It has been two weeks since word leaked out that we the taxpayers paid off, er, compensated two women who claimed that Mr. Lopez, a veteran legislator and chairman of Brooklyn’s Democratic county committee, harassed them in the workplace. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver approved a secret $103,000 payment each—and never saw fit to refer the case to the Assembly’s Ethics Committee.

But that very committee did look into other allegations against Mr. Lopez and found an appalling record of intimidation, inappropriate conduct and harassment. Subsequent news accounts reported that Mr. Lopez, who is 71 years old, frequently commented on the appearance of female staff members, and sometimes made inappropriate advances. Women interviewed by The New York Times said that they felt threatened by Mr. Lopez’s boorish behavior. The assemblyman brusquely told one staff member to remain quiet after she complained about unwanted and aggressive advances from an aide to one of Mr. Lopez’s allies.

In a better world, Mr. Lopez would be thoroughly ashamed and would already be in self-imposed exile. His Assembly seat would be vacant. He would not still be the leader of Brooklyn’s Democrats.

But, of course, we are not talking about a perfect world, or even a decent one. We are talking Albany politics, where shamelessness appears to be a prerequisite for elective office. Mr. Silver says he has asked Mr. Lopez to quit, but the boor from Brooklyn won’t listen. He has agreed to give up his party leadership role next month, and he has been stripped of his committee chairmanship. Apparently he believes this is punishment enough.

He’s wrong, but he is hardly the only lawmaker who sees public service as something other than a selfless, noble profession.

Take, for example, Queens Senator Shirley Huntley, who has been arrested and charged with funneling state money to a nonprofit organization that she controlled. Earlier this year, four—that’s right, four—onetime state senators found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Nicholas Spano of Westchester admitted to cheating on his taxes, Pedro Espada of the Bronx was convicted of misusing taxpayer money at health clinics he ran, Hiram Monserrate of Queens admitted to stealing funds meant for community organizations while he was a city councilman and Carl Kruger of Brooklyn was sentenced to prison in a bribery case.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised to change the way Albany does business, and he has done just that—to a point. But the Lopez case shows that the capital’s corrosive culture cannot be changed overnight.

The machinations involving Mr. Lopez and the $103,000 secret payoff are under investigation by a special prosecutor. With any luck, the investigation will provide Mr. Cuomo and the Legislature’s honorable members—there must be a few, anyway—with the willpower to demand systemic reform of state government.

These outrages simply can’t continue.

A Javits casino? Don't bet on it. (Inhabitat)

After years of opposition, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has decided to roll the dice on Governor Andrew Cuomo's dream of opening a casino in New York City. There is just one house rule, according to the Daily New's Albany bureau chief Ken Lovett: not in my backyard. (He's just as parochial as his constituents!)

The locations Silver is open to a casino include Coney Island—where Borough President Marty Markowitz desperately wants one—the new Mets megamall at Willets Point and the so-far-failed plans for one at Aqueduct. But proposals like Times Square and at a rejiggered Javits Center are definitely out.

Some insiders want a casino to be part of a redevelopment of the Jacob Javits Convention Center on the West Side. But Silver remains adamant about keeping gambling dens out of Manhattan and other densely populated parts of the city, the source said.

Lovett's source claims “one or two other sites (in the city) could pop up as we move forward," and it also remains quite possible no casino could win the support of the Legislature.

Meanwhile, another Albany bureau chief, the Post's Fred Dicker, reveals that the Legislature is willing to alientate land in Flushing Meadows (an act that always requires state approval) to make way for an MLS soccer pitch to be built there.

This would be a boon for the Mets megamall, but another loss for the West Side of Manhattan, where it was hoped an MLS stadium might help prop up a collapsing Pier 40, along with the rest of the funds-starved Hudson River Park. So much for that.

“Welcome to the first tower that will open for business here at the World Trade Center site,” Janno Lieber, right-hand man to Larry Silverstein at ground zero, boomed into a microphone from the podium. It was the only note of competition throughout the festivities, even though everyone knew the smaller tower, while started three years later, had beaten its sibling to the top by at least a few days.

