Democratic congressional candidate Reshma Saujani was part of a Fox News panel this morning discussing, among other things, the Islamic center slated for near Ground Zero.

“Taxpayers” vs. “Taxpayer.”

Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY-9) explains his outburst after the 9/11 health bill was voted down.

Not attending Rangel’s birthday? Staten Island Rep. Mike McMahon, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Singer Aretha Franklin.

Bloomberg, passionate.

Bloomberg, stirring.

Weiner, silent.

Pareene: “ encourage Weiner's constituents to ask him for his thoughts” on the mosque.”   

Brodsky, personally opposed.

No vote on SUNY / CUNY tuition.

Paterson fumes.

Schneiderman’s book compares his proposals to his opponents.

Allegretti and Paladino.

And Savino, artfully in charge.

Embattled State Senator Espada said he will attend the session in Albany today, now that colleagues agreed to support two of his bills (one boosting rights for farm workers, the other about affordable housing).

But I haven’t seen or heard confirmation of his attendance.

The revenue bills still need to get passed, as does the bill allowing SUNY and CUNY to set their own tuition. They have another week before this four-month overdue state budget is the latest in New York history.

Gary Bernsten is a former CIA agent who worked extensively in Afghanistan, East Africa and was the Chief of Hazbollah Operations for the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center.

He’s also a GOP candidate running for US Senate against Democrat Chuck Schumer.

What does Bernsten think about building a cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero?

Bernsten opposes it. Strongly. He told me the place will attract radical Islamists who will use the place as a base from which to launch future attacks against.

Which lead me around the 6:30 mark to ask, “if a mosque is built there, do you think American lives would be in danger?”

Bernsten’s reply: “Eventually. Eventually.”

I’m told Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) will be out of state and not attending Rep. Charlie Rangel’s birthday event. She’ll be out of town for a personal family meeting, according to someone familiar with the plans.

GOP gubernatorial Carl Paladino ramps up his criticism of the Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero to include...NYC Mayor Bloomberg.

Paladino's statement goes after Bloomberg (who earlier said Paladino won't win this year's race), and doesn't mention the two other gubernatorial candidates he's trying to defeat, GOP opponent Rick Lazio and Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo.

Here's Paladino:

Today the nine Bloomberg stooges on the Landmarks panel did exactly
as they were told and cleared the way for 13-story insult to all
Americans at Ground Zero. It is especially astounding that Mayor
Bloomberg, who owes his rise to power to 9-11, is fast-tracking this
desecration of the district where thousands of Americans were
murdered.

Enough talk. New Yorkers want the entire district around the World
Trade Center declared a War Memorial. As governor, Carl Paladino will
do whatever it takes to stop the Ground Zero Mosque - including using
eminent domain."

I'm not sure of the wisdom of drawing Bloomberg, a popular and really rich mayor, into a fight during the gubernatorial campaign. What votes Paladino picks up statewide by making Bloomberg the enemy?

Bloomberg  had indicated earlier he'd stay neutral in the governor's race, but with Cuomo's commanding lead, and Paladino's increasing, um, outspokenness, some might fogive the mayor for putting his thumb on the scale in this race.

A member of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, Hope Cohen, raised a point during the commission's meeting last night that I hadn’t heard before on the issue of instant run-off voting, or, “top-two,” as it’s being called.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio hit his Democratic opponent Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday for not only supporting plans to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero, but also keeping quiet on the issue.

The latest person in calling for Rep. Charlie Rangel to step down is Reshma Saujani, the Democratic challenger to Rep. Carolyn Maloney.

And Saujani is roping Maloney into the story.

Saujani:

"Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney should immediately call for the resignation of Congressman Charles Rangel.

"There is a direct connection between New York's jobs crisis and our state's political crisis.  We cannot continue to look the other way as our elected officials continually lower the bar instead of raise it, create scandals instead of solutions, and hold New York back instead of move our city forward.  We cannot continue to tolerate ethical transgressions and economic stagnation in the name of political expediency and loyalty.

"There are reports that Congresswoman Maloney may be attending Congressman Rangel's birthday party next week. But these 13 charges against Congressman Rangel are serious allegations, not cause for a lavish birthday celebration -- and our elected officials should not be joining him.  

"It is time for New York to demand principled leadership and progress. Congressman Rangel has had a long and distinguished career. But that's no reason to excuse his conduct -- or the conduct of any number of entrenched politicians in this city. It is time for Congressman Rangel to step down, and end his career with dignity, as President Obama stated last week. We need to make way for a new generation of leaders committed to a political and economic renaissance in New York."

Manhattan Borough President (and 2013 contender) Scott Stringer cheers the unanimous vote by the NYC Landmarks Commission that paves the way for an Islamic cultural center and mosque to be built near Ground Zero.

