ALBANY — Gov. Paterson made an unusual personal visit to a closed-door gathering of Senate Democrats last night in a dramatic effort to break the stalemate that has paralyzed Albany for the last three weeks.
In his 1½-hour powwow with lawmakers, the Democratic governor said he stressed the need to end their leadership feud with Republicans before midnight Wednesday morning, when numerous local laws — including the 2002 statute that gives the mayor control over the school system — expire.
“I explained to them what I’ve been explaining to all of you: What the ramifications would be of not resolving this in the next 48 hours,” Paterson told reporters. “It wasn’t a prolonged discussion. They had heard how I feel and we sort of moved on from there.”
The meeting came just hours after senators from each party, for the sixth consecutive day, avoided a special session called by Paterson by gathering separately in the chamber and adjourning after doing no business.
The chamber has been deadlocked at 31-31 since mid-June.
Paterson’s personal appeal follows days of unusually harsh attacks on him by Senate Democrats as he increased pressure on lawmakers to resolve the dispute.
Another special session has been called for today.