A Pataki Holdover?
Here's one thing that doesn't seem to have changed in Albany after Day 1:
George Pataki's liaison to the Jewish Community, Karen Paikin, was, as of late yesterday, still answering her phone at the governor's Manhattan office.
When she was hired by Pataki, her title was special assistant for community affairs, according to this article.
When I asked her if she was staying on in the new administration, she referred the call to an aide, who said one of the governor's spokespeople would call me back. Then... nothing.
-- Azi Paybarah
I have been associated with government full-time in senior positions, or on boards, for 25 years now. I saw many who were liaisons for the Jewish community. My view has been that such people should have humility, be helpful and level with both the public AND the elected official whom they serve. If they act as an advocate in one direction only, they become useless. I will be polite and not name those who were historically useless, or actually did harm. Integrity and work ethic are the other main componenets of a good liaison.
I am therefore proud of Karen Paikin and wish her well in her work on behalf of Governor Spitzer. He will be loyally and well-served by her.
Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld
You can call it a "holdover" Azi, but perhaps its better to call it a "reappointment." She was probably kept by the new governor, because she's universally liked in the Jewish community, and she's not a partisan hothead.
Its a good thing for Paikin that the opinion of Jeff Wiesenfeld, Pataki hatchet man, carries so much weight with the Spitzer regime. Does the new team really want Wiesenfeld's protege sitting in the inner sanctum? Ms Paikin may be very talented but the new governor should pick his own team and not keep the Pataki incompetents around.
does anyone really care. no one knew who she was when she worked for Pataki and no one will know who she is in the Spitzer office. This is another one of those patronage appointments that we are always stuck with.
Jeff is a real nice guy--salt of the earth, humble, approachable. Bet he makes out no matter who is in charge.
truth be told this cant be good for Jeff. he hired all the Jews under Pataki and now one of his disciples has moved to the enemy camp. not exactly the kind of loyalty expected in political operations
are we talking about the same jeff weaselfeld? he is without a doubt the most offensive and partisan operatives ever to work in government. anyone want to ask melinda katz?
Nothing against Karen, but perhaps the new admin. has not gotton around to filling all the "non upper" level jobs & is keeping her until they figure out who they want to bring in.
My sources in Spitzer's office say she is staying. Congratulations Karen and best of luck!
why people are so focused on this is really astonishing. more astonishing is why someone thought to get up this morning and suggest that azi make the phone call that he did. what kind of sad and pathetic person (read, fragin) would do that?
I confess. It was me.
Fr
1:08 hit it on the head. not every appointee is going to be replaced--she seems to be liked in the jewish community, probably because she's accessible and nice (unlike others who have held similar jobs for pataki). and she's not a political hack (again, unlike almost everyone else who came before her).
and to 6:31, if fragin wasn't hidden away by pataki at a cushy state authority job, he'd have been cut on december 31st. its only a matter of time before spitzer gets to replace his board, and by extension, him. and for those unfamiliar with government, there are always ways to get rid of appointees with terms. ask alan hevesi.
What the hell is going on here? I don't see anything negative in Azi's post about Karen Paikin. Why did this discussion turn into a nasty discussion of Patakiland. My feeling has always been that Wiesenfeld has always disrespected all that followed him: Greenspun, herb berman, greg menken, fragin, and paikin. It's chivalrous that he sticks up for the woman but downright despicable that he went after the rest of them.
This whole thread makes me want to be an anti-semite. Please take it down.
This whole thread makes me want to be an anti-semite. Please take it down.
Karen Paikin is wonderful and cute as a button. It is easy to see why they kept her on. The other guy, not so cute. Fire him.
what's everyone's problem with wiesenfeld? jeez. there are plenty BIGGER ASSHOLES in jewish politics. do we need to start naming them?
People- is it not news that Spitzer is keeping pataki staffers in his office? of course it is! that being said it does not reflect negatively on the staffer in question. in fact, it is positive. All the mud slinging that started in the comments section makes no sense. Maybe Jeff Wisenfeld and Isaac Abraham can fight this out somewhere else?
especially if the staffer in question is "cute as a button!"
btw, for all the time that isaac abraham spent blowing pataki over the last 12 years, perhaps he can keep his venomous crap to himself. one good thing that came out of spitzer's election is that the assholes and crooks who had access under pataki will be frozen out.
and a good thing about paikin not being political is that she won't give a shit to repay favors owed by pataki, and she'll be able to do what her new bosses need without regards to politics. so take that isaac abraham, and all the other assorted criminals who thought they owned a piece of 633 third avenue for the last 12 years. and guys like fragin, who enabled the crooks and criminals, are out too, and good freaken riddance to them!
Whats with the 2 Williamsburg guys are they in with Spitzer or out with Pataki?
One of them I saw on the steps of the Capital during the Inauguration.
Is Spitzer giving these guys the same access to his office as Pataki?
one of the williamsburg guys seen on the steps of the capital near spitzer is rabbi david neiderman. he was in with pataki and will be in with spitzer. he knows how to be with the winner and deliver for his specific group of supporters.
asking about the 2 clowns in Williamsburg? As long as everyone will see them in pictures and think that they are in with Spitzer, they will be happy. They need to do it for the show that people should see them. Try to ask them for a favor or help you will find out very fast that they only want publicity and not help anyone. They are full of it.........