Christinequinn.com

Demonstrators protest Christine Quinn's Human Rights record (or lack of any discernable record) last week (June 25th). According to one source, Quinn or her staff called the police on the demonstrators and then scurried inside when her SUV rolled up.

Among her supporters were Howard Koeppel (Queens automotive dealer who let Giuliani crash in his home after Rudy publicly dissed his then wife Donna Hanover), Tim Gay (who supposedly went postal inside the Board of Elections office), Brad Hoylman, chief shill for NYC developers, and several other Quinn hacks and cronies.

The protest was called by the New York City Human Rights Initiative, but by the 25th, it attracted those fed up with Quinn for many additional reasons.

This from an email from the NYCHRI:

Over the past few years, Speaker Quinn has talked a lot about her commitment to promoting human rights and equality for all New Yorkers, but her record tells another story:

• She has used City Council to rubber-stamp Mayor Bloomberg's agenda, including pushing through the term limits extension against the will of the people of New York City

• She has refused to set a hearing date for Human Rights GOAL, a bill that would proactively combat discrimination against New York's most vulnerable communities - including the LGBTQ community she claims to represent.

• She has refused to use the power of her office to compel the Department of Education to fully implement the 2004 Dignity in All Schools Act and has failed to do anything effective or comprehensive to address the epidemic of bullying and bias-based harassment in public schools

• She has done nothing to strengthen the underfunded, understaffed and ineffective NYC Commission on Human Rights, which is ostensibly responsible for implementing & enforcing NYC human rights law.

Join NYCHRI in a rally to let her know that New Yorkers hold her accountable for her failure as Speaker to promote and protect our human rights!

photos: Donny Moss and Pauline Park

Remember last October, it was the same Frick and Frack claiming the world would end unless they were able to stand for re- election, that it was their competence that was necessary to protect the city in these tough times?

But in reality, it was their malfeasance and give-aways to developers and corporations that -- in large part -- led the city's finances to the ruin they are now in. So while Bloomberg is cutting every social service he can get his hands on, convincing the same union members who just lost their jobs that he's their savior, at the same time he and Quinn agreed to increase the budget for 13 of the city's 59 BIDs anywhere from 8-30%. According to Globe Street, the 34th Street Business Improvement District will get $9.3 million more. The Steinway Street BID (Queens) is getting a 30% increase.

Who pays for all this? Until a few hours ago, it seemed we all would in the form of a Sales Tax increase approved by Bloomberg and Quinn.

But the news today reveals that the sales tax, which must be approved in Albany, just went poof! With no end in site to the Albany mess, you can be certain that Bloomberg and Quinn will find some other worthy cause to eviscerate. They are already making the homeless pay shelter rent. Will Quinn next stick it to Widows and Orphans?

But the thought struck us that Quinn has all this real money in fake accounts waiting for her to give it away to political allies. Perhaps her Slush Fund could save some libraries or Fire Stations. Maybe all the real estate money she's been pocketing could go for something other than her campaign coffers? And perhaps the city could just stop massive give-aways to her friends: developers like Durst, Extell (Gary Barnett), David and Jed Walentas (Two-Trees), and Steinbrenner. See the Daily News story after the jump.

The following was posted on the Politicker

Gotbaum Says 40 Percent Budget Cut Is 'Payback' From Quinn for Term Limits

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said her office will be cut by 40 percent in the budget being passed by the City Council this afternoon because of her opposition to extending term limits, and called it “political payback from Speaker Quinn,” the Council speaker. (more from this and other articles after the jump)

See how openly gay City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has betrayed NYC voters, the gay community and the democratic process while masquerading as a reformer. See comments on the video at Youtube

and from the Village Voice...

Just mention the name Quinn and Bob gets a little excited.

Christine Quinn's home political club, the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, was sufficiently outraged at Quinn's decision to overturn term limits, that the following was posted on the club's Web site:
 
24 days and ticking since Christine Quinn addresses CRDC and the constituents in our district on her decision to overturn term limits by a vote through the City Counsel.

In the last newsletter I predicted that Speaker Quinn and our Mayor would plot to overthrow term limits before December. As I write this article only one month later, our elected officials have already thwarted the will of NYC voters by getting term limits extended through a vote in the city council.

NY1 cable news pundits Curtis Sliwa and Gerson Borrero blast Quinn for her role in selling out the public trust by undoing term limits. Defending Quinn, supposed reporter Dominic Carter asks why they are always on her back. He somehow believes she's fighting for the "voiceless in the city" (around 4:39). Carter also admits he's never seen an episode of the Simpsons (5:22), which perhaps explains why he's so enamored with Quinn.

Speaker Quinn tries to quell Council troops upset over Slushgate probe
by Adam Lisberg, Matthew Lysiak and Elizabeth Benjamin
New York Daily News

Monday, April 14th 2008, 4:00 AM -- City Council Speaker Christine Quinn burned up the phone lines over the weekend, trying to calm an uprising by rank-and-file Council members infuriated by the financial scandal on her watch. Her fellow lawmakers were caught by surprise when Quinn's secret slush fund was exposed, then were blindsided again Friday when she said she would reform the system by limiting their discretionary funds as well. That prompted a series of extraordinary meetings by delegations from Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, Council sources said.

At a weekend rally to oppose the pending rezoning of 125th Street, demonstrators broke into a chant of "Christine Quinn Must Go":

"Charles' Barron, a City Councilman from Brooklyn, took the podium and led a chant of 'Harlem is not for Sale.'

"Mr. Barron cited the political tumult in Zimbabwe, and then talked about the influence that local Councilwoman Inez Dickens could have on the City Council's final vote on the rezoning, which is expected this week.

Slush Probers Eye Fraud Rap for Quinn
By Brad Hamilton, Angela Montefinise and Melissa Klein
New York Post

April 13, 2008 -- Feds probing the City Council budget scandal are weighing wire- and mail-fraud charges against those who helped send millions into a secret slush fund, The Post has learned.

"If you pick up a phone and tell someone to do something illegal, that's wire fraud," said a law-enforcement source familiar with the probe. "If you send a check, that's mail fraud."

Sources said prosecutors are considering several targets, including council Speaker Christine Quinn, though it was unclear whether they had found any evidence against her.