Politics has become real over the past few weeks for Gov. Kathy Hochul.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A long and contentious budget process left her a bit bruised and battered. And she lost some of the goodwill her congeniality brought to the Governor\u2019s Mansion following her predecessor\u2019s imperial reign.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But passing a budget ranks as the main function of state government. Deep divisions are inevitable. Life goes on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Hochul\u2019s determination to build a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills \u2013 featuring $850 million in public funds \u2013 added to her woes, even though many New Yorkers cheered. A cadre of influential progressives in the Legislature say the money could be used for different purposes (not to mention left-leaning gubernatorial opponents like New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams). Those battle lines remain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Conservatives say she failed to sufficiently back off from criminal justice reforms enacted by the Legislature\u2019s new Democratic majority in 2019, which she must confront in this election year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
People are also reading\u2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nAnd last week, Hochul had to acknowledge that her most important political appointment of her young administration \u2013 former State Sen. Brian Benjamin as lieutenant governor \u2013 ranked as a colossal mistake. That\u2019s about the only thing you can say when the state\u2019s second-in-command gets arrested for bribery and other charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nWilliams, during one of his frequent Buffalo appearances, asked on Wednesday how the new governor had erred so badly in vetting such a key appointment. He rejected her \u201cI didn\u2019t know\u201d explanation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201cThat says to me she was embarrassingly out of the loop of what\u2019s going on,\u201d he told reporters, \u201cor embarrassingly unable to do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nWhile Williams and his running mate \u2013 Ana Maria Archila \u2013 staged their Wednesday press event in front of a Starbucks shop on Delaware Avenue to support unionization efforts, they found the massive headquarters of Delaware North Cos. conveniently located across the street.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nLast week, the Politics Column noted that other Democratic primary rivals like Rep. Tom Suozzi of Nassau County raised conflict of interest questions because the firm maintains concession contracts at the current Bills stadium while employing the governor\u2019s husband, Bill, in a top legal position.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe column also pointed out that the governor and her husband signed promises that their careers would not improperly intersect, and that all ethical safeguards would be maintained.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThat didn\u2019t stop Suozzi. He highlighted what he calls a conflict, and didn\u2019t let up last week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201cLet\u2019s look at the four Bs: Benjamin, budget, bail reform and Buffalo Bills,\u201d he said. \u201cShe has failed at every one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nLast week\u2019s calamity aboard a Brooklyn subway train only compounded Hochul\u2019s tough week. At least 29 people were injured when a gunman opened fire, on the same day that Benjamin was arrested in Manhattan. Nobody pegged the governor with responsibility, but the story combo played across the New York City tabloids and upstate front pages, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nWilliams pounced. The state should \u201ccelebrate\u201d the Buffalo Bills, he said, but suggested other priorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201cNew Yorkers are increasingly concerned about public safety, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, about gun violence,\u201d the candidate said. \u201cOur 10-point plan \u2026 put in place $1 billion for gun violence prevention and victims\u2019 services. We didn\u2019t get that. Not even close. But we got almost $1 billion for the Buffalo Bills.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nHochul offered an explanation for her Benjamin problem last week during an interview with WNYC Radio in New York.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201cI made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nBut the point remains \u2013 just like the Delaware North situation, and despite explanations, Hochul\u2019s opponents will not hesitate to pile on to her problems via millions of dollars in damning TV ads. And watch for Hochul, by the way, to play by the same rules when her ads air.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThis is politics in New York. And as the late Judge Tom McMahon used to say: \u201cIt ain\u2019t beanbag.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
And last week, Hochul had to acknowledge that her most important political appointment of her young administration \u2013 former State Sen. Brian Benjamin as lieutenant governor \u2013 ranked as a colossal mistake. That\u2019s about the only thing you can say when the state\u2019s second-in-command gets arrested for bribery and other charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Williams, during one of his frequent Buffalo appearances, asked on Wednesday how the new governor had erred so badly in vetting such a key appointment. He rejected her \u201cI didn\u2019t know\u201d explanation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThat says to me she was embarrassingly out of the loop of what\u2019s going on,\u201d he told reporters, \u201cor embarrassingly unable to do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
While Williams and his running mate \u2013 Ana Maria Archila \u2013 staged their Wednesday press event in front of a Starbucks shop on Delaware Avenue to support unionization efforts, they found the massive headquarters of Delaware North Cos. conveniently located across the street.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Last week, the Politics Column noted that other Democratic primary rivals like Rep. Tom Suozzi of Nassau County raised conflict of interest questions because the firm maintains concession contracts at the current Bills stadium while employing the governor\u2019s husband, Bill, in a top legal position.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The column also pointed out that the governor and her husband signed promises that their careers would not improperly intersect, and that all ethical safeguards would be maintained.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
That didn\u2019t stop Suozzi. He highlighted what he calls a conflict, and didn\u2019t let up last week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s look at the four Bs: Benjamin, budget, bail reform and Buffalo Bills,\u201d he said. \u201cShe has failed at every one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Last week\u2019s calamity aboard a Brooklyn subway train only compounded Hochul\u2019s tough week. At least 29 people were injured when a gunman opened fire, on the same day that Benjamin was arrested in Manhattan. Nobody pegged the governor with responsibility, but the story combo played across the New York City tabloids and upstate front pages, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Williams pounced. The state should \u201ccelebrate\u201d the Buffalo Bills, he said, but suggested other priorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cNew Yorkers are increasingly concerned about public safety, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, about gun violence,\u201d the candidate said. \u201cOur 10-point plan \u2026 put in place $1 billion for gun violence prevention and victims\u2019 services. We didn\u2019t get that. Not even close. But we got almost $1 billion for the Buffalo Bills.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Hochul offered an explanation for her Benjamin problem last week during an interview with WNYC Radio in New York.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But the point remains \u2013 just like the Delaware North situation, and despite explanations, Hochul\u2019s opponents will not hesitate to pile on to her problems via millions of dollars in damning TV ads. And watch for Hochul, by the way, to play by the same rules when her ads air.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This is politics in New York. And as the late Judge Tom McMahon used to say: \u201cIt ain\u2019t beanbag.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n