Cheyenne Diner to be trucked down south

From AM-NY:

After the collapse of a Red Hook rescue plan left the historic Cheyenne Diner imperiled again, the shuttered Manhattan greasy spoon has been saved thanks to a little Southern hospitality.

The rail car-style diner could soon serve up home-style cooking in Birmingham, Ala., according to Michael Perlman, who has led the effort to save the Cheyenne, which would become the only free-standing diner in that city.

Cheyenne Diner: Saved (again!) and moving to Alabama

Scaling back the housing plans

From City Limits:

Many of the people building decent, low-cost housing in New York City are not earning decent wages. But according to a new study, the city cannot afford to pay those workers any better unless it dramatically scales back its affordable housing plans.

The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is in the middle of a $7.5 billion initiative to preserve or build 165,000 units of affordable housing. As has been true historically, most affordable housing today is built by nonunion laborers who earn significantly lower wages than union tradespeople.

Unions and some analysts have called for subjecting affordable housing to "prevailing wage" rules, which link workers' pay to local collective bargaining agreements. They say the lack of wage rules in affordable housing invites a race to the bottom in which contractors pay low wages and offer few or no benefits, permit unsafe working conditions and produce shoddy buildings—all on the public's dime.

But a report issued last month by the Citizens Housing and Planning Council, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization headed by former HPD commissioner Jerilyn Perine, finds that imposing so-called "prevailing wages" on affordable housing projects would boost construction costs significantly, forcing major changes to the mayor's program – which the administration has already acknowledged is going to take longer than desired to accomplish its goals.

BUILDING A BETTER MODEL FOR CONSTRUCTION WAGES

Bill deBlasio needs spellcheck

Wow who knew that Public Advocate candidate and current Councilman Bill DeBlasio was this illiterate?

Dept. of Building's bilboard pentalty ads insult to injury

Or did the Daily News just do a lame number on him?

City to buy foreclosed homes

AP Photo

From the NY Times:

New York City will spend $24 million in federal financing to rehabilitate and resell 115 foreclosed homes, one of the most aggressive steps in recent years that city officials have taken to prevent the vacant properties from becoming a blight on neighborhoods, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Wednesday.

The city will use the money to take control of so-called real estate-owned homes, or foreclosed properties owned by banks that have failed to be sold at auction. The city has already bought the first four homes — two on Staten Island, one in the Bronx and one in Queens.

City Has Plan to Resell Foreclosed Homes

“What we’re trying to do is to not acquire a lot of land and properties and have it just sit there,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “What we’re trying to do is get it in, fix it up and get it back off our books into the private sector. It doesn’t do us any good if we’re holding it. You can’t house anybody. And it doesn’t generate tax revenues. We don’t want to make the mistakes that we had in the past.”

Queens census workers in demand

From the Queens Gazette:

Nigel Manuel of the Census Bureau informed the meeting that census workers, in the field or in the office, were being recruited for all parts of Queens. Recruiting would go on until the end of the next census year, 2010. He said that testing was being conducted in several places, such as LaGuardia Community College, where it is held on Saturday mornings. The pay scale runs from $14 to $21 per hour and there is a 40-hour, paid training period. Since turnover is high, he noted, recruitment is bound to be heavy for the next two years. He said further information is available by calling 646-233-2406.

Altered house gets a pass from LPC

The Hubbard House in Brooklyn was designated as a landmark this past week, which is definitely a good thing. But the main reason given for its designation was quite interesting:

“The house retains an exceptional amount of original fabric,” said LPC Chairman Robert Tierney.

Really? Here are photos of the house:

1915

2002

Photos from the Brooklyn Museum.

Let the sun shine in

Just days from announcing his choice, Paterson won't identify "about 10" people who he said are in the running to follow Clinton. He won't release the blank questionnaire he sent to each of them looking for background information. He won't turn over the candidate's completed forms. And the public isn't getting any idea how the hopefuls feel about broad or regional public issues -- or even if public policy is being discussed.

"How could it not be public? It's a blank form," said Robert Freeman, executive director of the state Committee on Open Government, the state agency that regulates enforcement of the good-government laws. Since 1976 Freeman, a lawyer, has been the top state employee who advises government and the public on interpretation of the public officers' law.

