August 11, 2004

GOVERNOR IRRELEVANCE

By James Eugene*

So the State finally got around to passing a budget. Congratulations. We down here in Terror Land, eh, I mean New York City, salute you.

Can you remind me again about how this was the year when budget reform was going to be implemented?

Can you remind me again how this was the budget of the nicer, friendlier Governor? Can you remind me again about how the Governor is a major player? Can you remind me again about how the Speaker of the Assembly and the State Majority Leader cannot work together (as they pass a series of bills together, many of which do not have the Governor's approval)?

Can you remind me about how this is all going to be completed by the time of the Republican convention? (Well, maybe not the overrides of the Governor's vetoes of various bills he has not agreed to.)

Can you remind me again about how these three individuals are supposed to have the political fortitude to settle the New York City school aid issue?

Can you remind me again about how the State actually plans to handle Medicaid relief?

Can you remind me again about what a great leader Governor Patacuomo is?

Okay, I think you get the point. Not even a report on how dysfunctional the State legislature is embarrasses these guys. And the dysfunction remains simply because each side has its own special interests controlling it. And as long as those interests are happy, no reform will occur.

In the end, Albany is not about policy, it is about politics. Sometimes the two may converge, but when they do, it is by accident.

Were you really surprised that the budget was late? Were you really surprised that Silver and Bruno had to take the lead? Were you really surprised that the school aid issue did not get resolved? I doubt it.

There is a power vacuum in the Governor's chair in Albany and no one is filling it or can fill it for two and a half more years - unless, of course, Governor Patacuomo goes to Washington. But I think the Bushies are not too impressed by him and he's more likely to ride off into a Cuomo-esque sunset.

I do have a solution. Resign now George and at least allow Lieutenant Governor ehhh, ehhh, what is her name again? Betsy Gotbaum? (No she is Public Advocate.) Mary Donohue? Yeah, that's it. Resign now and let Mary Donohue run the State. Then, George, you will finally have created New York history, your own legacy.

You had a role in placing the first female Governor in office in New York State.

That's a legacy to be proud of.

Welcome to Fun City.

One would think that New York City never hosted a convention before. (Didn't the Democrats come previously?) Granted this is the first convention in the Age of Terror, but the precautions we are constantly told about, the build-up we are constantly hearing about, the nonsense we can't seem to avoid on a daily basis, this all is just becoming too much. The convention logistics are a bigger issue than the War in Iraq.

For example, companies are advising workers to take off some days that week. What, do the Republicans bite? Do they carry the West Nile virus?

I intend to be at work that week and I do not expect my routine to be disrupted (although I grant you that I do not work near Madison Square Garden).

And no, I will not watch George W. Bush's speech (like his father, he cannot finish a sentence without pausing or leaving it incomplete and that annoys me to no end… and they both went to Yale!). But then again, I missed Kerry's too, so don't read anything into that.

And brownie points to you who remember the "Fun City" slogan from the Lindsay years.

I WANT MORE HOMELAND SECURITY AID FOR NEW YORK CITY.

There I said it. Everyone else has too. I feel like part of a community.

* James Eugene is the pseudonym of a veteran of NYC government affairs. Inside The Big Apple will appear exclusively on the Empire Page. If you want to send tips or column ideas to James Eugene, email them to jameseugene@empirepage.com.