Albany’s sleaze spotlight has been trained on the state Senate for some time now – understandably so, given the low-farce, let’s-make-a-deal effort by Queens Sen. Malcolm Smith to secure that body’s top job for himself.
But one should never take one’s eyes off the Assembly, a virtual “Romper Room” of bad behavior.
To say nothing of criminal conduct.
So here’s the latest from Albany’s lower-chamber laugh palace: After failing to reach a plea deal with federal prosecutors, Queens Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio was indicted on fraud charges this week – for the second time in three months.
This charge expands on a September indictment, wherein Seminerio was first accused of pocketing $500,000 in an influence-peddling scheme.
The alleged bribery total is now $1 million.
Other recent Assembly members eligible for indictment, that is, induction into the Albany Hall of Shame include:
* Long-time Queens union heavyweight and Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, who was convicted last year of skimming $2.2 million from taxpayers and unions – including $95,000 meant for youth baseball programs.
* Brooklyn Assemblywoman Diane Gordon, convicted this year on eight of nine counts of bribery.
* Clarence Norman (D-Brooklyn), convicted on felony larceny charges and sentenced to three to nine years in prison.
* Gloria Davis (D-Bronx), who pleaded guilty in 2003 to bribery and served two months at Rikers Island.
And that’s just the criminal behavior.
It doesn’t include the ethical problems, such as Buffalo’s Sam Hoyt, who allegedly violated the Legislature’s ban on fraternizing by having an affair with an intern.
Or Putnam’s Greg Ball, a freshman accused of sexually harassing his former district-office manager. Ball, a Republican, adds a little bit of bipartisanship to the shenanigans.
Of course, overseeing all of this is the only constant in the state government leadership.
The Executive Chamber has seen two residents in two years – one arriving through election, one through forced resignation.
The Senate majority leader changed via voluntary resignation and is about to change again by virtue of the November election results – that is, if Smith can ever get his ducks lined up.
The constant is Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the capitol’s lower house of ill repute – and the fellow best situated to guide Albany through the tumultuous fiscal times that it is facing.
Silver is also a masterful practitioner of how-much-am-I-bid-for-this-budget politicking – so much so that it’s easy to understand why some of his members feel so free to cut shady side deals for themselves.
But why does Silver put up with so much low-grade corruption?
Because Albany is Albany, that’s why.
Now the capital city will go into the new year with an accidental governor, an incidental Senate majority, and Sheldon Silver at the helm.
That’s a dubious lineup.
New Yorkers should hope for the best but prepare for something less.