Results tagged “David Paterson”

In yet another bit of bizarrerie coming from the NY Governor's office, Paterson now appears to be denying the story that President Obama requested that he not run for governor next year. In an interview with NY1 Noticias Paterson said, "I never got an authorized invitation from the White House not to run for governor. There was a New York Times article about Congressman Meeks telling me to get out of the race. It never happened. And Congressman Meeks confirmed it on the record."

The latest happy tidings from that fountain of good news named Albany warn that ballooning pension costs may drain local government coffers in the next six years. As reported in today's NY Times, an analysis from the state comptroller's office forecasts that state pension costs will triple to $8 billion by 2015, and the only solution is—you guessed it—there isn't one! Upset by that prospect, NY State Association of Counties Director Stephen J. Acquario tells the Times: "It’s alarming, eye-popping and unthinkable...Where is this money going to come from?" In keeping with local custom, no one in Albany can agree on an answer. Governor Paterson wants to limit pensions for new workers, while Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli thinks instead that counties should borrow money from the state to cover the costs. Others believe a tax increase will have to be in the offing, but of course, the legislature is a bit indisposed at the moment. A strong economic recovery could help matters, but what's the bottom line here? Cut benefits or bottom out, says Zvi Bodie at the Boston University School of Management: "Going forward, we’re going to have to promise less."

A new Quinnipiac poll has more bad news for embattled Governor Paterson. Not only has his approval rating fallen seven points to 41%, if Paterson were to run against Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, Cuomo would win, 53-25. Politicker NY runs through some other details: "Rudy Giuliani's favorability rating, however, stands at 56 percent. In a hypothetical matchup for governor, Giuliani ties Paterson 43 to 43. Cuomo would win a race against Giuliani 51 to 37, the poll found." Of course, there's still almost 18 months till the primary—anything can happen. But if Cuomo's appearances are anything like this one, he is eyeing his dad's old job.

After the traditional thank you's to other legislators and governors past (Carey, Cuomo and Pataki—no Spitzer), Governor David Paterson minced no words and opened his first State of the State address with, "My fellow New Yorkers: Let me come straight to the point - the state of our state is perilous."

Previously Charles O'Byrne, an aide to Governor David Paterson, claimed he didn't pay $200,000 in income taxes between 2001 and 2005 because he was dealing with depression (and he's paid off most by now). Now, O'Byrne's lawyer says he suffered from "late-filing syndrome" that made working on his tax returns hard.

Responding to pressure from Governor Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg, the Port Authority is promising to finish the 9/11 memorial in time for the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack that felled the twin towers. In June, Paterson said the redevelopment of the 16-acre site was over budget and behind schedule, and he ordered the Port Authority to hammer out a plan to get at least part of the job done by 2011. Port Authority officials had called that an impossibility, but sources tell the Times that Port Authority director Christopher Ward will release a report on Thursday outlining a way to finish the $610 million memorial in two years and eleven months. (See the renderings.)

The NY Sun finds that this week's meltdown of financial markets has helped "David Paterson has [emerge] as a governor determined to seize the moment, establish his authority, and put to rest lingering doubts that a formerly obscure lieutenant governor could flourish on the national stage." To wit, on Tuesday, after the stock market fell 510 points, he appeared on a number of TV and radio shows, implored the feds to help AIG, and stressed how the damage could hurt the state overall, all while as the Sun puts it, "he vented the frustration, anger, confusion, and fears of the average New Yorker." Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf surmised, "He's becoming the defender of the people," but added, "Crisis is what elevated David Paterson, and crisis is what will keep him in office, if handled properly

After allowing troubled insurer A.I.G. to borrow $20 billion from itself (and emphasizing that "No taxpayer dollars are involved"), Governor Paterson turned his attention to what the Wall Street woes might mean for the state as a whole. And he told NY1's Dominic Carter, "We don't know what the damage of the events that occurred this weekend is. I would not be surprised if the budget deficit we just cut down may skyrocket back up and I may have to call on the Legislature to come back and grapple with it again.” (Last month, Paterson convened an emergency session to discuss the state's budget problems since the deficit grew $1.4 billion in just a few months.) In a statement yesterday, Paterson pointed out that 20% of NY State's revenue comes from Wall Street.

Governor Paterson used his trademark sense of humor during his opening remarks at the ServiceNation Summit last night.

We're at Columbia University for the ServiceNation Summit. Security is tight--university entrances are closed to students and Columbia employees only--and students are sitting outside to watch a livefeed of the forum in the middle of campus. The forum with Barack Obama and John McCain will air at 8 p.m. on CNN, MSNBC, and some PBS stations. You can also watch it online at the ServiceNation website.

Governor David Paterson stepped into the presidential election fray yesterday, when he said at a Crain's Buiness Forum, "There are overtones of potential racial coding in the campaign... The Republican Party is too smart to call Barack Obama 'black.' But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican convention. A 'community organizer.' They kept saying it, they kept laughing, like what does this mean?" The McCain camp retorted by, per the NY Times, "quickly issu[ing] a news release accusing Mr. Paterson of launching 'accusations of racism.'" That's probably in between accusations of sexism and claiming any use of the term "lipstick" applies to Palin?

