Primary Matters

March 27, 2018 11:44 AM

With only 3 days left to resigister to vote in the NYS Democratic primaries, the focus is on voting out members of the IDC, the ‘Independant Democratic Conference’ a breakway group of Democrats that vote with Republicans. Nearly all have a primary challenger this year with endorsements allready falling in thier favor. Robert Jackson and Jessica Ramos Talk about primarying thier IDC opponents, rent regulation, and worker protection. (City Limits) Second IDC challenger wants to be New York’s first transgender state senator. (City and State). Even established Dem seats aren’t safe: Meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the candidate who wants to defund ICE, bring Medicare For All, and unseat Joe Crowley (Splinter).

Meanwhile, on the heels of scandals, gaffes, and no-shows, Gov. Andrew Cuomo finds himself facing a challenger in actress/activist Cynthia Nixon. “A real Democrat doesn’t slash taxes on the wealthy. A real Democrat doesn’t slash corporate taxes. A real Democrat doesn’t give away billions of dollars in economic development money to his cronies and his donors with no strings attached.” (Glamour)
posted by The Whelk (97 comments total)

Since August I've been working for an advocacy org which is very involved in state and local politics in NY/NYC, and I have learned a ton about how it all works - and a huge factor throughout is, the system is just so convoluted and gigantic and full of people who've been there forever that it really is not accessible to the average person. If you don't have a truckload of money or a huge organizing infrastructure, the people with the power to change things will never hear what you have to say, much less care about it.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:54 AM on March 27, 2018 [6 favorites]

Vote these IDC scum out!
posted by lalochezia at 11:54 AM on March 27, 2018 [10 favorites]

Nearly all have a primary challenger this year

Ah, I see Felder is as safe and sound as always. I live a few blocks from his office and there were protests on Purim about his dumbass "cops in the schools" proposal after Parkland which was nice. If you ever want to annoy the shit out of someone, weaponizing klezmer is the way to go.

I heard rumors that someone else from the Orthodox community would be challenging Felder -- there's no way Felder gets unseated without either the support of a huge chunk of what is currently his bloc of religious Jewish voters or an enormous and sudden demographic change in Midwood and Boro Park -- but I'm not terribly hopeful considering the kind of numbers he gets and the local voting patterns. Plus the chances are whoever can decently challenge him will have the same reactionary platform but will just vote with the Democrats instead of the Republicans in the state senate. Which, hey, that'd be great, to be honest, but doesn't do much for my feelings that voting as a Democrat in local elections means the same "you'll vote who we tell you to and like it, buddy" feeling I always get when voting against my personal interests yet again.
posted by griphus at 12:00 PM on March 27, 2018 [10 favorites]

With political parties being private organizations, how does something like the IDC even happen? Like, yeah, someone runs, and then turns coat after being elected, I get that part.

But why doesn't the Democratic party rescind their support of the candidate, and make them run as an independent later? Why should they even need to be primaried, instead of the party saying, "you act like a Republican, you vote like a Republican, go ask them for money."

The American electoral process is so backwards, confusing, and fucked.
posted by explosion at 12:05 PM on March 27, 2018 [17 favorites]

Cuomo's a buffoon but with Nixon I'm stuck. I have such a unwelcome gut-reaction to furthering the epidemic of celebrities/actors as our politicians. Even with good candidates I'm resistant.
posted by Peter H at 12:10 PM on March 27, 2018 [11 favorites]

how does something like the IDC even happen

To make an extremely long story short; Cuomo is bad.
posted by The Whelk at 12:11 PM on March 27, 2018 [21 favorites]

Fixing NY state politics is a big, long-term job, but voting out the IDC is a definite step in the right direction. So is challenging Cuomo from the left, whether or not you think Cynthia Nixon can actually beat him.

Then, we can finally get around to passing stuff like the NY Health Act (statewide single payer!), which the IDC has blocked.

>But why doesn't the Democratic party rescind their support of the candidate...?

