wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

I just listened to the podcast. I am not in Sheldon Silver's district, but by the end of the recording I was so angry just thinking about how much of NYC life is run through Albany. That is why Albany is such a zoo, and it makes no sense.

I have lived in NYC for at least 20 years, but it was only within the past year that I truly understood why Albany has such a say over the city schools budget and why the MTA gets to be in charge of our public transportation and fixing the fdr drive. I'll bet if you took to the streets, most NYC residents wouldn't be aware of Albany's tremendous ability to influence our daily life.

I would love to hear a show on why there haven't been any recent efforts to regain control over our own finances. My money would have been on Mayor Bloomberg to spearhead this effort, and I would enthusiastically support him for a third term if he would do so.

@ Jonathan Rosen--so why didn't Mr. Silver answer Brian's questions? Why did he squash the democratic process by not allowing a vote on congestion pricing?

To those asking how Newell makes a living, his website says that he has worked at an AIDS education non-profit and has done non-profit consulting, of late.

There is also a story in there (quoting the Downtown Express) about Silver being the only one of the three candidates who refuses to release his tax returns. Henry and Newell both have.

@31. If there's something "sketch" about where money is coming from, Silver's the only one who fits that description.

To Lance from Manhattan re: Silver's LGBT record I encourage you to read the endorsement of the Gay City News:

http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20106051&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=569328&rfi=6

To Jean from Queens - Silver does in fact have a website that is very informative - www.shellysilver.org. Not sure why the Brian Lehrer show didn't post it.

-Jonathan Rosen, Shelly Silver for Assembly

Sheldon Silver sounded just like my landlord! Uhhh! I'd vote him out too if I could!!

now i know who i want to vote for in terms of these three- but will there be other candidates on the ballet? how do i find-out who they are so i can research them?

how does a community organizer get a pay check from it? i was wondering the same thing when i read barack's book the audacity of hope

Liz from westchester, i feel your pain. i've been upset about the lack of good information about elections/candidates/platforms etc... in the past.

Lately, I've been in the habit of going to the candidate's websites and simply reading about their platform in order to make my decisions. And I'm pretty pleased with this tactic for this particular election. It seems pretty obvious to me who to vote for in this election (silver doesn't even have a website- no accountability to the people- no promises to uphold)and the websites of the other 2 candidates are quite detailed in terms of platform and they give you a sense of their legislative style- one as an activist the other as a lawyer. This method wasn't so good for me when i was deciding who to vote for in the national primary. Barack and Hillary's websites were virtually the same in terms of agenda/platform- they had a slightly different feel- barack's was cleaner (no corporate sponsors) and he seemed more accessible- but i didn't think i could make a decision based on feel (design). I had to read their books in order to make my decision. I read the audacity of hope and living history. I think its important to make sure to read something they themselves write rather than commentary in order to hear their personal voices. Even though politicians can be very good actors- i think their personal voices do come through in writing. i didn't have a doubt in my mind after i read their books who to votes for.

jean

I think Mr. Newell's response re endorsements of Silver by organizations such as Empire State Pride Agenda was accurate. Sometimes these organizations make tactical choices to support a powerful incumbent, even if s/he isn't the best candidate.

Mr. Silver has not been a leader on lesbian & gay rights issues. He had to be dragged kicking & screaming to bring a marriage non-discrimination bill to vote. And has he EVER marched in the NYC Pride Parade (virtually all the other major NY Democratic, and even some Republican, leaders have)?

How did/does Newell make a living? Something sketch there.

a community organizer? I guess he's not waiting for Palin's endorsement1 :-)

Downtown Express and The Villager (as well as Gay City News and a couple of others) are all from the same publisher. It's a little disingenous to pretend they're separate multiple endorsements.

After listening to Sheldon Silver's non-responsive answers to legitimate questions from Brian, and especially after hearing the disdain in Silver's voice (how dare anybody question him), I won't be voting for him.

(And I'd never have gotten that kind of impression from just reading an interview transcript.)

What did this guy ever do to you Brian? If you were that dismissive and condescending with Silver he would have had a stroke.

With the state facing massive deficits for the foreseeable future, why no discussion of their plans for the state budget??

