Tag Archives: Malcolm Smith

Unsurprisingly, yesterday’s arrest of NY Sen. Malcolm Smith is dominating today’s tabloids. Smith, City Councilman Daniel Halloran, and two GOP borough party leaders are accused of attempting to bribe Smith’s way into the GOP mayoral primary race. The FBI has hinted that more arrests may come. The Daily News today reported more details. As a Democrat, Smith needed the permission …

Democratic New York state Sen. Malcolm Smith and NYC Councilman Daniel Halloran (R-Queens) were both arrested by the FBI this morning on charges that they had conspired to fix this year’s New York City mayoral race. Mr. Smith was taken from his Queens home in handcuffs before sunrise and Mr. Halloran was arrested at about the same time, the people …

By all accounts, Monday’s NY Senate coup was orchestrated from behind the scenes by billionaire Tom Golisano, a thrice-failed NY gubernatorial candidate. Golisano has funneled millions to Democratic candidates over the years, but had become increasing annoyed when the finally-in-power Democrats in the Senate refused to jump to his commands, even announcing that he was moving to Florida rather than …

And here, my friends, is where I fear New York’s quest for marriage equality may have ended for 2009. New York’s state Senators today convened an emergency meeting to name GOP Sen. Dean Skelos (left) as the new majority leader as “Gang Of Four” members and Democratic Senators Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserratte have crossed party lines in a 32-30 …

An editorial in today’s New York Times strongly rebukes the state Senate and Majority Leader Malcolm Smith for dragging their feet on a vote on marriage equality and calls on them to immediately approve marriage equality. Six states have now made it legal for same-sex couples to marry. New York is not one of them. Gov. David Paterson wants the …

Openly gay NY Sen. Tom Duane is continuing to claim that a win on marriage equality is possible in the state Senate, saying that he is confident that the required 32 votes are there. Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) said he’s received assurances of support from more than the 32 senators needed to approve the bill. “I have the votes,” said …

“I don’t care what the politicians think. Ain’t nothing perfect about laying down and signing a license with somebody who got the same body parts you got.” – The suitably named and grammatically challenged Rev. Floyd Flake, pastor of Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Queens, where NY Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith attends services. The New York Times notes: Mr. …

Just a few days after his press conference calling for an immediate vote on his marriage equality bill, New York Gov. David Paterson now says he’ll defer to Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith as to when to bring the bill to the floor. Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens backs the measure but wants to first secure the 32 votes needed …

Over the objections of some legislators such as openly gay state Sen. Thomas Duane, who’d prefer to wait until we have the votes to win, NY Gov. David Paterson will introduce his marriage equality bill on Thursday. Mr. Paterson has said in recent days that the State Legislature should move ahead now with the legislation regardless of whether it can …

Speaking at a Human Rights Campaign function on Saturday, New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said there was not yet enough support for marriage equality in the Senate for a winning vote in 2009. Mr. Smith said that while he and his fellow Democrats were committed to legalizing marriage between gay and lesbian couples, there were not yet enough …

One of the most contentious, embarrassing, and ridiculous sagas in the history of the New York Democratic party (and that’s saying something) is over. Democrats have taken control of New York’s Senate for the first time in 43 years after whittling away the Republicans’ last stronghold in state government over the last decade and then fending off a challenge from …

Anti-gay New York Sen. Ruben Diaz, the ringleader of New York’s now-infamous “Gang Of Three” dissident Democratic senators, has been distributing the flyer below to the press, apparently in reaction to criticism from gay rights and labor groups.Via New York Magazine: It appears that Ruben “I hate gay people more than I like getting things done” Diaz Sr. is beginning …

Gay City News’ Paul Schindler has written a great recap of this tumultuous week in the New York Senate. If you’ve been confused by the alliances, the deals, the un-deals, and where things stand at the moment – read the story. An excerpt: [Sen. Malcolm] Smith has taken a gamble – he and his fellow Democrats may well be consigned …

UPDATE: I’m moving this post back to the top because of a breaking development. NY state Sen. Malcolm Smith now says he’s cut off negotiations with the anti-gay “Gang Of Three” because he’d “rather wait two more years to take charge of the Senate” than kowtow to a trio anti-gay Democrats. Sen. Malcolm Smith said today that he will cease …

In a backroom deal that Democrats are somehow hailing as a breakthrough, anti-gay Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. will become Majority Leader of the New York Senate. One of the “Gang Of Three” dissident Democrats that had threatened to hand the leadership over to the GOP, Espada opposes same-sex marriage and wants to the issue put to voters in a referendum. …

The Republican leadership in the New York Senate is trying to bribe the three renegade Democratic senators to support their choice for majority leader with promises of committee leadership positions and access to a multimillion dollar budget. In a move that could help woo three Democrats whose votes will determine which party will control the New York State Senate next …

The NY Daily News reports today that the Spanish-language newspaper El Diario/La Prensa has called out NY Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) for blocking progress on marriage equality. El Diario: “Rev. Diaz and others are supposedly not for denying rights to gays and lesbians but believe that marriage should be between a man and woman. Yet, it’s this very discriminatory position …

The battle for New York senate majority leader continues as a trio of Democratic senators say they want a Latino in the post, not current Minority Leader Sen. Malcolm Smith, who is African-American. And two of the three, Sen. Carl Kruger and Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. say they want a state referendum on marriage equality rather than a legislative approval. …

The Democratic Party has won a majority in the New York State Senate for the first time in 44 years. And not since 1935 have the Democrats controlled both chambers of the state legislature and the governor’s mansion. However, the presumptive Senate Majority Leader, Malcolm Smith, faces a quartet of Democratic senators (all from NYC) who have so far refused …

You may recall that in September I worried about NY Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith’s tepid enthusiasm for marriage equality. If the Democrats seize the majority next week, it will incumbent upon Smith as the new Majority Leader to finally put the issue before the Senate, potentially the final step for approval as the Democrat-dominated Assembly has already approved the …