Times Square Gossip

**** NEW YORK'S FAVORITE GOVERNOR Story By: James Edstrom **** Mario Cuomo Three-time governor of New York Mario Cuomo, died on Thursday at his home in New York City. He was 82 years old. His death came on the day his eldest son, Andrew Cuomo, delivered his inaugural addresses in Manhattan and Buffalo, New York, after being sworn in for his second term as governor. The governor's office said in a statement the elder Cuomo, who served as New York's 52nd chief executive from 1983 through 1994, had died of "natural causes due to heart failure at home with his loving family at his side." On a personal note, I have met Mario Cuomo many times. The last time I saw him was a few years ago at dinner at Tony Di Napoli's restaurant on 43rd street. Many celebrities were there, including Honeymooner Joyce Randolph, Angela Lansbury, Bruce Vilanch, Walter Cronkite, Joe Franklin, Hollywood legend Celeste Holm and many other politi...

Andrew Cuomo Gov. Andrew Cuomo has just done a huge dis-service to New Yorkers. I like the guy, I like his family, but am very disappointed. The state Senate passed a bill that would limit consumption to edibles, pills, and oils—prohibiting the smoking or sale of actual marijuana plants. Gov. The bill passed the Senate 49 to 10 after state leaders announced a legislative compromise. Everyone bowed down to the drug companies. Having had my own health issues a few years ago, I was prescribed Marinol Pills, which is Marijuana in pill form. They did nothing to help, and they cost over 2 thousand dollars for a month prescription. I am sure by now they are over 3 grand a month. What Gov. Cuomo has done by demanding this compromise, was continue to allow arrest of innocent people and allowed the black market to continue in the Marijuana trade. New York State would have collected billions, once the whole system was in place for a couple of years. New York State w...

Robert De Niro Arthur Sulzberger Jr. With Glenn Hoagland, Robert De Niro And Jane Rosenthal Joined by his business partner Jane Rosenthal, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., Mary Wittenberg (President of the NYRR) and 200+ others, the award-winning eco-conscious actor Robert De Niro celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Mohonk Preserve recently, New York State’s largest non-profit nature preserve. The crowd was in good humor – as was De Niro, who teased that he had two speeches saying, “I was going to mix them both, but I’m probably going to take the safe one because I want to get out of here without looking like an a-hole.’ He jokingly went on to thank “Maria” –though he was introduced by Noah Gottdiener (her husband), because “That’s what was written for (him)." De Niro went on to say that “Mohonk Preserve is a shining example of the good that came come from smart sensitive care of our natural resources. Not long ago, that seemed like a good choice, now it...

**** Governor Cuomo And Mayor De Blasio Announce Affordable Housing Protection For Low-Income New Yorkers Living With HIV/AIDS Story By: James Edstrom **** Governor Andrew M. Cuomo We applaud Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio's decision to help New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS. It will save money and will save lives. I remember a few years back I had a friend that lived in supportive housing where his rent was capped at 30 percent. He wanted to move on and won a lottery for a affordable housing apartment in Manhattan. The building was beautiful, affordable housing was mixed in with the rich apartment renters. The only problem was my friend had limited disability checks coming in every month, his rent went from around two hundred a month to about five hundred a month, leaving him with nothing to buy food with. He lasted only two months and finally he had to decide, pay the rent and don't eat or become homeless and have food. He chose being hom...

Ivory Seizure In New York City Legal ivory – ivory that predates the 1989 global ban on international ivory trade brought on by world-wide outrage over skyrocketing elephant poaching – is often indistinguishable from illegal ivory. Worse yet, obtaining documentation in New York to prove the "legality" of ivory just requires some simple paperwork. Make no mistake – having a legal market for old ivory provides a front for the laundering of new ivory from recently-killed elephants. One of the reasons New York State is a major destination for ivory is because of its lax laws. A 2008 survey found 11,300 ivory products for sale in Manhattan alone, making New York a top destination for ivory. Thankfully, state lawmakers are considering instituting an immediate moratorium on the sale of all ivory in New York. If it happens, the law will come not a moment too soon given Africa's massive recent increase in elephant poaching plaguing Africa's elep...

**** NEW YORK STATE NEWS **** Richard N. Gottfried Patients suffering from severe debilitating or life-threatening conditions could be treated with medical marijuana under medical supervision under a bill introduced by key legislators today. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have laws that allow medical use of marijuana. New York's bill A. 6357/ S. 4406, introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried and Senator Diane J. Savino, is co-sponsored by 68 other legislators. The bill passed the Assembly by a vote of 91-52 last year. "If the patient and physician agree that the patient's severe debilitating or life-threatening condition should be treated with medical marijuana, the government should not stand in the way," said Gottfried. "It is cruel to deny treatment to patients who are suffering or to turn them into criminals." "Thousands of New Yorkers have serious medical conditions...

**** THE LIZ KRUEGER NEWSLETTER **** Liz Krueger The following was sent to us from Senator Liz Krueger. We have always supported Liz over the years, she has done a great job for New Yorkers and she tells it like it is. Liz Krueger is a elected official who looks out for the people of New York, unlike the class of politicians being elected these days who only look out for themselves. A new legislative session starts this month. As many of you are no doubt aware, Senate Republicans (led by Senators Dean Skelos and Tom Libous) and the Independent Democratic Conference or “IDC” (Senators Klein, Smith, Savino, Valesky and Carlucci) have announced their agreement to form a “majority coalition” in the New York State Senate. And that’s all we have to go on. Skelos and Klein claim they’ll share power and take turns as president pro tempore, but no one knows how or even if this will work.  Klein and his group have highlighted the legislation they want from this “bi...

**** Medical Marijuana Plan Passes Assembly "It's Cruel to Deny Treatment to Patients Who are Suffering" Says Gottfried ****  Medical Marijuana The following e-mail was sent to us by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried. We applaud the work he does, not only on this issue, but so many other issues that make New York a better place. Patients suffering from serious debilitating or life-threatening conditions could be treated with medical marijuana under medical supervision under a bill overwhelmingly passed by the Assembly on Wednesday, June 13. The bill has substantial support among the medical community, patient groups, and religious organizations. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have laws that allow medical use of marijuana, with Connecticut being the most recent to sign it into law on June 1. "If the patient and physician agree that the patient's serious debilitating or life-threatening condi...