Dinowitz Attempts to Handpick Next Councilman

As the Riverdale Press reports, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz is intent on installing his former staffer Andy Cohen as Councilman Oliver Koppel's replacement. Despite his thin resume and lack of public recognition, Cohen has already lined up an array of elected officials at the behest of Dinowitz. Dinowitz has begun the Cohen push in earnest, parading him out before a press conference last week attacking Con Edison (see photo with Cohen at Dinowitz's hip).  Expect to see a lot more of that.  The only other announced candidate at this time is community advocate Cliff Stanton. 

Jeff Klein Holds the Cards in State Senate

Bronx State Senator Jeff Klein has found his way back to the top of the State Senate by brokering a deal with the Republicans to share power.  Klein, who founded the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference last year with three other Senators, is has the votes to decide which party is in power.  As Adam Wisnieski at the Riverdale Press reports, Klein's move angered some fellow dems but Klein is describing it as governing by coalition. Hard to say it can be worse than we have seen in the last decade.