Politics on the Hudson

In a widely anticipated ruling today, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Washington, D.C. gun law, ruling that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting.

The 5-4 ruling w — the justices’ first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history — went further than even the Bush administration wanted, but probably leaves most firearms laws intact, according to an Associated Press account.

Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote the majority decision, said that an individual right to bear arms is supported by “the historical narrative” both before and after the Second Amendment was adopted.

The Westchester Board of Legisaltors’ Special Committee on Internal Controls and Procedures used much of their meeting today to take a closer look at the thousands of dollars in controversial purchases made by top aide Gary Kriss.

Committee members said it was premature to say whether Kriss used any of the books, software or electronics he purchased for governmental or personal use. But they also said its obvious that county purchasing and inventory procedures were not followed.

“What it seems like overall is that there is an impulsive nature to the purchases,” said Legislator Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, the committee chairman. “In other words – we need to have this item and we need to have this item quickly.’”

Jenkins said the controversy, which has resulted in a probe by the District Attorney’s Office, also points out the need for the Board of Legislators to have a full-time chief of staff to better keep track of the staff’s purchasing activities.

“There are inherent difficulties in managing a staff where the department head, the highest level person or the responsible person, is not a full time person,” Jenkins.

UPDATE – Legislator Jenkins called this morning to stress that the chief of staff position is needed to oversee the overall management of the board and its staff, not just the purchasing operations.

Westchester Board of Legislators Chairman Bill Ryan will likely be released from Westchester Medical Center sometime this weekend, board spokeswoman Betsy DeSoye said.

Ryan, a White Plains Democrat, underwent coronary bypass surgery on Monday. He has been hospitalized since late last week.

Westchester Board of Legislators Chairman Bill Ryan continues to recover at Westchester Medical Center following his coronary bypass surgery, board spokeswoman Betsy DeSoye said today.

DeSoye, in an e-mail, reported that Ryan is “is doing very well and making steady progress recovering from the surgery.” The surgery took place Monday.

The board has released only sparse information on Ryan’s medical condition since he was first hospitalized last week. There’s still no word on how long he will be in the hospital or how long he will be out of work.

Board Vice Chairman Michael Kaplowitz will chair board meetings until Ryan’s return.

Following the example set by his wife, former President Bill Clinton today offered his support for Barack Obama.

“President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States,” Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said in a statement.

However, Clinton, according to an Associated Press account, has not spoken with Obama since Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign for the presidency.

Westchester Board of Legislators spokeswoman Betsy DeSoye just issued the following statement concerning Chairman Bill Ryan, who underwent bypass surgery this morning.

“We’ve gotten word that Chairman Ryan’s surgery went well and that he is now beginning his recovery. No further details are available at this time.”

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky — a Greenburgh Democrat and chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions — sent a letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg accusing him of trying to sabotage the legislature’s efforts at public authorities reform.

Bloomberg, according to Brodsky, made a series of last minute demands late last week that threatened to scuttle talks between the Assembly, Senate, and Governor over an authority reform bill.

“This is nothing short of an attempt to hijack authority reform and turn it into the kind of imperial control of government agencies that hasn’t worked in Washington and won’t work here,” Brodsky said  in a press release. “The Mayor knew of this effort for years.  The impact of his last-minute intervention has already slowed progress, and may have the effect of killing the bill. I’ve asked him to reconsider his views immediately. We have worked too long and too hard to reform these Soviet-style bureaucracies to quit now.  We need the Governor’s leadership to resolve this problem today.”

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano’s controversial plan to purchase a vacant warehouse/office building in Greenburgh — a property owned by one of his frequent campaign contributors — and use it to store new voting machines cleared a huge hurdle today.

The proposal won approval from two key committees of the Board of Legislators, setting up a vote  before the full board early next month. In addition to new voting machines, which the county must sooon purchase under state and federal election reforms, the building will also house the administrative headquarters of the county’s Department of Public Safety.

“We’ve got a very good price here and we ought to jump at it,” said Legislator Judy Myers, a a Democrat from Mamaroneck.

Spano’s plan calls for the county to spend $13.6 million to purchase and renovate the building at 450 Saw Mill River Road, which is located just outside the village of Ardsley. The building is owned by Ardsley Partners III, whose principal, Jon Halpern, is a major Democratic donor and has hosted a fundraiser for Spano.

Administration officials have argued that the building represents the best-available deal for taxpayers and that Halpern’s contributions have played no role in the process.

After more than a year of debate, Spano’s arguments seem to be taking hold. Several legislators today expressed support for the proposal, describing it as a cost effective deal for taxpayers.

Legislator Thomas Abinanti, D-Greenbrugh, however, remained critical.

“In these economic times, we should not be buying a building,” Abinanti said. “We should be making do with what we have.”

During his press conference with Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano this afternoon, Nassau’s Tom Suozzi expressed optimism that tax reform legislation would get passed in Albany this year.

“I believe very strongly that by the end of this year we are going to get some serious legislation,” said Suozzi, who chaired the state’s Commission on Property Tax Relief. “We have a very unique set of circumstances here. Voter anger is as high as ever.”

Suozzi, the Nassau county executive, said he would have preferred that the legislature acted before the end of its scheduled session, but he also noted that Gov. David Paterson has left open the possibility of calling lawmakers back into session later this year.

“For the first time ever, we’ve got the governor taking a leadership role saying this is a statewide, systemic problem,” Suozzi said.

As for their day-long meeting at the county’s Lasdon Park, Spano and Suozzi both described it as an opportunity for the two suburban leaders to share ideas on such topics as child care, tourism and information technology.

“It’s the beginning of a dialogue that will go back and forth now so we can exchange ideas,” Spano said.

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi are holding a joint press conference in Somers this afternoon.

According to an advisory from Spano’s office, the two executives “along with senior staff from each county, have been discussing common concerns and exchanging ideas on various regional issues. ”

It’s a safe bet, though, that the tax cap will be discussed.