisanti of Buffalo; Roy McDonald of Saratoga; James Alesi of Rochester and Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie this summer. more ›

Governor "Things Will Be Cleaner This Time Baby, I Promise" Cuomo is preparing to sign an ethics bill into law, which in part will require elected officials who practice law to disclose the names of their clients that they represent with regard to state business. Cuomo claims that provisions like these will "help clean up state government and give New Yorkers confidence in their elected officials." But today's Times reports on what the bill doesn't do: require lawmakers to to report clients represented by their colleagues at their firms. This has been a very common practice over the last five years, when the state has awarded contracts totaling $7.4 billion to the clients of their firms. more ›

Marriage equality is thisclose to coming to a vote in Albany (and only two votes shy of assured success) but don't start planning those Fire Island nuptials just yet. Though Governor Cuomo yesterday announced three democrats had come to the light, and an announcement quickly followed up by an additional Republican switching teams, the measure still needs to make it to a vote before the end of the session on Monday, and once there it still needs to pass. Which is why activists are going overboard trying, in the words of the National Organization for Marriage's Brian Brown, to "create a myth of inevitability." Luckily Miranda is on it. more ›

With the summer heat starting to settle in, thirsty minors looking for a buzz are once again turning their attention to Nutcrackers—a sweet homemade cocktail illegally sold to legal and underage drinkers on the street, in bodegas and in barbershops—much to the chagrin of lawmakers and police. And Albany will not let that stand. Yesterday the State Senate passed a so-called "Nutcracker Bill" that will greatly increase the punishments for Nutcracker peddlers, assuming it passes in the Assembly. more ›

New York State has recognized marriages between two men or two women since 2008 but now one State Senator from Brooklyn is trying to end that—just as the fight to bring marriage equality is heating back up in Albany. Republican Senator Martin Golden says his proposed legislation isn't about the current fight going on, rather it is "a message to the people of the state of New York that there's at least some normalcy within this great state, the Empire State, and in the state Senate." more ›

State Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) will not be going to jail. Instead the misdemeanor criminal mischief charges he was found guilty of in December (you might recall him roughing up a Post photog and breaking their camerain May 2009) will be sending the hot-tempered senator to anger management classes. He also has to pay a $1,000 fine, pay another $672 in equipment costs to the Post, and spend the next three years on probation. more ›

State Senator Carl Kruger, the Brooklyn Democrat—and one-time Amigo— who represents neighborhoods including Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, and Midwood, will turn himself into federal authorities this morning and will be "processed on several charges." It's believed that he—and State Assemblyman William Boyland, lobbyist Richard Lipsky and two hospital executives—will face corruption charges related to what the Daily News calls a "long-running, broad-reaching bribery conspiracy." more ›

How much did it cost the State to oust abusive boyfriend and all-around-special-guy Hiram Monserrate from the State Senate? Would you believe $376,464? more ›

The state Senate really wants to get down to working on the people's business, but they have something they need to discuss first. Namely, where everyone is supposed to sit. LoHud explains that "the four-member independent Democratic conference led by Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, was given preferential seating by the Republican conference." Which, according to Sen. Eric Adams, means that Republicans discriminated against black and female senators by giving them bad seats and rooms. The fighting starts around 38:30, and goes on for way longer than it should: more ›

The State Senate failed to pass a measure rescuing the city's Off Track Betting operation, which has struggled for years. The Times Union reports, "The 29 to 21 voted proceeded mostly on party lines, as leaders of the Senate Democratic conference pushed approval the bill, which was drafted by Gov. David Paterson and passed the Assembly late last month. The bill failed because it did not have 32 yes votes, the bare majority needed for passage." more ›

Last year State Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) got in some hot water after he assaulted a Post photographer who was trying to get a photo of his house. And today a Brooklyn Supreme Court jury found him guilty of misdemeanor charges in the case but not of felony charges. Which means that the recently re-elected Parker will not be automatically removed from his seat. Of course, as we learned from the case of Hiram Monserrate, misdemeanor charges can still get you booted from the Senate. Considering Parker's reputation for a hot head, this should get interesting. more ›

The beleaguered OTB might not be heading off to that great glue factory in the sky tomorrow. But also it might. Yesterday the board of the city's only legal bookie voted unanimously to shut the money-losing joints down on Friday as the State Senate had failed to vote on a bailout. But now it seems that the State Senate will reconvene on Tuesday to make a decision. So will the OTB wait it out to find out its fate next week? They aren't saying. Bloomberg reports that "Sylvia Hamer, OTB chief of staff, declined to say in a telephone interview if the organization planned to delay its plans." Suspense! more ›

With news that the state could be losing two House seats due to a population shift, the once-every-ten-years focus on gerrymandering (drawing district lines to include who you want) has returned yet again. Dick Dadey of the group Citizens Union told NY1 the problem is "partisan gerrymandering essentially allows the legislators to choose their voters before the voters actually elect them to office." The process is controlled by the Assembly speaker and the leader of the State Senate, and Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith previously told Democrats, "We are going to draw the lines so that Republicans will be in oblivion in the State of New York for the next 20 years." Does that plan involve the prisoners? more ›

Aaaand the Census results come home to roost. According to Politico, an early estimate of House reappointments based on this year's Census has Florida gaining two seats and New York losing two. Election Data Services president Kimball Brace says, "We were most surprised at the shift of an additional district out of New York and down to Florida, even though that follows the population movement in this country since World War II." Jokes about your Jewish grandparents aside, the shift could have big consequences for the state. more ›

After the Democratic-majority State Senate rejected the same sex marriage bill last year, different gay rights advocacy groups decided to campaign against the Democrats who voted against the bill. One of those Democrats, Bill Stachowski who represents a district in western New York, lost the primary to challenger Tim Kennedy last night. Fight Back NY sent us this image showing a scoreboard: "The Gays 1, Stachowski 0." more ›

Gustavo Rivera may have trounced soon-to-be FORMER State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr. by a margin of 62%-32%, but don't think for a second this resounding loss means the end of the Espada dynasty. Like his fellow coup-mate Hiram Monserrate, Espada is vowing to come back with a vengeance. But unlike Monserrate, whose comeback attempt ended last night with another humiliating loss, Espada has the power of LOVE on his side more ›