Latest news with #CitizensUnion
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citizens Union endorses Cuomo as part of NYC mayoral slate despite 2021 impeachment demand
NEW YORK — The Citizens Union, one of New York's oldest good government groups, is supporting Andrew Cuomo as part of its 2025 mayoral race endorsement slate — even though the organization demanded he be removed as governor in 2021 over sexual misconduct accusations. In an endorsement announcement shared exclusively with the Daily News this week, the watchdog group wrote that it is urging New Yorkers to back Cuomo, Brad Lander and Zellnor Myrie for mayor in the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary. The group, which was founded in 1897 to serve as a counterweight to the notoriously corrupt Tammany Hall political machine, didn't offer a proposed specific ranking of the three candidates, opting instead to endorse all of them jointly. In a statement, the group's board acknowledged the move is 'unusual,' but argued there's good reason for it. 'No single candidate currently running is perfectly equipped to handle this challenge. But New Yorkers are not limited to choosing just one candidate — they can, and should, rank up to five candidates,' the statement read. 'The Citizens Union Board of Directors debated this question at length and concluded that the best service to voters at this stage of the election is not to prefer a single candidate, but to provide a clear, nuanced view of the race. In this unusual election, we offer our backing to an unusual slate of three candidates.' Cuomo told The News he's 'honored to have their support at this critical moment for New York City.' But that's a far cry from where the Citizens Union stood in August 2021. At the time, the group's then-chairman, Randy Mastro, said in a statement his members were troubled by Cuomo's refusal to immediately resign after State Attorney General Letitia James' office found he had sexually harassed subordinates 'in violation of both federal and state laws.' 'It is a shame that it has come to this, but since the governor refuses to do the right thing, the State Legislature must. It should immediately commence impeachment proceedings to remove him from office,' Mastro, who has since left the Citizens Union and is now Mayor Eric Adams' top deputy at City Hall, said in the Aug. 3, 2021 statement. Cuomo, who has denied sexually harassing anyone, announced his resignation a week later. In this week's endorsement announcement, the Citizens Union did acknowledge it remains concerned about aspects of Cuomo's record, saying 'his decade as governor left serious ethical stains and he too often misused the power whose deployment he so skillfully mastered.' Grace Rauh, Citizens Union's executive director, said the endorsement decision was 'hotly debated' by the board's members, but declined to share a breakdown on how their internal vote fell. Regarding Lander, the group touted his dedication to 'fighting for transparency and reform, focusing on detailed policy solutions,' but also said he 'must prove he can inspire and lead a city navigating rough waters.' Myrie 'represents the next generation of reform' and has 'earned a chance to show his leadership at City Hall' despite having 'no executive experience to date,' the group wrote. Citizens Union is the latest group to throw its weight behind Cuomo's mayoral bid despite calling for his ouster as governor. In April, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and 32BJ, two politically powerful local unions, endorsed Cuomo despite having also pressured him to resign in 2021. The ex-gov remains the favorite to win the mayoral primary, according to polls. In some recent surveys, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who has consistently polled as the runner-up to Cuomo, is closing in on the former governor's lead. Mamdani didn't submit a questionnaire to be considered for the Citizens Union's endorsement, the group said.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citizens Union endorses Cuomo as part of mayoral slate despite 2021 impeachment demand
The Citizens Union, one of New York's oldest good government groups, is supporting Andrew Cuomo as part of its 2025 mayoral race endorsement slate — even though the organization demanded he be removed as governor in 2021 over sexual misconduct accusations. In an endorsement announcement shared exclusively with the Daily News this week, the watchdog group wrote that it is urging New Yorkers to back Cuomo, Brad Lander and Zellnor Myrie for mayor in the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary. The group, which was founded in 1897 to serve as a counterweight to the notoriously corrupt Tammany Hall political machine, didn't offer a proposed specific ranking of the three candidates, opting instead to endorse all of them jointly. In a statement, the group's board acknowledged the move is 'unusual,' but argued there's good reason for it. 'No single candidate currently running is perfectly equipped to handle this challenge. But New Yorkers are not limited to choosing just one candidate — they can, and should, rank up to five candidates,' the statement read. 'The Citizens Union Board of Directors debated this question at length and concluded that the best service to voters at this stage of the election is not to prefer a single candidate, but to provide a clear, nuanced view of the race. In this unusual election, we offer our backing to an unusual slate of three candidates.' Cuomo told The News he's 'honored to have their support at this critical moment for New York City.' But that's a far cry from where the Citizens Union stood in August 2021. At the time, the group's then-chairman, Randy Mastro, said in a statement his members were troubled by Cuomo's refusal to immediately resign after State Attorney General Letitia James' office found he had sexually harassed subordinates 'in violation of both federal and state laws.' 