It’s time for David Paterson to close out his role in one of the strangest episodes in New York history — and turn over the affairs of state to his lieutenant governor, Richard Ravitch.
We don’t prescribe this lightly.
But new developments make it painfully clear that the accidental governor lacks the credibility to effectively see New York through its current crises.
And that he has no hope of gaining it.
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The latest: Paterson and the State Police apparently tried to dissuade a woman from seeking an order of protection against a key gubernatorial aide, David Johnson.
Yes, Paterson on Wednesday authorized Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to begin a criminal investigation of the matter.
But because we have no doubt that Cuomo will do his duty in this regard, we also don’t doubt that the episode will end in tears — if not for Paterson, then for his aide and for who knows how many other administration officials.
The scandal, of course, is just the latest in a string of Paterson fiascos — ranging from his allegedly politically motivated awarding of a casino contract to months of nonfeasance in the conduct of his daily duties — that has reduced state government to a sad, shabby joke.
Simply put, David Paterson is unquali fied to hold the office he inherited when the equally scandal-scarred Eliot Spitzer resigned it two years ago.
Paterson’s public-safety czar, Denise O’Donnell, jumped ship yesterday, and we doubt she’ll be the last.
“That the governor and members of the State Police have acknowledged direct contact with a woman who had filed for an order of protection against a senior member of the governor’s staff is a very serious matter,” O’Donnell said.
The woman, Sherr-una Booker, a 40-year-old mother of two, sought a court order after Johnson allegedly choked her.
She says troopers “harassed” her to get her to “drop the charges.” And, a day before her hearing, her lawyer says, the governor himself called her.
Booker wound up skipping the hearing — and the case was dropped.
The idea that a governor would inter vene in such a case is simply appal ling.
But not surprising — for Paterson has been a profound disappointment on many levels:
* Despite tough talk about the state’s budget woes, he has failed to do anything about them — agreeing to an $11 billion boost in state spending last year and standing helplessly by as a fiscal tsunami threatens to swallow Albany.
* No one believes Paterson can deliver a state budget by the April 1 deadline — and many doubt it will come before Election Day.
* His inability to influence (let alone control) the Legislature led to last summer’s bizarre state Senate standoff.
* His recent decision to let a politically connected group run a planned casino at Aqueduct Raceway smacks of rank favoritism. Paterson met with a key member of that group, Queens powerbroker Floyd Flake, just days later to discuss Flake’s gubernatorial endorsement.
And so it goes.
And so it will continue to go.
David Paterson is not qualified to be governor of New York. And he can spare the state he has sworn to serve a lot of unnecessary turmoil and pain by simply stepping aside.
Without further delay.