To 1 World Trade Center’s credit, Barack Obama showed up two weeks ago, as did the mayor and governors Christie and Cuomo, all signing the ceremonial last column, still waiting somewhere to be hoisted into place. Four World Trade Center got state asssembly speaker and World Trade champion Shelly Silver, though he spoke from the heart.

“Despite the weather, today the sun is shining on Downtown Manhattan,” he intoned. “Having grown up in Lower Manhattan, living here all my life, having witnessed the September 11 attacks from my home, and having been here for the past decade, rebuilding, it is hard to adequately put into words just how wonderful it is to see this magnificent building coming to completion. To think, such a beautiful structure now stands where once such shocking ugliness and terrible pain is breathtaking and incredibly inspiring.”

As he spoke, iron workers were clambering over 3 World Trade Center in the background, hoisting a structural steel column into place, not unlike the one that would soon make the long journey to the top of this tower. Even on the most celebratory of days, work never stops on the site, at least as long as Larry Silverstein still holds out hope of finding a tenant for the building. “Many years from now,” Speaker Silver continued, “when the work is completed, and historians begin writing the story of Lower Manhattan’s rebirth, the greatest comeback story ever to be told, the name Larry Silverstein will figure prominently among its pages.”

When he took the stage, following the long applause that filled the 50-foot-high lobby, Mr. Silverstein’s voice was halting at first, caught up in the emotion of the moment. “With all we’ve been through these many years, it’s impossible to make progress without friends, supporters, people who really believe in what you’re doing as much as you do,” he said, opening his arms to the crowd.

This building was for them, it was for downtown, but also the city and the world.

“In a little over a year, 4 World Trade Center will be the newest addition to our neighborhood,” Mr. Silverstein said. “When we open the doors, it will not just be for our tenants, but for all New Yorkers”

And it already is. One World Trade Center had the president’s column, signed by some of the most powerful men in the western world, but 4 World Trade Center had the people’s column, signed by everyone in attendance (the press included). It is a ritual, as one attendee pointed out, that dates back to the time of the Vikings: “There’s a whole Wikipedia page about it,” under “topping out.” There you will find that it comes from an “ancient Scandinavian religious practice of placing a tree on the top of a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits of their ancestors that had been displaced.”

Silverstein Properties had arranged for a barbecue for workers on the site that day, and already the grill was going when everyone shuffled outside and the final beam was hoisted into place. R&B impresario BeBe Winans sang a rendition of “God Bless America” that soared as high as the tower and as slow as the beam crawling up its side.

With that charcoal smoke wafting through the air, it could have been ten years ago, or a thousand. Hopefully the spirits and the ancestors were appeased.

Governor Cuomo promised, in essence, that there would be. During his successful campaign in 2010, Mr. Cuomo said he would fight for the creation of an independent commission that would be given power to redraw the state’s legislative and congressional districts, a process that unfolds every 10 years. Traditionally, both houses of the Legislature handle this task, and critics have charged that the legislators draw maps that insulate incumbents from serious challenges. Congressional incumbents and state legislators rarely are turned out of office in New York, the result, critics say, of unfair district maps.

Not surprisingly, legislative leaders haven’t jumped at the opportunity to turn over their map-making power to an independent commission. The result is a stalemate between Mr. Cuomo, who is attempting to make good on his promise, and both parties in the Legislature. Republicans and Democrats may not agree on everything, but leaders of both parties are of one mind when it comes to protecting incumbents.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has proposed a compromise that has possibilities: he suggested an eight-person commission—four Democrats and four Republicans—chosen by legislative leaders but made up of citizens, not lawmakers. The compromise needs some refinement, including assurances that the nonlawmakers have genuine independence and aren’t simply stand-ins for legislative leaders.

But if no such assurances are possible, the courts may have to step in to supervise the process. That would be unfortunate, but it may also be necessary. Primary elections will be held in June; the lines must be drawn by then.

Lawmakers shouldn’t have the power to draw legislative maps. That’s the not-so-simple principle that needs to be at the heart of this process.

