Meet Alex Crohn

Meet Alex Crohn, self-proclaimed author of the SAFE Act:

“An assistant counsel to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who professed himself to be the author of the NY SAFE Act, was ultimately selected as the lead writer of the Moreland Commission on Public Corruption’s December 2013 report after several independent candidates for the position were nixed, according to multiple sources within the Moreland Commission.  Alex Crohn, the self-proclaimed author of the SAFE Act, had not been the Moreland Commission co-chairs’ first choice to write the much-anticipated report the Commission released on Dec. 2 …”

Cuomo is in a bit of hot water with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara over shutting down Moreland.

“… Crohn, a graduate of Harvard Law School, came to the Commission directly from the executive chamber, where he worked under Mylan Denerstein, the governor’s counsel.  Crohn spoke widely with members of the Commission about his work in the governor’s office, claiming that he played a significant role in writing legislation. He was particularly proud of his role in authoring The New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013, commonly known as the NY SAFE Act.  “This is the hardest thing I’ve had to write since the SAFE Act,” several Commission sources recall Crohn bemoaning aloud on numerous occasions while working on the December Moreland report. Commission sources also say they overheard Crohn, who sat in the bullpen with the rest of the Moreland Commission’s staff members, engaged in long conference calls that appeared to focus on the implementation of the SAFE Act …”

Interesting considering Cuomo blamed then Mayor Bloomberg for authoring SAFE back in March ’13:

“… “Much of what’s in the law was drafted by people connected to Mayor Bloomberg and the Brady Center, not by the governor’s staff,” the source said. “That’s why there are so many problems with it.’’ …”

Looks like someone isn’t telling the truth here.

“…  Crohn could not be reached for this article, and the computerized message that answered his cell phone number stated that “the person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time.” …”

I don’t see why not.  After all, the media keeps saying that there is widespread public support for SAFE.  If that is the case then why not do a victory lap and get a warm fuzzy from the outpouring of love?

Media finally admits Cuomo has problems

A major media outlet has finally acknowledged what I’ve been saying for some time, Democrats do not like Gov. Cuomo:

“After his worst week in office since becoming governor, Andrew Cuomo is now viewed for the first time by important Democrats as potentially vulnerable to Republican challenger Rob Astorino, The Post has learned … Several Democratic strategists said Cuomo’s eroding support among politically powerful New York City-based unions, including those behind the influential Working Families Party, all but assures an unusually low turnout among the city’s heavily Democratic voters, normally the foundation for a statewide Democratic victory.  At the same time, they expect Astorino, the popular and recently re-elected Westchester County executive, to do well, offsetting Democratic votes in his large suburban county, and his message of property-tax and spending cuts, educational reforms and economic development to appeal to suburban voters on Long Island as well …”

They left out how many people Andy pissed off with the SAFE Act.

Flashback to 1994

Democrats are having flashbacks to the gun control glory days of the early ’90s:

“Nearly 100 congressional Democrats are asking President Barack Obama to take executive action to close loopholes in a ban on the importation of military-style firearms.  In separate letters sent to the White House over the past week, a dozen Senate Democrats and 82 House Democrats urged the president to use his broad authority under the 1968 Gun Control Act to impose a stricter ban.  Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer of New York are among the Senate letter’s signatories.  Fifteen of New York’s 27 House members signed the other letter, including Reps. Louise Slaughter of Fairport, Nita Lowey of Harrison and Eliot Engel of the Bronx …”

Representatives from urban garbage dumps which have been run into the ground from decades of “progressive” policy failures including gun control, welfare, drug prohibition and wealth redistribution schemes.

“… Engel said he has lobbied unsuccessfully for the stricter ban for the past decade and urged Obama to take action beginning shortly after the president took office in 2009.  “I really am at a loss to know why the administration hasn’t implemented it,” Engel said Thursday …”

Two reasons: it is a policy failure and a stinker of a political issue.

“… White House spokesman Keith Maley had no comment …”

Which is the same as No.

“… Engel said he privately discussed the issue with Vice President Joe Biden more than a year ago when Biden was formulating the administration’s response to the December 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. …”

That’s like having a high-level meeting with Ronald McDonald.

“… “His last words to me were that he was all for this and this would be a great thing to do,” Engel said.  “So if there’s some reason that’s holding up the administration, I’d like to know it, because no one has told me.””

Engel isn’t that stupid.  The political landscape is looking toxic for Democrats due to the Obamacare disaster.  Bringing up gun control now would be like throwing gasoline on a fire.

Lefties say Cuomo should be primaried

The Left is unimpressed with Gov. Cuomo being a national leader on gun control.

Exhibit A:

“… New York’s progressives are confronting a tough decision. Stick with Cuomo in spite of his economic policies? Split off and run a third-party candidate? Sit in their hands? The decision will fall to New York’s Working Families Party … Rank-and-file WFPers are increasing unhappy with nominating someone they decry as “Governor 1 percent.” … It’s not clear where the party is headed …”

Exhibit B:

“For some, the recent explosion of discontent on the left came as a surprise. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had been an effective and strong liberal on identity and social issues like … gun restrictions … What’s all the fuss? … Their calculation that the left would settle for social issues was simply wrong … For progressives and for the WFP this is a turning point.  The social issues are important, on the merits and politically.  But no movement can walk away from its base and from its founding principles and remain effective …”

Exhibit C:

“The state Democratic and Working Families parties should find a primary challenger to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the president of one of the state’s top public-employees unions said today.  Susan Kent, the president of the Public Employees Federation, said the Democratic governor hasn’t lived up to the ideals of the parties and should be challenged …”

Exhibit D:

“… Dan Cantor, the [Working Families Party] executive director, insisted last night the party would garner enough votes to remain viable even if it ran its own left-leaning candidate against Mr. Cuomo instead of endorsing his re-election …”

Legislative Report #15

Legislative Report #15 is now online.

The Assembly Republicans have a bunch of pro-gun bills on Codes Committee agenda for Monday.  They aren’t going anywhere.

A holistic approach to gun violence

Aaron Woolf is running for Congress in CD-21His thoughts on gun control:

“I recognize that gun violence is a serious concern at this moment.  But I also recognize that a lot of my friends and neighbors, almost all of whom are gun owners, feel disenfranchised by the process of recent state legislation.  I know that the gun owners that I know are as much, if not more so, concerned about gun violence than others.  I think we need to have sensible legislation that addresses gun violence that takes a holistic approach.”

What the fuck does this mean?

This guy is real good at political doublespeak.  I’ve highlighted the key leftist phrases in blue.