Assembly

How long will Heastie last?

Two days ago, the New York Daily News reported that Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie was unhappy that Governor Andrew Cuomo is planning on pursuing ethics reform this legislative session. Today, the New York Post is reporting Heastie’s ties to convicted mobsters.

County Executive

Will Kearns primary Poloncarz for County Executive?

For months there has been considerable speculation — perhaps even expectation — that Assemblyman Michael Kearns is preparing to primary incumbent Democratic County Executive Mark Poloncarz for County Executive in the coming election cycle. The historically fractious local party organization

Assembly

Michael Kearns could be next Assembly Speaker

In the face of Sheldon Silver’s arrest on public corruption charges, the Albany establishment — long entrenched in the culture of corruption that Silver typified — has been shaken to its core. As we speak there are rumblings in Albany that South

City

Who will be Buffalo’s next Mayor?

As Deputy Mayor Steve Casey prepares to leave City Hall, political observers expect Mayor Byron Brown to forgo a fourth run for the office. It has been long rumored that Brown will pursue a lucrative position in the private sector.

NY Senate

Kennedy vs. Grant: the battle inside the Democratic Party

It’s an interestingly diverse district, drawn after the 2010/11 redistricting process in which the Eastside of Buffalo, South Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Lackawanna, and parts of the Westside were bound together in the  63rd State Senate district.  That year, in the neighboring