Mr. Cuomo himself noted that there are no certainties in Albany. That cautionary note seems well-advised, since the property tax cap has no shortage of enemies and skeptics. Many public employee unions oppose the cap, while some lawmakers are talking about a provision that would require the cap to be reviewed by the Legislature every few years.

The union opposition is not surprising. But the quiet maneuvering in the Legislature to require a so-called "sunset provision," that is, a clause that would require the cap to be renewed time and time again, is more than a little mischievous. When Mr. Cuomo campaigned for a property tax cap, he made it clear that he wished to achieve real, long-term efficiencies in local government. There was no asterisk attached to that promise.

Members of his own Democratic party, however, seem less than enthused. So the governor should be prepared for a fight if he wishes to avoid a cap that would inevitably become a volatile political issue every time it comes up for renewal.

Local governments, of course, collect property taxes and depend on them to pay for municipal services, including schools. So it's interesting to note that many local officials support the governor's effort to cap property taxes. They also argue, with merit, that the state needs to do its share by reducing Medicaid costs and unfunded mandates. These costs have helped drive up property taxes to unaffordable rates throughout the states.

Property tax relief entails more than a simple legislative dictate. It should require a broad examination of all those issues that drive up the cost of local government. That said, property tax caps should be real, with little room for creative accounting. And they should not be subject to renewal every two or three years. The state needs genuine and permanent relief from oppressive taxation.

tacitelli@observer.com :: @tacitelli

Debates: Hannity's red-meat rhetoric doesn't fly at National Action Network. [Obama08jalu]

2012: After meeting with Trump, Huckabee says, "I seriously believe he's going to jump in." [Maggie Haberman]

2012: "I would be proud to give those disclosures," Trump says. [Katrina Trinko]

2012: Trump is to Democrats what Bloomberg is to Republicans. [Jeff Mapes]

2012: "I would not leave Iraq and let Iran take over the oil," says Trump. [Kelly Evans]

Carl Kruger: He was "excused" from attending the NYS Energy and Telecommunications meeting, which seemed oddly crowded today. [nysenateuncut]

Cuomo's Pen: Quietly signs vetoes. [Liz Benjamin]

Cuomo's Agenda: Republicans note Silver is in the way. [Ken Lovett]

Garbage: Cutbacks may delay a major Bloomberg plan; spokesman says they're still committed. [Courtney Gross]

Changing Chancellors: 9 people evaluating Walcott's application. [Beth Fertig]

Changing Chancellors: A teacher complains "Walcott will actually serve as a much more effective salesman for Bloomberg’s policies than Black ever could have been." [Liza Campbell]

Bike Lanes: A proposed one in Brooklyn is stopped. [Elissa Gootman]

Public Information: DoITT Commissioner Carole Post is CIO of the year. [nyconvergence]

Open Government: Senator Peralta asks why a bill isn't going to the Finance Committee. Among the answers he gets is one that is softly whispered and barely audible around the 2:45 mark. [nysenateuncut]

2012: Trump's standing in the GOP field today is reminiscent of what Dems faced in 1992. [Steve Kornacki]

Federal Budget: "What [Obama has] done politically does not fit what I think should be done morally" says Rangel. [Erin Einhorn]

Homeless Count: An 8 percent uptick compared to 2009. [Sally Goldenberg]

Homeless Count: Commissioner refutes advocate's figures. "It's an unrealistic report that uses a faulty way of looking at the data." [Michael Saul]

Bloomberg and Goldsmith: They vist Chanina Sperlin in Crown Heights. [Chabad Info]

Cuomo's Agenda: Popular with voters, not with lawmakers. [Brendan Scott]

Pension Costs: 55 bills seek to boost pensions. Editors say, "What is disturbing -- shocking -- is Cuomo's unwillingness to condemn the chicanery out of hand." [New York Post]

Rent Rules: "Gov. Cuomo has endorsed strengthening the rent regulations, but he's yet to outline his own proposals." [Fred Dicker]

Rent Rules: Silver is stalling. [Bill Hammond]

Rent Rules: Through a spokesman, Cuomo voiced support, but not endorse, Assembly's plan. [Glenn Blain]

