Kevin Parker, the state senator from Brooklyn facing two well-established primary challengers, just got the endorsement of the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1500.

According to a statement from campaign spokesperson Ronnie Sykes, the union's decision wasn't a close one: “The union endorsed Senator Parker without conducting an interview. The decision was made based on the Senator’s strong history of support for working families.”

Running against Parker are term-limited City Council members Kendall Stewart and Simcha Felder, who has been on the wrong end of a preemptively exclusive screening process before.

Michael Bloomberg defended Barack Obama in a speech to Jewish voters in Florida this morning.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Bloomberg told an audience at an event organized by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County not to believe the "online whisper campaign" against Obama.

Bloomberg's day in Florida -- he will be making three separate appearances -- has all the markings of a Kevin Sheekey project.

It's two days after a poll indicated Barack Obama is doing better than expected in that all-important battleground state, and, not insignificantly, as Bloomberg has been mentioned (for what that's worth) as a long-shot potential running mate for both major-party nominees.  read more »

Here’s someone from the Simcha Felder campaign at Bedford and Nostrand, collecting signatures to put him on the ballot in the 21st State Senate district.

The State Senate contest that Simcha Felder just decided to jump into bears some resemblance, at least on the surface, to the 2006 primary in Brooklyn's 11th congressional district in which Councilman David Yassky, who is Jewish, jumped into a field that included multiple black candidates.  read more »

Councilman Simcha Felder is not getting into the city comptroller race, but he will run for the Brooklyn State Senate seat currently held by fellow Democrat Kevin Parker, according to a source.  read more »

Simcha Felder, one of Michael Bloomberg’s closest allies in the City Council and a supporter of congestion pricing, said yesterday, "I clearly think I made a mistake on that vote." Felder made the remark during an interview on The Perez Notes, an online radio show based out of La Guardia Community College.

Here's my partial transcription:

SIMCHA FELDER: Let me just say, the plan that I was in favor of would not have charged people who got on the F.D.R. and did not get off on the zones. Which meant it would have discouraged people from coming into the zone when it was busy. At the end of the day the plan that we voted on was actually going to tax people whether they got off or on, no matter what, which think was a mistake on my part. So, if, Roberto, you’re asking me to tell your listeners what did they lose, I would say that my vote initially had good intentions but at the end of the day I think I made a mistake. I clearly think I made a mistake on that vote.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/simcha-felder-regrets-his-congestion-pricing-vote-wants-eliminate-public-advocates-office#comments Politics Betsy Gotbaum Roberto Perez Simcha Felder Fri, 23 May 2008 10:13:00 -0400 Azi Paybarah 69602 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/bloombergs-cuts-reaction

Technically, Michael Bloomberg’s $59.1 billion budget increases spending -- albeit by one tenth of one percent -- but the loudest critcism it's facing so far is from officials and interest groups that want him to spend more.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/bloombergs-cuts-reaction#comments Politics Bill Thompson Christine Quinn David Weprin Lew Fidler Michael Bloomberg Simcha Felder Thu, 01 May 2008 17:55:11 -0400 Azi Paybarah 68654 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/assemblymans-alternative-congestion-pricing-plan Assemblyman Jim Brennan of Brooklyn, who is also running for city comptroller, introduced his own congestion pricing bill today. A spokesman, when asked, did not say whether he will support the plan as it is currently presented to lawmakers.

Brennan's new bill would ensure the program comes up for renewal in three years, and wouldn't allow the state to issue bonds against the program's future earning. Critics say allowing the bonds means the current congestion pricing plan wouldn't be temporary enough because it would last for the life of the bonds.
 read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/assemblymans-alternative-congestion-pricing-plan#comments Green Adolfo Carrion David Weprin David Yassky James Brennan John Liu Melinda Katz Simcha Felder Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:02:50 -0400 Azi Paybarah 67318 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/katz-vs-yassky-congestion-pricing Last night two city comptroller candidates -- Melinda Katz and David Weprin -- voted against congestion pricing, while three of their likely opponents in the race -- David Yassky, Simcha Felder and John Liu -- voted for it.
 read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/katz-vs-yassky-congestion-pricing#comments Green David Weprin David Yassky John Liu Melinda Katz Simcha Felder Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:23:51 -0400 Azi Paybarah 67183 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/crowded-breakfast-west-side

Here’s a shot from the breakfast hosted Sunday morning by the Council of Orthodox Jewish Organizations on the West Side, which, as Grace Rauh noted, attracted nearly every 2009 candidate for citywide office.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/crowded-breakfast-west-side#comments Politics Adolfo Carrion Anthony Weiner Bill Thompson Christine Quinn David Yassky Eric G Gale Brewer Inez Dickens Jerry Nadler John Catsimatidis John Liu Linda Rosenthal Melinda Katz Melissa Mark-Viverito Scoptt Stringer Simcha Felder Tom DiNapoli Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:04:27 -0400 Azi Paybarah 67129 at http://www.observer.com