This could be another tough day for Christine Quinn.

She's going to meet with the 47 other members of the Democratic conference in the City Council today at 4 p.m., which will be the first time she speaks officially with many of her colleagues about the accounting-practices scandal that she’s now spent the good part of two weeks trying to quell.  read more »

Congestion pricing just passed the City Council Committee on State and Federal Legislation, 6-4. Members who voted in favor included Maria Baez, Melissa Viverito, Larry Seabrook, Joel Rivera, Mike McMahon and Hiram Monserrate. Those opposed included Lew Fidler, Joe Addabbo and Erik Dilan.

It goes to the full council tonight.

On March 8, The New York Times published a survey of where some of the City Council's 51 members stood on congestion pricing. At the time, 20 were against, 12 were for, and 19 were either undecided or did not respond to the survey.  read more »

It's barely 2008 and likely Bronx Borough President candidate and City Councilman Joel Rivera has already spent $144,852 of the $201,996 he raised.

According to the city Campaign Finance Board's rules, Rivera has exceeded his out-year spending limit for a borough president candidate, which is $129,000. Any money spent beyond that limit will be counted towards the $1,386,000 spending limit for the 2009 primary.

More after the jump.   read more »

A Democratic source called last night with a few names being circulated by the Queens organization to be Hillary Clinton delegates.

This group is from the 7th congressional district, which covers parts of Queens and the Bronx, and it includes: Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, City Councilman Joel Rivera, his sister, Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, East Elmhurst district leader Vita Brome and City Councilman Hiram Monserrate.

The inclusion of Monserrate is noteworthy for several reasons. These are petitions the Queens County Democratic Organization are circulating with approval from the Clinton campaign, and Monserrate has traditionally run outside (read: against) the local establishment.

But despite the fact that he attended a Barack Obama fund-raiser, and that he previously told the Daily News that Clinton’s Iraq vote was troubling, he appears to be resisting the urge to go against his party colleagues by actually endorsing Obama.

Anyone have any other names? Or any other observations about this bunch?

Citizens Union has posted online its study on how City Council members spend taxpayer dollars to raise their profiles.

I’m not sure what benefit top spenders like Michael Nelson and Helen Sears got for their expenditures, but others at the top of the list are widely known to be eyeing races for other offices: Domenic Recchia is running for congress. James Gennaro is likely taking a shot at state Senator Frank Padavan’s seat. Joel Rivera may run for Bronx Borough President, and James Oddo may run for Borough President on Staten Island.]]> http://www.observer.com/2007/city-council-advertising#comments Politics Domenic Recchia Helen Sears James Gennaro James Oddo Joel Rivera Michael Nelson Mon, 15 Oct 2007 09:14:57 -0400 Azi Paybarah 58833 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2007/angel-returns-rivera

There are some changes happenings in Christine Quinn’s press office.

Angel Audiffred, who handled Hispanic media and the Health Committee for Quinn, went back to his old boss, City Councilman Joel Rivera, as director of communications. Rivera is majority leader in the City Council, chairman of the Health Committee, and is eyeing a race for Bronx Borough President.

“We want him back,” said Rivera adviser Mike Nieves, “And he’s going to play a big role in not only ‘09, but we’re going to crank up the councilman’s views on health and he’ll play a big role on that.”

Nieves went on to say, “Don’t believe the rumors. Nobody canned him. He worked for us before but we wanted him to get more press experience, so we sent him over there.”

The departure of Audiffred comes about a week after the start of Quinn’s new director of communications, Jamie McShane.

Sometime around last week, at the New York Women of Excellence Awards, Councilman Joel Rivera received the group’s Gentleman of Quality, or “GQ” Award. This site, I must say, was on Rivera's tip years ago--we featured him in our famous list of the “Top Ten Most Beautiful People in City Politics.”

Which brings me to a question. Who's the most distinguished gentleman in the New York press corps? Maybe I'm feeling sentimental since he just retired, but I really have to go with Marc Humbert, long the AP's man in Albany. Liz Benjamin has video from his going-away party.

AGING - Maria del Carmen Arroyo CONSUMER AFFAIRS - Leroy Comrie CONTRACTS - Yvette Clarke ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Tom White EDUCATION - Robert Jackson FIRE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE - Miguel Martinez GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS - Simcha Felder HEALTH - Joel Rivera HOUSING AND BUILDINGS - Erik Martin-Dilan MENTAL HEALTH - Oliver Koppell RULES, PRIVILEGES, ELECTIONS - Diana Reyna SMALL BUSINESS - David Yassky STANDARDS AND ETHICS - Inez Dickens STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION - Maria Baez WATERFRONTS - Michael Nelson WOMEN'S ISSUES - Helen Sears

New Standing Committees (formerly subcommittees): CIVIL RIGHTS - Larry Seabrook JUVENILE JUSTICE - Sara Gonzalez LOWER MANHATTAN REDEVELOPMENT - Alan Gerson(continued)