My knowledge is limited, but my understanding is that it is a state organization that is not directly run by federal-level democratic orgs. In the state org, Cuomo is one of the top power brokers and, while he gears up for a presidential run, he is trying to avoid appearing "too progressive" or "too conservative". He benefits from having the IDC in place, since it's not strong enough to make a true conservative majority and it prevents the democratic majority from passing anything "too progressive". He could support their primary challengers, withdraw state support from them, etc., but doesn't.

Fuck Cuomo.
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 12:15 PM on March 27, 2018 [16 favorites]

furthering the epidemic of celebrities/actors as our politicians

Then maybe click on the links about her long history of activism instead
posted by schadenfrau at 12:15 PM on March 27, 2018 [21 favorites]

fabulous post. I'm looking forward to getting rid of 'deep state' Claudia Tenney at the federal level. BUT I'm looking very closely at Cynthia Nixon - I totally understand the reluctance to go with the celebrity but I'm going to take her seriously until I can't. I have long believed that Cuomo only gets anything done because he has dirt on critical votes in the state. and besides that he has his eye on the presidency (ugh). So much corruption here in NYS - it's so entrenched, maybe someone from waaaaay outside might help. Upstate NYers are less likely to know who Cynthia Nixon is than downstaters but I hope she develops a platform that addresses the longstanding woes of upstate.And those GOP Democrats? Vote they out!
posted by bluesky43 at 12:16 PM on March 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

Fuck Cuomo

The IDC is also a convenient way for him to pass the buck on things he absolutely has control over.

You could issue a standardized test on NYS politics and “Fuck Cuomo” would be an acceptable answer to every question.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:17 PM on March 27, 2018 [8 favorites]

Thanks for the links; we've got a lot to think about and a lot of work to do this year.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:21 PM on March 27, 2018

"Fuck Cuomo" elected in write-in landslide.
posted by griphus at 12:24 PM on March 27, 2018 [23 favorites]

Then maybe click on the links about her long history of activism instead

Valid point, and I click the first 'activist' link for '5 Things to Know About Cynthia Nixon’s Political History Now That She’s Running for Governor' and then see this as a statement for Item Number 1:

She’s been a public education advocate since the early aughts.

Early aughts? Ha. Come on. So has my teenage nephew.

I respect the advocacy, but this is notable?

Can you help focus my reassessment with a better stated argument than 'read the links'? What's your reasoning?

(I'm in the Big Blue 'Anyone but Cuomo' camp btw, just being conversational)
posted by Peter H at 12:24 PM on March 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

I would definitely take Cynthia Nixon seriously as mayor of NYC, I would totally vote for her. Governor of the whole state? No way. Did she mention anything about anything in the rest of the entire state?
posted by sexyrobot at 12:25 PM on March 27, 2018 [6 favorites]

The economic argument for the NY Health Act It’s extremly popular with voters and lawmakers and I swear to god if California passes a universal health act before we do I’m going to scream.

It’s as easy as ABC:

Anyone But Cuomo

(Also anyone but Cy for DA)
posted by The Whelk at 12:26 PM on March 27, 2018 [3 favorites]

(But yeah, fuck Cuomo)
posted by sexyrobot at 12:27 PM on March 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

Cuomo's a buffoon but with Nixon I'm stuck. I have such a unwelcome gut-reaction to furthering the epidemic of celebrities/actors as our politicians. Even with good candidates I'm resistant.

In the abstract, sure, celebrities becoming politicians is not a great idea, but as far as I know, right now these are going to be the two candidates in the race, and it's not like Cuomo got the job through being extremely competent, a good politician, or having a platform anyone likes. He's gotten every job he's had in his entire lifetime because of his last name and family connections.
posted by Copronymus at 12:27 PM on March 27, 2018 [11 favorites]

I support Cynthia Nixon - she may be a celebrity but this isn't a vanity run. She is the real deal. I believe in her.

