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SAL WHO? Runs Strong 3rd

By Homepage, New York Daily NewsNo Comments

Wednesday, September 10, 1997

by MICHAEL O. ALLEN and JERE HESTER, Daily News Staff Writers

Maverick City Councilman Sal Albanese surprised the experts again last night with a strong third-place finish in the Democratic mayoral primary.

The 47-year-old Brooklyn lawmaker had 21% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted — a good showing by a candidate who was met with responses of “Sal who?” when he announced his candidacy in March 1996.

“We came up short in . . . a tremendous battle for the soul of New York,” Albanese said in his concession speech at the New York Hilton last night, as his supporters chanted, “Sal! Sal! Sal!”

He said he hadn’t decided whom to support in the run-off. “I’m a Democrat, I’m a strong Democrat, but tonight I’m not going to make any decision,” said Albanese (pictured, with his daughter), who left the door open to a potential run as an independent candidate in November’s general election.

Albanese, who ran his grass-roots, citywide campaign on a shoestring budget of less than $900,000, blamed money woes for not being able to take out TV advertisements until the race’s final days.

“We ran hard and we ran against all the odds. But we never gave up,” said Albanese, who made labor and wage issues the centerpiece of his campaign.

“It’s clear that we began to connect with the voters,” he said. “We just could not reach enough people. We shook a lot of hands. But you have 8 million people in this city, you have 2 1/2 million registered voters. You have to get on the air.”

Still, for Albanese, the third-place showing marked a high point in his quirky political career.

It wasn’t the first time that the Italian immigrant and former public school teacher has surprised naysayers.

“Sal has always fooled the experts,” said his campaign manager, Don Crouch.

A graduate of John Jay High School in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn and York College in Queens, Albanese launched his political career in 1982 by ousting Brooklyn City Councilman Angelo Arculeo, a 29-year incumbent.

He quickly made his mark as a maverick who often defied Council Speaker Peter Vallone (D-Queens) and his conservative Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst constituents by backing liberal causes such as gay and abortion rights.

On the campaign trail, he hammered Mayor Giuliani for doling out tax breaks to big corporations that pay low wages to nonunion laborers.

His mayoral platform called for cutting taxes for small business. But he also pushed to raise income taxes for families earning more than $150,000 and for suburban residents who work in the city.

He wrote and worked with fellow council members long enough to pass a popular piece of legislation requiring city contractors to pay prevailing union wages.

Original Story Date: 091097

September 10, 1997
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Don’t Pass The Ammunition; Mayor holds off on new bullets

By Homepage, New York Daily NewsNo Comments

March 5, 1997

by BOB LIFF, MICHAEL O. ALLEN and JOHN MARZULLI, Daily News Staff Writers

Mayor Giuliani put the brakes on the police plan to arm cops with controversial hollow-point bullets yesterday — demanding to see studies on the expanding rounds before approving the change.

Giuliani summoned Police Commissioner Howard Safir and his top brass to City Hall to brief him on the switch, which would replace the full metal jacket police bullet with a round that expands on impact and is less likely to ricochet.

The mayor said he believes the bullets would be safer for cops and civilians, but insisted he needs more time to study the sensitive issue.

“I asked them to see all the studies so that I can review them personally,” he said after meeting with police brass. “They went over some of them with me. They are going to get me more because I want to look into this issue carefully.”

“It is not a done deal until I finally approve it,” Giuliani said as City Council members prepared to grill Safir on the switch to hollow-points at a previously scheduled public safety hearing today.

Civil rights advocates have long criticized the snub-nose bullets, which create gruesome wounds but are more likely to stop a suspect. Elected city officials said yesterday they also want to hear more about the changeover before throwing their support behind it.

“Right now we in the Council have more questions than answers,” said Speaker Peter Vallone, (D-Queens).

Councilman Enoch Williams (D-Brooklyn) called the hollow-points “a license to kill.”

“It means that if someone makes a mistake out there . . . a youngster 15, 16 years old that maybe does something the police officer doesn’t like . . . and he shoots, that kid is finished,” Williams said.

“It should be disturbing to all elected leaders and citizens that the NYPD could just introduce these bullets without any briefing or public hearing about the implications,” said Michael Meyers, executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition.

Police officials argue that hollow-points do not ricochet and rarely pass through walls or the body of an intended target — lessening the risk to bystanders from stray bullets.

New York is virtually alone among major police departments and law enforcement agencies in using full metal jacket bullets.

Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Lou Matarazzo applauded the change, saying the advantages of the hollow-points “outweigh the risks” to cops and civilians.

Giuliani said he understands the potential benefits for police. He said the decision on hollow-points was made by then-Commissioner William Bratton before he resigned in April. The mayor said he did not disagree “at the time” with Bratton’s decision.

But Bratton told the Daily News he “did not recall” signing off on the new bullets before he left, although he would have approved the hollow-points.

Bratton, who had a stormy relationship with Giuliani during his last months as commissioner, said he believes the mayor was angry that Safir made the announcement Monday.

“The mayor doesn’t like media surprises, so he’ll hold off on it for a while to reinforce that he doesn’t like being surprised,” Bratton said.

Critics of the bullets have also said they pose a danger to cops who accidentally shoot themselves or their partners.

Since 1981, 51 officers have been wounded by so-called friendly fire.

March 5, 1997
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Rudy Hedges Bets On Riverboat

By Homepage, New York Daily NewsNo Comments

February 9, 1997

by MICHAEL O. ALLEN, Daily News Staff Writer

Mayor Giuliani yesterday said he could support riverboat gambling under some conditions but would have to study its effect on neighborhoods near where the boats dock.

The mayor also said he would need to be assured the venture is free of organized crime — and that the city pockets a large share of the profits.

Giuliani, responding to an idea by City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, (D-Queens), said the city should work out “an acceptable fee” that would help it “at least make back the amount it is going to cost us in the burdens that it creates.”

But, Giuliani cautioned, the city has yet to hear public debate on the issue and how it would affect communities.

“The assumption is that you are going to make so many dollars back that it’s worth the inconvenience,” Giuliani said. “I believe that’s probably true but . . . we should spend more time looking at it.”

Vallone said the City Council, which studied the idea about a year ago, will move ahead with the plan.

“It is going on now,” Vallone said, pointing out that gambling boats sail from Sheepshead Bay and Manhattan’s West Side. . “Why would we not want to capitalize on it?”

The City Council is set to vote this week on a bill that would set up a commission to regulate Liberty I, which docks in Sheepshead Bay.

Giuliani said he favors gambling but fears the city might get into a situation like that of Atlantic City, which sees little in casino revenues while the State of New Jersey gets about $320 million annually from taxes on gambling.

The Council’s Finance and Economic Development committees will hold hearings on the issue within months.

Original Story Date: 020997

February 9, 1997
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City Shoppers Do the (Tax) Waive

By Homepage, New York Daily NewsNo Comments

January 19, 1997

by MICHAEL O. ALLEN and DEAN CHANG, Daily News Staff Writers

The Great Sales Tax Experiment began yesterday in a deep-freeze frenzy, as cost-conscious shoppers and media-conscious politicians flooded city stores to be among the first to cash in on the one-week tax waiver on clothing.

“That’s why we’re here,” said Darryl Grayson of Manhattan, his arms filled with dress shirts and ties at Macy’s at Herald Square.

“We wanted to try to beat the rush, so we got here when the store opened at 10 a.m., but I guess a lot of people had the same idea,” he said.

Under the moratorium, the 8.25% city and state sales tax is being waived on clothing purchases under $500. The waiver is expected to cost the state $20 million in lost tax revenue, but supporters, including Gov. Pataki and Mayor Giuliani, contend that the loss would be offset by employment and economy gains.

“If you drop this tax, you are going to bring more commercial activity to New York City,” said Giuliani.

But the new math seemed to puzzle some retailers and shoppers, unsure of what was taxable and what wasn’t.

“Everyone keeps asking, ‘Is this taxable? Is that taxable?’ so we’ve got to check the list,” said Karina Gonzalez, a Macy’s sales associate. “The minute we came in yesterday, they gave us the list.”

New Yorkers — always dubious of bargains that seem too good to be true — still had their complaints about the tax waiver. Some found fault with the weather, wondering why the state and city couldn’t spend their generosity in, say, April or May.

Others also found fault with the timing of the waiver.

Jacqueline Baird, a Daily News reader from Manhattan, said her credit cards were still overburdened with purchases she had made before Christmas.

Marilyn Dankins, 25, of Brooklyn, complained that the best of the winter clothes are long gone.

“They do this right after the holidays, when there’s no new clothing in the stores. They’re weeding out all the winter clothes, so all that’s left is leftovers.”

Still, she yielded to temptation and bought a pair of $40 gloves that were 50% off. Without the tax, she paid $19.99.

