David “DJ” Johnson the former Paterson aide and close buddy at the center of a domestic abuse scandal, says he’s not about to end his career in politics. "I continue to work hard for my area," he told NBC news. "And I want to continue to do that. So that is what I hope after the vindication that I can just go back to work as a public servant for the people of New York City and New York State." (Video after the break.) Still, before he gets back into City Hall, he has a few hurdles to clear. more ›

Just a week after State Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt resigned amid charges Gov. Paterson used state troopers to intimidate a woman involved in a domestic violence case with a top aide, the man appointed to the position has stepped down. In a letter to the governor First Deputy Supt. Pedro Perez said “that continuing in my position as acting superintendent may be an obstacle to progress of the New York State Police, an agency I love.’’ It's still unclear whether Perez, who the Post says is currently under investigation by Attorney General Cuomo, resigned fearing the consequences of his own role in the scandal, or if working for Gov. Paterson is just that bad. more ›

Governor Paterson's security force has doubled from 100 to 200 officers since he took office in March 2008, and some critics say he's expanded the detail just to make himself look more important. "The governor wants to have an entourage—three or four cars—wherever he goes because he thinks it makes him look more gubernatorial, it helps him politically," one unidentified "senior official" tells the Post. Now the State Troopers Police Benevolent Association is calling Paterson out for draining police manpower at a time when he's cut the state police force to battle the budget monsters. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a stabbing on Monument Walk in Brooklyn, a stabbing on West 31st St. in Brooklyn, and a stabbing on Hughes Ave. in Brooklyn.
• Cops are looking into the death of a man who was found unconscious in the bathroom of the Knitting Factory. They're deeming the incident suspicious.
• A Columbia University hunger striker was carried off a couch after passing out from hunger. Meanwhile, a group of drunken students handed out fliers articulating (presumably in lieu of verbally) why they thought eating was a good thing.
• New York poker players are feeling nervous after last week's late-night holdup that left one player dead.
• News crews with cameras are the wrong people to get into hysterical parking rage incidents with.
• Former Congressman John Sweeney was pulled over on the NY State Thruway after he was observed driving erratically. State Troopers had no comment on the identity of the 23-year-old woman who was accompanying Sweeney when he was pulled over and later registered a BAC of .18.
• Federal regulators feel their toes are being stepped on by NY State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who has initiated an investigation into federally guaranteed mortgage finance companies Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae.
• On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, armed forces veterans marched up Manhattan's 5th Ave. to commemorate those who have served.

Seven months ago, Ralph "Bucky" Phillips surrendered to police after five months on the run. Fearing that he was about to spend years in prison instead of days, Phillips broke out of the Erie County Correctional Facility and began a life on the lam: breaking into unoccupied trailers to cook himself food, sleeping in piles of leaves to keep warm, and generally keeping a low profile. Bucky Phillips would likely have remained a low-priority target of law enforcement if he hadn't started shooting NY State Troopers. He shot one during a traffic stop and two others once a full-scale manhunt was underway (killing one of the latter). more ›