There are several politics-related stories worth highlighting in the new issue of Crain’s New York Business:
We look at state business leaders’ concerns over last week’s local elections results, which may hand control of the state Senate back to the Democrats.
“I didn’t know whether to chuckle or cry,” said Michael Durant, New York state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. “Unfortunately, it appears in some races that are essential to the Senate that economic development and jobs were not the central theme.”
On election night, we sat down with Congressman Bob Turner, R-Queens/Brooklyn, who was quite upset to learn during the interview that Barack Obama had been re-elected. Mr. Turner also described his and his wife’s harrowing experience during Sandy as their Breezy Point home burned to the ground.
“We evacuated and went toward my daughter’s house. Water was up to our shoulders, flames overhead, sparks, embers. Acrid smoke. The water was ferocious, and it was fairly straining. The decks and other debris had collected, so you had to negotiate your way through that. It took about a half-hour to get through, and it was only about 500 yards.”
Following the MTA’s widely praised response to Sandy, its chairman Joseph Lhota has been getting some buzz about a potential 2013 mayoral run. Crain’s columnist Greg David games out his potential candidacy.
Mr. Lhota’s path for a mayoral candidacy begins and ends with Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He’s the governor’s man now. If Mr. Cuomo cares about the competence of the next mayor and if he’d like a devoted ally at City Hall, Mr. Lhota fits the bill. The governor’s support for an independent candidacy would be very powerful.
Finally, we look at the most thankless CEO gig in New York: Kevin Burke’s job running Con Ed.
“I wish we could get everyone’s power back,” said Mr. Burke with a sigh, in what must be a familiar refrain for the man with arguably the most challenging job in the city these days. “We’re doing everything we can.”
