
Yassky looking for a lil’ TLC?
That’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, not tender lovin’ care.
The scuttlebutt from political blogs and a recent New York Times story was that former Councilmember David Yassky is the front-runner for the Taxi Commissioner job, a post appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The report runs contrary to other sources which have said that Yassky, who has a law degree from Yale, was exploring positions in private practice, but the move may make sense.
As a council member, in 2007, Yassky successfully lobbied Mayor Bloomberg and the TLC for the conversion of the city’s fleet to hybrid vehicles, significantly reducing emissions. Last year, he proposed reforming the process by which taxi drivers receive licenses.
Yassky, who was unable to be reached for comment, voted to extend term limits while still a council member but did not choose to run for a third term himself, instead mounting an ultimately unsuccessful bid to be the city’s Comptroller.
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Marty buffs up
With a creative piece of photo-editing, Borough President Marty Markowitz turned himself into a piece of cheesecake that his favorite Junior’s might envy.
Yep, the borough beep’s recent inauguration featured – among other treats – a slide of his head superimposed on the trim physique of recently elected Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown.
The laughter invoked was loud; the point of the slide hardly less subtle – to trumpet a potential run for mayor on Markowitz’s part in 2013.
“I can see the next race for New York City mayor has already begun,” Markowitz noted, looking out at an audience that included three fellow beeps and numerous other politicos.
“Don’t forget about yours truly,” he went on.
“I’m doing everything I need to win,” he added – at which point the cheesecake photo was projected for all to see.
“I have four years to get in shape,” Markowitz noted, after the guffaws died down.
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New Democratic club and its president making waves
Renee Collymore, president of the new Parliament Democratic Club, is thinking outside the box and garnering some political attention for it.
The Fort Greene native is recruiting top-notch professionals that has great potential to move the city.
Recently, her club teamed up with Gin Lee, a prominent architect to implement his solar power design called Renewable Energy Development, which would increase energy production, decrease energy consumption and potentially save the city millions of dollars.
Lee’s customer list for this top rated project include the Wyndham Hotel (NYC), Kaufman Hotel (NYC), Varick Hotel (NYC), Mercedes-Benz, Ferrara, Cipriani and more.
“I’m interested in lowering energy costs, not only for business owners, but for landlords and every property owner in the city. Saving money is extremely needed and cost effective solutions is the answer” say Collymore.
“I’m not here to be famous, but here, to be great. I want to change the world,” she added.
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Pol fears ‘nasty’ summer
If the state doesn’t come up with sufficient funding for a summer youth employment program, Brooklynites will pay the price, according to City Councilmember Lew Fidler.
“Governor [David] Paterson zeroed the amount of money for summer jobs,” Fidler told the Mill Basin Civic. “If we are going to have all those kids on the streets all summer long and the mayor is going to cut more cops, it’s going to be a long, hot, nasty summer.”
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Sampson honors Thelma Davis
State Senate Democratic Conference Chair John Sampson honored Thelma D. Davis with a lifetime achievement award for community service at the annual State Black and Latino Caucus in Albany last weekend.
Thelma Davis, mother of the late City Councilmember James E. Davis, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights era, assisted thousands of people as a registered nurse, and helped create the Love Yourself Stop the Violence movement.
Additionally, she is one of the first graduates from Medgar Evers College, is the vice president of the Albany Senior Citizens organization and the treasurer of the local AARP chapter. Davis also serves as the president of the James E, Davis Stop Violence organization.
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Color barrier boo boo
Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson’s people made a bit of a off-color boo boo last week when they called a party sponsored by the Brooklyn delegation “Brooklyn Night: An All White Affair.”
If that wasn’t bad enough, the “white” event — which required that guests wear all white, nothing else — took place during the state Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislator’s conference in Albany last weekend.
Insert your own joke here.
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