Bochinche & Buzz: Albanese complaining to Stringer about BDB
Bill de Blasio and his associates have dodged the prosecutorial bullet, but Sal Albanese is on to the mayor. We hear that the former city councilman and declared Democratic primary challenger to de Blasio wants to know why neoyorquinos have to pick up the legal tab for these investigated "public servants." As B&B went to press, a bochinchero informed us of a missive that has been sent or will be going out soon to Scott Stringer. Albanese, an attorney, is requesting that the comptroller "release all relevant information regarding the total sums paid or to be paid to said outside counsel, including but not limited to copies of all law firm legal invoices for work performed to date in conjunction with the representation of Emma Wolfe, Ross Offinger, Josh Gold and others." What will Scotty do?
RELATED: How an attorney's advice helped clear de Blasio.
No alcalde for Garodnick
He's not running. Not that they were biting their nails at City Hall waiting to see if New York City Councilman Dan Garodnick would challenge Mayor Bill de Blasio or not. "He was playing off the buzz he was getting about running," is what an East Side bochinchero told B&B recently. That may be true. Garodnick recently met with a close group of amigos whose opinions he values and the consensus is that he shouldn’t run the uphill battle against de Blasio. "He's not going away. He will seek another office," said a loyal bochinchero. OK, if you say so.
Blake eyeing Serrano seat in 2018?
The buzz is that Assemblyman Michael Blake's next political goal is to challenge U.S. Rep. José E. Serrano. Sin lugar a duda, this would be an interesting race since Blake, 35, is super ambitious and wouldn't give a hoot about Serrano's seniority. The 73-year-old Serrano has been an elected official for the past 42 años, from serving in the state
Assembly starting in 1975, and the U.S. House of Representatives since 1990.
There's been bochinche for years about the timing of Serrano's retirement – most recently as it pertains to his health. On Dec. 5, we wrote about the possibility of New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres running. "Serrano called the kid and scared the crap out of him," said one bochinchero, who's not a fan of Serrano and was encouraging the up-and-coming Torres. Blake, who was recently elected as a vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, would be respectful of Serrano, but wouldn't shake in his boots. This would put the Bronx Democratic Party in the unenviable position of having to decide between two not-so-popular hombres in their ranks. Hey Michael, get ready for that call from Joe.
No public debates …
At least two of the wannabes who've already declared they're running to be the next speaker of the New York City Council don't want to have public debates for the position. "It's an internal election and we saw the circus it turned into in 2013," opined a perceived “leading” bochinchero candidate. That sentiment was shared by the other bochinchero. Neither one will go on the record, but both are hoping that the other candidates agree.