I just wish she had more plans available for Western New York (the whole state, really, but WNY specifically). It feels bad to look at all of her material and see these thoughtful, detailed plans for NYC (and the Subway especially), and barely anything for the rest of the state. Her first daily news interview was with The Buffalo News, which was a smart touch, but I hunger for the specifics of her plan. I believe she has them - I just want them rolled out, like, yesterday. I want her thoughts on the Skyway and Buffalo Public Schools and the waterfront. I kind of want to see her bodyslam a folding table in the parking lot of Rich Stadium.*

WNYers understand that NYC is where all the people, money, and power are located. We** understand that! Just, throw us a bone, pretend we aren't an afterthought. Our current state and national leaders do. Be different.

* New Era Field, excuse me
** I don't live or vote in NYS anymore, my thoughts are not that important
posted by everybody had matching towels at 12:29 PM on March 27, 2018 [12 favorites]

Early aughts? Ha. Come on. So has my teenage nephew.

I am equally ready to vote for a teenager I've never heard of tbh
posted by griphus at 12:30 PM on March 27, 2018 [42 favorites]

Is it really three days left to register to vote? I thought that the deadline to change your party affiliation was last fall, but that the deadline to register for the first time is in August.
posted by ectabo at 12:30 PM on March 27, 2018

If nothing else I just want constant , unending pressure on these people who think they have unshakable seats
posted by The Whelk at 12:31 PM on March 27, 2018 [17 favorites]

I was originally in the Gipson camp, but he dropped out and endorsed Cynthia, so looks like Nixon's The One.

My State Senator, Leroy Comrie, is not in the IDC, so I'm not to worried about him. My emphasis is going to be on giving Cuomo the swift kick out the door he deserves. I'm at the point where I'd vote for a jar of rancid mayonnaise over Cuomo if it promises to fund the MTA properly. I mean, shit, about the only human beings I _wouldn't_ vote for over Cuomo are Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.
posted by SansPoint at 12:47 PM on March 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

I would definitely take Cynthia Nixon seriously as mayor of NYC, I would totally vote for her. Governor of the whole state? No way. Did she mention anything about anything in the rest of the entire state?

This. In fact, when I saw she was running, I assumed it was for mayor and I was excited. I think she'd be a good candidate and, oh my God, do not get me started on de Blasio. But what does she know about -- or care about -- New York state? She's all about the New York City DOE and as far as I know that's it. Although I did like the Daily News headline when she announced: "Miranda Warning". Well played.
posted by The Bellman at 12:48 PM on March 27, 2018

Nixon's The One

no, but seriously, Fuck Cuomo
posted by mhum at 12:48 PM on March 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

But why doesn't the Democratic party rescind their support of the candidate, and make them run as an independent later?

That's not something they can legally do. At least not without a court getting involved; ISTR this happened with Monserrate?
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:52 PM on March 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

How common is it for a Democratic gubernatorial hopeful to dig into upstate issues in primary season? As an outsider my knee-jerk reaction is "of course she's focusing on the city, it's a Democratic primary and that's where most of the Democrats are."
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:53 PM on March 27, 2018 [7 favorites]

Much rather Cynthia Nixon than Farkie's poodle.
posted by brujita at 1:05 PM on March 27, 2018

It's okay to read the linked articles, folks. The post and comments section here will still be around afterward. :)

GLAMOUR: Speaking of the rest of the state, obviously in New York City there is a lot of excitement around this. What is your plan for getting people upstate to feel that excitement and to feel seen?

CN: I think the important thing is to go around and visit those places. I did a tiny bit of that when I was still making up my mind to run. I think we have some sense of poverty in the city, but unless you are living in an upstate city or rural area, the extreme poverty in those places is news to you. Like I said last night, New York is the single most unequal state in the country. That doesn't just have to do with how many wealthy people we have here. Syracuse has the single greatest concentrated poverty of black and Latino population of anywhere in the country. Syracuse is ground zero. And I think that people are really hungry for jobs up there. And they are hungry for investments in their schools. That is something that we can do that would have an effect immediately, and people would feel seen and valued again. Andrew Cuomo has thrown a lot of money upstate lately, but without any oversight. If the state was more proactive and took back some of those tax breaks that are being given to big corporations, we could invest that money ourselves. My wife has worked for two decades fighting for public schools. A lot of what she does is parent outreach, and the number-one commandment in her world is, If you want to improve a school, go to the families in that school and say, "What does this school need?" I think that is true in our upstate cities and municipalities and rural areas: Don’t give money to a big corporation and tell them to go in and build something. Go in and say, "What do you need funded in your community? What kind of jobs do you need?"

