Back in the 11237

I have finally returned to the 11237 (my neighborhood for those who don't know Brooklyn zip codes) after nearly a week in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and a lot has happened both here in New York and around the country.

Perhaps most importantly, Gov. David Paterson announced last Thursday he plans to introduce legislation to extend marriage to same-sex couples. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn were among those who joined the governor at the announcement. It remains unclear as to whether the bill has enough votes--especially in the state Senate--to pass, but state Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., (D-Bronx) and even former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are among those who have spoken out against it...

In other news, lawmakers in New Hampshire heard testimony on Wednesday from proponents and opponents of a bill to extend marriage to gays and lesbians in the state. This proposed legislation, which comes on the heels of the passage of a bill that would add gender identity and expression to the state's anti-discrimination laws, is the latest indication my home state continues to grow more and more progressive. This is arguably something of which every Granite Stater can be proud...

A disturbing story to emerge from Boston and Rhode Island late last week is the so-called Craigslist killer who killed a woman in a Back Bay hotel and attempted to rob two others. The details of this story are almost certainly tailor made for the Post and other tabloids, but this killer has certainly succeeded in generating perhaps unwanted attention for those who advertise their services on the popular site and the people who utilize them...

This week promises more of the same, so stay tuned!