The names of those under consideration -- among them Caroline Kennedy, perhaps Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, several members of Congress and other elected officials -- should also be disclosed, Freeman said.

Paterson's Secret Senate Pick May Violate NY Law

Republicans in New York's Legislature are pushing for a special election to fill the expected vacancy in the U.S. Senate instead of allowing Democratic Gov. David Paterson to make a unilateral appointment through a secretive process.

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, a Schenectady Republican, noted specifically that Kennedy, the perceived front-runner, has no record in elected office and her positions on public policy are largely unknown.

"We need an election - not a coronation - to ensure our next U.S. senator reflects the will of the people," Tedisco said.

NY Republicans move to force vote for Senate pick

Two-Ton Tony loses his lu-lu

From the Daily News:

Queens Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, under federal indictment for allegedly soliciting $1 million in bribes, has been stripped of his $15,000-a-year "lulu" as chairman of the Assembly Majority Program Committee, the Daily News has learned.

Seminerio's term in the little-known post expired on Dec. 31, and Speaker Sheldon Silver has decided not to reappoint him for the new session, spokesman Dan Weiller told The News.

"I can tell you as a fact that he will not be reappointed to that position," Weiller said.

Weiller had no comment on the reason for Silver's decision, but an Assembly source confirmed that it was a result of Seminerio's legal troubles.

Accept bribes: lose position in state legislature
Slash woman's face: gain position in state legislature

More Richmond Hill crapola

"Jahn’s sits vacant one year after its closing. Work can be heard inside sporadically. A peak through the window will show you progress amounting to bare brick walls and a concrete floor. A far cry from the warm interior remembered.
The RKO Keith’s marquee continues to deteriorate after the new owner stripped its lettering."

- Jason in Kew Gardens

Tony Avella tells off Christine Quinn

This is from Daily Gotham, and if the site doesn't crash (as it seems to every few minutes), you can read the rest here.

2 more Queens hospitals may close

From the NY Times:

Two Queens hospitals are facing bankruptcy and may close by February, the Queens borough president said Tuesday, in one of the first indications that New York State’s budget shortfall is hurting the hospital industry.

The two private hospitals, St. John’s Queens and Mary Immaculate, had sometimes been given millions of dollars in state subsidies just to meet their payrolls, according to other hospital officials who have been briefed on the matter. But with the state facing a $15 billion budget gap, the state was less likely to help hospitals that had limited long-term viability.

Helen M. Marshall, the Queens borough president, said in her State of the Borough speech Tuesday that she was “extremely concerned today about the stability” of the two hospitals. Her spokesman, Dan Andrews, said later that Ms. Marshall had learned from officials at Caritas, which runs the two hospitals, that St. John’s and Mary Immaculate could file for bankruptcy this month and could close by next month. He said she has appealed to the governor’s office for help, and chose to mention the hospitals in her speech just hours before delivering it.

2 Hospitals in Queens May Face Bankruptcy

Both of these are in or near areas that were recently upzoned. More people, fewer hospital beds. Awesome. Let's put luxury condos in their place.

Top photo from Daily News

Hiram holds off on accepting extra pay

From the Daily News:

New Sen. Hiram Monserrate will continue to chair the Senate Consumer Protection Committee, but will forgo his $12,500 stipend until the felony assault charge pending against him is settled.

Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran told DN Albany Bureau Chief Ken Lovett that the decision to “defer” Monserrate’s stipend was made “at Sen. Monserrate’s request.”

Asked why the Queens lawmaker is being allowed to continue on as chairman, Shafran said: "We need the committee’s work to go foward and Sen. Monserrate’s participation is necessary toward achieving that goal.”

Shafran noted there are 35 committees and just 32 Democratic members, adding: "Right now we need all of our members to serve on their committees to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the people."

A Chairmanship, But No Lu-Lu, For Monserrate

Kook stabs 3 people in Flushing

From the Daily News:

A 300-pound knife-wielding Queens madman stabbed three people - including an elderly couple - in a shocking broad daylight rampage today.

David Williams, 41, plunged a large knife into a 78-year-old man and his wife, who is 71, as they exited their Northern Boulevard building in Flushing, police said. A third victim, a 41-year-old woman, was also stabbed.

"Blood everywhere," said an officer at the scene.

They were all taken to New York Hospital. The wife was clinging to life while her husband and the other woman were in serious condition, police said.

