Gov. David A. Paterson called Wednesday for the resignations of all 12 sitting members of the state’s ethics oversight commission, hours after a blistering report found that the panel’s director repeatedly leaked confidential information about an inquiry into the Spitzer administration to a top Spitzer aide. The report of the state inspector general, Joseph Fisch, [...]
Governor David Paterson’s poll numbers continue to plummet. A Marist poll out today finds that only 19 percent of voters think the governor is doing a good or excellent job – a seven-point drop since March. According to poll, only two percent think he is doing an excellent job. In contrast, 77 percent say he’s [...]
The state’s first Latino presiding justice was sworn in Thursday by Governor David Paterson. Luis Gonzalez will now head the state appellate division, first department, which covers the Bronx and Manhattan. The 63-year old native of Puerto Rico native takes over for Jonathan Lippman, who Paterson earlier this year tapped to head the state’s highest [...]
Gov. David Paterson Monday signed an executive order to better evaluate state mandates pushed down to local governments, which are often blamed for the state’s high property taxes. Facing a backlash from voters over new taxes in the 2009-10 budget, Paterson’s call for mandate relief is one of several initiatives he plans to roll out [...]
Governor David Paterson was in Queens this morning to sign into law a bill reforming the controversial Rockefeller Drug Laws. The 1973 laws required mandatory prison sentences for lower-level drug felons. Now judges will have more leeway and could send first-time non-violent offenders to treatment rather than prison. There is also a new so-called “kingpin [...]
Governor David Paterson is putting the pressure on state lawmakers to vote on a gay marriage bill. After unveiling legislation last week that would legalize gay marriage in New York State, the governor said yesterday that it’s time to put the issue to a vote. State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has said he wants [...]
Governor David Paterson announced this morning the Marriage Equality Program Bill, a piece of legislation that would legalize gay marriage in New York State. Paterson reintroduced the legislation that died in 2007, after it was passed by the State Assembly, surrounded by city leaders, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Christine Quinn, the openly gay City [...]
Governor David Paterson is expected to announce plans Thursday to introduce legislation in Albany to legalize gay marriage, according to NY1 sources. The governor indicated last week that he would likely push the legislature to legalize same-sex marriage, even if the votes are not necessarily there for it to pass. While it seems likely that [...]
New York’s largest union says it won’t accept an offer floated this week by the Paterson administration to avoid mass layoffs by accepting smaller raises and a no-layoff guarantee for two years. Civil Service Employees Association spokesman Stephen Madarasz says the union can’t reopen its contract because it would set a debilitating precedent. Mr. Madarasz [...]
Governor David Paterson yesterday urged the State Senate to vote on a gay marriage bill, even if there may not be enough votes to pass the measure. In an interview with an Ithaca radio station, the governor said that while he doubts the measure would pass, it still merits a vote on the Senate floor. [...]