Rent Rules: "[A]n aide to Mr. Cuomo said that he was seeking a deal that could pass in both houses. [Charles Bagli]

Rent Rules: Silver says Republican opponents are "reasonable" and will negotiate. [Stephanie Lee]

Foreclosures: No matter what deal is struck nationally, Schneiderman says AGs in each state should conduct their own probes. [Karen Freifeld and David McLaughlin]  

Ticket Fixing: Police union official says they're waiting to find out more info. [Mary Murphy]

Hiram Monserrate: His pizza is worst than "the cardboard box at Patsy's" says one man. [Erin Calabrese and Jeremy Olshan]

Carl Kruger: 30,000 phone calls intercepted by the FBI. [Robert Gearty]

Steve Levy: More subpoenas. [Rick Brand]

Nassau Finances: County Executive says "Nassau is now on the road to recovery because of the tough decisions made to take on the status quo." [Sid Cassese]

Candidates: Olympic star Carl Lewis running for state senate. [Lisa Fleisher]

Readers: An oddly thoughtful debate in the comments section. [Observer]

"We believe that the legislation that was passed last year is constitutional," said the Speaker's office in a statement. "Additionally, under the law the Attorney General is charged with the responsibility of defending the constitionality of our statutes and we think that is absolutely appropriate in this case."

The civil rights groups made the case for Schneiderman's prior experience with the law.

"There is no person who is more familiar with this issue or better prepared to defend this important civil rights victory than New York's Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, said a statement co-signed by the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund, Community Service Society of New York, and Citizen Action of New York. "We give him our full support in defending this statute to ensure that this year's redistricting process does not once again dilute the votes of communities of color."

As a state senator, Schneiderman helped lead the charge to pass the bill, which counts prisoners in their home communities--a move that carries all sorts of political implications, since it shifts tens of thousands of voters from the upstate rolls where Republicans are strong to downstate and urban communities, where Democrats predominate.

A number of Republicans filed suit last week, challenging the constitutionality of the new way of counting, and the way the law was passed--as part of Governor Paterson's budget-extender showdown last fall.

Paterson's last stand gave Cuomo considerable leverage in this year's negotiations and stripping him of that power would shift some of that power back to the Legislature.

It's not the first time Cuomo and Schneiderman--who became fast friends after Schneiderman won the Democratic primary--have had issues over where to draw the line between Cuomo's old office and his new one.

Threats: Also sent to journalists. State police investigating. [Nick Confessore]

City Budget: NYC's workforce will shrink, says Bloomberg. [AP]

City Budget: "We cannot afford the size police force, fire department, of any of these agencies if we have a $400 million deficit," Bloomberg said. [WNYC]

State Budget: "Under this year’s budget, our state government will spend more every hour than 200 typical New York families earn in a year," says EJ McMahon. [Joseph Spector] State Budget: Cuomo seemed press lawmakers for an early budget, leaving no time for debate. [Glenn Blain]

Federal Budget: "Hayworth also chose not to answer whether she would prefer a government shutdown over a concession of less than $60 billion." [WNYC]

Federal Budget: Hayworth, King, Grimm and other GOP vote for the Government Shutdown Prevention Act. [clerk.house.gov]

Dissing Bloomberg: "I'm not having dinner with the owners of these newspapers in my mansion in the Upper East Side," said Ruben Diaz Jr. [Chris Bragg]

Dissing Power Companies: Bloomberg says a rate hike is bad. [David Seifman]

Campaign Money: "Donovan still owes more than $300,000 from his campaign for attorney general last year." [Jon Lentz]

Fundraisers: The minimum requested is not small. [Rick Karlin]

Human Rights: A NY Democrat eyes another potential international problem. [Twitter]

Kids: Lappin had a boy: Miles McMichael. [David Chen]

Dogs: Grimm gets a puppy. [Judy Randall]

2012: "You have to admire his arrogance" Koch said of Trump. [City Hall News]

Humor: "Anthony Weiner has emerged as one of the country's most prominent amateur comedians." [Stephen Hoban]

Humor: Steve Martin on Obama's real intentions. [Twitter]