Instead of courting New York City voters with a ballot initiative or City Council with legislature to overturn term limits, Mayor Bloomberg first pitched the idea to another group: the owners of the three largest newspapers in New York. In what sounds like a storyline from The West Wing, the NY Times reports that Bloomberg has had private discussions with Rupert Murdoch (NY Post), Mortimer Zuckerman (NY Daily News), and Arthur Sulzberger Jr. (NY Times)......

Governor David Paterson and the Legislature met yesterday for an emergency session to deal with the state budget. Paterson had requested a billion in cuts, but it appears the slashing will result in $411-500 million in cuts. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos tried to find the silver lining, "What we're going to do today will translate into a billion dollars or more off of next year's deficit, so I think that's a significant start." Of......

At the end of July, Governor Paterson gave a rare televised address to brace New Yorkers for impending cuts required by an estimated $6.4 billion budget cap. But it seems that the belt tightening doesn’t apply to state troopers: Besides adding more officers to his security detail to the tune of $4 million, the governor has now agreed to a pay raise for troopers totaling almost 14% over four years. The Sun is quick to......

Governor Paterson's warnings about the dire state of NY's budget (the deficit grew $1.4 billion since March) means the Legislature is coming back to Albany for an emergency session (during this time, lawmakers are usually in their district offices). The AP says with Paterson's desire for deep cuts and opposition from both unions and Assembly Democrats, the pols--Democrats and Republicans alike--could be making "some of the hardest decisions of their political lives, together. Or, nothing......

The NY Times looks at how Governor Paterson's uses of humor to disarm audiences. Many people attest to Paterson's timing and joke-telling. Two examples: A hilarious response at a National Press Club event earlier this month and his killer answer, right after the Spitzer scandal erupted, to a reporter's question about whether he ever patronized prostitutes. The Governor explained that he started to used humor as a child, because he was lonely and his "way......

Among the many cuts making up Governor Paterson's latest request that $1 billion be cut from the state budget is one to cut $51 million from the City University of New York. That amounts to a 7% cut, which is in line with the cut the SUNY system is making. CUNY told the Daily News the cut is "very significant" and it's unclear whether tuition will be raised, but added "We have an obligation to......

After repeated warnings about the state's economy and financial status, today Governor Paterson proposed another $1 billion in state spending cuts this year, and another $1.6 billion in cuts next year. Per The Politicker, "the cuts include $505 million to Medicaid, and $132 million that would be saved by postponing the implementation of legislators' programs" and cutting member items by 50% (for a savings of $100 million). Paterson wants to reduce the looming budget deficit......

When Governor David Paterson ordered that state agencies should recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages, the battle lines were drawn. The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group, filed a lawsuit yesterday, with plaintiffs including state Assembly minority leader James Tedisco, Assemblymen Daniel Burling and Brian Kolb and state Sens. Martin Golden and Serphin Maltese, claiming that Paterson "sidestepped the democratic process." However, Judge Lucy Billings implied that she would side with Paterson, saying, "The petitioners, I'm......

If you have a question for Governor David Paterson, WCBS 880 is taking questions before its 4 p.m. live interview with him. So far, the questions are about medical liability reform and the Atlantic Yards project. You'll be able to listen to the interview here. And in tangential governor news, horses named "Luv Gov" and "Ninth Client" ran at Saratoga these past few days--Ninth Client was tied for first yesterday.......

In his first visit to a synagogue since taking control of the state, Governor Paterson told a crowd of around 1,000 in Westhampton that he supported the Orthodox community's struggle to erect an eruv, a symbolic fence around the synagogue. He then revealed that he felt a special connection with Jewish community not only because of his longtime friendship with Rabbi Marc Schneier, but also because he shares some lineage with them. Paterson told the......

After noting that the NY State is facing a fiscal crisis on Tuesday, Governor David Paterson took the bad news to Washington D.C. Paterson said at the National Press Club that the federal government needs to help invest in things like infrastructure, schools, mass transit and job training, pointing out NY State sent $82.6 billion more to D.C. than it got back. Senator Chris Dodd told the NY Times, though, there just isn't money. On......

Governor David Paterson's unusual televised Tuesday afternoon speech detailing the state budget's deficit and imploring lawmakers to head back to work* has been followed up with some specifics today. He says a 7% cut to state agency spending would save $630 million. Paterson also suggests an "immediate hard hiring freeze," and wants the Legislature to help find $1.2 billion in savings. During his speech yesterday, Paterson implied the state would need to think about selling......

Governor Paterson gave a rare televised address this afternoon, asking state lawmakers to head back to Albany for an emergency session to discuss the state deficit. Paterson said the deficit had gone up $1.4 billion in 90 days, from $5 billion to its current $6.4 billion. Here's his text, via the Times-Union:“The fact is, we confront harsh times. Let me be honest. This situation will get worse before it gets better. “My message to the......

These two men might have been happy to see each other, but Governor David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg aren't so thrilled about the economy. They were at the State Financial Control Board meeting yesterday, where Bloomberg noted that Wall Street firms "posted $22.8 billion in losses" during the first quarter of 2008. City Comptroller William Thompson also pointed out that, per the Sun, "weak tax revenues and overtime costs will create a $68 million......

Today, timed with the NY State Commission on Higher Education's release of a report about higher education, the NY Times reports Governor Paterson will ask "the Legislature to create a low-cost student loan program to make New York more competitive with other states." The report outlines concerns about the SUNY and CUNY schools maintaining quality with insufficient funds--the two systems have more than 600,000 students over 87 campuses. You can read the whole report (PDF)......

