All Articles Tagged "david paterson"
New NY Law Aids Women, Minority Biz
(The Business Review) — Using a downtown Buffalo coffee shop that’s owned by an African-American woman, New York Gov. David Paterson signed a new bill into law that encourages more investment in minority and women-owned businesses across the state. The bill, championed by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, now ensures that minority and women-owned businesses will have an equal shot at bidding on state contracts. The law actually was signed by Paterson in June, but he came to the 2nd Cup coffee shop Buffalo in what may be his final local stop before leaving office next month, for a ceremonial “signing” on Peoples-Stokes’ home turf.
Once Rivals, Cuomo and Paterson Present a United Front
(New York Times) — They have been friends, members of New York’s political aristocracy and rivals — sometimes bitter rivals — for the state’s highest office. But on Tuesday, the departing governor, David A. Paterson, and his successor, Andrew M. Cuomo, presented themselves as partners. Meeting at Mr. Paterson’s office in Manhattan, the two emerged for a mild-mannered news conference, during which they cracked jokes, told tales and discussed the challenges ahead. Mr. Paterson led off with a story about the time the two men and their families went rafting together in the Adirondacks; he wondered aloud whether Mr. Cuomo had ever imagined that they would both ultimately serve as governor. He also praised Mr. Cuomo for his campaign warnings to New Yorkers that the state would continue to face tough economic challenges in the years ahead.
Paterson Plans 900 Firings to Meet Budget
(Bloomberg) – New York Gov. David Paterson said he will dismiss 898 state employees by the end of the year to help achieve the $250 million of work force savings included in this year’s budget. The firings, combined with attrition and early retirements, will eliminate 2,000 jobs to help close the $9.2 billion deficit in this year’s $133.8 billion budget, Mr. Paterson said in an interview on New York City radio station WOR-AM.
Panel Is Facing Deadline on Immigrants’ Pardons
(New York Times) — In May, as the federal government increased deportations and some states sought to tighten immigration enforcement, Gov. David A. Paterson caused a national stir by announcing a push in the opposite direction: a state effort to speed the granting of pardons to immigrants facing deportation for old or minor criminal convictions. Nearly six months later, that initiative is finally coming to fruition — with little time to spare.
Paterson Offers Silver a Deal on Property Tax Caps
(Crain’s) — Gov. David Paterson offered Monday to back off from calling a special session of the state Legislature to consider a property tax cap, but only if the Assembly promises to approve a cap next year.
Several weeks ago, the governor vowed to call state legislators back to Albany before the November election for a special session on the property tax cap he has been championing for two years. Mr. Paterson cannot force the Assembly and Senate to vote, but he can compel them to return to the Capitol and gavel in—which would at the very least annoy many of them, especially those fighting to win re-election in their districts.
Paterson Orders 2,000 Job Cuts
(AP) – New York Gov. David Paterson in a memo to commissioners is ordering that 2,000 state jobs be cut through layoffs and attrition by Dec. 31.
Mr. Paterson has warned for months that deficits continue to mount in the state and layoffs would be likely by the end of the calendar year.
His memo to commissioners released Thursday will require the cuts in the state work force of about 200,000.
Paterson Misled Inquiry Over Tickets, Report Says
(NYT) — Gov. David A. Paterson misled state investigators about his acceptance of free tickets to the World Series last year, according to the independent counsel, Judith S. Kaye, who has asked the Albany County district attorney to determine whether Mr. Paterson should be charged with perjury.
A report issued by Ms. Kaye on Thursday found that Mr. Paterson “was inaccurate and misleading” when he told state ethics investigators in February that he had always intended to pay for four $425 tickets he obtained for guests he brought to the opening game at Yankee Stadium, including his son and his son’s friend.
Former Aide Says Paterson Rejected Advice on Tickets
(NYT) — The top press aide to Gov. David A. Paterson repeatedly urged him to pay for World Series tickets he had requested from the Yankees last year, but his concerns were brushed off by Mr. Paterson and others who insisted that the governor was entitled to get them free, the aide testified on Tuesday.
The aide, Peter E. Kauffmann, was the main witness questioned by lawyers for the State Commission on Public Integrity in a two-and-a-half-hour hearing into whether Mr. Paterson had violated ethics laws by having aides solicit the tickets.
Mr. Kauffman, who resigned from the administration in March, said that after receiving an inquiry from a reporter about the situation, he had advised the governor to pay for the tickets, but that the governor had said that no payment was required because he believed he was attending the game in a ceremonial capacity.
Paterson Is Urged to Empower Prosecutor to Investigate Public Officials
(NYT) — If there is one thing all the candidates for attorney general this year seem to agree on, it is that the office they are seeking needs far broader powers to investigate corruption in Albany and restore public confidence in state government.
Under current state law, the attorney general has little power to begin investigations of other government officials. The state’s top prosecutor cannot unilaterally investigate public officials for breaking campaign finance rules, violating ethics laws or even taking bribes.
Aide to Paterson Is Charged With Assault
(NYT) – David W. Johnson, one of Gov. David A. Paterson’s closest and longest-serving aides, surrendered to prosecutors in the Bronx on Thursday and was charged with misdemeanor assault and five other offenses, the latest chapter in a domestic violence case that entangled the Paterson administration and led the governor to abandon his candidacy.
Mr. Johnson’s arrest was one of two new developments in the case on Thursday. Several law enforcement officials said the F.B.I. was now investigating the unauthorized access by someone at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center of the medical records of Sherr-una Booker. Ms. Booker, who has accused Mr. Johnson of assault, went to that hospital hours after her confrontation with him on Oct. 31, 2009.
