ALBANY — Just don’t call him a tightwad.
Gov. Paterson — who gave a shockingly low $150 to charity in 2007 while serving as Eliot Spitzer’s lieutenant governor — showed yesterday he’s no cheapskate anymore, as he made public tax returns revealing he and his wife, Michelle, gave almost $12,000 to charity last year.
Among the largest beneficiaries of contributions by Paterson, who is legally blind, and his wife in 2008 were the National Federation of the Blind; City Meals; 100 Black Men; Hadassah; the American Foundation of the Blind; League of the Hard of Hearing; Hispanic Federation; and WNYC Hear It Now, all of which received $1,000 each.
Last year, Paterson, who had taken over in March after Spitzer resigned in disgrace, received some sharp criticism after revealing he had contributed a mere $150 to the Salvation Army in the form of used clothing — on a combined income with his wife of nearly $270,000.
Paterson has announced that he’ll seek a full four-year term next year.
New York’s governor is paid $179,000 annually, while the lieutenant governor receives $155,000.