So much for humility – and subtlety – in the conduct of public affairs.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, today the object of a spirited primary challenge in his Downtown district, has scheduled a victory celebration for this evening at the offices of the United Federation of Teachers.
Odds are, he will have reason to celebrate: The realities of Albany’s corrupt bargain with incumbency are such that Silver is all but guaranteed another term.
But publicly announcing a celebration fully 24 hours before the polls close – arrogant on its face – is clearly intended to send a message that transcends confidence in the election’s outcome.
Anybody who doubts it need only consider the venue.
The United Federation of Teachers, which couldn’t stop the transfer of control over the New York City public-school system to City Hall six-plus years ago, is determined to win it back when the matter is up for legislative reconsideration next year.
No one – again, for emphasis, no one – is better situated to give the union what it wants than Sheldon Silver.
Nor, truth be told, more inclined to do so.
The UFT is a major legislative paymaster. It donates thousands each election cycle to friendly incumbents – when it comes to education-cartel payola, there are no Democrats or Republicans in Albany – and it works tirelessly on behalf of its friends.
So when the UFT tunes its fiddle, Silver & Co. get ready to dance.
At UFT headquarters, tonight.
The union wants its school system back.
Silver is ready to oblige.
But this would be a tragedy.
The transition to mayoral control has not been without its hitches – to put it mildly – but it has been an overall success, and it is critical to the city’s future that mayoral control be maintained.
One way to help ensure continued control – and cast a pall over Silver’s arrogant party tonight – would be for Downtown Democrats to pull the primary lever for Paul Newell today.
We hope they all do.