....June 18, 12:01 PM
 
 
 
Hiram Monserrate, My Hero; Let Me Tell You Why

New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate and Trib Publisher Michael Schenkler.
By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

Hiram Monserrate is my hero.

He single-handly did what I have been unable to do for almost a decade.

Some eight years ago I started yelling that the New York State legislature is the 50th best – read worst – in the nation. There were a few other small voices who sang my song. Then about five years ago the NYU School of Law Brennan Center named the NYS Legislature as the nation’s most dysfunctional and many good government groups, journalists, talking heads and other media outlets joined in the chant.

It was accepted – we lived in the state with the nation’s worst legislature.

Everyone but the people knew that the folks in office in the government in Albany were pathetic, and no matter how loud we all yelled or chanted the voters believe their NYS Assembly members and Senators were doing a good job and deserved to be returned to office. They never really bought into the concept that pathetic was too good a term to describe the collectively corrupt, self-serving, cowering performance of the New York legislative body.

And now my friend Hiram Monserrate has most effectively spread the word. He, for the moment, has become the most powerful person in Albany and along with the help of the morally bankrupt Bronx Senator Pedro Espada Jr. has turned Albany upside down and has made N.Y. legislative dysfunction a household discussion.

And all Hiram, a freshman Senator, has done is what every member has done for years – offered his vote for sale – only Hiram and Espada are a lot better negotiators.

The ordinary legislators take committee chairs, stipends, lulus, increased staff, junkets, member items and big fat contributions from lobbyists in exchange for their votes.

Espada wanted power and Hiram — who the hell really knows what he is up to?

It doesn’t matter. My sister asked me what’s going on in Albany. A shopkeeper stopped me and asked. Even my right-wing friend Sal is engaged in discussion with me about the people finally understanding how they have neglected their responsibility of overseeing government.

New York State government has failed the people. Our New York State Legislators have sold out the people. And now everyone knows about it.

And for that, we owe Hiram and Pedro a big thank you.

They have informed the people of New York that in Albany everything is for sale – including the position of President of the Senate, next in line to be governor.

No, I’m not blaming the Republicans – both parties are equally at fault. Both parties place power over the needs of the people and the State. The members out of bribery or fear remain silent in spite of knowing they are complicit in the ongoing ugly wrongdoings.

It is both parties, and both houses, and it is time the people did something.

And it is because of Hiram and Pedro that everyone is talking about it and recognizing just how pathetic the New York State Legislature is.

Hiram, thank you.

MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com

Michael Schenkler can be reached via this contact form.

 
 
Malcolm Didn’t Listen; He Was On Blackberry

Henry Stern
By HENRY STERN

THE AMBUSH
Just when we thought that the wheezing, sputtering legislature would be mostly the same until the 2010 Democratic primary, we were struck by sudden change. On Monday, June 13, the Albany landscape changed drastically. The change did not come the way we thought it would.

News of the coup reached us the same way we learned that Governor Spitzer had been caught with a call girl – through the blogosphere, which is a corner of cyberspace. Most surprising to many was the fact that the plotters maintained total security about their plan. What it proved is that when the stakes are high enough 32 people can keep a secret, while feasting on pizza and trail mix in a safe house in downtown Albany.

The mechanics were simple addition. Thirty Republicans combined with two outlaw Democrats to form a 32-member coalition. That number means control of the 62-member Senate, at least as long as the 32 stick together.

The dramatic change may mean a new day in New York State politics. Then again, it may not, judging from the prior activities of the plotters.

At least the revolt gives us the opportunity to start counting again as we did from the start of the Spitzer reign – Day One: Everything Changes. Today, June 18, is Day Eleven of the Revolution, or the Coup, the Putsch, the Rebellion, the Uprising, the Emancipation, the Liberation, the Redemption, Betrayal, the Defection, the Day of Majority Rule, the Blackberry Revolution, the Blackberry Turnover, or whatever else you may wish to call it, depending on your feelings about the matter.

We, along with the entire good-government community, non-partisan institutes and advocacy groups have been calling for legislative change in New York State for years, and now we have it, though not in the way anyone of us imagined it would come.

OUR COMMENTS
First, it doesn’t bother us that much that the two Democrats who supported Skelos may be criminals. Who knows how many horse-thieves signed the Declaration of Independence, and what does that matter today? On the other hand, there were many highly gifted and principled people in Philadelphia in the spring of 1776. We cannot say the same about Albany in 2009. It’s not even close.

Second, Malcolm Smith failed as Majority Leader, but that was not entirely his fault. He never had a real majority to work with. He needed all 32 Democratic votes to pass anything, and political support has its price in these precincts. The three or four amigos who finally agreed to his election felt they had been hoodwinked when Smith was unable to keep his promises to them because many other Democrats would not swallow the deals he made to secure his leadership.

Third, Governor Paterson originally supported Smith but backed off as differences arose between the Executive Chamber and the Senate Democratic Conference. That is not an uncommon scenario when this Governor’s support is involved. Like the moon, it waxes and wanes, depending on circumstances. For several months, Smith continued to bleed much of the goodwill, power and influence he originally had. As the governor’s own authority diminished after the Caroline Kennedy imbroglio, and with successive polls showing him running even worse than Elliot Spitzer, Paterson turned out to be not much help to Smith, who had succeeded him as Democratic Senate leader in January 2007, when Paterson became Lieutenant Governor.

Fourth, one should not play with one’s Blackberry (or anything else) when billionaires who have helped elect you have traveled to your office to talk to you. Smith did that not out of rudeness or boredom; it is probable that he simply found nothing substantive to say. There were sensible proposals Smith could have offered to Golisano, who had funded Democratic Senate campaigns, in order to give the billionaire a sense of involvement. In all likelihood, these thoughts did not occur to the Majority Leader, although it may have crossed his mind that something was wrong. This is an area in which a competent staff would have been helpful, advising him what Golisano wanted and how he should react to remain in his good graces. “That’s why God made staff.” It is, however, up to the principal to ask the staff for assistance. There should be a briefing sheet for each meeting, during which issues likely to come up should be raised. That would divert the principal’s attention from his Blackberry and to his visitor, whoever that person should happen to be.

Fifth, the contrast between Sheldon Silver, master of the Assembly, and Malcolm Smith, a prisoner of the Senate, was enormous. Silver’s views prevailed on most budget issues, he had the votes in the Assembly, a competent professional staff, and good relations with lobbyists (even if he couldn’t give them everything they wanted). He also has substantial knowledge of state government that both Paterson and Smith lack. The latter two are more dependent on their staffs, which are generally less experienced and knowledgeable than the Speaker’s.

Sixth and last, many New Yorkers, including some who voted for Obama and a few in the legislature, are quietly satisfied at the regime change in the Senate. Landlords should be particularly relieved at being spared from re-regulation. Unions can renew their contributions to Republican candidates, which may be a double burden because they already support Democrats with their members’ dues. Actually – not a bad investment. The Democrats will now have the Republicans to blame for whatever happens in the legislature, and they can campaign in 2010 to recapture the Senate. “Be careful,” it is said, “for answered prayers.”

Remember the words of Dr. Pangloss: “Everything happens for the best, in this, the best of all possible worlds.” That man belongs in Albany.

StarQuest@NYCivic.org

Not4Publication.com by Dom Nunziato
Michael Schenkler can be reached via this contact form.