ALBANY—Apparently, as they devised a way to completely overhaul government ethics in New York, David Paterson’s staffers didn’t consult with Michael Cherkasky, the man Paterson praised as the “perfect person and most qualified to restore public confidence” in ethics enforcement.
“They haven’t called,” Cherkasky, who Paterson appointed as head of the Commission on Public Read More
ALBANY—A day after leaking them to the Times, several senior officials in the Paterson administration held a conference call to release details of the “Reform Albany Act,” which will be a major part of the governor’s State of the State address tomorrow.
And unabashed spin!
“The reform Albany act brings a level of independence Read More
ALBANY—One of the more colorful figures to grace the Capitol–and rise to its inner circle of control–has been convicted on two counts in a federal fraud trial. For those who decried the nebulous oversight that has characterized the political culture here for so many years, there is hope for a substantive reform, finally.
“I Read More
ALBANY—Preston Felton, the acting director of the State Police during the Troopergate affair, has settled with the Commission on Public Integrity. Felton admitted he violated the Public Officers law but will pay no fine because the commission does not have the power to levy one.
Barry Ginsberg, the executive director of the commission said Read More
ALBANY—There might be movement on legislation restructuring the notoriously porous ethics enforcement in Albany.
“My understanding is we’re actually looking at a new bill that has elements from all of the different passages that have actually been presented and as I said before I think that is a positive development,” said Susan Lerner, the executive Read More
ALBANY—David Paterson’s reported solicitation of World Series tickets from the New York Yankees–first reported this morning by Fred Dicker–was “dumb,” according to a long-time ethics watchdog.
“If he really asks for the tickets, it’s a clear violation of the ethics law. It’s mind-bogglingly inexplicable. Why would the governor do that? It makes no sense,” Read More
ALBANY—The Commission on Public Integrity's decision to fine Darren Dopp $10,000 for his role in the ‘Troopergate' affair doesn't go far enough, former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno said through a spokesman.
"The Commission on Public Integrity has concluded that, while working for Elliot Spitzer, Darren Dopp joined with and used the media Read More
ALBANY—The Commission on Public Integrity has fined Darren Dopp, Eliot Spitzer's former communications director, $10,000 for "knowingly and intentionally using his official position as the Governor's Communications Director to obtain an unlawful benefit" in the Troopergate affair.
Dopp, now a lobbyist “media relations” consultant with Patricia Lynch Associates, was fined the maximum amount. Read More
ALBANY—David Grandeau is delighted that the State Senate is scheduled to take up legislation blowing up the structure of ethics enforcement on Thursday, even as the head of the current Commission on Public Integrity made a public plea for its life.
"The basic pro is that anything that rids the state of New Read More
ALBANY—Michael Cherkasky, the man David Paterson appointed to lead the embattled Commission on Public Integrity as he seeks to dissolve it, just issued a statement "respectfully" saying the governor was wrong to call for the commissioners to resign.
"After my full review, I respectfully submit, however, that the Governor's request should be withdrawn," Cherkasky Read More