The tax waiver temporarily puts New York on an even footing with New Jersey and Connecticut, which imposes no tax on clothing. Dankins, like many shoppers yesterday, admitted traveling out of state just to get a better deal on clothes.

So throughout the city, clothing retailers tried to capitalize on the tax hiatus. Department stores put up tax-free signs throughout their buildings and in newspaper ads; smaller off-price stores made do with handmade signs.

“Everybody knows about it already,” said Susie Song, manager of Jumping Jumping Casuals and Sharon, two clothing stores on W. 34th St.

“On Friday, everyone was already asking me to not charge them sales tax. I told them I couldn’t, that they should take it up with the government.”

Yesterday, it wouldn’t have been very hard to find a member of the government.

In Astoria, Queens, City Council Speaker Peter Vallone shopped for a new tuxedo, shirts and ties on Steinway St.

In Manhattan Mall, Giuliani heralded the tax-free week by sounding a gong in the mall’s lower level, then headed to Modell’s, where he dropped $95.48 for Knicks home and away jerseys for his son, Yankees World Championship turtleneck for his daughter, a jogging bra for his wife and a pair of gloves and some socks for himself.

Giuliani then went to The Children’s Place, topping off his tax-free day with a purple shirt and multi-colored leggings for his daughter.

“It’s a Valentine’s Day gift,” said the mayor. “If you can keep it a secret.”

Total tax savings for the mayor: $9.36.

Gov. Pataki brought his wife, Libby, and his 12-year-old daughter, Emily, to Macy’s at Herald Square for some winter clothes.

In 20 minutes, the governor dropped $151.39 on a winter wardrobe — gloves, mittens, a scarf, three turtlenecks, a sweater and a light jacket. Total tax savings: $12.49.

“It’s a great way to shop,” said Pataki.

Better still, Pataki and Giuliani enjoyed more than a tax-free day; they also took advantage of something that mere mortal shoppers can only dream of — shopping without cash-register lines.

In both cases, stores magically opened up lines and registers for the governor and mayor of New York.

January 19, 1997
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Rudy: Shed Half Of Clothes Tax

By Homepage, New York Daily NewsNo Comments

January 12, 1997

by MIKE CLAFFEY and MICHAEL O. ALLEN, Daily News Staff Writers

Mayor Giuliani yesterday revived his call for 2-cent cut in the city sales tax on clothing buys — and vowed to press for approval even if the state doesn’t match the reduction.

In an election year bid aimed at city shoppers and stores, Giuliani said he will include plans to halve the city’s 4-cent share of the 8.25% levy in the State of the City address he will deliver on Tuesday.

The reduction, which requires state Legislature approval, would apply to all clothing purchases under $500.

Unlike last year, when the mayor scrapped a similar plan because Albany leaders balked at halving the state’s 4-cent share, Giuliani said he will seek state Legislature approval for a unilateral cut.

“The proposal we’re going to make to them is: I’m willing to cut the New York City sales tax in half, no matter what they do. I can’t see how they can deny us the opportunity to do that,” Giuliani said.

“I believe that there is a very good chance that we will, by Dec. 1, be able to cut our sales tax in half,” added Giuliani, who predicted the plan would stem the flow of shoppers to New Jersey and other localities with no or low sales tax on clothing.

Many shoppers and storeowners cheered Giuliani’s plan — even as it remained unclear whether the projected economic benefit would outweigh the loss of city sales tax income and expand city budget gaps.

“I absolutely think it would help,” said Nancy Ponce, manager of a Conway discount clothing store in Manhattan. “If you buy one item, it’s not really that much. But if you spend a lot of money, it adds up.”

Deborah Morton, a baker from Brooklyn, said “anything is better than nothing.”

The announcement was the latest in escalating calls for tax cuts as the city and state reap higher revenues generated by Wall Street’s bull market. City Council Speaker Peter Vallone (D-Queens) proposed cutting the sales tax on household goods like soap, toothpaste and diapers.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Pataki, who yesterday unveiled his own $3.4 billion proposal to cut property taxes and boost school aid, said the governor would would study Giuliani’s plan carefully. “The governor is always interested in reducing taxes,” said spokeswoman Eileen Long.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) issued similar signals of approval.

Giuliani estimated the plan would cost the city $70 million in lost sales tax revenue during the 1997-98 city fiscal year and $150 million the following year. Despite new projections of a $500 million surplus by July, the city still faces an estimated $2 billion deficit for next fiscal year.

But the mayor predicted the sales tax cut would more than pay for itself.

Original Story Date: 01/12/97

January 12, 1997
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