After a struggle, Williams was taken into custody at the scene. Police also recovered a large, bloody knife.

Three stabbed, woman clinging to life, after 300-lb. madman goes on bloody rampage in Queens

And Fox 5 has video of the aftermath.

FNY tours Ozone Park thoroughfares

Click photo for story.

CitiField is blighted

Spanking-new, $850 million Citi Field is already beginning to rust.

A Post reporter spotted brown water from a rusty beam creeping down the wall of the front entrance of Citi Field's main gate in Flushing, Queens, on 126th Street. The Mets are set to move there in April.

RUSTY START FOR METS

But hey - now it matches the other structures in Flushing Meadows!

Vibrant diversity of Woodhaven includes rust stains

From the NY Times:

Maria Thomson, executive director of both the Woodhaven Business Improvement District and the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, is setting her sights on the elevated J and Z subway rails, which loom above Jamaica Avenue, the area’s main thoroughfare, like a rusted spine. They are badly in need of cleaning, scraping and painting.

“Our avenue is clean and bright and very vibrant,” she said, “and then you look up and see all the peeling and the miserable damage to the el that has not been addressed in the last 25 years.”

Diversity Under the El

Google maps gets it wrong

Okay, here's the correct map from Google that I wanted to call into question. Have any of you heard of University Gardens?
And when was it called Willow Street? Because now it's 247th Street... I even checked Queens Street Names and there is no 20th century record of a Willow Street in this area.

Triangle Hofbrau stuccoed!

"The Myrtle Avenue side of the Triangle Hofbrau has been covered in stucco.
I believe the medical office which now occupies the site stated previously they would make no alterations to the exterior of the building, but that seems to have been thrown out the window.

Fortunately, the Jamaica Avenue side retains its detail, but for how long?"

-Jason in Kew Gardens

Two-Ton Tony couldn't keep his mouth shut

An indicted Queens lawmaker was so chatty, investigators said they intercepted more than 15,000 calls on his office phone.

"Are you saying 15,000 calls on one phone?" an incredulous Manhattan Federal Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald asked prosecutors, who revealed Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio's gabfest during a court hearing Monday.

"But he doesn't look like a teenager."

Seminerio chuckled nervously at the defense table.

Over the next few weeks, prosecutors will turn over copies of the recorded calls as well as other evidence they've gathered in their case against the law-and-order Democrat and former city correction officer.

Feds: Indicted Queens assemblyman Anthony Seminerio talked nonstop on phone

Bloomberg annoyed that Weiner's running

From the NY Observer:

Michael Bloomberg refused to listen--let alone respond to--remarks Anthony Weiner made this morning criticizing how the mayor handled the budget.

“I didn’t hear him and I’m not going to respond,” the mayor said when I tried reading Weiner’s remarks to him. “If you want to waste your question, you’ve just done it.” He went on to say, “The answer is, I’ve got to worry about the next 350-odd days and I’m not going to respond.”

Bloomberg Not Interested in Weiner's Critique

Here's some of what Weiner said and a report on his campaign finances thus far.

Mets new uniform patch not very popular

From Big League Stew:

If you're the type of person who doesn't spend much time thinking about sleeve patches on uniforms, don't worry.

Neither do the Mets.

The team recently unveiled the logo to celebrate their upcoming first season in Citi Field and to say that it's being mocked worse than an oblivious American Idol contestant would be an understatement.

At its best, it's being said to resemble the logo of a certain pizza company that once featured the 'Noid. At its worst, it's being categorized as the biggest affront to Mets fans since John Rocker's sermon in SI.

Mets' pizza patch the laughingstock of baseball uniform world

7 Queens Catholic schools to close

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn proposed Monday to close at least 14 of its elementary schools as part of a reorganization that officials said they hoped would stem a steady decline in enrollment that has plagued Catholic school systems nationwide for decades.

This would be the second major round of elementary school closings in recent years for the diocese, which comprises Brooklyn and Queens. In 2005, it closed 25, and in the next two years, seven more. If the proposed closings are carried out, the diocese will have shut down nearly one-third of the elementary schools it had just half a decade ago.

Eleven schools are to be closed at the end of the current school year, according to the diocesan plan.

In Queens, the schools are St. Anthony of Padua, St. Benedict Joseph Labre, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Aloysius and Blessed Sacrament.

