Our Mike Bocamazo reports: Gov. Andrew Cuomo today said that the Thruway Authority needs to take further steps to try to reduce the cost – and size of proposed toll hikes – for the planned replacement to the Tappan Zee bridge, which is estimated to cost as much as $5.2 billion. The preliminary schedule 
In the wake of a controversial congressional election, Manhattan State Sen. Adriano Espaillat said at a New York Council hearing yesterday that the city needed a “major overhaul of the Board of Elections” and the ending of “the participation of the political bosses, the hand-picking of the board”. Currently, board commissioners and staff are chosen 
From today’s City & State Heard Around Town: * In a fundraising pitch sent out this week, millionaire Democrat Bill Samuels appealed to potential donors for Brooklyn district leader Lincoln Restler‘s campaign by stating that Brooklyn Democratic Leader Vito Lopez had “gerrymandered Lincoln’s apartment out of his own district.” In fact, the truth is a 
From City & State’s Heard Around Town: Earlier this week, the operator of an East Village record store told the New York Post – whose owner, Rupert Murdoch, has drawn attention for criticizing the legislation on Twitter – that pending paid sick leave legislation, which the New York City Council may or may not vote 
2013 Mayoral Race Malcolm Smith will discuss a possible run with the five NYC GOP chairs. Will Christine Quinn eventually back paid sick leave? Staten Island Michael Grimm failed to properly disclose a trip to Cyprus. Queens The Senate Democrats hit Eric Ulrich for missing a minimum wage vote. Ulrich was also knocked again for 
Carl Kruger was hearing rumors around his neighborhood. Confidants told the Brooklyn State Senator that federal agents had approached them and asked questions about Kruger. Private questions. It unnerved him. Kruger needed an attorney. He called Benjamin Brafman. “He came to see me, said that he had learned there were people being interviewed, and he 
2013 Mayoral Race Paid sick leave advocates plan to use member of Christine Quinn’s LGBT base to pressure her on the issue. The issue shows how much power is wielded by Quinn. Meet the campaign finance loophole that developers love. Brooklyn Craig Eaton is at odds with David Storobin over Storobin’s signature-gathering efforts. Queens Dan 
A source passed along an advance copy of a radio interview set to air tonight, in which Comptroller John Liu says he hopes the federal investigation into his fundraising will be finished before the 2013 mayoral race kicks into gear. “I’m hoping by the beginning of the year [in 2013], which will still be clear 
After helping knock Pedro Espada out of the Senate in 2010, lefty millionaire Bill Samuels is getting involved this year in a Brooklyn district leader race. Samuels, who is declining to use his reform-minded group the New Roosevelt Initiative to back any Senate candidates in 2012, writes in a fundraising pitch to potential donors that 
After Nan Hayworth’s campaign spokesman resigned in June, Democrats are looking to make an issue of a new top Hayworth aide. The Republican congresswoman’s former top adviser, Jay Townsend, resigned after he wrote a Facebook wall post saying, “Let’s hurl some acid at those female democratic Senators who won’t abide the mandates they want to 