And he takes a shot at critics of the plan:

"From the racist rants of a discredited Tea Party leader to the cynical posturing of a floundering gubernatorial candidate, this process has been manipulated by those looking to get headlines and score political points. We reject their divisive tactics."

The plans for 51Park have become a rallying point for cultural conservatives near and far, even drawing the attention of Sarah Palin. Locally, GOP gubernatorial candidates Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio have voiced their opposition to the plan, pressing Andrew Cuomo to explain in detail why he supports it.

So far, Cuomo hasn't responded.

UPDATE: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (another 2013 contender from the West Side of Manhattan), is less combative in her description of the plan’s opponents:

“The debate around this cultural center has been difficult and divisive. It has shown us that many of the wounds of 9/11 still exist. But the true way to honor the Americans who died fighting for our country’s founding principles is to respond to the proposal of this mosque and cultural center with support, with a deepened commitment to religious freedom, and with a deepened commitment to New York City being the freest, most tolerant, and most accepting place in the world.”

Influential Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) thinks Rangel can avoid a trial.

NYT: "Washington has suddenly become fixated on ethics issues."

No campaign ads from Goldman Sachs, after Public Advocate Bill de Blasio makes it an issue.

Michael Bloomberg bristled at a question about whether he recommended the City Charter Revision hire a city analyst who previously produced a report on the benefits of non-partisan elections.

“I just told you, I read about it in the papers,” Bloomberg says around the 8-minute mark. “How could I have recommended her if I didn’t even know about it?”

Bloomberg goes on to say that elections in the city right now “Is not democracy as the founding fathers envisioned it.”

Kornacki says even if he’s found guilty, Rangel won’t be removed from his seat. And he won’t lose a primary.

Rep. Velazquez lets Rangel twist; Rep. Towns is more supportive.

Burton says Obama is hands off Rangel.

Tapped doesn’t see racism behind the probes in Rangel and other CBC members.

Freedlander has more on Towns’ effort to get Powell off the ballot.

Paladino wants the governor disbarred, which is tough since the governor isn’t a lawyer.

Paterson was stopped and frisked three times.

Benjamin follows Cuomo’s dance with labor.

Giuliani says Muslims won’t be offended if a proposed mosque and cultural center is blocked from opening near Ground Zero.

McGeveran says the News beats the Post today because really, Martha Stewart on the wood?

Littlefield says Obama shouldn’t be blamed for the debt.

Buffalo Mayor Brown’s son was arrested.

Legislators crawl closer to the latest budget in state history.

Republicans lead the generic ballot.

Gatemouth finds news in a birthday announcement.

92Y events: Plouffe, Huffington, Stewart.

And fund-raising for Chelsea Clinton has already gone too far.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn't shying away from the fact that his newly hired, $175,000-a-year advisor to his appointees on the city pension boards may lead to conflicts with the city comptroller, whose job is to, basically, advise members of the pension boards.

Bloomberg told reporters today, “Why should we not have someone really professional, just because there may be disagreements? You really want somebody running your money that doesn’t know what the hell they’re doing? I don’t think so.”

Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney declined to accept an invitation from Baruch College to debate her Democratic opponent, Reshma Saujani.

After Saujani e-mailed to say that she accepted the college's invitation, I asked Maloney's campaign spokeswoman if the congresswoman would also.

Here's the response I got:

 Right now, Carolyn is fighting to get our economy back on track. Having secured billions of dollars for the 2nd  Avenue Subway and Eastside Access, creating jobs remains her top priority. As always, Carolyn is focused on talking  directly to voters about their concerns and ideas.

The debate about whether to debate usually favors the challenger, since it’s an easy way to look substantive, and good government groups often cringe at debate-avoidance. But Maloney has a lengthy and notable career in Congress, which she and her campaign are eager to discuss. Usually.

Brooklyn Rep. Ed Towns handily beat his Democratic challenger, Kevin Powell, in a colorful and contentious race two years ago.

This year, Towns is trying to keep Powell off the ballot.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino's new Web video features a cartoon guy screaming and running away from the word "tax." (A less-polarizing issue than Park51, the Islamic cultural center and mosque that's been occupying a lot of oxygen on the campaign trail.)

A bunch of elected officials are gathering outside Brooklyn Borough Hall on Monday at 1 p.m. to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Crown Heights riots, when racial tensions in the neighborhood boiled over into thee days of violence. The riots helped put an end to the David Dinkins mayoral term, and usher in the Giuliani era at City Hall (with a little help from a Cuomo in Albany).

Rep. Charles Rangel: "I've never gotten a fair shake."

Rep. Mike Arcuri is the first Democrat from NY to say Rangel should resign.

Paterson defends Rangel.

Reps. Rangel and Maxine Waters, of California, decisions to move forward with ethics trials, "puts the interests of these two veteran members of the Congressional Black Caucus at odds with those of their party leaders."