Her campaign site is here. This is from the "Why I'm Running" page:

"Our people are under attack. They’re fighting to stay in their homes. They’re fighting to keep their families together. They need a governor who will fight with them with everything she’s got."

She's been an activist for women's rights, AIDS research and awareness and funding public education for quite a few years. A former Hillary Clinton supporter, she's very neatly blended the best parts of Bernie Sanders' progressive platform that properly recognizes and supports the working class with the best parts of Hillary's focus on education, family, women and healthcare.

I like her. If the election were held today, I'd vote for her in a heartbeat.
posted by zarq at 1:08 PM on March 27, 2018 [31 favorites]

I mean, shit, about the only human beings I _wouldn't_ vote for over Cuomo are Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

Thanks for giving me apocalyptic visions of a world where Donald Trump Sr. somehow goes from being President to being Governor of New York
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:08 PM on March 27, 2018 [3 favorites]

GCU, Monserrate was elected as a Democrat (running unopposed) and then got arrested on suspicion of slashing his girlfriend's face open with a broken glass, before he could even take office. Then, understanding his support would be very limited and seeing the factions involved in the power struggle in the State Senate, he allied himself with the Four Amigos, who caucused with the Republicans just like the IDC.

The Senate did take action, voting to expel him after he was convicted of misdemeanor charges stemming from the assault. At that point, he filed a civil rights suit claiming his constitutents chose him (unopposed, remember) and that the ensuing special election to replace him violated their civil rights.

He lost the case and then threw his hat into the ring. Peralta beat him in a landslide. Seven years later, Peralta joins the IDC. Peralta is no Monserrate, but time is kinda a flat circle, huh?
posted by DeWalt_Russ at 1:10 PM on March 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

The NYS political calendar has the correct deadlines.

For state/local primary elections:

-The deadline to change party affiliation is October 12 (change request must be RECEIVED BY that date)

-The deadline for new voter registrations is August 19th (requests by mail must be RECEIVED BY that date)

-Changes of address must be RECEIVED BY August 24th.
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 1:48 PM on March 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

I think that is true in our upstate cities and municipalities and rural areas: Don’t give money to a big corporation and tell them to go in and build something. Go in and say, "What do you need funded in your community? What kind of jobs do you need?"

I read the Glamour article this weekend, and THIS is why I want those specifics. This feels like a direct callout of the Buffalo Billion. That project is being investigated by the federal and state government for bribery and bid rigging. The projects that do succeed are stuff like the state committing $55 million to bring in 'IBM innovation' jobs...it's mostly a call center. Like, cool, you got rid of the Robert Moses Parkway, great. That is actually good. But the rest of that money could have been invested so much better. Buffalo and Erie County is revitalizing itself in spite of the state, in spite of Cuomo passing this money off to his campaign donors. It is SO BAD, and it's been front page news for years. I think WNY is dying to kick this bum out of office. But Nixon has yet to offer solutions. Some tangible plans that show not only that she and her team are aware of the problems up there but that they are ready to jump in and solve them. I'm sure these plans are coming, I just want them soon.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:58 PM on March 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

everybody had matching towels: Well, she's only been in the race for a week. I think she has time.
posted by SansPoint at 2:03 PM on March 27, 2018

Yeah, I know. I donated on the first day. I just want her to be different, I don't want to see another candidate treat the rest of New York State like an afterthought. I am enthusiastic about her campaign, I want her to be enthusiastic about us, too.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 2:25 PM on March 27, 2018

Better get your ground game good, Cynthia. Cuomo's machine is revving up hard.

1199 SEIU, National Organization for Women and Kirsten Gillibrand all endorsed Cuomo already
.

Many other unions are gonna follow. Lots of $$ from developers too. Machine politic's gonna machine.

