CITYWIDE

CITY REACHES DEAL WITH ONE MORE PRIVATE BUS LINE

Mayor Bloomberg announced another step toward the city’s transfer of private bus lines to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority yesterday, announcing that the city has reached a tentative agreement with the Queens Surface Corporation. Under the preliminary deal, the city will pay $9.5 million for the assets of Queens Surface’s business and the MTA will operate the company’s 310 buses, which run on 19 express and local routes in Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. About 43,000 daily riders take Queens Surface buses. The agreement is expected to close by the end of February. In December, the city announced an agreement to acquire Liberty Lines and the MTA began running those bus lines earlier this month.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD CONSIDERS PAY-TO-PLAY DONATIONS

The Bloomberg administration asked the city’s Campaign Finance Board yesterday to implement restrictions on the so-called “pay-to-play” contributions, which Mayor Bloomberg has opposed, calling them a corrupt way to influence elected officials.

During a campaign finance board hearing in Lower Manhattan, the special counsel to the mayor, Anthony Crowell, commended the board for looking into contributions from individuals who have business in front of the city, but did not seem hopeful that any of the changes would be implemented until at least 2009.

Mr. Bloomberg, who spent $74 million of his own money on his 2001 election, does not rely on contributions from anyone. His detractors say he should voluntarily abide by board regulations.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

COMMITTEE EXTENDS TAX BREAK FOR MITCHELL-LAMA HOUSING

The City Council Houses and Buildings Committee approved legislation yesterday to extend property-tax exemptions and low-interest mortgage loans for developers of Mitchell-Lama affordable housing developments. The legislation extends the benefits of these affordable housing developments by 50 years, an increase over the 20-year period developers are traditionally allowed to participate in the Mitchell-Lama program. The bill, which was introduced by City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, is an incentive for developers to remain in the affordable housing program rather than opt out for market-rate housing.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

IMMIGRANT GROUPS CRITICIZE MAYOR’S OFFICE

Members of the Bloomberg Administration deflected accusations that it’s shortchanging immigrants at a tense City Council hearing yesterday. “The Bloomberg Administration believes very strongly in providing services to all New Yorkers, including ESL services,” said the General Counsel to the Mayor’s Commission of Immigrant Affairs, Jimmy Yan. “It’s an issue we’re particularly focused on. We regard it as a high priority.”

City Council Members and community leaders sharply criticized the administration for not providing enough to city’s booming immigrant community, now a record high of more than 2.9 million residents and a third of the city’s population.

The biggest criticisms concerned shortages in instruction of English as a Second Language, legal immigration services, and workplace services for the immigrants who make up 43% of the city’s labor force.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

ALBANY

STATE GOP PAYS FOR ASSISTANT TO LIBBY PATAKI

The state Republican Party has been paying for a personal assistant to Libby Pataki, the wife of Governor Pataki, since 1999, state GOP officials and a top aide to the governor said yesterday. State GOP Executive Director Ryan Moses said the woman, Michelle Stubbs, is paid $50,000 a year. “Ms. Stubbs is not a state employee, she is not paid with taxpayer dollars,” said a Pataki spokesman, David Catalfamo. The unusual arrangement was first reported by the New York Post, which, quoting unidentified GOP “insiders,” said the woman has served as a “maid” and “personal valet” to the governor’s wife. Mr. Catalfamo said, however, that he was unaware of Ms. Stubbs performing any domestic duties for the Patakis.

– Associated Press

LONG ISLAND

TEENAGER INDICTED IN TURKEY INCIDENT IS ARRAIGNED AGAIN

A teenager who was indicted last year in connection with a turkey-tossing incident was arraigned yesterday on charges that he and others threw apples at a car last October. Steven Manzolina, 17, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief for allegedly throwing apples at a 1988 Lincoln Navigator on October 17, causing $435.77 worth of damage to its side mirror, a criminal complaint said.

Mr. Manzolina was accused of acting with others, but no one else was named or charged in the incident. No injuries were reported in the criminal complaint.

Mr. Manzolina pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday afternoon before Judge John Toomey, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office said. Bail was set at $7,500, and Manzolina was scheduled to return to court Friday.

– Associated Press