Cinderella stories are common in March, but what about in April? On April 24 the state’s political season kicks off with special elections from Long Island to Buffalo. There will be 11 potential upsets, with nine Assembly races and two in the state Senate. Most eyes are on the 37th Senate District because it’s viewed … Continue reading "Special Election Bracket Busters"

Poozer Politics

Special Election Bracket Busters

The expectation in New York that public information should be available online is only a recent development in the online era. Ten years ago the landscape was radically different (and not just because Netflix dealt solely in DVDs), which is why the creation of See Through New York was a game changer. In its first … Continue reading "Seeing Through New York"

Seeing Through New York

If you ever stumbled across a late night television advertisement promising cash – maybe with a catchy jingle – then you might have unwittingly heard the sales pitch from a lawsuit lender. Lawsuit lenders can act as third-party financiers of lawsuits with a simple pitch: Need cash while you wait for the resolution of a … Continue reading "The Loan behind the Lawsuit"

The Loan behind the Lawsuit

In anticipation of the upcoming LCA Show, I wrote a song for Brian Kolb that is no longer relevant. Instead of letting the song die, like his candidacy for governor, it’s being released into the world. You’re welcome. Now what rhymes with Giambra…

EXTRA EXTRA – Brian Kolb’s Gubernatorial Show

For thousands of New Yorkers who find themselves unable to make critical life decisions, the state’s guardianship laws are designed to serve as a safety net of last resort to meet their needs. Reformed in 1992, the state’s overhaul of the Mental Hygiene Law was an attempt to move away from its benign paternalistic approach … Continue reading "Guardians of New York"

Guardians of New York

If 1992 was the “Year of the Woman,” then 2018 has the potential to be the Year of Women. Since the first Women’s March, following the inauguration of President  Donald Trump, there has been an obvious uptick in female participation in politics. More women are getting involved in political campaigns and there is the potential … Continue reading "The Women’s March to Office"

The Women’s March to Office

Republican elected officials from Manhattan once walked the halls of the Capitol. The last of this dying breed was John Ravitz, who represented the Upper East Side in the Assembly between 1991 and 2002, when he lost a special election for state senate and walked away from public office. Ravitz joined Poozer Politics to talk … Continue reading "Last of the Manhattan Republicans"

Last of the Manhattan Republicans

The anti-incumbency wave that swept the country in 2010 also made its way through the 58th Senate District in New York that year and handed Jack Quinn III the first election loss of his family’s political career. The son of a congressman from the Buffalo area, he set out for a career in medicine before … Continue reading "Mr. Quinn Goes to Albany"

Mr. Quinn Goes to Albany

Gambling has exploded in New York  during the last two decades, with the floodgates truly opening when the state approved electronic gaming at horse racing tracks. At the turn of the century your options for placing a bet were extremely limited in New York. Casinos could only be found on Indian reservations, the multi-state lottery … Continue reading "Donald Trump, 9/11 and the True Story of Electronic Gambling in New York"

Donald Trump, 9/11 and the True Story of Electronic Gambling in New York

You would be forgiven for mistakenly thinking that the biggest state income tax cut in the last millennia occurred under Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Despite the governor’s rhetoric about an historic cut, the most recent major income tax overhaul in New York came in 1995 under Gov. George Pataki. The impetus for the Income Tax Reduction … Continue reading "The Politics, Policies and Personalities of Tax Reform"

The Politics, Policies and Personalities of Tax Reform

Selling energy could be even bigger business in New York, but whether those profits truly materialize could depend on a battle of acronyms in Albany. The state’s Public Service Commission is fighting on multiple fronts, including state and federal court, with the nearly 200 energy service companies that want to sell energy in New York. … Continue reading "Power to the People, Hold On"

Power to the People, Hold On

Municipal leaders are taking a second look at how their governments operate following the adoption of a pet program by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in this year’s budget. The County-Wide Shared Services Property Tax Savings Plan (or CWSSPTSP as no one calls it) requires counties outside of New York City to draft plans for sharing services … Continue reading "Sharing is Caring"

Sharing is Caring

All politics is local, even if you’re a billionaire. Robert Mercer, the conservative financier behind Steve Bannon and then-candidate Donald Trump, waded into the Westchester County Executive election last month with nearly $1 million for a super PAC supporting incumbent Rob Astorino. Journal News reporter Mark Lungariello joined Poozer Politics to explain Astorino’s ties with … Continue reading "EXTRA EXTRA: Alt-Right Financier Funds Local Attack Ad"

EXTRA EXTRA: Alt-Right Financier Funds Local Attack Ad

Thirty years ago, New York overhauled its tax code in response to major reforms at the federal level. Now, with Republicans in Congress hoping to cut cut cut, is reform at the state and local level around the corner? What would reform in New York look like?  Where is the low-hanging tax fruit? Do state … Continue reading "Planting the Seeds for Tax Reform in New York"

Planting the Seeds for Tax Reform in New York

Do voters choose elected officials or do elected officials choose their voters? The answer is usually the latter, as redistricting has become an exact science with states legislators utilizing computer programs that allow them to tip the scales in elections. But now good government advocates have a metric for identifying partisan gerrymandering, the “efficiency gap,” … Continue reading "The Formula to Beat Partisan Gerrymandering"

The Formula to Beat Partisan Gerrymandering

The Poozer Politics Podcast is a wonky and unique dive into state government and politics. The show features interviews by David Lombardo with voices from across the state's political landscape. Follow David on Twitter at @Poozer87.

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