Lawmakers, especially Brooklyn councilman Charles Barron, are upset about a private meeting yesterday between Attorney General Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Ravitch. Allegedly, the two top officials were discussing the possibility of a resignation by Gov. Paterson, as well as the state budget which Ravitch is helping to write. According to NY1, “Barron said such a meeting comes too close to crossing the line in terms of conflicts of interest, as Cuomo is likely to run for governor, and that the attorney general should remove himself from the investigation of Paterson.” He and other community leaders will hold a press conference today, calling for Cuomo to disinvolve himself from the probe into Paterson’s accused wrongdoing.
Speaking of disinvolved, the Daily News brought us more insights into the recent resignation of upstanding Paterson spokesman Peter Kauffman. When he was hired on early last year, he thought that he and chief of staff Larry Schwartz could be the “grownups” in Paterson’s administration which was full of “games and nonsense,” reports a friend. But in the end, the friend says, Kauffman became fed up with the governor’s lying. "He was becoming very disillusioned ... and was really trying to weigh his obligations to public service versus his increasing concern," said the source.
Considering Paterson's missing staff members, crisis management experts think he should get out of office quickly. "Even the bridge of the Titanic needed a skeleton staff," said Bill McGowan, founder of the Clarity Media Group. If he waits, his chance at redemption will be totally shot, and the state will suffer. "If he says he's doing it for the good of the state of New York, it's a win/win situation for him," said Sanford Teller, head of his own public relations and marketing business. "From a public relations standpoint, it would almost be a heroic act. But if he waits too long, it's too late."