I say this as a serious union supporter, and "fuck cuomo" person!
posted by lalochezia at 2:52 PM on March 27, 2018 [5 favorites]

If you're like me, you live in Crowley's district and you're voting Ocasio-Cortez.
I met her the other day. She's awesome.
posted by qnarf at 5:49 PM on March 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

Cuomo is a bit too evil and I think we have had enough. Both he and the verifiably corrupt and incompetent De Blasio are less than we deserve, cast the Democratic party in a bad light, and should be out (not to mention prosecuted). But I'm not at all convinced that Cynthia Nixon would be an improvement. I tend to agree with Christine Quinn (leaving the lesbian part out of it)
posted by knoyers at 6:37 PM on March 27, 2018

Perhaps I'm being impossibly naive here, but does it all have to fall on Nixon herself? That is, if she brings enough on the positive side and is inclined to make at least not-horribly-corrupt-or-malicious decisions, is it too simple to hope that she would surround herself with smart people to extend her expertise and reach? (I'm really asking, I don't know how much of these governing roles are centralized. )
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 8:47 PM on March 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

I find it utterly fascinating the lengths ostensibly liberal people will go to to justify rejecting reject a woman candidate. At this point Nixon can probably relate very well to Clinton and Pelosi.

Not that it matters, since it seems you'll be stuck with a male in that position for a long time. So yay?
posted by happyroach at 8:53 PM on March 27, 2018 [4 favorites]

is it too simple to hope that she would surround herself with smart people to extend her expertise and reach?

I do believe that it's a bit too simple to just hope that, yes. I think it would work for a Governor to do that once elected, but they would need to openly discuss it with voters beforehand. I think it would be irresponsible of an electorate to make assumptions about the specifics of how someone with no experience would go about getting things done once elected.

I think (hope) that 2016 has maybe made some voters a little more demanding of politically inexperienced candidates, where before they might have looked at their inexperience as their best asset.

Not that I'm against fucking Cuomo.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:34 PM on March 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

She has brought on Teachout into her campaign, who was my favorite for office a few times, which is a good sign.

But I see literally no reason to vote for Coumo in a primary or in anything. The decision could be "a flat rock" and It would be the same result. Even if flat rock deosn't win I want to see him sweat. Go Flat rock.
posted by The Whelk at 9:52 PM on March 27, 2018 [5 favorites]

I think WNY is dying to kick this bum out of office. But Nixon has yet to offer solutions.

Seems to me she's offered a pretty good solution to kicking that particular bum out of office.
posted by fullerine at 12:51 AM on March 28, 2018 [3 favorites]

Jessica Ramos is my upstairs neighbor and future state senator. Thanks for this post!
posted by fungible at 6:49 AM on March 28, 2018 [3 favorites]

On the IDC membership, I seem to recall at least one candidate was elected after swearing not to join the IDC, and then did, immediately after getting to Albany. I'm on Long Island and a little fuzzy on this issue, but I do remember some outrage a while back over one elected official
posted by etaoin at 12:17 PM on March 28, 2018

You can now buy an “Unqualified Lesbian” button made by Cynthia Nixon.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:12 PM on March 28, 2018 [4 favorites]

Progressive policy items, including items said by Coumo as being important priorities, drop out of from Budget negotiations
posted by The Whelk at 5:14 AM on March 29, 2018 [3 favorites]

City leaders decry Cuomo administration’s ‘totally crazy’ Penn Station proposal

City leaders Wednesday condemned a last-minute attempt by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to claim the right to redevelop the neighborhood around Penn Station without having to conduct environmental reviews or abide by local land use laws.

New York City Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen said the proposal "allows the state to do anything they want within a very broad district," and is “totally crazy.”

“Can you imagine building four or five 100-story towers and not even doing a shadow study or a traffic study?” she asked in an interview Wednesday. ”You know, I’m not known as the biggest environmentalist in town, but Jesus Christ.”