The Post says former mayor Rudy Giuliani is "launching a new fund-raising committee to dole out cash to New York GOP candidates." Which might open the door for him to run for governor in 2010. Sure, there have been Governor Giuliani rumors since Spitzer's resignation and the main purpose of the new committee is raise money to retain Republican control of the Senate. However, some also believe the committee could help "rebuild his political clout......

Just when you thought the New Yorker Obama cover controversy had started to die down, along comes Governor David Paterson to fan the American flag-fueled flames. At an NAACP gathering earlier today, Paterson strongly condemned the illustration, calling it "one of the most malignant, vicious covers of a magazine I have ever seen… They knew it would hurt people; it was designed to do that and also to feed the prurient interest of bigoted, prejudiced......

Governor David Paterson may have become governor unexpectedly, but it looks like he's looking to have a longer legacy than his predecessor: Paterson for Governor announced it "raised more than $3,200,000 over a two month period from more than 600 contributors and would show a cash-on-hand balance of over $3 million. " The Sun suggests this is impressive, given that former Governor Spitzer raised about the same amount during during the first half of 2007,......

Photograph of the World Trade Center site, taken by Joe Woolhead, courtesy of Silverstein Properties The Port Authority released its status report of sorts about World Trade Center rebuilding, and it's a document (PDF) that grimly forecasts lots of patience and money--along with the difficulties--needed to see the whole thing through and. PA Executive Director Christopher Ward prefaces his assessment with a note that highlights how previous costs and rebuilding timeline estimates were not......

Con Ed and the union representing 9,000 members agreed to extend their contract negotiations for another three days, after Governor David Paterson intervened late yesterday. The governor's spokesman Errol Cockfield said Paterson "expressed his concern that there should be no disruption in services and asked them to agree to a...cooling-off period. The governor suggested this time would allow tempers to subside and then both parties could return to the bargaining table in a more measured......

Governor David Paterson says he's doing fine after cataract surgery yesterday at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. WNBC caught up with him after the 90-minute procedure, and the Governor urged everyone to have their cataracts removed, since it's such an easy procedure. This is the fourth eye-related surgery Paterson has had in six weeks. On May 20, he was admitted to Mount Sinai for "migraine-like symptoms" which were actually caused by a glaucoma on his......

Photograph of the World Trade Center site, taken by Joe Woolhead, courtesy of Silverstein Properties The Port Authority is planning on giving Governor David Paterson a report explaining the status of projects at the World Trade Center site, and one sources says it's the "grim truth." According to the Post, "massive cost overruns and unrealistic construction timetables" will be outlined--here's how some projects are shaping up: - 9/11 Memorial: "Scheduled for 2009, now 2011."......

Even though Mayor Bloomberg doesn't belong to a political party, he has confirmed he will help NY State Republicans face re-election this year. Why? It boils down to his pet failed project, congestion pricing. The Daily News reports Mayor Bloomberg as saying, "I've said repeatedly, I'll help those who help this city. The Republicans in the state Senate were willing to vote for congestion pricing and the Democrats were not." Indeed, when Assembly Leader Sheldon......

Photograph of the World Trade Center site, taken by Joe Woolhead, courtesy of Silverstein Properties Frustrated with the lack of progress at Ground Zero, Governor David Paterson asked the Port Authority to provide a timeline of work, noting, "Any new schedule must reflect an aggressive but realistic approach to completing these vitally important projects." Now, a few weeks later, the Port Authority is ready to present a report on Ground Zero activity, but the......

Note to MTA board members: Think before you speak! Maybe even pre-think before you think! MTA Board Vice Chairman David Mack has learned this lesson, maybe, after his controversial, elitist remarks explaining why he would fight for unrestricted free E-Z pass usage, "Why should I ride [the train] and inconvenience myself when I can ride in a car?" Background: Attorney General Andrew Cuomo questioned the MTA's decision to give E-Z passes to former and......

What's a Mayor to do? When he's not trying to quiet rumors that he has a bad relationship with Albany, Mayor Bloomberg is still getting shafted by Albany. The NY Times describes the latest indignity: How a city proposal for bus-only traffic lane enforcement was shot down. The bill, which would have put cameras on the new rapid transit buses (the whole bus rapid transit system will be complete by 2011) to catch cars the......

Yesterday, the Post ran a cover story suggesting that Governor Paterson bitterly criticized Mayor Bloomberg. Not to Bloomberg's face or anything, but a source provided the Post's Albany bureau chief Fred Dicker with alleged Paterson quotes like "He has the same kind of anger that reminds you of Spitzer" and "It's obvious that Bloomberg has little use for the kind of people who come from Queens and Staten Island." But in an afternoon press......

A last-minute deal was worked out between Governor David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to save Off-track Betting, but the road to the agreement was rocky. Bloomberg had been unhappy with how OTB provides money for the state but the city ends up subsidizing it, thanks to a formula that gives the state a cut of revenues (not profit). According to the NY Times, the city will now "earn some $4 million from the winning-bets......

After rumors of Mayor Bloomberg eying the Governor's Mansion in Albany in 2010, a Quinnipiac poll reveals that NY State voters wouldn't mind a billionaire governor. Out of 1,388 NY voters, 30% said they like the idea of Governor Bloomberg. Current Governor David Paterson was in third place, with 23%--former mayor Rudy Giuliani was in second with 26% (15% of respondents picked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo)! Given that the margin of error is +/- 2.6......

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's name is being mentioned again as a possible candidate for governor in 2010. While the earlier speculation and rumors were due to the nuttiness of Eliot Spitzer's resignation and current Governor David Paterson's confessions (dames, drugs), this time it's because Rudy's strategist Anthony Carbonetti may be in line to head the state GOP. Current state GOP Chairman Joe Mondello has been under attack after the Republicans' dwindling representation both in the......