Meanwhile, Gov. Paterson yesterday tip-toed up to the line separating pride from sound public policy, but he couldn’t quite make himself cross it.
At issue were the improvident raises he dispensed to key aides – some $250,000 in extra cash at a time when Albany has a near-terminal case of the shorts, and when he’s demanding that rank-and-file state employees forego their 3 percent wage hikes.
Were the raises a good idea in such fiscally difficult times?
Paterson asked: “Now is it a good discussion that perhaps at this time in history with our economic problems that symbolically we don’t perhaps give anyone more money than they were making before?”
“That’s a discussion that could be had,” he answered.
So, will he rescind the raises?
“I’d like to see what all the other [government] agencies are doing and perhaps collectively we will all make that pledge.”
Umm, guess not.
Mayor Bloomberg, meanwhile, made no bones about where he stands regarding raises for top aides.
“The reality is that New York City can’t afford it,” he said.
Neither can Albany.
Case closed.