The New York Observer » Malcolm Smith

Indy Democrats Help Pass GOP Redistricting Plan

The Republican redistricting plan just passed the Republican-controlled State Senate, 35-24, with the four Independent Democrats throwing their support behind the bill.

The bill's sponsor, John Bonacic, said before the vote that he wasn't "playing the blame game" but wanted to note "you guys [Democrats] had opportunities" to pass similar legislaiton when they controlled the Read More

‘One Step at a Time’

Malcolm Smith's message of the week seems to capture the mood in Albany.

Behind Paterson, The Crooked Line of Succession

When Eliot Spitzer took the oath of office on the first day of January 2007, he promised a new day in New York politics. "This election was not about electing one person as governor," Mr. Spitzer said.

How right he was!

When Client Number Nine resigned in March of 2008, he ceded the state to Governor Number Read More

‘Strength Through Struggle’

I'm waiting for State Senator Bill Perkin's press conference at 250 Broadway right now, and spotted this sign on State Senator Malcolm Smith's door, saying the theme of the week is "strength through struggle." Wonder how that theme is going over on the second floor of the capitol in Albany right now.

Paterson: There Was Consensus on Aqueduct; AEG Has the Money

Facing increasing criticism for selecting a politically-connected bidder to develop slot machines at the Aqueduct race track, Governor Paterson released a statement Thursday afternoon stressing that legislative leaders had agreed on the choice.

The statement appeared to be a riposte at Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who Friday stated a list of conditions (and sent a letter Read More

Sampson Envisions New Look, Same Leaders

ALBANY—John Sampson thinks, not unreasonably, that the State Senate needs a new look.

"We need to come out of the box in January and start to really pass some progressive and positive legislation because people have one characterization of us," Sampson, the leader of the chamber's Democratic conference, told reporters during an informal chat in Read More

‘Cocktails and Conversation’ With John Sampson, For $5,000

ALBANY—The day after David Paterson gives his State of the State address, Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson will be in Manhattan for "cocktails and conversation" at a $5,000-a-head event.

That's a pretty high dollar figure; for context, David Paterson and Andrew Cuomo each asked for $1,000 a head at their December events and Read More

Lots of Electeds At Cuomo’s Fund-Raiser

There were 1,000 people in attendance at Andrew Cuomo's birthday fund-raiser last night--even David Paterson, a prospective political adversary, dropped in--mingling with the attorney general and enjoying a dinner of cucumber salad, beef and vegetables.

Like David Paterson's holiday fund-raiser last week, the stalwarts of Albany's lobbying community showed up--Paul Tokasz, Brian Meara, Read More

NYSUT: 400 Charter Schools is ‘Ridiculous’

ALBANY—A plan to double the number of charter schools is not getting a warm reception from two education groups that just sued David Paterson.

"There are ways of doing it, of raising the cap and also of raising some of the problems they're having with charter schools. Any thing is discussable. We haven't said, Read More

Paterson: Let’s Not Race to the Middle

ALBANY—David Paterson just endorsed lifting the cap on the number of charter schools in the state—a move recommended yesterday by the State Board of Regents—to make New York more competitive for the "race to the top" pool of federal education funding.

"I can appreciate that people have ideological differences with some of the plans, Read More

With Sampson’s Support, Malcolm Smith Might Just Hang On

ALBANY—Malcolm Smith is supposed to leave the top post in the State Senate with the New Year. But nothing in the chamber is ever that easy.

Smith, a Queens Democrat who was

"He's like an ambassador for the State Senate," said his spokesman, Austin Shafran. He added that Smith and Sampson "have an outstanding Read More

‘Ambassador’ Smith Heading to California

ALBANY—State Senator John Sampson got to do most of the back room negotiating over the deficit package. Senator Malcolm Smith gets to go to California.

Smith, a Queens Democrat, will leave tomorrow for a three-day forum of the National Conference of State Legislators in San Diego, his spokesman Austin Shafran said. Smith will Read More

Up Next for Paterson: Queens

ALBANY—After receiving a standing ovation in Brooklyn during a "community conversation" there last week, David Paterson will travel this week to St. Albans for a similar forum.

These events represent Paterson trying to shore himself up with a critical constituency--African-Americans from the five boroughs. This event will be held at the St. Albans Read More

Who Put the Senators in Charge?

ALBANY—There is a small sign on the wall of the cramped, third-floor Capitol office that state senators walk by on their way to closed-door sessions. It proclaims the “theme of the week,” a mix of sarcasm and inspiration set by the Senate president Malcolm Smith. On Monday, it read, “Divine Intervention.”

“I’m a man of Read More

Diaz Excuses His Absence

ALBANY—State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. is "sorry" he missed a vote on Leandra's Law, which cracks down on people who drive drunk with kids in their car, but he has other business to attend to.

"I am distributing turkeys to my seniors in the Bronx," Diaz told me by phone. He said he's distributing Read More