State pols will vote themselves a fat pay raise

Legislators will return to the Capitol after the November election to vote themselves a pay raise that will take effect in January, one lawmaker predicted.

"We’ll probably do about 3 percent a year, but keep it (base pay) just under $100,000," said the lawmaker, who spoke about the issue only if he wasn’t identified. "Then we’ll jack up the lulus too," he said, referring to payments for leadership posts.

Pay Raise for New York State Assembly & Senate

Base pay for legislators, $79,500, was last increased in 1999. A 30 percent raise would bring that total to almost $106,000. All 62 senators and 42 Republican members of the Assembly get extra payments that boost the average pay well over $90,000. About two-thirds of the 108 Democrats also get the payments.

If the pay raise is passed after the Nov. 4 elections but before the end of the year it would allow lawmakers to avoid a voter backlash and also have the hikes take effect in January when a new Legislature takes place. By law lawmakers can’t raise their own pay, but can of an incoming Legislature. In practice, of course, almost all of those now holding office will still have their seats in January.

The Triborough triplets

There are 3 eyasses under the Triborough Bridge.

Trio on Triborough

Lizzy's campaign finance violations in detail

In January 2005, Elizabeth Crowley's failed 2001 campaign was audited. The following violations were found by the Campaign Finance Board:
You would think a lien would have been put on her accounts, but she has raised $158,850 thus far and has yet to pay off all of the $56,267 penalty. How is she permitted to run for office with outstanding fines on record from 7 years ago? You can't get away with that at DMV...

Furthermore, Councilman Sheldon Leffler was convicted for almost identical campaign finance fraud in 2003. Why wasn't Dizzy Lizzy indicted? Answer: Leffler was an anti-establishment candidate while Crowley is princess of the Queens Democratic Machine.

NYC Time Machine: 1991 (or is it 2008?)

Seventeen years after race riots left the streets of Crown Heights bloodied, tensions are rising again in the neighborhood restlessly shared by Orthodox Jews and blacks.

First, a black man was badly beaten on a Brooklyn street.

Weeks later, a Jewish teenager said he was attacked by two young blacks while riding his bicycle, and angry Jewish residents took to the streets with signs saying "Jewish blood is not cheap!" and "Every Jew a .22."

And along the way, the district attorney accused an Orthodox Jewish street patrol of vigilantism and compared the group to street gangs like the Bloods and Crips.

Racial tensions heat up in Brooklyn's Crown Heights

The strife has revived painful memories of the 1991 riots in the neighborhood, which is home to about 15,000 Orthodox Jews and more than 130,000 blacks.

As summer approaches, leaders from both sides are braced for trouble.

American flag crap

Under the CSX overpass in Glendale. The intention behind this mural was good.
But the location is very, very bad.