The Democratic convention officially kicks off in Rye Brook today. (No link).

The executive committee of the state Independence Party plans to endorse Andrew Cuomo for governor in Troy at 12:30 p.m. today. Cuomo will be on hand. (No link).

An assistant to Mayor Bloomberg who is paid by both the taxpayers and the billionaire mayor is reportedly a key witness in the case of the missing $750,000 that has been bedeviling the Indys.

As the party faithful gathered in Westchester County, Assembly Democrats conferenced until 1 a.m. on a deal to lift the charter school cap. It doesn’t look likely to pass at the moment.

AG hopeful Sen. Eric Schneiderman, who will be racing back and forth between Rye and Albany, has a new campaign Website.

Cuomo has at least a 40-point lead over his GOP opponents, according to a new Siena poll.

…That’s in spite of the fact that Cuomo and the Republicans seeking to defeat him share a number of views about fiscal prudence.

Bill Hammond thinks Cuomo is a lot more like former Gov. George Pataki than he is like his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Pat Barrett says Cuomo is “aware of the problems upstate,” adding: “We will not be forgotten.

Barrett, a former state GOP chairman, is one of a group of Republicans reaching out on Cuomo’s behalf.

Sen. George Winner believes Republicans are better for upstate.

Add Assemblyman Gary Pretlow to the list of Democratic legislators who won’t sign Cuomo’s reform pledge, but is supporting him for governor.

Ditto, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Cuomo called Silver to assure the speaker he’s not plotting against him.

Two-thirds of NYC state lawmakers asked by the DN to reveal their outside incomes refused to do so after voting in favor of a measure that would force them to do just that.

Mike Gormley says the similarities between Cuomo and Eliot Spitzer are “almost eerie.”

Henry Stern hopes Cuomo chooses an LG running mate based solely on that person’s ability to govern.

Steve Barnes compares the cooking skills of First Lady-in-waiting Sandra Lee with those of executive mansion chef Noah Sheetz.

The fate of the Aqueduct racino – like so much else in Albany – may end up in Cuomo’s hands.

Greg David likes Cuomo’s reform agenda – especially nonpartisan redistricting.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy’s local budget cuts, which he says he wants to bring to the state as governor, have taken their toll on services, critics say.

The “Don’t Kill” bill is back, and police officers aren’t happy about it.

Gov. David Paterson’s plan to re-open state parks by sweeping EPF funds didn’t pass muster with the Legislature, instead falling victim to the latest round of “budget brinksmanship.”

Lynn Nunes hopes to unite charter school supporters and gay marriage advocates in his uphill battle to oust Sen. Shirley Huntley in a primary.

Clyde Haberman compares the issue of term limits to an oil spill: “Messy, toxic and difficult to clean up.”

Bloomberg is not a fan of the NYC Council’s living wage plan.

The mayor called the plan “a nice idea,” but “poorly thought out.”

NYC is one of the safest big cities in the US, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report.

The Legislature passed another budget extender that included – at the request of both houses – the $25 million loan to NYRA.

Sen. John DeFrancisco continued to press the Senate Democrats over the lack of public budget negotiations.

The furlough fight is going to court.

MTA bus drivers who get spit on by angry riders take a lot of time off.

As per usual, there’s a lot of political unrest in the Bronx.

Assemblymen Tony Jordan and Tim Gordon are the latest inductees into the TU’s Hall of Shame.

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee won’t run for Sen. Tom Morahan’s seat.

Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton are Americans’ favorite first ladies of the past 36 years, a new poll found.

Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. will apply a CompStat approach to analyzing and tracking crime trends.

A comeback by former Rep. Vito Fossella would be a heavy lift for the GOP.

Former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi has joined Harris Beach.

Mort Zuckerman will not buy One Word Trade Center.

The Times figures out that Rosendale is cool – it’s like the Williamsburg of upstate!

Michael Carey is running against Sen. Neil Breslin.

RIP former Suffolk County GOP leader Nicholas Barbato.

RIP Jay Gallagher. A hell of a journalist. A wonderful guy.

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