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A Note of Appreciation
We thank our many online contributors and year-end supporters for generously helping us to exceed our goal and raise $28,871 during our December appeal. This will enable Gotham Gazette to hire a new reporter and establish an office in Albany so we can cover state issues more effectively and completely! If you haven't made a contribution and would still like to support us, please click here and help to sustain our new Albany coverage.

Paterson Delivers First State of the State
Gov. David Paterson delivered his first State of the State address yesterday. He proposed initiatives to fight obesity like banning junk food in schools and trans fats in restaurants, requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts, an 18 percent tax on sugary sodas, and initiatives to help bring healthier food to low-income communities. On energy, Paterson called for turning upstate into a center for the manufacture of batteries for hybrid vehicles and established a goal of meeting 45 percent of electricity needs through conservation and renewable energy by 2015. The governor also called for more reforms to the Rockefeller Drug Laws, such as providing more treatment for addicts. For more, see Albany Links in the News.

Democrats Take Senate
State Sen. Malcolm Smith, a Queens Democrat, was elected as majority leader of the chamber yesterday. It marks the first time in 43 years that Democrats have controlled the Senate. The party now controls both houses of the Legislature and the executive branch as well. For more, see Albany Links in the News.

City Gives Up Stadium Boxes, Transit Strike Unlikely, Manhattan Real Estate Slump Hits, Paterson Joins Governors Seeking $1 Trillion, City Settles Suit Against Commissioner, Many Thanks!, complete archive of lead stories.

In the Press

More Layoffs at Architecture Firms Likely as Projects Dry Up (Real Deal)

Community Board Committee Chair Booted Over Bikes? (Brooklyn Papers)

Despite Assault Charges, Monserrate Will Be Seated (WNYC)

Digital TV Transition Still Causing Confusion (AM New York)

Arbitron Settles Suits Over Radio Ratings System (Associated Press)

Council Approves Firearm Reporting (Gotham Gazette)

Lawmaker Criticizes Yankees Over Stadium Funding (NY 1)

Who Gets to Build Something Out of the Harbor’s Bottom? (NY Observer)

City Aims to Compete with Vegas as Wedding Hot Spot (Newsday)

New Ferry to Connect Brooklyn to Governor's Island (NY Post)

Animal Shelters Scramble After Strep Outbreak Kills Dogs (Daily News)

Deal for Wireless Access in City Parks Collapses (NY Times)

Recent Reports
City and State Salaries Now Searchable, Broken Legislature, New York's Retail Workers, Keeping Kids Out of Gangs, more recent reports.