Of course, they have been utterly failing to oversee Public Authorities for decades. Indeed it is not even known for certain how many public authorities exist in NYS (at least 700). But that is another question.

2. Too bad you don't live in the 64th. But there are always other ways to help. Come down and volunteer. Or you can help here: http://www.newellnyc.org/donate.html

One of your stated positions is restoring home rule to New York City over rent regulation. Are you also looking to restore home rule to New York City over transportation and livable streets issues? For example, I understand that one reason congestion pricing needed to be voted on by the NYS legislature was that the plan involved enforcement cameras. Also, I've read on this blog that a full implementation of BRT may also depend on state legislative approval (once again because of camera enforcement).

I am convinced that we will not see more of the same when I am in office. Nothing wakes an incumbent politician more than the thought that they could lose their comfortable sinecure. When I beat Sheldon Silver downtown on a platform of ending the culture of failure in Albany, I promise you the caucus will elect a Speaker committed to real reform.

Let's say you're elected and the new Speaker is the same as Silver on Assembly rules and doesn't bring important matters to the floor for a vote, but rather just has a closed secret debate of just the majority party, similar to what happened to congestion pricing. Would you participate in the closed meeting?

I’ll check in through the day and try and answer any questions people have. Please feel free to contact me through our website, www.NewellNYC.org.

Spud – Lower Manhattanites are as receptive to a message of change as the rest of the state. Sheldon Silver’s failures have impacted us as much as anyone. Indeed, of 150 Assembly Districts in NY State, none is more directly impacted by traffic congestion than the 64th. I’ve knocked on thousands of doors downtown, and I can tell you that people are ready for change.

But yes, this is obviously a race with statewide impact – which is why we are getting so much support from throughout the state.

Larry – Thanks. I know you have also run for office in the past, as well as brining valuable common sense to a lot of policy debates. But I disagree that the corrupting influence of money can be discounted. Clean Money Clean Elections is the only sure route to a Clean Government.

And the required financial disclosure forms -- yours, not just the campaign's. It was due July 22 the year I ran, and the form can be found in "S 73-a. Financial disclosure." It mut be returned to the Director of the Legislative Ethics Committee -- certified so they can't say they didn't get it when they come to clap you in irons.

I certainly agree with that.

Just getting on the ballot and atrracting some attention and votes might be enough to put the fear of God (otherwise the only person other than the DA who can remove them from office) into them. I hope challengers can get on the ballot. It isn't easy.

And I hope Streetsblog will take the time to interview any challenger who does on its issues of concern, thereby breaking the media boycott of challengers by organizations who trumpt every $1 million pork grant described in a press release.

I continues to believe the media and the ballot scam are the two biggest obstables to competitive elections -- not money.