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Author Archives: Zac Townsend
Gay Marriage Good for the Budget
The Times’ Economix blog reported on an interesting study from The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. The study reports that legalizing gay Marriage in Rhode Island could bring the state an additional $1.2 million over a three year-period. That’s a pretty small sum, although they estimate that “Marriages of approximately 1,048 of Rhode Island’s same-sex couples would be recognized in the next three years.” We can only assume that there would be a much larger benefit to the New York Budget when Marriage Equality is Passed. A 2007 NYC Comptroller’s Report “Love Counts: The Economic Benefits of Marriage Equality for New York” estimates that legalizing gay marriage would: add $142 million, on a net basis, to New … More >>
Tagged budget, marriage equality
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Cuomo Begins Swinging Budget Axe
This past week, Governor Cuomo submitted his Executive Budget to the State Legislature, including the briefing book, five-year capital program and financing plan, five-year financial plan, economic and revenue outlook and all that actually appropriation bills. Although the budget may seem like an abstract thing, the budget is the place where most policy decisions are made and where policy objectives are implemented in concrete financial terms. So what’s next? The Division of the Budget has a handy little guide: The Legislature, primarily through its fiscal committees – Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means – analyzes the Governor’s spending proposals and revenue estimates, holds public hearings on major programs, and seeks further information from the Division of the Budget and … More >>
Tagged 2010 budget, education cuts, medicare cuts
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“Don’t Be a Jerk” Campaign On Bike Etiquette
One of the great accomplishments of the Bloomberg administration, in my mind, has been the creation of bike lanes all over the city. Some estimates claim that bike ridership has nearly doubled in the last five years. However, the roads are still confusing for bikers, drivers and pedestrians. I often bike around the City on weekends, and despite the relative calm compared to weekdays, I’ve seen everything that Borough President Stringer notes: “We’ve got seniors who think bike lanes are walkways. We’ve got police cars using bike lanes as a quick way around town. We’ve got taxi cabs pulling up so close to the bike lanes that a passenger gets out and actually doors a cyclist.” Or as Michael Green, … More >>
Inside Sarah Palin’s Inner Circle
Sarah Palin is clearly going to run for president: “I am,” Sarah Palin told me … when I asked her if she was already weighing a run for president. “I’m engaged in the internal deliberations candidly, and having that discussion with my family, because my family is the most important consideration here.” Palin went on to say that there weren’t meaningful differences in policy among the field of G.O.P. hopefuls “but that in fact there’s more to the presidency than that” and that her decision would involve evaluating whether she could bring unique qualities to the table. “Yes, the organization would have to change,” Palin said during an hourlong phone conversation. That obviously doesn’t come as much of a surprise, … More >>
Tagged 2012 election, Sarah Palin
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Political Cartoon: “Negotiation” by Clay Bennett
(Cartoon by Clay Bennett, as seen here.)
Tagged political cartoon
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Youth Vote Should Come With Power
Courtney Martin, a fellow NYC young progressive, wrote an article earlier this week on the youth vote in The American Prospect. In it she suggests that “Instead of drawing inspiration from political candidates, young people must be motivated by the promise of a country that reflects our deeply held values:” Chalk it up to my old age (I’m staring down 31 next month), but it seems to me that counting on candidates to provide incentives for voting is a little bit like paying a kid for earning good grades. It breeds reward seekers, not responsible citizens. Of course, having a leader who speaks directly to the issues we care most about — education, the economy, immigration — and can quote … More >>
Tagged youth vote
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