Man, fuck this fucking guy.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:25 AM on March 29, 2018 [7 favorites]

How is that not just a naked blank check to developers?
posted by The Whelk at 8:17 AM on March 29, 2018

New Anti-IDC campaign video “Turn out the fake democrats and make New York a real Blue State.”
posted by The Whelk at 8:09 PM on March 29, 2018 [3 favorites]

Last year Andrew Coumo called marijuana a ‘gateway drug’, last night at a private event Cynthia Nicon says she’s in favor of legalization and taxing it
posted by The Whelk at 12:13 PM on April 3, 2018 [8 favorites]

”You know, I’m not known as the biggest environmentalist in town, but Jesus Christ.”

I love my city so much

Also, I know people want to see Nixon’s plans for WNY and upstate, but — and seriously, correct me if I’m wrong — isn’t winning the Democratic primary about winning the city?
posted by schadenfrau at 12:20 PM on April 3, 2018 [3 favorites]

"Many texts in tonight. Repeated response from Dem insiders: “He seems scared.” My favored response: “He’s burned bridges with all of New York, and now his last partners in crime (the IDC). I hope Cynthia Nixon crushes him.” Nomiki Konst on twitter.

I'll say this, it fits with what I've felt, he's terrified and the sheer existence of a challenger has made everyone emboldened to resist him.
posted by The Whelk at 10:19 PM on April 3, 2018 [3 favorites]

isn’t winning the Democratic primary about winning the city

As much as any statewide office. You're not entirely wrong, but just because you can(/should) focus most of your attention downstate doesn't mean that it doesn't matter if you blow off the rest of the state and those voters. The election isn't just for NYC voters, and any smart politician knows that they need to address the rest of the state as well (I'm sure she'll get to it eventually).
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:24 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

.@CynthiaNixon on the Cuomo IDC news: "If you’ve set your own house on fire and watched it burn for eight years, finally turning on a hose doesn’t make you a hero."

God she is SO GOOD.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:29 AM on April 4, 2018 [13 favorites]

So Cuomo wants the IDC to disband... now that the budget negotiation process is over? Fucker.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:32 AM on April 4, 2018 [4 favorites]

I think my favorite thing about this is how just a small amount of organized residence to the IDC made them panic this bad. They’re so scared of democracy!
posted by The Whelk at 7:53 AM on April 4, 2018 [4 favorites]

Note to non-New Yorkers out there. The IDC is also known as "Traitors"...
posted by mikelieman at 7:58 AM on April 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

everybody had matching towels: Damn. I think I'm gonna like Cynthia as governor. I really do.
posted by SansPoint at 8:09 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Here's the NYT article on the possible dissolution of the IDC.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:47 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

From an article about takeaways from Nixon's appearance on The Wendy Williams Show:

By choosing Williams’s show — which has a massive viewership of women age 25 to 54 — for her first national TV interview of the campaign, Nixon is signaling that she’s targeting female voters. (And remember, her first interview after announcing her run was with Glamour.) It’s a keen strategy considering the party breakdown by gender, and doubly so considering that her opponent, Governor Andrew Cuomo, likes to play up his masculinity.

More specifically, Nixon is appealing to black women. As political scientist Christina Greer told Politico last month, “Her campaign team clearly understands the importance of black women and how they’ve been neglected by the Democratic Party writ large, not just by Andrew Cuomo, but at the state, local and national level.” So when Williams asked her “how can black women help you become governor?”, she was prepared.

“They are the cornerstone, they are the backbone of the Democratic Party and we need to let them lead,” Nixon replied. “Look at what black women did in Alabama. Look at how they supported Hillary Clinton.” She also directly pointed to how that’s not currently happening in Albany, where New York senate minority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins was recently excluded from talks about sexual harassment.

Nixon added, “Black women are going to stop showing up for the Democratic Party if the Democratic Party doesn’t show up for them.”

This is so important!

Not the main takeaway, obviously, but Cuomo's masculinity thing has come under fire a few times - last year he asked to delay cleanup of tornado damage to the Erie County Fairgrounds until he got there to pose in front of it. He did something similar during Irene.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 10:30 AM on April 4, 2018 [6 favorites]

burned bridges with all of New York

Be fair, sometimes he just tries to stick the family name on them.