Some schools would close to merge with others. In Flushing, Queens, St. Michael and St. Ann schools would close to consolidate with St. Mary’s Nativity.

14 Catholic Schools May Shut Down

Old hospital to become senior housing

From The Real Deal:

The New York State Housing Finance Agency has issued a request for proposals from developers interested in purchasing a site in Howard Beach, Queens, to develop affordable housing for senior citizens. The site is 3.4 acres at 155-55 Cross Bay Boulevard, and there are currently two structures, totaling 111,000 square feet, on the property. The developer would need to convert these structures into 100 affordable housing units, 80 of them studios or one-bedroom apartments for low- to moderate-income people over age 60, according to a statement issued today by the housing finance agency. The remaining units would be for people supported by the Office of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities, which operates the site's current buildings.

This was formerly Howard Park General Hospital, which closed down decades ago, but for some reason Google Maps still thinks is active.

Not getting a pass now

Records show that a special squad of cops from the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau handed out a total of 6,915 placard-related summonses between April and December 2008 and towed 1,165 vehicles.

The list of agencies snared in the sweeps reads like a Who's Who of law enforcement - the NYPD, the Correction Department, federal agents and employees of the court system and the district attorneys.

PLACARD BLITZ NAILS DA COPS

Great news for Dutch Kills!

From Crain's:

Nearly every hotel in the city, from Marriott properties to the Waldorf-Astoria to budget brands like Comfort Inn, are either temporarily laying off employees, reducing hours, eliminating jobs entirely or planning to do so soon. Some are closing entire floors.

Housekeepers are taking the biggest hit right now, but front-desk clerks, bellmen and concierges could be victims of downsizing as well.

More than 10% of the city's 42,400 hotel workers are expected to lose their jobs—some only temporarily—this year, according to Lodging Investment Advisors. In early December, occupancy rates were down 4.5 percentage points to 80%, compared with the same period last year, according to Smith Travel Research.

Occupancy drop forces layoffs at hotels

Eminent domain = high density

From Noticing New York:

In essence, we find ourselves concluding that “eminent domain is density” or, put another way, that greater density is now coming upon us by way of eminent domain.

It is not an accident that the use of eminent domain coincides with...surpassing examples of density: Eminent domain is being used as the tool to shoehorn in density that would not be achievable under normal circumstances. The fact that these three examples are current era projects separated by only a few years bespeaks something of the new proclivity to use eminent domain to force private owners to transfer their property to other private owners. Often the transfers being forced involve the new, after-transfer owners making similar or identical use of the land as the original owners even though the original owners’ actual buildings might be torn down.

Republican Club repairs not going so well

"Hello Crappy,

Here are some photos of one of Queens’ most recent landmarks, the Richmond Hill Republican Club.

Interior demolition began in the Summer of ’08, apparently with no plans for renovation or what the structure may be utilized for in the future.

Here is what the building looks like now. There is no roof and nothing but the exterior walls remain, likely further undermining the structure’s integrity and leaving what is left of it entirely exposed to the elements.

As you can see, a section of the façade has collapsed. The installation of a series of beams to prop up the walls is the only work that has gone on here since the interior was gutted.

I only hope this century old Richmond Hill gem doesn’t go the way of its former neighbor, Simonson’s Funeral Home." - Jason in Kew Gardens

Well, well, well. We have a landmark going to rack and ruin (with a stop work order on it) and right next door to it a building that should have been landmarked but was torn down during the overdevelopment frenzy with its lot left vacant for almost 2 years now. The two properties together perfectly represent the state of preservation in Queens. A trip to this spot should be required for every Columbia and Pratt student involved in historic preservation after they tour Greenwich Village and Brooklyn Heights.

And yes, these are in a certain councilmember's litterbox. That quote one more time: "People talk to me about developers and their support, and my answer is, ‘They are the folks who care deeply about the direction this city is going.’" - Councilmember and Comptroller Candidate Melinda Katz, Chair of the NYC Council's Land Use Committee.

Breakdown of the Yankees' bond request

From the Daily News' Juan Gonzalez:

There's $137 million to pay for concessions at the new stadium - including a swank new Yankees Steakhouse, a Hard Rock Cafe, a museum and a conference center. The Yankees added most of those items to the stadium budget after the city approved the original financing plan.

