Feld vs Gillibrand??

Just two weeks ago I blogged on a Westchester hyperlocal that Liz Feld was one of the winners coming out of the Rob Astorino defeat of Andy Spano in Westchester:

http://bit.ly/3kHyaJ

But I thought that Feld would run a rematch against 25 year incumbant Suzi Oppenheimer -- and in the absence of an Obama election coat-tail -- and the abhorence of the NYS Senate by most New Yorkers -- that Feld stood an excellent chance of taking down Oppenheimer in 2010. But with her statement that she's considering a run for the US Senate against Kirstin Gillibrand, Feld is clearly feeling her oats -- and perhaps believes that the Astorino win in Westchester can carry her to DC.

Although Gillibrand' spolll numbers are low, no one should ever count her out of anything -- she's smart, savvy and resilient. There's not a huge difference between Feld and Gillibrand ideologically -- and while Republicans are likely to make inroads in House and Senate races in 2010 -- Gillbrand will be tough to beat -- particularly when you paint whatever Republican runs in New York with the broad brush of the national GOP -- which is appaently being lead by wackos like Palin, Bachmann, Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/11/taking-on-gillibrand.html#ixzz0XufliORW

As for the rumor that former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford may mount a primary bid for Gillibrand's seat -- I find that absurd. Any primary opposition to Gillibrand will likely come from her left flank -- and Ford -- who just barely lost a US Senate race in Tennessee in 2006 -- is more in sync with her than not ideologically (right now Ford heads the centrist Democratic Leadership Council). Obama and Schumer will ensure that Ford doesn't make the run. But I think the speculation about it is not serious anyway.

Reports that Bill Thompson may consider a primary challenge to Gillibrand may actually have more legs -- and is a much more substantial threat to Gillibrand. Thompson came surprisingly close to defeating Mayor Bloomberg -- but that vote, frankly was less of a vote for Thompson than a vote against Bloomberg's abrogation of term limits. But if Thompson were to challenge Gillibrand in a primary -- he'd have strength where Gillibrand is weak -- especially in NYC. Yet Thompson may opt instead to primary Tom DiNapoli for State Comptroller - and Thompson would likely easily defeat DiNapoli, who was appointed to his job by the State Legislature and has a very weak political base.

The Demise of the Journal News

For months if not a year or two --I've been seeking an intelligent online source of news about government, politics and business in Westchester County. I've been bewildered at the lack of real, substantive news outlets in the 'burbs. The primary countywide news outlet -- is the Journal News run by Gannett. Over the past decade or more, the Journal News has paired down its news gathering and reporting capabilities and effort. And within the past two years, this decline has picked up speed. In the last local election cycle culminating with the local elections in November -- there was pathetically little coverage of local races. In my town, Harrison, the only source of information about the mayoral campaign came from campaign mailings. Nowhere did I find any kind of analysis or digging into issues, claims, charges, allegations, political posturings, etc... The best one could do was read between the lines. The apparently shocking result in the county executive upset of Rob Astorino over 3-term incumbant Andy Spano -- may or may not have been shocking if there was any kind of analysis or coverage of the race. Save commentary from a few like Phil Reisman -- no real issues were brought to bare on this race -- other than property taxes. As an aside, if Rob Astorino actually won the race because the electorate believed that he'd reduce property taxes markedly, then his victory was based on false pretenses. County Exec Elect Astorino will be able to wield a thimble on that score. The bulk of county government serves as a conduit for state and federally mandated programs. And, moreover, in most towns and communities in Westchester, the county portion of the property tax barely makes it to 20%.

I hope to help launch an effort to create, from the ground up, a real, vibrant, vital, news and analysis site for all that goes on here in Westchester: politics, government (including school district governance), culture and the arts (not interested in recipes and pilates...) business -- with more scope and depth than offered by the Westchester County Business Journal. I don't want this to be a vanity publication like the Martinelli papers used to be -- or like the Westchester Guardian is. I would also like to create linkages to hyperhyperlocals -- such as the terrific scarsdale hyperlocal, www.scarsdale10583.com. I'm aware of some other hyperlocals out there such as the Croton Blog, the Larchmont Gazzette, The Loop, All things Armonk, the Yonkers Tribune. And AOL is bringing it's franchise, the Patch, to a number of Westchester towns.

I want to see a venue for analysis and criticism of local media -- and it's existing scope of coverage.

But most of all -- I want to ultimate have this migrate to a real, up-and-running, full blown website -- ala the Huffington Post.

More coming.