What Role Will Upstate Democrats Have In New York State Senate?

clarification request (4.00 / 1)

You wrote "Also, upon reviewing the committee list, it appears that upstate Democratic senators will not be chairing any of the important and powerful committees."

The list you linked is the list for the current (Republican) Senate.  It's not clear to me which you consider "the important and powerful committees", or what Upstate Senators will actually be chairing.

If you have a moment, could you go into a little more detail?

Thanks!

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by: simonstl @ Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 21:13:23 PM UTC

The list I linked for... (0.00 / 0)

Lists the Senate and the current committee makeup, which includes the list of Democrats and how they are ranked on their respective committees. One would think that the ranking minority member would become the chair when a power shift takes place. Under most circumstances, that's the case.

Obviously, one of the more powerful committees is the Finance Committee. That was supposed to be going to an upstate senator but now will be in Carl Kruger's hands. If you review the list and look at the larger committees, those are the ones that are the most important, with a few exceptions.  

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by: robert.harding @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 00:05:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

See Sec. 5-a of the Legislative Law for the full list... (4.00 / 1)

... of Senate (and Assembly) Leadership and Committee post stipends (i.e., the monetary reward attached to each).

While I'm also extremely alarmed at seeing the gang of three's extortion being rewarded, don't forget that most of the big monetary rewards that Smith will be doling out have yet to be publically revealed.  Presumably the upstate stalwarts will be well represented in the more coveted of those spots, and I imagine that they probably already know that.  Notwithstanding the impressive sounding title of Majority Leader, Espada's actual powers seem more symbolic than real to me.  Of course, only time will tell how much Smith is willing to entrust to him.

It's also important to remember that all such subordinate leadership posts can be altered at the whim of the ONE in control, which explains why Smith and Skelos both were willing to negotiate w/ the three amigos in order to obtain/maintain the ultimate leadership role.

If Malcolm doesn't deal respectfully with the upstaters by the time the dust settles on this transition, then his leadership will be easily undermined by new and different coalitions of empowered members who can muster 32 votes.

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by: teaparty2 @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:14:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, but . . . (4.00 / 1)

If the idea of "One New York" is to give in to three renegade senators, we need to take a look at the deal and ask ourselves if we are better or worse off with this deal than we were before.

I don't think there would have been a resolution to this issue that would have accomplished all three things you're advocating for, namely, Democratic control of the Senate, adequate representation of Upstate NY interests, and keeping the Gang of Three from bolting.  That said, we are definitely better off now than we would be if the Republicans kept control of the Senate.

Upstate needs to have its voice heard and Albany needs to be responsive to it if Democrats want to have a shot at keeping that majority after the 2010 elections and through redistricting.  You don't need to have Upstate Senators in high-profile places at this time to accomplish that.

Time will tell, but I think we need to wait and see what policy(ies) come out of Albany these next two years and how they affect Upstate.

If you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there.

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by: El Loco @ Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 21:30:34 PM UTC

"Heard" in other ways... (4.00 / 1)

Yeah, we upstate folks could get creative.  You know, how about an encampment like the "bonus army" of the last depression-- when we can't pay the mortgage or the rent, pack up and camp on the lawn of the Capitol Building (or, better yet, inside the Concourse where it is dry and warm) until we get "relief".

Or, maybe we could each go take our piece of the Mall marble to sell, or one of those fabulously expensive artworks from the Concourse to hold for ransom....

Extortion is what we need to get busy with, I guess, since that works... ideas?

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by: robinia @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:32:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

NOTE (0.00 / 0)

The above comment was meant as satire, hyperbole, over-the-top rant, etc.  I am not actually advocating extortion or theft, which is immoral... and plus, I, being an upstate peon and not Kruger, could never get away with it unpunished.  Just so's you know, if you are a Bush warrantless wiretap/spy-on-TAP type.  No terrorists here in upstate NY, no, sir, just us chickens eating whatever we can scratch up.  

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by: robinia @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:38:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Upstate = New York's redheaded stepchild (4.00 / 1)

It would be so simple to make a few changes and tweaks to New York law and make it so that upstate is competitive with its cheaper neighbors. It'll never happen.  Downstate doesn't give two shits about us on the very rare instances it even thinks of us.  I know - I'm from there.  

This isn't a slap in the face - it's a kick in the gut.  With steel-toed Doc Martens.  

Smith sold Stachowski out.  He sold upstate out with Pigeon and Golisano's help. Fuckers.  

Buffalopundit  blog at WNYMedia.net

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by: buffalopundit @ Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 23:27:56 PM UTC

Sold out everyone but himself. (4.00 / 2)

Malcolm sold out Upstate. He sold out women. He also sold out Jeff Klein, Liz Krueger and Tom Duane by bargaining away their positions to the gang of three. The guy needs to go. He did his damage by only picking up two seats in what should have been a 4-6 seat sweep. He is out of his league and has no credibility or ability to negotiate and lead.

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by: peterpiper @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 00:06:30 AM UTC

Here Here n/t/ (0.00 / 0)

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by: BingChester @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:18:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Money post! (0.00 / 0)

"out of his league and has no credibility or ability to negotiate and lead"

AMEN

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by: learnedhand @ Sun Dec 07, 2008 at 00:34:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Nice (0.00 / 0)

Im in a bit of a mood today. But to see all the in-fighting and persecution on the left, over a guy who isnt even in power yet. Maybe you should all call your Democratically elected officials and let them know your outrage!

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by: chenangofreethinker @ Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 16:35:58 PM UTC

Upstate doesn't have a voice (0.00 / 0)

There is no way for Upstate's political talent (if it has any) to express itself.  Unless Upstate politicians truly feel like a minority and shut out of power, they won't do or say anything to throw wrenches into the works.  The question is whether the NYS GOP will rally to the cause before Upstate Dems do.

A related question:  Where are Upstaters going to flee to now if things get tough?  To Florida, where the economy sucks?  To Phoenix, where they are planning for organized homeless encampments on a grand scale?  To California, which is broke?

There's nowhere left to run.  (And some of those expatriates are coming home to crash on Mom and Dad's couch.)  So it's possible the population drain is actually going to stabilize for a few years (as opposed to accelerating).  Things are now officially Tough All Over.  No longer is Upstate an anomaly.

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by: NYCO @ Sun Dec 07, 2008 at 00:22:43 AM UTC

I've been thinking about (0.00 / 0)

say, Toronto, Quebec or mebee South Africa?

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by: robinia @ Sun Dec 07, 2008 at 03:13:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Smith deserves credit? (0.00 / 0)

Credit for what?  Conceding power to a senator-elect at the expense of his caucus, where bitterness and resentment must by now be brewing?  For letting himself get extorted?

Malcolm should have gone across the aisle and recruited three Republicans and ruined the Gang of Three. That's what an actual politician would have done.

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by: learnedhand @ Sun Dec 07, 2008 at 00:29:37 AM UTC