June 13, 2009
June 20, 2009If you look northward towards Albany, I’m not sure if we should laugh or cry. What is happening with the state government is difficult to define…part Greek tragedy, part Marx Brothers movie.
Whatever it is, let me alert you to one thing…follow the money.
The Democrats, in total power for the first time in nearly four decades, were positioned to make dramatic and progressive changes in the state. Then Governor Spitzer with an impressive prosecutorial history was exposed by a sexual dalliance. I suspect that his relentless investigations of Wall Street players prompted a careful scrutiny of his every move which led to revealing his extramarital sexual activities. Spitzer, I can assure you, is not the lone incumbent participating in nefarious sexual escapades…but he became a target for the abused Wall Street charlatans. In hindsight the irony is that Spitzer’s probing of bankers, hedge-funders and other Wall Street elite, proved to be painfully accurate. As the nation’s economy collapsed, Spitzer’s adventures seemed to be prophetic and more profound than his entry onto Emily’s list.
Now, today, or last week, the governor’s position, the Senate and the Assembly belonged to the Democrats and big changes were being promised. The Rockefeller Drug laws were at least amended and there were other progressive legislation in the works, affecting tenants’ rights, gay marriage, and an increased taxing of the wealthiest to provide solutions for 99% of New Yorkers. That’s the money you might want to follow.
It all collapsed with the news that two Democratic senators have left the fold – and though it is difficult to figure out who is in charge, the Democrats aren’t.
We hear that Thomas Golisano, self-serving billionaire and a frequent candidate for Governor, is behind the dilution of the Democratic majority. Golisano grabbed some headlines last month when he announced that he might move to Florida to avoid New York State taxes, a protest against the threat to levy our richest citizens. Apparently, Golisano, with enough money to live in unbridled luxury for the rest of his life…and for his children and his children’s children lives…resented giving back to the government. His tax increases won’t affect his living style one iota. His splendid and charmed life would remain in place; but apparently he feels that the country that afforded him all of these opportunities shouldn’t continue to provide schools, libraries, roads and medical care for the rest of us. Taxpayers enriched Golisano by supporting his economic ventures and now he wants to change the process.
Who knows what Mr. Golisano has offered or promised the new renegades, Democratic senators Hiram Monseratte and Pedro Espada, prompting them to seek a revised Senate chamber? Queens Senator Monseratte, on a recent TV interview, sounded like a mix of Joan of Arc and Humpty Dumpty, stating that he is motivated only to serve New Yorkers in the best way he knows now. The Senator, a former New York City cop, you might recall, was indicted for stabbing his female companion with a piece of shattered glass. That case, with all of its costs, is pending.
The other Senator, the Bronx’s Pedro Espada who lives in Mamaroneck, is more camera-shy, since his appearance would always prompt questions about his fiscal machinations including a recent $60,000 fine for ignoring state laws on disclosing campaign contributions. The New York Times reports that Mr. Espada had clashed with Democrats over housing legislation that was promised to tenant advocates.
Mr. Espada, chairman of the Housing Committee, has delayed introducing the pro-tenant legislation. Landlords view him as their best Democratic friend in the Senate.
One can only wonder what Mr. Golisano, irate about the prospect of added taxes for the wealthiest of our citizens, has promised the dollar-strapped incumbent, Mr. Monseratte and Mr. Espada, one with criminal law costs, the other with campaign fines in his path.
The TV pundits and the tabloids will focus on the madcap absurdity in Albany calling it a circus or madhouse. What might be overlooked is that old political axiom: FOLLOW THE MONEY. Golisano and the landlords have the bucks to compromise the marginal members of the legislative body, and when they are morally corrupt and financially needy ignore the jokes and the jabs…and insist that your local reporters dig into the real story and FOLLOW THE MONEY.
I’m David Rothenberg…out on a limb!
Posted by David Rothenberg