Other enhancements include:

- $14.2 million for various scoreboard changes.

- $5 million for fancy public- bathroom improvements, including "burnished and glazed block" and "solid surface countertops."

- $10.5 million for new "suite level upgrades."

- $10.7 million for a huge new "video board."

- $8.7 million for the team's administrative offices.

The financial details that the team submitted list such a complicated split between public and private funding for those costs that it's almost impossible to separate them.

"This is bizarre," said Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester), a longtime critic of the stadium deal. "We don't have enough money for our schools or the subways, yet they want to give the Yankees money for a steakhouse and granite ramps?"

Bloomberg keeps telling ordinary New Yorkers we need to tighten our belts in hard times. He needs to tell it to the Yankees.

The NY Times' Jim Dwyer has more:

When New York goes through a drought, it is the custom to shut down public fountains, like those in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art — not because they use all that much water, but because the dancing towers of water give the illusion of abundance.

They just turn off the spigots.

Another broken promise by Bloomberg

This week marks the first anniversary of a promise Mayor Bloomberg hasn't kept.

He said in last year's State of the City address that it was time for a new Charter review commission, and he pledged to appoint one for an 18-month, top-to-bottom review of city government.

Since then, he has done nothing to follow up - except to offer a seat on the commission to Ronald Lauder, in exchange for him jumping on board the steamroller that stretched the city's term limits law so Bloomberg can run again this year.

Of course, skeptics assumed all along that the review commission was a ploy to extend term limits - and with his goal accomplished by other means, he no longer has need of a wonkish panel to dissect city government.

Mayor Bloomberg never kept promise to start Charter review panel

Christmas Eve thieves hit Whitestone

Constantino Christo, 43, and Nicholas Papaleo, 33, both of Brooklyn, were arraigned on burglary charges Dec. 24 for allegedly dressing up like police officers and tying up a Whitestone couple earlier that day before fleeing the scene with more than $4,000 in cash, Christmas presents and jewelry, DA Richard Brown said.

The DA said following their arrest that Papaleo allegedly told police the duo’s original intent was to rob a drug dealer in the vicinity of the 169th Street home that they saw Robert Kapovic enter shortly before 10:20 p.m. Christmas Eve. Papaleo allegedly said Christo followed Kapovic into the home and they came out a short time later with Kapovic in handcuffs, the DA said.

Christmas thieves targeted dealer in Whitestone

They were finally caught after they stole the family's car and were tracked down by the OnStar system.

Meeting of the minds in LIC

Who do you think is ahead in this game of chess? My money's on the kid...

Bloomberg says New Yorkers are better behaved

Cops are writing fewer "quality of life" summonses because New Yorkers are simply "behaving better," Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday, pooh-poohing fears the decline could be a turning point back to sky-high 1980s crime rates.

"Some days, you can't win for losing. We brought crime down, which means fewer summonses," the mayor said. "The bottom line is, crime is down in all these categories. There's better enforcement."

"And people are behaving better."

[Pardon this interruption, but HA HA HA HA HA HA! I guess the shrinking police force has nothing to do with this.]

MIKE: DROP IN PETTY CRIME BUSTS IS GOOD

Bloomberg also said he wasn't worried about fine revenue lost because cops are writing fewer tickets. He said the losses amount to "maybe a couple million dollars."

A Post analysis put the actual losses at around $30 million; excluding parking tickets, the loss is around $10 million.

Oh, and if people are better behaved, then why are they lighting up inside bars and restaurants, something which has been illegal since the middle of Bloomberg's first term?

Industry moving to Queens to service film studios

Both Suna and Rosenbluth said they have had to turn away productions because their studios are all booked. And both operations are planning expansions to add studio space.

The industry has also provided a shot in the arm to businesses that service production companies - everything from restaurants to paint stores.

"When the movie production studios are busy, we benefit from it," said Charles Sommer, president of Public Service Truck Renting in Long Island City.

Matt Dienstag, principal of Lenoble Lumber, said his company recently moved its headquarters from Manhattan to Long Island City to better service the industry.

"Having a thriving film and television industry is really important - not only to Queens, but for all of the city," he said.

