Crowley

Crowley's Self-Criticism Leaves Little Else to be Said

Posted by Matthew Robinson

George W. Bush’s inability to admit fault at a press conference in 2004 didn’t win him much compassion from voters. Oliver Stone’s movie, “W,” mocked the awkward moment, where the ex-president couldn’t come up with one mistake he made since 9/11.

Bush garnered a reputation as being too stubborn to own up to his mistakes. For politicians who can take responsibility, it can help soften the blow of criticism.

Joseph Crowley admitted fault for the delay in reconstruction of the World Trade Center buildings on Monday. In straightforward language, Crowley criticized his actions as well as those of other New York Politicians.

“Many of us on this stage have let you down,” said Crowley of the project to the Examiner.  “There’s enough blame to go around and I take responsibility as well, because nine years ago when I was told it would be built I assumed like everyone else that it would happen. I no longer assume anything.  And from here on out I take no promises to bed.  Along the line I’ve let you down; we’ve let you down. We’ve let this city down and we’ve let this country down.”

A far cry from politicians’ favorite, “mistakes were made,” Crowley’s political acumen elicits empathy from constituents. By being your biggest critic, it makes getting the same criticism from opponents seem redundant. Plus, it’s hard to imagine someone saying, “God, what a jerk, he totally screwed up, knows it and apologized for it.”

Crowley Banks on Foreigners

Posted by Matthew Robinson
Outside Parkchester Train Station
Outside Parkchester Train Station

On blustery days, wind pushes trash up against the fences around the Parkchester subway stop in the Bronx. A “Chickenfest” restaurant, an off-track betting center, and a dry cleaners circle this express stop off the 6 train.

For outsiders, the southeast Bronx is seldom a final destination – its a place to drive through, rather than to drive to. Although crime has been down for much of the decade, the Bronx still has stretches of run-down, forgotten-about blocks.

Rep. Joe Crowley’s 7th district straddles much of the southeast Bronx and chunk of northern Queens. Besides $10 in tolls, quality of life separates the two boroughs. Queens residents are the happiest New Yorkers at 51 percent and Bronxites the least happy at 24 percent, according to the Citizens Committee for New York.

The number of defunct buildings in the Bronx might find some investors if the Real Estate Revitalization Act passes. The bill, sponsored by Crowley, will reduce the amount of taxes foreign investors pay for American real estate.

The Foreign Investment Real Estate Property Tax, passed in 1980, includes capital gains taxes as high as 55 percent – these taxes are generally applied to sales on property, stocks and bonds. For example, if a foreign investor buys and sells Google stock, they don’t pay taxes in America. But if an investor buys real estate investment trust (REIT) shares, they pay taxes in America, according to this CNNMoney.com article.

An abandoned foundation on White Plains road and Seward Ave
An abandoned foundation on White Plains road and Seward Ave

If Crowley’s bill passes, he may score some points with Republicans for advocating for a tax cut – albeit for foreigners. But Democrats may not be too fond of foreign investors competing with American buyers.

Since Americans aren’t buying up this property – and don’t have to pay any foreign taxes – why would foreigners think it’s a wise investment anyway?

"Big I" Gets Crowley to Speak at Lobbying Week

Posted by Matthew Robinson

Big Insurance or “Big I” has been busy. They’ve already lobbied Washington with tons of money against health care reform. On March 4th, insurance agents will shake hands with members of Congress as part of a week long conference at our nation’s capital.

Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) booked Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) for their annual “Big I” Day, where over a thousand members go to Capitol Hill to discuss issues at the “most effective insurance industry legislative event of its kind,” according to the associations press release.

Insurance companies are the leading contributor to Crowley’s campaign, making up $70,000 in 2009-2010, according to Opensecrets.org. Crowley sits on the Ways and Means Committee, so it’s not a surprise for insurance companies to try and court him. The committee is the chief tax-writing group of the House of Representatives, which also has some jurisdiction over social security, medicare and unemployment benefits.

But Crowley is still an advocate for health care reform. Back in August, while lobbyists contributed more $1.4 million to try and sway Congress from reform, Crowley started an interactive health care forum on his website. He recently voted for the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, which repealed antitrust protections from the health insurance industry. It passed by a landslide vote – 406 to 19.

Even with these contributions, Crowley continues to vote for liberal causes. The National Journal ranks him as more liberal than 89 percent of his peers. So, maybe “Big I” donates to Crowley because they see him as a future investment…?

Crowley Leads Way for Immigration Reform

Posted by Matthew Robinson

In a recent article by the National Journal, Joseph Crowley was named as one of five up-and-coming House Democrats. “They form a second tier of leaders-in-training who could be in line to take over when their top party chiefs either retire or are forced out,” according to the article.

The article also called Crowley the go-to person for immigration reform. Back in September, Crowley, along with 111 House Democrats, wrote a letter to President Obama asking to reform immigration. Obama gave a speech last year on June 25 asking for reform, but the issue hasn’t moved much since then.

The letter detailed elements of reform. Undocumented immigrants would register, go through background checks, pay taxes, study English in order to apply for legal status, and then eventually apply for citizenship. As chairman of the New Democrat Coalition – a pro-business, moderate group – Crowley proposes that taxing immigrants could be be way to generate revenue for the state and provide benefits for those contributing to the workforce.

More than 60 percent of Crowley’s district speaks a language other than English at home, and 40 percent of the population are foreign-born, according to the Almanac on American Politics. So, Crowley should have constituent support for immigration reform.

But his interest in immigration may also stem from a personal connection – his mother. She emigrated from Northern Ireland as a child, according to whorunsgov.com. Given that Crowley has sought leadership roles throughout his career, it seems likely he will run for a more prominent office in the future. So, he must think that reform should add political points in New York.

Crowley Keeps Focus on Community Concerns

Posted by Matthew Robinson

Back in August, when tea partiers went viral on cable news, Joseph Crowley, D –N.Y. 7, set up an interactive healthcare forum to help inform Americans about what was actually happening with reform. But six months later, and Democrats losing their super majority with the election of Scott Brown, Crowley is looking to just get something passed, according to the Bronx News Network.

“We might have to break up the bill a bit, to do it piecemeal,” he said. “I think we will get something through—it may not be everything we want at first, but it will be substantial.”

Crowley has cited the need for health care reform in his own district, particularly for Bronx small business owners, who he says can’t afford to buy health insurance for their employees.

Across the river, Jackson Heights, Queens is home to almost two-thirds of the 28,000 Bangladeshi residents in New York City, according to the 2000 census. Crowley is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bangladesh, which brings 31 Members of Congress together in support of the people of Bangladesh, according to his website.

Crowley asked Bangladesh authorities on Jan. 27 to investigate the punishment of a 16-year-old rape survivor. The Daily Star, Bangladesh’s largest circulating English-language newspaper, reported that the teenage girl was raped and then punished with 101 lashes.

“I urge the Bangladeshi authorities to begin an impartial investigation into this matter and move to bring any perpetrators to justice immediately.”  Crowley said in a press release.

The press release added:

“Additionally, the London-based Guardian newspaper reported that “elders in the village issued a fatwa insisting that the girl be kept in isolation until her family agreed to corporal punishment.”  While Bangladeshi law is largely secular and does not tolerate rape, local elders often issue sentences and settle disputes, as it appears in this case.  Bangladesh is a moderate, predominantly Muslim country which has taken several strong steps to ensure women’s rights, including the provision of seats for women in the national parliament.”

Since taking office in 1999, Crowley has easily won reelection with an increasingly higher percentage of votes by keeping up on issues that matter to his constituents. He’s hoping these initiatives will keep it that way.