'It is a shame that it has come to this, but since the governor refuses to do the right thing, the State Legislature must. It should immediately commence impeachment proceedings to remove him from office,' Mastro, who has since left the Citizens Union and is now Mayor Adams' top deputy at City Hall, said in the Aug. 3, 2021 statement. Cuomo, who has denied sexually harassing anyone, announced his resignation a week later. In this week's endorsement announcement, the Citizens Union did acknowledge it remains concerned about aspects of Cuomo's record, saying 'his decade as governor left serious ethical stains and he too often misused the power whose deployment he so skillfully mastered.' Grace Rauh, Citizens Union's executive director, said the endorsement decision was 'hotly debated' by the board's members, but declined to share a breakdown on how their internal vote fell. Regarding Lander, the group touted his dedication to 'fighting for transparency and reform, focusing on detailed policy solutions,' but also said he 'must prove he can inspire and lead a city navigating rough waters.' Myrie 'represents the next generation of reform' and has 'earned a chance to show his leadership at City Hall' despite having 'no executive experience to date,' the group wrote. Citizens Union is the latest group to throw its weight behind Cuomo's mayoral bid despite calling for his ouster as governor. In April, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and 32BJ, two politically powerful local unions, endorsed Cuomo despite having also pressured him to resign in 2021. The ex-gov remains the favorite to win the mayoral primary, according to polls. In some recent surveys, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who has consistently polled as the runner-up to Cuomo, is closing in on the former governor's lead. Mamdani didn't submit a questionnaire to be considered for the Citizens Union's endorsement, the group said.
New York Times
19-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
The Sailing Ship That Went in the Wrong Direction
Good morning. It's Monday. We'll get details on the Mexican naval vessel that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday. We'll also find out about a change in leadership at Citizens Union, a venerable good-government group. For investigators, one of the immediate questions about the Mexican navy training vessel that hit the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday was why it was going in the wrong direction. The 297-foot ship, the Cuauhtémoc, edged out of Pier 17 in Manhattan around sunset on Saturday, bound for Iceland. Naval cadets stood in formation on the rigging, its lights shimmering brightly — a proud display after four days in New York. It was supposed to make a quick refueling stop in Brooklyn, then head out to sea. Instead, it appeared to go stern first toward the bridge, its masts snapping as they hit the span. Two people were killed and at least 22 others were injured, including 11 who remained in critical condition on Sunday, according to the Mexican Navy. No one on the bridge was hurt, and city officials said the bridge did not sustain serious damage. Another question has to do with a tugboat that was alongside the Cuauhtémoc in images and videos on social media. The Coast Guard said that foreign vessels like the Cuauhtémoc are required to have a tugboat 'escort/assist.' McAllister Towing, a venerable New York tug service, said that one of its vessels had assisted the Cuauhtémoc as it left Pier 17. The company, which said it was cooperating with the authorities, said it would not comment on the accident. But Senator Charles Schumer of New York said that the Cuauhtémoc 'did not use a tugboat's assistance' and that the tugboat 'pictured in widely posted videos was responding after the fact, not assisting before.' The ship had left Acapulco on an eight-month good-will tour in April. Its itinerary included stops in New York; Reykjavik, Iceland; and ports in Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica, England, Scotland, and Spain. Its captain told the cadets onboard that 'this training cruise will be a school without walls.' He said that they would learn from 'every maneuver, every dawn at sea and every challenge we face together as one crew.' The commander of the Mexican navy, Adm. Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, said in a statement on Sunday that cadets who were not injured would continue their training. 'We know that every sailing trip involves risks inherent to our seafaring vocation,' Admiral Morales Ángeles said. Today will be sunny and breezy with a high near 73. Tonight, expect a mostly clear sky with a high near 52. In effect until May 26 (Memorial Day). The latest Metro news For a venerable good government group, a 'generational change' What good can a good-government group in New York do these days? 'More than ever, I would argue,' said John Avlon, who is the chairman of one — Citizens Union, formed 128 years ago by luminaries like the financier J. Pierpont Morgan, the department-store magnate Benjamin Altman and the journalist Carl Schurz. 'New York needs a new era of reform. That should be self-evident.' Citizens Union itself is entering a new era, one of what Avlon called 'generational change.' Betsy Gotbaum, 86, the former public advocate who had been the executive director of Citizens Union for seven years, retired. She is being replaced by Grace Rauh, 46, a former NY1 television reporter who has been the executive director of another nonpartisan public policy group, the 5Boro Institute. She and Avlon said that Mayor Eric Adams's indictment on federal corruption charges — and their dismissal, at the request of the Trump administration — had made the group's work all the more important. Citizens Union endorsed Adams in 2021. But in February, it called for his resignation after what it called 'a 'quid pro quo' deal,' with the Justice Department dropping the charges and Adams cooperating on Trump's immigration crackdown. Last month, Citizens Union also suggested changing the way mayors could be removed amid allegations of misconduct. 