Lights, camera, more action at city studios

Wow, who would have thought that industry would be moving back to Queens? I guess the tax incentives didn't hurt. Maybe this should have been the focus instead of tax breaks to millionaire developers to provide us with luxury condos that we don't need.

Gianaris proposes shortened work week

A Queens assemblyman today will call on Gov. Paterson to adopt a four-day work week for most state employees to save money.

The move would save the state $30 million a year on energy and building maintenance and slash emissions from daily commutes, Assemblyman Michael Gianaris said.

"Good budgeting requires outside-the-box innovations," Gianaris said.

His idea is to make all state agencies providing "nonessential services" abandon the standard 9-to-5 weekday schedule.

State workers instead would put in 10-hour days Monday through Thursday.

Put state workers on a four-day week, says Queens politician Gianaris

Atlantic Yards project on last leg?

The struggling economy could mean big changes for the proposed Nets basketball arena in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

According to published reports, Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner of Forest City Ratner Developments is looking to scale back the $1 billion arena to make it less expensive to build.

Developer Reportedly Looking to Scale Back Nets Arena

Trimming Frank Gehry's design for the Nets arena at Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards will help ensure it gets built, boosters said Friday- but critics say the scaleback is the plan's death knell.

"The project is definitely on its last legs, and the wicked witch is almost dead," Councilwoman Letitia James (WFP-Fort Greene) said after the Daily News reported that developer Bruce Ratner wants to hire "value engineering" firms to trim millions from Gehry's plans.

Sources told The News that Ratner needs to trim the arena's $1 billion cost to get financing for the project, and hopes to remove architectural flourishes or substitute cheaper materials to get it built.

Atlantic Yards lite is on 'last legs' - foes

Hunters Point house hole

"I have been meaning to go and take pictures of this for a while and finally went. On 46th road between Vernon Blvd and 11 the Street there was this row of old wooden houses, all connected. I have often dreamed of owning one of them but the one that was for sale recently was way out of my range as is most of Hunters Point these days. They are small little houses but have lots of character. At least one still has the original scalloped shingle siding. As you can see by the attached pictures, the current owner has different plans.
According to the Buildings Dept., there was a permit issued to add 2 stories and a 4-story rear additon. Notice where this house is related to the others. AS you can see from the picture the house has basically been demolished and a new structure is being built. This is the idiocy of the Departments of Buildings and City Planning.
When I went to take the picture this afternoon, as I was snapping my pictures the owner of the building came out and approched me. He asked me what I thought about it and I told him that I thought is was horrible that he had done this and it was just plain greed. He got defensive and said that he was hard working person and he was doing this in a recession. He said some other stuff but I just got back in my car and left. There have been quite a few complaints but only 1 violation at this site and the adjoining neighbors have worried about their houses being affected. I will continue to take pictures as it proceeds. Thanks for giving us a place to post this kind of stuff and I hope you can use this." - Horrified in Hunters Point

Sorry, dude!

Transition officials announced Friday that Barack Obama's mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, 71, will be moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to help "acclimate" the Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, to their new home.

"She will determine in the coming months whether or not she wants to stay in D.C. permanently," said transition spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld.

Make room for the mother-in-law! First Grandma moving into the White House

If only he knew this back before he decided to run, it may have altered the course of history...

Freudian slip?

Do you think not changing the photo to match the story was intentional or a Freudian slip by the web editor? The headline certainly is appropriate.

Rewarding the Monster-Rat

Many rage as embattled pol Hiram Monserrate gets key job
Kenneth Lovett and Glenn Blain
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

ALBANY - Newly minted state Senate Democratic Majority Leader Malcolm Smith is in hot water for making embattled Sen. Hiram Monserrate a committee chairman.

Anti-domestic violence advocates, Republicans and even some Democrats say Smith sent a bad message by giving Monserrate the chairmanship before his felony assault case is settled.

Smith announced on Monday night that Monserrate, who has been accused of cutting his girlfriend with a broken glass, would head the Consumer Protection Committee.

"Giving this person a position of authority is a slap in the face to all women in the state," said Marcia Pappas, president of the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women.

And then there's this from 1010WINS.com:

"It's very surprising, it really is," said Patti Jo Newell, the director of public policy for the New York state Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "We are at a historic change within the New York state Senate ... to wait and see what happens with his case should not be too disruptive, but instead he's been given a chair and been sworn in, and that has cast a shadow."