Andrew Kirtzman

How much credit does Michael Bloomberg deserve for the relative calm that’s followed the Sean Bell verdict? It’s a question that’s more than just academic, given the potential for racially fraught episodes just like this one to have a defining impact on a mayoral legacy – and on a mayor’s political fortunes moving forward.

According to veteran New York political reporter Andrew Kirtzman, who I emailed for his take on the question, Bloomberg has been more lucky than skillful in presiding over what has been, so far, a restrained fallout.

Here’s Kirtzman’s take, from early this weekend:  read more »

Hillary Clinton said that under her presidency, redeployed troops remaining in Iraq would not stop sectarian violence even if it turned into ethnic cleansing.

Hillary is looking for more support among black women.

Andrew Kirtzman takes a long look at Rudy Giuliani in the Washington Post.

Giuliani defended his law firm's connection to the oil company controlled by Hugo Chavez.

Barack Obama's roots in Hawaii are explored.

Obama and Al Sharpton chatted by phone and buried whatever hatchet might have existed.

Eliot Spitzer's argument against the hospital lobby could be a road map for his fight against the teachers union.

Several upstate county governments, which receive state aide, have hired Sheldon Silver's law firm.

The state has been tampering with the natural spring water in Saratoga Springs.

Rival studies give top honors to New York and London for financial competitiveness.

The Bloomberg administration is adjusting its strategy on homelessness.

Some legislative staffers in Albany are making six-figure salaries and have access to state-owned cars.

Union leaders in New Jersey say their contract negotiations are being undermined because the governor had a personal relationship with influential labor leader Carla Katz.

And New York's fanciest postal code is getting smaller.

-- Azi Paybarah

The first of three back-to-back-to-back debates with the four candidates in Brooklyn's 11th congressional district just wrapped up. It'll air on BCAT Friday night, but initial reports are still trickling in. (Hurry up with the spin!)

Tomorrow, the CBS duo of Andrew Kirtzman and Marcia Kramer tape their debate with the foursome. That'll air on Ch. 2 the Sunday before Election Day.

Thursday, the quartet heads to NY1 for a live debate.

-- Azi Paybarah

For those who haven't yet heard, CBS and the New York Times will co-sponsor a Dems' debate between the four mayoral candidates on Sunday, to air live on CBS 2 from 11 a.m. 'til noon. Andrew Kirtzman will moderate.

And, yes, Anthony will be coming back from the Catskills for it -- if a kidney stone couldn't stop him, neither shall all that late-night pizza.  read more »

In other news, Time Warner Channel 34 will be featuring the mayoral candidates in a series of four programs that start tonight at 7:30 p.m. (the others will air on 8/25, 8/26, and 9/9, also at 7:30 p.m.).

"For the first time you can see and hear Mike Bloomberg and Tom Ognibene respond to the same questions," Mr. Ognibene's press team writes.

The Politicker took some heat a couple of weeks ago for suggesting that Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum was ducking a televised debate moderated by WCBS's Andrew Kirtzman.

We were not, it turns out, wrong.

Now another station, WABC, has sent this email to the other candidates about its own debate, set to air August 21:

"The participants will be [Andrew] Rasiej, Norman Siegel and Jay Golub.... Betsy Gotbaum has declined our invitation and will only do the two required of her by the Campaign Finance Board."  read more »

Gotbaum consultant Hank Sheinkopf tells us only that she's complying with the law.

"Why would anybody want to be on a stage with Norman Siegel, whose whole style of campaigning is to scream and yell and be negative?" he asked.

The Mayoral Press Secretary's "Go Fuck Yourself" Just Part of His Considerable Charm "Give him a bre  read more »

Rudy!  read more »