'What is happening on a local level, with the backdrop of what's happening in Washington, has deepened the level of concern and highlighted the fact that Citizens Union is a nonpartisan organization,' Rauh said. 'Issues of corruption ethics and cronyism are not only the purview of one party or another.' Avlon added, 'The Adams scandals to an unusual degree highlight the corrupting influence of a federal government that is not committed to upholding our democratic norms.' Avlon, 52, was an anchor and political analyst on CNN and was a top editor at The Daily Beast who had earlier worked as a City Hall speechwriter and political adviser when Rudolph Giuliani was mayor. Last year, he ran as a Democrat for a House seat on eastern Long Island. He lost to the Republican, Representative Nick LaLota. He succeeded Randy Mastro as the chairman of Citizens Union in December. Mastro had withdrawn his nomination to be the city's top lawyer after it became clear that the City Council was unlikely to approve it; in March, Adams named Mastro the first deputy mayor. Two proposals from Citizens Union were among the recommendations in the preliminary staff report of the city's Charter Revision Commission that was issued last month — one to hold local elections in New York City in even-numbered years, the same as federal and state elections, the other to permit open primaries. That would let voters in the city cast ballots for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. Under the current rules, the city's more than one million unaffiliated voters have to sit out the primaries. Gotbaum said she retired because 'as a friend of mine said, 'Who works at 86?'' She added: I did feel it was time.' She said that she was joining the board of Citizens Union 'so I can help with the fund-raising, which is what they really need me for.' She said she also wanted to work on a new project, apart from Citizens Union, to set up a call center for Social Security recipients who cannot get through because the Trump administration's planned job cuts have reduced staffing levels. The big man Dear Diary: In 1984, I was fresh out of college and living on East 44th Street and Second Avenue. I had an entry-level job on East 74th and I took the Second Avenue bus home every night. Once, someone reached into my purse while I was on the bus and stole my wallet without my even noticing. The thief got my credit cards, my driver's license, and what little cash I had. (I didn't carry much at the time since I only made about $186 a week.) What was truly devastating was the loss of a Heineken label I had been carrying in my wallet for some time. It was from a memorable evening. I was at Big Man's West in Red Bank, N.J., a club owned by Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band. I was sitting at a table with Clarence himself. Out of sheer nervousness, I had peeled the Heineken label off a bottle in one piece. Clarence saw me do it, took the label and signed it: 'Right on! Love, The Big Man, Clarence Clemons.' I could get a new license and credit cards, but that label was irreplaceable. About three weeks later, I received a notice from the post office. A package with $1.08 postage due was waiting for me there. It turned out that the thief had taken the money and then tossed my wallet into a mailbox. I got back my license, credit cards and, unbelievably, the Heineken label! I still have it to this day but no longer carry it with me. I know I couldn't get that lucky twice. — Mandy Cooper Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send submissions here and read more Metropolitan Diary here. Glad we could get together here. See you tomorrow. — J.B. P.S. Here's today's Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee. You can find all our puzzles here. Makaelah Walters and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at nytoday@ Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
The Post endorses Frank Morano for City Council in Staten Island's special election Tuesday
Staten Island City Councilman Joe Borelli's early departure from office has triggered a nonpartisan ranked-choice special election to fill the vacancy. Election Day is Tuesday, and The Post today endorses Republican Frank Morano for the post. Borrelli, a Republican, and one of just a handful of city lawmakers with common sense, was an important voice at the council — and in city politics — despite being in the minority. Which is why it's so important that voters who live in Council District 51, the island's South Shore, make sure to vote and elect someone with the gravitas to fill Borrelli's shoes. Morano clearly stands out. A long-time radio talk show host, he's endorsed by every Republican lawmaker on Staten Island — and as well as by the good-government watchdog Citizens Union. He's also a native of the island and has a firm grasp on the key issues affecting the South Shore, as well as the city as a whole. Like Borrelli, he fiercely opposes congestion-pricing and NYC's sanctuary city policies. He's also raised flags about a 'transient' hotel under construction in the area. And he'll fight to keep lithium-ion battery energy-storage facilities out of residential areas. Morano champions property-tax reform, stronger public-safety measures and affordability to stem the out-migration of young families and older retirees struggling with the city's high cost of living. He faces two main competitors, Cliff Hagen, a regular Democrat, and Griffin Fossella, the Republican son of the current borough president. Hagen, a public-school teacher and environmentalist, would push to hike already generous public-employee pensions. Fossella, a Republican political scion, has no real experience in politics, government or community affairs — and reportedly hasn't been visible on the campaign trail. Of the three, Frank Morano is the stand-out; he'll best champion the South Shore's common-sense values and politics. Early voting is already underway, and polls open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Be sure to vote.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who Is Chuck Schumer's Wife? All About Iris Weinshall