Great. Now that it's election time, he surfaces and deigns to grant an interview. He's stonewalling even now. So after all this time, hding himself from his constituents and rarely surfacing, he grants a five minute interview?? Nice strategy -- you can't talk to him about his leadership role because he's running for reelection to the Assembly. It's definitely time for him to go. How many times has Silver appeared on the BL Show -- excluding when he's running for reelection?

He's certainly got the most unpleasant personality of any politician I've ever heard.

Pam,

How do they want to reform torts? I remember reading something several months ago about Bloomberg making tort reform to reduce the jury verdict amounts.

Personal injury is a touchy area in law with lawyers and paralegals and there are many different opinions, some negative and some positive.

@20--Pam, I honestly don't know, but his action in the congestion pricing plan show that he's willing to squelch. I wouldn't be surprised if he has kept out tort reform.

Sheldon Silver sounds like a republican strategist who went to a good college. He dodges legitimate questions and follows up very well in a way that's convenient for him.

He's not honestly engaged with us (the People).

All right. Since Brian hasn't asked Silver, does anybody know the answer to this?

"Brian--Please ask Mr. Siver: I have been getting emails that say that Silver is a personal injury lawyer who has been responsible, almost single-handedly, for the absence of tort reform in NYS. Is he?"

c ya

it was fun while it lasted...

How do you respond, Silver, to those people's needs that endorse you?

Give examples!

I wonder if he's been endorsed? I don't live in NY, but I don't know how anyone could vote for him after how evasive he just was...

Was Mr. Silver supported by Boss Tweed?

Brian, the issue so many of us had with congestion pricing wasn't whether it was a good idea. I think most agree that the MTA is laughable. The issue was that Silver and only Silver didn't even let the plan come up for a vote in the Assembly!

I thought this wasn't about him being speaker? Now he brings up what he will do if he's speaker?

Well, he can't take criticism well! LOL We got rid of Bruno now let's get rid of this parasite!

Sheldon Silver, I'm willing to vote for you, but please respect me the voter and listener and Brian Lehrer. Has the system amassed too much power in you or any speaker?

silver is old politics.

silver thinks he's above the people.

shame on him
he'll win but ny state democracy will pay the price.

Thankfully Bruno is gone. Hopefully Silver is next to go. The old machine has been holding back NY State for too long!

Boy, Sheldon, to dodge the 3-men is a room issue is really circular, really unacceptable.

This Silver man is not impressing me. Come on Debate, if you want to be speaker of the majority, speak!!!

Don't dance around the issues, get to the point!

Why is Silver not answering the question???

Please, voters in lower Manhattan, let this guide you!

Shame on you, Brian and your guests!

I am 30 and still listen to Heart. We remember them and they had many awesome hits, Barracuda, Alone, These Dreams.

Thank you very much not to insult the music tastes of your listeners!!

Brian--Please ask Mr. Siver: I have been getting emails that say that Silver is a personal injury lawyer who has been responsible, almost single-handedly, for the absence of tort reform in NYS. Is he?

Brian,
New York Magazine's recent article on Silver portrayed him as an "all-that-matters-to-me-is-what-helps-my-people" type of politician. Please ask him how accurate this portrayal is.

We can thank speaker Silver for every progressive thing left in New York City, such as rent regulation. His efforts in opposition to Pataki and Bruno for the average New Yorker, was heroic.

Thanks Speaker Silver!

Is anybody reading the new Bob Woodward book?

Fortunately for Mr. Silver, I don't live in lower Manhattan, for if I did, I would vote for one of his opponents. Why? One simple reason: he didn't even allow the Congestion Pricing Plan to come up for a vote. That sort of democracy-stifling shenanigan is a prime example of why the populace becomes so disenchanted with government and politics. Shame, Mr. Silver, shame.

Liz, did you try the NY State Board of Elections?
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/

(NYC residents can alternatively go to NYC Board of Elections)
http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/candidateslist.html

I agree that there's not been much in the way of discussion of candidates or issues for the primary among the general newsmedia.

Perhaps someone can comment on the lack of information to voters on who/what we are voting for in the primary tomorrow. I looked all over the internet last night (nyc.gov, nydems, cfb) and could not find an easy access list of who we are voting for and what their qualifications are. I live in Manhattanville and I would like to know why this information is so hard to find.