Union all the way for Democrats
The Building Services union plans to commit more than $250,000 to state Senate races this fall. In a change, all of the money will go to Democrats.
32BJ expects to have a big impact in the Queens race between Democratic Councilman Joseph Addabbo and state Sen. Serphin Maltese.
The union sent 75 workers to help Mr. Maltese in 2006, and he won by just 600 votes. This year, it will support Mr. Addabbo with mailings and 200 members working in the district.
Democrats in six other pivotal races statewide—including Queens Councilman James Gennaro, who is challenging state Sen. Frank Padavan—will also get assistance.
The speaker and term limits
The push to extend term limits is being powered not just by City Council members but also by Speaker Christine Quinn, some insiders say.
Ms. Quinn is thought to be worried about her prospects for defeating Rep. Anthony Weiner and City Comptroller William Thompson in the mayor's race next year.
An extension, now pending in the council, would delay the next competitive mayoral election to 2013.
The speaker's office says her position—essentially, that an extension would have to be initiated by the mayor—has not changed.
South Street impasse
The would-be developer of the South Street Seaport has made no progress with Councilman Alan Gerson, whose approval is key to the project.
General Growth hasn't reduced the height of its planned 495-foot tower—as Mr. Gerson wants—saying that the development is not viable without it.
Vice President Michael McNaughton says that he needs to improve his pitch to the councilman, not the plan itself.
Eyeing S.I. council seat
Should Staten Island Councilman Mike McMahon win his bid for Congress, the race to replace him would pit his chief of staff, Kenneth Mitchell, against Debi Rose, a community board member who came within 200 votes of Mr. McMahon in the 2001 Democratic primary.
Other possible hopefuls include Thomas Curitore, a former Transportation Department borough commissioner; Rev. Anthony Baker, pastor of St. Philip's Baptist Church; and Rajiv Gowda, a community board member and civil engineer.