TAPPAN ZEE 4 LYFE
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 6:58 PM on April 4, 2018

NYT: Why is New York condoning illiteracy? It's all about the bloc voting, people...
posted by Melismata at 7:41 AM on April 5, 2018

Cynthia Nixon met with community leaders in Syracuse today yesssssssss she's also going to Rochester
posted by everybody had matching towels at 11:54 AM on April 5, 2018 [6 favorites]

Oh boy oh boy oh boy

I’m having trouble articulating even to myself how happy I will be if fucking Miranda knocks Cuomo out in the primary, but it will be like...beyond cake. Well beyond the cake horizon.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:59 AM on April 5, 2018

And I say “fucking Miranda” with bewildered admiration and a sense of...idk matriarchal vengeance?

Miranda warning indeed.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:00 PM on April 5, 2018 [3 favorites]

Centerists Vs. Progressives, the battle for the future of the party
posted by The Whelk at 3:35 PM on April 6, 2018

Cynthia Nixon wants to legalize it (NYTM)

“We built the Erie Canal you’re saying we can’t fix the subway?”

Oh no I have hope again
posted by The Whelk at 9:55 AM on April 9, 2018 [4 favorites]

I think... I'm a Miranda now.
posted by mhum at 3:22 PM on April 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

lol Coumo can't keep a promise for five whole days
posted by The Whelk at 9:36 AM on April 10, 2018

Marist poll:

Cuomo 68
Nixon 21
undecided 11

[MOE: ±6.0%]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:56 AM on April 13, 2018

Looks like some serious shit is about to go down:

@ShaneGoldmacher:

BREAKING: Big unions — SEIU and CWA — quit Working Families Party on eve of now-likely Cynthia Nixon endorsement.

Cuomo pushing for MORE: Wants unions to defund liberal groups backing her.

posted by zombieflanders at 1:31 PM on April 13, 2018 [4 favorites]

zombieflanders: *starts rapidly shoveling popcorn into his mouth*
posted by SansPoint at 1:37 PM on April 13, 2018

Nixon responds: "Andrew Cuomo is threatening to take away funding from organizations that fight for our most vulnerable communities -- unless they endorse his campaign."
posted by zombieflanders at 1:41 PM on April 13, 2018 [5 favorites]

Dana Steer via twitter “It's disappointing that these "progressive" unions aren't polling their membership when making decisions like this.”
posted by The Whelk at 2:06 PM on April 13, 2018 [4 favorites]

Teachout responds

The replies are a lot of “we should toss out leadership out if they do this without asking us first”
posted by The Whelk at 2:08 PM on April 13, 2018 [3 favorites]

Community groups say Coumo is ‘acting like breitbart’
posted by The Whelk at 7:37 PM on April 13, 2018

Looks like the Working Families Party isn’t backing down, thier meeting in Albany today is all about refusing to be bullied.
posted by The Whelk at 11:18 AM on April 14, 2018 [6 favorites]

Kate Aronoff : The motion carries: New York Working Families will endorse @CynthiaNixon for governor and @JumaaneWilliams for Lt. Governor by 91.5 percent of the vote. People are hype, chanting "LET THEM SPEAK" (both are here)
posted by The Whelk at 12:47 PM on April 14, 2018 [6 favorites]

Nixon is taking this run seriously, and so should you (NY Mag)
posted by The Whelk at 7:43 PM on April 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Coumo keeps making threats , but do they matter? (NY DAILY NEWS)
posted by The Whelk at 10:48 AM on April 17, 2018

As a New Yorker, Cuomo is a Muslim, a Jew, black, and a woman seeking to control her body.

And as a New Yorker, I am donating to his rival's campaign.
posted by ragtag at 12:18 PM on April 19, 2018 [4 favorites]

Lol “As New Yorkers, we have all defunded the subway, we have all vetoed public assistance for the poor in civil court, we have all created a coalition to block progressive legislation, we have all given tax cuts to property developers. We are one New York.”
posted by The Whelk at 12:41 PM on April 19, 2018 [7 favorites]

The pipeline project got cancelled the day Nixon said stopping the pipeline was a big part of her climate change platform.