While he didn't have a prime time speaking spot like Senator Hillary Clinton did, Governor David Paterson did get a chance to speak at the Democratic National Convention yesterday. It was only for 4 minutes at 5:50 p.m. (and his theme music was "New York, New York"), but he made the best of it, even joking during applause and chants of his name during his entrance, "Thank you, my time is up!"

If you have a question for Governor David Paterson, WCBS 880 is taking questions before its 4 p.m. live interview with him. So far, the questions are about medical liability reform and the Atlantic Yards project. You'll be able to listen to the interview here. And in tangential governor news, horses named "Luv Gov" and "Ninth Client" ran at Saratoga these past few days--Ninth Client was tied for first yesterday.

After noting that the NY State is facing a fiscal crisis on Tuesday, Governor David Paterson took the bad news to Washington D.C. Paterson said at the National Press Club that the federal government needs to help invest in things like infrastructure, schools, mass transit and job training, pointing out NY State sent $82.6 billion more to D.C. than it got back. Senator Chris Dodd told the NY Times, though, there just isn't money. On a much lighter note, someone in the audience asked, "Your rise to the governor's seat is, if anything, an illustration of the fallibility of our public officials. What lessons do you draw about the imperfection of politicians?" to which Paterson began, "Be careful when you come to Washington..."

Governor Paterson gave a rare televised address this afternoon, asking state lawmakers to head back to Albany for an emergency session to discuss the state deficit. Paterson said the deficit had gone up $1.4 billion in 90 days, from $5 billion to its current $6.4 billion.

Governor David Paterson may have become governor unexpectedly, but it looks like he's looking to have a longer legacy than his predecessor: Paterson for Governor announced it "raised more than $3,200,000 over a two month period from more than 600 contributors and would show a cash-on-hand balance of over $3 million. " The Sun suggests this is impressive, given that former Governor Spitzer raised about the same amount during during the first half of 2007, and Spitzer beneftted from a "greater national profile."

Representative Charles Rangel isn't so happy with the New York Times: The Gray Lady revealed the high-ranking Congressman has four rent-stabilized apartments at Lenox Terrace, the Harlem development where Governor David Paterson also lives (Paterson only has one rent-stabilized apartment, though).

The Port Authority released its status report of sorts about World Trade Center rebuilding, and it's a document (PDF) that grimly forecasts lots of patience and money--along with the difficulties--needed to see the whole thing through and.

            

Even a downpour couldn't stop the Gay Pride March down Fifth Avenue yesterday, which attracted half a million participants and an estimated million spectators. Besides the costumed performers, motorcyclists, bands and floats, elected officials were part of the parade. Along with Mayor Bloomberg and Senator Schumer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Governor David Paterson marched and spoke out on behalf of gay rights.

Governor David Paterson says he's doing fine after cataract surgery yesterday at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. WNBC caught up with him after the 90-minute procedure, and the Governor urged everyone to have their cataracts removed, since it's such an easy procedure.

Note to MTA board members: Think before you speak! Maybe even pre-think before you think! MTA Board Vice Chairman David Mack has learned this lesson, maybe, after his controversial, elitist remarks explaining why he would fight for unrestricted free E-Z pass usage, "Why should I ride [the train] and inconvenience myself when I can ride in a car?"

A last-minute deal was worked out between Governor David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to save Off-track Betting, but the road to the agreement was rocky.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's name is being mentioned again as a possible candidate for governor in 2010. While the earlier speculation and rumors were due to the nuttiness of Eliot Spitzer's resignation and current Governor David Paterson's confessions (dames, drugs), this time it's because Rudy's strategist Anthony Carbonetti may be in line to head the state GOP.

Governor David Paterson is resting after undergoing a second eye surgery (earlier this week, doctors found he had acute glaucoma in his left eye that left him with migraine-like symptoms, which Paterson said was more like eye-strain), but he's probably feeling a little heat over his remarks to WAMC-FM about Hillary Clinton and her campaign.

Governor David Paterson checked into Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan for "migraine-like symptoms." According to the Governor's office, "He was evaluated and all preliminary tests were normal. He is now resting comfortably and will undergo further tests during the course of the day."

Governor David Paterson explained possible rumormongering by the state police was why he admitted his extramarital affairs and drug use shortly after taking office. Yes--Paterson was essentially afraid of the NY State Police!

The past few weeks may have been full of Governor David Paterson's admissions over extramarital affairs and drug use, but Paterson has still been hailed as exactly what New York needs as a leader right now. However, his role in directing at least $150,000 in state funds to a hospital that hired his wife to lobby the state for money gets the once-over in the NY Times today.

Perhaps realizing he's best received as a leader in a time of crisis and disarray--and no stranger to cheating on his wife while in public office--former Mayor Rudy Giuliani may offer himself as a candidate for governor in the case Governor David Paterson has to step down.

Let's review Governor David Paterson's first week:

The Saga of Love Gov, Part 2 continues with Governor Paterson's admission he may have used a campaign credit card to pay for a hotel room, but charged it as "constituent services." Say it all together now: "That's some 'constituent services'!"