Chuck Schumer and his wife, Iris Weinshall, have dedicated their lives to public service. The United States senator and the Democratic senate minority leader has spent his career serving his country in politics. Likewise, Weinshall has held different roles across New York City, including as the chief operating officer of the New York Public Library. Both Brooklyn natives, Schumer and Weinshall met in the late 1970s when he was an assemblyman, and she was a lobbyist. They married in 1980 and welcomed two children: their daughters Alison and Jessica Schumer. In recent years, Jessica and Alison have welcomed kids of their own, making Schumer and Weinshall three-time grandparents. Today, Schumer and Weinshall continue to pursue their careers, and Schumer has said that Weinshall's 'wit and grit' are an 'inspiration' to him every day, he wrote in a 2018 Facebook post. So who is Chuck Schumer's wife? Here's everything to know about Iris Weinshall and her relationship with the United States senator. In the 1970s, Schumer met Weinshall when he was 24 and a New York state assemblyman while she was 21 and working as a lobbyist for the Citizens Union in Albany. The two crossed paths when they attended a meeting for the Mid-Bay Independent Democrats in Midwood, Brooklyn, where Weinshall was attempting to garner endorsement for one of the group's causes. 'I had waited to speak and he showed up and he came over to me and said, 'You don't mind if I go ahead of you, because I have to go to some other meetings,' ' Weinshall told Crain's New York Business in 2016. She continued, 'And I said, 'Yes, I do mind.' But then he charmed me, so I let him do it.' Schumer and Weinshall wed on Sept. 21, 1980. The same year Schumer was first elected to Congress, and two weeks after he won the Democratic Party nomination for his district, he and Weinshall married, according to a newspaper announcement of their marriage. At the time of their wedding, Weinshall was serving as the assistant vice president of the Urban Development Corporation. Weinshall has held various public office positions throughout her career, including deputy commissioner for the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. From 2000 to 2007, Weinshall served as commissioner of the city's Department of Transportation before moving to the City University of New York (CUNY) as vice chancellor of facilities planning, management and construction. (She previously graduated from CUNY's Brooklyn College and earned a master's degree in public administration from New York University.) Weinshall held her role with CUNY until September 2014, when she began her tenure as the chief operating officer of the New York Public Library — a position that she still holds today. At the NYPL, she oversees all operational departments of the library across its 92 locations, its construction operations and its $1 billion endowment, according to her bio on the NYPL website. Schumer and Weinshall welcomed their older daughter, Jessica, in 1984 and their younger daughter, Alison, in 1989. After being raised in Brooklyn, Schumer and Weinshall's daughters did not follow them into public service and instead pursued careers in the tech industry — Jessica with Amazon and Alison with Facebook, per the New York Post. Jessica met her husband, Michael Shapiro, in 2011 when they both worked as policy advisors at the White House for the National Economic Council, but didn't begin dating until three years later, per The New York Times. The pair married on Apr. 17, 2016. In November 2018, Jessica and Shapiro welcomed a son, Noah Melvin Schumer-Shapiro — named in honor of Weinshall's father, Schumer wrote in a Facebook post announcing the birth. In June 2022, they welcomed their second child, daughter Eleanor Alys, named after Schumer's mother. Alison met her wife, Elizabeth Weiland, in 2015 after being introduced online, and they married on Nov. 18, 2018, per The New York Times. Schumer became a grandfather for a third time in February 2023, when Alison and Weiland welcomed their son, Henry, Schumer shared in a post on Instagram. Schumer and Weinshall show up for each other in the professional sense — attending events, ceremonies and career milestones together. In 1998, after Schumer defeated Republican incumbent Alphonse D'Amato in the New York senatorial race, Weinshall and his daughters were there to support him — standing beside Schumer after he gave his acceptance speech and flashing thumbs-ups to the cameras. She has also attended all of Schumer's swearing-in ceremonies, including his first in 1999; when he was sworn into the Senate by Vice President Joe Biden in 2017; and when he was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris in 2023. Nearly two decades, while still serving in the senate, Weinshall and their children attended his first speech as Democratic minority leader in 2017. As for Weinshall's career, Schumer is often in attendance at the New York Public Library's annual Library Lions gala, even giving a speech at the November 2024 event and also two years prior. Read the original article on People
