The Legislative Gazette


September 21, 2010


Page 3 Governors past and present take on Paladino


‘These guys are afraid’ says GOP candidate


By BETH FOUHY The Associated Press


D


emocratic Gov. David A. Paterson sharply criticized Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl


Paladino last Thursday, calling him unfit for public service and questioning his integrity and character. Paterson, who became governor after


Eliot Spitzer resigned, is not seeking a full term. He made the comments at a breakfast forum hosted by The Wall Street Journal, where he shared the stage with his two predecessors, Republican George E. Pataki and Spitzer, a Democrat. Paterson said he understands Paladino’s


anger over taxes and government excess and noted that those feelings are shared by many voters in New York and elsewhere, evidenced by the success of tea party- backed candidates in major races across the country. But Paterson warned against allowing such anger to feed into the “shrill and ... pedestrian antics of individuals who are unqualified to hold office at all, let alone be governor or United States senator.” Of Paladino, Paterson said, “I don’t think


he is fit for public service.” Spitzer, who stepped down as governor


after 14 months amid revelations he’d been consorting with prostitutes, said he “absolutely” agrees with Paterson’s assessment of Paladino. Paladino, a Buffalo real estate developer,


trounced rival Rick Lazio in last week’s GOP primary with a fiery pledge to cut spending and “take a baseball bat” to Albany. Paladino will face Democrat Andrew Cuomo, the state attorney general, in November. Paladino was warmly greeted by about


Photo courtesy of the governor’s office


Governor David A. Paterson, center, joins former Governors Eliot Spitzer, far left, and George Pataki, right, at the “Future of New York,” Wall Street Journal interview series hosted by Michael Howard Saul, second from left, at the New York Public Library. Following the forum, the former and current governors dicussed the candidacy of Carl Paladino.


150 people last Thursday at the Buffalo Yacht Club, receiving standing ovations when he came in and after he finished speaking. On his way into the club on the shore


of Lake Erie, he was asked how much more difficult an opponent Cuomo will be, compared with Lazio. “Well, he’s making such a fool of himself


right now, sending his dogs out after us that I think the people are reading through it so I don’t think it’s going to be that difficult,” Paladino said. “The people are speaking and these guys are afraid. They’ve been eating at the public trough for too long.


They can’t give it up. They know no other way of life.” Paladino spokesman Michael Caputo


issued a statement criticizing Paterson’s remarks, noting the governor has been investigated for taking free World Series tickets and intervening in a domestic violence case involving a top aide. “David Paterson is addled, and nearly all


New Yorkers are counting down the days until he stops embarrassing this state,” Caputo said. Since launching his campaign last spring,


Paladino has grabbed headlines with a series of blunt and at times intemperate


MTA hears no support for fare hikes J


By CAITLIN FARRELL Gazette staff writer


ust four short years ago the Metropolitan Transit Authority had a billion-dollar surplus.


In 2009, the authority recorded a $1.8


billion deficit, and, with assistance from the state, the implementation of a payroll tax and internal cost-saving measures was able to cut that budget gap in half. Now struggling with a $900 million deficit,


MTA’s plan to deal with its continuing fiscal problems includes proposed fare and toll increases that are not being met by the public with much enthusiasm. The MTA board recently proposed upping


the cost of riding MTA buses, subways, and commuter rail, as well as tolls to increase the authority’s revenues by 7.5 percent in 2011 and 2013. It is now finishing up a series of nine public hearings conducted to allow riders to voice their opinions and concerns about the planned toll and fare increase for 2011. Based on the opposition straphangers have voiced at these hearings, one New York City online news source, the Gothamist, described them as “rant-a- thons.” After listening to the public’s comments


and any changes in the authority’s economic outlook, the MTA board is expected to vote in December on whether to include the fare and toll hikes in its 2011 budget. Under the MTA’s proposed changes: the


base subway fare would go up to $2.50 from $2.25 for a one-way ticket; the weekly


By AARON DORMAN Gazette staff writer


has launched an online campaign in an attempt to get the next Legislature to pass marriage equality legislation in New York. The group is also claiming at least one


T AP photo The Metropolitan Transit Authority is holding public hearings as it considers raising some fairs.


MetroCard, with a 22-trip limit would be $28 or unlimited trips for $29, right now it is $27 and unlimited; monthly MetroCards, which are currently $89 for unlimited rides, would go up to $99 with a 90-trip limit, or unlimited trips for $104. Long Island and Metro-North railroad tickets would go up between 7.6 and 9.4 percent higher and people paying cash tolls at MTA-operated bridges and major crossings would see increases of 25 to 50 cents. Those who have spoken at the hearings


have been vocal about their opposition to the fare increase, said MTA media liaison


Aaron Donovan. He said the MTA usually sees a decrease


in ridership immediately after a fare increase goes into effect because of anger over the higher prices. After only a short period of time though, he said, MTA always bounces back to having a normal number of riders. According to Donovan, in the first three


hearings there were a total of 123 people who spoke, and 45 people spoke at the one last Wednesday in the Bronx. The last hearings are scheduled for this evening in


See Fare on page 9


victory in last week’s elections, ousting a long-time, Buffalo-area senator who voted against same-sex marriage this spring. The campaign, called


“New Yorkers for Marriage Equality,” is an attempt to get a marriage equality law passed during the next legislative session, which will begin in January 2011. The campaign uses video testimonials


Stachowski


from celebrities and elected leaders such as actress Julianne Moore and Mayor Michael Bloomberg who support same- sex marriage. The ads will run online, and possibly elsewhere once the new legislative session begins. Last December, an marriage equality bill


See Fight on page 10


he Human Rights Campaign, a national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization,


comments. He’s acknowledged sending pornographic


and racially charged e-mails to friends, including one showing President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dressed as a pimp and prostitute. He’s also compared Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to Hitler and has suggested housing welfare recipients in converted prisons where they can receive lessons in personal hygiene. Now, Paladino is sending out landfill- scented campaign materials that slam


See Governors on page 9


New strategy in same-sex marriage fight


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