Nothing but respect for MY governor etc etc
posted by The Whelk at 2:50 PM on April 20, 2018 [3 favorites]

Cuomo’s backers don’t want a democratic senate (GOTHAM GAZETTE)
posted by The Whelk at 7:12 AM on April 21, 2018

I’m still waiting in my Nixon for NY Button but I’ll tske this in the meantime
posted by The Whelk at 1:33 PM on April 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Mine arrived yesterday, so hopefully you won't have to wait too much longer!
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:45 PM on April 22, 2018

I still want a Cynthia version of "Nixon's The One."
posted by Chrysostom at 2:23 PM on April 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Nixon to be star speaker at April 28th Brooklyn Indivisible meeting
posted by The Whelk at 2:36 PM on April 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

Primary challengers to the IDC release agenda
posted by The Whelk at 5:59 AM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]

“Andrew Cuomo likes to paint himself as tough but effective, but I want to point out that there are 2 areas of State Government that he has almost unconstrained power over:

- Upstate Economic Development
- The MTA

The bucks stops with Cuomo on both, and both are failures.“
posted by The Whelk at 8:23 AM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]

Cuomo ran in 2011 on fixing the subways. Right now, only 61.7 percent of subway trains run on time — nearly a one-third drop since he took office.

When the MTA chairman (Prendergast) resigned in January 2017, it took our governor half a year to appoint a replacement. (Joe Lhota) Cuomo then declared a state of emergency and ordered Lhota to come up with a reorganization plan for the subway within 30 days. The "action plan" to repair the system in 2019 is supposed to cost: $836 million and rely on 50/50 funding from the state and NYC.

This past January, the 2019 state budget bill passed through the State Senate this which allocated nearly half a billion in funding for MTA transit repairs. So the state's half is covered.

We now turn to NYC, where Mayor De Blasio spent 8 months disputing that the city is responsible for funding the MTA. After all, it's a state-run agency, he explains. There's validity to this argument.

Cuomo controls the MTA nominating process and has more board representatives than anyone else in the state. He appoints its chairman and CEO. And, the Manhattan Institute's Nicole Gelinas says, “The governor is firmly in charge of the MTA’s day-to-day operations."

The thing is, a portion of city taxes, city subsidies and budget expenditures have always gone to the MTA. We've spent billions on the MTA over the years. So De Blasio's argument is not supported by historical precedent. If the city and its residents are not responsible for funding the MTA, then we should never have been doing so, whether the governor is in charge or not.

The Mayor and Cuomo spent 8 months feuding over this. Rightfully so, since we're talking about a significant sized outlay. The MTA threatened to skimp on its emergency action plan if the city refused to kick in millions in funding. They also suggested that commuters sue the city.

On top of this, the New York Times reported in December that the MTA is corrupt and fleecing the city. (No surprise to anyone.)

Last week, the city caved. The administration will allocate $419 million in funding to the MTA's plan.

This is a temporary bandage, not a solution. Full modernization will take years and billions of dollars.
posted by zarq at 9:36 AM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

How can Cynthia Nixon be expected to understand the struggles of working class New Yorkers if she gets to live rent free in Andrew Cuomo's head?
posted by zombieflanders at 12:56 PM on April 23, 2018 [3 favorites]

I GOT MY BUTTON YOU GUYS
posted by The Whelk at 1:19 PM on April 23, 2018 [3 favorites]

yay finally Cynthia Nixon Brings Her Anti-Cuomo Message to Buffalo
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:48 AM on April 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) announced this morning that he will not be seeking another term of office.
posted by The Whelk at 8:51 AM on April 25, 2018

I had never heard of Dov Hikind before, but his Wikipedia page does not make him sound awesome.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:00 AM on April 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

Meanwhile: Senator GIllibrand announces a plan for public banking
posted by The Whelk at 11:24 AM on April 25, 2018 [2 favorites]